[Video] HIP-HOP HISTORY, Orchestrated by JIMEK

JIMEK is a Polish hip-hop producer who orchestrated the Polish National Radio Symphony as the final encore after two more regular symphonic orchestra suites on March 7, 2015 in Katowice, Poland. Watch as JIMENK orchestrates the huge classically trained orchestra take on classics by Tribe, M.O.P., Wu-Tang Clan, Kendrick Lamar, Biggie, 2PAC, Nas, Jay-Z, Beastie Boys and many more. This is just amazing and if you like what you are hearing be sure to check out the live recording of Miguel Atwood-Fergusson's and his orchestras rendition of J Dilla classics on the "Suite For Ma Dukes" album featuring guests like Karieem Riggins, Talib Kweli, Bilal and Dwéle. Then there of course was the original composition by DJ Premier, Nas and a symhony orchesta for the "Re-Generation" project. Maybe this is one of the ways hip-hop will follow through on, I would love to hear music like this but with a DJ and an emcee getting busy over it. Anyways, don't sleep!

[DJ Mix] PF CUTTIN x THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - "King Of NY"

PF Cuttin' goes in like a real boss on this tribute mix to the legendary Christopher Wallace, better known to the world as The Notorious B.I.G. Not much more to say than TURN IT UP and LET IT BANG!

[Comp] NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - "The Anniversary"

Not too long ago I had a period where I went back and played both of The Notorious BIG's two albums religiously, and this month now marks the 20 year anniversary of that first classic LP. At this time I also collected most of his rarer demos, freestyles and guest apperances. Unlike 2Pac, his one time ally and contemporary, Wallace left us with only a small scattering of finished recordings to pick up when he tragically left us in '97. Instead of paying respect to the man's legacy by compiling and releasing the original music he recorded in his lifetime, the vultures at Bad Boy instead have opted to remix and completely alter his unreleased music. As it stands now BIG's musical legacy consists of two excellent solo albums ("Ready to Die" and "Life After Death"), the executive producing and career launching of Junior M.A.F.I.A. with "Conspiracy" and Lil' Kim with "Hardcore". Add to that something like an additional 40 loose tracks, studio freestyles and guest apperances left for us fans to compile and share. Despite the small output very few Hip Hop artists can be considered more influential and inspirational to both his own generation and todays up and comers - and that in itself is a damn impressive feat. BIG will always be remembered as one of the true greats, a musical giant who twenty years ago made waves with the release of his debut album. It's safe to say that "Ready to Die" has stood the test of time and should have a given place in the top albums list of any true hip-hop conniseour. 

The internet is of course swarming with various tributes and articles in honor of the ocassion. For my own contribution I have put together a compilation of non-album tracks that I feel reaches a very high level of quality. As always I've tried making this compilation form a coherrent listen that focuses on a specific time or style. The goal here was to create something like a companion piece to "Ready to Die". That means that I'm limiting the inclusion of songs to material recorded between 1993 and 1995 (the time in which between "R.T.D." was recorded and final single with B-side released). Additionally, I wanted to focus on BIG's lyrical skills and writing genius, given as much space as possible to solo tracks. In the end I maybe used a little too many posse cuts and such as I originally intended to only use 10 songs, but one thing's for sure - there's no half-assed material on here. Below you'll find the tracklist, download link and a little info on each song, it's producer, origin and relevance for the compilation... TURN IT UP!!!

01. "The Wickedest: Freestyle Intro"

This exclusive freestyle makes for a perfect intro and the epitome of Biggie's style post-"Ready to Die". Recorded by DJ Mister Cee (who of course was an integral part of Big's career) as an exclusive for his "The Best Of The Notorious B.I.G.", released in 1995.

02. "Party & Bullshit"

It felt natural to kick things off with "Party & Bullshit", seeing how this hardcore party starter was both BIG's first single ever and was left off his debut album. This also marks the first time Biggie worked with Easy Mo Bee, who would become one of the most important players in crafting the Notorious sound. The song were also featured on the original soundtrack to the 1993 flick "Who's The Man?".

03. "Dead Wrong"

Another early collaboration with Easy Mo Bee who's hard hitting boom bap shit in com"bination with the dusted flow of BIG stands as a superb representation of everything great about the early '90s East Coast bap. An Eminem remix of course turned up on '99:s posthumous "Born Again", but the version for the real heads is this one, recorded during the early Uptown sessions for "R.T.D." in '93. This clear rip from a DJ Craig G tape was borrowed from NahRight's excellent BIG article.

04. "Come On Motherfuckers" (Ft. Sadat X)

"Come On" is another cut that was cleaned up and modernized by The Hitmen for "Born Again" but the original, superior version sees BIG rocking hard as hell over a dusty Lord Finesse break, complete with intense horn stabs. Sadat X and Biggie Smalls definitely makes for a very interesting combination, and this '93 joint (another recording from the Uptown sessions) is about as tough as they come yet was left to the mixtape circuit until just a few years ago. 

05. "Dreams (Just Playing)"

"Dreams" is nothing short of classic BIG as he invites listeners into his nasty dreams of all the R&B singers he'd like to fuck. And it's done with more wit and charisma than most emcees at their best moments too. Built around a crazy addictive guitar loop, "Dreams" was produced by the underrated Rashad Smith of Tumblin' Dice, this was included as a bonus track on the 2004 remaster of "Ready to Die". It's first apperance dates as far back as 1993 when DJ Doo Wop put it on his "Spring One" tape, which indicates that it might have been recorded for BIG's Uptown debut.

06. "One More Chance/Stay With Me" [Hip Hop Mix]

The smooth video version of "One More Chance" (see above) is definitely one of Biggie's most famous songs, though it bears little resemblance to the version that appeared on the album. The 12" single included two remixes of the song - the famous Faith Evans version which was about as R&B as BIG would ever get and this one labeled The Hip Hop Mix. Using the same verses as the video mix but adding a differet hook by Total, Biggie's sexual themed flows sounds perfect over the pounding drums, guitar stabs and scratches - once again produced by Rashad Smith / Tumblin' Dice. An interesting fact is that this version of the song replaces the original Bluez Brothas version on the clean version of "R.T.D.".

07. "Runnin' From The Police" (Ft. 2Pac, Stretch, EDI, Khadafi & Buju Banton)

"Runnin' From The Police" have always been one considered as of the strongest songs in both BIG's and 'Pac's respective catalouges if you ask me. There's so many quotables in here that it's not even funny, and hearing 'Pac, BIG and Stretch all on one track is truly powerful, and Easy Mo Bee did a masterful job in creating the backing track. This classic was originally recorded around 1994 in a 2Pac session for inclusion on his "Thug Life Volume 1" album, even appearing on a rare promo cassette of the project. The song was ultimately replaced by "Stay True" and it would take another year before fans got the chance to hear "Runnin'" on the compilation album "One Million Strong".

08. "Real Niggaz"

"Real Niggaz" is another huge record with a West Coast connecction, as it's common knowledge that Biggie had a lot of love for LA and the music the city produced in the early to mid-'90s. It's unbelivable this was never given more exposure because not only does Biggie sound phenomenal over these Death Row tracks like "Deep Cover", his verses here displays the same type of top notch storytelling that he would perfect on future masterpieces like "Somebody's Gotta Die". This was originally heard as a two part piece on a DJ Clue tape back in '95 before Mister Cee collected all verses for his incredible "The Best Of Notorious B.I.G." tape.

09. "Jam Session" (Ft. Heavy D & Troo Kula)

One of a couple of collaborations between Biggie and Heavy D, produced by Jesse West who really brings the funk on here with an affective heavy bass melody and slick guitar. Heavy D and BIG made a few songs together (all featured on this compilation), and there's no denying that there's a lot of chemistry to be found here. Something that not everybody knows is that the duo even had plans on developing a clothing line for men with a larger build called BIG & Heavy. "Jam Session" also features Troo Kula (at the time a member of Jesse West's group 3rd Eye) and is lifted from the otherwise forgettable compilation album "NBA Jam Session".

10. "Let's Get It On" (Ft. 2Pac, Grand Puba & Heavy D)

This somewhat forgotten posse cut features some of the greatest emcees of the '90s (Grand Puba, 2Pac, BIG, Heavy D) getting it on over a relatively smooth headnodder that packs influences from the New Jack swing era. Taken from the album of the same name by DJ Eddie F. and The Untouchables, a crew of DJ:s and producers from the Mt. Vernon area which originally mentored and included Pete Rock (who didn't have anything to do with this joint however).

11. "Watchu Want?"

"Watchu Want" was a late deletion from "Ready to Die" and is another one of the Easy Mo Bee/BIG recordings from the earlier recording sessions of the LP before Puffy was dropped from Uptown and took Wallace with him. This is a very powerful cut, with Biggie at his most hardcore and I still have a hard time deciding whether or not I would have prefered it to have been left on the LP. I have a (possibly false?) memory of reading somewhere that Biggie really wanted to keep this one but Puff insisted that the quota for rugged hardcore jams had been filled.

12. "Who's The Man?" (Ft. King Just & Todd1)

The 45 King has produced some of my all time favorite records and hearing him produce for BIG is pure bliss. Unfortunately Wallace only kicks one verse here but that's a verse that makes the tracks inclusion on this compilation an absolute definite and leaves little question to who the man in this case is (King Just comes correct though). I guess the reason this isn't remembered for the great battle record it is, is because it came out on a very forgotten album called "Back Up Off Me!", the only LP released under the names of Doctor Dre and Ed Lover.

13. "A Buncha Niggas" (Ft. Heavy D, Guru, Busta Rhymes, 3rd Eye & Rob-O)
The Heavy D & The Boys albums from the early '90s always had a ton of underground gems on them and "Blue Funk" might just be the illest. As far as posse cut goes this one has one of the more jaw dropping line-ups - Heavy D, Guru, Busta Rhymes, Rob-O from InI, 3rd Eye (Jesse West also produced this banger) and of course The Notorious B.I.G.

14. "Who Shot Ya"

"Who Shot Ya" marks the first time BIG worked with Nashiem Myrick who would come to be a major contributor to the sound of "Life After Death", making this something of a transitional record. An interesting fact is that the song originally was incepted as an interlude for Mary J. Blige's excellent '95 LP "My Life". Word is that the content was a little too violent for an R&B album and in the end the interlude verse were recorded by Keith Murray. Being label mates and old friends, Puff and BIG secured the beat and put it on as the B-side of the "Big Poppa" single, causing all kinds of controversy. You can check out the original demo version with both Murray and BIG, liberated by DJ S&S and uploaded by NahRight.

NOTORIOUS BIG - "THE ANNIVERSARY" 

B.I.G. - "Ready To Die: The OG Edition" [New Mixdown]

Back in 2008, DJ Semi and The Mixtape Marvel released "Ready to Die: The OG Edition", a highly impressive collection of demo versions, alternative takes and original uncleared versions of almost every song found on The Notorious B.I.G.'s classic '94 debut. Of course the sound quality was a bit lacking but the quality of the actual music made the collection one of the coolest drops of its year - who can get enough of Biggie, right? Therefore, I was pretty much knocked out when stumbling across the official Soundcloud page of DJ Semi and a new, updated mixdown of The OG Edition which sounds a whole lot better than the original release. Since then I've really been back on my Biggie shit and this tape has really been going warm so of course I want to share it with y'all. I also been working on a new B.I.G. compilation that should be up within this week so be on the lookout for that 1.

For those of you who might have missed this version of "Ready to Die" there's some truly mindblowing shit on here. While many of the tracks only differs in the slightest from their album counterparts (tbh with some of them I don't hear any difference at all) listeners are treated to the original, uncleared versions of "Me & My Bitch" (produced by The Bluez Brothas) and "Ready to Die"; The album versions of "Machine Gun Funk" and "Juicy" are replaced by fat ass remixes by DJ Premier and Pete Rock, respectively; the demo version of "The What?!" featuring two completely different verses from B.I.G.; another vintage Easy Mo Bee/B.I.G. collaboration from the earlier recording sessions for the album called "WatchuWant?" (replacing "Unpredictable" since that was the last recording made for the LP); the uncensored version of "Gimme The Loot". The bonus tracks consists of "Come On" featuring Sadat X as well as three early Biggie demos and a previously unreleased freestyle. All in all this set is on some other shit and is obviously a must hear for any fan of Chris Wallace, and especially as it's now available in pretty damn decent quality. DJ Semi uploaded the album in one large track which is avialable for stream and/or download up top, but Andyman187 from the Philaflava forums has provided us with the tracks separated so a huge Thank You goes out to him! Much props to everyone involved in this project and keeping the legacy of The Notorious B.I.G. alive.

01. "Intro" (Original w/ Uncleared Samples)

02. "Things Done Changed" (Demo)

03. "Gimme The Loot" (Uncensored Version)

04. "Machine Gun Funk" (DJ Premier's Version)

05. "Warning" (Demo)

06. "Ready to Die" (Original Version)

07. "One More Chance" (Demo)

08. "Fuck Me: Interlude" (Demo)

09. "The What?!" (Ft. Method Man) (w. Original BIG Verses)

10. "Juicy" (Pete Rock's Version)

11. "Everyday Struggle" (Demo)

12. "Me & My Bitch" (Original Version)

13. "Respect" (Demo)

14. "Friend Of Mine" (Demo)

15. "WatchuWant?!" (Unreleased)

16. "Suicidal Thoughts" (Demo)

17. "Come On" (Ft. Sadat X)

18. "Who Shot Ya?" (Original Demo)

19. "For The Macs & Dons" (Unreleased)

20. "Pepsi Freestyle" (Unreleased)

21. "Biggie Got The Hype Shit" (Unreleased '91 Demo)

B.I.G. - "READY TO DIE: OG" (Link #1)
B.I.G. - "READY TO DIE: OG" (Link #2)

[EP] PHONIKS - "Summer Nights"

Portland, Maine producer Phoniks had me totally hooked when I had his funky blend of jazz, soul and hardcore beats on his remix EP "Autumn in New York" earlier this year. Since then he has released the equally impressive original project "Dephacation" with Virginia duo Awon & Dephlon, and this guy is definitely not sleeping cuz he's back with yet another crazy fat remix EP. Underlining classics by Jay-Z, Nas, AZ, Big L, 2Pac, Biggie, and Black Moon with what has already become his trademark sounds the smooth sounds of "Summer Nights" is definitely one you want to have in your earphones this summer.

BIG - "Story To Tell" [Buckwild's OG Mix]

The Notorious B.I.G.'s sophomore "Life After Death" LP received a rare 5 mics review in The Source; and don't get me wrong, it's an absolutely incredible album that indeed has a 5 mic album hiding in there somewhere. Had filler cuts like "Fuckin' You Tonight", "Mo Money' Mo Problems", "Another", "Nasty Boy", "Playa Hater", and peharps one or two more joints been scrapped, "Life After Death" had in my humble opnion been worthy of that most extreme rating. Played like a single disc album makes all the difference in the world, making it in many ways even equally as  great as "Ready to Die". Both beats and deliery are more polished, while still leaving room for a large part of the album to be dark and unforgiving (much thanks to contributions from Carloas Broady & Nashiem Myrick, RZA, DJ Enuff, Havoc and DJ Premier) and BIG had foud an ever deeper confidence on the microphone.

Like with so many LP:s what was originally recorded by the artists and producer are not always what end up on the retail album, and such is the case we're gonna be discussing today. D.I.T.C. producer Buckwild excellent contribution "I Got A Story To Tell" - an emcee class in storytelling 101. Looking at the album credits it read that Buckwild's production features co-production by Hitmen Chucky Thompson and Puff Daddy. But what exactly earned them that credit? Check Buckwild and Thompson themeselves break down the specifics in XXL:s The Making of "Life After Death".

BUCKWILD "Big picked beats on vibe, and he was looking for beats to fit into the album. Big was the type of dude where there could be 50 people in the room and you think he wouldn’t be lisening. You’d play him 50 beats and you’d think he wasn’t paying attention, ’cause he’s sitting there smoking and zoning out. And then at the end, he’d be like, I want number 12, and put number 30 on a tape.

The song was done, and everyone was telling me the song was incredible. That was all I kept hearing. But we had big problems with the sample. It almost didn’t make the album. Working with Puff, it was a blessing that he had people who could come in and get him around the sample issues. Chucky [Thompson], being an excellent musician, he replayed it and found the exact same sound. Chuck just had to change one or two notes. If I played the original and I played the sample, there’s nothing really different."

Buck is almost correct on this, the two versions are extraordinary similiar but I believe that a fully mastered version of the sample-based mix would have the slight edge. I'm not sure where Buck sampled the harp- and guitar based centre from, but the drums was lifted from Al Green's "I'm Glad You're Mine". The latter drum break has been used for several hip-hop classics, including Eric B. & Ra's "Mahogany". So I would guess that they kept that drum break for the BIG album version too and that the sample problem was with the main melody as Chucky Thompson tells it:

CHUCKY THOMPSON "I liked the original way Buckwild done it. All we had to do was take a piece out, which in the original sample was really just the harp part. I knew if I could get it to the point where it’s unrecognizable, we were good. So I went in, grabbed the guitar and started filling in the pieces. I took the same melodies. I just changed a few of the instruments. I moved it from harp to the guitar, put a little bit of harp in there, but anybody that knows that original record is probably scratching their head, like, “How the hell did he…?”

The album version of "I Got A Story to Tell" is no doubt a classic, and while the original Buckwild mix was thought lost forever it actually surfaced on the 2007 mixtape monster "Cristopher Wallace - The Last King Of New York" by Doo Wop and Mike Nice. The latter's set included, amongst tons of other interesting rarities, demos, remixes and original versions, the so called "Buckwild OG Demo Mix" of "I Got A Story to Tell". While the sound quality might not win any sonic awards it does give us a terrific insight into the creation of the song. If you imagine it mastered and in CD quality - which version would you prefer (the video above is of the album version for reference)? I wil probably do a post on the entire Doo Wop/Mike Nice tape soon enough so be on the lookout, but what's funny is that the OG Buckwild Demo you hear below is actually from another source that sound a lot cleaner than the one on the mixtape! Feel free to drop a comment on your thoughts about your thought about these two versions of "I Got A Story to Tell"!

BIG - "STORY TO TELL" [BUCK'S OG DEMO]

BUSTA RHYMES x BIGGIE x DILLA - "Modern Day Gangstas"

Now this right here is a real underground GEM if I ever heard one! "Modern Day Gangstas" is an unreleased track that first made it's presence known to the public as "Dangerous MC's" via Notorious B.I.G.'s first real posthumous album, '99's "Born Again". That remix was produced by Nottz and Dominic Lambert and added additional vocals from Snoop Dogg and Mark Curry, and differed immensely from the original song it was built around - a track produed in 1996 by none other than the now legendary Jay Dee/J Dilla/James Yancey. This is prime example of why I so strongly disliked that album; B.I.G. recorded several slamming non-album cuts before his passing, but when it came time for Pappa Diddy Pop to turn these sessions into a 1999 album he tried to make it sound like it was recorded yesterday and therefore destroyed the original cuts by enlisting more popular producers and guest vocalists to fill out the spaces between the BIG verses. If a remix is not at all improving on the original it loses it's purpose, and in cases where the artist have passed away it's damn near sacreligious to mess with their unreleased music. The best examples of this on "Born Again" is the Eminem remix of "Dead Wrong", an original joint BIG cut with long-time friend and musical partner Easy Mo Bee, which albeit ruff in its original incarnation is a straight up slamming jam. Even more interesting is the aforementioned Jay Dee production "Dangerous MC's" (originally titled "Modern Day Gangstaz" and sometimes labeled as "The Ugliest"), originally recorded as a Busta Rhymes song in sessions for his '96 solo debut "The Coming". 

The story goes that this beat was one of several tracks Bus' picked from Jay Dee's beat CD for what would become "The Coming" (the others being "Still Shining" and "Keep It Movin'"). Somehow Puff Daddy and The Notorious B.I.G. heard Busta's version of "Modern Day Gangstas" and was blown away. With its heavy umph, low Rhodes melody and heavily filtered bassline, it was vintage Jay Dee during his The Ummah period and very similiar to the other stuff Busta used for the LP. From what I have heard what happened was that The Notorious ended up dropping a verse on the track as a cameo; as you hear BIG kicks off the song. If you listen closely to that verse you'll realize that it includes one of Biggie's most subtle, yet most agressive disses against 2Pac ever: "Missed you by inches, you're talk is senseless/ Actor needs chiropractor for cracked jaw/ Yes, I rocked your chatterbox, dangerous you're not/ I get down, twist your body 'Round & Round', upside down...". The story goes that Busta didn't want to be caught up in that whole East Coast/West Coast beef (remember the fuss after LL Cool J put Prodigy on the "I Shot Ya" remix) that was creeping towards it's tragic peak, and instead gave the song to Bad Boy Entertainment for inclusion on "Life After Death". This would explain how Puff Daddy owned the masters and had the rights to put it out on a BIG album in '99. The third emcee on the track, Labba, is a little known artist with ties to Busta Rhymes and The Flipmode Squad (appearing on Busta's "We Could Take It Outside" amongst others) but was replaced by Snoop and Mark Curry on the oficially released remix.

If you haven't heard this track before you are in for a real treat. Both Busta Rhymes and Notorious B.I.G. were pretty much at their respective peaks here in my humble opinion, and as far as I know this is the only track these two musical giants ever collaborated on. Add to that that they are doing so over a lost Jay Dee beat, one that has all the trademarks and signifcance of the type of music Yancey was into during his early days with The Ummah collective - deep basslines, a love for filtering the groove and a heavy umph on the beat. There's even a video clip shot of Jay Dee in a wheelchair during his last trip overseas where the legendary beat master discusses the making of the song with Frank-N-Dank. This video was taken circa 2005 and appears on the Frank-N-Dank DVD "European Vacation". Here Dilla also reveals that in addition to Bus' and BIG, an additional legendary emcee was originally supposed to appear on the track as well (hey, maybe that Snoop Dogg verse really was made then haha). For some reason the YouTube clip of said video won't let me embed - instead you'll have to click here to watch. Below you find "Modern Day Gangstas" in all of it's original glory and man, what a track it is. I think it would've sounded marvelous on "The Coming". TURN IT UP!!

BUSTA RHYMES / BIG / LABBA - "Modern Day Gangstaz"

[Mixtape] HOUSE SHOES x BIG - "Dreams"

Legendary Detroit DJ and producer House Shoes'' "Dreams: B.I.G. Re-Imagined" is a little different from the usual BIG tribute. Rather than rushing it out for a 9:th release, the initial idea came to Shoes on that date and since then he has been on work on the project. The initial idea was to send out a bunch of classic BIG accapellas to a bunch of his producer homies, resulting in fresh takes by innovative producers such as Nottz, Wajeed, Khrysis, Quelle Chris, Nameless, 14KT, Brenk Sinatra, and of course House Shoes himself. I'm usually not that fond of new interpretations of the true classics, but Shoes did a real great job here and there's a lot of music on it that deserves to be heard, so make sure to press play ASAP!

01. "Kick in the Door" [Nottz Remix]
02. "Dead Wrong" [Wajeed Remix]
03. "Dangerous MC's" [KNX Remix]
04. "The What" [Nameless Remix]
05. "Ten Crack Commandments" [14KT Remix]
06. "Everyday Struggles" [P.U.D.G.E. Remix]
07. "Bust A Nut" [Quelle Chris Remi, Bx]
08. "The Routine (Think BIG)" [Khrysis Remix]
09. "Ten Crack Commandments" [Brenk Sinatra Remix]
11. "Party & Bullshit" [HouseShoes Remix] [*]
12. "Flava in Ya Ear" [Nameless Remix] [*]
13. "One More Chance" [KNX Remix] [*]

HOUSE SHOES PRESENTS "DREAMS: TEN B.I.G. CLASSICS REIMAGINED"

VH1 Behind The Music: Notorious B.I.G.

VH1's Behind The Music continues the greatness with their extensive documentaries on hip-hop's true legends. Not long ago we had a great 45 minutes feature on Nas, and earlier we had the pleasure to follow DMX, Big Daddy Kane, Mary J. Blige and many more. Now the time has come to the late, great Cristopher Wallace, better known to the hip-hop world as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls. The Nas clip disappeared from the net rather quickly so make sure to take an hour of your day as soon as possible to watch this great lil' documentary on one of the biggest icons of the game. The VH1 stream seems to only work for US users, so if you're in the EU or elsewhere you can stream @ 2DopeBoyz. 

While you're at it, don't miss out on "Larger Than Life", the Lost Tapes compilation I put together in memory of Biggie Smalls and his legacy; featuring sixteen non-album cuts by the man, including a few remixes and lots of more or less rare BIG cameos.

12" Throwback - "THE POINTS"

Today the world remembers and honor the memory of Cristopher Wallace AKA The Notorious B.I.G., who tragically was gunned down 15 years ago to the day. Later today you'll be able to check out the compilation "Larger Than Life" here at The Lost Tapes, but first I want to drop a 12" Throwback post for one of my favorite posse cuts of all time - "The Points". Back in the '90s posse cuts were the big thing to do for remixes, soundtrack joints and compilations. However, not many of the countless posse cuts can match up to the epic nine minute hardhitter that is "The Points". The song was recorded for Mario Van Peebles' flick "Panther" which was released in 1995; a film set in the late 1960s about the Black Panther Party. "The Points" was the lead song from the soundtrack and I believe they wanted to pack as many emcees on one track as possible to mirror the militant army mindstate of The Panthers.

Featured on the song are many of the shining stars of the mid-'90s like Notorious B.I.G, Redman, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Coolio, Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and Busta Rhymes. The 12" release that followed the O.S.T. featured no less than three different versions of the song, two of them stretching out close to ten minutes in length and all incredibly dope. We got Easy Mo Bee's boom bapish New York mix, which is also the original version if my memory serves me correctly. We got DJ U-Neek's rugged mix, which with it's sinister keys and overall dark mood sounds much like one of the rawer cuts from BTNH's debut album (which he of course produced). Last, but not least, Black Sheep's Mista Lawnge, a truly underrated producer, brings his version down to a five minutes edit, highlighting his favorite parts over some bass-to-your-face FUNK. Considering the amount of talent repsented here, it's amazing how little known this track really is. If you haven't heard this one or its remixes before you are definitely in for a treat right about now. 

01. "The Points" [Easy Mo Bee's Points Dirty]
02. "The Points" [U-Neek's Points Clean]

03. "The Points" [Mista Lawgne's Points Dirty]

V/A - "THE POINTS" VLS

Another Bad Boy beat snatch!

I think we all know the story of how Puff Daddy heard Pete Rock's instrumental to "Juicy" at a visit to his crib and checked what was on his turntable. From there he went home and re-created Pete's beat to the best of their capabilities and ended up getting the credit (together with Poke) for what's most likely the biggest BIG hit record ever. Well, at least the rising mogul was a good sport about the situation and let Pete's original mix appear as a remix on the B-side of the "Juicy" single, huh. This went down in early '94 but only a few years later another big producer would get jacked by Puffy and his Hitmen.

Havoc was invited to do something for Notorious B.I.G.'s sophomore album, "Life After Death", resulting in the now classic "Last Dayz". According to Prodigy's autobiography "My Infamous Life", they wanted him to spit on the record but he backed out and instead The LOX got the job. But what's more interesting is this segment from P's book: "After a long studio session, Hav was so drunk that he left his beat disc in the machine - leaving behind all six songs he had crafted that day instead of one. Somebody ended up using one of the beats for Black Rob's "I Love You Baby" on the Puff Daddy & The Family album. I could tell as soon as I heard it because it had Havoc's signature drums, bass line, and all. "Hav, that's your beat!" I said when we heard the track. "That motherfucker stole your beat!""

In the booklet the song is credited to Ron "AMEN-RA" Lawrence with co-production by Jay "Waxxx" Garfield and has additional Baby Grand piano played by Stevie J. This track definitely has Havoc written all over it, from the classical sinister strings, to the hardboiled bass line and rhythm track. The accoustic piano parts were probably added on by Stevie J as the credits say but this is most def a Havoc beat. Luckily Black Rob spits two dope verses on it, while Pappa Diddy Pop only has one at the end. Makes you wonder if this was something that happened ever so often at the Bad Boy offices and studios? 

DIDDY / BLACK ROB - "I LOVE YOU BABY"  
NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - "JUICY" [PETE ROCK VERSION]