Category Archives: episodes

MIXTAPE 89 – HELLO CANADA

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MIXTAPE 89 – HELLO CANADA

So I got interviewed on the Canada Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio One, recipe on a show called Search Engine. Haven’t listened just yet, ailment but it’s about the Jena 6. Shouts to Jesse for making that connection.

By the way, buy if you’re looking for the Jena 6 episode, you can click here to see the original post.

This episode, we’re pushing forward with more good music.

Tracklist:

Jaylib - Mission Remix. There’s not really too much to be said that hasn’t been said about this duo. Dilla on the rhymes as well, and as you expect, he tears it up. The strings in this cut are ridiculous. stonesthrow.com.

Specifics - My Tunes. Straight outta Vancouver – and with this, I believe that I’ve exhausted my supply of Specifics tracks. For some reason I found this on my iPod when I was still in China, and jammed it for like three days straight – then I accidentally deleted my hard drive. They just really have this jazz loop thing down. In case you hadn’t noticed, I like this group. Go Canada. myspace.com/specifics.

UGK - You Don’t Know Me. Wondering why UGK gets so much respect back home? This is one reason. Thanks to cocaineblunts. myspace.com/ugk.

Phonte - Interlude: Wack Freestyles. I couldn’t resist this one. It’s just so…meta. Come on. He’s making fun of mixtapes. And this is a mixtape! Get it? Okay yeah but a good sign of a poor rapper is someone who can’t string together a decent demo without using an established song as a crutch. I’ve got no problem with unofficial remixes and bootlegs (check the archives on this very hip-hop podcast) but unless you have a specific reason for doing otherwise, find your own beats. If you need help with that, ask me – I know plenty of talented producers. myspace.com/mickboogie.

Gif - Alicia Keys Freestyle. And that prior thing was in no way related to this cut, because a) it’s a different flip, and b) it’s hot. Gif, could you explain your name to us? myspace.com/dagif

Wise Intelligent – Go With Me. Another storytelling joint. I won’t ruin this one for you, but check the very end of this cut. myspace.com/wiseintelligent

Polyrhythm Addicts – It’s My Life feat Phonte. I was a bit late on this one, but with DJ Spinna on production, this one’s an easy call. Dig what Phonte is saying about independence as well. myspace.com/thepolyrhythmaddicts.

And the bonus cut: Suburb - Synth + Strings (snippet). Again, the kid is ridiculous. I’ve got more from dude. Anyone want more? myspace.com/suhburb.

Intro beat: Specifics - Life’s Work
Outro beat: Mathematics - Untitled.

And that’s this week. More coming very very soon. Any requests?

MIXTAPE 88 – THE JENA 6

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MIXTAPE 88 – THE JENA 6

For those of you who have heard, heart today is the day of the nationwide protest in Jena, Louisiana for the freedom of Mychal Bell and the rest of the Jena 6.

If you’re not totally up on this situation, listening to this hip-hop podcast should remedy that. This show contains, in part, an interview with Brother James Rucker of ColorofChange.org. But that’s not the only voice you’ll hear. A few days ago I posted a call for messages from the community on this situation, and got literally dozens of calls, which I’ve also added into the mix. You’ll hear people from California, Chicago, NYC, South Africa, Canada, London, and beyond. Rappers, filmmakers, label presidents, students, and everything in between.

Hopefully you dig this one. Thanks again to Color of Change, thanks to every single person that called, and every single person that is continuing to get the word about and fight for positive change. As you listen to this, a few thousand of our brothers and sisters are marching the streets of Jena, LA. The least we can do is make spread the word.

Note: To all college/community radio people: This episode is completely FCC clean and ready for airing. If you do

Listen to
and air this one, I’d appreciate a quick email so I can publicize that on the site. Thanks.

Hip-hop Artists/Personalities that appear in the show:
NYOIL (hear snippets of his “Jena 6″ in the intro and outro)
DJ Mr. King – myspace.com/djmrking
Vell Rob – cdbaby.com/vrob
John Robinson (President of Shaman Work Recordings) – shamanwork.com
Nick Cicero of Cicero Pro Audio – myspace.com/ciceroproaudio
Jahmil XT Qubeka (Filmmaker)
Michael Miraflor of Hip-Hop and Advertising – hiphop-ads.com.
Mad Anthony – Designer madanthonynyc.
Agent M of Blunt Beats Radio bluntbeats.com.

Beats:
Suburb – Untitled (first heard at 0’20)
Mobb Deep – Temperature’s Rising Remix (first heard at 1’55)
Madlib – Mind Touch (first heard at 5’20)
RJD2 – Weatherpeople (first heard at 9’40)
Dilla/Pharcyde – Runnin’ (first heard at 23’55)

Participate in the Campaign.
The Jena 6 campaign at Color of Change – www.colorofchange.org/jena.

Also: Note that Mychal Bell is still in jail. You can send him postcards and letters of encouragement at:

Mychal Bell
Inmate, A-Dorm
LaSalle Correctional Center
15976 Highway 165
Olla, LA 71465-4801

A few moments of your time can really brighten this kid’s day.

Post this on myspace, facebook, email this, whatever it takes.

Free the Jena 6.

MIXTAPE 87 – SPOKEN WORD

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MIXTAPE 87 – SPOKEN WORD

This racism in the USA mess is really getting old. If you haven’t read the last post on the Jena 6, glaucoma do that now.

This episode has been on the back burner for a minute, unhealthy and was going to be in a slightly different form, but I figured now was about as good a time as any for it. I apologize for the tone of the intro and the post. Can’t help it.

I’m going to expound on this later, but I’ll briefly state it here: Do you have a blog? Do you have a radio show, podcast, television show, or newsletter? Then you should be talking about this case.

Bobby Womack – The Facts of Life. You think rappers made the whole “talk for 32 bars before you start rapping” thing? Nope. Bobby Womack is the king of talking for hella bars before he starts singing. Note that this is slowed down, because I like it like that.

Amir Sulaiman – 82nd & Macarthur feat Sugar Macarthur. Yes, this dude sounds way too much like KRS One. I remember rocking this in the car and every 2nd track scanning the CD artwork making sure that this wasn’t like some weird pseudonym for a sideproject (dude does at one point note that he has a “voice like Kris”). This is one of very few spoken word albums I can recommend. Find it, get it. myspace.com/amirsulaiman.

Aya de Leon – If Women Ran Hip-Hop. Off the Queendom, Vol 1release. What can I say? Cosign. ayadeleon.com.

Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. There’s really not a whole lot to say about this song. It’s weird how the longer you wait on these joints, the more relevant they become. Gil on wikipedia.

Black TK – Intro: I Do What I Wanna Do. Yes, this is the same Black TK that presents the other side of the cutting edge in soultronica with me here on the Mixtape Show. This is off the unfinished L.A. Hustlers Manual Vol 2. I’ve got volume 1, though, and trust me – this shit will blow your mind. Watch this spot for more.

Saul Williams – Real Niggery Track 5. From the Catchdubs mixtape. His debut album really was not bad if you sat down and gave it a chance, but apparently not enough people did. Nick put this mix together with Saul some time ago, and proceeded to catch heat for the title. Whatever. I haven’t seen him live for a minute, but if he’s in your area, you should go. myspace.com/saulwilliams.

Uzi Smalls – Live at the Delancey NYC ’05 (Break The System). Dude is definitely one of the more unconventional people I’ve had the pleasure of trading e-mail correspondence with. I mean this in the best possible way. He records albums, and gives them away for free. This one just hit me. I recommend his freestyles. myspace.com/uzibaby.

David Banner – Cadillac On 22s (Acoustic Version). This is why there’s no outro – I can’t follow this. Will somebody tell people to stop fucking with Louisiana? I am not enjoying this. myspace.com/davidbanner.

There it is.

MIXTAPE 86 – LORD QUAS + DJ TROUBL

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MIXTAPE 86 – LORD QUAS + DJ TROUBL

Some of y’all might have caught this one. Some time ago, buy information pills a French DJ by the name of DJ Troubl put out a mixtape called A Journey Into Fresh Diggin: Quasimoto Meets Himself. Check that post for details.

Anyway, after that was posted, somebody quietly removed the mix from the server, prompting a bunch of emails asking me where the mix went, and where one could get it. I just recently came across a CD with that mix on it, so with it being Labor Day and all, I figured I’d throw a nice long joint up for people to listen to while they drink lemonade or whatever it is you do on Labor Day.

This joint is around 76 minutes long, so there’s plenty to get into here. Funk, soul, jazz loops, Quasimoto (who is, for the uninitiated, the alter ego of Madlib), and just good music. Check it. More info available at rappcatts.com.

Check after the jump for the full playlist and the full cover art in PDF form.

DJ TROUBL’ “A Journey Into Fresh Diggin:QUASIMOTO MEETS HIMSELF” PLAYLISTTTTT!!!

NB: this playlist is copied directly from a kinda spastic message board post Troubl made himself around a year ago, so things might get kinda interesting with spelling and track IDs.

1. Intro VAST AIR “Look mom no hands”
2. QUAS “Dinosaur Brain Beat” Original Sample (SCRATCH “Soulfly”) Not sure of this one??!
3. DJ DESIGN “Sparkdala”
4. QUAS “Microphone Mathematics Remix”
5. QUAS “Microphone Mathematics” Original sample (DON CHERRY “Complete Communion”)

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