For a new regular feature, I thought it would be interesting to revisit some albums that were originally lauded as classics in their time to see how they still hold up, or have the sands of time dulled their shine? Peter and Cory’s first full-length was feverishly anticipted following both their enjoyable debut EP and…
Category: The 90’s Files
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Looking back at Snoop’s sophomore struggle
As part of some cruel joke, my editor at Acclaim thought it would be amusing to force me to listen to Snoop Doggy Dogg’s second album, which was released nineteen years ago today. No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Looking back at Snoop’s sophomore struggle
Download: A Salute To Ice-T
When I first went to high school, I remember I’d memorized the entire intro to Rhyme Pays and would recite it to pretty girls for reasons which now escape me. Let’s just say it was a simpler time. Ice-T‘s first four albums combined humor, slick talk and social commentary in a way which set him…
Fat Joe – Part Deux [Original Version]
Here’s the original version of ‘Part Deux’ from Fat Joe‘s Jealous One’s Envy LP, produced by Domingo and available on his Sessions and Lessons album.
Afrika Islam – The Unkut Interview
Rising up through the ranks from the ‘Son of Bambattaa’ to the DJ at The Roxy and launching the Zulu Beat radio show on WHBI, Afrika Islam went on to release the very first cut and paste record, help found the Rhyme Syndicate and produce the majority of Ice-T’s first four albums after moving to…
No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Too Smooth, Too Soon
Big Daddy Kane is one of the best to ever do it, and can still tear a stage up to this day. So why did his solo recording career end in the ninwties? No Country For (Old) Rap Men: Too Smooth, Too Soon
Biters In the City [of Shaolin]
Cole James Cash was cleaning up his mom’s basement last week and found this old record which features not one but two rhymes which are ripped off word-for-word from other rappers. Apparently Lo Down had some connection with the Wu-Tang, with Islord from Killarmy contributing the final verse which is actually the Raekown’s rap from…
Introducing The 90’s Rapper Where Are They Now Detective Agency
Do you ever sit around and wonder ‘What the hell happened to that marginally talented rap crew who released an album in the early nineties?’ If so, I’m here to help. It turns out that some of your old favorites didn’t all go back to working ‘civilian’ jobs after the roller coaster ride that is…
Whistle – From Rap Group To New Jack Swingers
Forgive me if this is common knowledge, but I only just realized that the group Whistle, best known for their 1985 hit ‘(Nothing Serious) Just Buggin,’ released four albums on the Select label. Jazzy Jazz, Kool Doobie and DJ Silver Spinner were the original line-up, with Kraze and Terk joining in ’90 after Jazzy Jazz…
That Shit I Don’t Like: Lyricist Lounge, Volume 1
My old drinking buddy Phillip Mlynar penned Lyricist Lounge: An Oral History this week, which reminded me of just how disappointing the actual album dedicated to that place was. As a record buyer during that period, I fondly recall that period in the mid to late 90’s when MF Doom, Juggaknots, Jigmastas and Scaramanga were…
Download: Mobb Deep – Soundtrack and Compilation Cuts
Twelve non-LP Mobb Deep tracks that were officially released on someone else’s album, as opposed to the seemingly endless supply of stuff that never got a proper retail release. UPDATE: By popular demand, now available as a Zippyshare Records and Tapes download…
Download: A Salute To Jigmastas
DJ Spinna and Kriminal provided the 1996 indy stand-out single, ‘Beyond Real’/’Dead Man Walking,’ which proved to be the one of the highlights of an extensive discography over the next six years. Spinna was in high demand during this period for his signature lush production style which combined restrained sampling and original riffs for an…