NAS - "In Between Us" [OG Verse] (2001)

In 2001 Nas and Jay-Z where at the height of their famous feud - perhaps the last interesting hip-hop beef - and each released an album to receive the rare 5 mics review in The Source. The only emcee to have both artists as featured guests on his album was Scarface for his incredible "The Fix" LP, which incidentally also received 5 mics. "In Between Us" is one of my favorite joints on that album as both Nas and Scarface turns in absolute monster performances.. However, reading 'Face's autobiography (an excellent read) he revealed that Nas originally submitted a different verse for the song - one in which 'Face felt he had some thinly veiled disses aimed towards Jigga which led to him asking Nas to submit a different verse. So yesterday I stumbled across this little gem that you hear above. It's been out for years but since I'm not a big fan of blend mixtapes and the like I never checked it out. This appeared on Mick Boogie and Joey Fingaz "God's Gift" mix but you'll hear a different Nas verse that was obviously written in 2001 as parts of the lyrics would be re-used for "One Never Knows" and "Ether", respectively. My best guess is that this is the original verse that Nas submitted for "The Fix" album and as such it's pretty damn crazy to hear this... You can cut it off after the first verse and hook though as there's no need to hear Jay-Z strangely blended into this in my opinion.

[Stream] SCARFACE - "Deeply Rooted"

Mr. Scarface, one of the top 5 lyricists of all time if you ask me, finally returns with a new album and shit sounds banging from the first few cuts. This is Face's first full-length since 2008's overlooked "Emeritus" and now free from his Rap-A-Lot chains, he seems to be in an artistically great place. The bulk of the beats on here is produced by long-time associate N.O. Joe who brings forth the classic dark, deep and gritty Houston vibe we'd come to associate with this legendary emcee. I'd be suprised if this doesn't end up being one of the strongest albums of the year so be sure to support the man with a purchase (iTunes, UGHH). FACE IS BACK!!

01. "Intro"

02. "Rooted" (Ft. Poppa Reu)

03. "Hot Seat"

04. "Dope Man Pushin'" (Ft. Poppa Reu)

05. "Fuck You Too" (Ft. Z-Ro)

06. "Steer" (Ft. Rush Davis)

07. "Anything"

08. "Do What I Want" (Ft. Nas, Rick Ross & Z-Ro)

09. "God" (Ft. John Legend)

10. "Keep It Movin'" (Ft. Avant)

11. "You" (Ft. Cee-Lo Green)

12. "All Bad"

13. "Voices"

14. "No Problem"

15. "Outro"

STREAM "DEEPLY ROOTED" @ SPOTIFY

[Compilation] SCARFACE - "Longevity"

This is a compilation I've been wanting to do for a long long time, and hopefully I will make a Volume 2 very soon. This summer I've been caught in something of a depression and the soundtrack to my Life this summer has with few exceptions been Scarface a.k.a. Brad Jordan, without a doubt one of the top 5 emcees to ever to do it. He always picks great beats that will get true hip hop heads from New York, the South, the West Coast, Europé or Japan truly bang their heads without taking away from his incredible wordplay - few, if any emcees have the ability to tell stories and touch on subjects like suicide, self destruction and self loathing in a way that's hundra procent truthful and relatable to everyone that feels these type of feelings once in a while - and most of us do though must don't like to admit it. Besides going through his entire catalouge of solo material and Geto Boys records plenty of times the last few months I also read his very satisfying biography "Diary Of A Madman" which I strongly, strongly recommend to anyone interested in the histroy of hip hop, and want an understand of how the Southern hip hop and the Rap-A-Lot empire made it so big as they did all over the world. And just like in his Music he doesn't spare on the grimey details that has formed him into the man he has become today - it pretty much all in there, the good and the bad, the drugs, the betrayals, the suicidal tendencies, and so on. Again, I can't stress how terrific this book is, by far one of the best hip-hop biographies I've read in my life and I've read plenty.

This compilation, which I decided to call "Longevity" stands as a perfect companion piece to that book, a long with the rest of his catalouge. I tried to make it a coherrent experience while making sure we get songs spanning from 1992 to 2012 - twenty years in the making, hence the title. I also tried to include some of the work he has done with both East Coast, West Coast and Southern producers and artists so you'll find classics, new and obscure records produced and featuring legends like WC, Buckwild, DJ Premier, Troy Ave., Too $hort, Nas, Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, KanYe West, Common, Mos Def, Dr. Dre, Stat Quo, Ice Cube, Seagram, FaceMob, and so on. Since my PhotoShop is working I just borrowed the cover for the "Dopeman Music" pre-megamix release (not the actual mixtape), but it's better than nothing. Don't sleep on this, whether or not you're already up on Scarface or not this will work well for any true hip-hop fanatic so be sure to TURN IT UP!!

01. Scarface - "Street Life"
02. Scarface - "Among The Walking Dead" (Ft. FaceMob)
03. Jay-Z / Scarface / Beanie Sigel - "This Can't Be Life"
04. Seagram - "Action Speaks Louder Than World"
05. Scarface / FaceMob - "FaceMob"
06. Ice Cube / Scarface / Nas / Juice - "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It"
07. Too $hort / Scarface - "Longevity"
08. DJ EFN / Scarface / Troy Ave. / Smitty / DJ Premier - "Who's Crazy"
09. Common / Scarface / Mos Def - "The Corner Remix"
10. Smitty / Scarface / KanYe West / John Legend - "Ghetto"
11. Stat Quo / Scarface - "The Way It Be"
12. WC / Scarface - "So Hard"
13. Compton's Most Wanted / Scarface - "N 2 Deep"
14. NASA / Scarface / Ghostface Killah / Cool Kids - "The Mayor"
15. Jay-Z / Scarface / Beanie Sigel - "Some How, Some Way"
16. Scarface / Nas / DJ Premier - "Hip Hop"
17. Scarface / Anthony Hamilton - "Sunshine to the Rain"

SCARFACE - "LONGEVITY"

[Album] DJ EFN - "Another Time"

DJ EFN is a DJ and producer originally hailing from Miami, originally known for his early '90s "Crazy Hood" mixtapes series, Now after over 20 years in the industry, learning the ropes, and building connections, EFN is stepping to the table with a retail album under his own name - entitled "Another Time". The album is oficially released today and is filled to the fucking limit with incredible guests from all coasts and different generations - or how about Scarface, Inspectah Deck, MC Eiht, Blu, Sean Price, Your Old Droog, M.O.P., Guilty Simpson, KAM, Fashawn, Cormega, Cory Gunz, Masta Ace, Killer Mike and many more. Sounds almost too crazy to be true right? While the majority of the production is handled by DJ EFN himself, DJ Premier, Hazardis Soundz, Davincci and Miami Heat Wave each contribute a track or two as well. Damn sick cover by Skam2? as well, everything about this project screams true ass hip hop if you ask me... Another incredible release from the always trustowrthy Redefinition Records - order it directly from REDEF, Fat Beats or iTunes.

01. Intro feat. Umar Bin Hassan (The Last Poets)
02. Another Time feat. Inspectah Deck, Guilty Simpson, M.O.P., Bernz (¡MAYDAY!)
03. Selfish feat. King Tee, Fashawn, Kurupt
04. Lane 2 Lane feat. Don Logan (Gunplay), Denzel Curry
05. South-West feat. MC Eiht, Blu, Kam
06. Crazy Dope feat. Milk Dee, Sean Price, Murda Mook
07. Revolutionary Ride Music feat. Your Old Droog, Royce da 5’9, OC, Reks
08. Crazy (Interlude) feat. Umar Bin Hassan (The Last Poets)
09. Who’s Crazy? feat. Troy Ave, Scarface, Stalley, DJ Premier
10. Fiyah Gun feat. Smif N Wesson, Spragga Benz, Kardinal Offishall, Bittah Sosicka
11. If U Run feat. Killer Mike, Webbz, KXNG Crooked (Crooked I)
12. Survival feat. Juvenile, Dead Prez, Trick Daddy
13. When I’m Dead feat. Joell Ortiz, Chris Rivers, Keith Murray, Skam2
14. Warrior feat. Sizzla, David Banner, N.O.R.E., Jon Connor
15. Power feat. Sa-Roc, Masta Ace, Thirstin Howl III
16. Role Model feat. Bun B, Jarren Benton, Eric Biddines, Amber Monique
17. Paradise feat. Talib Kweli, Wrekonize, Redman
18. Motivation feat. Defari, Cormega, Boaz
19. G Shit feat. McGruff, Prez P, Grafh
20. #HomeTeam feat. Garcia, Dynas, Skam2?, Heckler, Society, Mother Superia
21. We Earned It feat. Ras Kass, Black Milk, Black Collar, Cory Gunz

STREAM "ANOTHER TIME" @ DJBOOTH

DJ EFN Ft. SCARFACE, TROY AVE & STALLEY - "Who's Crazy" [prod. DJ Premier]

We've heard some excellent singles from DJ EFN's upcoming compilation-type album "Another Time LP" which drops March 3. The latest single is a slamming joint produced by none other than DJ Premier who does a great job providing the backdrop for the immortal Scarface with Stalley and Troy Ave. In other words not Preem's usual NY gritty emcee showcase, but perhaps all the more interesting for it. Especially interesting to hear Scarface on a Preem beat again. Pre-order and check the tracklist @ iTunes. Turn this up LOUD!

BOAZ - "Like This" [East Coast Remix] (Ft. Oddisee, Termanology & Vinny Radio)

Boaz is a Pittsburg emcee who released his debut album "The Audiobiography" in 2009. This Tuesday's he's getting his sophomore on, with the release of "Intuition" which features production and guest spots from the likes of !llmind, Jadakiss, Styles P, Junior Reid, and Larry Fisherman. For the !llmind produced single "Like This", Boaz has unveiled two remixes - one representing the West Coast and featuring Crooked I, Murs and Fashawn, and now the East Coast remix which sees Boaz getting busy together with Oddisee, Termanology & Vinny Radio. Check both of them out below and also visit Boaz Soundcloud to peep joints with Styles P, Jadakiss, Junior Reid, Scarface, Sean Price, and more. Pre-order "Intuition" @ iTunes.

The Game Ft. SCARFACE - "Hollywood"

Let me stress that I'm far from the biggest fan of The Game, though I believe that "The Documentary" was one of the strongest releases of 2005, and its follow-up was a dope record as well. Since then there's been some dope tracks here and there but the constant name dropping and endless constructed gangsta stories gets tiresome. However, Scarface is one of the illest and most authentic emcees around, and has been so, as both a solo artist and as part of Geto Boys, since the late '80s. Therefore the Scarface assisted "Hollywood" where a haunting beat complete with a slick bassline, tough breaks, and a nicely chopped vocal loop sets the perfect stage for the sparring of the two emcees. Interestingly enough, this wasn't even included on the official DJ Skee hosted Game street album "Oke", but only appears as an iTunes bonus. Don't you just hate that when they save the best tracks for thsoe deluxe editions, seems to happen more and more often (another recent example is R.A. The Rugged Man's "It's Gone" from the limited cassette version of "Legends Never Die")... Oh well...

DJ Khaled Ft. Nas, Scarface & DJ Premier - "Hip Hop"

I never been a fan of Khaled, but this line-up is too sick to sleep on; any song with both Scarface and Nas on it warrants a listen and a post. The result is real dope too, with DJ Premier tearing it up on the decks and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League supplying the rhythm and melody.

DJ KHALED / NAS / SCARFACE / DJ PREMIER - "HIP HOP"

Anthony Hamilton w/ Scarface (2003)

As good as all the music that passes as Soul and R&B today are absolutely horrendous and lacks all feeling and actual soul, but that's not at all the case with Anthony Hamilton. I picked up his 2003 album "Comin' From Where I'm From" a while ago and I can strongly recommend it to fans of classic 70's soul. Hamilton's voice is incredible and the production is extremely well executed. I'd say that it's probably the best soul album since D'Angelo's masterpiece "Voodoo". But this is not a blog about Soul music so the reason I justify posting this is because it has two strong (although short) "The Fix"-era Scarface verses added to what's already one of my favorites on the LP. This is basically a joint I've been looking after for quite some time and since I recently found it I thought I might as well share it with anyone who might be interested.

ANTHONY HAMILTON / SCARFACE - "COMIN' FROM WHERE I'M FROM"