I haven't been to active on the blog lately, and though this banging joint was released a few days ago, I'ma go by better late than never because this is fucking DOPE. Big Shug and DJ Premier is about as close you're gonna get to new Gang Starr music following GURU's tragic passing (next in line would be Preem and Bumpy's full-length collaborations). Shug might not be the best lyrical cat around, but he got an incredible voice that just sounds incredible over really dope beats. However, I gotta say on Shug's last few album I feel that they are pretty hit-or-miss - to me he needs really good beats to carry him, and a lot of dope guest verses really help him out as he's not quite that great of an emcee to carry an entire album worth. And that's definitely not a stab at Shug, like I said I really dig his commanding voice, but I also feel that he's even better when he's surrounded by other potent emcees.
His latest album is called "Triple OGuz" and is once again released by BRICK Records, and while I haven't heard the LP in its entirety yet the singles I've heard so far is pretty damn banging. He first came out with the DJ Premier produced "Off Rip" Ft. Termanology and Singapore Kane, followed by the GemCrates produced "The Reason". But now comes the DJ Premier produced "I Bleed For This", complete with a video directed by Mystery DL for Ill Mannered films who also did the previous video from the LP. This is a true Big Shug / DJ Premeir collaboration at it's finest, some real bluesy but nicely chopped vintage Preem shit right here with Big Shug truly doing his thing. Premier also produced the album opener "I Am Somebody" which I have yet to hear, and other interesting producers on the project include MoSS, Charles Roane, and a Kid Called Roots. No wax will prolly be released but you can cop the CD @ UGHH or cop it from iTunesas it's out now.
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1.) “I Am Somebody” (produced by DJ Premier) 2.) “I Bleed For This” (produced by DJ Premier) 3.) “The Reason” (produced by Gem Crates) 4.) “Days Go By” (produced by Big Shug) 5.) “Never Change” (produced by Reel Drama) 6.) “Not A Fan” f/ Reks & Termanology (produced by Kid Called Quest) 7.) “Triple OGzus” (produced by Kid Called Quest) 8.) “Make That Body Do” (produced by Reel Drama) 9.) “Off Rip” f/ Termanology & Singapore Kane (produced by DJ Premier) 10.) “2 Good” f/ Trumayne (produced by Kid Called Quest) 11.) “All In” (produced by Kid Called Quest) 12.) “Showtime” f/ M-Dot (produced by DJ Brans) cuts by DJ Djaz 13.) “Make Moves, Get Money” (produced by Moss) 14.) “Get It” f/ Singapore Kane (produced by Reel Drama) 15.) “Relationships” (produced by Reel Drama) 16.) “Chase Then Ball” (produced by Kid Called Quest) 17.) “Soldiers It's War Out Here” (produced by Kid Called Quest) 18.) “In The Rain” (produced by Charles Roane for C.R.E.A.M.I.N.C.)
Ill track by Big Shug from his second Brick Records album, "Triple OGuz", which will feature the usual ill voiced Shug going in over a variety of topics over production from a host of ill producers. DJ Premier will supply three bangers, including the previously released single "Off Rip", A Kid Called Quest, DJ Brans and a few others. The second single is called "The Reason" and is produced by Work Of Mart signee Gem Crates who does a really good job here - might be the best song I've heard from him yet! Pre-order the CD @ UGHH and receive it for its March 13 release date.
Shit, this one goes HARD, but what else is expected from the gruff voiced Boston legend. He is currently in the midst of promotion his soon-to-be-here new album "Triple Oguz" that will feature production and cames from DJ Premier, Works Of Mart signee GemCrates, MoSS, Kid Called Quest, Termanology, Singapore, and REKS. The first official single, that is now getting the video treatment, is a rugged and raw Preem banger called "Off Rip" that also features sick verses from usual suspects Termanology and Singapore Kane. The album will be available via Brick Records on March 17 and can be pre-ordered @ UGHH (CD only though; click the link to see tracklist, features and production credits + artwork) or iTunes. I was a fan of Shug's latest solo offering "I.M.4-Eva" which featured plenty of bangers, though not suprisingly the really, really hard hitting joints where all produced by Preemo, and that might very well be the case on this one too. These guys definitely need to hook up for a full-length album together - between Shug and Bumpy they are the only two guys that I feel can come close to creating new music with a Gang Starr flavor (given that Premier is behind the boards of course).
Jason Dean is a new name to me but his album "Straight Out the Projects" really is a reminder of why I originally fell in love with hip-hop. The Norweigan producer seamlessly blends smooth soul and hardcore rhythms which he attracts some of the illest spitters around. How about Masta Ace, Cormega, AZ, M.O.P, Ruste Juxx, Big Shug, Prop Dylan, and Rasco? With only six songs it's a quick but definitely satisfying listen, it will be interesting to say what this Scandinavian boom bap fanatic will bring to the table in the future. The entire EP is available to stream for free via Spotify below, and can be purchased fromiTunesorAmazonso don't sleep!
The latest single from Big Shug's very dope "I.M. 4-Eva" project is the Lee Bannon produced "War in the Club". I can understand picking this for a single release, since it got a more commercial vibe than the majority of the album. However, to be honest, I never really liked this joint too much, and wouldn't mind if it would have been left off the LP. With that being said, "I.M. 4-Eva" packs more than enough heat, and besides his solo debut, I'd say it's his most focused record yet. The book case that the CD comes in are straight up fantastic too, and actually one of the best CD packagings I've ever seen; coupled with the music, it's one of the worthiest purchases of 2012. Support Gang Starr and order "I.M. 4-Eva" @ UGHH now!
Picking up the trail from where we left off last time, here is Part 2 of my interview with Big Shug. Make sure you got Part 1covered, and pre-orer Shug's "I.M. 4-Eva" which will be available on the 24th.
c7: As
you mentioned before when discussing "We Miss You", you're not only a hardcore
rapper but a soul influenced singer with a strong voice as well. Not everyone
might know that you're also a singer, so how do you deal with that?
Shug: I
mean, I always sang so I was able to introuduce my fan base to it
little by little. I'm always singing on my albums, singing the hooks
somewhere, know what I mean. I sang the hook on Reks' "Black Cream",
and there's a few other underground songs that I''m singing hooks on,
so that's the next evolution after this album here. I want to totally
dedicate it to that, you know.
c7:What should we expect from that project, and is that something you already got planned?
Shug: Definitely,
that's actually the next project. It'll consist of all soul songs;
original works, maybe a remake or something too. It's coming eventually.
c7: Already on your 1995 debut single, "Treat U Better"
you recorded and released a full blown soul singing anthem, that was
radically different from what the other members of The Foundation was
doing at the time; although the production was probably as rugged as
anything out at the time. How do you look at that song today?
Shug: The
song itself was probably before it's time. A lot of people loved the
song, but with the state of hip-hop and everything, it wasn't really
ready for it. Right now, I can do a song like that and it would probably
be a totally different situation. But it was what we felt [was right at the
time], and the crew always knew I could sing, so it was like we got to
do this with them. And then on my early demos, I would have singing on
them, and managers who were trying to manage me used to always be like
"you need to go out there and sing", you know. It was always amazing to
people that someone who rapped hardcore such as I did, could also sing.
c7:
Yeah, I was definitely suprised the first time I heard that single!
Let's get back to "I.M. 4-Eva" for a moment; I know that one of its selling points
in the promo run is that the album comes packaged with a 36 page booklet,
chronicling the legacy of Gang Starr and The Foundation. What can you
tell me about that?
Shug: It's included in the CD
packaging/booklet, but it's really like a book; There's sstories of how
the group first came together, how me and GURU first hooked up,
different stories about the tour bus, the shows and different things
like that. There's also a lot of rare photos, and considering it's 37
pages long it really gives people a sneak peek into what was going on
with the Gang Starr situation and Big Shug. And it's crazy, because it
hasn't really been done before, and it's definitely gonna be a nice
collector's item to have.
It represents family because,
you know, Premier and me are still involved and doing our thing. On the
cover is both my sons, who have grown for as long as I've been in
the game; now one's nineteen, and one is twelve. "I.M.4-Eva" means
"Immortal Music Forever", because the music will always be there, when
I'm gone, the music will still be around. So to have both my sons on
there, thar will live on as a legacy of my family as well. So "I.M.
4-Eva" is not only a great album for the music, but also for the
movement it represents.
c7: That's great! Are there any chances for a vinyl release of "I.M. 4-Eva"?
Shug: I'm
not sure at the moment, it's possible that it will be done as a
collector's item eventually. But right now I'm not sure what's gonna
happen with that, you know, but we'll see about that soon!
c7: All the way from your earliest 12"s and up to all your retail
albums, DJ Premier has played a pivotal role in crafting the sound.
Do you think it would be accurate to describe Preemo as your main producer?
Shug:Well,
not really because what it is is, we're brothers and we're the legacy of
Gang Starr, so that's why we make sure to have a few songs on every
album. Always letting people know that we have a good sound and great
chemistry. Also we're gonna do a collective album just the two of us, so
that's another thing in the can.
We
go back and we're family, you know, but as far as doing records I get a
lot of different people, and Premier produces for everyone;
but if you listen to the songs that him and I make there's a chemistry
there and a certain type of sound, so he's always gonna be there, you
know we're always gonna make stuff together.
c7: That's interesting you mention a full project with Premier as that is definitely something people been fiending for. What are the plans for its recording and when should we be looking out for that?
Shug: We'll
start working on that very soon, we're gonna go on the road right after
my album comes out - probably me, DJ Premier and Bumpy Knuckles. But
as soon as we come back, me and him are gonna start working on that
album; that's definietly something that we'll do.
c7: You mentioned touring in promotion of the new album, any chances for some European dates as well?
Shug: We're
scheduling the tour right now, so I'm not sure exactly where we gonna
go, but I really hope we can squeeze in some European tour dates as well.
I love being out there in Europe, I love Sweden and all that, and the
fans are fantastic so hopefully there'll be at least a few shows overseas as
well.
c7: Any other plans for the immediate future that you would like to share with us?
Shug: As
I said, I got the singing album, the album with Preem and the tour. I
always keep it moving, besides music, I just auditioned for another
movie [Shug previously appeared on screen in the movie "The Town" with Ben Affleck and Slaine]
that should be out soon. I also coach kids basketball, my son is a real ace on B-ball too, so I got a lot of things planned for the
future, and I always keep it moving, and I'm not only talk, I'm all walk. But
right now it's all about "I.M. 4-Eva" which drops on July 24.
c7:
Alright, that sums up the interview! Thank you so much for taking the time to do
this for The Lost Tapes, and I wish you the best of luck in
all your future endeavors and keep repping that real hip-hop as you've been doing!
Shug: Thanks man, I appreciate that, and I will definitely keep it 100% real and deliver what the fans want to hear. Peace!
The Lost Tapes might not be best known as an interview site at the moment, but things are about to change with some exclusive interviews coming in a near future. You might remember my interview with Rasheed Chappell and Side Effectz; but this time it's none other than Boston's legendy OG Big Shug that's under the spotlight. The original Gang Starr Foundation member is about to release his fourth official album "I.M. 4-Eva" on July 24; so much of our conversation dealt with the upcoming album, but there's of course also some room for some exclusive news and questions as well; after all the phone call was 30+ minutes long, and I gotta give major thanx to Shug for his patience and taking the time to answering all the questions in depth. Very humble dude for sure! Another major thanks goes out to my man Mal Moe for hooking up the interview! I highly doubt Big Shug need much of any further introduction, and if you got any questions hopefuly they will be answered in the interview. One last thing though; since it's quite a long interview I decided to split it into two parts. Without any further due, here is claaa7's / The Lost Tapes interview with the one and only Big Shug. Part two will be posted very soon so stay tuned. Here Shug will shed some light on future projects, his working relationship with DJ Premier (including news on a planne full-length album soon to come), tour plans, a slight trip down memory lane, and much more. So until then, enjoy Part 1, I doubt you'll be dissapointed!
c7: Your new album is called "I.M. 4-Eva". What should we expect from the LP as far as concepts, style, guests, and so on?
Shug: "I.M. 4-Eva", as each album, is growth. You know songs gonna be a little deeper [than on previous records]; that's the evolution of me as an artist. Also, you got a couple of hardcore shit that I do, As far as guests, I have my son Trumayne on the album; a collaboration with Fat Joe and M.O.P.; and also another collaboration with Slaine, Reks, Termanology and Sinapore ["For The Real"].
c7: A lot of Boston artists represented on that cut in other words?
Shug: What it is is, I mean I'm the godfather of where I'm from you know - Boston, but I also expand worldwide so... I always try to bring along cats on that level. But I'm also good friends with New York rappers as well, so it could've just as esaily been Busta and Common you know, but everything happens for a reason at a certain time. You might hear something from me and those giuys collaborating in the future though.
c7: What producers are featured on "I.M. 4-Eva"?
Shug: Like I said the album here is about growth, and there's a lot of strong songs on it. There's three or four songs produced by DJ Premier, and then my in-house producer Kid Called Quest, also known as Jay Quest. He's an up-and-coming producer, who was on my second album and I continued to work with him and we've kept evolving together. He produced most of the album.
c7: Your two preceeding albums were in large part produced by MoSS. I was a little suprised that I didn't see him in the credits list this time. What was the reason for this?
Shug: Actually MoSS was involved in all three of my previous albums; "Who's Hard", "Street Champ" and "Otherside Of The Game". I guess it was more a decision on his behalf, on my last album I had a couple of songs from him, but after that I wasn't really dealing with him; I mean he was doing some other things and we kept it moving, so that's how that happened you know.
c7: So there was no conscious decision on your part not to include him in order to switch up your sound for the new album?
Shug: Nah, I would've loved to work with him, but like I said he was doing other things and he wasn't accessible for whatever reason.
c7: Ok, back to what's actually on the album then; what's your personal favorite record on the LP and why?
Shug: There's a lot of good ones, [the single] "Still Here" is one of them because it represents the fact that I'm still here, doing my thing and banging it up; although it's more of a new school type of beat.
Also "Blue Collar Dollar", because hip-hop, well underground artist, struggle and got real hard work, so that's more of a reality type of track, you know, how life is so to speak.
You know, there's a lot of good ones; my son rapping on "No More" was special. Because he's been like a little rapper kid in the studio with me since he was like three, so I had to get him on the project now, being eleven. He's 12 now but we recorded that right before he turned twelve. So it's great just having him on there.
c7: Another track that I want to touch on is the DJ Premier produced "Hardbody", featuring Fat Joe and M.O.P. That's definitely one of the songs people been buzzing about since the tracklist was first announced. What was that vibe like and what can we expect from that record?
Shug: "Hardbody" speaks on our lifestyle; you know, me, Fat Joe and M.O.P. all come from that hard side of life, so we represent that in the song. That's why we got those guys for the record; we're all OG's and all represent that hard side. Even though Fat Joe makes pop records or whatever, you know, I've known him since I first came to New York and I know that he's one of the realest cats out. We're all friends too, and it makes for a good song with everybody bringing it, so that's what it is, you know, hardbody!
c7: You talked about growth on the coming LP, how would you say your music has evolved with each album so far?
Shug: I mean, each album represents growth because you never stay where you at. Otherwise your music can tend to fall off or dissapear. I continue to evolve because I'm in the game, and I do verses for people all over the world; 16's for hire, you know, so I keep myself alive everywhere, and this albums reflects that growth, as do all of them, you know. Further down the road I'll probably do an album that's a singing album too. But right now, "I.M. 4-Eva" is the next power piece, and that's what it is, in the legacy of Big Shug.
c7: One of the best tribute tracks I've ever heard is yours and DJ Premier's touching letter to Keith Elam in "We Miss You", that will appear on "I.M. 4-Eva". What was that recording session like?
Shug: Well, you gotta remember that me and GURU started this whole thing together. I actually taught him how to rhyme, and we hung out and we grew into this, you know what I mean. When he passed, I heard about it, and everybody threw out these songs, and I never would have thrown a song out just like that, because I probably knew him better than anyone. That was just the way we came up.
So when I'm singing [on the song], I was able to spit stuff we went through when we came up, and when I'm singing, I'm singing to him. That's why when you listen to how it sounds, it disembodies the whole thing, because I'm singing, and I'm a pure singer as well, you know what I'm saying. And I'm also, of course, singing on the song as the pure singer i am.
c7: It's a beautiful record, and I learned a lot from it, and overall it's a huge and very important track.
Gang Starr Foundation's own Big Shug is prepared to release his fourth official solo album, "I.m.4.Eva" on July 24 this year. The singles and tracklist is looking like this will without a doubt be one to checking for; besides the album, record buyers also get a hard back, 36 page book chronicle the legacy of Gang Starr, full of anceotes and rare color photos.
Big Shug is more than capable of holding his own on the microphone with his rugged voice and commanding delivery, but a little outside help has never hurt. Featured producers and emcees on the disc include DJ Premier, Fizzy Womack, Reks, Singapore Kane, Slaine, Termanology, M.O.P., Fat Joe and more. Following the previous banging singles, next in line is the Fizzy Wo produced posse cut "For The Real", featuring Reks, Termanology, Singapore Kane and of course Shug himself. All I can say, is that this LP is shapening up lovely, so stay tuned (also check out the expanded tracklist, that now include production credits).
01. Still
Here (Prod. By A Kid Called Quest) 02. Hardbody feat. Fat Joe & M.O.P. (Prod.
by DJ
Premier) 03. Spit Six (Prod. by DJ
Premier) 04. For The Real feat. Termanology,
Slaine, Singapore Kane & REKS
(Prod. by Fizzy
Womack) 05. Blue Collar (Prod. by DJ
Premier) 06. Ass Mouth (Skit) 07. I.M. 4-Eva feat.
Singapore
Kane 08. Big
Fly Homie (Prod. By A Kid Called Quest) 09. No More feat.Trumayne 10.
War In The Club (Prod. by Lee
Bannon) 11. We Miss You (Prod. by DJ
Premier) 12. My Kids 13. I'll Be Here 14. Sixteen
Go 15. New Era 16. True Love 17. Basically (Prod. by Fizzy
Womack)
Gang Starr Foundation member Big Shug follows up the announcement of "I'm.4-Eva" with another single from the album; "Still Here", produced by Kid Called Quest. Interesting to see that MoSS is not listed amongst the featured producers on the disc, considering that he laced a majority of Shug's three previous LPs. This track goes hard tho, real thumping shit! Shouts toDJPB.
Big Shug of The Gang Starr Foundation is set to release his fourth solo album, "I'm 4-Eva" this year. The project has been in the works for some time now and is strapped with production from long time associates DJ Premier and Fizzy Womack amongst others, and cameos by Fat Joe, M.O.P., Termanology, Reks, Slaine and Singapore Kane. Peep the tracklist below and check for the album in stores on July 24. Spotted @ DJPB.
01. "Still Here"
02. "Hardbody" (Ft. Fat Joe & M.O.P.) [prod. by DJ Premier)
03. "Spit Six" [prod. by DJ Premier]
04. "For the Real" (Ft. Termanology, Slaine, Singapore Kane & Reks)
05. "Blue Collar"
06. "Ass Mouth" (Skit)
07. "I.M. 4-Eva" (Ft. Singapore Kane)
08. "Big Fly Homie"
09. "No More" (Ft. Trumayne)
10. "War In The Club"
11. "We Miss You" [prod. by DJ Premier]
12. "My Kids"
13. "I’ll Be Here"
14. "Sixteen Go"
15. "New Era"
16. "True Love"
17. "Basically"
The name Gang Starr will always be synonymous with quality hip-hop, you can take my word on that. Besides the main duo of GURU and DJ Premier, the chain and the star was also protected by The Gang Starr Foundation; a group of like-minded East Coast rhymers that appeared on the duo's albums and got the advantage of getting Preem and Guru beats for their own projects. There's been several semi-official members over the years but the real core of the Foundation is the trio of Jeru the Damaja, Group Home and Big Shug. Of course Jeru and Group Home released incredible full-lengths in the mid '90s, produced by Premier and generally hailed as classics today. Why Big Shug didn't get the same opportunity at the time despite being just as important to the dynamics of the crew is something I never really understood.
What Shug did, however, was to release two Gang Starr produced 12" singles in 1995 and 1996 respectively. These five songs gives us a good idea of how a '90s Shug album produced in the same manner as "Living Proof" would have sounded - certainly a lot of potential. Who knows, maybe the Boston rapper turned New York emcee just wasn't ready yet? One thing that's interesting is that the first single's A-side, called "Treat U Better", was a Premier produced love song with Shug singing throughout. The B-side tracks were both typical hip-hop joints for the time. It suggests that neither the artist nor the producers could decide on the direction they were to take with his career. They are all good tracks but it definitely caught me a bit off-guard hearing the A-side for the first time. On the second single, which dropped on Pay Day/FFRR about a year later, Shug seemed more certain about being an emcee rather than a singer. "Crush" is classic Gang Starr style boom bap with Preem providing one of his classic scratched vocal clips hooks. The B-side "Official" might be even more interesting considering it's a posse cut representing some of the finest rap talents to emerge out of the Boston area. Over a dark and moody soundbed produced by someone called Bless One, Shug invites the tag team of Edo G and the great late emcee Scientifik (who I believe made his last cameo here) to rip the track in half with him. Mission accomplished!
To get a good glimpse into what an album by this guy would have sounded like around 1996 I have put together a lil' compilation with the songs from the two 12"s that's represented by tracks 1 to 5. The remaining tracks are the majority of Big Shug's guest apperances in the mid '90s, taken from albums by DJ Krush, Group Home, Gang Starr and the promotional compilation for Guru's Ill Kid Records.Crank up the volume, sit back and let the missing link of the Gang Starr Foundation take you on a trip back to the '90s.
01. "Crush" [Street]
02. "Stripped & Pistol Whipped" [Street] (Ft. GURU)
03. "Treat U Better"
04. "Official" [Street] (Ft. Edo G / Scientifik)
05. "P.D.S. (Pimp Style)" [Street]
06. "Momentum" (Ft. GURU)
07. "Do What Pays Ya"
08. "Serious Rap Shit" (Ft. Gang Starr / Group Home)
09. "Most Wanted Men" (Ft. GURU)
10. "Fuck Around, Lay Around" (Ft. Gang Starr) BIG SHUG - "CRUSH: FOUNDATION OFFICIAL"
