However, I have what may be a better episode for this week of tributes to Tony D. This episode is from February 8, 1990. Easy M was off DJing a party somewhere in Jersey, so his partner from “Too Smooth” (later “Sounds from the Underground”) Fresh J filled in as a co-host. Easy’s absence meant that Tone was given a full two hours on the wheels. And, man, was Tone in full promotion mode. Tons of great Trenton acts, special announcements about groups that were to become legendary, and even some MC Serch references. This really is a classic episode.

So, side by side:

Side 1 (10:05-10:48pm)

The show kicks off with some technical difficulties, but Tone steps up to the wheels to kick off his two hours and displays some nice turntable work when he starts things off with Gang Starr’s “Words I Manifest.” From there, he moves into Marky Fresh’s underrated “Mack of Rap” and then hits a couple of Trenton cuts from Too Kool Posse (“Music Makes You Move”) and YZ.

During the first break, Tone pimps an upcoming show for the first of many times. The show sounds like a killer, put on by the Awesome Two in New York City at Quando’s (which was on 9 East 2nd Ave). It featured A Tribe Called Quest, LONS, Freshco and Miz, Robbie B and DJ Jazz, Poor Righteous Teachers in their first NY appearance, and Tony D. When Tone mentions Tribe, he asks G, “Have you heard of those guys?” and G replies that he has but has trouble remembering the name of their first single. Seems weird now, huh?

Among the tracks in the next set are “The Gas Face,” which surprised me not only because they didn’t cut out the repeated “Oh shit”s, but because that was the track that kicked off the Tony D-Serch feud (quick recap: Tone mistook Serch’s dis to “Tony Dick” as a shot at him and then fired back at Serch on vinyl). Debuted on the show is one of my favorite all-time cuts that’s nearly impossible to find, 360 Degrees’ (made up of Prophecy and Gusto) “The Harmony.” Back in December, Tone was selling the EP for $500 on eBay.

Side 2 (10:49-11:35pm)

Some great banter on this side (“Lance, Lance with the dookey stain pants”). Tone hints at a possible “Serch vs. Tony Part 2″ and the upcoming New York show (“If Serch comes…”).

Also on this side, a Tony D-voiced ad for the “Sound of Trenton” record store, an 8-minute anti-apartheid song with Black Rock and Ron, Brand Nubian, and many others (can’t find what this song might be — any help?), the premiere of “Listen to Me Brother,” and more Tony D, Blvd. Mosse, and PRT goodness.

Side 3 (11:35pm-12:15am)

At the end of the night, Tone debuts a new track with PRT that didn’t even have a name yet (it later became “Can I Start This?” and kicked off PRT’s Holy Intellect). They also play the top track in their new countdown and close out the show with some funny back and forth between Tone and Fresh J before it kicks into Fresh J’s “Too Smooth” underground house show.

Side 1 starts right off with in-studio guest DJ Polo.  There’s a lot of interesting stuff that comes up throughout.  Polo is shamelessly pimping a 1-900 number where he’s encouraging MCs to call and rhyme.  He guarantees three rappers will get contracts.  Polo also discusses an upcoming solo album that will feature Eric B., Father MC, and Brand Nubian.  He says he rhymes on one of the songs, too, but declines G’s offer to step up for a Thursday Night Live freestyle.

Honestly, Polo comes off as a bit cocky (to say the least), proclaiming that he discovered Kool G. Rap and that without him, there would be no Eric B. and Rakim.  He also talks about a new TV show that will be debuting “in a month” that sounds like a precursor to Cribs where Polo will go to rappers’ houses and interview them there.  “I’m gonna take you up to Big Daddy Kane’s house when he’s all up in his drawers, and all that,” Polo promises, “’Cause I’m down with all the rappers.”

As far as I know, the Polo solo album never materialized and neither did his show.  And who knows what became of the 900 # record deal offer.  Nevertheless, Polo steps to the tables on side 2 for a dope Kool G. Rap set.

The real gem, though, comes at 20:26 on side 1, where they play a tape (?) copy of a brand new track from G. Rap and Polo called “Keep It Swingin’.”  This version is completely different (and a thousand percent better) than the version that showed up on 1996’s Rated XXX compilation.  It definitely feels like it would have fit on Live and Let Die right next to “Operation CB” or “Letters.”  Anyone know if this version is actually available anywhere else?  I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s one of G. Rap’s best.

Mike Elliot from Krush Video and Krush Radio is also in the studio.  He briefly mentions a new venture with Tony Mitchell as well as his upcoming book, The Unsigned Rapper’s Guide to Getting a Record Deal, which he self-published and eventually made a 15x return on his investment.

Side 2 closes out with the first 18 minutes of Sounds of the Underground.

(Update: I should have added that I did cut out a lot of commercials and a few songs, as I occasionally did to save tape. All the interesting stuff is still here, though.)

Side B is 45 minutes of “Sounds of the Underground,” presumably from the same night (technically the next morning since the show started at midnight).

Side A is the closing of one episode. Tracks include one by Isis (not sure of the title “The Power of Myself is Moving,” thanks, Daren), “Looking Out My Front Door” by Main Source, Big Shot by King Sun, and an excellent “fast rap”-era track by Trenton’s own B. Fine and The Funk Family with Tony D titled “Lose ‘Em.” The show closes out with some PRT, Brand Nubian, and the KMD “Peach Fuzz” instrumental. During the closing shout-outs, you’ll hear one of mine, from “Lazy B” to DJ Qwik-Cut and “Dre Ski” (which I’m pretty sure was supposed to be Jay-Ski, but I guess they heard me wrong). After the shouts is some of Easy M’s underground house show that he did with a dude named Fresh J. The show was titled “Too Smooth.” Nothing too remarkable here other than tracks near the end that sampled Prince and the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” lady.

Side B is the first 45 minutes of the next show featuring some great 1990 hip-hop from X-Clan, Special Ed, Master Ace, and Eazy-E (including a “Tom’s Diner” accapella mixed with the “Eazy Street” instrumental!). The break features the King Sun “Be Black” instrumental. Easy M, G, and Dre are in the studio. Tone steps up to the wheels for the last segment of the tape, which kicks off with an excellent track by Gusto and some others (I think it’s called “Rated XXX (360 Degrees”). Perhaps Tone can provide the exact title and artist for this one.

Side A [ download ]:

Side B [ download ]: