Re-posted May 1st, 2011

Download Episode 9: 90s Dance Jam

Track List:

DJ Elyte and I put this mix out on CD in July when we moved the 90s Dance Jam from Redline to Middlesex Lounge. It was basically designed to play on blast at house parties. Elyte and I had a lot of fun with all of the blends and mixes. Some of my personal favorites are going from Naughty by Nature’s “Everything is Gonna Be Alright” to Father MC and Jodeci’s version of the song, Jade’s “Don’t Walk Away Boy” into Cece Penniston’s “Keep On Walking”, and SWV’s “Right Here (Human Nature Mix)” into Nas’s “It Ain’t Hard to Tell.” Hopefully this mix will help you reminisce and remind you of a time where are all we did was “Party and Bullshit.”

I drew from worlwide musical influences for this eclectic mix of good music plain and simple. Brazilian, Latin American, African, and European styles are all here for you to enjoy.

Download Episode 8: Good Music

Track Listing:

Hey Pocky Away- The Meters
Real, Real- Nina Simone
Ain’t No Sunshine- Kashmere Stage Band (J. Rocc Remix)
La Cumbia Cienaguera- Cimaloquera
Mais Que Nada- Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66
Joven- Cuco Valoy
N.E.S.T.A.- Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
One Note Samba- Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66
Creature Feature- Billy Preston
Seasons (Dhundee Remix)- Grey Reverend
Dim Light- Manolo Escobas
Magic Number (Todd Terje Edit)- Herbie Hancock
Gatekeeper- Feist
Technologystolemyvinyl- Moodyman
The Angels- Dom Um Romao

I wanted to make another mix that wasn’t all hip-hop ever since I posted our old Jazz mix from high school. So I gathered records from my fathers collection, hit up some local record stores in Cambridge (only a few still exist), dug into my own supply, and borrowed some more jams from DJ Elyte. The only criteria that I had for this mix was that I must enjoy the music and there should be a heavy percussion element in most of the songs. I liked what this criteria was doing for the mix, but I decided to throw in a Feist track with no percussion just to keep the listener off balance. You will hear that there is a large Latin American and Brazilian infuence to this mix and I think this stems for my days living in San Juan and the types of music I encountered there. A little something different from Ross The Boss. I hope you like it.

I went Diggin in the crates for this all vinyl classic 90s hip hop mix. No Serato or mp3s with this one. Strictly vinyl, strictly 90s. Shout out to DJ Elyte for opening up his crates to add to my own collection.

Re-Posted May 1st, 2011

Download Episode 7: Diggin in the 90s

Track Listing:

Intro: Straight From the Heart
Smif & Wesson- Stand Strong (’95)
Mad Skills- Skills in ’95 (’95)
Gangstarr- Mostly Tha Voice (’94)
O.C.- Word Life (’94)
Artifacts- Wrong Side of the Tracks (’94)
Large Professor- I Just Wanna Chill (’96)
Group Home- Tha Realness (’96)
D&D Project- 1, 2 Pass It (’95)
D.I.T.C.- Day One (’97)
Lords of the Underground- Funky Child (’92)
Das EFX- Mic Checka (’92)
A Tribe Called Quest- Lyrics to Go (’93)
Jeru The Damaja- Can’t Stop the Prophet (Pete Rock Remix) (’94)
Nas- One Love (’94)
Method Man ft. Mary J. Blige- All I Need (’94)
Mobb Deep- Give Up the Goods (’95)
Common Sense- Resurrection (Large Professor Remix) (’95)
Showbiz & AG- Next Level (’95)
Black Thought & Malik B- Meiso (DJ Shadow Remix) (’96)

I have recently been inspired by our 90s Dance Jams at the Redline in Harvard Square and also by the unbelievable live 90s mixes by Funkmaster Flex on the radio. I just had to dig into my own record collection and borrow a couple of tunes from DJ Elyte to mix some of my favorite Hip Hop tracks from the 90s. I grew up listening to 90s Hip Hop and the raw drum sounds and horn samples that came out of that era will forever be with me. The lyrics were also much more inspired and original during this era and for me the 90s style is one that is truly missing from Hip Hop today. This mix is the first of two mixes dedicated to the 90s. Look out for the second one in which I will collaborate with DJ Elyte for a more commercial, booty shaking, danceable, 90s mix. It will even feature some great House jams from that era. I’m out like shout. Aiight chill.

DJ Elyte and I made this Jazz mix in 1999 and gave it to all of our friends for the winter holidays. It’s a collection of our favorite tunes hosted by Rahsaan Roland Kirk. All vinyl, all borrowed from our fathers.

Download Episode 5: Jazz We Got Side A

Track Listing:

Bosstro
Words from Rahsaan
Dexter Gordan- A Night in Tunisia
Eric Jackson- A Tribute to Miles
Miles Davis- ‘Round Midnight
Sonny Rollins- St. Thomas
John Coltrane- In A Sentimental Mood
Brown & Roach- Take the A Train
Thelonius Monk- Well You Needn’t
Nat Adderley- Work Song
Charlie Parker- Ornithology
Carmen McRae- I Didn’t Know

Not too long ago DJ Elyte gave me one of the rare copies of this mix on tape so that I could transfer it to digital and upload it onto my podcast. As you can tell from listening to this mix it was obviously transferred from tape and I wasn’t able to get rid of the underwater sounds that resulted from wear and tear. However, the soul of the tape is very much intact and most of the songs still sound very good.

Elyte and I were into some very heady Jazz when we were in high school and we obviously had a liking for the saxophone as many of the most famous saxophone artists dominate this mix. We liked sax and piano solos that were considered a little out there or were even sometimes intentionally off key. We were into Be-Bop that was trying to be different and set itself aside from the mainstream jazz that was messing up the scene. Monk and Coltrane were pioneers in the Be-Bop movement and were a big part of our lives in high school. They made us realize that Jazz was an art of true geniuses and we could only hope to play it at a very basic level. Nonetheless, Jazz and DJing were important creative outlets in our adolescence and have shaped the people that we are today.

I have to give thanks to my drum teacher in elementary school, Keith Gibson, for introducing me to Jazz and hooking me up with discounted lessons at the Longy School of Music. Wayne Miller, my first piano teacher for encouraging my interest. Peter Casino, my first real Jazz piano teacher for teaching me most of what I still know. And of course, Bob Ponte, the Jazz Ensemble teacher in High School who was mostly an asshole but was truly dedicated to his students.

This mix features my favorite women in hip-hop showing off their lyrical skills. Shout out to all the women who made guest appearances on this mix.

Download Episode 4: Ladies Love RTB

Track Listing:

U.N.I.T.Y.- Queen Latifah
Lost One- Lauryn Hill
Nickel Bag of Funk- Ladybug
Set The Mood- Indeed
Queen Bitch- Lil’ Kim
Ching Ching- Miss Jade ft. Nelly Furtado
Waterfalls- Left Eye
Twice Inna Lifetime- Jane Doe
How Many Mics- Lauryn Hill
(Holy Matrimony) A Letter to the Firm- Foxy Brown
Put Ya Lighters Up- Lil’ Kim
What They Call Me- Rah Digga
Gotta Man- Eve
Let’s Talk About Sex- Salt-N-Peppa
Hat 2 The Back- TLC
Ain’t Too Proud 2 Beg- TLC
Paper Thin- MC Lyte
Let it Bump- Missy Elliot
Sunshowers- M.I.A.

There are way too many great female emcees to fit them all on one mix, but I tried to fit in most of my favorites. Bahamadia, Apani B. Fly Emcee, Jean Grae, and Lil’ Mama (yeah that’s right, she’s ill) are just a few of the deserving emcees who didn’t make the cut.

This mix marks the first time that guests have appeared on Ross The Boss Radio, but what is a radio show without guests? Much love goes out to those beautiful guests who do so much in their lives and still make time to listen to Ross The Boss Radio.

If you like any of the free music on these podcasts or posted on this site please support the featured artists by buying their music.

Stop hating on reggaeton. RTB said so.

Download BONUS MIX: Cara De Gringo

Track Listing:

Intro- Stop Hatin’
Vamos Alla- Audi ft. Dani Fornaris
Se Vale To-To- Calle 13
Cuchi Cuchi- LG ft. Dani Fornaris
Chulin, Culin, Chunfly- Voltio ft. Calle 13
Que Pajo Shorty?- Ross The Boss
Los Bandoleros- Don Omar ft. Tego Calderon
La Jirafa- Calle 13
Chillin’- Tego Calderon ft. Don Omar

Some folks prefer to sleep on reggaeton or bad mouth it all together, but everyone must respect certain artists in the genre that consistently bring that fire. A few of my favorites are on the bonus mix above.

All of these beats are ridiculous and the majority of them are produced by Dani Fornaris who is making a name for himself as he takes that Luny Tunes style of electronic reggaeton one step further. There are also a lot of Calle 13 tracks on this mix and while these guys can get a little annoying after a while, I do feel that they bring a lot of creativity to reggaeton. Plus I like their politics, especially after they did a track dedicated to Filiberto Ojeda Rios entitled “Quierido FBI.” Of course I had to put Tego and Don Omar on the mix, but I left Daddy Yankee out, sorry ya’ll, it’s just a bonus mix anyway.

From Atlanta to LA, RTB learns you what happens when you mix the dirty originators with the west’s best analog beat technician.

Download Episode 2: Outlibbed – Outkast X Madlib

Throw Some D’s (Remix)- Rich Boy ft. Andre 3000
Walk it Out (Remix)- Unk ft. Andre 3000
Mighty O- Outkast
Git Up, Git Out- Outkast
Two Dope Boyz in a Cadillac- Outkast
Wailin’- Outkast
Chonkyfire- Outkast
Da Art of Storytellin (Part 1)- Outkast
Xplosion- Outkast
The Show- Talib Kweli and Madlib
Ridiculous Piano- Madlib, Common, Boss on the Piano
Wild Child- Madlib and Wild Child
Curls- Madvillian
Definition of Ill- Madlib and Planet Asia
Montara- Madlib Blue Note Remixes
Accordian- Madvillian
Shopping Bags- De La Soul and Madlib
Spanish Bells (High Dreams)- Madlib
Outro/The Comeback- Madlib and Ross The Boss

Growing up in the north east I wanted to make a mix that spoke to music from a different part of the country. Outkast (Atlanta) and Madlib (Los Angeles) are some of the most innovative producers and emcees out there. They are both truly hip hop and at times truly weird so I thought they would go together really well.

I had to start off this mix with the remix’s of “Throw Some D’s” and “Walk It Out.” Both of these songs have great beats that really get into your head, but the original versions leave something to be desired, lyrically speaking. I am so glad that Andre decided to drop verses on these tracks because he really turns an average song into something so special. His lyrics are not only funny, but insightful, political, and deeply metaphoric. He saves both of the songs and adds a poetry to them that makes me respect the beats and the artists.
I chose the Outkast tracks that follow because they are some of my favorite and more non-traditional hip hop tracks that they have created. Songs like Chonkyfire and Explosion are great examples of how innovative and trendsetting Dre and Big Boi really are.

I start out the Madlib section of the mix with a track from a Kweli/Madlib collabo album entitled “Liberation.” This album was given out free for a week at the begining of the year and it is a real gem. I must applaud these two for spreading the love for good music. The following track is a Madlib instrumental that I layed down a “ridiculous piano” solo over. You didn’t know Ross The Boss played piano too!! The tracks that follow are some of my favorite Madlib produced songs including one from the mid 90s and a couple of great MF Doom tracks. My favorite Quasimoto track “Axe Puzzles” didn’t make the mix but it was a hard decision for me to leave it out. The outro song “The Comeback” is such a soulful production and can either make you so sad or so happy and that is one indicator of what great art should do.

Please remember to support these artists by purchasing their music.

The producer/emcee genius known as J Dilla has been putting out beats and flows for over a decade. This episode is a sampling of some of my favorites mixed together for your listening pleasure.

Download Episode 1: A Tribute To J-Dilla

Track Listing:

Bosstro
Don’t Cry- J Dilla
Show Me What You Got- Busta Rhymes
Give It Up- J Dilla
Whip You With a Strap- Ghostface
F*ck The Police- J Dilla
Verbal Clap- De La Soul
Love Jones- J Dilla
Starz- Jaylib
Reminisce- Bilal ft. Mos Def
Got Til it’s Gone- Janet Jackson ft. Q-Tip
Look of Love- Slum Village
Body Movin- J Dilla
Rico Suave Bossa Nova- J Dilla
Time Travelin Reprise- J Dilla
Get a Hold- A Tribe Called Quest
Star 69*- Common
Thelonious- Slum Village ft. Common
The Rhyme (Remix)- Keith Murray
Dynamite- The Roots
Drop- Pharcyde
Players- Slum Village
Stressed Out- A Tribe Called Quest
Can’t Stop This- The Roots

I am really proud of this tribute because it showcases the different production styles of Dilla and highlights the emcees that he collaborated with. I made this mix before his latest album “Ruff Draft” was released so that is why some dope tracks like “The $” and “Crushin” are not included in this mix, but you can find out more about that album and J Dilla here, and please remember to support all the artists featured on this mix by purchasing their music.