The mastermind responsible for the mighty Wu-Tang has finally reunited with the original crew to celebrate their 20th anniversary with a new album and a new approach. The RZA has been more focused on the film world in recent years, but it seemed like the perfect time to talk about his founding days and what…
Author: Robbie Ettelson
CJ Moore [Black By Demand] – The Unkut Interview, Part Two
Engineer all-star CJ Moore delves into the behind the scenes events of Kool G Rap‘s Roots of Evil and the infamous Rawkus album, heading out west, working with the Live Squad and much more in the second part of this interview trilogy. Robbie: What happened after the Akinyele sessions finished? CJ Moore: When money started…
Stream: Boogie Down Productions – Live In London [1990]
DJ Kenny Parker has shared this recording of a Boogie Down Productions show at Brixton Academy, 1990. Highlights include the freestyle session where KRS kicks some rhymes that would appear on later albums. Also, it’s my birthday today so I’m off to drink some RAER whiskey and whatnot.
CJ Moore [Black By Demand] – The Unkut Interview, Part One
CJ Moore has been at ground zero for more classic hip-hop records that most of us can either count, through his work as an engineer at 1212 during the Paul C. era, with his group Black By Demand and with his work for Akinyele and Kool G Rap to name a few. After chopping it…
Face-Off: Grandmaster Caz vs. Biz Markie – A Thing Named Kim
Biz Markie apparently makes up all his rhymes on the spot in the studio and then learns them later – except for when he gets his pals to write songs for him. Big Daddy Kane wrote the first side of Goin’ Off, as was clearly stated on the back cover (therefore not a case of…
Download: Ultramagnetic MC’s – Destroying All Germs LP [Unkut Bootleg]
This is the ultimate rap addict dedication – the fantasy league lost Ultramagnetic album that we might have enjoyed if they’d released a follow-up to Critical Beatdown in 1990. Sure, it’s a collection of b-sides and vaulted tracks from between 1987 and 1990, but this sums up everything that makes Ultramagnetic MC’s the greatest rap…
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: A Brief History of Posse Cuts
Craig Mack messed it up for everybody… No Country For Old (Rap) Men: A Brief History of Posse Cuts
Al’ Tariq aka Fashion – The Unkut Interview, Part 2
Continuing my interview with Kool-Ass Fash, we discuss him leaving The Beatnuts, meeting Kanye West, forming Missin’ Linx, getting beat-jacked by Dr. Dre and his ill-fated experience signing with Dante Ross. Robbie: At what stage did you decide to do a solo album? Al’ Tariq: While we were out on tour doing The Beatnuts joint,…
Al’ Tariq aka Fashion – The Unkut Interview, Part 1
The artist formerly known as Fashion aka Kool-Ass Fash took some time out to discuss the ups and downs of his career as both a soloist and as a member of The Beatnuts. This first part focuses on his early days, revealing that the Intoxicated Demons EP could have been completely different had fate not…
Download: Grandmaster Caz – The Grandest Of Them All LP [Ced-Gee Version]
Photo: Joe Conzo Back before rap magazines and the internet, I heard a rumor that Grandmaster Caz and Ced-Gee were working on an album together. Needless to say, my young mind was blown at the possibility of these two rap geniuses teaming-up. While we only got a couple of Tuff City singles from this meeting…
Sugar Bear & Stezo – Capital Rap Sessions [1989]
Sugar Bear The Powerful Powerlord was responsible for the highly enjoyable 1988 single, ‘Don’t Scandalize Mine’ / ‘Ready To Penetrate’, and was also no slouch when it came to freestyling, as he demonstrated with this amusing Tim Westwood guest spot.
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Sorry M.O.P, I’m Finally Tapping Out
I wrote this shedding a river of ice-cold thug tears. No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Sorry M.O.P, I’m Finally Tapping Out