MIXTAPE 79 – ALL UNSIGNED HYPE

It’s been a minute since I’ve really concentrated on the independent artists that really make this show stand out from any other bullshit show. While it would be pretty easy for me to just play old classics or guaranteed sellers, therapy nothing ever really progresses without the new, page underground artists.

So this episode is 100% devoted (minus the intro cut, prostate obviously) to giving some shine to the independent artists without a major record/distribution deal, without a bunch of squares telling them how to sell records in the college market. Just a bunch of talented young brothers and sisters with talent, an MPC, and a myspace.

This show and community was built on the strength of real artists who have supported the show since day one. This episode is just a small thank you.

Big Shug – Play It (prod DJ Premier). The video for this cut is actually pretty good. Basically Shug sits around in gym shorts and looks at the camera with puppydog eyes and asks you to play more records. Okay that didn’t sound so great but really – it’s a simple, yet good video. The track is just a given, and partially helped remind me that I needed to do a show like this. myspace.com/gangstarrfoundation.

Interlude – Dex Digital, CEO of the Mixtape Show Corporation in 2016 vs Propane Pip (and his conscience). Beat by Alf-Alpha.

Gif – Oh Love. I am not sure where the name came from, but Gif’s cut is good. I can’t even remember when he got this one to me – months and months ago – but I’ve been meaning to drop it for a miiinute. Postproductionwise the song needs work – the levels are way too hot – but the feeling is definitely there. myspace.com/dagif.

Binary Star – Conquistadors. This group no longer exists (or at least I don’t think it does), but this is back from their Waterworld days. I remember the first time I met this dude named White Boy (not the rapper, but this kid who actually preferred that we all refer to him as White Boy, or WB – like the TV network). He had on a set of headphones, so I asked him casually what he was listening to. “Binary Star. You should check them out, man.” Which ended up being pretty good advice. This record didn’t really age so well, but you can see the duo really pushing to find their own sound on this cut. And come on. Chuck Mangione beatflip? I’m there. myspace.com/onebelo (one half of the former BS).

Rashid Hadee – You Can’t Hide feat Augustine. I don’t even remember where I got this one from. Production values on this one are a little higher than the previous cuts, and really the cadences are kinda Little Brother-esque, or maybe even a little reminiscent of certain artists on the Loud Minority roster. I can’t even remember who e-mailed me this song – whoever it was – thank you. myspace.com/rashidhadee.

Specifics – This Is Why. Specifics is one of the few groups I can name that just has consistently good material. The MC is constantly just this side of weird, and the jazz loops are solid, and never give you that “okay another lame throwback” feel. I really wanted to drop “My Tunes” in here, but couldn’t get it in time. Maybe I’ll get it in the future. It looks like Specifics has an album dropping in the near future in Japan – if you live out there, you might want to get in on this. myspace.com/specifics

Trew – Lyrics To Go feat Mic Source. Has this sample been flipped before? Yes? Do I care? Not if the rhymes are this good. myspace.com/trewdat.

K.Sparks – Ghetto Child feat Tina Quallo. This one, along with the last one, hit my inbox not more than a few weeks ago. Really, this song just works – if I find myself putting a joint on repeat when it’s still in the gmail account, it’s in. This is one of those cuts. Make sure to check out the blog of the Hoodgrown record label – I’ve never seen so much transparency in a record label before. If you are looking for a perspective on how weird the music business can get for an independent label – check this out. myspace.com/k.sparks.

Outro beat – Alkota.

So that’s it for this week – as always, stay in tune for new developments – got a few things coming down the pipeline.

MIXTAPE SHOW EPISODE 6 – the conscious edition

Damn, urticaria this took me a minute to get out.

I’m gonna keep the intro short to this one, ask considering that I’ve been writing mad articles on this ish lately. Basically I’d been thinking on doing an all-”conscious” mixtape for a minute now. There’s a lot of tracks I’d love to put on here, ampoule but I’m limited to what I can get permission for. Fortunately for you, every goddamn song I put out here is quality, and this episode is no exception – this one might actually kinda suprise you. The mixdown is dirty, but the songs is hot, no joke. Let’s have that tracklist…

First off, a beat courtesy of Shudoshi of earbubbles. I got no idea what earbubbles is, but I know that Shudoshi is a cool dude and you can hit him up at earbubbles.com for all your production needs, as well as your general hip-hop listening needs. They got some kinda record they tryna sell…hit em up.

Next is Akir with his week-old single, Politricks. Shit is hot, no joke. I’m gonna put my name on the line here and say that I am expecting big things from this cat. He’s already been in Unsigned Hype, he’s got a collab with Immortal Technique, and shit, you can just go read about him yourself. Bottom line, he’s kinda nice. This single is for sale, by the way, so if you like it, cop it. Be on the lookout for an interview if we can work it out…

Third – Chester Copperpot. I just wrapped an interview with dude the other day so I’m gonna keep quiet about this track – Out The Bunker featuring Braintax. Shit is nice, especially considering that it gets even more relevant as time goes on (it was recorded in ’02). Be on the lookout for that interview coming next week (I mention it near the end) – you do not want to miss that shit. You’re gonna end up playing it for your moms and them.

Moving on, we got the Goats with Typical American, straight outta 1992. I actually found this track via Mattmatical at can i bring my gat?, so peace to him. From there I hit dudes up on their site, asked for permission, and a couple weeks later, here it is in the mix. You can hit them up on their website here. Peace again to the goats.

Next, we got Wrekonize featuring Ras Kass on Bizness as Usual, another really goddamn recent single. I’ve got to say that Ras drops a couple bars that I ain’t exactly down with, but in the interest of creating dialogue and keeping hip-hop as a medium of expression of self, it’s kinda necessary to listen to what other people are saying. And that’s all the intellectualization I’m giving you for today, kids, because you know that shit ruins music. Look what happened to jazz. Still, though, heavy track.

Awwwww, shit. It’s Earatik Statik with Evil is Timeless. I drop this shit all the damn time on radio, and peoples love it. So if you don’t like it, you need to hide ya face cause something is wrong with you. Check the lyrics and the production in here. Harsh. Interview anyone? Sef, get at me.

Last, back again once it’s the incredible Binary Star with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The whole Waterworld/Masters of the Universe thing is hot, and OneBeLo is dropping crazy crazy science on heads on his own nowadays – so much, in fact, that I ain’t even mad at him for being on Warped Tour. That’s saying a lot. So what, y’all want me to track this cat down or what? Check him/them out on subterraneous records dot cizzom.

And that’s it for this week. Be on the lookout, as I said, for episode 7, coming next friday, featuring an interview and exclusive tracks from none other than Chester Copperpot. You absolutely can not afford to miss that shit, trust me.

Peace till then. And tell ya friends, 700 hits a day simply ain’t enough. Let’s blow this shit up. Can you say googlebomb? Help me out, kids.

MIXTAPE SHOW EPISODE 5

Damn, ampoule somethin’s got me all chilled out and ish. Whatever though, pharm I’m not complaining. I got back recently from a quick trip to the Yay, price and it was all good, except for when I thought it would be a good idea to go to Monterey. That is a terrible city and I will never go there again, but Oakland, Berkeley, and SF, I’m down with that. Peace to all the people I met and broke bread with, peace to Local 2 and the UFW, and stay offa that Gallo wine, no joke.

Anyway, back to that hip-hop music. It’s late and your boy is tired, but just cause I’m all calm and ish doesn’t mean that the selection ain’t hot. I didn’t get to mention the second track in the podcast, but the Trek Life freestyle is hot, you need to check that one.

opening beat – Specifics – Craig’s House bonus beat – myspace.com/specifics
Binary Star – Reality Check – subterraneousrecords.com – amazing wordplay. You’re going to have to rewind this a few times to catch it all, trust me.
Trek Life – Freestyle f/ Mykestro – myspace.com/treklife – this one is hot.
Serengeti – Mad Whimsy – daybyday ent – the rest of this CD is nuts too. I’ma have to interview this dude…
Specifics – Craig’s House – myspace.com/specifics – these dudes gave me like 6 mp3s and all of em were hot. what’s in the water in Canada?
Nite – Life – strictlyclever.com – Has anyone else out there heard her street mixtape? Ish is kinda nice…
Shu f/ Felicia Faye – Feel For You – The Bakery, Ltd.

Thanks as usual to the artists and labels, off hand Azar at daybyday for hooking it up with the Serengeti joint (let’s see about that interview), and Parker at The Bakery Ltdfor coming through at the last minute with the last joint (Feel For You).

Be on the lookout for the next two episodes. They already in planning, and they already hot. Damn!