SterbyRock dropped this all-vinyl x demo tape mix of B-sides and rarities the other day for free download. Most DJ’s are too frightened to put out a tape like this, but Ster did so and its made for a great collection of lost-and-found, or even forgotten, hip-hop gems.
First person that can name the artist/group, song title, and producer of at least ten of the tracks heard will be a renowned hero at TECB. If you’re feeling over-zealous and think you can name all of the above for every track on Tape 19, please feel free to do so. You’ll certainly be schooling me.
I’d use those four words on the regular if I felt like they wouldn’t get me into trouble. So rather than pull cards, I often smirk and let the fine, ridiculous words of my manz Kool Keith run through my mind. This song does an especially good job in airing out all of the fantasy land idiots out there:
The track was released on Matthew, probably the most overlooked solo album from the extravagant traveler’s entire catalog. If you’ve never heard it before, Keith goes on for three straight minutes about any and every person he believes is fraudulent, which makes for a pretty great listen. Even though he doesn’t rhyme once.
Here’s an unreleased demo back from 1992 that Prince Paul produced when he introduced all the future members of Gravediggaz to each other. He says on his Soundcloud page that this was the track that started it all. What better way to celebrate Halloween then a throwback track that sounds as if it could’ve been made yesterday.
Prince Paul should be on everyone’s top 10 … no top 5 producers list. It’s not subjective. That’s fact, homes.
We’ve all been through the epic web of woven YouTube videos. You start off looking for a local news story that someone texts you about and then out of nowhere, boom, looking up Fat Boys videos. It happens to the best of us. There’s no rhyme or reason behind it. Something will trigger a neuron in your brain and make you inexplicably search for a video about moths in the greater Tuscon area. However, on many YouTube spills I’ve stumbled over this tasty treat courtesy of R.A. The Rugged Man.
“Posse Cut” is off of R.A. the Rugged Man’s Legendary Classics Vol. 1, and includes Hell Razah, JoJo Pellegrino, Remedy, and Blaq Poet. Only R.A. can get away with a classics album after only one studio album of his own. The song in itself is pretty dope, as I’m always down for a gully posse cut to listen to. But whenever R.A. the Rugged gets involved in making a music video, his bat-shit crazy genius spills out.
This video has it all: breaking & entering; duct taping small children; sexual assault; and a make shift house party to boot. My favorite part is when Blaq Poet enters and shows off his gat. Far and away the largest gun to ever appear in a rap video. Also him sticking up the other guests for their wallets and jewelry and, subsequently, the couch, is priceless. Give this throwback a play. It’ll be sure to brighten your evening.
p.s.
Probably not safe for work or children or moms and all that.
If any of you jabrone’s follow me on Twitter, you’re aware that I flood timelines whenever I get time alone with my iTunes. The other day I was listening to Wu-Tang Forever in my car, and, rather than force you to scroll through what would have probably been one-hundred-plus tweets, I decided to make a Twitter-esque post here on The Echo Chamber Blog including all of my thoughts, enjoyed quotables, and so on.
And here it is, track by track. Enjoy and feel free to share your opinion(s) in the comment section.
***DISC ONE***
“Wu-Revolution”:
Skits usually don’t do it for me. Even when they have a message. This one gets forwarded through each time Forever gets played.
“Reunited”:
In The Wu-Tang Manual Rza states how Inspectah Deck is the best lead-off man, yet I don’t know if Genius could be topped here.
The bass line is filthy.
“For Heavens Sake”:
I suppose you could use the term “over-produced” to describe Rza’s production on Forever…if every last second of it wasn’t flawless.
“Poetry whirlpool.” -Cappadonna
“Cash Still Rules/Scary Hours”:
How long do you think Ghostface went on at the end of this track?
“Visionz”:
My homie Jibbs always loved this Method Man verse. It reminds me of our English class from freshman year of high school.
Deck kills his verse. His delivery trumps all on this song.
“Buggin’ over Bon Jovi hits.” -Ghostface
I’ve always wondered about the Thirstin Howl III reference that Ghost drops.
“As High As Wu-Tang Get”:
While I think Meth is a dope emcee, he’d definitely be at the bottom of the list if I was to rank all of Wu’s members.
“Severe Punishment”:
“Are you my judge?”
“Older Gods”:
Another perfect cut.
“Maria”:
“I’m sick, my medicine is ‘can I walk with you?‘” is a favorite of mine. Cappadonna in his prime was something to be reckoned with. Sadly, none of his releases amounted to anything after he dropped The Pillage.
“Better Tomorrow”:
Five heavyweight verses.
“It’s Yourz”:
For years I was obsessed with Ghostface, especially with his performance on Forever. Now, in retrospect, I think Deck steals the show. Who else can crystallize a rhyme?
That said, the end of “It’s Yourz” will forever amaze me. Just when you think the applause is signaling a close, Ghostface starts swinging out of nowhere. I”ve always thought the surprise appearance was brilliantly deceitful. Unfortunately, though, Wu has cut the song short whenever I’ve seen them perform it live. And my feelings are always hurt.
They even iced me with the video:
“Root Beer thoughts.” -Ghost
***DISC TWO***
“Intro”:
“It takes years for this, you Cat In the Hat-ass rappers.” -Rza
“Triumph”:
Even cats that don’t mess with Wu on the regular know this Rebel INS verse. Dumb hot.
“Explosion when my pen hits, tremendous.” -Deck
“You wanna think twice? I think not.” -Meth
At this time, Cap was one of my favorite emcees. He said too much dope shit not to love him.
Word to Titty Murphy.
“Take a free ride on my dart, I got the fashion.” -Cap
Masta Killa’s verse is incredible.
So many styles to be heard on just one song.
“I’ll unfasten ya’ wig.” -Ghost
Shout out to Rod Strickland.
“Impossible”:
Terrible solo career and awful guest appearances aside, I hate on U-God entirely too much. What he does on Forever should be enough for me to cut the man some slack in the present time.
This Ghostface verse is unbelievable. ”Photogenic. Tears just burst out my wig.”
“Little Ghetto Boys”:
One of the most potent lead-off verses Raekwon has ever spit.
What am I going to do when I grow up, and have to face responsibility?
“Deadly Melody”:
This beat is disgusting.
“Spent the weekend programing fat tracks at Camp Crystal.” -Rza Voorhees
Was this Streetlife’s debut on a Wu record? If so, he couldn’t have done much better.
“The City”:
I wish Inspectah Deck’s solo albums were this good.
Writing about hip-hop really upsets the spell-check.
“The Projects”:
“Globs” is a pretty nasty word. Especially in this context. Regardless, Ghost’s verse is hotter than latex friction-burns.
“Bells Of War:”
After a song that features one of the most vulgar x-rated verses ever, Rza says the following in the track’s closing seconds:
“Yo, shorty, you don’t even gotta go to summer school this year. Pick up the Wu-Tang double-CD, and you’ll get all the education you need.”
Two songs later is “Dog Shit,” Dirt Dog’s solo cut.
Wu 101 should be mandatory in third grade.
“The M.G.M.”:
Is that a gun bulging out of your sweatpants, or are you just happy to see me?
“Dog Sh*t”:
Grilled cheese gets nice. So many ways to flip it. I’ve never tried welfare cheese, though.
“Stankin’-ass ho’s.” -Meth
“Your shirt look like a dish-rag.”
“Duck Season”:
“My flavor liver than adobo.” -Rae
This song > Babu’s Duck Season series
“We at odds ’til we even.” -Meth
‘Hellz Wind Staff”:
Getting Streetlife on Forever was a great move. That’s some solid rhymes right there.
“Yes, the rhythm, the rebel. Alone in my level, heat it up past the boiling point of metal.” -Deck
What you know about solder?
“Heaterz”:
If Deck rhymed on his solo records even half as nice as he does on Forever, I would probably rep him as the best of all time. Dude is a wild animal on the mic.
“Black Shampoo”:
Hopefully U-God got some play for penning this song.
“Second Coming”:
Sorry, Tekitha. You get skipped.
For me, the album ends after Cappadonna’s verse in “Heaterz.”
“The Closing”:
“You gonna spread mathematics, spread it right.” -Raekwon
