Star Search…
AUDIO By TC on April 24, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Lately I’ve been on this late 90’s euphoric trip down memory lane.
I’m usually diverse with my musical selections, but recently, taking it back to a time where rappers were big enough to be stars without outlandish side ventures has been sort of a therapeutic experience for me. I’m talking Jigga circa ‘97-’98, The War Report, Ghetto D, Wu-Tang Forever. Non-fiction like Share My World and Beanie Sigel’s The Truth? You know it. I even dug up that first And1 basketball mixtape. The days of Maurice Malone and Motorola pagers may be an afterthought, but the music serves as a scrapbook to all those memories of yesterday’s past.
Let me tell you where this is going.
This just isn’t some disgruntled “I-miss-the-old-days” bullshit post.
Like the most of ya’ll, I not only find it refreshing to go back in time…I find it necessary.
Here’s why: One of the critically acclaimed LP’s that found it’s way in my rotation was Soundbombing II. Like the majority of Rawkus releases, this compilation was ignored by mainstream media and didn’t garner glossy accolades or recognition. But in the days where rappers didn’t tout first week record sales like some sort of claim to credibility, none of that mattered.
Boasting undisputed Hip-Hop classics like “1-9-9-9″ and “B-Boy Document ‘99,” the album saw MC’s like Common, Pharoahe Monch, Talib Kweli, and Mos Def deliver standout performances. With the exception of Common, the aforementioned all-stars had yet to drop a solo album, yet were able to command the listener’s attention through their audio recordings like seasoned veterans. As enjoyable as it was, it also reiterated a harsh reality for me:
There’s a serious absence of stars who MC.
We all know there’s a couple handfuls of rappers who stay true to their craft and consistent with their character. But one thing these artists are painstakingly overlooking is the art of songwriting. It’s one thing to be dropping dope lines on dope beats, but when you can take your music and attract mass appeal, that’s saying something for your ability to write. Lupe Fiasco’s “Superstar” was a triumph for the year. Not only it being testament that popular radio could still have variety on it, but it was refreshing to hear a song that could strive on Billboard and MTV/BET while maintaining lyrical credibility. Personality issues aside, Lupe may be the only newjack who has official mic skills while still having a commercial career. You don’t need to sell a gang of records to be considered a star, just look at Common.
See any future Hip-Hop stars on the horizon?
Until then, I’ll be time travelin’ occasionally like I own a ‘81 Delorean.
Rawkus Records Presents Soundbombing II
Posted in AUDIO, GENERAL, MUSIC, STRAY SHOTS — Tags: Common, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Rawkus Records, Soundbombing II, Talib Kweli
Tweet This
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
74 Comments
boomshakalacka
Sounds like someone just wanted too shout out Lupe…boo!
Sardonic Smirk – Various Artists- What Hip Hop Could Be 2008
1. Believe in freedom ft common and j dilla
2. Paranoia off the horizon ft slug and blockhead
3. Vomit payback ft mf doom and madlib
4. The official cook ft aesop rock and jaylib
5. Oh oh change the beat ft mf doom and j dilla
6. Senses graffitti ft saul williams and j dilla
7. Watch your witness ft percee p vinnie paz guilt
8. Rock kokane massage ft mf doom and de la soul
9. Slow down untitled ft sage francis and blockhead
10. All in japan ft aesop rock and plastician
11. Time is erased ft zack de la rocha and bonobo
http://rapidshare.com/files/107227371/VA_-_What-Hip-Hop-Could-Be_2008.rar
Hmm…
*edits post*
Hey, does Lupe still wanna call it quits?
Real MC my azz there should be nothing better in the world too him, if ur heart isn’t in it……
DJ Smoke -100 % DJ Premier (The One and Only Vol.4)
01 Dj Smoke – Real Hip Hop, No Doubt 1:56
02 Skyzoo & Torae – Get It Done 2:32
03 Big Shug – Play It 1:38
04 Gangstarr – What I’m Here 4 0:47
05 Royce Da 5′9 & Common – Enough Beef 2:17
06 Group Home – Up Against Tha Wall (Main & Remix) 2:02
07 Nas – Memory Lane 2:08
08 Afu-Ra & Ky-Mani Marley – Equality 2:11
09 Big Shug – Do Ya 2:29
10 Rakim – New York, New York (Remix) 2:16
11 Az – The Format 2:22
12 Truck Turner – Breaker One 2:29
13 Bahamadia – 3 Tha Hard Way 2:06
14 Blaq Poet – Poet’s Coming 2:33
15 Teflon – Showtime 2:00
16 M.O.P – Bloody Murdah 2:19
17 Lina & Guru – It’s Alright 2:41
18 Donnell Jones & Guru – Hustlin Daze 3:00
19 Christina Aguilera & Termanology – Back In The Day 2:40
(Remix)
20 Rise & Shine – Gotcha Back 2:26
21 Verbal Threat – Reality Check 2:17
22 50 Cent & Nas – Ridin Time 3:02
23 D.I.T.C – Thick 2:31
24 Bumpy Knuckles – The Lah 1:44
25 Smiley The Ghetto Child – The Wake Up Call 2:34
26 Pitch Black & Styles P – Nice 2:21
27 Blaq Poet – Poet Has Come 2:37
28 Teflon & Styles P – Married To The Game 2:45
29 Termanology & Lil Fame – Watch How It Go Down (Remix) 2:11
30 F.A.B.I.D & Big Boy – Proper Dosage 2:16
31 Gangstarr, Nyg’z & H.Stax – Same Team, No Games 3:27
32 Gangstarr & M.O.P – Half & Half 2:15
33 Lady Of Rage – Some Shit 3:05
34 Agallah – New York Ryder Music 1:51
download: http://rapidshare.de/files/39118020/…H5N1x.rar.html
Good post TC… “Crosstown Beef” was my shit on this album. “Brooklyn Hardrock” was another banger of mine.
I heard Rising Down leaked. Who holdin?
@ TC – i feel you (pause)…Soundbombing 2 is an underground rap tour de force…i dig in the case logic at least once every couple months or so for that joint and, without fail, play it from end to end. My favorite joints are “Stanley Kubrick,” “Any Man,” “7XL” and, of course “1-9-9-9″…if anybody out there ain’t got this joint, get it.
@ Fonz – Roots – Rising Down:
http://rapidshare.com/files/109899590/The_Roots-Rising_Down-2008.rar
definitely go buy a hard copy tho
Yeah, Sherm. Thanks homie. I got that joint now. I’m bout to up it to iTunes. As soon as I left the comment, I went on the hunt for it.
Does anybody have Lyfe?
Yo those AND1 mixtapes had some heated knocks on the soundtrack. Those introduced me to Rawkus records and that Soundbombing II was on another level.
AND1 Mixtape 1-4 Soundtrack
1 Se Acabo (remix)
2 Invincible
3 One Nine Nine Nine
4 Take That
5 S.N.A.K.E.S.
6 It’s Not A Game
7 The Symphony Part II (feat. Method Man, Redman, And Lady Luck)
8 Breaker Breaker
9 First Nigga
10 The Streets
11 On Site
12 We Run New York (exclusive)
13 B-boy Document
14 Do It Now
15 So Fresh So Clean (remix)
16 Handle Your Time
17 Oral Sex
18 Do You Remember?
http://rapidshare.com/files/12548053/AND1_-_Mixtape_Vol.1-4_Soundtrack.rar.html
I’m early into that Rising Down…but the “Rising Down Track” with Mos and S.P. is gettin’ heavy rewind
@ Chocolate Girl
http://link-protector.com/476766/
@ Wytemike
Yeah, those were on the basketball mixtapes. Takes me back.
Another link just in case.
http://rapidshare.com/files/110201909/TR-RD.rar
^ The Roots – Rising Down
album art included
Glad u mentioned “personality issues aside” dude got problems maybe that’s y he is a decent MC.
I use too luv the 98 and J30, nice trip in time though TC.
Classic underground sh*t.
Being that all the artists mentioned, including Common, were “B-side” artists at the time, the young rappers/MC’s today who fit that croteria are Blu & Joell Ortiz…
criteria…..oops
Thanks for the Soundbombing II. Been looking for that for a minute.
New Lyfe
http://www.linkbucks.com/link/feb78993/9842
I love that whole album, but The Mayor is my shit.
& when Em said “I sicker than Boy George helping Michael Jackson try on little boys drawers”
I’m gonna have to bump that tomorrow.
niiiice!
Anybody holdin Soundbombin III? Somebody hook that up for me. Thanks in advance.
Am i the only one dissapointed wit the cd book from the roots lp? The only picture in the joints been online for months. And NO liner notes?
I might as well have downloaded the shit an saved my $.
Any man probably had my favorite line on that whole CD
“somthin, somethin, somethin, somethin, i get weeded, my daughter scribbled over that rhyme i couldn’t read it.”
That was a lotta peoples intro to just how sick Marshal really is
El-P sucks!
realtalk
sounds like an “i miss the days” post still. figures someone would say el-p sucks on here
That Soundbombing joint by the Dilated Peoples is bangin’ as well!
… and Brooklyn Hard Rock is my joint!
this cat thing is pissin me off on rapidshare…got me guessing lol
Ay as anyone got quality rips of Camp Lo’s “Uptown…” or any Masta Ace albums?
patriotism was the shit fuck that…..
motherfuckr
Patriotism still gets burn. Funcrusher Plus still gets periodic play in the whip.
For those not in NY
All the cops got off for killing
SEAN BELL
50 Premier tracks from torrents:
http://mixtapetorrent.com/premier-rare-unreleased
That premier / DJ Smoke link is down. Anyone have/re-up it?
Anyone holdin Soundbombing vol 3?
This is a good look TC. Keep shinin’.
I’m not disgruntled. I do miss the old days. The 90-era was the best.
In the whip this mornin’ = Wild Cowboys by Derek Murphy
murderers officers in Sean Bell case acquitted
link
http://wcbstv.com/local/sean.bell.verdict.2.708321.html
A judge acquitted three New York Police Department detectives of all charges Friday morning in the shooting death of an unarmed man in a 50-bullet barrage, hours before he was to be married.
Detectives Michael Oliver, left, Gescard Isnora and Marc Cooper were accused in the 50-bullet barrage.
Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends.
Detective Marc Cooper was acquitted of reckless endangerment.
Justice Arthur Cooperman said he found problems with the prosecution’s case. He said some prosecution witnesses contradicted themselves, and he cited prior convictions and incarcerations of witnesses.
He also cited the demeanor of some witnesses on the stand.
As the judge read his decision, Nicole Paultre Bell — Sean Bell’s fiancee before his death — ran from the courtroom, saying, “I’ve got to get out of here.”
The announcement immediately sparked anger among some in the crowd outside the courthouse.
The Rev. Al Sharpton called for calm Wednesday. He was accompanied by Bell’s fiancee and other supporters on the steps of City Hall.
Anybody know where I can get DoggyStyle and Straight Outta Compton?
man waking up to this bullshit (bell case) makes me realize it don’t matter who the president is. Witnesses’ aren’t credible because they had priors? 50 shots on unarmed people should be an open & shut case. Fuck the police.
Fuck The Police
This is where the FUK THA POLICE t shirts coming in handy
Sean Bell got publicly lynched to the tune of 50 fcuking bullets
FOUL SHIT
I’m not surprised. NYPD been gettin away with all types of bullshit for as long as I can remember, especially in the Giuliani era. The Abner Louima case was the only time I can recall that the cops were convicted, and even then, not all of them went to jail.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/xb8tx6
papoose die like a g
New Pappy!
I would love to hear what the Judge’s thought process was when he made this decision. How can he justify this murder? They can still bring them up on federal charges; but from what I have been hearing on the news, the decision would likely be held up in federal case.
@ tres -
as much as i want to say that i’m not surprised, for the first time in a long time, i actually thought this would’ve been open-and-shut … dunno when i became so optimistic.
what kills me even more is that, on the morning news (here in NY), they constantly repeated the fact that the nypd detail would be “beefed up” in the event of “possible rioting” – does that not tell you that (1) “they”expect niggers to wild out, and (2) “they” knew there would never be real justice for that brother.
the life and liberty of black people is plummeting worse than the US dollar vs. the euro.
i need to go home, smoke, and play dead prez … everybody wants a revolution but nobody wants to fire the first shot.
insult to injury: these so-called “experts”motherf*ckers on these “news” programs trying to rationalize these cops murderous actions….and was fcuked up as a “citizen” (read: one who gets extorted for his earnings each week) is verdicts like this are expected in these types of cases.
“I gotta right to be hostile”
was = what’s fcuked up
@ Biggga
the reports so far are that this judge basically “saw through” these witnesses and discredited their testimonies.
The 90’s were great but those days are over; plenty of new dope shit out right now to keep me occupied so I don’t have time to reminisce that much. Once and a while however it’s good to go back, especially with the videos from that time. If anybody can tell me how to upload videos on ZShare I’ll put up some DVD mixes that I got, I guarantee you’ll be taken back!!!
ps:
Quit downloading that fucking Roots album and show the dudes some love!!! (no homo) I saw them live when they came to Toronto in March and they earned my money and respect.
pss: FUCK POLICE!!! Time to start shooting the cops instead of each other!!! They call three Black men chilling on the corner a gang, but yet three cops with guns is “law enforcement”??? Sounds like a gang to me.
@ OED -
the judge actually stated that he discredited witnesses (i’m sure they’re referring to sean’s boys, guzman & benefield) because of their prior convictions …
so lissen up, anybody with a prior conviction – you’ve lost your right to a fair trial if you ever get caught up in a nypd-committed homicide.
@ Levar
that’s what I was getting at. This cat saw “fidgety” behavior and such on the stand, and with an opportunity to link that to things like priors, saw such as reasons to discredit these witnesses ears and eyesight.
@levar hustle…I was just thinking, if anybody with a prior conviction has to testify, then there won’t be a lot of witnesses testifying at all in any case!!
It would’ve damn near been better if the judge just would’ve said, “I’m just not going to convict these cops for killing any young black male because I don’t have to!”
I really need a link to Straight Outta Compton now….if it ever fit a situation, this would HAVE to be it!
@ OED -
i totally agree my friend. my question to the world, to TSS, is this: if you, as a person of color, were on the stand for any reason, wouldn’t you be “fidgety” too?
if you had to take the stand to testify about your best friend being murdered in cold blood right in front of your eyes, and had to do so in front of the pigs who committed the murder, wouldn’t you be fidgety too?
@ t.lynn –
when you get that laink, please share – i’m with you on that one!
figures someone would say el-p sucks on here
======================
Well, he does. Why does it matter if I say it on here?
How do you explain this to kids who see these cops get aquitted for shooting someone 50 times? This shines a dark like on NYC.
OED: I heard that report, I guess “fidgety” behvior trumps inconsistencies with the officer’s testimony. Hopefully the Bell family will have better luck trying to get justice with a federal trial.
.. as a human being I have to keep a certain level of optimism…but what do I tell my daughter?
how do you explain this sh*t away?!?
how do I tell her I could die at any time over some bullsh*t and it wouldn’t have even mattered?
I am sick to my fucking heart.
^^^ ditto, family. to the point of no words.
Here y’all go
NWA – Straight Outta Compton (20th Anniversary Edition)
http://rapidshare.com/files/74403451/n_w_a_-_straight_outta_compton_20th_anniversary_edition_2007__sharedmp3.net_.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/74403546/n_w_a_-_straight_outta_compton_20th_anniversary_edition_2007__sharedmp3.net_.part2.rar
Password for both is: sharedmp3.net
Yeah that damn cat on rapidshare is dumb annoying. But on some real ish thats some foul ish of the judge to let these monsters get off. At work watching them drive to the gravesite on FOX 5 just like thinkn WTF!!! Public Enemy stuck in my head right now. Yo they better shut down Summer Jam in the Memory of young homie.
i have no words for the bell case except this is america…the land of inconsistency and straight bullshit.
Now they are trying to place blame on the prosecutors and some of the witnesses. As someone mentioned earlier, this shows you that if you have a criminal record, no matter if you have paid your debt to society, you will always be seen as a criminal.
kool g rap shut that shit down
Soundbombing III for those who asked…
http://rapidshare.com/files/86873155/soundbomb3.rar
Man, 7XL was the Shiznitto Bam Snip Snap Sinp. Sound Bombing 3 was not as tight as 2. I wish that Em would spit like he did on that album. Did anyone get that Sway, Teck and DJ Revolution that came out around the same time? That was a banger. They were making fun of shiny suit rappers and all.