Click image for larger version. Prior to his reign as The Rap Bandit, Danny Ozark went by the pen name Pistol Pete. For this column in the January 1991 issue of The Source, Pete invents ten rap rumors as an excuse to drop some hip-hop punchlines. Just think, before Twitter rappers had to listen to…
Category: Crates
Vinyl’s revenge
Cassette Culture with Stretch Armstrong: The Latin Rascals, Dec. 1985, Kiss-FM NYC
Stretch Armstrong recently dropped the latest article in his always enjoyable Cassette Culture series over at Cuepoint, providing an essential retrospective of the art of tape editing, while also providing a recording of a classic Latin Rascals mix from 1985. The shit these dudes were doing with reels of tape and a razor blade was…
Grand Daddy I.U. feat. Biz Markie – I Ain’t Got No Money [1992]
A few years back Grand Daddy I.U. released an EP of his early work (this time with the right production credits) on the appropriately titled Cold Stealin’ label. As a bonus, he included this shelved track he recorded in 1992 with Biz Markie on the hook, which contains gems such as “For that you get…
Non-Rapper Dudes Series: Freddy Fresh Interview
This morning I had a quick chat with DJ, producer and record collector Freddy Fresh about B-Boy Records, Breakbeat Lenny, The Rap Records book and the correct storage of 45’s. Freddy’s latest album, Play The Music, is out this March. Robbie: How did you get involved in remixing a track for BDP’s Man and His…
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…
LL Cool J – Soul Survivor [Unreleased Original Version]
After speaking to Dr. Butcher again the other week, he revealed that he’d located a copy of the song he produced for LL Cool J in 1993, which went on to be remixed by QDIII and included on his fifth album, and generously agreed to allow me to share it with the world. Dr. Butcher:…
Cold Crush 4 and Treacherous 3 at Harlem World, 1981
Every now and then it’s good to throw on a tape of rap of old school rap at it’s finest, and without a doubt two of the sharpest crews to ever do it where those led by Grandmaster Caz and Kool Moe Dee. These four snippets from Troy L. Smith‘s crates are a fine reminder…
Positive K – Supreme Alphabet [2001]
Here’s a late entry into Pos K‘s discography where he calls in a solid from Jesse West to freak a trusted Bob James break and get belligerent on all the herbs, suckers and chumps out there on the alphabetical slaughter tip.
Puffy Dee = The OG Iggy Azalea?
When the Tuff City head honcho mentioned that this was the most slept-on release from the label I had to track down a copy. Having previously explained to Fat Lace that “she was white girl living uptown. I thought her rhymes were brilliant but she predated video unfortunately,” Mr. Fuch’s expanded on the topic when…
Great One-Shot Wonders
These aren’t one hit wonders, since none of these records were technically “hits” in the traditional sense. This is more of a collection of rappers who only got one chance to shine before they got a steady city job with a pension or dangled in record company hell for all eternity.
Ten Essential 80’s Rap B-Sides
These are ten essential 80’s b-sides, from the time when the 12″ single truly reigned supreme. “La Di Da Di” isn’t included as it’s basically a double A-side single for all intents and purposes. Technically “Ego Trippin’” also started out as a b-side on the second pressing of “To Give You Love,” but those are…
Video: Crate Diggers – Tim Westwood’s Vinyl Collection
Clearly need to send Mr. Westwood a properly fitted Conservative Rap Coalition polo in the near future.