HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRS

..well yesterday was his b-day...but whatever.

I normally don't wish every emcee I love a Happy Birthday--but this man is different. In his 42 years on earth, he has managed to be a huge influence on the Hip Hop community as a whole and he is one of the nicest human beings I have ever met.

the following are clips from his appearance in Ottawa awhile back...one of the best, intimate performances I have ever attended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P60p7SI6Kko

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhc6QQeUPP4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOM5cZr5HnA

I swear I will try and post more often..but I have said that before and then life happens.

over n' out-

meg

The Coldrockdaspot blog is sick.... http://coldrockdaspot.blogspot.com/

They have inspired me to get this shit up and rollin again--update to come soon.

People Under The Stairs

YO!

So it has come to my attention that some of you are lacking in your track collection. I can tell because of the 30 e-mails in my box telling me to update this thing. Here you go bitches..I haven't forgotten about ya.

I'm gonna throw you guys one of my favorite groups ever :PUTS!!

Los Angeles duo Thes One(Christopher Portugal) and Double K(Michael Turner) serve up playful back-and-forth rhymes set to excellent, vinyl-centric production. Incredibly smooth loops, earthy samples and mad breakbeats set a jazzy, laid-back feel, while the two emcees sound off on hip-hop, crate diggin', ladies and weed. Skilled DJ work tops things off, with sweet scratches that only these guys could perfectly intertwine into the tracks. PUTS have released four albums since 1998 - The Next Step, Question In The Form Of An Answer, and O.S.T. Just last month, Stepfather was released.
I feel that Puts are for the most part, unrecognized in the hiphop community , unless your a fan of underground. They have been one of those groups that are pivotal in underground and yet, are for the most part a mystery.

When b-boys reigned and being elbow deep in crates of vinyl was how everyone spent their weekends..People Under the Stairs were one of the groups who inspired me greatly.Double K and Thes One are true wax addicts. They search for records that are jazzy, funky, rare, and dope. They have created a sound that is comparable to Jurrasic 5, Beatnuts, Souls of Mischief, Ugly Duckling, and Freestyle Fellowship. (I know some of you right now are ..like..who is Ugly Duckling? Do not fear--I will post some tracks from them too) They produce a sound that, in my opinion, is true hiphop. Fresh, innovative and their style is reflective of those good ol party jams that you wish were the soundtrack to your life. PUTS have been directing underground hiphop where it should be... nostalgia based rhymes and beats (like Camp Lo) make for rare and unique listening experience. Nobody does it like these guys and nobody does what these guys do, consistently dish out good old fashioned hip hop.

PUTS knows what the hip hop head likes..and they have delivered it in a bad ass way since their first album. Some people underestimated the lyrical abilities of Thes and K..because of their brilliant producing abilities..I feel that Question in the Form of an Answer probably shattered that belief. They proved they had somethingto say and they proved that their lyrical abilities could supersede what anybody had predicted.
If you do not own one album..you have to grab one. If you have friends who don't know these guys..school 'em.

Albums

Stepfather- 2006
OST -2002
Question in the Form of an Answer -2000
The Next Step -1998


PUTS-The Dig
my personal fave PUTS song--listen to the lyrics..these guys are just damn cool.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/5456kn

PUTS-L.A. song
http://www.sendspace.com/file/i98ipi

PUTS-Acid Raindrops--mad beat, mad flow, mad lyrics-
http://www.sendspace.com/file/n4hhpt

PUTS-Smokin Blunts
http://www.sendspace.com/file/8bpuj5


PUTS-Keepin it Live
http://www.sendspace.com/file/xk7uh1


Instramentals

PUTS- Schooled in the Trade
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ne8fdz

PUTS-Sunroof
http://www.sendspace.com/file/97q3bo





Ugly Duckling--who the hell is that?

I will school ya quickly.

They formed in '93--everyone knows that year from Soul's "'93 Till Infinity"..and that style that was associated with that time. Andy, Dizzy and Young Einstein set off a battle of a different sort: a four-year struggle to get anyone to listen to their music.Making beats in the lab by night and by day, working in bookstores and makin money "off the books", these guys were determined to make a name for themselves. In '97, they put out a single called "Fresh Mode"..this is what put UD on the underground map. It also bought Einstein his infamous dookie gold chain. These guys slaved to get their stuff heard, if only by a few people at a time.

UD has that positive and head noddin' ol school approach to hiphop. Lyrics are tightly delivered and beats are masterfully created. They are similar to PUTS in that, no matter where your from, or what genre you like,there will be something that you can find on these albums to listen to.

Albums

Bang for the Buck-2006
Fresh Mode- 2004
Journey To Anywhere(bonus cd)-2004
Taste the Secret(bonus tracks)-2004
Taste the Secret-2003
Journey to Anywhere -2002
Journey to Anywhere-2000 (1500 Music)


UD -Rio de Jenaro
http://www.sendspace.com/file/z2fbiq

UD - The Pike
http://www.sendspace.com/file/3nxcyn

UD -Turn it Up
http://www.sendspace.com/file/1wzbt8

UD-Eye on the Gold Chain
http://www.sendspace.com/file/er3mxj

UD-Meatshake--very silly, very funky, very clever
http://www.sendspace.com/file/crtt7x


ENJOY!

Canadian Hiphop.

Meg; You like the blog?
lex: It's great. You made a serious booboo.
Meg: I don't make mistakes.
Lex: Canadian hip hop..you should have started with it. You should start over.
Meg; I'm not starting over. I'll do it.

I should have opened my blog with Canadian Hiphop. Sheesh. I should be ashamed of myself. AAhh well..I'm over it, I'll just make this entry extra jam packed with Canadian goodness. I also have these other hiphop heads on Rapdogs.com who don't get the chance to hear alot of the artists who have come or are comin outta here.The lesson begins.

Back when I played ball at St.Lukes till the street lights went on and I had to boot it home to make curfew--my earphones were spittin Maestro Fresh Wes. Coming from Toronto--Wes and his Vision Crew were representing Canada well in 89/90--The following three tracks are off of "Symphony in Full Effect"-1990. They are still beats that we breakdance to-- I love these tracks! He did release a new album recently..he used a sample of Gowan's "Criminal Mind" in one track ..and I will be brutally honest--I prefer old Maestro.

Maestro Fresh Wes- Drop The Needle
http://www.sendspace.com/file/wraziw

Maestro Fresh Wes-Conductin' Thangs
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qw24qi

Maestro Fresh Wes- Let your Backbone Slide
http://www.sendspace.com/file/dom4ht


The Dream Warriors, a duo that formed in 1988, were King Lou and Capital Q. They made themselves popular when they made "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" and "Wash Your Face in my Sink"--these guys seemed almost ahead of their time with the audio samples that they used and became popular with acid jazz lovers and indie hiphop headz. The album 'And Now the Legacy Begins"-91 was impressive and late in '92 they had a great collab with Gang Starr called "I've Lost My Ignorance" They vanished..made another album in '94 "Subliminal Simulation" ..then appeared on The Herbalisers "Very Mercinary" '99

The Dream Warriors-My definition
http://www.sendspace.com/file/531mbw


One of the few Canadians to get signed to a major label is Choclair, he put out "Twenty One Years" in '95. Lets just say that in album "Ice Cold-'-99-we got the message that Choclair really liked bootys!!
There is a group of artists created in T.O. called the Circle Crew..this is Kardinal Offishall, Marvel, Solitair, Saukrates, Ylook, Afrolistic and Jully Black. Kardinal is one of my personal faves and he has very dancehall inspired beats with a flow and voice that are unique.
In Vancouver a group called The Rascalz blew up with a collab called "Northern Touch" with members of Circle Crew '98..also Swollen Members..who are a very popular and innovative..just not my cup of tea.
Moka Only also deserves an honourable mention.

Choclair - Light It Up
http://www.sendspace.com/file/3zzp4f

Kardinal Offishall- Money Jane
http://www.sendspace.com/file/i83tmq

Kardinal Offishall-Bacardi Slang
http://www.sendspace.com/file/0ln4z3

Rascalz, K-os, Barrington Levy, Kardinal- Top of the World
http://www.sendspace.com/file/o3opcw

The Rascalz- Northern Touch
http://www.sendspace.com/file/v0ymdi


Dj A-Trak out of Montreal was 15 when he won the DMC World Mixing Championship in '97 and he has since worked with a million and one artists including Obscure Disorder and recently Kanye West.He's not a rapper but is a great DJ.

Brassmunk are out of Toronto as well and are on the label Battleaxe Records. They are an innovative group and they put out their first album titled "Dark Sunrise" in '02. BrassMunk was awarded the Best Urban Recording of the Year at the Indie Awards during Canadian Music Week for "Get Right"in 1993..they are still droppin good stuff--take a look at their My Space and listen to some trax.
http://www.newmusiccanada.com/genres/artist.cfm?Band_Id=8540
http://www.brassmunk.com/

K-OS (knoweldge of self) is by far the best thing to ever come out of Canada. He is an amazingly talented producer and songwriter. In 2002 he put out "Exit" ."Joyful Rebllion" followed and it is most definitly the best album to ever come out of Canada. He recently worked on a excellent track called "Burning to Shine" with the CBC orchestra. I cannot find thesong anywhere and I discovered it watching a documentary one night on TV. Please e-mail me if you know where to get it.

K-os-Man I Used To Be
http://www.sendspace.com/file/towts4

K-os-B-Boy Stance
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fbbcak


Thats the Canadian content needed. My wrists hurt. Listen to these tracks..its so worth every download.

The Mixed Tape. The tapes I used to make on my 1990 Sony Cassette Recorder. High speed dub, pause, record , play. Luckily, I have been able to build a decent collection of old school stuff on vinyl and the more popular, CD.
Here are a few sample songs. Enjoy.


Intelligent Hoodlum
aka Tragedy
This guy was 13 when he released his first album in '85 under the name Superkids.
You listen to this guys stuff--and theres no way that you could guess its from that era..He coined the term "Illmatic"..6 yrs before Nas made it famous-- Intelligent Hoodlum came out with a few albums produced by Marley Marl and was made a member of The Juice Crew. Thereare a few severely wack trax on "Intelligent Hoodlum" ..but the good ones make up for it.

He hooked up with Capone, Noreaga and Mobb deep in 95' with "L>A, LA"..under the name Tragedy Khadafi--big drama after Capone went to jail..they severed ties and Tragedy claimed Noreaga stole his style. ..Nonetheless..this song is ol' school and I remember rushing to put it on my mixtape for friends.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/triosw
Intelligent Hoodlum- Arrest The President.


http://www.sendspace.com/file/2l0jld
3 times Dope- Greatest Man Alive.
Wish I had more of a story..just a good track.


Pete Rock, Pete Rock. He can't do wrong can he? How can one man dish out the sickest beats and collabs with the greatest artists. If I could have a soundtrack reminiscent of my life..Pete Rock would score it.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/cn0pry
Another Pete Rock remix-Let It All Hang Out


Souls..one of my all time faves. this was such a great track..still gives me goosebumps when I spin this album.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/tn8od6
Souls Of Mischief- Cab Fare


This guy appeared on a ton of mixtapes in NY..in '95 he released Broken Language..never alot of play..never really noticed.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hkqt2p
Smooth Da Hustler- Broken Language


This guy got left behind --far behind NWA, and Ice T--A forgotten South Central rapper..who just couldn't turn his skills into chedda.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/g7klmm
King Tee-Drunk Tekneek


Oh Biz Markie--how I love your sloppy stylings..and awkward goofy movements. This is a little sappy..but hey, its Biz, and h'es reminiscing. a beautiful thing.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/u7zotp
Biz Markie--Turn back the hands of time


Enjoy!

J-Live

Anyone who knows me..knows my writings are heavily influenced by this man. Quite simply one of the best MC's ever. He sounds chill, he has elite vocabulary skills and he can dish out a severe verbal beating.

"The ends stay revealed while the means I conceal
And those who try to steal get decapitated
You wanna snatch my H2O type flow, but its evaporated
and my potential increases at a rate that's exponential
It's detrimental questionning my thesis
The penetration's exact, like amniocentesis
I rip your rhyme to pieces after draining out your fluid
My vocab is fluent, yours is evident of being truant"
-Can I Get It-'96

J-Live, hailing from Brooklyn , was first noticed in 1995 with the release of the single "Bragging Writes."
When He dropped Hush the Crowd -'96..although the sales weren't earth shattering, he was recognized as one of the hottest underground MC's.

He recorded The Best Part in '97--it was never released..but bootlegged..and then released in 2001. J-live switched careers and became a junior highschool English teacher ..his album blew up among the underground hip hop community.

All Of the Above in 2002.. was a great album and his name had earned much respect..he worked on tracks with Handsome Boy Modelling School. In 2003, Always Has Been was released..it contains classics and tracks that established his reputation as one of the best MC's ever. Production is rocky at times but J's mic skills surpass any musical limitations.


J-Live Discography

The Hear After 2005
Don't Get It Backwards/Keep Steppin/ From Sunset 2004
Always Has Been 2003
A Blow to the State 2003
All of the Above 2002
Best Part 2001
Hush The Crowd 1996


Listen:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/j9ieja

The Lyricist

http://www.sendspace.com/file/jhc8jo

Wax Paper

http://www.sendspace.com/file/f4dkqi

A Charmed life

WEE BEE FOOLISH

Everyone kept asking me..who's gonna be the first artist in your blog? I thought, and thought..and came up with these guys.Simply beacuse they make some of the best hiphop you haven't heard.
Wee Bee Foolish, made up of four members: Ken Boogaloo, Yesh (a.k.a. Yeshua dapoED), DJ Bless, & Xtraordinaire-have been flying under the radar for so long. Hailing from Brooklyn, they are on an indie hip hop label called Head Bop Music. They produce extremely smooth hiphop that oozes jazzy stylings.
When I picked up The Main Atrraction in '02..my life was changed. There is no other album quite like it and there are no guys..quite like these guys.

Wee Bee Foolish Discography
Tiger Boogs/Time Will Tell 1998
The Main Attraction 2001
This Kid 2001
Brighton Beach Memoirs 2002

Peep 'em
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZf3cI6jq2E
The Kid- Wee Bee Foolish

Hear 'em
http://www.sendspace.com/file/gbykv3

Maximus-Wee Bee Foolish

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ucrew1

Heavy-Wee Bee Foolish