As much as it’s always a treat to hear the early, unreleased demo efforts of great rappers, it’s also intriguing to be able to experience the early, rough takes of songs that would be polished-up, adjusted or paired back. Some of these demo versions feature different lyrics, alternative loops or sometimes simply looser deliveries, and as a result a handful are actually superior to the final retail mixes. Considering the breadth of crusty old tape versions floating around, it was a long and sometimes tedious process to pair it down to these final twenty one.
Download: A Salute To Original Demo Versions
Track listing:
01 ‘Nobody Beats the Biz’ [Demo Version] – Biz Markie
02 ‘Marley Marl Scratch’ [Demo Version #1] – Marley Marl feat. MC Shan
03 ‘Flavor 4 The Non-Believes’ [Demo Version] – Poetical Prophets aka Mobb Deep
04 ‘Gas Drawls’ [Demo Version] – MF Doom1
05 ‘Walk This Way’ [Demo Version] – Run-DMC feat. Aerosmith
06 ‘Wrong Side of the Tracks’ [Demo Version] – Artifacts
07 ‘Rampage’ [Demo Version] – EPMD feat. LL Cool J
08 ‘Props Over Here’ [Demo Version] – The Beatnuts
09 ‘It’s A Big Daddy Thing’ [Demo Version] – Big Daddy Kane
10 ‘Jorge Of The Projects’ [Demo Version] – Kurious Jorge
11 ‘Sunnyside’ [Demo Version] – Finsta Bundy
12 ‘I’m Different’ [Demo Version] – Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs
13 ‘Supa Dupa Star’ [Demo Version] – Group Home
14 ‘Blame It On Me’ aka ‘Jack the Ripper’ [Demo Version] – LL Cool J
15 ‘Nas Will Prevail’ aka ‘It Ain’t Hard To Tell’ [Demo Version] – Nasty Nas
16 ‘Prisoners of War’ [Demo Version] – Simply II Positive MCs aka Organized Konfusion
17 ‘Public Enemy #1’ [Demo Version] – Public Enemy2
18 ‘Cazanova’ [Demo Version] – J Rock
19 ‘Who Shot Ya’ [Demo Version] – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Keith Murray3
20 ‘Real Estate’ [Demo Version] – Cypress Hill
21 ‘Bring Da Ruckus’ [Demo Version] – Wu-Tang Clan
- This was recorded in 1994, which explains why his delivery sounds like something that could have been on Black Bastards. [↩]
- Complete with Mr. Magic offering Chuck D some ‘constructive criticism’ regarding his delivery, which is a lot stronger on the final version. [↩]
- Recorded for a Mary J. Blige skit but Biggie’s part was removed and later turned into the infamous solo track. Fun fact: A hung-over K. Murray asked me to email me this MP3 after I asked him about it in 2008. [↩]
I knew you’d have the Nas joint up there. What about the Kane/G Rap “Raw” joint or is that simply a freestyle?
That version of ‘Raw’ wasn’t a demo, it was just a practice session that Marley played on the radio.
Also…isn’t there a demo version of Large Pro’s Ijuswannachill floating around out there? I also remember the first time I heard PE’s Welcome To The Terrordome, the arrangement was slightly different. The “Psychadelic Shack” sample didn’t come in ’til the second verse, leaving the first verse sounding like the Terrorbeat version on the 12 inch. (pardon the nerd out, lol…)
I have ‘$100 Bill’ on a Westwood tape, it sounds a little faster than the final version but otherwise is the same.
salute unkut once again!
Thanks for not putting the Scenario demo on here. I’m sure everybody on here has heard it many times. Good list.
Oska, only two weeks ago I tweeted Chuck D about that version of “WTTTD” – I always preferred that version……..Chuck has yet to reply btw.
Lotta great demo cuts.. thnx for the dload link!
*pause on dload * lol
What was Jamar’s involvement with the Artifacts, besides same label?
Damn it…. Where’s my Compton compilation? Lol.
Nah. This is dope Robbie. Salute to you. My Unkut files are growing ridiculous. No one is doing what you’re doing. Peace.
Thanks Robbie … very keen to hear these !
agree that comment on the scenario demo.
That Doom one is dope you any of his other demos?
How good is that guru cover art … would like to see a gallery of similar tape covers.
@Dmfslimm @oneam
As big of an ATCQ fan as I am I never heard (or knew about) a Scenario demo.
*searches YouTube & listens*
Tip, Phife, & Charlie definitely stepped up their bars. And the Mr Lawnge feature is not sorely missed from the final product.
@GNG: There are two demo versions, the first of which was made it’s debut on this site:
http://www.unkut.com/2008/07/scenario-unreleased-version/
http://www.unkut.com/2008/08/the-other-scenario-demo-surfaces/
@Robbie
Good stuff. I’m fiendin’ to hear that Pos verse tho’.
One song (not really a demo but an early draft) I’ve wanted to hear is Pete Rock & CL Smooth “Anger in the Nation. There’s a version that’s slighly different that I taped off WBLS when Pete used to spin on the Rap Attack 2 yrs prior to M&TSB. Same lyrics, slight variation in the beat, & no censorship.
Making my way thru this comp. Compelled to say the Kurious one is a really good version. Should have released it as a b side back in the day, maybe with a new vocal take /mix if they felt the need to tidy it up.
Wonder who did the beat?
Ha the first lines of prisoners of War. .. Sounds like someone dropped a sedative into Pharoah’s water compared to the final version.
Bloody hell! Amazing work once again Robbie. Reminds me of the reggae tradition of re-voicing popular songs. It Ain’t Hard To Tell sounds like Right Here by SWV.
Did Paul C have anything to do with that OK demo?
@Jay: He did indeed.
@oskamadison
I remember that version of Terrordome, I’ve got on tape somewhere… I’ll have a look for it and put it online.
Hey Robbie, can you re-link please?