To celebrate the new improved look of this site, here’s one of the finest moments ever to grace a mixtape – the intro to Doo Wop‘s ’95 Live. By extending the usual “couple of guests at the start of the tape” routine, Da Bounce Master assembled an all-star cast of New York’s finest to rock…
Author: Robbie Ettelson
Jay-Z – Interview and Freestyle (1996)
Continuing the throw-back interviews from my tape vaults, today’s session features an excited Jay-Z as he chops it up with Westwood, shortly before the release of Reasonable Doubt. A lotta memories on this one – remember when Hov was talking about “this is gonna be my only album”? Speaking of broken promises, right after Ice…
The Search for TJ Swan
Rap Ballads. The curse of many otherwise spotless ’80’s hip-hop albums, in much the way that Hip House was in 1989 and the token “Southern” records are on many of today’s releases. If you think back to Big Daddy Kane‘s first album for example, you’ll find that every track is certified dope except for “To…
Hydra & Godfather Don Update/Trag Invasion
A few months ago, I wrote a couple of pieces called The Search For Godfather Don and A Tribute To Hydra Entertainment. Not long afterwards, I was contacted by Hydra co-founder Mike Heron, which led to me conducting interviews with both Mike and Jerry Famolari, who currently runs the company. Jerry was kind enough discuss…
“Aiight…Boom…You knawmean?” – Ghostface & Cappadonna Interview (1996)
On the same night as Jeru was puffin’ a little somethin’ with Westwood, Ghostface and Cappadonna swung through the Radio 1 studios to talk about Ironman. The bad news is that the tape runs out just when things are getting interesting, but before that there’s still plenty of quality Starks quotes. Your man Cappa even…
“Don’t say cool, that’s a bad word” – Jeru The Damaja Interview (1996)
I received a request for a ’96 Jay-Z interview, which I have somewhere in around the house but I haven’t managed to work out where exactly. While searching for that tape, I came across a Westwood interview with Jeru The Damaja from the same year. This is back when he just dropped his second album…
O.C. Interview (1997)
The third and final classic interview from my tape box is thankfully not with Westwood, but taken from The Mixmaster Show (92.3 The Beat, LA). I don’t know who the host is, but he’s quite capable of delivering a few corny comments of his own. O.C. was doing press for his second album, Jewelz, which…
Large Professor – Interview and Freestyle (1996)
Another one from the old tape box – Large Professor talking about his upcoming Geffen album, which as we all know, was never actually released. After the luke-warm reception his two singles received, Xtra P became another tax write-off. But when he chatted with Westwood in New York – late April of 1996 – things…
Forgotten Beefs Part 5 – Craig G vs. MC Shan
In the wacky world of diss records, crew-on-crew crime often provides the funniest moments. It’s one thing to talk greasy about some kid you’ve never met, but when you start riffing with someone you used to hang-out and perform with, things can really get ugly. Such was the case with former Juice Crew buddies Craig…
Nas and De La Soul – Classic Radio 1 Interview (1996)
I dug-up some old radio tapes the other day so I thought I’d throw this interview with Nas on here (as you can see form the photo, God’s Son also pioneered Nelly‘s band-aid gimmick). It’s from Tim Westwood‘s Radio 1 Rap Show in the UK, back in 1996 before his musical tastes went out the…
Forgotten Beefs Part 4 – Dismasters vs. Kool DJ Red Alert
Considering they named their group the Dismasters, it’s suprising that Raven T & Lord Mike Ski‘s album contained only one diss record. While they claimed a spot in rap history with the timeless "Small Time Hustler", and to a lesser extent with "Black and Proud", their most entertaining moment in the booth was “Act Like…
AJ Woodson (AJ Rok from JVC Force) – The Unkut Interview
Not only was AJ Woodson (aka AJ Rok) part of the JVC Force – the group responsible for the classic L.I. anthem "Strong Island" (before which, many groups from that area used to front like they were BK or BX residents to be accepted by New Yorkers) – but he’s also made his mark in…