Bars & Hooks ft Prodigy 'Mind Blowing' (2001)

I first heard the tracks on this 12" on a DJ Juice mixtape 10 years ago. A few months back I finally got hold of a vinyl copy on discogs (shout out to DJ B.Cause).

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The lead track features the Mobb affiliates and Prodigy rhyming over the Gap Band's classic 'Outstanding' which is probably why I like it so much. 'Independence Day' uses the beat from 'The Message' and 'YBE' is a remix of the track originally found on Bandana P's 'HNIC' album.
Given how long it took me to track this down I was initially a bit reluctant to share it (old digging habits die hard!) but given the plethora of Mobb-related blog posts following Prodigy's release from prison I thought I'd give you something you might not have yet.








Nate Dogg RIP

DJ 279 - Friday Night Flava on Choice FM (1993)

DJ 279 has been holding it down on the radio since the early 90s. Unfortunately while Westwood was broadcasting nationally and Kiss FM covered London and the surrounding counties, picking up Choice FM was pretty much impossible if you were off the tube map. As a result, tapes of The Numberman's Friday Night Flava shows are harder to come by than those of his competition (I've been asking around for a while now). Fortunately that man Mr Lawson has come through with a show from June 1993



Hopefully some more tapes will surface soon. If you want to check out more in the meantime, check Big Ted's blog for some audio of Nas on the show in 1994.

The Unstoppable Def Jam Sampler (1999)

The late 90s saw Def Jam reclaim their spot at the top of the industry following a few years of dominance by Bad Boy and Death Row. The addition to the roster of the Rocafella and Murder Inc imprints alongside DMX and Redman & Method Man meant they pretty much had the East Coast locked down. This promo CD has a few things that weren't available elsewhere and is well worth checking out...

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Tracklist
Def Squad 'Full Cooperation'
DMX & Ja Rule 'I Shot Ya' freestyle
Ja Rule 'Criminology' freestyle
Jayo Felony ft Mack 10, WC, Method Man & DMX 'Whatcha Gonna Do'
LL Cool J 'The Ripper Strikes Back'
Method Man & Redman 'How High' (Live)
Method Man, Redman & DMX '4,3,2,1' (Live)
Onyx 'Freestyle'


NB: I've omitted the snippet tracks - if you really need a 90 second preview of Jay Z's 'Can I Get A...' this probably isn't the blog for you.

DJ Soul 'No Ideas Original 2'

DJ Soul drops the long awaited second volume of his mix of original breaks and samples

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Tracklisting can be found here HERE

"Its ridiculous, nobody bust one shot for BIG..."

I try and avoid following the pattern of most other Hip Hop blogs but as the Biggie and Craig Mack freestyle on Westwood was one of the first posts that got this site some attention, along with the fact I actually remembered it was March 9th today, I thought I'd drop a couple of B.I.G related things for you.
Pretty much everything Mr Wallace recorded has already been heard already (although the holy grail seems to his collabo with Onyx and Naughty By Nature - anyone holding that apart from Puffy?) so instead I'm gonna break tradition and come with something a bit more recent.

This is a mammoth posse cut by Busta Rhymes, Maino, Red Cafe, MOP, Uncle Murda, Styles, Sheek & Lil Cease called 'March 9th'. Produced by the UK's Dready, this is probably the most fitting tribute to Biggie. It sounds like it hasn't been mastered/mixed down properly but its still great anyway - nice and rowdy and a million miles away from 'I'll Be Missing You'. Not sure if this ever came out 'officially' but if anyone has a better copy then hook me up.


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As a bonus here's the Green Lantern remix of 'Letter To BIG' by Jadakiss


Artwork by 563 (again!)

If you want an interesting read on the story behind the whole Biggie/2Pac thing, realniggatumblr got something for you.

Shout out to Mike Nice.

Tim Westwood - Capital Rap Show (1993)

Another one out of Mr Lawson's collection: Westwood on Capital back in 93 dropping some LONS, Black Moon, 2Pac, Erick Sermon and Big Daddy Kane.



Just realised that this blog is 2 years old today!

A freestyle, a mix, a blend and a remix

Here's a few random bits and pieces I've found, been sent, and in the case of the blend made myself...


Big Ted sent over this Big Pun tribute mini-mix he made following the man's death over a decade ago
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Dirty Waters posted this rare freestyle by Big Daddy Kane, Sir Ibu & Kings Of Swing from around 1989-90.
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Another blend from myself: The Beatnuts 'Props Over Here' acapella over the 'Midnight' instrumental (one of favourite Tribe joints)
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AOL sent me over his remix of Large Professor's 'Rap Professional' which is very good and a must for those of you partial to some 90s boom-bap
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