[Album] SADAT X - "Agua"

When the world first heard The Brand Nubians 1990 debut album "One For All", notorious for being praised with the much hyped five mics rating in The Source, few would think that Derreck X would be the artist out of that trio to have the highest profile and largest catalouge in a few years. In fact "One For All" treated Lord Jamar and Derreck X as Grand Puba's back up band, and didn't even appear on half of the album. But sometimes the tables turn, through hard work and dedication Sadat X (as he soon after changed his name to) crafted a unique style with an unmistakable voice with lyrics that often dealt with personal feelings and surviving in a world where friends and lovers often turn out to be willing to stab you in the back when you least expect it. The only problem was that he might have started to put quantity over quality a little too much in the last ten years or so.

It's been a long time since I've been really excited about an X album, though I did like his "Love, Hell or Right" album from 2013. Now the New York artist is back with "Agua" sporting a pretty damn impressive cast list of guest producers and emcee partners. How about Pete Rock, Diamond D, Da Beatminerz, Nick Wiz, DJ Scratch, Easy Mo Bee, Fokis, Dub Sonata and Will Tell? What about Lord Jamar, Dres, Edo G, A-F-R-O, Rahzel, Cella Dwellas' UG, Milano, Shabaam Sahdeeq, RA The Rugged Man, and Wordsmith? That's a lot of features and producers and as I haven't had the time to listen yet I'm not sure how cohessive the X-Man has managed to make it sound but one thing's for sure, there's bound to be several real bangers on here to cherish. Probably more than any Sadat X albums in ten years or so. Released on Tommy Boy, the album is available for purchase in both physical and digital form now, and can also be streamed and purchased (both digital and on CD) in full via X's official Bandcamp. One thing though, the last I heard from Sadat X was that he's working on a full-length album entirely produced by Diamond D, and as usual we get one track to show for it. Well, I for one hope it's still coming. But what the hell, with Pete Rock, Da Beatminerz and Nick Wiz I sure as hell can complain. I also wasn't a fan of Will Tell on some earlier X albums, but the single/video "Murder Soundtrack" (above) with AFRO and Rahzel has convinced me has stepped his game up big time. You can also cop the physical from UGHH where you can also see the credits for each track. TURN IT UP!

[Stream] BENEFICENCE - "Basement Chemistry"

Beneficence is a rapper from New Jersey who has been putting in work for a long time, gaining the respect of many of the hottest rappers and producers throughout the East Coast due to his skilled rhyming and down to earth persona. Though he put out his first 12"s in 1994 and 1998, respectively, it wasn't until he hooked up with Ill Adrenaline Records in 2010 that I and many with me really came across his work. On his debut album "Sidewalk Science" for the label he worked extensively with Diamond D on the production while Roc Marciano, Truth Enola, Rob-O, The Legion, Diamond D, Lord Tariq, Prince Po and Frank-N-Dank shared microphone duties. His follow up, "Concrete Soul" was released a year later in 2012 and was even more packed with big names that had a lot of underground fanatics drooling. I'm talking beats and rhymes from Buckwild, K-DEF, InI, Lord Tariq, DJ Doo Wop, Gensu Dean, Confidence, Roc Marciano, B1, Herb McGruff, Da Beatminerz, AG, El Da Sensei, Nature, Masta Ace and many more. A true '90s hip-hop extravaganza if I ever heard one and funny thing is that it all worked in bringing back that sound we all love and cherish.

 

Now Beneficence and Ill Adrenaline is back for round three, and as they say if the formula ain't broke, don't fix it. "Basement Chemistry" is a little lighter on the guest features but still manages to pull some impressive rhymes and beats from Inspectah Deck, DJ Spinna, Da Beatminerz, AG, Masta Ace, MC Eiht, El Da Sensei, L'Orange, Chubb Rock, MindsOne, Confidence, Black Sheep + The Legion and more. The latter two appears on the single and accompanying video for "Make It Hot (Jingle Jangle v.2)", the sequel of Dres and Legion's classic 1993 single. You can peep the video above and stream the entire album below. The LP is available on CD, cassette and vinyl and can be purchased from UGHH now.

BLACK MOON - "Go To War"

This is some fantastic news right here! I unfortunately missed the chance to see Black Moon live earlier this December, but at least they are forming that raw energy again and are bringing out new music for us dedicated fans. DJ Evil Dee, Buckshot and 5 Ft. joins forces once again and their new single "Go To War" is bound to satisfy each and every long-time follower of the hardcore New York Boot Camp trio. As if that wasn't enough DJ Evil Dee, obviously really embracing the Christmas spirit, is letting loose a download of the free mixtape "Broadcasting Live", featuring exclusive and new music by the likes of Heather B, Dysfukhional Familee, Nutso, Makeeba Mooncycle, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Finsta Bundy, Rock Mecca and many more. Download or stream both for free below and TURN THIS SHIT UP!!! DUCK DOWN!

ASN - "Everybody Got It" / "Calling Out"

In preparation for his upcoming triple series "The Music Man", gifted spitter ASN revisits two of my personal favorite tracks from our "The UpRising" presentation (peep that one too if you're still behind). "Everybody Got It" features a bass blasting vintage Da Beatminerz production while "Calling Out (And The List Goes On...)" takes a more laid back approach. Both songs definitely work well as an introduction to the music of ASN so it really makes sense dropping this as a single now. Enjoy!

[EP] TONY MOREAUX - "Had You At Hello"

A lot of y'all gave high praise of Tony Moreaux's energzized performances on "The UpRising" so I know you're gonna appreciate the fact that Loyalty Digital Corp just released Moreaux's new EP "Had You at Hello". The eight tracks outing gives the Boston emcee a chance to both show his skills on the microphone and as a producer as the majority of both the beats and rhymes are supplied by Tony himself. The first single "Black List Celebrity", however, sports a banging Da Beatminerz track while "The Food" is laced by Jonstone, while my man Mal Moe serves as the executive producer. Check out the video for "Black List Celebrity" above and the EP below, and don't forget... TURN IT UP!!

TONY MOREAUX / BEATMINERZ - "Black List Celebrity"

Tony Moreaux has already dropped a lot of hot shit, and here's one from his upcoming EP "Had You At Hello". I've been banging a lot of Tony Moreaux lately and in the next post right over this one you're gonna find out why!  This is some real fresh shit... Stay tuned for an exclusive Lost Tapes premier of yet another fresh Da Beatminerz produced banger.. Coming right about now!

[OG Promo] DA BEATMINERZ - "Brace 4 Impak" ('01)

Between 2000 and early 2001, the superb production team known as Da Beatminerz (at this time also including Baby Paul and Chocolate Tye, who both supplies one track each) recorded and released their "solo" debut on Rawkus Records; a time when the label had started to go slightly down hill, but still held some clouth. Most people will of course know the original version of the album that was released on the label in late '01, but a few months prior to that drop, the team who had just completed, mixed and mastered the album sent out a bunch of promo copies for reviews "for the press only" as drops on this version constantly reminds journalists and other listeners of. I had heard of this release for quite some time, but never got my hands on it myself... Until now that is, much thanks to the second Lost Tapes main contributor ANT who has previously supplied the blog with plenty of hot, rare releases from InI, Ras Kass and some compilations that me and him have collaborated on. So all thanks to him for this one, it's appreciated brother and you know you're an integral part of this site!

This version is made up of 19 tracks rather than the 16 songs included on the final 2002 retail release, strangely leaving off some of the album's strongest material. Other changes include a few tracks being switched around, such as "The Anti-Love Movement" and "How We Ride" still appears back-to-back but rather as track #11 and #12 respectively. and a few others. But what is most interestingly is the inclusion of some absolute terrific material that for some reason didn't make the final cut. While Diamond D's "Best At That" and Last Emperor's "Hustler's Theme" (the latter is indeed missed) is not included we instead get several other standout cuts, that later became classics on white label 12"s, including M.O.P. & Teflon's "We Run NY", an interesting interlude from the late HeadQCuarterz, an outro, "Bentleys & Bitches" by Jayo Felony, Xzibit (and a short but ill musical interlude following the joint) as well as a heavy joint by Tash and Rah Digga entitled "Sumthin'". Another joint that seems to have been featured on this original sampler but is mysteriously missing from this bootleg is the excellent "Da Connection" by Ghost and G Rap, which appeared on the white label 12" which also featured the already mentioned "We Run NY". ANT is pretty sure this was the case when he first heard this back in the day, and I found two early articles on the album that confirms this - here and here. ANT believes it appeared right after track #7 "Bentleys & Bitches", unfortunately since I lost most of my files recently (which is why I can't give y'all re-ups at the moment) I don't have the track anymore. However if you got it please upload the mp3 for me/us in the comments section (whether it's the version with Ghost and G Rap also known as "Ghost & Giancana" or "Da Connection" that also features Cappadonna over a beat switch, since I'm not sure which version was included).

No matter what, while "Brace 4 Impak" is no masterpiece, it's an interesting album, and this version feels a lot more complete so be sure to check it out, and thank my man ANT (as well as upload the aforemention Ghost/G Rap joint if you have it) in the comments section. Download, tune in and TURN UP!!

01. "Intro/Live & Direct/Brace 4 Impak" (Ft. Lord Tariq & Royce Da 5'9")

02. "We Run N.Y." (Ft. M.O.P. & Teflon) [*]

03. "Devastatin' That's Us" (Ft. Black Moon & Lord Have Mercy)

04. "Hell Yeah, Oh Yeah" (Ft. Black Hearted Scavengerz)

05. "The Anti-Love Movement" (Ft. Talib Kweli & Total)

06. "How We Ride" (Ft. Freddie Foxxx & Heather B.)

07. "Bentley's Bitches" (Ft. Jayo Felony, Ras Kass & Xzibit) [*]

00. "Da Connection" (Ft. Ghostface & Kool Grap) [not included here] [*]

08. "Sumthin'" (Ft. Tash & Rah Digga) [*]

09. "Ghetto 2 Ghetto" (Ft. Teflar Cordell)

10. "HQ Street Reminder Pt. 1" (Ft. HeadQCuarterz) [*]

11. "Take That" (Ft. The Flipmode Squad & Vinia Mojica)

12. "Drama" (Ft. Shadez Of Brooklyn)

13. "Extreme Situation" (Ft. Cocoa Brovaz & Black Hearted Scavengerz)

14. "Shut Da Fuck Up" (Ft. Apani B Fly Emcee & Jean Grae)

15. "Beef On The Streets" (Ft. Billy Flames) [*]

16. "Thug Love" (Ft. Naughty By Nature)

17. "Open" (Ft. Pete Rock & Camron Wheeler)

18. "Let's Talk About It (T.R.O.Y. Remix)" (Ft. Krumbsnatcha)

19. "Outro" [*]

DA BEATMINERZ - "BRACE 4 IMPAK" [PROMO]

DA BEATMINERZ Ft. Tash & Rah Digga - "Sumthin'" [Remix]

Another Ill Adrenaline banger that was posted close to a month ago but totally flew over my head but deserves to be heard by anyone visitng Lost Tapes by anyone, like me, who haven't heard it before. I'm not sure when it was recorded but I'm guessing around '98/early '99 and with stellar performances from Rah Digga and Tash of Tha Liks and a hardcore Beatminerz beat this is essential listen for any true hip-hop head. This was released on a limited 7" single with a previously unreleased Black Starr's "Another World" remix on the flip. Copies are still available from the label for about $10 dollars so hurry up and buy while you still can, and TURN THAT FUCKER UP!!

[Mini-Doc] BLACK MOON - "The Beginnings"

Black Moon's 1993 album "Enta Da Stage" is without a doubt one of the five best albums to have been released in that year, along with "36 Chambers", "Midnight Mauraders", and a few others. Check out this mini documentary about Black Moon and their beginnings with "Enta Da Stage", which of course celebrate its twenty year anniversary this month. A must watch for fans of the group and all the early BCC/Da Beatminerz produced albums. Spotted @ EgoTripLand. Enjoy!