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airadam · 10 months ago

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Episode 181 : Still Rollin'.

"Come on and give me my props..."

- Diamond

Fifteen years! We started this ride in June 2009 and here we still are all these years later. Thank you so much for your support, and I hope you'll stay with me for as long as I'm able to keep putting these shows together. The point of this podcast has never been to prioritise new releases, or to only ever look to the past, but a blend of the two. With that in mind, this month's mix certainly has some old personal favourites, a sprinkling of new music, and some obscurities and rarities! Listen, enjoy, and please do spread the word as widely as you can - as I always say, I have a lot of things, but no advertising budget 😆

I was racking my brain trying to come up with cover art that would reference the theme of fifteen...then realised that the infamous "4, 5, 6" combination sums up to that very number!

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Playlist/Notes

The Thryday : Fantastic

The album this was ultimately released on is only available for silly money on the second-hand market, but at least I had this from an old mixtape ("WJLR Radio, Volume 1") to share with you! The Dutch master Nicolay is on production for this North Carolina group who were part of the Justus League family and appreciated by those in the know. This same beat, with the same name, is also on Nicolay's "City Lights" and the "City Lights 1.5" version, but with the rhymes that elevate it so...much harder to get!

[J Dilla] Jaylib : The Red (Instrumental)

You already know! One of the best-loved instrumentals from Dilla's post-Slum career - certainly if the reaction when I drop it in a set is anything to go by - and one that will move your speakers for sure. The original is from the famed "Champion Sound" collaboration between Dilla and Madlib, where each rhymes over the other's production, and now the full set of instrumentals is available, making the deluxe release a 100% must-own.

Jigmastas ft. Mos Def, Mr. Complex, Pharoahe Monch, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Talib Kweli : Lyrical Fluctuation Remix

This is a true all-star MC roster from the late 90s-early 00s independent scene, with DJ Spinna of Jigmastas on remix duties, bringing a different vibe to Joc Max's original, based on crazy short chops of a classic soul sample and having them cheerfully bounce along. I only got this 2000 release in the last few weeks, but have already played it on Twitch, digitised it, and am now sharing its eternally-fresh energy here!

Ghostface ft. Wigz : Outta The Way

"...in the gym throwing the dumbbells all out of order" - disgraceful conduct... Another usage of the same sample from the "Lyrical Fluctuation" remix, this Anthony Acid beat is more straightforward, with Ghostface and Wigz busting through with the energy of two guys rushing a bank! This was one of the standouts on the 2005 Ghostface and Trife "Put It On The Line" LP, though not released as a single despite the potential.

Mobb Deep : Feel My Gat Blow

The soundtrack to the Saul Williams-starring "Slam" was very much a mixed bag in the vein of many 90s-00s soundtracks, but certainly had a few standouts and otherwise-unreleased cuts from some greats, of which this is one. Havoc's beat sounds like a mix between a medieval court and 90s NYC, and the lyrical content is trademark Mobb.

Redman : Winicumuhround

As much as I love Redman's "Dare Iz A Darkside" album (which, notably, he doesn't - reminds him of a bad time), I had all but forgotten about this track until I pulled the vinyl out for a front-to-back listen recently. Erick Sermon and Redman combine on production to have this one thump along with a killer bassline-lead track, and Red is in fine form on the mic. With the voice of the late Hurricane G appearing as part of the densely-packed hook, this is a Def Squad heater for sure.

Pete Rock : Death Becomes You

Definitely one of my favourite Pete Rock beats of all time, but we had to wait a long time to get an instrumental! The original track was on the soundtrack for the 1993 classic "Menace II Society", but it wasn't until the 2019 release of Pete Rock's "Return Of The SP1200" album that we got this version. Absolutely flawless in the sense that there's not a single thing, as a listener or a DJ, that I would have wanted him to change.

Roots Manuva ft. Big P, Blackitude, Fallacy, Rodney P, Skeme : Witness The Swords

I'd be willing to bet that while most listeners, especially in the UK, will be very familiar with the classic Roots Manuva single "Witness (1 Hope)", most won't know this! It's a blend of the lyrics from "Swords In The Dirt" from Roots' second LP "Run Come Save Me" and the "Witness" beat, from the same album. As far as I know, the only place to find this one is the 2002 "Extra Yard (The Bouncement Revolution)" compilation on Big Dada Records, which is worth picking up for some quality UK cuts.

Big Boi ft. Cutty : Shutterbugg

As a photographer, I really should dig this one out more! Big Boi co-produces with Scott Storch on this single from his solo debut "Sir Lucious Left Foot : The Son Of Chico Dusty", which was actually a much bigger hit in the UK than in the US, where it somehow didn't even break the top 50 in the R&B charts. It's a hectic-sounding track which unexpectedly takes a sudden quiet break in the second verse - and it's at that point that we move along...

Stro Elliot : Soul II Stro

...and so we move with a quick transition into another track that not just references but heavily samples the classic "Back To Life" by the UKs own Soul II Soul, a Stro Elliot workout that's just undeniable in its groove. The samples of Caron Wheeler's vocals haunt at times before coming firmly into the foreground, while the drums and bass thump along with an accompanying keyboard line. That Stro Elliot sampled that 1989 classic on his self-titled LP twenty-seven years later is a testament to the power of the original.

Kokane ft. Lil Half Dead : Ghetto Music

When I saw the garage-filmed (high-quality though!) video for this, I kept waiting for the rapping to start - but nope, this is just a funk product from start to finish which, as the track says, will make you want to move! Despite "Da White Album" only being released in 2022, it was apparently recorded back in the early 00s while Kokane was working on Dr. Dre's "2001" LP but shelved for over twenty years. It manages to sound vintage P-funk, 90s G-Funk, and modern all at the same time. Kokane is a real "if you know, you know" artist who has been putting in work for many years, has collaborated with almost everyone you can name, and keeps on bringing the heat!

[Erick Sermon] Tha Truth : Red Lights (U Gotz 2 Chill '96) (instrumental)

If you know me, you know I love Zapp and Roger Troutman, which means that EPMD's classic "You Gots To Chill" single is a firm favourite. On this R&B single from Tha Truth, who only released one album back in 1997, they came out of the gate strong with Erick Sermon on production, reprising his sampling of "More Bounce To The Ounce" and even throwing in the "chill" sample from his original beat. Shout out to DJ Melo D of Beat Junkies, who was the only person I've heard playing this and the one who told me (on Twitch) what it was!

Diamond D, Sadat X, and Lord Finesse : You Can't Front

A great album cut, loved by those in the know, taken from the early 90s classic "Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop". Buckwild and Diamond's production is both clean and still vintage SP-era magic, with Diamond also grabbing the mic to spit a verse between two other greats. Sadat X was the perfect choice to go first, with his unique tone drawing you in immediately, and Lord Finesse brings it home strong.

Common : Dreamin'

For those that have missed the early chatter, here's a sample of the upcoming Common and Pete Rock LP, which promises to channel the specific forms of energy that each artist brought to their 90s work. If this beautifully-produced tale of a dream of a walk with Black greats both living and transitioned is anything to go by, we're in for a treat!

The Kid Daytona : Fly Lullaby

A deep cut from the 9th Wonder production discography, working with a loop that Pete Rock teased us with between tracks on "The Main Ingredient". The Kid Daytona is definitely a grown man now, but this was an early release from the Bronx native on his "The Interlude" mixtape from 2010 - where every track sampled some kind of intro or interlude from another Hip-Hop track. This is exactly the kind of overlooked track I like to throw in for anyone who might have missed it!

Dogg Pound ft. Snoop Dogg, RBX, and The Lady Of Rage : Who Da Hardest?

A grand reunion - would have left it to the last song as it is on the new Dogg Pound "W.A.W.G" album, but it fit so well here sonically that I changed my mind! For a coming together of West Coast legends, the biggest surprise is them bringing DJ Premier in on production, and maybe the most welcome is the featuring of The Lady of Rage, who has been a universally-loved MC since her star turn on "Afro Puffs". It's pretty long, but there's no instrumental outro and I didn't want you to miss out any of the MCs, so you get the whole thing here!

Terrace Martin & James Fauntleroy : Butterfly Effect

"Gotta stop taking life advice from songs" - I'd say that was good advice, but then that's also what you might call a circular problem! We go fully chill at the end of this section, with the undeniable and unmistakable voice and vocal production of James Fauntleroy alongside modern jazz legend Terrace Martin with a track from their joint "Nova" EP.

Marco Polo : Yung Feathers

The man from Toronto with a trademark bit of modern boom-bap on this final instrumental, a track from his "MP on the MP : The Beat Tape Vol.1" release, a great pickup for anyone who appreciates good Hip-Hop production.

M-Beat ft. Nazlyn : Sweet Love

A big switch-up to end the episode, with a vintage UK track - a jungle remake of Anita Baker's 1986 classic "Sweet Love" with Nazlyn on vocals. Even as someone who didn't like jungle when it first emerged, I couldn't deny this one, an absolute classic reworking. I understand it actually sold well - hitting a high of no.18 in the charts back in 1994 - which goes to show that just sometimes, the public at large catches on to some real quality.

Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!

Check out this episode!

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airadam · 22 days ago

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Episode 190 : Sound Engineering.

"Still refuse to sell my spirit to eat..."

- Phonte

A lot of midtempo business this month, as we combine the remembrance of Biggie Smalls and Phife Dawg with some era-appropriate classics, a few obscurities, and then blend in some brand new material that shows how the true artistry of the culture continues to flourish!

I just finished adding all the links into the show notes and then my veteran computer hung...so have tried to replace them all! Besides those, here's my Instagram post on the closing of the Hip Hop Chip Shop, which I mentioned on the episode...it'll be much missed.

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Playlist/Notes

Amerigo Gazaway : The B.I.G. Payback

Brilliant move by the remix heavy-hitter Amerigo Gazaway to not just combine two tracks that are great in their own rights, but share a common theme. The whole "The Notorious J.B.'s: The B.I.G. Payback" project is worthy of your attention, but this melding of Biggie's "Somebody's Gotta Die" with James Brown's "The Payback" is the absolute standout for me. Gazaway takes it to that next level when he actually incorporates some of James Brown's lyrics into the verses, a well-planned move that elevates this even further past the fray.

[Kev Brown] DJ Jazzy Jeff : Branded (Instrumental)

While DJ Jazzy Jeff is the headline name on this cut from his "The Magnificent EP", you only have to listen to that bassline style for about half a bar to realise you're dealing with the production of the one and only Kev Brown! Jeff acts as a producer in the traditional sense across this project, bringing in outside talent and guiding them, shaping the output to his vision. The EP is the only release to feature this particular track, so seek it out if you want to hear Pauly Yamz get on the mix over this beat, on a kind of "Drink Away The Pain" concept.

Little Brother ft. L.E.G.A.C.Y : Gotta Get Dat (The Ambition Suite)

A big result for the month was getting a real retail copy of this track! This is very early Little Brother, from their days putting out mixtapes and posting tracks on the Okayplayer forums, and I've loved it for over twenty years but wanted it to get a proper release. Finally, you can get it on the deluxe version of "The Listening", which contains a few other obscurities and a complete set of instrumentals of the main album - I'd advise buying a copy now and not risking it ever disappearing. 9th Wonder is on production of course, with his drums mixed in a way that not everyone was on board with at the time, but which has stood up, and the rest of the LB crew kill it on the mic as well. Having L.E.G.A.C.Y, another member of the Justus League crew, opening the track is a nice bonus, as he's an MC I've always enjoyed, with a voice that is both completely normal and absolutely distinctive.

BusCrates ft. DJ Epik and Anda : Drift

The warm synth sounds of Pittsburgh's BusCrates have been some of the most welcome additions to my regular musical rotation over the last few years. His newest EP "Altitude" is another triumph and is one of the places you can find this - the other being the 7" single it was released on before the EP came out. Anda's vocals are a perfect accompaniment to the production of BusCrates and DJ Epik, who leave more than enough space for her to take her rightful place.

Jigmastas : Penthouse

Just because there's artistry involved, that doesn't mean that Kryminul and Spinna don't want to get paid! This is a track from their 2016 "Resurgence" LP, which was actually just their second, following on from 2001's "Infectious". DJ Spinna is on production of course, with his trademark synth/bassline sound in effect throughout.

Curren$y and Harry Fraud ft. Styles P : Key West Classic

Glamour life and illegal business together on the closing track of the "Regatta" EP, with Harry Fraud bringing a slightly moody air on production and using the perfect samples from TV coverage of the real-life powerboat racing circuit (which has a very "interesting" history) to set the tone. The MCs aren't an obvious combination in terms of their voices and deliveries, but Styles P is the perfect counterpoint to Spitta on this one.

[Havoc] Mobb Deep : Pray For Me (Instrumental)

While "Infamy" might not be the highest-rated album in the legendary works of Mobb Deep, it certainly had plenty of moments where Havoc and Prodigy excelled, and Hav's production here was one of them. I assumed for a long time that this was essentially an all-synth track, only to find while researching the episode that the main melody is actually a sample - Havoc had it sounding extra-clean!

Kev Brown : High Art

Heat out of Landover, Maryland! Kev was doing one of his "Beats & Stuff" streams on Twitch recently, where he frequently showcases unreleased material alongside his extensive commercial catalogue, and this track popped up. I loved it but had no idea if it had been out or was one from the stash - turns out it's on a short album "GOOD." which he'd put out himself after falling out with an old record label. Only a short track, but a good one where the beat very much has a "walking through the forest" feel and Kev's underrated wit and wordplay adds an extra layer of personality to it. Really glad I found out about this one!

A Tribe Called Quest ft. Large Professor : Keep It Rollin

The "Midnight Marauders" album is a masterpiece and a must-own for all Hip-Hop fans that is always welcome for a replay. This particular tune features the late Phife Dawg coming out strong with a memorable first few bars, and a sample of the recently-departed Roy Ayers on the instrumental side, alongside Q-Tip and special guest Large Professor, who you can quite clearly tell if you pay attention was right in the thick of the Main Source breakup. You can certainly put weight on his claims to be the brains behind the crew - on this track from what went on to be a classic album, even production legend Q-Tip stepped back to allow Large Pro to do the business on the boards.

Royal Flush : Makin' Moves

A chilled and suitably melancholy track given the subject, Queens' Royal Flush kept this toward the very end of his 1997 debut LP "Ghetto Millionaire". Describing the hopelessness of the street life, this Buckwild-produced cut is what Ice-T would call a "B-side of the game" record - and the kind of thing that tends to indicate that the writer knows their subject in the most intimate of ways. Flush really holds this one down - while Mic Geronimo features, he's actually only on the hook. A third verse might have been welcome, but the two here are arguable just enough.

Mega Ran ft. Penny The Great and Jermiside : Everyday

Mega Ran did an excellent job of paying homage to Biggie on hit "Notorious R.A.N : Ready To Live" LP, and this was his take on the classic "Everyday Struggle" from "Ready To Die" - coming out of the gate on his verse with a flip of the original opening lines and closing by flipping the last few. Every verse on this is realness, with DJ DN3 swapping out the original drums for something heavier, almost as though they needed to carry the appropriate amount of weight for what the MCs are speaking about.

Sndtrak : Rockinu

One of the modern masters of the flip, Oakland's Sndtrak keeps this famous sample recognisable while also giving it an entirely different feel and tempo. This is from "FLIPS V1: Triple Lindy" which will have you jumping up with recognition and then grabbing your head in disbelief on a regular basis. Street Corner Music have removed their releases from Spotify, so go to your digital distributor of choice and put a few quid down to get your own copies!

Tall Black Guy Productions/Black Vandross : Why Must It Be You

TBG is another master of chopping, flipping, and remixing, with his drum programming skills and mastery of bass bounce and feel making for countless irresistible tracks over the years. The late great Luther Vandross is blended into the mix on this one, which starts off with a nice little Stevie Wonder reference before transitioning into the main spaced-out soul groove. A lot of TBGs digital releases are only available for a limited time, so get yours now at Bandcamp just in case so you don't miss out!

Cappo & Kong The Artisan ft. Konny Kon : Let It Take You

As I said during the episode, I somehow managed to miss this track which is surprising as I follow the work of Children of Zeus faithfully! Zeus' Konny Kon drops bars alongside Nottingham veteran Cappo - or should I say, Doctor Cappo who has fairly recently completed a PhD in the techniques and literary devices used by MCs to discuss trauma. With that said, there's no way I could write anything about his work up to anything near his level, so I'll direct you to this excellent interview and recommend you pick up his "Canon" album.

Apollo Brown & Skyzoo : Visionary Riches

Good writing, solid beat, a clear sense of purpose. I hadn't gone back to "The Easy Truth" for a while, but this Detroit/NY collaboration definitely had some solid cuts on it and this was one I felt deserved an airing!

Reks ft. Termanology and Krumb Snatcha : Big Dreamers (Lawtown Remix)

An all-Massachussetts affair now from the B-side of the "Say Goodnight" 12", with all those Boston and Lawrence MCs spitting over a Statik Selektah track. Modern(ish) boom-bap with a laidback vibe despite the skittering hi-hats, it's a worthy setting for all three MCs to tell their stories of aiming for the top - whatever that means to each.

[DJ Premier] Gang Starr : Above The Clouds (Instrumental)

I got an abbreviated, simplified version of this classic Preemo instrumental on a vinyl release of questionable provenance, so have looped it up a bit here and also taken advantage of the "stems" feature on Serato to strip it down to pure drums for a couple of stretches. This will never be a big club or dance track, but everyone who appreciates the Gang Starr catalogue holds this cut from "Moment of Truth" in high regard.

Marsha Ambrosius : Tunisian Nights

The "Casablanco" album is one that it feels like not only couldn't have been made before Hip-Hop reached a certain age, but also needed practitioners who had developed their craft enough to be able to execute it effectively. It blends soul, Hip-Hop, jazz, show tunes, and more into a cohesive piece which is a huge credit to the duo of Marsha Ambrosius, the highly-respected singer from Floetry, and Dr. Dre, who took the reins on production. This particular track has an intro which I've mostly needed to cut, before settling into a groove based on DJ Premier's beat for Nas' "NY State Of Mind", which Ambrosius blesses beautifully. If you've not yet heard the album, I strongly recommend you take at least one listen!

Check out this episode!

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