Esteemed Rap Brainiac Kevin Beacham delivered this suburb breakdown of T La Rock‘s ‘Bust These Lyrics’ today, in the third part of his ‘Microphone Mathematics’ special on the Lyrical King: In terms of lyrical masterpieces, that is masterfully and undisputedly achieved with “Bust These Lyrics”. A very strong argument could be made for this being…
Author: Robbie Ettelson
Video: Schoolly-D Accurately Predicts The Future of Rap (1986)
I caught a proper screening of the Big Fun In The Big Town documentary the other week (which you might remember I posted back in 2009), and got to chop it up with the director, Bram Van Splunteren, who shot the film in a week in 1986 and was able to capture an impressive selection…
Video: Beastie Boys – Desperado (From the Tougher Than Leather movie)
I didn’t get a chance to write anything about MCA when he passed earlier this year, but this is how I’d like to remember him – pouring beer over his head and then slipping over for a face plant. The bratty, obnoxious Beasties who had girls in cages were always my choice over the bohemian,…
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Did Nas Really Lose?
My five cents on the latest Nas fuckery… There has been a lot of feelings getting caught in Rap Twitter on the subject of Nas having tracks from the ‘Untitled’ album ghostwritten for him. Both the Nas Defense Force and the ‘Nas Lost’ Gang have bared their fangs, sharpened their bayonets and started bucking shots…
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: How Kanye Broke The Heart of Rap’s Greatest Weed Carrier
Second drop in my new weekly series for Acclaim touches on the rise and fal of the GOAT Weed Holder, Consequence: Say what you will about Yeezy’s musical output and personal life, but there is no disputing the fact that Kanye West is fucking-up the noble art of Weed Carrying. To the untrained eye, it…
Jorun Bombay feat. Mantronix, Tricky Tee and Greg Nice – Get Stupid Pt. 2 (Beat Box Rap Version)
This is one of those examples when it’s a good thing that someone had too much time on their hands: This is a pieced together session from various multitracks. I took the original beatbox demo used and sampled for “Get Stupid pt 2” – grabbed the best parts, chopped each element and repieced them together…
Download: ESG Unkut Compilation
Over 200 tracks have plundered the bounty of the tripped-out musical voyage that the Scroggins sisters took way back in 1981, so I’ve chosen the 24 finest uses of the ‘UFO’ break for this compilation. Download: ESG Unkut Compilation ESG – ‘UFO’ Best ‘art-funk ensemble from the South Bronx’ ever? DOOM feat. Raekwon – ‘Yessir!’…
No Country For (Old) Rap Men: Eff A Mac Miller
The crew over at Acclaim magazine (who I have been writing for since 2007) have just given me a weekly spot at their new site. To start things off, I offered my take on the Lord Finesse lawsuit against Teen Wolf: Funny little story for you. First time I visited the Rotten Apple last year,…
Nas and Akinyele – Lunchroom Battles (1991)
Uploaded by gudtyme: In the summer of 1991, i was chilling at my boys crib @djwishbone. He was making a mixtape. This was a gem from that day. Akinyele and Nas doing their”Live at the BBQ” routine. Luckily i still have this copy. Fuck yeah.
40 Years of Hip-Hop Tape Culture
^ Pic stolen from here. Mix tapes can be a whole lot more than a bunch of songs you record for a chick you’re trying to impress by revealing your “sensitive side”. In the world of hip-hop, they have proven to be one of the most important tools in spreading the sound of a native…
Geechie Dan – The Unkut Interview, Part 1
Some of the best stories in hip-hop come from the local talent that never made the step into the record game. Queens native Geechie Dan shares some memories about his experiences as a local MC and hanging out with a young LL Cool J and Mikey D in his prime. Robbie: When did you start…
Roc Marciano feat. Hus and Dino Brave – Warm Hennessy (J-Force Remix)
J-Force remix of this limited-edition vinyl.