BIG L's "Who You Slidin' Wit" [Buckwild vs. Pete Rock]

People who have followed this blog for some years know that wile I do like a lot about Big L's only true posthumous album, given that he was actually working on it at the time of his death, true posthumous release "The Big Picture", it could have been so much better. Some years ago I made my own version of it, posted it and let you the readers decide whether my "A&R:d" version was closer to L's original vision than the sometimes cheesy shit that ended up in retail stores. Don't get me wrong, the album had plenty of hot joints, many of them recorded by L in his lifetime and released as the first singles from his upcoming album ("We Got This", "Ebonics", "Size 'Em Up", etc.). Yet other songs he recorded, albeit maybe a little dated at the time from a production standpoint, like "Games Females Play" were remixed into one of the albums absolute worst club imitating cuts that had me shaking my head in disbelief. 

Luckily they had a lot of ill acapellas to work from, inviting bonafied legends like DJ Premier, Showbiz, Hi-Tek, Mike Heron and Pete Rock to add new boom bap type of soundbeds for L's masterful lyricism. But the latter producer I mentioned, who happens to be one of my all time favorites, turned the track that L recorded with Buckwild shortly before his passing into a superbly mediocre club anthem called "Who You Slidin' Wit", also adding an uneccesary verse by weed carrier Stan Spit (and as if that wasn't enough the one Pete Rock track that actually goes replaces the impeccable Party Arty once again with Stan Spit). The album version of "Who You Slidin' Wit" strangely sounds nothing like either Pete Rock or Big L, and considering that it's a "remix" (as using a total backdrop for the same vocals) of a song Buckwild gave L for inclusion on the LP, and was even cut at the very last minute in favor of the Soul Brother beat. SMH. Check out the album version up top and download the Buckwild original version below (320 kbps); a track that luckily made its way to the public through a very rare Rawkus promo of the album released in 1999, but we definitely needed more DITC/DJ Premier type of joints on this album and that's a fact.

BIG L - "WHO YOU SLIDIN' WIT" [BUCKWILD MIX]

[Album] KILLAH PRIEST - "Planet Of The Gods"

With 2013's double album "The Psychic World of Walter Reed" underground legend and Wu affiliate Killah Priest dropped one of the strongest albums of this decade so far, and a double LP at that. When Priest gets it right he's one of the most interesting artists in the game if you ask me, and has been so since his classic '98 debut, "Heavy Mental". Since 2006's excellent "The Offering" he has been working heavily with the criminally underrated production team of Godz Wrath, so it's only right that for his latest full-length the two forces has finally come together as one for a full-length project. Titled "Planet Of The Gods", the 20 tracks deep CD is a spiritual continuation of "PSychic World" while it's also a concept album in both production and lyrical themes, with Priest exploring almost science ficton themes mixed in with deeply hidden esoteric ancient knowledge. The result is for the most part stunning, and while it can't match it's predecessor it's definitely an album lyrical heads will rewind again and again. The album is out now and available to the official PriestWear site, but you can also stream the entire project for free to get a taste of what you should definitely support via Soundcloud below. A lot of gems on this one, but on first listen I recommend "I Destroyed You In Front of Your Leaders", "Mul.Apin Tablets", "Color Of Ideas", "Creation of a Super God"; "Golden Pineapple" and many more. Lower your lights, light the incense, turn it up and zone out!

ORDER "PLANET OF THE GODS"

[Comp] ADRIAN YOUNGE / LINEAR LABS - "Los Angeles"

This baby has been out for some time by now, at least a few weeks, but being that Adrian Younge quickly has become one of my favorite producers doing it at the moment I'm taking this opportunity to post this up for anyone who might have missed it since I've been slacking heavily on updates lately. "Los Angeles" is a 10 tracks deep official compilation by Younge's Linear Labs Studios/label, featuring previously released material and exclusive tracks produced by Younge for artists like Ghostface, Laettitia Sadler, Bilal, Venice Dawn, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Toni Scruggs, Souls Of Mischief, and more. Highlights include the first single from "Twelve Reasons to Die Pt. 2" (you might remember its predecessor being my favorite LP of 2012) which features Raekwon and RZA and goes HARD, and the first joint from the Ali Shaheed/Younge joint production LP. And more than that it plays very well as a front-to-back listen, going through alot of Younge's brilliant funk/soul renaissance sound. "Twelve Reasons.. Pt. 2" drops July 10... TURN IT UP!!

GZA - "Labels" [RZA/GZA Demo]

This is a real monster here that I totally had missed out on that die hard Wu fans will go ape shit over if you too wasn't aware of its existence until now. Apparantly this rough mix of the GZA classic "Labels" from his unbelivably dope "Liquid Swords" LP made its round on a few Stretch & Bobbito mixtapes back in early '95 and features a vintage, dark, brooding RZA instrumental that resembles the album version though it's far from as well developed and perfect as what eventually turned up on the album but instead packs in a lot of exclusive sounds and vibes. Check it out above and thanks to the original uploader and Dark Matter who put me on to it. You can also download the mp3 below, so be sure to do that because as I said this is a real fucking GEM right here!

GZA - "LABELS" [DEMO]

K-DEF Ft. Pauly X - "Street Demon"

New Jersey's finest, K-DEF, is now on Bandcamp so we can expect to hear a lot of good, previously unreleased and new shit in a near future. The first taste is a collaboration with rapper Pauly X that goes HARD and is apparantly lifted from an unreleased album called "Collard Greens". You can stream the track for free and of course purchase it for $2 so hurry up and buy!

 

 

JAKK FROST x DJ PREMIER - "Dope Boy Talk"

Whoa, this is absolutely fucking ridiciolous and the best news is that this is the first single from an upcomming new Jack Frost album, produced entirely by DJ Premier (!). Some people might say that this is not going to happen, looking at groups under the YRR label like NYGz who only released a few singles and a street album, etc. But at the same time don't forget how quickly he managed to get out Bumpy Knuckles "KolexXxion" and that beautiful collabo with Royce Da 5'9" as "PRhyme". So with this single coupled with various trustworthy sources I am pretty sure this will actually happen, and judging from the first leak it will be absolutely unbelivable. Premier MURDERED this shit and Jakk Frost definitely came correct. I would imagine that both artists feel the chemistry was off the roof during the "Bars in the Booth" series and was like fuck that, let's make this happen!

METHOD MAN Ft. StreetLife & Hanz On - "The Meth Lab"

While Method Man undoubtedly has one of the illest voices in the entire hip-hop game, and always stands out on any Wu-Tang Clan or Meth/Red releases (including more overlooked albums like "8 Diagrams" and "A Better Tomorrow")  but his solo ventures in the new millenium has been quite so-so with few expectations, leaving many dissapointed fans with an horrible album such as the bomb that was "Tical 0: The Pequel". Another thing is that he's known for taking MAD long to release a proper solo album. His latest "upcoming" releases "Crystal Method" and "The Meth Lab" was announced some years ago and just when you're sure we won't hear these projects, Meth finally unveils the first single from the album and after several listens I can say that it's a pretty damn ill cut that also features long-time rhyme partner Street Life and Meth's protogé Hanz On. The result is classic drug raps and braggadocious shit which sometimes can be a good look for a first single. It took me a few listens to appreciate it, but now I'm even more hyped to see what the album's got in store. The fact that both 4th Disciple and Allah Mathematics are the two confirmed producers so far, makes this even more exciting looking at these guys track records together. But anyway, enjoy the title track to the album and don't hesitate to drop a comment on the subject.

CZARFACE Ft. Method Man - "Nightcrawler"

Ok so this has been out for almost two weeks but whatever, as I haven't really had time or lust to update the blog lately, I still want to throw this banger up because this is some heavy hitting shit with INS and Method Man really goes IN over the immaculate production by 7L. I'm not a big fan of Esoteric to say the last but with the guests, production and Deck's performance this is definitely an album any hip-hop head will want to hear. Released on Friday via BRICK Records, this single alone got me a little hype for the album especially considering I relaly couldn't get into the first installment for several reasons. The first single from "Every Hero Need A Villian" which drops on June 12, available on both CD and wax with the former including some nice bonus items like a full-color comic book. Order @ UGHH and also peep the Meyhem Lauren single "Deadly Class" below.

PRHYME - "Courtesy" [Marco Polo Remix]

PRhyme (DJ Premier x Royce Da 5'9") made one of the strongest albums of last year if you ask me with their self-titled debut. Word is that we are going to be treated to a Deluxe Edition on a limited 45 box set that will include exclusive bonus tracks including collabos with MF DOOM and many more. Here one of the heir to Preemo's boom bap throne, Marco Polo, gives the excellent first single "Courtesy" a facelift and it's as slamming as expected. Marco, Preemo, Royce and Adrian Younge.... God damn, you know you want to TURN IT UP!!

[Mixtape] WU-TANG Presents "Parental Advisory Volume One"

This mixtape was announced quite a while back on Wu-Tang Clan's official Facebook page with very little information attached, making me and others to believe that this might be a new Clan mixtape. It has now been released for free through Wu Music Group, and while it does features the ocassional apperance from Cappadonna and a very welcome joint by the god Killa Sin the vast majority of the tape features new, unknown emcees so I guess this "Parental Advisory Volume One" works as an introduction to new artists on the roster. I've only listened to a few cuts but it actually sound pretty dope, so be sure to  check it out below!