[Comp] RICK RUBIN - "The Bith Of The Boom Bap: 1984-1989"

For the longest time I've been wanting to make several compilations focused on the true hip-hop pioneers in the early to late '80s - I did have the Bomb Squad compilation a few years ago but there's a lot of incredible producers that are not named Marley Marl that are almost forgotten today. Back then if you wasn't inventing and reinventing yourself on a regular basis, you'd soon be forgotten no matter how skilled an emcee or producer you were. Rubin is not only one of the true pioneers of what in the mid- to late-'80s was then described as a "new school"; favoring a heavily stripped down sound that paved the way for the minimalist boom bap that would be the epitome of the hardcore hip-hop album in the early to mid-'90s. Rubin's first album as a producer / or rather "reducer" as he was credited on LL's first albums and singles in the mid-'80s. The duo went to work on 18-year old LL Cool J and his 1985 debut "Radio"; which to me, together with his "comeback" album "Mama Said Knock You Out" sounds as refreshing, innovative and original as any other hip-hop album of their respective eras. More than that, both albums should be considered two of the finest and most groundbreaking albums ever created. Only a year later, in 1986, Rubin also produced the debut albums of Beastie Boys "Licensed to Ill" and Run DMC's "Raising Hell". Both which are often considered the respective group's best work to date, and also helped them propell into the mainstream (or in the case of Run DMC, even more). Alll three of these LP:s are must haves for any serious hip-hop collector and showed that Rubin not only had a signature sound, but he also made sure each album and artist had their own signature sound on display on their respective LP:s.

 

After being the executive producer on Public Enemy's three first albums (albeit not in any studio capacity) he parted with Def Jam in favor of his own Def Americana; a more rock-focused imprint. This was kind of a natural move considering that he had already as far back as in 1987 prouced albums for the likes of trash metal band Slayer. Since then Rick Rubin has become one of the most highly sought after producers in the game, producing from every one to Metallica, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Audioslave, Slipknot, AC/DC, Dixe Chicks, Rage Against The Machine, and many, many more.

 

Although Rick Rubin has never cut down a bit on his production habits, instead focusing on his talents on broading his horizons, it's his stripped down, hard punch hip-hop beats that made him a legend among us beat and rap heads. In usual Lost Tapes order I have decided to cut down any song included on any of the three albums mentioned above, as they are definitely records you should all have in your collection. Another thing is that Rubin quite recently again started producing hip-hop records for artists like Jay-Z, Eminem and KanYe West - though I decided to focus this compilation on the period between the recording of these three main albums and Everything Rubin produced for Def Jam during his rather short stay there. If you are not familiar with those 2000:s cuts, I strongly recommend you check out his original version of "Better Than I've Ever Been" (2006), "Bezerk"/"Rhyme & Reason"/"Love Game" by Eminem (2013) and the entirety of KanYe's "Yeezus" (2013). While he didn't actually produce any music per se on the latter, he did help out KanYe a whole lot in what he likes saying reducing the album into the state that it was eventually released in over a 16-days period. Check out this video for some interesting information about that. But overall I'm just glad and hope that this is a trend that means Rubin will slowly but surely get more and more back to hip-hop and rap music. Until then, let's revisit 16 tracks from Rubin's early Def Jam Days, including remixes, 12" only singles and B-sides that he produced from 1984-1989 for his label artists. It's a great listen if you're into '80s hip-hop, and should of course be played LOUD!

 

01. T La Rock - "It's Yours"

02. LL Cool J - " I Need A Beat" [Original]

03. LL Cool J - "Rock The Bells" [Original]

04. Beastie Boys - "Rock Hard"

05. Hollis Crew  "It's The Beat"

06. Run DMC - "Christmas in Hollis"

07. Jazzy Jay - "Def Jam"

08. Junkyard Band - "The World"

09. Jimmy Spicer - "This is It"

10. Jazzy Jay - "Cold Chillin' in the Spot"

11. Run DMC - "Jam Master Jammin'"

12. LL Cool J - "Going Back to Cali"

13. LL Cool J - "Jack The Ripper"

14. Run DMC - "Mary, Mary"

15. Queen - "We Will Rock You" [Remix Reduced by Rubin] [*]

 

RICK RUBIN - "The Birth Of The Boom Bap: 1984 - 1989"

DMC x Necro Ft. Emilush & Caustic - "Murda Y'All"

From Sweden to NYC, Hip Hop is alive and kicking as evident on this wicked collaboration between DMC and Necro with Emilush & Caustic on the hook. The Swedish duo reached out to DMC and Necro with a request to lay down verses over this Nicseb beat and the resulting record is the hard hitting "Murda Y'all". As if the joint in itself wasn't enough we finally get an official release date and title for the long awaited Godfathers album (Necro's joint project with Kool G Rap, who also makes several appearances in the video) - "Once Upon A Crime", November 19!

[EPK] Rakim's "The 18th Letter"

"The 18th Letter" might not be the classic album that many expected from the greatest emcee of all time's solo debut. But with the songs "It's Been A Long Time", "When I'm Flowing", "New York", "The Mystery", "The Saga Begins", the title track, "Remember That", and "Guess Who's Back", the majority of the album was a powerful excercise in lyrics and beats that still sounds fresh fifteen years after its original 1997 release. This EPK that Universal Records released in promotion of the then forthcoming album features interviews with Ra himself as well as hip-hop giants like Pete Rock, Jam Master Jay, AZ, Fredro Starr, Busta Rhymes, Rampage, Coolio, and more paying their respects to the man who influenced them all. All thanks to Afro Gwada for the YouTube upload and shouts to Jammin for spreading the word!

Jazzy Jeff Ft. Senor Kaos - "Peter Piper" [J.M.J. Tribute]

 Celebrating what would have been the veteran DJ Jam Master Jay's 47:th birthday yesterday, Funkmaster Flex dropped his ill 30 minutes set celebrating the legend and now DJ Jazzy Jeff and Senor Kaos hook up with eachother for another tribute; their take on the classic Run DMC cut "Peter Piper" that originally appeared on Mick Boogie/Jazzy Jeff's mixtape "My Adidas (A Tribute to Run DMC) last year. Senor Kaos is holding it down on the mic while Jeff is killing it on the turntables as well as providing the beats so you can bet on this being a certified sureshot, Don't hesitate, check it and pay your tributes to one of the true pioneers.

JAZZY JEFF / SENOR KAOS - "PETER PIPER"

Funk Flex's JAM-MASTER JAY Tribute

Jam-Master Jay is obviously one of the most important and pioneering artists and DJs to ever grace hip-hop with his presence. Besides his groundbreaking masterpieces with Run DMC, Hollis, Queens native Jason William Mizell started honing his skills on the tables at the early age of 13 and that hard work soon payed off. On albums like Run's classic "Raising Hill" he was also heavily involed with the music side of things; playing live drums, keyboards and bass, A few years later he started his own label, J.M.J. Recordings, producing banging records for Onyx, Real Roxanne, Terminaor X, Jayo Felony and a host of others.

The unique hip-hop legend was sadly shot and killed on October 30, 2002 and the music business, and especially rap music, lost one of its true pioneers. Say what you want about Funkmaster Flex these days but at least he's always been an ill DJ and he clearly hasn't forgotten his roots. Check this mix out and if you haven't peeped the great JMJ documentary "Two Turntables & A Microphone" make sure to get your hands on that one too.

FUNK FLEX'S J.M.J. TRIBUTE MIX