Big L - Devil's Son EP

I was under the impression that a typical 'record store day' release was something like a Pearl Jam box set, so I was really surprised to see this. It's a few early Big L tracks packaged on a vinyl EP put out by Sony. It just came out two months ago, and I'm not seeing many sites mentioning it. I believe these were studio recorded sessions that didn't make the cut for his first LP. These were put out on a Japanese bootleg EP that sells for dumb loot, so this is a blessing to have it available for a lower price and with album artwork. I just bought a copy online for around $20 and hoping for good sound quality. Anyone out there who already has a copy, and can fill me in, drop a comment..



Also it's dope that these were given an official release, although it's limited to 3,000 pieces. From what I understood, his father was putting a wrench in some of his material coming out, as well as the documentary that was in the works. Is that finally getting released as well?

U Da Man Remix

9-19 I believe... Love this remix, and this track always gets me amped

Beat Love

These two joints feature dudes getting a little too romantic with their beat machines. The first is Adagio with My Girl, and the next is EC Illa with Mating Ritual.

Heavy Jewelz

Definitely want to give a big shout to Verge and his friend Pat for doing good things with their Heavy Jewelz label. They've been giving some new life to old demos, with great sound quality and design work for the covers. Most of these tracks were at one time played on Stretch and Bobbito, so for heads like myself, it's cool to be able to finally be able to own/spin them. Check them out here.

Levi 167

I caught this 12" at a local record shop for cheap, and when I brought it home I saw Levi 167 signed it. There's only a few records left on this label that I need for my collection. You may notice the 'd-dope, dope' sample from KRS-One Attacks..

S.O.S.

Phife passing has messed me up a little these past few days. I always thought A Tribe Called Quest would be a group like the Rolling Stones, always around, and always touring for generations to see. They have been playing the Tribe documentary on VH1 lately, and it's definitely a different experience seeing it now. In the documentary, Phife mentions how he felt like the Supreme to Tip being the Diana Ross. I always considered Phife to be stronger, lyrically, compared to Tip being mostly instrumental as a producer. Phife always had the snappiest lines. Tribe was so important as a group, to myself, and to everyone who appreciated good music. They had a mass appeal just being themselves, no gimmicks. In retrospect, I imagine what 1994 or 1995 would have been like with a Tribe album. This '95 track from S.O.S. features Phife stealing the show.

Doo Dirty

Keeping it dirty! I was going through my old WNYU tapes and found this little nugget. It's an unreleased track featuring dude from Doo Dirty, and some other heads I don't recognize. Stretch heads will know Doo Dirty from the track 'Live by The Gun,' which they released independently. Doo Dirty were rumored to have an album recorded, but weren't able to get distribution I guess. They were a crew from Brooklyn, had joints recorded with Half a Mill, and you might recognize the dude as the guy who snitched on Jay-Z in the 'Dead Presidents' video.

Re-Up: CM Famalam Show 2000 (FT, Funky DL, Easy Mo Bee)

This one's from June 8, 2000
and features FT from Street Smartz,
Funky DL, and Easy Mo Bee rocking
a nice 30 minute break set.

Just recently caught this 12" from around 1996 from Funky DL. Another one I always wanted from back in the di-day, I'm catching up on my international 12"s lately. Shout to everyone supporting me on discogs.

Thrust - Do You Understand (SCAM Remix)

I've been after this one since it came out in 1996, and finally caught a copy at a good price. This is a pretty rare release by Thrust from Canada. A lot of his stuff was produced by Frankenstein, but this remix was done by SCAM. He used a different part of the same Billy Cobham sample 'Heather' that was used for Souls of Mischief's '93 Til Infinity, and always liked the flip. 

The Bizness (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

This was one of my favorite De La Soul remixes, done by the Vinyl Reanimators. These samplers and remix EP's were floating around back in 96-98. Vinyl Reanimators did one of my favorite break mixes 'Traveling Through Sampleland' as well as production for the BUMS, L the Head Toucha, and a few others. Check this remix for 'The Bizness'

KRS rarities/oddities

As a fan of  music, DJ, collector, seller, I'm always researching music. Just for shits and giggles I searched 'KRS' in the popsike search engine to see which of his records sold for the highest prices. This led me to find a bunch of BDP/KRS records I had either never known about or forgotten about...

For those of you that are curious, the winner of the highest priced KRS-One record is an acetate of a double sided instrumental 12" of Jimmy/Stop The Violence which sold for an astounding $577 on ebay. The only thing exclusive on this is the 'Jimmy' Instrumental. I'm guessing the draw is that it's an acetate? You can't even play this thing more than a few times before you destroy it.

There were other instrumental test pressings that sold for quite a bit as well, including a 1 of 25 Blueprint instrumental show vinyl, and another 1 of 25 show vinyl.

Now on to the seldom heard KRS tracks...

45 King/ Lord Sear styles

Most heads know The 45 King's 'Lost Breakbeats' series had some real treats for DJ's. With sites like Discogs I'm able to go back and check out the ones I missed out on, and it seems like there were at least 10-12 of them. The 'beige album' was one that came out around 1996, and uncharacteristically had some MC's on it, including Mark himself (usually the one side had hip hop beats and the other side had house beats). This song 'Tell me How You Like It' Stretch used to run a lot in early 1996 and until recently I never knew where it was released (shout to Serch4beatz). I've also uploaded a few other 45 king beats from the lost breakbeats albums, and Lord Sear getting busy on the Beige album.

Gee & Jay

Caught this obscure 12" in the collection I picked up recently. This is the one and only record from the group  Gee & Jay called 'X-Rated Lyn' on M.O.B. Records, which according to the Freddy Fresh Rap Records was distributed by B-Boy Records. I love the lo-fi demo quality, the old school sex rap, the randomness. The dude drops one long verse about how he meets some chick, hits its, forgets to pull out, kicks her older brother in the nuts and then bounces. Seems like everyone was killing Grace Jones' 'My Jamaican Guy' in 1988 (2 Much, Kid N Play), way before LL used it for 'Doin it.' The B-Side on this 12" isn't that bad either.

Terror Green Heavy Jewelz EP

I just got blessed with one of the first records from the up and coming Heavy Jewelz label, run by my man Verge, who you may know through the Philaflava forums and TROY blog. Terror Green was an unsigned artist with a demo that had constant rotation on the Stretch Armstrong Show. '45 stitches' was a funny track about Terror Green messing around with some chick at her place. The chick ends up having a boyfriend, and this dude runs up and stabs Terror, leaving him with 45 stitches. I think it was around 1996 when I first heard Bobbito play this one, and until now, I always assumed it would remain a cassette only treat.

I love the packaging on this, not only does it include artwork by Skore79 and Mark563, but it's pressed on thick green vinyl. Factor in the limited pressing, and this is pretty much tailor made for collectors. I was surprised by how good the sound quality was as well, everything seemed balanced and mastered well, so I assume this was pressed using the original masters. You get the classic '45 Stitches,' and three other unheard tracks from the same Terror Green demo. All tracks produced by DJ Nastee.


Verge took no shorts on this one, and this definitely gets the Dirty Waters seal of approval. I am urging everyone out there to cop this one, as it will definitely be a collector's item that will go up in value. There are a few labels out there pushing to release unearthed demos, but Heavy Jewelz seemingly has them more reasonably priced. Check out Heavy Jewelz and order your copy.

A Lover Was Born

Here's a treat from Lee Dorsey called 'A Lover was Born.' You may recognize this as the sample for Lord Finesse's 'Strictly for the Ladies.' As far as I know, this song only appears on this 7" and is not included on any of his albums, with the exception of later compilations. The track is produced and arranged by Allen Toussaint, so it definitely has that funky Meters vibe.

Lee Dorsey - A Lover Was Born

Shortie No Mas

This one came out on Track Team Records in 2002, but sounds like it could have been a bonus track from 1994's 'Buhloone Mind State' LP, where Shortie No Mas first made an appearance. I remember her being on 'In the woods,' and doing some adlibs on 'Ego Trippin.' She also did some work on the first Roots LP. This track here was produced by the Beatminerz, and uses a mellow Cal Tjader or MJQ sample. Just sold this on discogs figured I'd share the rip, Enjoy..

Stripper

I've had the itch to dig something terrible lately. I caught this one on a dig over the weekend, it's kind of a cheese record but I'm digging it right now. The cover makes you immediately want to pass over it, but don't sleep. Peace to all the vinyl spots still surviving, especially those with dollar bins.

Michael Quatro - Stripper

Jemini the Gifted One (Remix Instrumental)

Jemini the Gifted One made his debut
late 1994/early 1995 with his song 'Funk Soul Sensation' produced by Organized Konfusion. For his 'Scars and Pain' EP, he also worked with producers Buckwild and Minnesota. This is a promo only 12" remix to 'Funk Soul Sensation' produced by the Grand Leveler Godfather Don. Vibe out to the instrumental on this one, Don uses the very beginning of Les McCann's 'Talk to the People' and mixes that with Johnny Guitar Watson's 'Superman Lover.' Also check Jemini's January 95 appearance on Stretch & Bobbito's show.




Jemini - Godfather Don Remix Instr


Jemini Freestyles WKCR 1995

Archie Whitewater

Here's a rare psych rock joint from
Archie Whitewater. This group only had one release on the Cadet Concept Album in 1970, and I just recently found out how rare and pricey the LP is.

I caught this one sealed a while back, buying it strictly on the strength of the bugged out cover. I was pleasantly surprised to find not only a Common sample (Chapter 13) but also a Blahzay Blahzay sample (Danger Remix). The entire LP is pretty incredible aside from the samples. Cadet Concept always had a good roster. This group comes through with a psych rock, jazz mixture and some really nice grooves (horn section, vibes, guitar, drums). Upon further investigation, I found this dude who posted a bunch of unreleased tracks that were shelved from their Cadet label recordings. I've listed this record and a few others on a discogs account I just created (trying them out this time around), so if anyone is interested peep it.

Archie Whitewater - Cross Country  

Rock the message Rap

and this is how the story goes...

Grand Master Chilly-T & Stevie G - Rock the Message Rap