Marco Polo feat. Masta Ace - Nostalgia

Marie Queenie Lyons - See and Don't See

My gosh.... When I heard this track from Marie Queenie Lyons only LP (Soul Fever - 1970), I damn near wet myself.

It features very heavily on one of my favourite tracks on the Johnson and Johnson LP ( "The only Way", on "Johnson & Johnson").

Buy "Soul Fever" at Amazon

Buy "Johnson and Johnson" at Amazon


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Ill Poetix - What You Waiting For - Jay Large Remix

Pharoahe Monch - Welcome to the Terrordome

Welcome To The Terrordome

Normally I would consider this type of thing incredibly blasphemous, but as usual Pharoahe delivers a top notch performance...

Parallax - Don't Mean Jak

"..I got 7 more styles, So I don't sweat if niggers take one, Cos I can write a rhyme, rip it up and write a next one.."

Pure underground hiphop (1994) from the short lived Parallax.


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MC Lyte - Poor Georgie

"..If you love someone you should say it often, You never know when they'll be layin in a coffin, Wake up, it's important that you know,
No one on Earth is promised tomorrow.."

Taken from the "Act like you know" LP (Not as good as "Lyte as a Rock"). Back in the day (1991) you could get away with using such a massive uncredited sample ("Georgy Porgy" by Toto).


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Mood - Hustle on the Side

"..Ain't nothing funny about my money, got to have a knot, The kinda knot to turn good into bad cops, Substantial financial security takes more than being hardcore and royalties.."

Definately Mood's best known track, from 1995. Their debut LP "Doom" (1997) launched the career of Talib Kweli, but didn't feature this track.


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ATCQ - Scenario (Remix)

"..Makin moves y'all (MOVES Y'ALL!), On and on and on (CHECKA, CHECK IT OUT!!!), To the breaka, breakadawn (WHO'S THAT?!?)
Guess, one of the LONS and A Tribe Called Quest (EAST COAST!) to West.."

The original version appears on the ATCQ LP "The Low End Theory". This remix (1992) features the original A Tribe Called Quest and Leaders of the New School MC's, but completely different lyrics.

This track also features the only recording of Kid Hood (first verse) who was murdered a couple of days after recording his verse.


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Shazzy - The Way It Is

"..Another baby cries in the back, his momma's not there, daddies hanging out smoking crack, but what does he care? Kelly's in the bed, her fourth time in labour, 2 kids in in a home and the third they couldn't save her, The family's poor and living on welfare, will it ever seem to me like anyone does care?.."

The first full LP production credit for the SD-50's, on Elektra 1990, Shazzy shows her ability to grab the mic and actually have something to say..


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Dj Krush - Meiso

"..Yin for yang I walk on a line, Between ghetto slang and stimulation of the mind.."

Featuring Malik B and Black Thought from the Roots, the stand out track from a disappointing LP.


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Chi Ali - Age Ain't Nuthin but a #

"..It's all where your head is at, and I'm mature, Do I have money? Of course, I'm doing tours, But stay out my pocket and that would be splendid, I made my money so I will spend it.."

Chi's finest solo effort, released in 1992.


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Groove Garden - Lovers in the Daze

"..Yeah Yeah, You were the man, but now understand, I can't even stand the thought or the talk of you.."

The B Side of the "You're Not Coming Home" 12 (Tommy Boy 1993), I don't think that Groove Garden released anything else? The vocalist ambersunshower went on to have a successful solo career.


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Art of Origin - Slow Rollin

"..I lay down a mine like a palestine einstein, and keep you around cos I'm down for a shoe shine.."

A bit of a rarity, the only 12" released by "Art of Origin" (Black Art - 1992). Made up of Chino XL and Kaoz. The group disbanded before an LP could be released, Chino XL went on to release stuff as very under rated solo artist (check out the "Here To Save You All LP), and Kaoz went on to become the House producer Kerri Chandler...


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World Renown - How Nice I Am

"..I keep a level head, no way to sidetrack where I'm at, In my Ghetto deep into my raps.."

Utilizing a phife vocal sample from ATCQ's "Check the Rhyme", this is a laid back jazzy track.


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Nobody - Shades of Orange (Mex Remix)

"..Along with the notes from this tune, I'm supposed to be doomed,
I'll be compost in June, Dead and buried, Well-read and married, led and carried, To the belief that I will one day be a leaf, Not even the will to live should ever kill to give.."

The original is pretty dire, but the Remix by the MC featured on this track, 2mex, elevates it to another level.


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Craig G - Take the Bait

"..MC's are a lake that my raps go fishin in, Approach me wrong, and I'll start cripplin, Cause there's few alive that can really get with it, The rest of em died with a bravery certificate.."

Craig G - You know, the other one from "The Symphony"? This features on the B side of the "Shootin' the Gift" 12" (1989).


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Third Sight - Rhymes Like a Scientist

"..I'm in it for the Art kid, I still pack a cartridge, In my automatic, don't panic I still rip apart shit.."

One the best songs that very few people seem to know. "Rhymes like a Scientist" features a very long scratched up intro (The legendary rakim features heavily), and the lyrics don't drop until about 3 minutes in. Check out the 2 LP's these guys have put out, well worth getting hold of.

"Golden Shower Hour" (1998) on amazon

"Symbionese Liberation Album" (2006) on Amazon


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