Throughout this week, I’m going to be sharing some memories about Tony D’s music and his time on WPRB. Though I was just a fan, he played a big role in the way I listened to, made, and played music. I’m not sure quite how else to pay tribute other than sharing memories and sharing music.
Let’s start with a few select Tony D moments from this tape (1991-1992). Every week when I tuned into WPRB, I hoped for a Thursday Night Live session, not just for the guests but to see what Tone would bring to the table. He was often trying out new lyrics that either wound up on “Droppin’ Funky Verses” or the Crusaders for Real Hip-Hop album.
Earlier tonight, Bobbie Fine (B Fine) posted on his Facebook wall an RIP note about hip-hop legend Tony D (Anthony Depula). Having grown up listening to Tone on WPRB, I can’t overstate how much he influenced me in my terms of my own production, MCing, and radio DJing. I was lucky enough to get to know him online over the last couple of years. It’s terribly sad to hear that he’s passed.
A more thorough retrospective will be forthcoming here and, I’m sure, over on Philaflava’s blog.
One of the best mix tapes you’ve never heard, The Phusionphiles Chapter One (alternately “The Phusion Philes” or “… Volume One” or “PhusionphileOne”) was released in June 1996 by London-based DJ Phusion. On this mix, he didn’t focus on strictly new tunes, but rather the best from the previous few years, which he then remixed over his own beats. And those beats: straight illness.
Here’s a review I wrote of the mix back when it came out, nearly 13 years ago:
DJs are so worried about putting out mixtapes with the brand newest tracks and b-sides not even being concerned with whether the tracks themselves suck or if they’re dope. Brothers putting on R&B tracks just because the beats mix well with the other cuts they’re blending. 85% of all mix tapes I hear are half-assed attempts by new schoolers that just want to say “look at me — I got stuff before everyone else… now I’m going to blend the shit together and not concern myself with quality.”
Fortunately, we got kids like Phusion (coming straight outta’ London, England) on the tables as well. Phusions first chapter in the “Phusionfiles” series is a very worthy effort. He didn’t concern himself with finding the newest tracks or phattest remixes — he did the shit himself. He laid down 80 minutes of dope tracks and mixed in some of the best hip-hop from the last couple of years. Included are ODB, Blahzay Blahzay, Gravediggas, Nas, Mad Skillz, Mobb Deep, etc. etc. etc. And a funky as all hell remix of Alkaholiks “The Next Level.” DJs from the states: it’s on now.
Also featured on this mix tape are freestyles and exclusive performances by a couple British crews that Phusion works with. The first is the Bushpac, both kids having nice skills (coming off the head in a fine fashion) and one of them sounding like an English version of Brother J. The others are Little Big Man and Rising Son, both sounding sweet.
And to top this butta with scotch ice cream sundae is about 15 minutes of break beats that heads will be forced to freestyle to in they rides. Heavy basslines, killer piano shots, and rugged drums show that this kid has got some international flavors for your ass. Don’t sleep.
Here’s a portion of a really great show from January 24, 1992 (a week after this show). It picks up mid-show, so I’m suspecting I may have an earlier portion of the show on another tape.
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.)
Here’s a great mix I picked up online six years ago. DJ Mike 2600 (aka DJ Mike the 2600 King) of the Litterthugz dropped this gem back in 2001 and manages to mix Hall & Oates with MC Shan and a computerized voice reciting Flavor Flav lyrics. It’s pretty bonkers and needs to be checked out.
What’s even cooler about this tape is that it appears each cassette was spray painted and labeled with marker, by hand. I wonder how many of these exist.
As far as I can tell, this mix is no longer sold anywhere, in any format.
Update: I got this when I dropped DJ Mike the 2600 King an e-mail about posting his tape:
OH SHIT! Big up dude! I have one copy of this on cassette and hadn’t gotten around to digitizing it yet. You might be the first one to do it. So cool to see the tape and the liner notes and sticker and everything!
How many did I make? Man… I’d say about 100. Between this and Yars Revenge, probably 300 altogether, all spraypainted and doodled on. I would love to do something like that again if I had the time for it!
Thanks for doing this!
Mike
DJ Mike 2600 - C'mon Man... Can't You Just Play Some Hip Hop? (Side A)[ 30:10 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (731)
DJ Mike 2600 - C'mon Man... Can't You Just Play Some Hip Hop? (Side B)[ 29:44 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (328)
