Freestyle Session - Homeboy Sandman x I Am Many

Queens and Brooklyn representatives Homeboy Sandman and I Am Many recently visited Dharmic X's The Culture Never Dies which airs every Saturday between 11 PM and 1 AM. Towards the end of the show this dynamic duo decided to bang out a blazing off-the-top-of-the-dome freestye session; something that's sadly become a way too rare ocassion in rap music these days. This is discussed briefly before the verbal assault on the microphone begins. Homeboy Sandman has just released the "Chimera" EP via Stones Throw and I Am Many dropped his Logik Proof assisted debut LP "S.I.N. (Strength in Numbers)" last month so if you enjoy the session below (and who in their right mind wouldn't) be sure to support those projects as well. Many thanks to Dharmic X and be ready to tune in on WNYU for his The Culture Never Dies show every Saturday.

HOMEBOY SANDMAN x I AM MANY - "THE CULTURE NEVER DIES FREESTYLE SESSION"

Rome Clientele - "The EMCEE" (KRS-1 Tribute)

Back in January of this year I had no clue who Rome Clientele was but I was impressed by his Tragedy Khadafi blessed single "Blue Magic". Since then I learned that Rome's is no newbie to the game but in fact been lurking in the underground since the late '90s, closely affiliated with Just Blaze who he worked with on material that got shelved at the time but will soon be leaked for the enjoyment of real hip-hop heads. Right now he's working on his official debut EP, "The Emire: The Lost Catacombs" which will feature production by Large Professor and Just Blaze amongst others.

In celebration of Rome's birthday this past Monday he drops off a loose cut in tribute to one of his biggest inspirations; KRS-One. "The EMCEE" is set over the same Domingo produced backdrop as the KRS original with the same name that always was one of my favorites from the underrated "I Got Next". Check it out and enjoy!

ROME CLIENTELE - "THE EMCEE"

Super N.E.S. & Nick Wiz

"Introducing N.E.S." is the heavily impressive introduction to rhyme slinger Super N.E.S. The knocking track is produced by none other than legendary underground producer Nick Wiz (Rakim, Cella Dwellaz, Mad Skillz) who still obviously knows how to hook up a damn near perfect banger. This joint is the first single from the upcoming "On The Verge", hosted and mixed by J-Love and presented by MPhatik Soundz and Illegal-Promo. Keep your eyes and ears open for that one as it will be premiered right here @ The Lost Tapes and a few other selected sites repping that underground street hop. The video is directed by Re-Surch and the homie Mal Moe. 

 SUPER N.E.S. - "INTRODUCING N.E.S."

More LORD FINESSE Treats

We all know that Lord Finesse has struck a lucrative deal with Paul Nice's Slice-Of-Spice Records which allows him to release loads of vinyl and CDs including never before heard material from the '90s, brand new remixes and breaks tapes. The Lost Tapes has previously reported on the Signature Seven series, seven 7" singles released over a period of time featuring previously unreleased or extremely rare Funkyman music. A press message also mentioned S-O-S finally releasing the extremely delayed "Funky Technician: The Remix Project" as well as an apparent remix version of The Lord's '91 sophomore classic "Return Of The Funky Man". Digging into the archives, the peeps involved has found several never before heard remixes and alternative takes from Finesse's second LP which they are getting ready to present to the world in full good quality, fully remastered by Eddie Sancho, K-Def, Chris Conway, Tony Dawsey and Lord Finesse himself (if you read linear notes you know that those names are some of the absolute best engineers you'll ever find). Mad shouts to labels like this for bringing collectors and hardcore fans the chance to both listen to and actually own incredible music by our favorite artists that we most likely never would have had the chance to even hear.

I'm not much for posting snippets but Slice-Of-Spice has been kind enough to release 2+ minutes snippets of three true gems that will have your mouth watering. One is an unreleased Showbiz remix of "Isn't He Something", Diamond D's original mix of "Praise the Lord" and lastly the OG version of "Funky On The Fast Tip". Classic D.I.T.C. right here baby!

Sav Killz - "Retrospect"

Sav Killz is an up and coming emcee who's been starting to make a name for himself on the underground circuit via dope solo cuts and cameos on heavy mixtapes like J-Ronin & DJ Snip's "All Elements" series. Very few of today's rapper impresses me at all but  Sav is definitely an exception to that rule though as I'm feeling his NY street based style and based on the songs I've heard he knows how to pick a dope beat and got a lot of heart. If you're not familiar with Sav since before make sure to check out the 15 minutes EPK/documentary at the top which features both interviews, a biography and music. Great watch!

Sav's latest single is a laid back hot joint aptly titled "Retrospect" as he reminisces on times past and pays dues to the legends of hip-hop that came before him over a beat produced by Cosmo Shine. The subject matter is another thing that makes me respect this young rhyme slinger even more, too many of the newer "rappers" today gives no credit to those who paved the way for them - just look at talentless and respectless punks like Odd Future for instance. "Retrospect" is the lead single to Sav Killz's upcoming "Bangers & B-Sides"  that is wrapped and will be made available late this month or possibly esarly May, presented and hosted by Brooklyn's DJ J-Ronin. The song is also included on DJ Doo Wop's The Source presented mixtape, "The New '90s: Underground", a tape I've been meaning to post for a while now but just kept pushing it back but better late than never as I often say.

SAV KILLZ - "RETROSPECT"

The Legion - "Straight Flow"

Heads in love with that vintage South Bronx boom bap sound that know their hip-hop history is in for an unexpected suprise. Affiliated with Black Sheep and Showbiz & AG, The Legion (a trio made up of Molecules, Chucky Smash and Cee-Low) had a minor hit with their single "Jingle Jangle" in '93 setting up listeners for their heavily underrated debut album "Theme + Echo = Krill" (click on the link to check it out if you're still sleeping) the following year. Despite dropping a dope underground album and a pretty sick '98 single they fell victim to label politics and besides the occassional Molecules production credit (including D.I.T.C., Dres, Milano and Mos Def) they pretty much dissapeared from the scene without a trace.

Therefore, I'm glad to announce that the trio is releasing two previously unreleased songs on 7-inch vinyl via Ill Adrenaline Records this week. While it's not exactly new material, it's at least unheard music from a legendary underground crew; and pressed up on wax nontheless. Both songs are self-produced in 1995 and recorded over at what used to be D&D Studios. The A-side "Straight Flow" is even accompanied by a brand new video which can be seen up top and the B-side is a joint titled "Automatic Systematic". This is obviously great news enough but what's even more amazing is the word over @ UGHH that The Legion is recording a rugged brand new full-length album for 2012 with production by Molecules, DJ Premier and Showbiz. Reminds me a lot of when Freestyle Professors' returned with "Gryme Tyme" a couple years back, and that turned out to be even better than anyone could have expected. 

As a bonus track I added The Legion joint "Freestyle Demolition", a pretty slamming track that appeared as the B-side to the "Jingle Jangle" 12-inch but didn't make it to "Theme + Echo = Krill". While you're bumping that make sure to order the limited "Straight Flow" 7" single while its still available (the order site also allows you to check out audio snippets of both songs).

THE LEGION - "FREESTYLE DEMOLITION"

Statik Selektah & Term are 1982

A couple years back DJ Statik Selektah and emcee Termanology formed the duo 1982 with the intent to bring back that Golden Era style hip-hop. In 2010 they dropped their self-titled debut featuring plenty of hot beats and verses including cameos from the likes of Inspectah Deck, Bun B, Lil' Fame, Xzibit, Styles P, Freeway, Saigon, Reks and M.O.P. As I never been a huge fan of Term, I felt that Statik's boom bap beats and the guest features carried the album but overall it was a pretty solid joint, no doubt.

This year the duo reunite for the aptly titled "2012" scheduled for release on May 22 and from the two leaks so far I will definitely give this a chance. "2012" is a lot lighter on the features than the debut, besides a joint with Lil' Fame ("Live It Up") only two tracks really stand out on the tracklist if you ask me. Those are "Thug Poets" with Roc Marciano plus Havoc and "Make It Out Alive" featuring Freddie Gibbs and Crooked I; both which already now can be heard in full/CDQ versions below.You can now pre-order "2012" now @ UGHH and if you're a follower of Termanology's work you can grab the DJ Deadeye and Statik Selektah hosted "50 Bodies Pt. 4" via DatPiff now while you check out the two bangers at the bottom of this post!

"THUG POETS" (Ft. Roc Marciano & Havoc)

"MAKE IT OUT ALIVE" (Ft. Freddie Gibbs & Crooked I)

[comp] BIG PUN - "RHYMING ABOMINATION"

When Cristopher Rios, better known to the world as Big Pun(isher), tragically left the physical world twelve years ago he left behind him three children and a musical legacy that will never be tarnished. With his classic first single and album "You Ain't A Killer" and "Capital Punishment", respectively, people raved about how Pun was the illest latin rapper to ever break through. But that is simply to downplay Pun and his skills; he wasn't just the greatest latino rapper, he was one of the absolute greatest emcees to ever walk the earth - period.

Rios had honed his rhyming talents throughout his ruff ubringing in The Bronx, beginning to write down verses in the '80s. Together with a gang of friends who also had found a passion in the hip-hop culture, the Full-A-Clips crew was formed including Pun (then known as Big Moon Dawg), Cuban Link, Triple Seis and Prospect. They did record some studio music and even back then it was evident that Pun was something out of the ordinary. Sadly most of the music is impossible to find today, "I don't know where most of it is, but we did a lot of songs. There are a couple of verses out there people probably never heard. We just got to wait for the right timing, 'cause everything is timing" said Triple Seis on the subject.

It was however first when Pun met Fat Joe around the time of the latters '93 debut, "Represent", that things really started to move in the right direction. Fat Joe invited Pun to the sessions for his sophomore effort, "Jealous One's Envy" where he rhymed on the two songs "Watch Out" and "Firewater", the latter saved for the B-side to the "Envy" single. Not long after he guest starred on The Beatnuts' smash hit "Off the Books" and released his first solo song "You Ain't A Killer" on the soundtrack to "Soul in the Hole". The world was now aware of the vicious super talented rhyme punisher and when his classic "Capital Punishment" dropped a year later it quickly went platinum - and rightfully so considering that it to this day remains one of the true masterpieces of true school hip-hop, especially from a straight up lyrics perspective. Pun's name was now HOT to say the least, and multiple big names tapped him for guest verses while he also worked with Fat Joe and their Terror Squad crew (which was basically Full-A-Clips renamed and with Joe and Armageddon added to the mix). Fat Joe and Big Pun was an extremely fierce duo as their track record clearly show, so in case you missed it also make sure to also check out "The Shit Was Real", a Lost Tapes compilation of classic Fat Joe material recorded between '92 and '96.

The Punisher lived like a true playboy; fast cars, fast living, fast food, chilling out with his friends and recording plenty of hot music while trying to keep his family life together. Right after he had completed his second, more commercial soudning, sophomore LP "Yeeeah Baby" he sadly passed away due to health complications on February 7, 2000, only 28 years old. He will never be forgotten and his solo albums, the Terror Squad joint, the "Endangered Species" compilation and countless non album tracks will make sure of that. My homie Pattch82 (who worked with me on the Gangrene series and the Call O'Da Wild album) put together his own compilation celebrating Big Punisher's immaculate legacy and with his permission I am allowed to use my alternative take on that comp for The Lost Tapes. The sequencing and choice of songs are 80% Pattch82 so all props to him; I replaced a few songs that I felt was essential to Pun's catalouge, replaced the same songs with versions in higher bitrate and added my own cover art. You can check out Pattch82's version of "Rhyming Abomination" here where he also give a nice rundown of the tracks he chose, where they come from and why he wanted to include them. Ok, so here goes the third collaboration between  The Lost Tapes and Pattch82 so ENJOY!

01. "Watch Out" (w. Fat Joe, Armageddon & Keith Nut)

02. "Fire Water" (w. Fat Joe, Raekwon & Armageddon)

03. "Off The Books" (w. The Beatnuts & Cuban Link)

04. "Wishful Thinking" (w. Fat Joe, Kool G Rap & B-Real)

05. "Triplets" (w. Fat Joe)

06. "Block Party" (w. Kid Capri & Noreaga)

07. "Ice Cream Freestyle (Let 'Em Know)" (w. Fat Joe)

08. "Whatcha Gon' Do"

09. "Dramacide" (w. Kool G Rap & X-Ecutioners)

10. "Best Behavior" (D.I.T.C. w. Big Pun & Fat Joe)

11. "My World"

12. "Speed Of Life Freestyle" (w. Fat Joe)

13. "Symphony 2000" (w. Truck Turner, Kool G Rap & KRS-One)

14. "Toe 2 Toe" (w. Cuban Link)

15. "Fantastic Four" (DJ Clue pres. Big Pun, Canibus, Cam'ron & Noreaga)

16. "The Foundation" (Tony Touch pres. Big Pun, DeShawn & Rief-Hustle)

17. "Thug Brothers" (w. Noreaga)

18. "Drop It Heavy" (w. KRS-One & Show & AG)

19. "Bring 'Em Back" (w. Terror Squad & Big L)

BIG PUN - "RHYMING ABOMINATION"

Kenny Dope - Saturday Basement Mix #2

Kenny "Dope" Gonzales is an extremely versitaile producer and DJ that's been around for a long time as mainly a hip-hop and house musician under names including, amongst others, Bucketheads, 2 Dope, House Brigade, Dopebrother and of course Kenny Dope which is the alias most hip-hop heads know him as. Together with Louie Vega he's made a lot of immortal remixes under the Masters At Work moniker. Most recently he took the young and extremely talented New Jersey emcee Rasheed Chappell under his wings and produced the latters modern masterpiece "Future Before Nostalgia" which is out now on both vinyl and CD (also check out my interview with Rasheed). All the above reasons should be more than enough for y'all to hit the play button on Gonzale's brand new "Basement Mix #2"; a great eclectic mix of classic and obscure funk, soul, jazz and hip-hop breaks that plays out as a great showcase of Kenny Dope's impeccable turntable skills. TURN IT UP.... A LITTLE LOUDER!!

12" Throwback - J-Love Remixes (GZA / M.E.F.)

The connection between the impeccable DJ J-Love and The Wu-Tang Clan goes way back and is still as strong as ever. Even on Rae's masterpiece "....Cuban Linx Niggas", he received a shout out from The Chef himself ("Peace to the Paris crew in the avenue/ And my nigga J-Love, who carries switch blades on the red roof". Since then he's had official placements on various Wu-Tang Clan solo members' full-lengths and works as Ghostface Killah's tour DJ these days and is an official member of his Theoore Unit.

However, J-Love is of course best known for being one of the most prolific mixtape DJ's, releasing several classic masterpieces of tapes featuring loads of rare and unreleased material from the most legendary artists in the world of hip-hop. Besides Jay's Nas and Mobb Deep series, his most stunning mixes has to be his extended catalouge of Wu-Tang Clan related tapes and mix-CDs. Besides a whole load of never before heard "old-school" Wu tracks, they also includes several very dope remixes of various Wu cuts. J-Love is a great producer in his own right, having laced classics like Cormegas' "Fallen Soldiers", GURU's "Revolutionist", "King Of New York", Ghost's "Return of the Ironman" and many others.

Today's 12" Throwback focuses on a VLS featuring two superb J-Love remixes - GZA's "Fame" and Method Man's "Uh-Huh". A related and funny story concerning me, J-Love and Method Man seems in order here so take it or leave it. In the early 2000s I had more or less lost faith in The Clan, prior I had picked up every Wu-Tang release ASAP but after "Ironflag" and "Digital Bullet" I figured there were a lot more great hip-hop acts to add to my collection instead. Visiting a good friend, he gave me the J-Love/Method Man tape "Tical 0: The Pequel" which instantly blew me away - my confidence in the W were restored. The next day I went to the store and picked up the actual album,"Tical 0" and MY GOD what a dissapointment (save for maybe four songs). Needless to say I sure as hell wasn't impressed at all by the LP but at least it made me start to pick up all Wu-Tang releases again, including the ones i first missed out on, so mad thanks to the homie J-LOVE for all the dope tapes, incredible production wotk and restoring my faith in the greatest group of all time. 'Nuff talk, let's get down to business (sadly, the instrumentals and acapellas are missing but at least i can bring you both A- and B-side in 320 kbps). This rip was borrowed from DJ Step One so mad thanks to him. Aight, press play, enjoy and throw your "W"s up.... Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

WUI-TANG CLAN - J-LOVE REMIXES [12"]

A: GZA/GENIUS - "Fame" [J-Love Remix]
B: METHOD MAN - "Uh Huh" [J-Love Remix]

 WU-TANG CLAN / J-LOVE - "REMIXES" 12"