Makeba & Skratch
Ain’t It Funky b/w I Can’t Stand It
Elegance | 1989

Two years before they would drop their excellent debut album 'Mental Fitness', rapper Makeba and producer Skratch from Syracuse, NY, debuted in 1989 with this single on Elegance Records. Their music is mainly charachterized by its funky breaks and loops. Many of these breaks were already used in the past but they always managed to bring the fattest... [ READ MORE ]

posted by: cpf | 06-12-2005 | rated: rare

Crooklyn Dodgers
Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers
MCA | 1995

In 1994, Buckshot, Special Ed and Masta Ace recorded the single 'Crooklyn' for the soundtrack of the Spike Lee movie. One year later, Spike Lee returned with the movie 'Clockers' ànd Crooklyn Dodgers followed. This time the line-up consisted of Chubb Rock, OC and Jeru the Damaja. To make the super star line-up complete, DJ Premier produced the trac... [ READ MORE ]

posted by: cpf | 05-25-2005 | rated: classic

Motion Man
Mo Like Flows On
Stepsun | 1993

Let’s call Superman! 'Fuck that panty hoes wearing bitch, man!' Get Motion Man, rap superhero from the Bay Area. This is the first single of he who became famous through Kutmasta Kurt collaborations and the Masters Of Illusion project with Kool Keith.

The single is produced by King Tech (Wake Up Show!) and Jo... [ READ MORE ]

posted by: cpf | 05-16-2005 | rated: rare

Hardcore
Take It From The Top
Nu Beat | 1988

Before there was X-Clan, there was Hardcore. The group consisted of the founding members of one of the most conscious hip-hop crews in history. But back in the eighties they weren't all that social engaged, nah, they focused more on the party side of things.

One year before, in 1987, they already came to the scene with the singles 'Power ... [ READ MORE ]

posted by: cpf | 05-12-2005 | rated: phat

Supreme Force
Handling Things b/w You Gotta...
NIA | 1986

Probably the first appearance of both Cool C and Freddie Foxxx on wax. The third member of the crew is Easy E but that’s not he who became a gangsta rap legend. This great single issued on the excellent NIA label, founded by twin brothers Taharqa and Tundera Aleem. Other releases on the label were Marley Marl's 'Marley’s Scratch', Lonnie Love’s 'Yo... [ READ MORE ]

posted by: cpf | 05-11-2005 | rated: topnotch

Uptown
Dope On Plastic
Tommy Boy | 1989

Pure dopeness! One look at the credits must say enough. It was released on Tommy Boy Records, produced by Dante Ross and engineered by CJ Moore, Paul C's friend and Studio 1212 colleague. The drums are crispy clean and mad hard! Add the hypnotic sirens and you have the recipe of a hip-hop classic.

Bronx resident Uptown is what they call a... [ READ MORE ]

posted by: cpf | 05-10-2005 | rated: classic

Quasimoto
Bus Ride
Stones Throw | 2005

The new Quas LP is about to drop and we all know it’s gonna be fat! Right? It sure will be! This mini-EP, with the first few songs of the album, gives a taste of what’s to come: a celebration of hip-hop culture! 'Broad Factor', an earlier released white label single that contained the same beat as Mad Skillz’ 'The Nod Factor' left some heads suspic... [ READ MORE ]

posted by: Jazztro | 04-03-2005 | rated: phat