[Sampler] MAC McRAW Ft. OXYGEN & AUDESSEY - "B-Boy Bionics" / "Dust" EP

Golden age loving producer Mac McRaw's new 12" EP "B-Boy Bionics" / "Dust" is finally available and is a real treat for long time Soundsci fans like we hear @ The Lost Tapes. Mac McRaw comes through with some gritty MPC-60 and SP1200 vintage sounding boom bap, which perfectly sets off Oxygen and Audessey to bring their A-game on "B-Boy Bionics" and "Dust" respectively. Both from a lyrical and production standpoint this is nothing but pure hip-hop brilliance and should be something any true conniseour would want in his or her collection. Besides the main tracks which you can peep above you can also the EP brings an even stronger Soundsci connection as it includes a The Process remix of "Dust", wherein Ollie Teeba and Jonny Cuba gets busy on the programming and turntable side. As if that wasn't enough the EP also boosts instrumentals of both songs, as well as two additional remixes of "Dust", including the original Mac McRaw version entitled the OG SP1200 Demo Version. Limited to only 250 commercial copies, be sure to grab your copy for only £9.99 @ ColdRockStuff.com.

[Album] DANNY SPICE - "Live @ The Throwback"

Danny Spice & The Wildstyle Crew is coming with a vintage NYC hip-hop sounding EP on limited 12" and digital on Crate Escape Records, and this will definitely be a crazy fucking project. We previously heard the thumping single with my man Oxygen, "Code Red", and now the entire "Live @ The Throwback" EP has been unleashed on Crate Escape Records. There's sure no shortage of dope cuts on here, fellow Soundsci member Audessey pops up for the soulful boom bap tinged "Night Stalkers", the mighty Sadat X joins Finsta, Cappo, and Emskee on the heavy posse cut "Art Of War", just to name a few. This is one of the best projects recently, right up my alley - it got that retro feel, like it could have been made in the '80s, '90s or 2000's but what people don't get is that that sound is TIMELESS so it's not dated music just cuz you're taking it back. Big up to Danny Spice and all the artists on the projects. Purchase your copy on limited 12" EP or cop the digital @ Crate Escape Records while you still can. You can stream the entire project below.

DANNY SPICE & THE WILDSTYLE TRIBUTE BAND ft. OXYGEN - "Code Red"

The Soundsci crew keeps the sound of East Coast old school hip-hop alive, and although they haven't released a full-length in their own name since last year's "Soundsational", Audessey just released the physical copies of his collaboration with French producer A Kat Called Fritz - in fact one of the strongest albums of 2014. At the same time Ox the Architect, or Oxygen as he is perhaps more commonly known these days, has released a plethora of limited 7" singles. This new solo single "Code Red" with Oxygen is lifted from DannySpice & TheWildstyleTributeBand "Live At The Throwdown" EP - a love for classic old school wildstyle New York bop. The EP also features fellow Soundsci member Audessey, Emskee, Finsta & Cappo, and Mr. Sadat X himself.  The project is available in both digital and a limited physical vinyl copy, that also features two exclusive instrumentals. So be sure to pre-order your copy while you still can! Head over to Crate Escaepe Record's Bandcamp.

[Album] SILENT SOMEONE - "Change"

US producer Silent Someone has dropped a lot of impressive beats, joints and remixes over the last couple of years and now he's back with his latest album - "Change". The 10 tracks EP consists mostly of ill instrumentals from Silent's stash to kick back to but original Juice crew member Craig G bless the title track (click here to check out the official video) while Soundsci's Oxygen brings some heavy bars to the album closer "Retrogression (Late Nite Remix)". The digital is out now and can be purchased or streamed from Bandcamp while Good Felons will be releasing the vinyl eventually. If you stream below and wanna hear the whole thing (and you should), be sure to rewind back to track #1.

[Video] WYLD BUNCH Ft. H. STAX - "I Do Not Fail"

Wyld Bunch is an up-and-coming New York emcee who creates hard knocking music that's paying dues to the classic boom bap of his city while retaining his unique style both as a rhymer and in picking beats. Éarlier this year he released the 8 track EP "Unbreakable", entirely produced by DJ Brans; Another superior French beat maestro joining the likes of DJ Low Cut and Alterbeats in aiding American underground emcees to create fantastic hip hop music.

I'm not sure but I actually Believe that I forgot to post "Unbrekable" when it first dropped but better late than never, right; especially since a few days ago Wyld Bunch dropped the first video from the project. "I Do Not Fail" features Hannibal Stax, fresh off his dope LP collaboration with Marco Polo, and is one of many exciting guests to make an apperance throughout the eight original songs; other MC's include Guilty Simpson, Roc Marciano, Masta Ace, Soundsci's Oxygen, Raf Almighty, and H. Lloyd. Released on Effiscienz, you can stream the entire album and pick up the limited vinyl 12" EP @ Wyld Bunch's Bandcamp. The record is also available @ UGHH and HHV. The CD also features one remix each of every song of the LP; including alternative versions concocted by Kyo Itachi, DJ Low Cut, Confidence, Alterbeats, and more.

V/A - "THE SPICE RACK (An Ongoing Vinyl Adventure)"

Remember a few days ago, I posted the Slice-Of-Spice Soundcloud sets of all the released Lord Finesse and K-Def vinyls, respecitvely on the label. Besides those legends, S-O-S have brought us a lot of amazing music, both new and rare/unreleased, from incredible artists like Masta Ace, Oxygen, AG, Damu The Fudgemunk, Gensu Dean, DJ Format, Paul Nice, Biz Markie, and more. Much of these monsterous cuts have been collected in one set for our enjoynment, so press play, sit back and let it BANG.

[Review] SOUNDSCI - "THE ULTIMATE EP"

The third and latest release from Soundsci consists of eight tracks put on wax to remind you why you fell in love with hip-hop. Made up of emcee's Audessey, UGeorge and Ox The Architect, with producers The Process a.k.a. Jonny Cuba and Ollie Teeba, the five man crew's music grows from their distinct musical personalities and respective roots in the hip-hop scenes of ATL, New York and UK. That, in combination with their love of that good ol' boom bap, really brings something unique to the table. It's no accident that Soundsci's "Formula 99" was one of the most praised hip-hop albums of last year in real underground circles. And simply put, if you liked "Formula 99" you'll also love "The Ultimate". It's far from a tired repetition by any means though, on the contrary; the crew sound more in tune with each other than ever before, and especially on the five new songs you can hear that they were going for a new sound for these sessions. And that's something I always liked; to make each release something unique without alienating the fanbase and sticking with their guns, which is what they so far has managed to do; "Formula 99", "The Ultimate" and the original debut EP "Dig For Victory" are unqestionably music from the same group, but each release also has its complete own individuality. For this one, I believe that the members were all working together in the studio; at least more than on previous releases, and even if they were not that's definitely the impression you get when listening. 

The Review
The A-side kicks off with the EP:s title track, "The Ultimate", and despite all the other new songs appearing on side B I think it was a wise move to have this separated. The later tracks are somewhat more somber while still packing a street element, while "The Ultimate" is straight up-tempo stuff that's as funky as it gets. To me it sounds like an homage to the '80s hip-hop and The Process does a great job with adding a B-boy element to it. The real treat of the song is, however, how well the trio goes back and forth between each other; spitting about 8 bars per verse before passing the microphone around, a procedure which is only breaken up for the chorus which once again reminds me of the '80s in it's simple coolness; "Soundsci, and you don't stop/ we got the illafied flow that makes you're body rock/ It's hip-hop, and you don't quit, we got the super-type of flow, it's THE ULTIMATE". Only a couple of songs later we are treated to a remix of the same song, called the DrillaKrilla remix. I'm not sure whether or not this is an actual producer or a remix laced by The Process but, while it's not as great as the original, it's still a damn dope cut. Musically it's pretty much on the same page, it's once again residing in the funky side of life though in a slightly slower manner this time, but a breakbeat type rhythm is still in tact, you got various horns fading in and out, and the way that the group's vocals have carried over so well to this mix makes it a winner. The only thing I am not sure about is the remix's placement on the record - at first I thought it would have been better having it near the end of Side B, considering that we heard the same vocals only two tracks earlier. At the same time, Side A and Side B does indeed sound a little like different entities, meaning that switching cuts between them might have broken up the flow of both sides.


DJ Spinna, who I consider one of the top 10 producers of all time, is behind the magnificent remix of "The Illest"; a song that I always considered amongst my favorites off the group's 2012 debut. Luckily, Spinna does not try to recreate the original beat or mood, instead opting for a completely new soundbed to accompany the accapellas over. Spinnna's take is a much slower song than the original; you can imagine hearing this in an underground club, with its many recurring sound effects juxtaposed against pounding drum programming are complemented with an extremely deep, dark and rumbling bassline throughout; something I usually recognize Spinna on, and which I see as something that stems from his love of house music. The Fat Joe turntable hook, the hypnotic production work and, just like on the original album, of course Audessey and Ox's vocals all make this something truly out of the ordinary. It's great to see such a different version of one of my favorite tracks, especially as to me DJ Spinna came through and brought in something equally good. Spinna's Classic Beyond Real Remix can also be viewed as a another preview of what SPOX-PhD will bring to the table sometime in, hopefully, a not to distant future (the MC/DJ constellation between OX and Spinna). This is followed by another "Formula 99" remix; "Rhyme 4 Rhyme" flips the beat to an up-tempo funk driven monster where DJ Format arrange a large group of instruments, including horns and guitar, and breakdowns that once again comes off as something of a tribute to the late '80s sound of hip-hop; when funky instrumentals that could get a party going, turntables and battle lyricism was the focus. As mentioned earlier, the two sides of the record really sound like two sides of the same coin, and the A-side is undoubtedly the more uptempo, groove-driven, funk record sampling, party starting side.

So far so good - I'm really impressed by this EP by this point, let's just hope that the B-side holds up, right? Well, let me tell you; it's the four tracks on the B-side that REALLY knocked me straight out. For one thing, all of the songs here are new Soundsci tracks, rather than remixes, and if you don't nod your head once you drop the needle on "The Vow" you might as well go look for another genre, because hip-hop isn't for you. The Process smacking rhythm section is just hard knock, while the musical parts are more melodic (a beautiful female voice wailing is heard throughout and forms a large chunk of the song), creating a nice counterpoint to the production. The rhyme trio absolutely kills it too, paying homage to where they came from and recognizing their underground roots and loyal fan base. The vow is to never forget that they will always represent the movement no matter what. Audessey kick things off lovely with a memorable verse, ("I never abuse it, mislead but use it, as a tool to school the fools and apply the golden rule/ Never seek your hand out, I'ma give it my all/ I take my bumps and bruises, staying tall up when I fall/ I keep it eye to eye, and honest in all moments/ I make my raps dope and produce my beats fatter...") which is followed by an equally hot verse from UGeorge. In fact all verses on this EP are really something, the chemistry between this trio is just something else which is why I consider them the best independent act right now. "The Vow" is one of the best Soundsci songs I have ever heard, from the layered production, the amount of quotables, and I also got to give credit for the hook, because a lot of underground emcees that rhyme tight as hell have no clue how to put together a song - Soundsci has proven time and time again that they are not only great rappers and producers but that they make complete songs, period. The same could be said for "Bon Appetit" which follows a somewhat similiar pattern; the production is steadily progressive, far from a simple loop you got the occassional guitar riff popping up, you got the female chant at the end of every bar, intense drum rolls and a breakdown of the beat to separate the hook and verses. Here the entire trio is heard too, something we never got to hear on "Formula 99" but the few times it happens on this EP, it really gives an impression of how well these guys play off each other's styles. 

"Lyrical Beatdown" was released as a single about a month or so ago and had many, myself included, very hyped for the new release. This is one of them heavy joints with relatively slow but extremely hard drums courtesy of The Process, but it also has a softer quality which comes in the form of a smooth guitar riff which adds a blues feeling to the track. Once again the use of layered production without sounding cluttered seems to be one of Cuba's and Teeba's most accomplished feats, and I hope these releases will give them a lot of outside offers for production. The final cut is called "Plight Of The Underdog" and is another A+ cut with a message to keep strivin' and not lose motivation no matter what people or even yourself might say sometime, something I, and many with me, definitely can relate to. I love how Oxygen's verse starts off over only the somber piano riff and a bassline, constantly building up tension so that when the beat finally drops it's like a rush coming over you; "Momma ain't raised no quitter, but I swear if I don't catch a wind soon I might reconsider/ You've seen my last update on Twitter, the red Oxygen is done with this rap shit, got a lot of y'all bitter/ I love my 21 followers and back in the days rocking mics was more powerful than the dollar was...". Just like in movies, tension and release is a great way to build up anticipation to create a pleasant (or scary) effect once the release comes; this is something I always felt should be used more in hip-hop music and as heard here, it has great effect on the listener. With piano, a looped background vocal, turntables, electric bass, boom bap drums, and even the occassional trumpet, the producers creates an hypnotic feeling that rides perfectly under the two vocalists. As I just mentioned, there's a lot going on here production wise, but never so much that it distracts from listening to the vocals, which is telling both of how well balanced and melticiously planned/produced the music is as well as the fact that Oxygen, UGeorge and Audessey's vocal performances are hypnotic on their own. It's a great closer to a great EP, one that will likely encourage yourself to flip the script and give it another front-to-back listen. 
 
The Conclusion
Being well familiar with the music of Soundsci, I had no hesitation in pre-ordering the EP without having heard any snippets or likewise as I without a doubt expected another dope release. Even then I was suprised by how absolutely terrific this release actually is. Especially when I for the first time threw on the B-side, I could pretty much only shake my head in disbelief; I'd go as far as saying that the best songs on this EP are also the finest tracks Soundsci has yet released. The DJ Spinna remix of "Ill Dialect" is another personal favorite, and one that got me even more hyped for that forthcoming SPOX-PhD album. "The Ultimate" is short, with only 5 new songs and a couple of remixes, but when adding more tracks to a product of this quality, you always risk breaking up the flow of the record - especially as the 8 tracks here really have a certain flow together and gives the overall impression of completion. In conclusion, Soundsci has once again proven why they are one of the absolute most interesting crew in hip-hop today, and with that being said this might be the group's most well-rounded effort today. If you love hard, sample based beats and the finest in lyricism I strongly recommend purchasing this on wax, and if you don't fuck with vinyl, pay the few dollars it costs to purchase the digital copy and support the cause.

OXYGEN - "The Process" EP / SPUTNIK BROWN - "7-20 EP"

As Soundsci now has shipped out all orders of their mindblowing "The Ultimate E.P." (I got my copy spinning on the turntable right now), what better time than now to make a post on these lyrical shots from Oxygen. The N.Y. emcee, who was the last addition to the crew, has been getting out a good amount of music over the last year which is a real blessing to the true underground fans. As the man's a fan of limited edition ish, the digital copies of his "The Process" EP as well as a re-up of the slamming "The Seven-Twenty EP" with Sputnik Brown has been made available for digital purchase/streaming for a short time. Support Soundsci and Oxygen by picking up "The Ultimate" and the fine releases below.

SPUTNIK BROWN - "The Recipe" [H. Lloyd Remix]

More Oxygen for the people, as here's a solo track from his former crew Sputnik Brown that was originally recorded in 2005 but haven't seen the light of the day before. Titled "The Recipe" this is real good stuff, from both a lyrical and sonically view. I'm not sure who originally produced this as this is a remix by Sputnik's Howard Lloyd who does a great job in complementing Ox's vocals while giving it a welcome old school esthetics sound,. It's free to stream, but you might as well spend one to six bucks on the HQ download and show yout support. So do yourself a favor and don't sleep on these bitchin' tracks!

OXYGEN - "The Process" [7'' Single]

A member of Soundsci, Spox-PHD and once Sputnik Brown, the emcee known as Oxygen just don't stop when it comes to recording and releasing new music. His latest endeavor is a brand new 7" single on Boro Records. "The Process" is a jazz-tinged history where Ox shows why his one of the most interesting rhymers today, while the intense posse cut "Guillotine 16's" is shared with guests Emskee and Dr. Becket. The boom bap production on this limited release is handled by Freqnik & WDR and is sure to be a collector's item in due time. Grab the digital download, the vinyl @ Fat Beats or Dustry Groove while you still can,

[Video] OXYGEN - "GONE DIGGIN'"

Oxygen's "Gone Diggin'" has been out for some time, but it's such a fantastic cut that it makes all the sense in the world to give it the video treatment. If you love getting dusty, digging through crates of wax, this one's for you! If you want to support, make sure to cop the 10".

Oxygen - "Gone Diggin'" [Remix]

Slice-Of-Spice has hooked up with Lost Tapes favorite Oxygen (a.,k.a. Ox The Architect) for the release of a limited 10" single of the underground classic "Gone Diggin'". The vinyl features the never before released full, extended original version, as well as a brand new remix, both produced by Gensu Dean. To make sure the sound is on point, the engineering and mastering has been properly handled by studio wizards Eddie Sancho and K-Def. DJ Premier blazed the remix on his LiveFromHQ show last week so check that out below, and head over to Slice-Of-Spice to order your copies!

J-ZONE Ft. Breezly Brewin, Prince Paul, & Oxygen - "The Fox Hunt"

The posse tracks keeps on coming in 2012, the next hotter than the last, and with J-Zone back in business with a gang of some of the best in the game. I've been listenig to J-Zone since he dropped his "A Bottle of Whup Ass" EP, and I was blown away by his beats then, and I'm still am. Over a funky jazz break J-Zone cooks up another one of his magic beats and invites several Lost Tapes favorites; Prince Paul, Breezly Breewin (formerly of Juggaknots) and last, but definitely not least, Soundsci's/Sputnik Brown's Oxygen. The latter is a real treat for me to hear, as in my extensive interview he did for The Lost Tapes, he mentioned that J-Zone was one of the producers he really wanted to work with ASAP, so it's great to see that dream came through for him. He definitely deserves it, and this joint is nothing short of superior material.

"The Fox Hunt" is the B-side to a 45 limited to 500 copies, so get them wile you can, and there's a bunch of different colors of vinyl to choose from. Order your copies here while they are still available fellow hip-hop heads, and make sure your neck bangs to this one, cuz I know I'm doing just that.

Oxygen - "Idealism" [1990 Demo Version]

Lost Tapes favorite Oxygen just dropped this gem over @ his Soundcloud page. Dating back to 1990 and his early alias Jonzhaft The Psychopath, "Idealism" is a song that later would later be reworked and released as a B-side to a 12" single two years later. Funky ish and sick to hear Ox was killing it way back then!

[Exclusive Interview] OXYGEN Pt. 2

Last week I posted Part 1 of my interview with Oxygen from Soundsci and SPOX PhD. If you got the first reading down, follow us now as The Lost Tapes picks up the conversation with Ox right from where we left off last time. Enjoy y'all!

claaa7: The 7" single you released with SPOX-PhD was one of last year's finest singles. The way you held your own on a posse cut with Kurious, Sadat X and Diamond D was real proof of you being an emcee's emcee, so to speak. How did that collaboration go down and was what the session like? 

Oxygen: Much respect. After a few faculty adjustments, we finally found the right balance of artists to feature on it. Spinna basically asked me who were some of the emcees I wanted to work with because he had an idea to do a posse track once we completed "Brilliance". So I started firing off names. In the end, he locked down Diamond D and Sadat X, and I reached out to Kurious through my man, Dave Dar. There was no actual session together, as many collaborations are done these days with all this technology. But I wish there WAS! I still listen to that track on a regular and just geek out. I don't think people realize how nice Kurious is as a writer. He was actually one of my 1st personal choices, and he came through like a guerrilla on that song. I'm happy with all the verses and how Spinna arranged everything. It's all like a dream come true for me. If I don't get to do another song in my life, I'm so pleased to have done that one.

c7: Continuing on the topic of SPOX-PhD, have you two been working on more material together since that debut single?

Ox: Yes, Spinna and I are just about done with our entire album.
'

c7: Wow! That's fantastic news; I can't wait to hear more from you two together.

Ox: Our follow-up single should be dropping within the next couple of months actually. Maybe sooner.
'

c7: You are also known for your involvement with the group Sputnik Brown, and the album and EP y'all released as limited digital downloads was truly loved amongst us true underground fans. What are the chances of a limited vinyl release or something like that for either, or both, of those? 

Ox: Well we did release some of the songs with DWG (Diggers With Gratitude) on vinyl earlier this year called "That Brown Underground" EP. It would be nice to see an official release for the remaining material as they were, however I doubt very highly that it will happen.

c7: It's quite obvious that you put your crews first and foremost, but what are the chances that we'll eventually get to hear a full-blown solo album by Ox The Architect? And if so, what producers and guests would you like to work with for the project?

Ox: Well the SPOX PhD album is kind of a solo album, although I do have a couple of features from my Sputnik Brown family and my brother Wyld Bunch. I'll consider it my solo debut LP once it drops. I've been speaking with DJ Format (UK), Paul Nice and also Sam Sever for a while about some future endeavors with each of them. However, creatively, I've been trying to reload myself so I'm able to get in the proper zone to jump into those project. I've been impressed with the sound of quite a few heads lately. Confidence (of Rashad & Confidence) is incredible on the beats. Rashad is nice too. Wouldn't mind working with them on something. I like the style of that cat Jorun Bombay from Canada. And definitely J-Zone if I had to get beats from anyone. That's my dude, and his production is insane! My bucket list of emcees for features I would be here forever listing them. Seriously.

c7: From the official projects you have released so far, which is the one you feel most proud about and why?

Ox: Definitely the "Gone Diggin'" 45. First of all, the whole process of that song coming together was the first time I've experienced real-life magic! That whole entire song was written on location as Gensu Dean and I were diggin' in spots around NYC. Second, it was the first and only record that I've done so far where I was able to take part in every process of having it pressed, released, and sold. I have to give thanks to everybody that was involved in making that release what it is today. I'm very fortunate. I've had one person say to me it's the "Digger's National Anthem". Two years after its release, it still seems to be gaining momentum. The B-side track "Mastermind's In Effect" was from the first demo tape I had ever done with my man Cutwizard Albee. That 45 is the perfect balance of history and future for me.

c7: Considering that you hang around a lot of different talented producers, have you yourself dabbled anything in creating beats? I know you received a couple of co-production credits on, for example, DJ Spinna's "Sonic Smash" LP.

Ox: I used to mess with the machines way back when things were simpler. I remember my man Albee had the Korg DDD-1. After that, he showed me how to freak the Akai S01 and the Akai S1000. That was about the last thing I worked with. I produced a track in the mid '90s for my man Son Of Know-1 called "Bring It On Down" that I'm proud of. It was never released though. My thing was basically collecting the wax. I hear different beat ideas in my head all the time listening to stuff I score, but I've always just brought the vinyl or ideas to the experts and let them punch the buttons. That was the case with "Elemental" on the Sonic Smash album. A lot of the Sputnik Brown songs, the same thing.

c7: What are your main inspirations as a writer and a lyricist?

 Ox: Usually, just myself. I try not to listen to any other emcees while creating, with the exception of whoever I may be doing a track with. Then I'd have to say they inspire me as well. I try to keep an original flow on everything. The beat I'm given has a lot to do with it too. Most of the time, I won't write anything for a good while after I get a beat. I just let it loop over and over and over... and over, then after a while I start hearing myself inside of it.

c7: What music do you listen to when you find the time to just listen? Based on your music, I would imagine you're into a lot of different styles and genres?

Ox: Those Clear Soul Forces out of Detroit and Ab-Soul from Cali really have my attention right now. I love their energy. I listen to all types of music though. I like 80's synth pop and new wave, psych & prog rock, gospel, jazz, blues, sometimes classical or country, funk soul. All of it. I'm a big fan of Chicago and Billy Joel for the song writing and arrangements. Nina Simone gets heavy rotation. In my house, I grew up on gospel music. Not that "old time religion" stuff. I mean that funky stuff, like Bill Moss & The Celestials, Inez Andrews, Myrna Summers, Mighty Clouds Of Joy, and Gabriel Hardeman Delegation.

c7: How do you view the hip-hop scene in 2012?

Ox: It's cool. I'm finding my place in it, so no complaints here.

c7: I know you're still building your brand as a musician, but are you and your various crews currently doing any major shows? Do you think there's any chances for a European tour in the near future?

Ox: Nothing concrete lined up yet, but in the meantime I'll just keep dropping releases until the interest is there. I would love to hit the road with Soundsci in the near future. I think that wouldbe ridiculously fun!

c7: We touched a bit on it already during this interview, but I still want to ask you what's next in line for Oxygen as far as musical endeavors goes. We are a lot that are eagerly anticipating new music from you, that's for sure!

Ox: Thanks brother. Man, to be honest I would love to finally learn how to play this trumpet I bought. haha I scored a used trumpet from a local second hand shop, and I try to slip some practice in whenever I can. It's tough though. I think I'm going to have to trade up for a sax. As far as releases go, there's plenty on deck. I don't want to start name dropping since I don't know actual release dates for many, but I've been busy. Trust me!

c7: I wish you all the best of luck with all those future projects, and once again many thanks for the patience to do this interview!

Ox: Thank YOU for all that you're doing, and for allowing me the platform to do this interview. This life's journey of mine has been an amazing one so far. I'm looking forward to the future as well. Much respect to everyone who took time out to read this too. You are appreciated. Peace.

Those words concludes this interview which I sincerely hope all you readers have found as interesting as I myself did. If you still haven't grabbed Ox's latest release, the highly recommended "Formula 99" LP with Soundsci, make sure to check it out and show your support @ Soundsci's Bandcamp page. Much respect to Ox for the thorough answers and just being an extremely humble and talented artist. I also want to give a shout out to my man Jaz for the initial hook up with Oxygen, which by extension made this interview possible.

[Exclusive Interview] OXYGEN Pt. 1

New York based emcee Oxygen, sometimes Ox The Architect, is one of those emcees who's been paying his dues for years, dropping true quality music on a fairly regular basis. Releasing his first solo 12" back in 1990, as Jonzhaft The Psychopath, and as part of the early '90s jazz/hip-hop fusion scene with the group Jazz Not Jazz, Oxygen is one of the underground scene's best kept secrets. Fellow artists like DJ Spinna, Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Sadat X, and Kurious already recognizes the name and know the skills behind it, yet many listeners have yet to discover the true school hip-hop that Ox The Architect embodies. But things are starting to look up as more and more heads all over the world are starting to embrace his work with former crew Sputnik Brown, his duo Spox-PhD with DJ Spinna, and his latest work with super group Soundsci. The latter just dropped one of 2012's best releases in the form of "Formula 99", so if you haven't heard that yet make sure to grab it/check it out ASAP. If you know the music, it's now time to learn to know the man as Ox has graced The Lost Tapes with a very informative interview; and if you have yet to learn about the music, hopefuly this interview will help you wake up and smell the coffee!

claaa7: First of all many thanks for taking the time out of your schedule to do this interview for The Lost Tapes. It is extremely appreciated!

Oxygen: Thank you. It's an honor and pleasure to be granted this interview.

c7: For those not yet too familiar with your music and many projects, could you give us a quick breakdown of which crews you currently rep and what aliases you go by?

Ox: Sure, I go by the name Oxygen most of the time. Sometimes I use 'Ox The Architect' or my first ever emcee name 'Just Divine'. I'm part of the groups Sputnik Brown, Soundsci and SPOX PhD with DJ Spinna. In my PAST rhyme-life I recorded under the name 'Jonzhaft The Psycopath' and 'Jon Shaft' as part of the group Jazz Not Jazz, both in the early 1990s.

c7: Many emcees would be perfectly happy just repping one crew haha; you instead have gone full throttle to get your name out there, and it definitely seems to be working!

Ox: Thanks man. I have to give praise to my parents for instilling this work ethic in me. I learned early by watching them. For me, it's all about quality over quantity. I don't accept every project that is presented to me, but if I choose to work on anything I make sure I give it my absolute best and work hard at it.

c7: Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're an emcee originally from Long Island, right? How did that surrounding inspire you in first grabbing a microphone, and how old were you when you first started rhyming?

Ox: That's correct. My area and a few of the immediate towns surrounding have bred some of the finest emcees, singers, and musicians in the industry. Some of the most notable are Rakim, Supreme Force (Freddie Foxxx 1st group), De La Soul, Too Poetic, Groove B. Chill, Bolaji, J.V.C. F.O.R.C.E., EPMD, Craig Mack, Keith Murray, LL Cool J (who is originally from my hometown of North Babylon), Tone Kapone from Def Squad, Resident Alien... The list goes on and on. There were also some ill DJ crews as well. This whole melting pot of style constantly flowing through the air by the mid-80's was crazy. But way before then, back in the early '80s, my first inspirations were the combination of a local DJ crew called Fantasy, Inc. & one of my older sisters best friends named Greg Rawls (RIP). Fantasy, Inc. used to set up their sound system on the next block over from me, and a few random emcees would hop on the mic and get loose. Then I would notice many of the emcees also spun records as well. So for me, becoming a DJ and emcee kind of happened at the same time based on seeing this. I would say I was around 11 or 12 when I caught the bug. It was Rawls who fine tuned them both for me. He was the first older guy that "allowed" me to touch his turntables. With Fantasy, Inc. that was out of the question unless you were crew. Greg would also hop into the corner ciphers when my friends and I would be out there practicing our little rhymes. I miss him a lot.

c7: You're part of at least three crews that specializes in a certain brand of hip-hop; one that I would like to call modern true school hip-hop. Do you think that's a fitting description of the music you strive to make?

Ox: Well, I'm not sure that I would label it anything. What I strive to make is simply SOUL music. My writing stems from the connection a beat has with my spirit. So at the end of the process, it's all deemed as soul music to me. With all the groups I've worked with, there was always strong emphasis on the writing. Many songs that come out these days you can instantly feel the disconnect artists have with their music, which leads to the consumer having no connection with it either. I just want my songs to stand the test of time. Something you can go back to, and have some kind of memory about the first time you heard them.

c7: I really like your take on that! Your latest endeavor is as part of the group Soundsci, which is a quintet if I'm not mistaken? Y'all just released our incredible debut album "Formula 99" to much critical acclaim. Did the release meet the expectations you were hoping for? 

Ox: Yes, Soundsci is (now) a five man crew. As far as the album, it definitely met my expectations both sonically and the way people are responding to it. We don't have any major distribution set up for it, which we're in the process of trying to change that. Still in all, the buzz has been growing and we're quite pleased.

c7: What is the meaning behind the album title, "Formula 99"?

Ox: "Formula 99" basically describes the combination of the sound we've created as a unit with us all being elements of different groups. 1999, you can say, was also the year in which the broader sound of rap music started to cross over dramatically. What we wanted to do was not so much stay stuck in the '90s, but bring that whole vibe into the future with us as we build our catalog. Most of the album was complete before I added on with the group. When I heard the tracks that had already been laid down for the album, plus the impressive "Dig For Victory" EP, I knew I needed to be a part of it in some way.

c7: Ah ok, that explains why you had so few verses on the LP compared to Audessey and U-George, which is something I was curious about. How did you officially hook up with these guys and become a full-time member?

Ox: Right, the group was already in motion by the time I added on late last year (2011). I had actually been friends with both Ollie Teeba and Jonny Cuba for a few years now. Actually the beat for the song "Formula 99" Jonny had submitted to my former group Sputnik Brown a couple of years back to rock on. We never got the chance to use it, an he was saying he could use it for this upcoming project he was working on. I did fall in love with that beat the first time I heard it, and I was a little heart broken when he snatched it back, haha. I finally met Jonny in person during my trip to London in 2010 out at Plan B in Brixton. I think it was then I basically BEGGED him to let me drop a verse on the beat once he knew what he was doing with it, and it all panned out in the end. Teeba I met initially through building on Myspace. I had linked up with him on a couple of occasions here in NYC while he was out for some DJ gigs. From there, he reached out to me and Sputnik Brown to open up a show for Herbaliser at Knitting Factory back in 2008, and we stayed in contact ever since. Tone (Audessey) and U-George I met just a year or so ago, however it seems I've known them forever. I've always been a fan of the music Aud dropped with Mass Influence & Geo with The Hemisphere. I love working with all these gentlemen.

c7: To me, all your verses on the album ("In a Flash", "Formula 99", "Ill Dialect") are true standouts; Is it safe to assume that you will be featured a lot more on forthcoming Soundsci projects?

Ox: Thanks. All the songs I have verses on that you mentioned had Audessey's verses on them already and were mostly produced, so really I just fed off the energy that was built into the tracks before I got there. We have been in the lab laboring hard on the follow-up joints, and yes it's safe to say I'll be featured on plenty more of what the world is about to be blessed with from Soundsci. 

c7: When can fans expect to hear some of this follow-up material you've been working on?

Ox: Sometime around early this fall, we have the next EP on the way from the group. Geo is presently working on his solo LP, and we've teamed up for some heat on that. Tone and I have also linked up for a couple of outside projects as well, so be on the lookout for those. Everything will be released on vinyl for all you diehards out there. We're working man.

c7: That's fantastic news, and also much props for being part of keeping vinyl alive. While we're still on the topic of "Formula 99", I have to ask you what's your personal favorite record on the LP, and why?

Ox: Wow, that's a tough one. I LOVE that remix of "Remedy". The way Tone's verses, cadence, and voice is weaving through that beat feels so incredibly right! Then the scratches to cap it off... Just beautifully done. "Da Livin'" is real fly too. Geo got busy on that one. Of course you said ONE, but that entire album is just cleverly balanced out and each track has it's own uniqueness about it. 

c7: No doubt man. As you mentioned that "Remedy" remix though, I really wish that would've made the vinyl set. "Give Thanks" is one of my own favorites, but the former was just such a dope closer too, although it of course had been released in original form on "Dig For Victory".

Ox: I THINK that remix was just an exclusive bonus for the digital sales. Not too sure. I didn't have anything to do with the track selection process.  

c7: You was also a member of the crew Sputnik Brown and works with DJ Spinna as SPOX PhD. All these groups have released some absolutely terrific material, but is it possible for you to say which one of these crews you enjoy working with the most?

Ox: Honestly, no. Each one hold a special place in my heart. Sputnik Brown I was with from the birth of it until we decided to let it go. I appreciate everything about that group from the creative process to the shows to every high point and every low point. Those are my brothers for life. We did a lot of hanging out together outside of being creative, so it made it that much easier when it came time to work. With SPOX PhD, Spinna and I very rarely create together in the same space. His schedule is bananas, so I hardly get to see him. But I'm a fan of this music first, so just being able to create ANYTHING with him is a personal blessing. With Soundsci, I'm still growing with. I've only been officially down for just a few months and the fact that we all basically live in different regions of the earth doesn't slow down our process one bit. We just have this natural understanding of our direction without even having to discuss anything. What's bugged is I haven't even met Tone and Geo in person yet. Crazy right?

c7: Haha, yeah that is weird, yet, as you say, the chemistry is there to be heard on the records.

...PART 2 OF THE INTERVIEW

[Album] SOUNDSCI - "Formula 99"

It's been a long time coming, but the debut album from five man crew Soundsci is finally here, and I'm telling y'all right now that it's smashing all current competition. On "Formula 99" , Oxygen, Audessey, Johnny Cuba, Ollie Teeba and U-George have damn near perfected the equation of crate digging, hard driven boom bap beats, captivating verses and well weaved concepts. This is one of the finest albums of the year so far, and it's sure to be in heavy rotation for a good while to come. If you want a copy of this very limited 2xLP, make sure to grab one ASAP as there's only 300 pressings made - and it's most def worth the price. Check it out for yourself below...

2011 in Review: Honorable Mention

HONORABLE MENTION: SPUTNIK BROWN - "THREE SHADES OF BLACK"

Although not officially included on my countdown of this year's best albums I want to give an honorable mention to Sputnik Brown's "Three Shades Of Black" which is another equally impressive debut release that heads first got to hear this summer. The reason I don't think it would be fair to include it is because the group actually recorded it for release in 2008 but due to label conflicts the LP was shelved. The crew decided to give away the full LP in free digital format for a short period of time of about two weeks on July 7. I recently asked group member Oxygen if it would be possible for me to bring it out once more for those who might've missed it but  because there are plans to later release it one way or another y'all who missed out on it then will have to wait a bit longer - and as always to respect the artist's wishes is A and O of The Lost Tapes.

Sputnik Brown - "U Havin' Fun Yet" (Raw Demo Version)

So what is "Three Shades Of Black" and who are Sputnik Brown. The group is a rather big crew of emcees, producer and DJ's on that pure hip-hop shit; Oxygen (who's also part of Soundsci and SPOX-PhD), Xis10s, Slim Don and Howard Lloyd all spits excellent verses while the latter also provides the majority of the prouction together with fellow group member E Tha 5th. Also included in the group is turntablist DJ Shark so like I said it's a family thing where the team is bigger than the individual. There's plenty of crazy verses all over the album; just check Ox on tracks like the low-key funk banger "Power" or Xis10s short but deadly darts on "Titles" or them both going head to head on the late '80s sounding, vibes heavy "Mic, Pen & Pad". Unlike Oxygen's recent project with DJ Spinna (SPOX-Phd), here Ox is instead of the singular leading voice, one part of a sum and with several verses from him, Slim Don, Howard Lloyd and Xis10s over mostly in-house production, "Thee Shades Of Black" creates a sick feeling of unity that's often missing in rap these days.

The few guest productions comes from the two legends known to the world as DJ Spinna and DJ Jazzy Jeff but no matter who's behind the boards, the music has a strong true school feel to it; chopped funk and soul samples, atmospheric vocals, distorted guitars, vibraophones and muddy piano lines, hard ass rhythm tracks and the type brings back memories of the golden era whether you consider that to be the late '80s or early to mid '90s. There's much goodies on here but if I have to pick one, I'd have to go with the beautiful and soulful posse cut "Straight Down" which features a sick cameo from John Robinson who appears alongside Lloyd, Xis10s and Ox. Hopefuly this will get the proper release sooner than later; it's a shame a lot of great, independent hip-hop records gets caught up in limbo like this when they truly deserves to be heard by the world.

[Review] SPOX PhD - "Brilliance" 7"

For someone like myself who mostly choose to listen to my music in album format, the few times I come across a single that I can't stop repeating I know I got something special on my hands. This is the case with the debut single by the duo called SPOX PhD whose appropriately titled "Brilliance" is also the first release on the newly formed Correct Technique Records. SPOX PhD is a duo consisting of severely underrated veteran producer DJ Spinna along with emcee Ox The Architect (p/k/a Oxygen) whose made a splash on the underground scene the last few years through his work in the groups Sputnik Brown and Soundsci. The musical connection between Spinna and Ox can be traced back to an apperance by the latter on the producer's 2009 album "Sonic Smash", on a promising banger titled "Elemental" which could be viewed as the first SPOX PhD record as it laid the foundation for their working relationship.

SPOX PhD - "Brilliance"

True school heads will rejoice over the A-side's jazzy melodic groove and the ill execution of balance between the laid back (the melodies) and the hard (the knocking drums and fat bass line). Oxygen's smooth delivery is perfect for the trademark production of Spinna as the rhyme slinger displays tight breath control while boosting well played lyrics like "Your neck wanna snap? Then let it, I copped these poetics from my dad through the laws of genetics / Set it! The blood type's O, the XY coordinates, I supply the illmatic for the insubordinate". Brilliant was the word, right? I can't imagine a better introduction to this newly formed group than this lead track. "Brilliance" is ultimately an impressive display of beats and rhymes provided by two gentlemen well skilled in the trade of that ol' boom bap.

On the flip side we find an all around hardcore sound on the posse cut "Four Times Raw". The production is less charismatic than on the A-side but the marching warrior drums, progressive bass line and underlaying guitar samples still makes for a winner in my book. There's a good chance it will have you pumping your first in the air and neck snapping forth and back. It's far from a shame to gather three legends named Sadat X, Diamond D and Kurious for a limited 7" release but listening to the results I'm thrilled they did just that! One of the things that make this one stand out as a superior posse cut is how each of the four emcees owns a very distinctive voice. Even if you're just barely familiar with them you'll probably be able to separate them. Ox once again proves that he's one of the brightest rappers that's still relatively fresh on the scene as he has no problem hanging with these veterans and closes the rhyme session with a boom. "Heard this beat knocking so I answered/ Called up a few vets to help me enhance it" sums it up pretty well. 

SPOX PhD - "Four Times Raw" (Ft. Sadat X, Diamond & Kurious)
 

As strong as the chemistry between DJ Spinna and Ox The Architect clearly already is, one can only imagine how dope future projects will be once they get even more comfortable around eachother's respective styles. One thing is clear, the future promises bright things for the duo who has choosed to call themeselves SPOX PhD. In other words, if the two cuts heard here are any indication of what their forthcoming full-lenght album will sound like, chances are they will deliver the best LP of the year. In fact if there is anything bad I have to say about this single is that it leaves a large appetite for more; yes, I know I'm a harsh critic but that's the reality! Please support real hip-hop and cop "Brilliance" @ UGHH.