Billed as ‘The World’s First Ever Live Rap Album’, this is taken from a showcase put together by the Music of Life label, recorded at Cafe de’Paris London March 14th 1989, featuring Tim Westwood and a bunch of UK performers such as Demon Boyz, MC Duke, Merlin and Daddy Freddy, as well as The 45…
Following on from Kane and Biz hanging out with Paul Simon in 1987, Quincy Jones’ all-star ‘Back On The Block‘ and Rick James’ ‘Loosey’s Rap‘ with Kane and Shante, Paul Shaffer (David Letterman’s band leader and the author of ‘It’s Raining Men‘), decided to blend doo-wop and hip-hop a full two years before Easy Moe…
A funny thing happened today. I found myself in the precarious (although not altogether unwelcome) position of having to recant my previous hardline stance involving the combination of rapping and live instruments at shows. Following on from the underwhelming Mobb Deep reunion of 2011 and the slightly less unfortunate 50 Cent show, I was utterly…
This past February, two musical powerhouses/infamously egotistical windbags have graced our shores, attempting to both cash themselves up in the twilight of their careers and provide a feel-good nostalgia burst to both aging Baby Boomers and kids who were out clubbing fifteen years ago. That’s right, sports fans, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and G-Unit’s 50…
Bronson and Meyhem brought hard beats and rhymes to a hall full of scenesters, and it was good. No Country for Old (Rap) Men: Action Bronson live at The Forum, Melbourne
I’ve been fairly vocal in complaining about shitty, boring rap shows I’ve attended in the past. While the infamous Ultramagnetic show of 2013 rates as perhaps the most soul-crushing disappointment of my adult life, picking the best one I’ve attended is a little trickier. It would have to be a toss-up between Public Enemy‘s 1989…
The prospect of getting a guided audio tour through Afrika Bambaataa‘s record collection by two lifelong music geeks is appealing to even the most cursory of music fans, if the jam-packed crowd that squeezed into Melbourne’s Forum Theater on Friday night is anything to go by. It certainly didn’t hurt that it was helmed by…
From the collection of J – Blast, Operator Emz edit. Great trolling from Doug at the start of this. Spotted at ego trip.
Last weekend I caught Nas rapping in front of an audience. Due to some kind of review embargo, this is only running now. *shrugs* No Country For Old (Rap) Men: Nas – Live At The Forum, Melbourne
DJ Kenny Parker has shared this recording of a Boogie Down Productions show at Brixton Academy, 1990. Highlights include the freestyle session where KRS kicks some rhymes that would appear on later albums. Also, it’s my birthday today so I’m off to drink some RAER whiskey and whatnot.
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…
Lat night’s Saigon and Illa Ghee show was apparently this is the first time that ‘They Forced My Hand’ has been performed live.