MIXTAPE 101 – ORIGINAL GANGSTER

Yeah, order this is the story the Source won’t tell you. Consider this a bonus episode. Back in September, Jay-Z and I had put together a really brilliant companion to the American Gangster movie, featuring a lot of talented beatmakers previously featured on MTSN. I was pretty excited – my first A&R project, my first big industry check, everything was awesome.

Then Def Jam heard the final project and freaked. Next thing I know everyone’s scrambling around grabbing beats from no-names like Pharrell and Just Blaze, nobody’s returning my phone calls, and my money is all screwed up. Then the “official” record comes out, and no mention of my name.

So Jay, if you’re reading this, you know our first version would have gone triple plat, easy. I’m putting the first EP version up so people can hear the original. My version is 10 times better than the commercial release, Jay, and you know that.

intro dexalude: Pimpology 101 by Mathematics.

Nas – Hey Nas (remixed by Quincey Tones). We start with the whole remix thing kinda turned on its head. UK beatmaker Quincey Tones got hold of a bunch of Nas acapellas, plus the original joints sampled on the official American Gangster record, flipped them himself and created a new project. myspace.com/quinceytones.

Jay-Z – American Gangster (remixed by Shuko). That’s funny, when I think of the decade in which I was born, I don’t generally think of medium-sized wading birds in the Ardeidae family. To each his own, I guess. Been a minute since any Shuko production has been on the show. Mick Boogie and everyone’s favorite German got together and flipped Marvin Gaye samples and put this out pretty quick, from what I remember. This is probably my favorite cut on his version of the project.

Jay-Z – Ignorant Shit (remixed by Beewirks). Somebody stop this kid. I had this in my inbox a few days before Christmas hit. Pretty much everyone and their great uncle hit me up on some “hey dex look I made my own Jigga album lolkthx”. Beewirks’ version, though, is easily the most consistently great across the board. myspace.com/beewirks.

Jay-Z – No Hook (remixed by Beewirks). See? Kid’s range is pretty impressive. Beewirks brought a lot of nuance out of both this and the previous track that I think people would normally miss. myspace.com/shuko.

Jay-Z – Blue Magic feat Jack Benson (remixed by Von Pea). Yes, dig Von Pea on vocals – dude takes the remix concept one step further and sings the hook himself. Beat is extra dope too. I remember being absolutely bewildered as to why someone would name a song after hair product and then sing about drugs, but turns out Blue Magic is just extra pure heroin. Go figure. myspace.com/vonpea.

Nas - Warrior Song feat Alicia Keys (remixed Quincey Tones). Somebody will probably step in and hit me for sleeping, but this is the first I’ve heard of Quincey Tones. Dude really is not bad with these soul flips.

February should be an interesting month. We’ll talk more about that later. Until then…

MIXTAPE 94: TRAVIS

You could probably say that there is some sort of skewed-ass social consciousness theme in theme in here, find but no official concept this time. This is the Travis Episode, because my friend Travis is in the hospital and I want him to get healed up soon so we can continue partying. Stay strong, famo.

On to the episode.

Intro Beat: Beewirks – Make It Happen. This isn’t the first time dude has placed on a Mixtape Show intro. myspace.com/beewirks.

Sha Stimuli – The N Word. Two dollars says most of you didn’t realize what was going on until a few bars into the first verse. This is inevitably going to bring up controversy, which is brilliant. What do you all think of this one (the theme, I mean – musically it’s beyond dispute that dude has talent). As far as n-word alternatives, I’m a fan of the word “family” in all its iterations – famo, fam, etc – or “dude”, as anyone who reads this site often can probably surmise. “Brah”, however, is not okay unless you are an islander, period. myspace.com/shastimuli.

Duo Live – Caught Up (feat Talib Kweli). I coulda cut the outro short on this one, but it’s just too nice. This is my first time hearing of dudes, but apparently they are really on their grind nowadays. Sounds good to me. myspace.com/duolive.

M.I.A. – Paper Planes (remix feat Bun B and Rich Boy). All three of these artists should be on your “man hol up these people go hard” list. I gotta say, after Arular dropped I was a little mild on M.I.A (Piracy Funds Terrorism went way harder) but this last album is just the business. Then you add Bun B AND Rich Boy to the mix? Too much. Plus this is at once the catchiest and most violent hook in recent memory. I gotta do a post about M.I.A.’s show sometime soon. miauk.com.

Guru – Cuz I’m Jazzy (feat Slum Village). Well, the production on this cut doesn’t exactly belie the title. Apparently this was a very good week for music. Dig the synth violins in the chorus. gurusjazzmatazz.net.

Scienz Of Life – Build Wit Me (feat Baretta 9). John Robinson is one of the most positive people I know. This is an old 2001 cut from the ATL days, showing us all that you don’t need to go crazy with the drums because sometimes the sample just wants to be left alone. And what’s with the bonus beat outro? myspace.com/scienzoflife.

Nicolay and Kay – Stop My Way (feat Mic of The Legendary KO aka K-Otix). As seen before way back in Ep 16, Mic graces the B-side for the N&K concept project single. I wasn’t quite sold on this cut until that whistle synth came in – then it was game over. Great cut. Too bad I didn’t get hold of this one in time for the Love Episode. And the outro is some of the most ignorant shit I’ve heard in like two days. myspace.com/nicolay.

Outro Bonus Cut: Bomani – Read A Book Remix (feat Hueman Prophets) (snippet). If you wanna hear the full version, you’ll have to check Bomani’s myspace! I think most people remember the video and song from this, but not too many people actually know who is behind the song. This song is totally different from the original, but for some reason the end of the last version is really hilarious to me. I’ve got to admit that I haven’t read most of the books on these dudes’ lists. Somebody should make a dance to this song.

And we should start a Mixtape Show Book Club.

MIXTAPE 85 – MAKING FRIENDS

This episode is all about making friends. If you don’t have any, dosage don’t worry! There’s nothing like coming together over a fresh Mixtape Show episode and enjoying the friendship that only rhyming about stabbings over hot beats can engender.

So when you listen to this out in public, this site make sure to follow along and make a new friend and help them enjoy the magic that is the Mixtape Show. Here’s the playlist.

Talib Kweli – Country Cousins feat UGK. Again, glands it seems that I hear a new UGK cut and rush out to cut a new episode, just like for episode 66. I had really started to wonder about Talib, because his recent material has been a goddamn snoozefest. But he came correct on, well, a large portion of his latest effort. Be sure to check out Eardrum, it’s certainly worth a listen. I liked this one because I can relate to it – most of my extended family is actually back down south so it’s particulary enraging hearing people talk down on the south. myspace.com/talibkweli.

Hezekiah – Looking Up feat Bilal. Been quite some time since Hezekiah has been on the show, but it’s good to have him back. myspace.com/hezekiah3crateofporn okay dude what the fuck kind of myspace name is that.

Sin Sizzerb – Blood In My Eyes feat Opera Steve. If you’re wondering how this song fits into this mix, it doesn’t. But then again, it’s kinda appropriate, because Sin doesn’t really fit in among most rappers in your playlist. The historical, literary, and political references are just beyond most people. I mean, come on. The dude has a book club on his myspace. But if you’re willing to dissect the lyrics and spend some time on them, I think you’ll get a lot out of it. You’ve heard dude here before, by the way. myspace.com/sizzerbsin.

Peven Everett – Testin’ Me. Off an old Djinji Brown mixtape. I don’t know much about dude, but I am liking what I am hearing. myspace.com/studioconfession.

Jneiro Jarel – Doiniss! (feat Dr Who Dat?). I was totally sleeping when I skipped on this release when I passed on it because I didn’t like the way the cover looked. But to be fair, I’d gotten like three nerdrap records that looked suspiciously like it the week before. Still though – let me say this. If you’ve ever listened to a Dilla or Madlib record and found yourself enjoying either even in the slightest, you owe it to yourself to purchase a Jneiro record. By the way, his new Shape Of Broad Minds collabo release is also stellar. Buy that instead of meth this week. myspace.com/labelwho.

SleeStack’z – Ruination (Spearhead X Remix). Old ’96 style. I never did know much about these dudes (nor do I know what gives with the improperly used possessive marker – as a ‘z, no less) – but I do know that this has been a favorite of mine for a miiiinute. Crystal Clear is also dope – just buy their album, I guess. Back like three years ago I made a remix of Ruination, which I of course lost forever in a hard drive crash. It was good, though, trust me. Best nintendo remix ever. no myspace/site for these cats – help?

Intro beat: Beewirks – Relentless. Like I said, I had to throw this on so you could hear it properly.
Interlude beat: Alkota – Feelings Ain’t Changed.
Outro beat: Alkota – Brand New Day. Good looking out on the beats, fam! Get at me with them new joints..

So that’s this week’s show. Did you take the Mixtape Show Challenge? How many friends did you make? How many people did you introduce to the racial-harmony-encouraging sounds of the interweb’s favorite hip-hop podcast?

MIXTAPE 84 – DIVINE RETRIBUTION

So there it is ladies and gentlemen. The Podcast Awards results are in, syphilis and the Music award went to a Catholic podcast.

As in we did not win.

I deeply appreciate the support shown by everyone who voted and bugged their friends to do the same, but there’s no way I could have expected to pull some stunt like the Religious Studies episode and not expect the big man upstairs to get his in the end. Hope this episode serves as an apology.

Black Moon – Make Munne. Throwwwwwback. Not quite as scary as some of Mobb Deep‘s offerings, but dudes kinda make a kid want to lace up their timbs and shank somebody. But hey – still got some social commentary in there. duckdown.com.

Mac Dre – Feelin Like That Nigga. An unreleased joint. I forget where I got this from, and it’s certainly nothing you would want to emulate (hear that kids?), but this is one of those cuts that both displays Dre’s abilities and is actually palatable to sane people (c.f., for example, the Thizzle Dance). The first time I heard it I thought it was gonna end with him dying, but..well, I won’t ruin it for you. myspace.com/thizzentertainment.

Bobby Digital – So Fly. Didn’t he say he wasn’t doing this Bobby Digital stuff anymore? Not that I mind, RZA can pretty much do anything he wants and I’ll still like it. Off the Afro Samurai soundtrack, which all of you should probably own. I still have yet to watch the show though. myspace.com/rza.

Bushwick Bill – Only God Knows. Throwback again. This song manages to be brooding without being actually depressing – the rationalization he gives for staying alive is pretty sobering. I’ll admit to not being as up on the Geto Boys as I should be – especially considering I interviewed Willie D not too long ago. Recommendations, anyone? www.myspace.com/therealbushwickbill.

T.I. – Still Ain’t Forgave Myself. Throwback city. Damn, this cut is really that good. I didn’t catch this when it first came out – I had to be put up on it via cocaineblunts. The other side of the gangster shit – can you dig this too? myspace.com/trapmuzik.

Intro beat – Beewirks – Relentless. I’m going to have to give this another spin on the show just because it is too good for skit material. Somebody holler at this kid. myspace.com/beewirks.

Oh yeah, have to credit the special guests: Walter Crunkite, my publicist Jerry Goldberg, the KKK, and Jesus.

Okay my throat hurts. Hit the comments and blah blah blah.