Following on from last week’s Demo Versions comp, this is a collection of original versions of rap songs which had their beat completely changed for the album. Unlike tracks which have to get redone because of sample clearance problems, these tracks all seem to have been decided not to be musically strong enough and were taken back to the lab. In the majority of cases, the final versions are far superior, but there a few songs here which were deemed to be ‘too old sounding’ and suffered from shitty remixes before they were finally released. Since most of you would have have had the retail versions of these songs imprinted on your brain after years of constant rotation, it can be both disconcerting yet refreshing to hear them over totally different beats.
Download: A Salute To Scrapped Original Versions
Track listing:
01 ‘Fat For The 90’s’ [Original Version] – Lord Finesse feat A.G.
02 ‘Enter The Dragon’ [Original Version] – Kool G Rap & D.J. Polo
03 ‘Come On Motherfucker’ [Original Version] – Biggie Smalls feat. Sadat X
04 ‘More Than One Way Out The Ghetto’ [Original Version] – Showbiz & A.G.
05 ‘Probable Cause’ [Original Version] – Brand Nubian
06 ‘Give It To ‘Em L’ [Original Version] – Big L
07 ‘Brainstorm’ [Original Version] – Latee
08 ‘At Large’ [Original Version] – Intelligent Hoodlum
09 ‘Memory Lane’ [Original Version] – Nas
10 ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ [Original Version] – Eric B. and Rakim
11 ‘Temperature’s Rising’ [Original Version] – Mobb Deep
12 ‘Behind Bars’ [Original Version] – Slick Rick
13 ‘Plucking Cards’ [Original Version] – Ultramagnetic MC’s
14 ‘Green Eggs and Swine’ [Original Version] – 3rd Bass
15 ‘Stronjay’ [Original Version] – O.C.
That was an interesting listen.
The Memory Lane and Temperature’s Rising beats were okay but obviously didn’t fit into the soundscapes of the respective albums.
Some of them made me have to listen to the released version to get the original out of my mind – Don’t Sweat The Technique, for example.
What the fuck were they thinking with the production for Let ‘Em Have It “L”?!?! Especially the synth on the chorus.
Westwood played the “At Large” original version. The remade version that made the album diluted a lot this cut’s power- beat changed, lyrics were toned down (“bitch”to witch”) The “pissing on the grave of Kennedy” comment was pretty deep, especially given Kennedy’s mythology up until that point. (probably a certain truth that was always disputed, but never brought up by a rapper). As this was 1993, it must have come around not long after the Body Count/Paris et al censorship issues.
a good listen, lots of jewels on here.
This comp is bananas!
I’m probably alone on this but I prefer this version of temperatures rising but the album version was a better fit so I can see why they changed it
These are cool but DJ JS-1 put out a mixtape of Demos about 3 years ago and it must have been 90 mins long worth of mixed demos from Everybody imaginable that mattered in Hip Hop.
Wish I could post the link for you.
This is cool though.
This is cool, thanks. Unsurprisingly in most cases the final versions are far superior. As others said OG Temperatures rising is good.
I think the third bass one (with that nice prince paul beat) is cool too, should have been included as a b-side or bonus cut …. actually given some of your previous comments Robbie I’m surprised you included a thrid bass cut.
@Davito: Yeah I posted that mix here, different concept though.
Superb work yet again Robbie. Very interesting cuts, great to hear Kool Keith quoting Brother J. I wonder if this on the final version?
Well done, sir. Good day to you.
even though you don’t like anything progressive (Freestyle Fellowship) I cant front on these excellent comps. I forgive you. (Even though Chill Rob G, Ultra, Organised Konfusion etc are all progressive as FF but hey, ill leave it there)
MC Shan rocked over the same beat as “enter the dragon”..
A few other memorables:
Big Punisher “Dream Shatterer” (original) prod by buckwild same beat black rob I dare you
Noreaga feat Nas – I Love My Life
Ras Kass – Anything Goes (original)
I’d like to hear the full version of the Nore track mentioned in the above comment but Nas doesn’t rap on it and it’s his worst singing ever.
Gza’s labels- only heard the razor sharp mix till they replaced it on the album. The album version was on the single too, I think but the rza mix sounds raw and more like their earlier material.
Nas Project Windows
Cb4 soundtrack Mc ren mayday on the front line. added synths etc for the shock of the hour version which sucks balls.
That big pun dream shatterer was scraped for sample ckearance.
Prodigy’s Quiet Storm / White Lines the original was everywhere then they made it worse each time they changed the track. Surprised they didn’t add Snoop Dogg for a West Coast mix. The original is labelled as a demo on the web.
really nice, love the mobb deep track – keep up the good work robbie
Can we please get a re-upload of this one, too?
Can we get this reloaded somewhere? This is an intriguing track list.