T.R.O.Y.

Touring The States: Tulsa, OK

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0000

T-Town native, Dangerous Rob has been in the record industry for 20 years. He recorded his first rap record at the age of 15 with a group named THOB-MOB. After graduating from Edison High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1989, Dangerous Rob went to Langston University in Oklahoma. There he performed in talent shows and rap contests. In 1990 he put his educational goals aside and released his second record. Combined with Partners-N-Rhyme a local rap group, the record was distributed nationwide. It sold more than 10,000 copies of the single "Cold Chillin in the Middle". This popularity allowed him to perform with many big named artists.

In 1995 Dangerous Rob released Bakkk From the Middle which sold over 6,000 copies. "Its a T-Town thing" is a cut that best represents the positive direction that his middlism style is taking him. Middleism is a style that adds a lighter touch to gangsta rap yet still keeps the brutal honesty gangsta rap is famous for.

For more info, visit D-Rob's myspace page.

Dangerous Rob - Bakkk From The Middle (1995)

01. Intro
02. Bakkk From The Middle
03. I Can't Cope
04. Journey Thru The Middle
05. T-Town Thang
06. Do It Dangerous
07. Push-N-Pull (Robmix)
08. Niggaz Gotta Have It
09. B.F.T.M. (Radio)
10. T-Town Thang
11. Jeff's Theme (Outro)

Preview:

DOWNLOAD

-Sharebee is down at the moment, back up links-
Rapidshare
Megaupload

--Markshot

Beef: X-Clan vs. Boogie Down Productions

sonicwater@gmail.com (Cenzi Stiles) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0000

This is a strange and unwanted beef between two crews of straight intellectuals, who both seemed to be on the same page. The main difference was (and probably still is) that one crew is pro-black while the other one was pro-human.

X-CLAN - FIRE AND EARTH

More than a diss record, they just happened to remember Kris's humanist stance, and in this pro-black track they had to air it out:

And here's a message to the Rainbow crew
And their fearless leader, Captain Human:
Revolution is not humanism!
Individualism and not separatism!

Even Professor X (RIP) raps on this one, instead of just "sissying" and "pink cadillacing".

Over and under as I progress to this
Got no time to be hanging out with humanists
Raise a flag, fly the, tag the hand, clutch the fist
Serve we nationally comes the diss
Humanity keep it with us we break edicts

On another track ("Grand Verbalizer") from their first album, Brother J also sends a direct hit to KRS:

Go from go from verb to verb,
Sit back and take heed, brother
YOU must learn!

Now to be fair though, there is an interview with Brother J over at Unkut.com where J states that there never was any hostile situations.

"The original situation with me and Kris wasn’t a beef, it was more of a misunderstanding on the audience’s part(...) All I was trying to state was that black people were not ready at the time for “humanism” views – we don’t have our house clean. (...) So my thing was to him [KRS] “You must learn”, take some time back and sit back and let’s build, sit down with some different elders and see it from different perspective before it goes out there like that. And the crowd instantly took it and said “Ohh, you beefing with KRS, the greatest MC of all time!”

Personally I call bullshit. I guess that memo never got to Kris, 'cause he put on his chef's apron and served them some craaaazy beef.

BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS - BUILD AND DESTROY

The great response by KRS was not only to destroy them as artists, but also went up against their beliefs. The fact that KRS got up in pro-black's asses with his two verses just proved that he wasn't afraid of ANYTHING.

He very cleverly showed and proved that many black men are worse then white devils, using Colin Powell as a great example.

Throw in the towel, the devil is Colin Powell
You talk about being African and being black
Colin Powell's black, but Libya he'll attack
Libya's in Africa, but a black man
will lead a black man, to fight against his homeland
An accomplice to the devil is a devil too
The devil is anti-human, who the hell are you?

He then went up against all philosophies that defend that since the first man from Africa as the original man, therefore all black men are the original man. He even goes up against 5%'s that focus on black man being God.

God is not any black man on the land; God is consciousness
When you understand this you'll see Kris
Until then, you can get dissed

He finishes his diss, or better yet, his lesson, with a mouth smacking teacher-to-student verse:

Yes I am the original teacher
You gotta study the Qu'ran, Torah, Bahavaghita
The Bible, Five Baskets of Buddha Zen
And when you've read them shits, READ them shits again!
But watch what you're repeatin
If you don't know the history of the author
you don't know what you're reading!
Yeah I'm still the original
Leaving MC's lyrically miserable
Their criminal syllables are minimal, show me respect BOY
Cause I build and destroy!

This is a lesser known battle where KRS stomped all over an MC. Brother J never responded, but instead, years later invited KRS to X-Clan's album to "Speak the Truth":

X-CLAN ft. KRS-1 - "Speak the Truth"

-- cenzi stiles

Sunday Treats: A Moment of Silence

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:22:00 +0000

A nice little remix compilation taken from our T.R.O.Y. forum. Peace to weekdaywarrior and Silent Sumone for this. --Philaflava

Download

Philly Retrospective Volume 8

noreply@blogger.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Bringing you volume 8 from my Philadelphia series today. Like the previous ones, this edition has some relatively obscure and very dope cuts. Starting things off strong is 'East Wild West' by Rahsheed. I scored this single for about 3 bucks from a local shop. Favorites are probably numbers 3-5, but the rest are bangers too. I cheated a little bit with the Pittsburgh tracks, hope you like them.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VO6YHTBV

01 (3:23) Rahsheed - East Wild West 1998
02 (2:49) Chief Kamachi - No Me Now 2006
03 (3:24) Tainted Mindz - Any Time Any Place 1994
04 (4:16) Lux - Street Gangsta 1994
05 (3:33) Cipha - Scared To Death 1994
06 (5:12) Krown Rulers - Would You Be My Nigga 1996
07 (4:23) The Goats - Tv Cops 1992
08 (4:07) Chops (Of The Mountain Brothers) - U Aint Got No Wings Up In Here 2003
09 (4:54) The Mountain Brothers - Fluids 1998
10 (3:17) Jedi Mind Tricks - The Winds Of War 1997
11 (3:40) Pete Philly - Self-Expression Ft. Cee Major 2002
12 (4:41) Dept. Of Rec. - Thinking Outside The Box 2001
13 (4:46) Choked Out - Grabahold (Pittsburgh 1997)
14 (3:04) Lu Chipa - Toxic Seeds 1998
15 (3:30) Black Opz - The Difference 1997
16 (4:17) Munk Wit Da Funk - Shadows 1995
17 (3:23) Mel Man - Wreck Shop (Pittsburgh 1993)
18 (1:58) Indikator - Damage (Mixtape Edit) 1994
19 (3:30) Too Deff Connection - Take A Fall 1992
20 (3:31) L. R.o.c.k. - Outstanding 1990

One note, I know Lu Cipha is from Pennsylvania but I'm not sure which city. If anyone out there can tell me I'd love to know. Give this collection a spin, it's got some replay value.

--Schenectadyfan

Trinity reminisce over Roc Raida

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:48:00 +0000

The group Trinity is compromised of emcees AG, Sadat X and turntablist DJ Jab. Check out these videos and be on the look out for the new album dropping on Fat Beats Records very soon. Just how many collabo albums is AG apart of this year? --Philaflava

Who Flipped It Better? "The Rub"

sonicwater@gmail.com (Cenzi Stiles) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:00 +0000

George and Gwen put out "The Rub" back in 1975, on the album "Together". It still sounds perfectly fresh today! Listen as the funk makes you bop your head...

George and Gwen Mc Crae - THE RUB

How many producers out there have heard this and thought, "shit, I shoulda flipped it".

Well, it's well known that no one owns no loops, so, go ahead and compete with the best:

MOBB DEEP-CAME UP

BRAND NUBIAN - THE RETURN

METHOD MAN AND REDMAN - SERIAL KILLER

THE COUP - FAT CATS AND BIGGA FISH:

-cenzi stiles

Sounds Like The 90s (Volume 11)

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

11 volumes deep and we're not stopping anytime soon. Next month we'll be bringing you the Best of Sounds Like The 90s, then regroup for the new year. We're always accepting mp3 and your suggestions to help create these compilations. No more wasting your time, just download this! -Philaflava

Sounds Like The 90s (Volume 11)

01. Juice Crew - Mr. Magic Tribute
02. Cormega - Define Yourself feat. Tragedy Khadafi & Havoc
03. Jay Electronica - Suckas
04. Saigon - Say Yes Pt. 2
05. Beanie Sigel - What You Talkin' Bout
06. Remarkable Mayor - Doomz Day
07. O.C. - Life (Roc Raida Tribue)
08. Senor Kaos - 20 Years High & Rising (Homage To De La Soul) feat. Von Pea & Homeboy Sandman
09. Fashawn - Samsonite Man feat. Blu
10. Sene - WhyBother?
11. People Under The Stairs - DQMOT (Thes One Remix)
12. Del The Funky Homosapien & Tame One - Flashback
13. Cormega - Live And Learn (prod. Pete Rock)
14. Curren$y - On My Way
15. Godamus Rhyme - Mass Appeal feat. Mr. S.O.S.
16. Masta Ace & Edo G - Pass The Mic feat. KRS-One
17. (Bonus Track) Mr. Chop - T.R.O.Y.

Catch up an all 11 volumes here.

Props to Strategy for the tagged version & Blake Reznik and Tal Danan for the sick cover.

In Full Gear, 20 Years Later

sonicwater@gmail.com (Cenzi Stiles) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Some people use candles on cakes to determine their age. Other do the math = this year minus year born. I use Stetsasonic's "In Full Gear". I was only 12 years old when my mind was flipped inside out after being exposed to this majestic album.

This was the record that brought me into the hiphop mindstate that I would never leave again. This is how they should all be: full of clever rhymes, impressive sound, deep layered production and riding on an impressive varying show of musical/hiphop styles in one album.

"Freedom or Death" continues to be my personal motto. Daddy-O says "If I gotta die to be free, well then I guess it gotta be, 'cause I aint never been a sucka see", leaving you no gray area at all in the philosophical arena where second-guessers lose their heads to fully convinced gladiators. These political stands are what made the golden era of hiphop an educational tool that has never been equaled by later generations.

Strong arm beats and lyrics are all over the album, thanks to Delite and Daddy O's unwavering lyrics. "We're The Band" (sampling the same music that BDP would later use for "Blackman In Effect") defines what they are over the sound of a hardcore marching beat. Prince Paul on the production and turntables. Frukwan dropping science on the mic. Wise spitting on the mics, sometimes with beatboxing, at other times with rhymes. Some of the wisest lyrics though, come from MC Delite, who already sounded like an elder on the tracks. DBC was the keyboardist/drummer/DJ. Bobby Simmons has something to do there.. but I don't think he was around for In Full Gear. Anyone wanna school me on him? I just know he has a shitty ass myspace.

To complete the band, we have the ringleader, no doubt; Daddy-O. His gruff voice mixed with his raging lyrics make up the poisonous darts he throws out in every verse on every track of this album. Even when he says "I tape the daytime soaps on the VCR", you come out convinced that daytime soaps are straight gangster. If not, you'll give him his respect after you remember what he spit a few lines before:

"And though I'm not a politician I know all my rights
I had a fight with a cop just last night
Address my girl 'my dear', been shootin guns for years
And I never been a sucker givin in to my peers"

"Stet Troop 88" has Wise on the beatbox mixed with some perfect uppercut-punch-strong programmed beats. "Float On" is just a soft love song, coming equipped with all the rappers horoscope signs and some silly ass whispering. "Pen and Paper" is just a dope hiphop track, an ode to writing your lyrics over a kick ass bassed-beat, and a climaxing simple-but-so-well-placed wicky-wicky scratch. "This is it Y'all" rolls into your ears like that all hiphop tracks should. A perfect beat. A perfect horny stab. A perfect drum roll. Three MC's rolling over the beat like airplane wheels over tarmacs. To lighten the atmosphere, interludes come in and add comedy, "Extensions" would be a perfect track for Chris Rock's latest documentary "Good Hair". "Sally", a song about an ugly but loveable girl. The album just goes all over the place from utilizing heavy metal riffs, ("It's In My Song"), to some deep dubb Miami Bass (with the obvious title "Miami Bass", but actually talking more about), some of you may not need to be reminded how big that bass sound was in the late 80's. Daddy-O had to bring at least one trade mark dancehall track, this one called "ODad".

Music for the Stetfully Insane

The one track that probably get's skipped by a lot of people, just happens to be my all time favorite Prince Paul production (and my funny ass ringtone that gets ALOT of attention when I'm at the bank). "Music for the Stetfully Insane" is an interlude consisting of a fat, real sounding drum loop scratched over a Funkadelic's "Atmosphere", a lengthy Bernie Worrellathon keyboard solo track. Side note: Interesting how 15 years later Paul would work with Bernie Worrel in their monumental album "Baby Elephant".

This album was all about that open-minded theme that so many late 80's records boasted with pride.

But the song that I haven't mentioned yet was the one that would change hiphop single-handedly. "Talking All That Jazz" was an impressive 4 minutes and 49 seconds pièce de résistance that would put Stetsasonic in a whole new plateau. The song talked about the importance of sampling in hiphop, to respect the original artist, help make them relevant to a new generation.

You see, you misunderstood
A sample is a tactic
A portion of my method, a tool
In fact it's only of importance when I make it a priority

Sadly only one year later De La Soul would be taken to court and lose a legal battle over the use of a sample. Biz Markie would lose his battle too. Too many songs have been shelved due to lack of sample clearance. In this respect, the old school will always have that one edge over anything newer. They had way more creativity with samples before the law abiding record industry fucked up the sample-game.

It's borderline insane that this track, that was so historic and iconic in it's prime, usually gets more play on European dancefloors than anywhere else. Let's make up for lost time then, and bump it now, and bump it loud: "TALKING ALL THAT JAZZ"

-- cenzi stiles

Artifacts Rhyme Biting Scandal (Tame One vs. Lo Down)1994

noreply@blogger.com (verge) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Back in the day, maybe sometime in 1994(not positive), I remember listening to Stretch and Bobbito one night when the following occurred:

Stretch or Bob announced that they had received a certain demo in the mail. They played the first verse of said demo, check it out-

Lo Down - Mask Of The Phantom

Well, this verse sounded a little too familiar to the record breaking duo. It rang such a resounding bell because it was the same exact verse Tame One had kicked in a freestyle on their show in the past. They just happened to have that freestyle on hand and immediately played it after that demo. Peep it-

Tame One Freestyle

Yep. Same exact verse. I guess if this happened now a days, it wouldn't mean anything. But we all know that biting, especially straight lyric jacking, was not cool back then. And it still isn't, in our book, right?

I don't remember what exactly ensued after this was exposed, but I don't remember ever seeing many records by the Lo Down crew. It's a shame, too, they had some pretty good beats. Shouldn't have bit.

Download includes full Lo Down song and full Artifacts freestyle.

[Download here.]

[Back up link here.]

Thanks to Mad Human at the T.R.O.Y. forum for uploading the Lo Down EP in our definitive Ill EPs thread. Over a 100 EPs and counting, join in and add on.

Thanks to Roy Johnson for the Artifacts freestyle. I'm pretty sure that's who posted it. If not, claim your props in the comments.

And congratulations to Bobbito for getting his name on the Pro-Keds Royal Flash sneakers.

--Verge

Recap 10/26/09 -11/01/09

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:30:00 +0000

Que pasa, calabasa?

No Tricks, Just Treats

In Retrospect: Pete Nice And Daddy Rich Dust To Dust - Waiting for the pitch so we can chrome your dome.

West Coast Underground Volume I - Gangstas or griots?

Touring The States: Los Angeles, CA - L.A., L.A., big city of obscure tapes.

'89/'90 - "Without definition, you represent the fraudulent..."

Golden Era Classic Selection - Know your history.

dirt_dog Remix Pack 4 - Remix mad kick, more than Metallica.

Rakim - The Seventh Seal Tour (live performance video)

King Sun, Rhymefest & Percee P (live performance video)

November, we go hard. No Antoine Merriwaether.

Rakim - The Seventh Seal Tour (Live @El Rey Theatre) Los Angeles

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:54:00 +0000

"Eric B ain't on the cut, but my name is Rakim"

Check out the live performances of Microphone Fiend, Mahogany, Paid In Full & I Know You Got Soul HERE! Subscribe to my channel, I got something cool from this show that I'll post soon. To see when Rakim is rocking in your city, check the tour dates. Peace.

-- Thomas V

dirt_dog Remix Pack 4

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Of all the remix packs, this is one of my favorites... The Soul Assassins edition. I'll confess that the second track was not taken from a cd single. But it was a Lighter Shade Of Brown CD5 that led me to their album that had this remix as a bonus track. I felt it was 100% necessary to include some other DJ Muggs work from 1992. And I couldn't help but sneak in the U2 track as an obscure off-beat treat. Nothing mind-blowing, but a chance to hear something out of the hip-hop world. If you missed Remix Packs 1, 2 or 3 click HERE.

Remix Pack 4

01 Funkdoobiest-Funkdoobiest-The Funkiest (Lethal Dose Remix)

02 A Lighter Shade Of Brown-Spill The Wine (D.J. Muggs Remix)

03 Cypress Hill-Latin Lingo (Prince Paul Mix)

04 Beastie Boys-So What'cha Want (Soul Assassin Remix Version) feat. B Real

05 House Of Pain-It Ain't A Crime (UK Remix)

Bonus Track

06 U2-Numb (The Soul Assassins Mix)

DOWNLOAD

enjoy,
--dirt_dog

Rakim talks about Dr. Dre and Aftermath

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:38:00 +0000

HardKnockTV got up with the God Rakim to discuss his current relationship with Dr. Dre, why things didn't work out for him at Aftermath and if "Oh My God" will ever come out. Peace to Nick Huff. --Philaflava

Friday Bonus: Golden Era Classic Selection 1991-1998

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:50:00 +0000

Just a treat for you before the weekend kicks off courtesy of the great schenectadyfan.

Golden Era Classic Selection 1991-1998

1. (00:03:25) Deams - Mad Game (New York 1996)
2. (00:03:32) Earthquake - Unfadeable (Washington Dc 1994)
3. (00:04:28) The Mischievous LQ & The Mad Mischief Crew - Representing (New York 1996)
4. (00:05:15) Psyclone - Headz Up (Chicago 1995)
5. (00:04:05) Under Achieva'z - Seems Kinda Strange (Washinton Dc 1996)
6. (00:04:03) Mr. Low Kash N Da Shady Bunch - R.I.P. (New Jersey 1996)
7. (00:03:37) Casual - That's How it is (Disseshowedo Remix) (Oakland Ca 1993)
8. (00:04:23) Black Saturday - What's An Excecutioner ? (Tampa Fl 1992)
9. (00:05:29) Sir Rock T - Smooth Operator (Tulsa Ok 1991)
10. (00:05:19) F1 Network - Mirror Mirror I See A Killer (Hatespells...) (Bay Area Ca 1991)
11. (00:03:25) J Gifted - How To Be A Crook (Washington Dc 1994)
12. (00:05:07) F Mob - Pump Pump (The Vibe) (Philadelphia 1994)
13. (00:03:23) RuggedNess Madd Drama - Checkin Down the Menu (Philadelphia 1994)
14. (00:04:41) Kamakazee - Spread it (Remix) (New York 1996)
15. (00:05:15) C.o.a. & Aleem The Czar - Metropolis (South Carolina 1997)
16. (00:04:01) Black Attack - Rep Da R.I. (Rhode Island 1998)

Download

King Sun, Rhymefest, & Percee P - Oct. 28

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

This past Wednesday, I went to see the god Rakim @The Seventh Seal Tour in LA. Rhymefest is touring with Rakim. The video I'm posting is just incredible! Let me tell you the story. First, Rhymefest was doing his thing on stage and then he asked if there were any mc's in the crowd. Percee P, who was in the crowd, tried to catch Rhymefest intention but he didn't recognize him at first. Rhymefest even said something like "You got cds? You gotta be good to press up your own shit". After he found out that it was Percee P, Rhymefest went on to rhyme "I'm Percee P, P stands for pimp...". A couple minutes after that, who do I see coming in the crowd? King Sun! He went close to the stage, Percee P praised him. Then he saw Rhymefest and got on stage. The video starts with Rhymefest introducing the legendary King Sun, who then asks Percee P to jump on stage. Percee P didn't touch the mic but King Sun killed it when he mentioned him throwing his cds!

I also recorded footage from Rakim's performance which I have to do some editing before I post it. One thing I'm going to tell you is that there was this security guard that kept telling me & my bro to stop recording. Because of this shit, I didn't get to record this moment when King Sun praised Rakim live on stage. I'm still mad about not getting it on tape! It was legendary!

One last thing, my brother got to talk to King Sun and while talking about the Strictly Ghetto EP, Sun told him that the track "Street Corner" was Mr. Magic's last appearance on a record. R.I.P Mr. Magic.

-- Thomas V

'89/'90

noreply@blogger.com (Thun) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Inward or outward, build or destroy. "It's nation time!" versus "Da Inner Sound, Ya'll!" If you're lucky enough to have a record deal and you desire immortality you claim a movement through liner notes. For those of you just tuning in ,this is like a precursor to a Facebook group. Or think back to how the average nobody does the same through a yearbook caption or presses a sharpie onto the cheap vinyl of a schoolbus seat.

Chuck D. imagines an improbably continuum of dynasties blending into each other through a seasonal series of bloodless coups marching from new school to the nextest. Everyone is a self-annointed crown ruler, the heir to the throne of a nation not visible on any of his maps. There are no in-betweens here. No soda jerks, no drywall installers, no city job underlings, no secretaries or cashiers. Only kings, queens, gods, earths, lords, grandmasters overseeing principalities carved delicately out of the tawdry, bustling blocks of NYC and all outlaying counties.

Our legacy is stolen and obscured sixty six trillion times over, so we figure we have a right to locate our origins. Recolonization. Africa speaks to us coherently through James Brown's grunts but having exhausted that arsenal we are now ready to whisk ourselves away to the futurist technojungle of Afrika-Akebulan-Asia. This realm haunts us like a Freudian motif, we see it everywhere and point at it like madmen hallucinating. It's in the [obviously European styled] button down shirts with the psychcadelic prints, it's in the low hum emanating from the Jeep Wrangler safari, it's in the way she winds to the reggae cut, processed hair flailing to and fro.

Insanity, for certain, but insanity as a response to greater insanity is nothing new. Frantz Fanon once wrote at length about the absurd commercial relationship between the enslaver and the colonized, but we gloss over that part of the book. It's time to bedeck ourselves in finery - red, black, and green to the extent that Roy Ayers would blush at our get ups. Thrown in the blues and purples and yellows we've been racking from the sportswear plantations and for a brief technicolor dreamcoat moment we think we are not co-opted, that our culture is in fact our freedom.

We are a garish horde, driven by consumption, making Benetton ads look positively homogenous. Some of us start cultural awareness clubs at school and like NYOIL have to defend such choices later. But it was the coerced norm within our comfortably fragile bubble of celebrated otherness, and when that norm popped, it popped for good. Soulquarian lounginess, spoken word patchouli wafting, "Yes We Can!"-ism - none of that shit ever came close to matching the gaudy stylistic intensity and spacey optimism of '89/'90. How it slipped through out fingers is anyone's guess - it's not like the shit really went Hollywood, it just floated on or dissipated.

Like some nearly narctoic dream, in which we were the soul controllers. Where every drum machine, sampled composition, and metered verse was stitched together by pure Nubian sprites, and not a devil in sight. We can peek into this moment from time to time but it never feels the same, it seems so quaint, so contradictory and capricious. Never mind that the youth return to the brutal color combinations and impossible hopefulness every once in a crescent moon. We see and hear the obvious parallels but resist them like bad medicine, as if saying "fuck the youth" is as profound as our former inclination to say "fuck everything except the youth."

In our ears, they get it but they don't get it - there's something about Q-Tip's lazy but focused repetition "fallin skies babe, open eyes babe, can't you see what lays inside babe" that must be transcendent and unique, right? And if it's a little whimsical or silly for today's youth, so what? You got Brother J's matter-of-fact call to nationalism on "Raise The Flag" where he delivers a decidedly youthful and daringly happy style, never to use it again. A moment of youthful expression never quite rekindled by the Grand Verbalizer himself, so how could some kid today ever pick up the torch, and build the tribe, keep the colors alive, etc?

We jam this shit in 2009 like it's going out of style, the iPod guaranteeing musical anonymity, insularity. We could all be brave like Shawn Taylor and flock to mass transit rocking the same Zubaz that Q-Tip and company rocked in the ridiculous "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo" video and try to get these youngins to groove to the boom-bip. Or don a jumbo ankh and a walking stick and preach to the wayward souls of Washington Heights like X-Clan. But it all seems so fragile, so pointless. Do we have the presence of mind to locate a single YZ among the meretricious masses of today? Or was that bubble even weaker than we thought?

-- Thun

Touring The States: Los Angeles, CA

noreply@blogger.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Mr. X is from South Central L.A. His collaboration with famous producer QDIII, resulted in what may be considered a classic release for fans of G-funk. This album is best known for the summer anthem "Any Ole Sunday."

His first two singles, "Any Ole Sunday" and "One Time (At My Door)" were dropped on Jungle Records, QDIII's label (according to discogs). The single "Flossin" and his self-titled album were also dropped on Jungle Records but they were distributed through Qwest Records, a joint venture between Quincy Jones (QDIII's legendary father) and Warner Bros. Records.
Enjoy.

Mr. X - Mr. X (1995)

01. Playa Hater
02. Active Crew
03. Dear God
04. Flossin'
05. Low Rider
06. Puttin' In Work
07. Can't Fade The Funk
08. Slippin'
09. So High
10. Playa's Life
11. Comin' From The Head
12. True To This
13. One Time (At My Door)
14. Any Ole Sunday

DOWNLOAD

Any Ole Sunday VLS (1995)
01. Any Ole Sunday (Radio Edit)
02. Any Ole Sunday (Radio Edit II)
03. Any Ole Sunday (LP Version)
04. Any Ole Sunday (Instrumental)
05. Any Ole Sunday (Accapella)

DOWNLOAD

Flossin CDS (1996)
01. Flossin (Radio Version)
02. Flossin (No Rap Version)
03. Flossin (Remix)
04. Flossin (Instrumental)
05. Active Crew (Album Version)
06. Active Crew (Instrumental)

DOWNLOAD

--Markshot

Roy's West Coast Underground Volume 1

noreply@blogger.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

What's up, TROY fans. I've been on hiatus for a couple months, but now I'm back in full effect. I got six volumes of my favorite early-to-mid 90s west coast underground tracks on tap, so check back regularly. You may have noticed that I have a severe east coast bias, but this is also reflected in the type of west coast hip hop that I enjoy. I'll be adhering to a strict time frame (1992-1996), with a focus on artists such as Aceyalone, Freestyle Fellowship, Ras Kass, The Pharcyde, Del, Casual, Pep Love, Souls Of Mischief, Blackalicious, Saafir, Homeliss Derilex, Mannish, Chali 2na, Charizma, The Dereliks, Ahmad, Motion Man, E-Rule, Lateef, The Atban Klann, Funkytown Pros, The Nonce, Madlib, Mystik Journeymen, Abstract Rude, etc.

Before you download these compilations, give this track a listen:

James Sumbi - Sunshine Men (1991)

And with that, I present to you: The Sunshine Men.

Side One
1. Mannish - The Impact Of My Insanity
2. Aceyalone - The Greatest Show On Earth
3. Ras Kass - Remain Anonymous
4. Mannish - Mannish (Instrumental)
5. Dereliks - Iz On Some Other....
6. Blackalicious - Count And Estimate
7. Motion Man - 93 Swing
8. Peanut Butter Wolf - The Chronicles (Instrumental)
9. The Nonce - Mix Tapes
10. Charizma - Methods
11. Chali 2na - Who's Gonna Be The Next Victim
12. Casual - Rock On (Instrumental)
13. Casual, Pep Love & Del - Who's It On
14. Saafir - Can U Feel Me
15. Freestyle Fellowship - Hot Potato
16. Freestyle Fellowship - Pure Thought (Instrumental)
http://www.mediafire.com/?1m5rty4hem0

Side Two
1. Del - You're In Shambles
2. Homeliss Derilex - Survivin' The Game
3. Ras Kass, Saafir & Ahmad - Come Widdit
4. Alkaholiks - Mary Jane (Instrumental)
5. Atban Klann - No Sequel
6. Madlib - Get Down And Go For Mine '95
7. Funkytown Pros - The Remedy
8. The Nonce - Who Falls Apart (Instrumental)
9. E-Rule - My Synopsis
10. Lateef - The Wreckoning
11. Mystik Journeymen - Depths Of Survival
12. The Pharcyde - Otha Fish (Instrumental)
13. The Pharcyde - Bullshit
14. Aceyalone & Abstract Rude - Keep It True
15. Souls Of Mischief - 93 'Til Infinity
16. Peanut Butter Wolf - Lunar Props (Instrumental)
http://www.mediafire.com/?gterkjmhnvn

Preview:

Mannish - The Impact Of My Insanity

Dereliks - Iz On Some Other....

Blackalicious - Count And Estimate

Motion Man - 93 Swing

Charizma - Methods

Chali 2na - Who's Gonna Be The Next Victim

Homeliss Derilex - Survivin' The Game

Madlib - Get Down And Go For Mine '95

Props to dirt dog for the ill cover.

--Roy Johnson

In Retrospect - Pete Nice & Daddy Rich - Dust To Dust

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

This isn't the first time I touched this topic on T.R.O.Y. because for some unexplainable reason I'm attached to this album. '93 was a year of classics, but it also contains many great obscure releases that fell by the wayside too. Let me start off by saying I was never a huge 3rd Bass fan. They had a few tracks I've enjoyed but for the most part they (mainly Serch) always came off a bit corny to me. Pete, not so much, he always had that cool swagger that made him a little less contrived than his counterpart. When the group broke up I don't think anyone shed a tear. They had a good run but their time was over. Hip-hop was moving in a different direction and did not contain 2 white boys rapping about the same humdrum shit for another 6 years.

No one can deny the hits they had, whether it was "The Gas Face," "Pop Goes The Weasel," "Steppin' To The A.M" or the Marley laced "Product Of The Environment." Two white dudes lucky to have careers in a black dominated sport enjoying every minute of it. They were not poet laureates. One rapper was the self-loathing lighthearted guy, while the other played the too cool for school steelo. Together it worked and with the help of Prince Paul, The Bomb Squad and some respectable co-signs from people ranging from EPMD, Henry Rollins to Russell Simons 3rd Bass become a legit rap act.

So where does that leave us? '92 the group officially split, Serch was dabbling in the production game with female rapper Boss, The Zebrahead soundtrack, and let us not forget finagling his way into one of the most important rap signings of all-time (Nas). He dropped a lackluster solo titled Return of the Product, which included the hit "Back To The Grill" with Nasty Nas, Chubb Rock & Red Hot Lover Tone. But other then that track, which gained notoriety for its use by Kid Capri Def Comedy Jam, the album fell flat.

A year after the breakup Pete Nice got the call from Russell Simmons and before you knew it "Dust To Dust" was in stores. With the help of friends K.M.D (MF Doom), Sam Sever and The Beatnuts, the production on Dust To Dust was really gratifying. Samples ranging from Velvet Underground. Iron Butterfly, X-Clan, Otis Redding, Ramsey Lewis to Frank Sinatra combine to bring forth an eccentric background for Pete Nice's verbals. I still can't tell you what DJ Richie Rich actually did. Street cred employee?

Tracks like Rat Bastard, Kick The Bobo, Verbal Message, The Lumberjack, The Rapsody, 3 Blind Mice featuring Kurious or Rich Bring 'Em Back" featuring the debut of Cage help balance out the album. Check it out! --Philaflava

Download Dust To Dust here!

Cop Dust To Dust for $0.75 here!

Where is Pete Nice today? Well after quiting the rap game Pete started his own Baseball memorabilia store in Cooperstown. In 2003, he published his first book, Baseball Legends of Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery, under his real name. He has also been working to secure some property for an official grave site of Negro League players.

In early 2008, Pete opened McGreevy's 3rd Base Bar, a sports bar in Boston with Dropkick Murphys' band member Ken Casey. The bar recently was named Best Sports Bar In Boston by Citysearch.

Recap - This Year, Halloween Falls On a Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Thun) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:38:00 +0000

Mega-trife and we killed you in a past life.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop Compilation - And it don't quit.

Sick Soldiers (Sick Jacken) - From Psycho Realm to international solo success.

Classic Imaginary EP: Black Sheep "Non-Fiction" Abridged - The album was better than you remember, if a bit inconsistent. Here it is, trimmed down and ready for your iPod.

dirt_dog remix pack 3 - Some people don't have every song and it's the choice to arrange them together that matters. Try not to forget that.

In Retrospect: Brand Nubian "Everything is Everything" - The Nubians mastered their in-house production style, took on a daring bi-coastal approach to their sound, and ripped every track. So why did you ignore this back in '94?

Rob Base vs. Audio Two - Two high pitched rappers with similar over-enunciated styles, both making fairly overt references to each other's lyrics. Coincidence? Some idiots seem to think so.

Outkast "Elevators" (a home grown remix) - Our forums bubble with creativity.

East Coast 12" Rarities Vol 4&5 - When the East is in the house - oh my gawd!

DJ Revolution - Class of '86 - Regardless of whether or not The Wake Up Show currently appeals to the Scandinavian market, this mix is great.

Example - Impulses EP (Houston 1997) - Because people from Texas other than MC UGK make rap music too, you know.

?uestlove "The Lesson Sample Mix" 2005 - No huge surprises here, but a great mix, especially well suited for playing among your sample-illiterate friends.

Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force - Live @Greek Theatre LA (9.13.09)

DJ Rob One - Gavin Mixtape - R.I.P. to the college radio mixshow legend.

More on the way. We're all cider and campfire these days.

DJ Rob One - Gavin Mixtape 1995

noreply@blogger.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

DJ Rob One was one of the more influential DJs in the LA underground until March 16, 2000 when he passed away after a battle with cancer. He used to host a very successful radio show in L.A. at CSUN (Cal State University Northridge) called "The Fly ID Show." Here's a mixtape that he released in 1995. Contains music by Gang Starr, Lords of The Underground (w/ a drop), Big Shug (w/ a drop), Digable Planets, AZ, etc. It's a really dope mix!

Download

-- Thomas V

I got this off ebay from a seller who converted his old dub-tapes into cdr's. He's only selling the cds for 2.99! I suggest that everybody go and purchase his items! Props to aplie1!

R.I.P. DJ Rob One

Coach Ace (Masta Ace)

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:55:00 +0000

Gasface stays putting out dope videos. Here is their latest with Masta Ace breaking down the history between him and Marley and why he doesn't tour during football season. --Philaflava

Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force - Live @Greek Theatre LA (9.13.09)

noreply@blogger.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Enjoy,

Looking For a Perfect Beat (Live)
Renegades of Funk (Live)
Planet Rock (Live)

20 Min.
Download

-- Thomas V

?uestlove “The Lesson Sample Mix” (2005)

blog.philaflava@gmail.com (T.R.O.Y.) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

I picked up this file off some torrent site a few years ago and since then, it's been in regular rotation on my iPod. I'm not normally into sample mixes, but for some reason this one has a special place for me that I've never been able to explain. It is taken from the radio and there are a couple station drops, but it doesn't interfere with the quality of ?uestlove's mix.

01. Arc Choir - "Jesus Walks" (Mapleshade) (Kanye West - "Jesus Walks" (Roc-A-Fella))
02. Nu Birth - "You're What I'm All About" (?) (Biggie Smalls - "Player Anthem (X-Ray))
03. The Whatnaughts - "I'll Erase Away Your Pain" (Priority) (Kanye West - "Late" (Roc-A-Fella))
04. Main Ingredient - "Let Me Prove My Love To You" (RCA) (Alicia Keys - "You Don't Know My Name" (J Records))
05. Silvia Striplin - "You Can't Turn Me Away" (Charly) (Junior M.A.F.I.A. - "Get Money" (X-Ray))
06. The Temptations - "I Don't Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky" (Motown) (Common - "The Corner" (Geffen))
07. Honey Cone - "Innocent Till Proven Guilty" (Fantasy) (Common - "Testify" (Geffen))
08. DJ Rogers - "Faithful To The End" (RCA) (Common - "Faithful" (Geffen))
09. Luchi DeJesus - "Round About Midnight" (?) (KRS ONE - "A Friend" (Jive))
10. Dynasty - "Adventures In The World Of Music" (Solar/Sequal) (Camp-Lo - "Luchini" (Profile))
11. Willie Mitchell - "Grovin'" (Hi) (GZA - "Liquid Swords" (Geffen))
12. Wendy Renay – "After The Laughter Come Tears" (Stax/Altanta) (Wu Tang Clan - "Tearz" (Loud))
13. The Charmels - "I'll Never Grow Old" (Stax/Altanta) (Wu Tang Clan - "Cream" (RCA))
14. Dione Warwick - "You're Gonna Need Me" (Invictions) (Usher - "Throwback" (Arista))
15. Billy Cobham - "Heather" (Wounded Bird) (Souls of Mischief - "93 Till Infinity" (Jive))
16. Beherd Wright - "Halboglabotribin'" (BMG) (Snoop Dogg - "Gz & Hustlaz" (Death Row))
17. Jack Bruce - "Born 2 Be Blue" (Atco) (Smith N Wesssun - "Buck Town" (?))
18. Aretha Franklin - "Call Me" (Rhino/Atlanta) (Slum Village - "Selfish" (Capitol))
19. Quincy Jones - "Summer In The City" (A&M) (Pharcyde - "Passin Me By" (Delicious Vinyl))
20. Joe Simons - "Before The Nite's Over" (?) (Outkast - "So Fresh & So Clean" (Arista))
21. Peabo Bryson - "Born 2 Love" (Unknown) (Nas - "2nd Childhood" (Sony))
22. The Chi-Lites - "That's How Long I Love You" (Unknown) (Jay Z - "Dec 4" (Roc-A-Fella))
23. Abdel Halim-Hefes - "Khasiaraya-Gar" (EMI Arabia) (Jay Z - "Big Pimpin'" (Roc-A-Fella))
24. Labi Siffre - "I Got The" (Mr Bongo) (Eminem - "My Name Is" (Aftermath)/Jay Z - "The Streets Is Watching" (Roc-A-Fella))
25. Samuel Johnson - "My Music" (Columbia) (Jadakiss - "We're Gonna Make It" (Ruff Ryders/Interscope))
26. Milt Jackson - "Olinga" (CTI) (Tribe Called Quest - "Award Tour" (Jive))
27. War - "Magic Mountain" (Rhino) (De La Soul - "Potholes In My Lawn" (Tommy Boy))
28. Ahmad Jamal - "Swahililand" (20th Century) (De La Soul - "Stakes Is High" (Tommy Boy))
39. Gap Mangione - "Diana In The Autumn Wind" (GRC) (Slum Village - "Fall In Love" (Capitol)/Jaylib - "Official" (Stones Throw))
40. David McCallum - "The Edge" (Capitol) (Dr Dre - "Next Episode" (Aftermath))
41. Creative Source - "I Can't See Myself Without You" (Sussex/Polydor) (Freeway - "What We Do" (Unknown))
42. Average White Band - "Love Your Life" (Rhino) (Tribe Called Quest - "Check The Rhyme" (Jive))
43. Funkadelic - "Let's Take It To The People" (Westbound) (Tribe Called Quest - "Everything Is Fair" (Jive))
44. Ronnie Foster - "Mystic Brew" (Blue Note) (Tribe Called Quest - "Electric Relaxation" (Jive))
45. The Chi-Lites - "Are You My Woman?" (Brunswick/Eugene) (Beyonce - "Crazy In Love" (Columbia))
46. The Meters - "Oh Calcutta!" (Josie) (Amerie - "One Thing" (Sony))
47. McCoy Tyner - "Impressions" (Milestone/OJC) (Black Sheep - "The Choice Is Yours" (Mercury))
49. Nirvana - "Indiana" (White) (The Roots - "Dynamite" (Geffen))

Download

enjoy,
--dirt_dog

Example - Impulses EP (Houston 1997)

noreply@blogger.com (verge) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Here's an extremely dope EP out of Houston, Texas. DJ Cipher and Dekay(who would later become known as the rhyming half of the BBE duo Nicolay and Kay) formed the group Example and in 1997 dropped only limited copies of this gem of a record. I first heard the track "Slow Motion" on DJ Eli's Night Train radio program on WKCR. I had no idea who this group was or what this record was until about a year ago. Thank you internets, T.R.O.Y. forum, and Crates Of Ag for making me aware of this ill piece of work.

We've already introduced you to "Slow Motion" with the sample for it here and The Moaning comp and mix here. Other stand out cuts on this are "Recollect", "7-26-96", and "Strive". But really, there's nothing wack on here at all. "Recollect" is on some serious summer time, feel good, anthem status, so don't sleep on that one.

Click the links in this post to see what these cats are up to now and click the highlighted tracks for previews.

01. i.e. intro

02. 7 - 26 - 96

03. The Strive

04. Slow Motion

05. Endless

06. Recollect

07. E.T.A.

08. i.e. outro

Freshly ripped from vinyl at 320kbps:

[mediafire link]

[megaupload link]

--Verge