London UK Hip Hop fans should need no introduction to DJ Bones as he has 2 radio shows one on Bang radio on Tuesday nights and the other one on Wednesday nights as well as being DJ for battle rapper and recording artist Mr 13 aka Firts
Here we have an old school mix he done recently featuring early music from Mr Drastik, Klashnekoff, SkinnyMan, Rodney P and Task Force.
Stylah and Mr Drastick – Heaven
Klashnekoff – Daggo Mentality
Rodney P – The Nice Up
Task Force – Tears On My Pillow Case
Rhyme Asylum – Returmination
Skinny Man – Ill Be Surprised
In this episode, Crate Diggers celebrate legendary producer J Dilla, who has worked with The Roots, Common, Erykah Badu, Janet Jackson and A Tribe Called Quest. Then we join musician friends J. Rocc, DJ Spinna, Frank Nitt and Grap Luva in Detroit to open Dilla’s storage locker, never-before-seen to the public.
Crate Diggers profiles people with extraordinary vinyl record collections, with owners displaying and telling the stories behind their collections
We haven’t done this in a few months, and I thought we’d bring it back because it’s always nice to hear a few classics tracks to remind you how and why you got into hip-hop in the first place. The last few Classic Sundays we covered only American artists, now this wasn’t an intentional thing, it just came out that way; but either way since we are a UK-based site then it can really never hurt to pay homage to the people that put UK hip-hop where it is today. Whether you’re from Britain or not I think you’ll enjoy and/or know the artists featured today, so enjoy!
First up is the very first UK group I was every aware of, I’d never heard vocal styles like Foreign Beggars, and truth be told even though I was a big hip-hop fan at the time, I still only mostly listened to U.S rappers and DJS. Once I discovered Foreign Beggars however, everything changed! Even though the group is technically made up of only 3 permanent members, MCs Orifice Vulgatron, Metropolis, and DJ Nonames, their collective family is huge. They constantly feature UK giants like Dr Syntax and Skrein through a lot of their records, and even though they might have mixed up their style in recent years you can’t deny their legacy.
Next up is the direct result of Foreign Beggars, even though they’ve been going longer for me personally I started listening to Task Force because of them guest vocalling in Foreign Beggars tracks. I instantly fell in love with these dudes, and have to say they surpassed them in the end. I loved both the brother’s vocal tones, and Louis Slipperz’ production skills. Again Task Force are technically those two, but Ramson Badbones, Blinks, and Marley amongst others are all family members of the Mud Family. When I first heard ‘Music From The Corner’ I lost my tiny mind! I really was that cliche kid, graffing with my mate and listening to Task Force. I’ve always been a fan of graffiti writers rapping; for me personally they give a different visual imagery in their raps, just look at Aesop Rock. TF all day!
In a related subject, Farma G’s son Remus is carrying on the family tradition of making solid hip-hop, and coming into his own. http://youtu.be/3V1M6MFwB5o
Another Classics Sunday post today, although now I think about it I think prefer Sunday Classics. What do you reckon? Answers on a postcards please.
Anyway, whilst I tussle with that existential crisis let’s get on with some Craig Mack. I first came in contact with him when I rented a ‘hip-hop mix’ CD from my local library (SAVE OUR LIBRARIES, FUCK YOU DAVID CAMERON. Sickening) and taped it on a blank cassette with my little stereo. I was about 10 or 11 and had just gotten into hip-hop, and I can safely say this CD was probably one of the biggest catalysts to my new musical awakening. It had ‘Flava In Ya Ear’ on it, and since it didn’t have loads of swear words I could play it super loud in my house. I didn’t really get what he was talking about because well, well I was ten but it sure sounded cool. This right here is how you do good hip-hop. Remember, if there’s some old skool artists you think we should be repping on our Classics Sunday segment; rappers, DJs, Beatboxers, graff writers, whoever then drop us a link on Twitter or Facebook, or comment this post.
(Picture from http://elementofhiphoprevolution.tumblr.com)
Basically, I couldn’t think of a better title, or at least something that rhymed so ‘Classics Sunday’ it is. I’m sure you can probably guess what this Sunday segment is going to be about, but I’ll give you a quick explanation. Every Sunday (unless we’re all too hungover or busy getting bussssyyy) we’ll post some classic hip-hop tracks, films, interviews, BBoys, graff pieces and all that good stuff. Capeesh? Now when I say classics, chances are we’ll probably bend that bit to throw a few releases that have come out in the last 5 years. Chances are they might be things that we think are classics, but you think are trash. Well, sorry buddy but that’s the beauty of having different musical taste, but I’d say 90% of the stuff we’ll post up, you’ll like or love. We’ll post probably around 3-5 CS posts throughout the day, so keep an eye out. I hope you enjoy. Happy Classics Sunday, day, daaayy. If there’s any artists that you’d like to see on this Sunday segment, then by all means get in contact via our Facebook or Twitter and tell us, or comment on this post and we’ll get it popping.
I’m going to start off with some Tupac, because he’s my favourite rapper of all time and every day is a Tupac day. (No holograms ever.)
If you’re feeling extra fruity, here’s a rare Tupac interview when he was in jail.
hiphoplifeandtimes 