Ill Cuts

Percee P-Lung Collapsing Lyrics

2010-03-16T19:31:00.000-05:00

Nobody was illin' like Percee P from the Patterson Projects back in the day. If you don't believe, there are countless unreleased jawns and freestyles that could convince the staunchest doubter.
Lung Collapsing Lyrics is one of the lyrical exhibitions that only Percee P could accomplish. Damn, dukes caught some tough breaks in his lifetime.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mzkn4obztgm
http://sharebee.com/5e5b6785

Royce Da 5'9 feat. Kid Vishis-Heat To The Streets

2010-03-16T11:14:00.000-05:00

I remember hearing that Bar Exam 2 was the best mixtape of the '00's when it came out. Such hype usually follows Royce Da 5'9 wherever he goes, and despite the fact that he and Green Lantern only crafted a dope tape, it goes without saying that there are quite a few gems to be found.
Heat To The Streets is a song that doesn't belong on an album, but is just a ferocious display of lyrical witticisms.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ytqmzmjzwoy
http://sharebee.com/b2652515

Superstar Quamallah and Taj Infinite-Niggah Song

2010-03-15T20:04:00.000-05:00

I posted one of the jawns off Superstar Quamallah and Taj The Infinite's All Souled Out a little while back, and had to post another, if only to re-encourage dudes to cop that album. Real talk, All Souled Out, is one of the best rapp album acquisitions you will make in your whole lifetime.
Niggah Song is exactly what you thought it would be, but over a beautiful production equipped with an immaculate jazzy riff.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jzowcmqvvlz
http://sharebee.com/abf83cda

Talib Kweli-The Show

2010-03-15T12:50:00.000-05:00

Although I'm not much for Kweli, I will admit that dukes truly has his moments. Particularly when the producer (who will not be named for fear of this post getting taken down) crafts one of his few gems, and Kweli rolls with the punches in creating an solid concoction.

http://www.mediafire.com/?wxzzzxnhymz
http://sharebee.com/a2182b67

Reef The Lost Cauze-Sound Of Philadelphia

2010-03-14T21:51:00.000-05:00

Reef The Lost Cauze has had an interesting career, based on his essence as a hip-hop artist. If you listen to dukes albums and tapes, you'll hear an fairly simplistic emcee with an strong resemblance to Obie Trice.
Despite all the straightforward overtones of his lyricism, Reef The Lost Cauze has managed to feature on countless Jedi Mind tracks and landed a spot among the overlords of complexities, Army Of The Pharoahs. Seems type strange to me, but what do I know?
Sound of Philadelphia is the lead single off Reef's 3rd album Feast or Famine.

http://www.mediafire.com/?wdhwlom3eni
http://sharebee.com/4c7874e6

DJ Honda feat. Grand Puba, Sadat X & Wadeem-Straight Talk From NY

2010-03-14T13:59:00.000-05:00

I've read that DJ Honda is all sorts of dick and an extremely unpleasant person to interview. Due to all of dukes' poor reception among the hip-hop press, I've always seen him in some sort of a pseudo-villain role. Still, DJ Honda is well-styled behind the wheels of steel, and always come through with some ill production.
You can expect the same on Straight Talk From New York, although Grand Puba's 'straight talk' may be interpreted as slightly homosexual adoration towards Honda.

http://www.mediafire.com/?1kjzzmimzyf
http://sharebee.com/2eda3222

Roc Marciano feat. UN-UN House

2010-03-13T19:19:00.000-06:00

This is a track off Roc Marcy's Strength And Honor, released back in '04. I'm not sure why, but Marcy decided to collab with his own group on his solo album. You don't see Rae doing a collab joint with all the members of the Wu on his own album. Despite the odd logic, this jawn still knocks more than proper. That LI flow, nahmean?
Lastly, check for Marcberg on 4/20 (you don't need to leave anymore comments Jazz). Personally, I'll have other business to take care of on said date, but to each his own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1p62h1AekA

http://www.mediafire.com/?ojdxuwytyru
http://sharebee.com/dd69ab1d

The Lox-All For The Love

2010-03-13T14:31:00.002-06:00

I can't even count the number of times that I've heard a jawn produced by Swizz Beatz and thought to myself how dukes ever landed a career as an producer. Turns out that back in the day Swizzy used to make dope instrumentals, and eventually sold his soul for riches.
All For The Love derives from The Lox's Money, Power, Respect and is basically two Jada verses, without much help from Sheek or Styles. Still ill.

http://www.mediafire.com/?namuifduu5n
http://sharebee.com/234f1429

Atmosphere-YGM

2010-03-12T23:33:00.000-06:00

This was the intro track to Strictly Leakage, a promo tape that Atmosphere released a year or two back. Because I don't have the patience or hard drive capacity to dig for quality jawns on the Bad Clown series, I bring you YGM. The instrumental sounds a little too pithy to be accredited to Ant's gritty repertoire, but it's definitely a stand-out as far as Strictly Leakage. Same can be said for Slug's punchline-heavy rhymes, but this track definitely works despite the differences in styles.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zizmjd5tny1
http://sharebee.com/7ff57325

Big L feat. 2Pac & Notorious B.I.G.-Deadly Combination

2010-03-12T12:41:00.001-06:00

There's a version of this jawn on L's posthumous The Big Picture, but that version doesn't include Biggie's verse. I found this cut on The Archives 1996-2000, which is more or less the premier tape for L rarities and remixes and the like.
Deadly Combination is surprisingly dope for the great possibility of failure associated with making two (maybe three) legends share the mic. For that reason alone, don't sleep.

http://www.mediafire.com/?0mntthnxxz2
http://sharebee.com/b5a84790

Sean Price feat. Tek-Onion Head

2010-03-11T18:57:00.000-06:00

Who? Sean P?

http://www.mediafire.com/?ejrcyyjdnz0
http://sharebee.com/ff4e5f01

The Grynch & Two Good Men feat. Geologic and Thig Natural-I'm A Dreamer

2010-03-11T12:56:00.000-06:00

You can find this one on Grynch & Two Good Men's Something More EP. I believe it was offered as a free download from BandCamp or something of the like, so you can cop that shit on the free and legal tip if you're so inclined. Regardless how you cop it, make sure you do so, this EP is some truly ill Seattle shit.
I'm A Dreamer is equipped with an dope instrumental and remarkable guest features. The only downside of this jawn is the incredibly corny hook. Still, don't let that stop you.

http://www.mediafire.com/?rwjmdx5wydq
http://sharebee.com/4075cc60

Jadakiss feat. Styles P & Eve-We Gonna Make It

2010-03-10T19:18:00.001-06:00

Just when I was unable to remember some of Alan The Chemist's most potent concoctions, I stumbled upon this jawn. He performed a number on this instrumental, a masterful flip of Samuel Jonathan Johnson's My Music. The hook is all too predictable and simplistic, but Jada manages to fit in quite a few punchlines, all the while P provides an solid background effort.

http://www.mediafire.com/?gozxe2wtwmj
http://sharebee.com/c7a38d18

Euphrates-Buene Testa Anti-Social Club

2010-03-10T12:37:00.000-06:00

Euphrates is one of the more interesting groups I have stumbled upon throughout my hip-hop adventures. Apparently, all three members are Iraqi's and are now located in Montreal. I'm not sure about more current material, but they released A Bend In The River in '03, and it is excellent. Thought-provoking rhymes from intro to outro, and instrumentals that supplement the rhyme skillz.
I also enjoyed the reference behind Buene Testa Anti-Social Club.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ttomztnmzm2
http://sharebee.com/55e7159f

Black Rob-Whoa

2010-03-09T20:58:00.000-06:00

I've never understood all the acclaim that Black Rob accrues. Dukes is a mediocre rapper with no particular penmanship abilities. And I hate to say it, but Black Rob has an abhorrent ear for instrumentals, dude picked out some god-awful beats for Life Story.
Still, Whoa was a big single off that album, and still holds up to be decent 10 or so years after the fact.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zn4xgwmnbmm
http://sharebee.com/4dc028a0

Kool Keith-Time Is Now

2010-03-09T11:49:00.000-06:00

I found this on a tape that the T.R.O.Y blog released a while back, which focused on Stretch & Bobbito demo's. Some honest to life gems on that tape.
Kool Keith's Time Is Now constitutes one of those gems. Dukes sounds immaculate over this jazzy instrumental, dropping that Socrates/Aristotle knowledge.

http://www.mediafire.com/?yfg2jxnhuzg
http://sharebee.com/b2717b1b

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince-Summertime

2010-03-08T18:51:00.000-06:00

This track is still a summertime staple, almost 20 years after it was released. Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith dropped some serious classics back in the day, believe that. It's somewhat ironic that two boys from Philly crafted the atypical Cali windows-down, chronic-puffin', summer time jawn.
On a sidenote, look at Willie's shirt. Speed Racer, come on B!

http://www.mediafire.com/?nmnyznonhyo
http://sharebee.com/4d1bd575

Statik Selektah feat. Termanology & Royce Da 5'9-Come Around

2010-03-08T13:58:00.000-06:00

You can find this on Statik Selektah's newest effort entitled 100 Proof: The Hangover. Another excellent album, but that's what's come to be expected every time Statik drops any material.
On Come Around, he enlists the help of Term and 5'9. On the promo version of this jawn, Kweli appears too, but on the album copy (or mine at least), there is no Kweli verse. Shit, still knocks something proper.

(Not the official version, no Kweli verse on the album)

http://www.mediafire.com/?dmdx4mn4wij
http://sharebee.com/2ae78285

Custom Made-Round Here (We Never Miss)

2010-03-07T18:52:00.000-06:00

Custom Made is a group from Cali, with a very distinctive and soulful sound. They tend to make the same song lots of times over, the only difference being the lyrics and a drum loop or sample here and there.
Still, Round Here (We Never Miss) is a dope jawn. These Cali boys chose an ill sample for the hook, and it makes the track that much more memorable.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ztm4wnzinx0
http://sharebee.com/4ac64419

Sticky Fingaz feat. Raekwon-Money Talks

2010-03-07T11:55:00.000-06:00

Last thing I ever thought I'd be listening to this morning is Sticky Fingaz. Rapps all full of corny racial cliches, and jokes that sound mad stoopid 10 years later. If you're even expecting some low-grade Bacdafucup type muzak, prepare to be more than disappointed.
Money Talks is one of the few listenable tracks to be found on Kirk Jones' Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones. Nothing particularly exceptional, but the Raekwon feature should afford a listen, ehh?

http://www.mediafire.com/?mj55mnm5jrz
http://sharebee.com/a9c99670

People Under The Stairs: Mid-City Fiesta

2010-03-06T22:12:00.000-06:00

I've really been getting into the People Under The Stairs as of late. Upon acquiring the necessary taste to 'enjoy' their particular brand of hip-hop, it's easy to listen to one album after another.
Mid-City Fiesta is a great storytelling jawn, where Thes One and Double K narrate the events of what sounds like a beautiful Cali night.

http://www.mediafire.com/?j234nmnqm5m
http://sharebee.com/f6a2e4eb

Originoo Gunn Clappaz-Danjer

2010-03-06T17:55:00.000-06:00

You can find this one on the OGC's debut album Da Storm. A fairly weak album all things considered, but the Boot Camp Clik membership/affiliation warrants an experimental listen at the least.
Danjer is some shit worth listening to, nahmean? That type 'a shit that might make you forget the OGC's infatuation with storms and lightning bolts.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zkjo2e4tjcn
http://sharebee.com/5101d67c

Tragedy Khadafi & Trez feat. Infamous Mobb and Lotto-Fahrenheit

2010-03-05T22:51:00.000-06:00

Despite my overt Tragedy Khadafi stannery, it took me a lot longer than it should have to check out his newest album with Trez called Lethal Weapon. The god released this album before he went up north, and it's some ill shit to remember him by.
Some more anti-government shit, it ain't no Arrest The President, but still a worthwhile listen, if only to know that Lotto still exists.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mddj2k5mm1y
http://sharebee.com/f126efa8

Jeru The Damaja-How ill

2010-03-05T13:51:00.000-06:00

You can find this one on Jeru's latest effort Still Rising. Although I'm a fan of the Damaja's earlier works, it sounds a bit hypocritical to hear a former/current 5%'er rhymin' 'bout "smoke a blunt with a leprechaun". Still, if you want a glimpse at the old Jeru, How Ill is your best look at it. He rolls deep with the metaphors and similes on this jawn.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zijmm20onmz
http://sharebee.com/c14b0026

MF Doom-Gas Drawls (demo)

2010-03-04T19:05:00.000-06:00

This isn't the jawn off Operation Doomsday, but I've been led to believe it's an earlier version, if not one of Metal Face's og demo's. Regardless, it's the subject matter you've grown accustomed to from Daniel Dumille. Yet, there's an descriptive nature to his verses that is far different from most of the material he releases today.
And I like the grainy quality, it adds a layer of illness. Fuck yo' 192 kbps rips.

(Not the demo version, but plenty similar)

http://www.mediafire.com/?lfbnmmg0vwy
http://sharebee.com/24998f24