DJ Class - I'm The Shit (Remix ft. Kanye West)

This isn't rare whatsoever, but I've got it on repeat in the car and at the gym. It's not something I'd typically dig, but I do and it's my blog so...download it if you want it.



[ZSHARE LINK]

3m1n3m - R3L@P5E (2009)

Yes - it's quite good. Can't let it show up in Google.

[ZSHARE LINK]

Pump Up The Volume.

This is something I can never watch enough of. It's a 3 part, BBC-produced series called Pump Up The Volume on the origins of house music, techno, and the rave scene in England. It's fantastic...and has interviews with Jesse Saunders, Derrick May, Jamie Principle, Paul Oakenfold, and a ton of others. It's engaging and it's just all around great. It IS in RealPlayer format (I know, it's extinct)...but get Real Alternative to avoid horrible ass RealPlayer. Anyway, the videos are awesome...get them now!


[ZSHARE LINK]

MC Hammer - Too Tight (Unreleased Death Row Album)

You have crossed over into another dimension. You have just entered...The Twilight Zone.

Seriously. What a weird time in hip hop. MC Hammer was on Death Row...and he recorded an album that never saw the light of day. Well, until music started popping up on the internet, that is. There is honestly no reason this should have ever existed...but it does, and it has guests like 2Pac, Big Daddy Kane, and Danny Boy. I've really only scratched the surface with it...because I like my Hammer songs about the Addams Family, and not about...Too Short, I guess.

Anyway, it's apparently a promo copy that has a scan of the tracklisting within the file. So...enjoy?


[ZSHARE LINK]

Snoop Doggy Dogg - What's My Name (Extended)

Are you like me? Do you miss the 90's gangsta rap tradition found in Death Row releases as well as on stuff like Bone Thugs N' Harmony's Thuggish Ruggish Bone where they'd just have some random female singer go off at the end of a single? Well, if you are - then...download this. It's just got Dr. Dre written all over it. Extended G-Funk instrumental, more singing from (insert random singer here), vocoder, and just a real nice vibe to it. It's the song you know and love with more added onto it. Enjoy.

[ZSHARE LINK]

Souls of Mischief - Tour Stories

Brand new stuff from Souls - and when I heard it, I could only say that I didn't knew they made hip hop like this anymore. Don't get me wrong, I love new hip hop, but none of it has the vintage, rugged, raw, dirty sound that I fell in love with way back when. This does. Why you ask? Because Prince Paul, the legend, produced it (along with the entire upcoming SOM album). I love the hell out of this song.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Armand Van Helden - Full Moon (ft. Common)

I cannot stop listening to this song. Common has gotten super cheesy in the past few years, but lighthearted lyrics over a party rocking house track works perfectly. Armand Van Helden has a knack for producing songs that border on cheese but still manage to be a lot of fun and sound great. Enjoy.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Happy 2009.

Part of my New Year's Resolution is to update this blog more. Blogger deleted a few of my posts, I got busy with moving/the holidays/life, and I just neglected the blog. But there's some new stuff coming your way - right now, while I watch the Laker game. Happy new year.

Okay, okay...I get it. *waves white flag*

3 Kanye posts have been deleted. I get it, Blogger. No more. Sorry guys - you gotta be creative to find them from here on out.

Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine (Live at Carnegie Hall)

This is one of my favorite songs of all time...and in a great, great live version. There's really nothing more to be said. Bill Withers is the shit. Download now!


[ZSHARE LINK]

Aphex Twin - Live at Coachella 2008

Sorry for the long layoff guys....I did post all the new Kanye West tracks that have leaked, but Blogger deleted them. Given all the music that they've allowed me to keep up here, I'm not going to repost. That being said...here is Aphex Twin at Coachella 2008. It's a DJ set, but it's great if you dig Richard D James. It's not quite what you would expect...you'll hear some Aphex Twin produced tracks and you'll hear Public Enemy. It's a really dark, but awesome mix. Check it out.



[ZSHARE LINK]

DJ Z-Trip - The Obama Mix

I love Z-Trip. The first time I saw him was at a rave like 8 years ago, and back then, genre bending DJs like him were rare. He is one of the few who is charismatic but not annoying on the mic, and can rock a party like no other. He can also tell a story. His Anti-War Mix a few years ago proved that. He follows that up with The Obama Mix which is similar in tone/songs to the Anti War mix, but with some new twists and, of course, Obama soundbites. DJ Z-Trip is giving this out for free and is encouraging people to get the link out there...and while he's hosting it, I figured I'd see how many download it from here. So, if you like Public Enemy, Saul Williams, conscious hip hop, folk music, and of course...Barack Obama, then you'll dig the hell out of this.



Oh, and register to vote.


[ZSHARE LINK]

DJ Quik - The Death Row Sessions (1995)

"Cause I'm down with The Trees, I'm down with Death Row..."

I've been listening to a lot of Quik lately. He's so damned underrated. I'm more or less biased toward the West Coast sound, but I really think Quik has one of the best sounds ever. He messed with Suge for a minute, and this was the outcome. Check it out.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Kanye West - Wow

This is the song that Kanye talked about on the fantastic College Dropout track "Last Call". It's mediocre at best, but the hook is kinda nice...and it's a must for any Ye fan. Enjoy.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Gangstarr - Mass Appeal (Instrumental)

One of my favorite Premo beats ever. I haven't posted many instrumentals, but I'll start posting a few that I really, really love.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Jay-Z - Nigerian Gangster

Probably the best Jay-Z remix album I've heard (The Gray Album is nice and all, but once you get past the novelty, there's really only about 3 or 4 great tracks on there). This is the American Gangster acapellas over nothing but Fela Kuti songs and samples...and it is fantastic. I don't typically ride for these remix albums, especially given the market becomes saturated with these Jay ones...but this is a keeper. Check it out.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Royce the 5'9 - Renegades (ft. Eminem)

Before this track was on The Blueprint, it was Royce's. Oftentimes, the Jay-Z version is the definition of "Murdered You On Your Own Shit"...but Royce is nice. While I'm not a fan of Eminem's production, it works here.


[ZSHARE LINK]

George Clinton - Erotic City

A Prince cover.

I really don't know the story behind this, and I'm too lazy to look it up. It's bizarre, but it seems...sort of natural, I guess. Check it out.



[ZSHARE LINK]

?uestlove - The Lesson Sample Mix

I believe this mix was done for BBC Radio One, but I'm not 100%. Anyway...it's Questlove mixing famously sampled songs, from Common to Biggie and everything in between. This is a great one to just chill to. Enjoy.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Madlib - Motown Mix

This is just a great, great piece of work. Madlib constructed a fantastic mixtape of Motown songs, interviews, news clips, and highly recognizable sampled songs. You'll hear so many great artists and clips with Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, etc. It's great. Just download it.


[ZSHARE LINK]


*** NEW LINK**

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique Demos (1989)

I've been waiting to break this one out for a minute. This, in my opinion, is the Beasties best album...and, as such, I'm obsessed with it. So when I stumbled across demos, I was amped. You'll notice not every song is on here, of course....but a few versions of Johnny Ryall, Car Thief, and some great banter at the beginning of the Shake Your Rump (which is also fairly different). It's a great listen for sure.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Alicia Keys - Love It Or Leave It Alone (ft. Common and Mos Def) - LIVE

This is live, and it seems to be a snippet...but regardless, it's just so dope. It's only about 2 minutes, but it's one of the last times I heard Common and Mos sound like they were in their prime. Plus, I'm more a fan of the hip hop infused Alicia Keys. Check it out.


[ZSHARE LINK]

The Roots - The Pros (Demo)

This, I believe, is from the Game Theory sessions. It may have even been an iTunes release...I'm not 100%. Regardless, it didn't make the album, and that just shows how strong Game Theory was...because this track is ridiculous. It's your typical Roots fare, and those who were going to their shows back in '03 or so can see they took the beginning from The Roots Is Takin' Over. Good track.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Wu Tang Clan - Live on XM Radio (November '05)

Despite this being an abbreviated performance (it's less than 12 minutes...and like 3 of that is intro), it's still great to hear the Wu with a live band. As they harp on at the beginning, they don't normally do that. I love Wu Tang and all...but this performance just shows that if these dudes could focus, they really could recapture the magic of the early days and just do amazing shows. I'm a sucker for hip hop with a live band though. Enjoy.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Power 106 - '91 Techno

I wish I had more of a description for this one...but all I have to go off sometimes is ID3 tags and filenames. Unfortunately, this one has very little info. It's 25 minutes of early 1990's techno recorded off of LA radio station Power 106. From what I gather from sources...it's from the end of 1991, recorded off of Saturday Night Street Party. I love this stuff...I really do. I remember hearing LA Style - James Brown is Dead on LA radio so many years ago...and of course, stuff like Seseme's Treat. Old school techno/breakbeat/hardcore is some of my favorite music, and it doesn't get enough shine, in my opinion. So with that said....check out a trip down memory lane.


[ZSHARE LINK]


Also, if anyone has any other info about this mix - please comment. I'd love to know more about it. Thanks!

DJ J-Rocc - Thank You Jay Dee Mixtape

When the late, great J. Dilla passed away a few years ago...you saw just how many people in hip hop loved him. Having been so prolific, we are still seeing unreleased Jay Dee beats come out to this day, and that's not likely to end anytime soon. Shortly after his death, Stones Throw put this mixtape out. It's fitting that J-Rocc, a highly influential, highly imitated DJ would construct a mixtape for a producer with all the same qualities. This one is great to just kind of chill to. A lot of instrumentals, a lot of classics, and all J Dilla aka Jay Dee - one of the greatest to ever do it.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Lauryn Hill - Live at Meyer Amphitheater

I really do miss L-Boogie. I'm hopeful one of these days she'll get...not crazy and will realize she is far and away the best female MC (and one of the best MCs) of all time. Nonetheless, this is a great live show.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Thoughts on the blog.

First and foremost...sorry for the lack of updates. I have a great deal of stuff that I'm going to be uploading as soon as possible. I have a great deal going on right now (including shuffling files all around between several computers), and I will be uploading stuff soon.

That being said...I'd really appreciate it if you guys could comment this post to let me know what you think of the stuff I've thrown up so far. What you'd like to see, what you like, all that. It'd help. Thanks.

A Tribe Called Quest - Georgie Porgie (Demo ft. Brand Nubian)

I really struggled as to whether or not I should post this...because it's really, really offensive. It's a Tribe demo from 1991 that is completely a sign of the times. I'd like to think Tip and Phife are a bit more mature now, but who knows. As for just how offensive it is, it's worlds beyond the gay jokes in Eddie Murphy's Raw or the "All the homies who got AIDS..." line in Live at Union Square by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Listen at your own risk, I guess.



[ZSHARE LINK]

Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy (Live ft. Maynard James Keenan)

This is from the very first Coachella (1999), which was headlined by Rage and Tool. Maynard from Tool came out to do his part on one of my favorite Rage tracks, Know Your Enemy. They were rarely able to do this song together, so here is one of the only recordings I know of.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Big L - '98 Freestyle (Part 2)

Biggie and 2Pac hit huge heights and were in their primes when they passed away. Big L wasn't even close. And whenever I listen to him, it's always a reminder of how he was never able to blossom as an artist. I truly believe he would have been huge. His famed '98 freestyle (which can be found on his posthumous LP The Big Picture) had another part that didn't make the cut - and here it is.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Pharrell & The Yessirs - Out of My Mind

It's really a shame this was never released. This is the reworking of Pharrell's album In My Mind by ?uestlove of The Roots...and it's so amazingly good. Unfortunately, the original album didn't sell very well, and thus a re-release was squashed by the record label. Fortunately though, the tracks were leaked - and we now get to enjoy them. In my opinion, these will be one of those classic bootlegs years from now.



[ZSHARE LINK]

Common - Come Close (Remix ft. Pharrell, Q-Tip, & Erykah Badu)

Common caught a LOT of flack for the original version of this song, but he redeemed himself in the eyes of many with the remix. Pharrell comes especially nice on this...and hearing Common and Q-Tip together just seems natural.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Jay-Z - Live at Glastonbury 2008

You should download this just for the opening, if nothing else. Famously mocked by Noel Gallagher of Oasis for not being able to headline a rock festival, Jay decided to open with Oasis' biggest hit Wonderwall. After that, he runs through a set including Dirt Off Your Shoulder, Izzo, I Just Wanna Love Ya, Show Me What Ya Got, and covers such as Rhianna's Umbrella, Prodigy's Smack My Bitch Up, and a bunch of other hits.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Masta Ace - Sittin' on Chrome (J Dilla Remix)

Another unreleased Dilla remix that I happen to think is better than the original. The OG Sittin' On Chrome beat gives it a more East Coast gangsta feel, whereas this one paints it as a '94 classic, driving hip hop track (but somehow not taking a thing away from the vocal or the Eazy-E sample). This is more an example of Dilla's blunted style...and it's real nice.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Busta Rhymes - Woo Ha (Got You All In Check) (J Dilla Remix)

It's not much of a secret that one of the producers Busta LOVED working with was the late, great Jay Dee AKA J. Dilla. A lot of people love the more laid back, blunted Dilla beats (a la his work with Common, The Pharcyde, his famous beat tapes, etc.) but I dig the hell out of the more piano, classic style beats. This is the latter. Check it out.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Michael Jackson - Remember the Time (Teddy Riley Remix)

While I'm on my New Jack Swing kick...check out the Teddy Riley mix of Remember the Time. It's pretty similar to the original, but with more New Jack signature drums.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Bobby Brown - On Our Own

From the Ghostbusters 2 soundtrack and the beloved New Jack Swing era. I don't care how dated it sounds now...this shit knocks.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick - The Show (Original Version)

There's not a WHOLE lot of difference between this and the popular version...but it's longer, with a bit more Rick. It's more or less an extended version with a nice mix out point at the end.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Mos Def - Brooklyn (Original Version)

One of the few "original" versions of a song I like more than the one that made the album. I also really, really miss Mos Def making music like this. This version is way different than the Brooklyn that made Black On Both Sides, and in my opinion...it's better. And that's saying something, cause I really like the one on the album.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Kanye West - Home (ft. John Legend)

I believe this was around the College Dropout sessions and it wouldn't resurface later until Graduation, where it was renamed Homecoming, John Legend was replaced by Chris Martin, and the beat was changed. I like the refined, newer version better...but I love the hell out of this one.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Pharrell - Like I Love You (Demo ft. Clipse)

This was the Neptunes demo of the Justin Timberlake song with Pharrell singing the lead. While Pharrell doesn't exactly have the best voice in the world...it's still interesting to hear the original sketch of the song.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Daft Punk - Louis Vuitton 2008 Mix

Daft Punk did this mix for the Spring 2008 Louis Vuitton runway show. It's a bit similar to what they did in their live show, but is different enough to still be really interesting. It's great gym music. Peep it.


[ZSHARE LINK]

The Roots - Please Don't Go (Demo)

I'm not sure that this will ever be released...but I really want to see a full album like this. Anyone who's ever seen The Roots live knows Black Thought can sing (you should really hear their rendition of Bobby Womack's I Can Understand It they were closing shows with last year), and this demo is just a laid back, fun track from The Legendary. Hopefully we'll see a mastered version in the future. Till then...enjoy.


[ZSHARE LINK]

James Brown - Live in Washington D.C. (2005)

Sure, the late, great James Brown was past his peak at this point. But an old James Brown is worlds better than 99% of performers. This recording is from NPR, and as such, has great sound quality. It's 95 minutes of James Brown and one of the world's best bands. I don't really think I need to say much more.


[ZSHARE LINK]

DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist - The Lessons Live (2000)

At the peak of "turntablism" (wow, do I ever hate that word), there was a conference in San Francisco called Skratchcon. The afterparty for this event was amazing...and included DJ Radar, the Scratch Perverts, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, J-Rocc, and the final performance of the Invisibl Skrach Piklz. I was lucky enough to be at both events, and was able to witness Shadow and Cut Chemist recreate Double D and Steinski's "Lessons" live (along with Cut Chemist's own Lesson 6, found on Jurassic 5's first EP release). Steinski even came out to assist. I don't think I truly know what I was witnessing then, and it took about a year for me to fully digest it (along with a viewing of the Skratchcon video that was released). Here it is in 2 parts.


[ZSHARE LINK - Part 1]
[ZSHARE LINK - Part 2]

Time Lapse Consortium - Live At The Roxy (2003)

Fans of Incubus will recognize this as Mike Einziger (guitarist) and Jose Pasillas' (drums) first side project, right between the Morning View and A Crow Left of the Murder albums. Also included was the not-yet-then bassist Ben Kenney, who was then a part of The Roots. The group never released anything, but they recorded one of the two shows they ever played, and here it is. It's a throwback to the big band sound with a more modern flare. It's a fantastic listen that I had playing nonstop back in '03.


[ZSHARE LINK]

A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario (Demo)

This is one I just came across today. Featuring Leaders of the New School and Chris Lighty, it's a great listen to what was to become a classic track. In some demos, you just hear an unmastered track with an unfinished beat or something. In others, you hear a sketch of a song, including different ideas than what ended up on the finalized version, and you get to hear how the finished product came to be. Thankfully, this one is the latter. Check out the reel to reel sound at the end. Enjoy.


[ZSHARE LINK]

The Rub - History of Hip Hop (1990s)

These are nice. 3 hours a piece, tracks from their respective years. Direct links to The Rub's news page:

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999

Q-Bert - Camel Bobsled Race

From Wikipedia: "A megamix of DJ Shadow's music. It contains seven live tracks in a continuous DJ mix by DJ Q-Bert of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz. It was released on vinyl and CD in 1997. North American copies of Preemptive Strike included the mix on a second bonus disc."


Tracks include Napalm Brain, Midnight in a Perfect World, Organ Donor, The Number Song, and others. Observant listeners will hear ideas Q-Bert had for Wave Twisters (1998) coming through all over this mix.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Demo Version)

A completely different take on one of my favorite MJ tracks. I'll be uploading a ton of unreleased and rare Michael Jackson stuff sometime soon.


[ZSHARE LINK]

T.I. - The King Outtakes (2006)

This is a whole album's worth (17 tracks) of material from T.I.'s King sessions. A couple of these tracks made the album, but the lion's share did not. All are release quality, and some should have definitely made the (excellent) album. My favorite track is #9: I Want You.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Cody ChesnuTT - Live in Melbourne, Australia (2004)

Cody is such a great performer...it's just a shame the dude seems to have apprehension about putting out any new material. This is a great (albeit somewhat short) set from The Corner Hotel in Melbourne...including a GREAT sing along version of The Seed.

Tracks include: Child of God, Cadillac, Upstarts in a Blowout, The Seed, No One Will, Look Good In Leather, and Eric Burdon.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Jay-Z - Live at the Chicago House of Blues (2007)

This is right around the release of American Gangster...and it's a great, 90 minute performance that was on Sirius Radio. It features some guest appearances; most noteworthy is Kanye West - who comes out to perform Can't Tell Me Nothin', The Good Life, and Roc Boys with Jay. Jay-Z runs through all the classics from all his albums. If you like Jay - you'll dig this.


[ZSHARE LINK]

John Cooper Clarke - Evidently Chickentown

As seen in the film Control about Ian Curtis of Joy Division, I was first introduced to this track in The Sopranos in the episode "Stage 5" in Season 6B. It's honestly haunted me ever since.


[ZSHARE LINK]

King Tech & DJ Sway - This Or That (1999)

I have fond, fond memories of this (nowadays) hard to find mixtape. It was the official mix CD of the Wake Up Show, the influential hip hop radio show based out of LA. Featuring exclusive tracks and freestyles by Eminem, Jurassic 5, KRS-One, and an amazing old school mix - this one was practically stuck in my 1989 Honda Accord CD player when I was in high school.


[ZSHARE LINK]


Here's the track listing and artwork: HERE.

The Doors - Riders on the Storm (Blondie Rapture Remix)

Usually, these mash up tracks bother me. I really enjoy this one. As you can probably figure out, it's The Doors - Riders on the Storm mashed up with Blondie - Rapture. I heard it in Vegas in a bar, came home, Googled it, and downloaded it years ago.


[ZSHARE LINK]

Shirley Ellis - The Clapping Song

I was first introduced to this song through Steinski's portion in the film Scratch. It's just such a great, soulful track. I love the drums, I love the breaks, and it's interesting to me that what once was probably a disposable pop track has now been dropped in classic sets by Steinski and Afrika Bambaataa.


[ZSHARE LINK]

The Roots - Workinonit (J. Dilla Demo)

Here's a demo by the Legendary Roots Crew produced by the late J. Dilla. Need I say more?

[ZSHARE LINK]

Mos Def - Poison

(Live Bel Biv Devoe Cover)


When Mos wants to be, he's a hell of a performer. Last year at the Highline Ballroom in New York City, Mos Def and a full band did an amazing cover of one of the best party songs ever written (okay...one of MY favorite party songs ever written). It's gotten repeated play on my iPod. The horns are ridiculous. Check it out.

[ZSHARE LINK]

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Yo Home To Bel Air

This is the extended version of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song that was included in the first couple episodes of the show. It's a full song rather than just the two verses.

[ZSHARE LINK]

DJ Shadow - Funky Skunk

DJ Shadow - The Funky Skunk Mix (2005): Shadow did this extremely limited run (450 copies) mixtape and packed it with the Public Works project with Shepard Fairey (Obey). It pretty much covers it all - southern hip hop, breaks, old school funk, mainstream, underground, and everything in between. This is a fantastic mixtape that just didn't get it's due, mainly due to how little it was distributed. Click the picture to download.