This Old Rap Wednesdays column has fallen off lately, and I apologize. “Old rap” is the genre I’m most knowledgeable about and profiling an artist always spirals out of control—in my mind—and further when I sit down to write. So, truth be told, I put it off as being overwhelming.

But this, this is too nice to pass and no long-winded bios apply—just hours and hours of slammin’ rap jams. The also knowledgeable cats Ayers, Cosmo Baker & DJ Eleven, collectively known as The Rub, are back at it again with with the continuation of the “History of Hip Hop” series for BrooklynRadio.net, this time tackling hip hop’s “golden era”. The 1990s! We were all over the first installments of the mix series that broke up the favorite tracks of 1979-1989 into mixes chronologically, year by year. Now, beginning this month, the lesson continues! Here’s last Monday’s Brooklyn Radio installment: ‘History of Hip Hop Radio: Volume 15′. Digging deep into 1993. We love this shit. Mixed clean & professional.

Tracklist:

1. Souls of Mischief – 93 Til Infinity
2. Cypress Hill – Insane in the Brain
3. Black Moon – Who Got Da Props
4. Lords of the Underground – Chief Rocker
5. Wu-Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck
6. M.O.P. – How About Some Hardcore
7. Beatnuts – Psycho Dwarf
8. Onyx – Slam
9. Run DMC – Down with the King (feat. Pete Rock)
10. KRS-One – Sound of the Police
11. Fat Joe – Flow Joe
12. Masta Ace, Incorporated – Born to Roll
13. Snoop Doggy Dogg – The Shiznit
14. MC Breed – I Gotta Get Mine (feat. 2pac)
15. De La Soul – Breakadawn
16. A Tribe Called Quest – Award Tour
17. Leaders of the New School – What’s Next + Large Pro Remix
18. Nubian Crackers – Do You Wanna Hear It (feat. Artifacts)
19. Funkmaster Flex – Six Million Ways to Die
20. KRS-One – Outta Here
21. Del tha Funkee Homosapien – Catch A Bad One
22. Casual – I Didn’t Mean To
23. Ice Cube – You Know How We Do It
24. Domino – Getto Jam
25. The Nonce – Mix Tapes
26. Freestyle Fellowship – Inner City Boundaries
27. BO$$ – Deeper
28. 2pac – Keep Your Head Up
29. Redman – All Night Long
30. Tragedy aka Intelligent Hoodlum – Grand Groove
31. Wu-Tang Clan – Can It Be All So Simple
32. Jeru tha Damaja – Come Clean
33. Big L – Devil’s Son
34. Ultramagnetic MCs – Two Brothers with Checks
35. Beatnuts – Reign of the Tec
36. KRS-One – Hip-Hop vs Rap
37. 2pac – I Get Around (feat. Digital Underground)
38. Snoop Doggy Dogg – Gin and Juice
39. Ice Cube – Check Yo Self (feat. Das EFX)
40. Too $hort – Don’t Fight the Intro
41. RBL Posse – Bammer Weed
42. Tha Alkaholiks – Only When I’m Drunk
43. LL Cool J – Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag
44. Wu-Tang Clan – Method Man
45. Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothin’ to Fuck With
46. De La Soul – Ego Trippin’ (Part Two)
47. A Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation

MP3: The Rub - History of Hip Hop Radio: Volume 15: 1993 [115:13 | 105.5MB]

It’s something proper that ought to be in a gold-foiled boxset and sold to sleepy-eyed credit-worthy B-boys on late infomercials—but they’re not! They’re free! And they’re some of the funnest mixes around. The Rub, thank you!

Be sure to check Brooklyn Radio to stay up ‘The Rub Radio’ and other hot mixshows.
And visit, The Rub on MySpace to tell ‘em they know their isht.

Nod to the oft-mentioned Frenchie Justice, but this blog’s not about you. This one is for the original, The Hip Hop Gangster, Brooklyn-born Just-Ice (a.k.a. Justice, his assumed name within the Five-Percent Nation of Islam).

Just-Ice emerged in 1986, and left heavy footprint in hip-hop’s sprawling path(s). His debut album, ‘Back to the Old School’, produced fully by iconic beat-maker Kurtis Mantronik, of hip-hop group Mantronix was original in many ways. It was gangster, it was electro, it was dancehall, it was New York, it was heavy in beat-box.

Kurtis Mantronik and Just-Ice met at a club, hit it off proper. Their fruit, ‘Back to the Old School’ found a home on short-lived, but legendary, Sleeping Bag Records (primarily a dance label), or more specifically their equally legendary subsidiary, Fresh Records—the first home of Nice & Smooth and EPEE MD (later EPMD).

Just-Ice’s first track ‘Put the Record Back On’ became his first 12″ single, and is backed by his second recorded track, ‘Latoya’—both featuring pioneering human beat-boxer DMX (who differs from the widely-known Ruff Ryders‘ DMX). DMX was more than a novelty, his contribution to Just-Ice’s first record is substantial, adding greatly to the entire album, and notably the human-percussion only cut, ‘That Girl is a Slut’, a humorous (albeit, arguably misogynistic) rip on an un-named STDzy skeezer. Just-Ice is absolutely the first recognized gangster rapper in NY, and among the very first in any area code. Not quite bangin’ on wax, but hella gangster, none the less:

MP3: Just-Ice - Put the Record Back On (1986)

MP3: Just-Ice - Latoya (1986)

MP3: Just-Ice - That Girl is a Slut (1986)

Kurtis Mantronix has always had beats made for the dancefloor. Kurtis’ production with Mantronix and for Just-Ice shows marked electro sensibility. After the ’80s era, Kurtis Mantronik’s solo career went on to include production and remix work for EDM icons including Kylie Minogue, Fatboy Slim, and The Chemical Brothers—Not to mention remixes for *NSYNC (in their heyday), and more recently, Rihanna. It’s all part of a well-rounded resume, don’t hate.

Listening to ‘That Girl is a Slut’, hip hop fans might notice a crude sample from early N.W.A. hits regarding dick sucking. L.A. gangsta rappers N.W.A. sampled Just-Ice on their poetic ode to oral, ‘Just Don’t Bite It’ and the sequel track, ‘She Swallowed It’. Did Just-Ice inspire early N.W.A.? Definitely.

Just-Ice’s second album, titled ‘Kool & Deadly (Justicizms)’ departed from the production guidance of Kurtis Mantronik and relied solely on that of another hip hop pioneer, KRS-One of Boogie Down Productions. The pair had chemistry and KRS-One provided hard-hitting production based on the break beat. Just-Ice recorded ‘Going Way Back’ as a brief history lesson of hip hop in NY. Name dropping, it serves as a decent time-capsule of the era, or—at the least—a great track to space out and head-bob to.

‘Moshitup’ with MC/producer KRS-One is one of my favorite tracks. Just-Ice was one of the very first MCs to mesh dancehall rhymes with rap, and ‘Moshitup’ is a perfect specimen. Just-Ice in all of his dancehall-infused gangster-dom probably influenced Spice 1 and all future hardcore rappers with a streak of dancehall toasting (like, Soulja Boy who is in the stylistic shadow of Just-Ice, whether he knows it or not).

MP3: Just-Ice - Going Way Back (1987)

MP3: Just-Ice - Moshitup (feat. KRS-One) (1987)

Just-Ice’s full career is beyond the scope of this mp3 blog. He has 7 LPs in his catalog and is still making music, now with the ultimately talented producer, DJ Premier of Gangstarr.

We’re wrapping up, but not finished quite yet! On Just-Ice’s 5th album, 1993’s ‘Gun Talk’ he collaborated once again with Kurtis Mantronix and the formula still worked! Here is a favorite dancehall rhyme titled, ‘Girls N Guns’.

MP3: Just-Ice - Girls N Guns (1993)

Lastly, Just-Ice collaborated to a P.S.A. style posse-cut titled, ‘Self-Destruction’, for the Stop the Violence Movement. The cut is produced by KRS-One and D-Nice of Boogie Down Productions and features Boogie Down Productions, Stetsasonic, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Heavy D, Public Enemy and Just-Ice.

Think of it as the East-Coast version of the previously blogged ‘West Coast Rap All-Stars’.

MP3: The Stop the Violence Movement - Self-Destruction (Extended Mix) (1989)

Further reference, check the in-depth interview with Just-Ice over at Jayquan.com (part 1) and Mantronix MySpace Blog (part 2). Or, skim the surface with a Just-Ice bio on Wikipedia.

Buy Just-Ice classics on Amazon.
Visit Just-Ice on MySpace.

Old Rap Wednesday? On Tursday! Better late than neverz.

Before there was Hyphy, there was The B.U.M.S.. The group was short lived, but the output is enduring. Oakland’s The B.U.M.S. or “Brothas Unda Madness” or rappers E-vocalist & D. Wyze made some noise on local urban radio network KMEL, and landed themselves on the Priority Records label in its golden era. Through Priority they released one album titled, ‘Lyfe ‘N’ Tyme’ in 1995 after a successful single, ‘Elevation (Free My Mind)’ back with ‘6 Figures And Up’. With a major label support, some radio rotation and many freestyle appearances on what was to become the most popular Hip Hop radio show in the world, The Wake Up Show, The B.U.M.S. seemed like they could have had a good run, but it wasn’t to be, and their commercial career lasted only from ‘94 through ‘95.

The debut single ‘Elevation (Free My Mind) was produced by Joe Quixx of the Oakland Faders DJ crew and uses a sample from Teddy Pendergrass’s ‘Close the Door’. Oww, sexy.

MP3: The B.U.M.S. - Elevation (Free My Mind) (1994)

MP3: The B.U.M.S. - 6 Figures and Up (1994)

Another hot one is this b-side only track titled ‘Rain’ with Saafir (the Saucee Nomad) from the second (and last) B.U.M.S. single, ‘Take a Look Around’:

MP3: The B.U.M.S. - Rain (feat. Saafir) (1995)

The B.U.M.S. did one track for a Priority Records curated original soundtrack for the 1994 film Street Fighter—a live-action US-made film version of the epic video game. The B.U.M.S. ‘It’s a Street Fight’ is all about dropping lines about all things Street Fighter, and it’s sure to make all the old arcade junkies (like ourselves) crack a big stupid kool-aid grin.

MP3: The B.U.M.S. - It’s a Street Fight (1994)

If you’re looking to cop records and CDs your best bet is a search for The B.U.M.S. on eBay. These don’t always go cheap. In the past year I’ve noticed ‘Lyfe ‘N’ Tyme’ on double LP being bid up 50+, but right now it looks like they have some CDs and singles for fair prices considering this is good stuff and OOP (out of print, that is).

Art of Origin lived briefly between 1992 and 1993 and released just one single, on Rick Rubin’s Ill Labels, an early division of his Def American Recordings (tangent: now just ‘American Recordings’ after the ‘Def’ was dropped, after Rick Rubin noticed the word “Def” in a dictionary, thus diminishing the word’s street cred. There was even a formal funeral for the word! This little anecdote was borrowed from the surprisingly interesting Def American Wikipedia entry!)

Art of Origin is unique because of its parts: One part heavyweight Hip-Hop lyricist, Chino XL and one part House music heavyweight, Kerri Chandler. Art of Origin was an early project for both of these men, who were in their teens during the group’s lifespan. Today, they have both earned their stripes as solo artists—Kerri is legendary in the House scene for his hard basslines and Chino made a name for himself in Hip-Hop as the “king of ill rhymes and punchlines”.

Kerri Chandler produced the beats for Art of Origin and did a little rapping under the moniker ‘Kaoz’. Chino XL was the prominent MC with an unorthodox flow. The two made a perfect situation, but it was fleeting, and only lasted one year, and produced one single. Here’s the three tunes from that first, and last, single:

MP3: Art of Origin - No Slow Rollin’ (1992)

MP3: Art of Origin - Mad at the World (1992)

MP3: Art of Origin - Into the Pit (1992)

The relationship between Chino XL and Kerri Chandler quickly fell apart, and thus, so did the group. At about the same time, their label was beginning to fold. But, not before Chino XL released his first single the same year—still on Ill Labels and credited as, “Chino XL of The Art of Origin”:

MP3: Chino XL - Purple Hands in the Air (1992)

MP3: Chino XL - Dark Nite of the Blood Spiller (1992)

Chino XL followed up that single in 1993, with a completely solo effort, ‘Unration-AL’:

MP3: Chino XL - Unration-AL (1993)

Chino waited until 1996 to drop his full LP, ‘Here to Save You All’ (still on Rick Rubin’s American Recordings), and it was worth the wait. This record garnered Chino XL a lot of hardcore fans because of his hard-edged introspective style and his ability to bash pop-culture like the best battle rapper going against the world:

MP3: Chino XL - Kreep (1996)

MP3: Chino XL - Freestyle Rhymes (1996)

‘Kreep’ is interesting in that it borrows from Radiohead’s ‘Creep’. Chino XL’s ‘Kreep’ had a single with a video that received a lot of MTV and BET airplay. See the video here.

Chino XL has been keepin’ on keeping on and to this day is dropping albums and frequenting Los Angeles urban radio freestyle sessions, in the same way he has always done since the days of The Wake Up Show in the 1990’s, of which he was a staple.

Kerri Chandler’s path was different, he found his future in another scene, the house music scene, which he has been linked to since he had his first DJ gig at age 13 playing House and dropped his first House record in 1991, predating his work in Art of Origin. Dude had a long career and it hasn’t quit! In fact, his new record, ‘Computer Games’ is fantastic. Try this joint:

MP3: Kerri Chandler - Moon Bounce (Full Length Mix) (2007)

And here’s another one that’s rather recent considering the length of the career:

MP3: Kerri Chandler - Return 2 Acid (2005)

Now for a classic, his seminal garage house anthem, 1994’s ‘Inspiration’ featuring Arnold Jarvis, released on Freetown Records:

MP3: Kerri Chandler - Inspiration (feat. Arnold Jarvis) (1994)

Wrapping this up! You can purchase Art of Origin records on Gemm for fair prices. If you’re looking for ‘Purple Hands in the Air’ 12″ you’re just gonna have to hunt and get lucky. You can get all of Chino XL’s full albums and a few singles on Amazon. If nothing else, ‘Here To Save You All’ is worth your burger-flippin’ money.

House operates on a smaller scale and even the biggest names are hard to come by. Still, you can purchase many Kerri Chandler records on Gemm and even a few recent ones on Amazon.

Visit Chino XL on MySpace or official site.
Visit Kerri Chandler on MySpace or his official site.