Here’s another one I used to rock the shit out of when a kid from my street got his hands on some Red Alert and Chuck Chillout radio tapes. I left the Black Rock and Ron and Latee promos in there because why wouldn’t you? Download: D-Nice – Call Me D-Nice (original version)
Category: Demo Week
Ultramagnetic MC’s – Bait (original version)
Photo by Janette Beckman Super duper, extra-large shout out to Wilizm in the comments for finding this gem, long since removed from when I first posted the YouTube version. If this isn’t in your top ten then why are you even listening to rap? Download: Ultramagnetic MC’s – ‘Bait’ (original version) Source: A vintage episode…
Slick Rick Demos Are Better Than Your Entire Life
The 30th Anniversary special edition vinyl of The Great Adventures of Slick Rick is finally available, and you can opt for the double vinyl version (with a whole side dedicated to demos) or go all-out and cop the $100 collector’s pack with an eye patch (!?), reproductions of lyric sheets and some kind words from…
Download: A Salute To Rap Demos, Volume Two
Here’s a follow up to the 2015 compilation, focusing on artists that went on to do something else rather than just gather dust in an A&R’s desk drawer who aren’t named Nas, Biggie or Mobb Deep. Download: A Salute To Rap Demos, Volume Two Track list:
Newcleus – Jam On It [Demo Version]
This is the first take of ‘Jam On It,’ recorded on a four track tape recorder and sans the Wikki’s.
King Sun Demos
Until the demo tape which Ice Cube ripped off surfaces, these two King Sun unreleased tracks will have to tide us over. King Sun – ‘Mr Policeman’ A Jazzy Jay produced burner submitted for the Who’s The Man? soundtrack which rocks a loop that would later appear on one of Godfather Don’s Hydrabeats LPs.
Download: A Salute To Original Demo Versions
As much as it’s always a treat to hear the early, unreleased demo efforts of great rappers, it’s also intriguing to be able to experience the early, rough takes of songs that would be polished-up, adjusted or paired back. Some of these demo versions feature different lyrics, alternative loops or sometimes simply looser deliveries, and…
Stetsasonic – Just Say Stet [Demo version]
Scan courtesy of Press Rewind I didn’t get hip to Stetsasonic‘s brand of BK brilliance until I heard KRS-One shout them out and tracked down their In Full Gear album, but On Fire is worth your time for the classic ‘Go Stetsa’ and ‘My Rhyme.’ Here’s the stripped down demo version of their debut single,…
Master Ace – Howard Park [1987 Demo]
After that ‘My Melody’ remix sent me down the radio rip rabbit hole, I also stumbled onto this 1987 demo from Masta Ace from the same episode. Great work as always, Will C.
‘Scenario’ (Unreleased Version)
As he promised in the comments of the last post, Peter Divito from 2020Proof has come through in the clutch and laced me with one of the original takes of ‘Scenario’ featuring the whole Native Tongues crew. Turns out there’s another version according to DJ Johnny Juice: “This is NOT the version I had. Pos’…