White labels rule the world. Download: Nas remixes and bootlegs radio mix
Category: Killa Queens
Mobb Deep – Avirex
You know you’ve made it when you can afford to pay the best rappers of the era to make songs advertising your shit. There was that Biggie verse which later turned up as a song with Black Rob with the store name references muted (‘Jeans and Sneakers’), and of course this pristine snippet of prime-time…
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…
Dr. Knockboots or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying About Live Streams And Love Rapping Over Live Instruments
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…
Capone-N-Noreaga feat. Tragedy Khadafi – Half A Mil
No idea how this one slipped past me for the twenty two years. Produced by Jae Supreme.
The Unkut guide to essential Queensbridge rap albums
Limited to one release per group, with the the exception of any solo work. The Unkut guide to essential Queensbridge rap albums
A Salute To Prodigy aka Veteran’s Memorial Pt 3.
Rest in peace, thun. A Salute To Prodigy aka Veteran’s Memorial Pt 3.
Download: A Tribute To Prodigy Solo Shots
When I heard that sickle cell had finally claimed the life of the H.N.I.C. himself, Prodigy, my immediate response was to go to the pub and get black-out drunk in honour of his memory. I’m working on a suitable written dedication to P’s enormous contributions to Strong Island/Queensbridge rap, but in the meantime here is…
Download: A Salute To Trag the Intelligent Hoodlum
From MC Jade to the Super Kids to MC Percy to Tragedy to Intelligent Hoodlum to Tragedy Khadafi, this guy has seen some shit in the evolution and gradual rotting away of this thing known as Queensbridge Rap. There may be a follow-up focusing on his work with Capone-N-Noreaga, Killa Sha and others, since Trag…
Ranking Kool G Rap’s Albums
There’s a new Kool G Rap album due some time in the near future titled Return of the Don, featuring Sean Price, Raekwon and Saigon. Following on from the KRS-One LP ranking I thought I’d take a shot at ranking the discography of the greatest MC of all time.
Havoc and The Alchemist – The Silent Partner album review
Despite immediately dismissing this album when it was first announced on account of Havoc’s history of uninspired solo work, upon further inspection it turns out that Alan The Chemist has once again been able to bring out the best of the situation, as he’s previously done for Curren$y, Boldy James and Action Bronson. Hav put…
Download: A Salute To Mobb Deep
After a highly scientific process involving going to the pub and eating Vietnamese take-out, I’ve finally determined my favourite eighteen Mobb Deep songs at this exact point in time. Resisting the urge to focus too heavily on their peak period, I’ve attempted to include something from all of their albums over the years to provide…