Remembering Tony D, a year later
April 6, 2010 – 8:59 pmIt’s hard to believe it’s been a year (and two days) since Tony D died. Revisit the Remembering Tony D category and throw on a copy of Droppin’ Funky Verse.
Never forgotten, Tone.
Q102 Hip-Hop Review [1993]
March 26, 2010 – 10:58 amYet another unlabeled tape (should I make “YAUT” an official acronym?). This one is from Q102 (WIOQ) Hip-Hop Review on a Sunday night in 1993, sometime before September. The hosts are “The Funky President” Mike Elliott (heard earlier here) and Shelly Shel and DJ Jay-Ski is on the wheels.
Did I ever tell you about Jay-Ski?
He was the first hip-hop DJ I ever knew (somewhat) personally. Way back in the late 1980s, I was in 7th grade and would call around to Bulletin Board Systems (don’t know what I’m talking about? You better ask somebody!) from my middle school’s computer lab. There was one I called into that was run by a metalhead, but I bumped into one other user on there named Gemini that was into hip-hop. That was Jay-Ski. We talked once about trying to work together (this was back when I was just starting to write lyrics), but that never came to be. Probably for the best since I was completely wack at the time.
I only met Jay in person once, when he was working at Sound Express (Jersey’s answer to Funk-O-Mart/Sounds of Market) in Willingboro. Then Jay got famous showing up all over Philly radio. We’ve caught up online a few times in recent years. He’s good dude. And crazy talented. Check Jay out these days over at PureElementz.net.
Anyway.
On this episode, they do a giveaway for an Erick Sermon/Def Jam show in New York. The winner gets to ride in a “a phat stretch limo with a television, VCR, and all that” and hang with Mike Elliott and Shelly Shel. This results in a pretty hilarious call-in section where people call in telling why they should be the ones to win the tickets.
There’s some outstanding music here, especially for fans of that 93 sound. Lords of the Underground, The Mexakinz, Original Flavor, PRT, post-Large Pro Main Source… it goes on and on. Some tasty remixes and lots of heavy signature Jay-Ski cuts. There’s one track called “That’s Life” from a Philadelphia group that seems to like to reference Sweden (I couldn’t make out their name when Mike Elliott said it… something Soul).
Fat Joe shows up in studio, but for some reason, I cut that part out. The real treat comes on side B when Souls of Mischief roll through to hype their upcoming ’93 Til Infinity.
Definitely worth checking out. Total runtime is a little over an hour.
Q102 Hip-Hop Review - 1993 - Side A [46:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Q102 Hip-Hop Review - 1993 - Side B [22:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadRaw Deal – December 1992
February 3, 2010 – 10:18 pmAnother unlabeled PRB gem today. This one comes from December 3rd or 10th, 1992 (they advertise an upcoming event called TalentFest 92 (brought to you by Up and Up Studios) and later on, there are holiday ads) and features a lot of goodness. The tape starts at about 11:30pm.
The studio was packed full of guests, including DJ Kam, Courageous Chief (aka “Horrendous Teeth” according to G), Awol, a boisterous Tony D (fresh from the studio having recording some new tracks with the Poor Righteous Teachers), the Hillbillies (“straight out of Muck Holly”… and seriously, does no one remember “Bottom of the Hamper Jam”?), and others.
Perhaps the main reason to check this one out is the primary in-studio guest: a 23-year-old Apache (RIP). “Gangsta Bitch” had just hit and the album (Apache Ain’t Shit) was on the way. It’s kind of strange to come across this particular unlabeled tape so shortly after Apache’s death.
In addition to the typical “what’s up with your album”-type questions, we find out important things like Apache’s favorite ice cream flavor and how he knows “this thing ain’t gonna last” because he doesn’t like “industry people.”
Side B features a great Thursday Night Live session with DJ Kam on the wheels:
- Awol
- Tony D (RIP)
- Courageous Chief
- Baby Chill (RIP)
- Almighty Poppa S-Man (from the Dungeon Lords)
- The Coup Man (?) (from the Dungeon Lords)
- EP (from The Hillbillies) (sounds like the only one that comes off the top)
- B-Struck (from The Hillbillies)
- EP
- Tony D
The show features music from Cutty Ranks, Show and AG, Positive K, Heather B, Main Source, Chubb Rock, Das EFX, Grand Puba, Ice Cube, Diamond D, and The Funk Family.
The show closes out with G discussing some upcoming extended-length shows. He also pimps one of the early episodes of Vibes and Vapors.
This is a great 90 minutes. I hope I come across the earlier part of the show at some point.
Raw Deal - December 1992 - Side A [47:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Raw Deal - December 1992 - Side B [47:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadTrancelike State 029701 – Stardate 79.31.20
January 21, 2010 – 11:19 amHere’s the third in the Trancelike State series (the first and second), my electronica mix show from college.
This episode kicks off with some ultra-downtempo breaks then works its way towards illbent, jungle, and dub.
- Eclipsed by Sadness… Prince Charming
- Make It Go Away… kHz
- A Tongue of Flame (Unidentified Flying Dubplate Mix)
- Sound Check… Sub Dub
- Eating Sweetheart Valentine Candygram Vertebrae… Prince Charming
- Here I Come (Jungle)… Barrington Levy (Remixed by Ridley Don)
- Armoured D… Dillinja
- Glactic Funk (Tau Ceti mix)… DJ Spooky
- Mr. Dubfire… Mad Professor & Lee Perry
- Stoned Again… Culture
(As a reminder to explain my goofy show titling/dating convension: the episode number of 029701 can be translated pretty simply: February 1997, first mix of the month. The “star date” was just my stupid way of designating specifically when the mix was done by writing the date backwards (so 79.31.10 is February 13, 1997).
Trancelike State 019702 – Stardate 79.03.10
January 20, 2010 – 12:56 amHere’s the second in the Trancelike State series (the first), my electronica mix show from college.
This episode mixes the some glitch with some world dance music and illbient with old school ragga jungle.
- Peek 824545201.. Aphex Twin
- Soulus (Submarine Variation #2)… Loop Guru
- International Times (Haunted Dancehall Mix)… Transglobal Underground
- Skank… Higher Intelligence Agency
- Thoughts Like Rain… DJ Spooky
- Jungle & Western Cowboy Style… Josie Wales, Beenie Man, & Ini Kamoze (Remixed by New Blood Crew)
- Intro… DJ Spooky
- Copper Shot Dub (Music Is My Occupation)… King Tubby/Scientist
- Miss Know It… Scientist/Roots Radics
- Why Hip Hop Sucks In ’96… DJ Shadow
(As a reminder to explain my goofy show titling/dating convension: the episode number of 019702 can be translated pretty simply: January 1997, second mix of the month. The “star date” was just my stupid way of designating specifically when the mix was done by writing the date backwards (so 79.30.10 is January 30, 1997).
