@goodreverenddr recaps:
I recorded this on a tape recorder. Mos & Common freestyle an entire song called “Life is Good” with his band A Black Girl Named Becky. Fast Forward, ended up meeting Dilla (R.I.P), Bob Power, Common & Jaguar Wright at Electric Lady one night and she made him listen to this. I think he used the verse for the intro on Like Water For Chocolate.
3 In the spirit of celebrating Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia’s legacy, New York’s Le Poisson Rouge and LTD Magazine will host an anniversary party for the kings of late night rap radio. As an aside, the following years of Stretch’s XL Radio show on Hot 97 were pretty damn influential too. Revisit this 2-for-1 radio ripped throwback from Stretch’s short-lived show—Nas + Bravehearts “Freestyle” (over Dr. Dre’s “Light Speed” instrumental) and Beanie Sigel “Freestyle” (over Ty Fyffe’s “Murdergram” instrumental).
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Kid Sister was one of the esteemed members of this Complex celeb poll from (2007). For those unfamiliar with the celeb poll, it’s a panel of famous faces chosen to give their take on random questions to generate funny, and sometimes insightful conversations. Our extended interview had its many tangents like this one that took us down a path of Kid Sister’s teen crush, Mr. Antonio Sabato Jr. Download here.
P.S. Her Kiss Kiss mixtape is out now. Get it at the Fool’s Gold site here.
This blend tape pre-dates a more recent collection of re-worked Wu-bangers, compiled by Mathematics on Avenging Eagles. Download Kool Kirk’s mixtape here.
Schnooklyn Zoo has the tracklist.
Night in, night out, The Roots invade your household performing on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Rap’s greatest band payed dues before they were TV regulars. Hearing them on the mainstream airwaves was like an experimental blend of Coke and cranberry juice. The Roots delivered their late night one-two punch when Black Thought was a guest on WKCR in ye olde ’90s. Black Thought’s live cypher with Common, Pharoahe Monch and Absolute on Bobbito and Stretch Armstrong’s show would later be canonized on Lyricist Lounge Vol. 1. A Grammy nomination later, Tariq Trotter and The Roots crew couldn’t be stopped at being a college radio favorite in NY. Black Thought surprised Stretch at Hot 97 for XL Radio during The Roots’ promo run for Things Fall Apart. Here’s a radio rip of Black Thought’s “head-top lyrics.” Click here to download.
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Last time we checked, Cipha Sounds also specialized in the art of moving butts to Caribbean rhythms riddims. He’s Puerto Rican, which makes him an island man too! He’s no Don Imus. So in case you got extra sensitive with Cipha’s recent comments, allow us to school you on his background in this interview from 2007 which touches on deejaying dancehall sets at The Tunnel and doing A&R work for Rihanna, another fellow West Indian neighbor.
1 A preview of TDK’s short film documenting the significance of the mixtape from Nas’ perspective. The visual shot by Jonathan Mannion premieres January 19th at TDKhifi.com.
Seen at Nah Right
Back when Black Star, Smut Peddlers and Company Flow buzzed through New York’s underground rap circuit, Ecko Unltd. (circa 1997) helped expose their talent by distributing free mixtapes with a purchase. Here’s Volume 8 from the historic Underground Airplay series featuring a live performance by Mos Def, Wordsworth, Thirstin Howl III, Lil Sci, Shabaam Sahdeeq and A.L. Click below to download.
Ecko Unltd. Presents: Underground Airplay Vol. 8 download here.
Pause the headline. A 2008 interview with Pete Rock combs through some of his timeless productions, revealing the stories behind them. Hit the jump for Pete’s picks. Sorry, his remix of Jeru tha Damaja’s “Can’t Stop The Prophet” didn’t make it into our discussion.
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