Stumbled onto this one again the other night, as heard on one of the many weird re-issues of the first Main Source LP. Even though I posted this in 2008 while discussing how much Large Pro doesn’t like TV, hearing it again reminded me of how great it is to hear alternative takes of classic…
Category: Steady Bootleggin’
Holding it down for angry loners & the unemployable
Download: Bob James Unkut, Volume 3.1
What better time to listen to another compilation of ‘Nautilus’ raps? Volume 4 to follow soon. Download: Bob James Unkut, Volume 3.1 Track listing:
Download: A Salute To Album Tracks That Could Have Been Singles [90s Edition]
Twenty rap album deep cuts from the nineties that could have made great 12″ releases if they’d been given the chance. Download: A Salute To Album Tracks That Could Have Been Singles [90s Edition] Track listing:
Appreciating the brilliance of The Beatnuts’ Street Level LP
A lot of good rap was released in 1994. But for my money, the finest example of the artform was demonstrated by the Intoxicated Demons from Corona, Queens. While Illmatic took rhymes to new heights, as a complete package there was nothing that approached the first long player from this trio of rap maniacs, with…
Great Rap You Can’t Stream: Akinyele’s Vagina Diner LP
Akafella, you mad bastard. Sure, the Ak is no making bank off his strip club that, legend has it, was paid for by the payout he got from a mechanic that fucked up his motorcycle repairs and almost killed dude. He also made the immortal ‘Put It In Your Mouth’ which recently received an oral…
Download: The Unkut 40 Oz. 2019
This one took a while (although not as long as the five month delay for the 2018 version) on account of just how prolific most rappers are these days without the shackles of record label schedules and the general proliferation of the Conservative Rap Coalition approved sound. The rules are simple – one song per…
A Tribute To Hostyle from Screwball
Another tragic chapter in the story of Queens super group Screwball this week, as news spread that Hostyle has passed away. Fondly remembered for his energetic delivery and stream-of-consciousness flow, the ‘One Eyed Maniac’ made his mark on a number of guest shots in the 00’s, and most recently returned in 2015 with a song…
Melquan and the Krunchtime triple threat
The otherwise forgettable sophomore album from Terminator X contained a pretty good late-era Whodini song and a great Brag Rap demonstration courtesy of Strong Island resident Melquan (aka Mel Quan Son Slaughter the Ghetto Beethoven to his friends). While ‘Krunchtime’ got some b-side shine on the flip of the ‘Under The Sun’ single, it turns…
Eric B – The Unkut Interview [Extended Edition]
This interview was originally conducted ten years ago, while Mr. Barrier was promoting a new rapper he was working with who none of us can remember. Since I was compiling some material for a Queens book idea that never panned out, I held back the best parts – namely, the stuff about the park jams…
The Unkut Guide To Steady B Solo Albums
After realising that I only own one Steady B album (and all of his Pop Art singles), I thought I might revisit his catalogue in order to fill in some gaps in my Philly rap knowledge. Bring The Beat Back Fresh off his run of popular answer records and duets with Shante, the rapper formerly…
The Face magazine: New York Gangs Article [1990]
Here’s a classic article from the UK’s The Face magazine in 1990 documenting The Decepticons and the Lo Lifes back in the day.
Download: A Salute To Milano
A true CRC stalwart, Milano has dealt with all manner of setbacks in the music biz and yet still prevails. To whet your appetite before his Boulevard Author album with Showbiz is released on 19th July, please enjoy fifteen great songs from the big fella, who premiered a rough cut of his vaulted The Believers…