XZIBIT x THA LIKS x PETE ROCK - "Prime Time" [1998]

Between '96 and '99, Fukmaster Flex released a series of superb mixtape type albums called "60 Minutes of Funk" in three installments. All three volumes in the series are essential front-to-back listening, as it shows Flex' trul getting busy behind the boards, playing classics, freestyles, rare tracks and everything in between. If you're a hardcore collector like yours truly, all these definitely have a place in your physical collection as these mixes are filled with Funk's incredible skills as a DJ, showing he knows exactly what gets a crowd of hip-hop heads going - mixing classics, with rare records, and most importantly several selections recorded especially for these projects; sometimes self-produced by Funk himself.

One of the most interesting of these excclusives that falls in the latter category is a joint called "Prime Time", featuring Tha Alkaholiks family including Xzibit, and Phil Da Agony, over a classic Pete Rock type production, mixed by super engineer Marley Marl. With names like these it would be a miracle if it wasn't a brilliant record in every way, which it indeed is. But what's really interesting about it is that it exists in two radically different mixes that both NEED to be heard by every serious fan of any of the involved artists. For the actual "60 Minutes of Funk, Vol. 3" listeners only got a quick chance to whet their appetite before the 1:22 snippet seauged into the next song on the !tape". While even a small taste of such a future classic is hardly a shame; when I found out that there is actually a full version of this song, stretching out over four minutes I just had to track it down... and so I did it!

The full version of "Prime Time" appeared on a very limited and rare Funk Flex Mixtape III 12" sampler on LOUD in 1998. Highlighting some of the most outstanding tracks from the mixtape in their full galore. The same happened to Tribe Called Quest's / Jay Dee's "That Shit" which had cut out Phife Dawg's closing verse on the Vol. II mixtape., and so on. But if a full version of that '98 banger from Tha Liks wasn't enough, what makes it even more interesting is that it's produced and/or mixed differently. All the basics of the beat are there, but Pete and Marley adds a lot of sonic treats not found on the mixtape version; So which is your favorite?

FUNK FLEX / THA LIKS FAM - ''PRIMETIME'' [MIXTAPE]
FUNK FLEX / THA LIKS FAM - "PRIMETIME" [12" MIX] 

[Album] SUBSTANCE ABUSE - "Background Music"

Eso Tre and Subz form the LA duo Substance Abuse who recently relased their third album "Background Music", which sees the talented pair iinviting legends of the industry including KRS-One, Percee P, Sadat X. MC Eiht, Tash (Tha Liks), and more. From that LP comes the Percee P and Myka 9 blessed video single "Paper Tigers" which you see above. Don't sleep on this album cuz it's really dope and you can stream the entire project below and is available for purchase in digital form (hopefully an vinyl will be made available somewhere down the line).

[Album] TONY TOUCH - "PIECE MAKER 3"

"Piece Maker 3: Return Of The 50 MC's" works as an installment in two of Tony Touch's best and most memorable mixtape and/or album series. Released today via Soul Temple Records, Touch has choosen to premier the entire project through free streaming on always trustworthy DJBooth. Kicking things off with the DJ Premier produced collaboration with D-Stroy, you know you are in for a treat with this one.. Other highlights (at least on paper; just started listening myself) include tracks with Liknuts (Alkaholiks x Beatnuts), M.O.P., B-Real, Wu-Tang Clan, AG & Masta Ace, Rah Digga, KRS-One, Fat Joe & Sadat X, D-Block and many more; a good amount of the beats are produced by Beatnuts too, which is real exciting in its own right. Check out the tracklist for yourself if you're still not convinced to press that link, or head over to UGHH and order the CD.

1. Tony Touch / D Stroy – “Touch And D Stroy”
2. Rah Digga – “Freestyle”
3. A.G. & Masta Ace – “Double A”
4. Busta Rhymes, J. Doe, Reek da Villian & Roc Marciano – “Hold That”
5. M.O.P – “You Know You Love This”
6. Too Short, Kurupt & Xzibit – “V.I.P.”
7. B-Real – “Hit This (Freestyle)”
8. Papoose & Uncle Murda – “Brooklyn’s The Borough”
9. Sean Price & Guilty Simpson – “Random”
10. Black Thought – “Thought Process”
11. Styles P, Sheek Louch & Jadakiss – “B.A.R.S.”
12. Liknuts – “World Premier”
13. Raekwon, JD Era, Ghostface Killah & RZA – “Unorthodox”
14. Twista & Bun B – “Bounce”
15. Thirstin Howl III – ‘One Person Thirstin’
16. Willie The Kid – “Power Cypha”
17. Action Bronson & Kool G. Rap – “A Queen’s Thing”
18. KRS-One, Fat Joe & Sadat X – “Take It To The Bronx”
19. Termanology – “Aw Shux”
20. Joel Ortiz, Royce Da 5’9” & Crooked I – “Slaughter Session”
21. Eminem – “Untitled”
22. Redman, Method Man & Erick Sermon – “Let’s Go”
23. Prodigy – “Untitled”
24. N.O.R.E., Al Joseph & Reek da Villian – “Questions”
25. Gob Goblin, Starvin B & Spit Gemz – “Untitled”

"PIECE MAKER 3: RETURN OF 50 MC'S" 

Xzibit / Alkaholiks / King Tee - "Louis XIII"

Xzibit.. Tha Alkaholiks.. King Tee.. Dr. Dre.. The West is definitely killing it with this one! The Dr. Dre produced posse cut shows any naysayers that The Likwits crew still get it poppin in 2012. "Louis XIII" will appear on X's forthcoming full-length album, "Napalm", which hit stores on September 25. 

XZIBIT x ALKAHOLIKS x KING TEE - "LOUIS XIII"

LikNuts - "Grumpy Crocodile"

Roughly a year ago, the collaboration between Tha Alkaholiks and The Beatnuts as LikNuts was first announced. Now, we gets to hear the first single from the upcoming project, "Grumpy Crocodile". Pretty raunchy joint that does a fine job combining the styles of both groups... Bring out the bottles!!