Unbelievable.. Again

So, I saw Notorious last night and I was thoroughly impressed. I'm not gonna write a long-winded review or spoil anything for those who haven't seen it, just wanted to talk about my impression of the movie itself.

The acting was exceptional, Gravy did his thing as the lead and the supporting cast was very believable. The screen-writing described Big's life relatively accurately, taking some poetic liberties of course, but I found it suspenseful and emotional even for someone who knows the story. The sound direction was amazing, especially the way Gravy interpreted Big's music while the engineers spliced the actual tracks throughout the film.

Overall, I'm satisfied with Notorious. The film lived up to my personal expectations and even surprised me occasionally. I highly recommend it - I think it's a story that anyone, hip-hop head or not, can appreciate.

Since this will likely be my last Notorious-related post for a minute, I gotta up this dope project from Mick Boogie & Terry Urban. I'll let the man Mick himself describe it, from ThePressPlayShow:

Two years ago... we released what many considered a classic mixtape... Unbelievable... a carefully chosen selection of blends and reproductions that many considered music Biggie would actually have chosen in 2007. After adding a multitude of guest vocals, we received the ultimate blessing... hosting by Puff! And the rest is history...

However... 2 years later, we wanted to update/add-on/revise our project and take it even further... in honor of the new Biggie movie. So we present... Unbelievable: The Notorious Edition... all your favorite songs from the original mix... plus new joints featuring Redman, Sheek, Gravy (yes, that Gravy) and more.

Without any further ado, I present the download link for this tape. Big thanks to Mick & Terry, Enjoy!

Download:

Mick Boogie & Terry Urban - Unbelievable: The Notorious Edition

Sky's The Limit

Fast-forward to the mid-90s. A feud erupted in rap between East and West coasts that would claim the lives of two of the game's best MC's.

I'm not gonna get into specifics, because there's so much speculation and I'm focusing on the music, but '96 and '97 were two of the saddest years hip-hop has ever seen with the murders of Tupac and Biggie.

Big's dual-disc second LP Life After Death dropped March 25, 1997, a mere two weeks after he was fatally shot in Las Vegas. It sold almost 700,000 copies the first week and has since been certified diamond (10 million sales) by the RIAA, one of only 3 hip-hop albums to do so.

Life After Death followed a natural progression from Ready to Die - Big was the kingpin in charge rather than the nickle-and-dime hustler, as expressed on "10 Crack Commandments" and "I Love The Dough." Big maintained his lyrical prowess on "Going Back To Cali" and "Kick in the Door" but still realized his time was limited on darker tracks like "My Downfall" and "You're Nobody Til Somebody Kills You."

With the help of Puffy, the album also shifted Big's East Coast hardcore rap to a more commercialized sound, resulting in huge hit single "Mo Money Mo Problems."

My personal favorite tracks are the inspirational "Sky is the Limit" with 112, the knock-out "Long Kiss Goodnight," the lyrical schooling "Notorious Thugs" with Bone Thugs N Harmony, and one of the best storytelling songs I've ever heard "Got A Story To Tell."

Still, Life After Death is a bittersweet piece of art. First, it captures Big at the height of his career enjoying the life he earned for himself, evoked a sense of hope and enlightenment. But there's a lingering emotion of despair throughout, which culminates as Big unfortunately foresees his inevitable demise.

Track List:

Disc 2
1. Life After Death Intro
2. Somebody's Gotta Die
3. Hypnotize
4. Kick in the Door
5. #! *@ You Tonight
6. Last Day
7. I Love the Dough
8. What's Beef?
9. B.I.G. Interlude
10. Mo Money Mo Problems
11. Niggas Bleed
12. I Got a Story to Tell

Disc 2
1. Notorious Thugs
2. Miss U
3. Another
4. Going Back to Cali
5. Ten Crack Commandments
6. Playa Hater
7. Nasty Boy
8. Sky's the Limit
9. The World Is Filled...
10. My Downfall
11. Long Kiss Goodnight
12. You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)

One More Chance

This here video just surfaced of Frank White performing "One More Chance" in 1995, off Biggie Smalls: Rap Phenomenon DVD dropping January 27 from Gold Dust Media.

Thanks to Meka for the link, Enjoy!

You Never Thought Hip Hop Would Take It This Far

Hardcore. Raw. Ground-breaking. Revolutionary. Real.

All these words have been used to describe Big's debut solo LP Ready to Die, but only one word can fully describe all that is the 1993 album: Classic.

Personally, this might be my favorite album ever. Wu-Tang's 36 Chambers, Outkast's Aquemini, Nas' Illmatic and Jay-Z's Vol. 2 put up a good fight, but BIG's probably got the top spot. It's so tough to choose but I'd choose Ready to Die on most days.

Ready to Die's rags-to-riches autobiography showcases all sides of the Brooklyn MC - the trials of of a heat-packing drug dealer on "Gimme The Loot" and "Everyday Struggle," the lyrical virtuoso on "Unbelievable" and "The What" with Meth, the smooth ladies man on Grammy-nominated "Big Poppa" and "One More Chance," and the agonized man facing life's harsh realities on "Suicidal Thoughts."

But most of all, BIG celebrates his story as a successful entreprenuer on (my favorite hip-hop song, ever) "Juicy." I remember when Diddy told the contestents on the first season of Making the Band that they had to memorize the lyrics to this song, and I thought "How the HELL do you NOT know them?" Not only is it one of his best lyrical efforts, but the story he constructs and wordplay he implements is unparalleled:

Thinkin' back on my one-room shack

Now my mom pimps a Ac with minks on her back

And she loves to show me off, of course

Smiles every time my face is up in The Source

We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us

No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us

Birthdays was the worst days

Now we sip champagne when we thirst-ayyy

Damn right I like the life I live

'Cause I went from negative to positive

Throw in phenomenal production by Puffy, The Hitmen, Easy Mo Bee, Pete Rock, DJ Premier and Lord Finese, and you've got arguably the most consistent song-by-song release that hip-hop's ever witnessed. No wonder it sold 4x Platinum and counting.

I know you've all heard these songs before, but it's Biggie Day, so I'm gonna post my favorites. If you've been sleeping on this CD, which I'm sure none of my loyal readers have ever dared to do, I'm revoking your hip-hop card immediately.

On to the good ish, Enjoy!

Track List:

1 Intro 3:23
2 Things Done Changed 3:58
3 Gimme the Loot 5:04
4 Machine Gun Funk 4:17
5 Warning 3:40
6 Ready to Die 4:24
7 One More Chance 4:43
8 #! *@ Me (Interlude) 1:31

9 The What 3:57
10 Juicy 5:02
11 Everyday Struggle 5:19
12 Me & My B*tch 4:00
13 Big Poppa 4:12
14 Respect 5:21
15 Friend of Mine 3:28
16 Unbelievable 3:43
17 Suicidal Thoughts 2:50

Brooklyn Bullshit, We On It

We interrupt our normally scheduled program of running through Biggie's collection to bring to you some exclusiveness for your Biggie Day celebrations.

I recently posted a throwback Jay-Z track off DJ Mike Nice's forthcoming Brooklyn Bullshit, and here we have the full mixtape of rare and unreleased songs from Biggie, Jay-Z, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Sauce Money and Sadat X.

I wish I could listen to these, the track list looks fiyaaah - including Biggie rapping at age 12, Jay-Z at 17, plus demos from the others - but since I'm at work, I'll have to wait patiently. But you sure don't.

Check the track list and download link below. Big shout to Shake for hooking this up, Enjoy!

Download:

DJ Mike Nice & Venom Records - Brooklyn Bullshit

01. Notorious B.I.G - Intro
02. Shakespeare - KingsCounty (Brooklyn Bullshit Anthem)
03. biggie spittin at 12
04. biggie - music video box freestyle
05. biggie - soul power197 rhymes
06. Fulton St. battle at 17
07. big daddy kane & jayz - bday party freestyle 9-10-91
08. biggie - guranteed raw
09. big daddy kane/kool g rap - raw (demo)
10. jay-z/sauce money - rippin it up
11. big daddy kane - aint no half steppin (demo)
12. biggie - blind alley freestyle (demo)
13. biggie-i love you (teenage recording)
14. biggie - dont love no hoe
15. jay-z/sauce money - nothing but love (demo)
16. biggie - biggie got the hype shit (demo)
17. big daddy kane - raw attitude (unreleased)
18. jay-z - high powered (at age 17)
19. jay-z/sauce money - broken english & drug selling (demo)
20. notorious big - party and bullshit (extended version)
21. biggie - 16 bars at the lyrical lounge in 1993
22. jay-z - whats in a name (demo)
23. big daddy kane - sing my song (unreleased)
24. jay-z - pass the roc
25. big daddy kane - set it off (unreleased remix)
26. big daddy kane - for your own concern (demo)
27. biggie - childhood rhymes
28. jay-z - greatest mc (demo)
29. biggie/sadat x - come on (1st take demo version)
30. biggie - niggaz bleed

Really Lovin' Unsigned Hype

Biggie was named to The Source's "Unsigned Hype" column in '92, and slightly after he signed with Puffy's new label Bad Boy Records. He then hopped on the remix to Mary J Blige's "Real Love," the first time the world was introduced to the Notorious B.I.G.

Mary J Blige feat. Notorious BIG - Real Love (Remix)

'93 brought along BIG's first solo track "Party & Bullshit" that appeared on the Who's The Man OST.





Plus another collab, this time with Craig Mack, Busta Rhymes, Rampage & LL Cool J on "Flava In Your Ear Remix."

Bigger & Better

Continuing on the Biggest Day of the Year, I spotted this in my inbox a lil' while ago, and it's got me too excited to sleep.

DJ Graffiti leaked two tracks of his upcoming mixtape Astronote: Bigger & Better (The Notorious Remixes) hosted by the one and only Talib Kweli and produced by Astronote. Now I'm a long-time fan of Kweli and you already know how I feel 'bout Biggie's entire catalog, so I'm lookin forward to this remixtape.

Graffiti says about the tape:

"This mix is hosted by Talib Kweli, one of Brooklyn's finest. Would he jeopardize his career by attaching his name to some subpar Biggie remixes? Hell, would I jeopardize my almost career for the same reason? haha Astronote is the truth. Don't sleep!"

Peep game in the CBox, thanks again to Graffiti for hookin up the links, Enjoy!


Notorious B.I.G. ft. Talib Kweli - Young G's (Astronote Rmx)

Notorious B.I.G. ft. Buff 1- Niggas (Astronote Rmx)

Still Here, Never Left

I hustle like Bird on the block then rock a bird
Cuz I gotta get the AC green, in other words
I run the streets 3 hundred and 60 like Dominque
Does, 5 more days to make it complete
-Jay-Z, "Pass The Roc"

..That's right, I've been here the whole time. Shouts to my new Twitter followers and all those that I converse with day-to-day on it. I hit the 60 follow mark today, on the come up. Also, shouts to the newest additions to my blog roll B-Double at Your Favorite White Boy and Reyn & Co at Potholes In My Blog. Seems like '09 might show ya boy some love after all.

Anyway, let's keep this shit live tonight with some fresh tracks for that ass (no Richard Simmons)..

DJ Mike Nice liberated a rare Jay-Z demo "Pass The Roc"

Found me this gem of Eminem & Biggie Freestyling on the Wake Up Show with Sway & Tech

Mos Def released uptempto banger "Quiet Dog" the second single off The Ecstatic

Wyclef Jean and Timbaland collab'd for bouncy club rhythm "War on our Hands"

MF Doom continued in his usual off-the-wall antics with "Ballskin"

Papoose came out of hiberation strong with Obamanthem (That's my new shit, coined!) "Test

and Twista does his best to get the ladies moist with "Wetter"

Big ups to the usuals, y'all know who you are and if you don't by now, get a damn clue.

Enjoy!!


Links in the CBox ---->

Another Notorious Tease

Can't wait for the 16th, I been marked my BlackBerry calender for the opening of Notorious and it's steadily approaching.

To hold you over til then, we've got the official track list and download link to Christopher Wallace biopic's OST, including three raw Biggie demo tracks and a remix of "One More Chance" featuring his son, CJ.

I haven't heard all of the OST yet 'cause I'm at work so I can't comment like usual, but I'm sure it won't disappoint. Thanks to KSY Music for the linkage.

Download link in the Cbox --->

Track List:
1. Notorious B.I.G. - Notorious Thugs (Featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony)
2. Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize
3. Notorious B.I.G. - Notorious B.I.G (Featuring Lil' Kim And Puff Daddy)
4. Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy
5. Notorious B.I.G. - Party And Bullshit
6. Notorious B.I.G. - Warning
7. Notorious B.I.G. - One More Chance/Stay With Me (Remix)
8. Jay-Z - Brooklyn Go Hard (Featuring Faith Evans)
9. Jadakiss - Letter To B.I.G (Featuring Faith Evans)
10. Notorious B.I.G. - Kick In The Door
11. Notorious B.I.G. - What's Beef?
12. Notorious B.I.G. - The World Is Filled...(Featuring Too Short And Puff Daddy)
13. Notorious B.I.G. - One More Chance/The Legacy (Remix) (Featuring CJ Wallace And Faith Evans)
14. Notorious B.I.G. - The Notorious Theme (Composed By Danny Elfman)
15. Notorious B.I.G. - Microphone Murderer (Demo)
16. Notorious B.I.G. - Guaranteed Raw (Demo)
17. Notorious B.I.G. - Love No Hoe (Original Demo Version)

Cleanin' Up Like Beltran

.. That's right, with all this talk about the Yanks throwin' money around trying to buy a World Series, I'm still reppin the Mets. Let me get my Beltran on right quick, call this cleanin up. (Disclaimer: The Yanks are cool, don't get me wrong, I'd root for them in any series but a Subway. Sorry, haters.)


Notorious B.I.G. - Microphone Murderer

Let's start it off with an original demo from the G.O.A.T. himself. Veteran mixer Mister Cee dropped "Microphone Murderer" on Hot 97 over the weekend to drop some knowledge on all these young heads claiming they know hip-hop. I'll let Big do the explaining:

Keep my eyes open and keep the case closed No eyewitnesses, no names are exposed Just the heavy-set one with the big gun When I sweep, come, shakin down everyone

Overlook the low-quality radio rip and you'll see that Cee dusted off a gem from Big Poppa's early days.


Jadakiss ft. Faith Evans - Letter To BIG

Speaking of Big, Jada released this tribute that should appear on the OST for the late, great rappers' upcoming biopic Notorious. 'Kiss does a nice job of both expressing his emotions to his homie while simultaneously calling out the industry whores. Case in point:

People in power is queer I could go on for a year
About how would it be if you were still here Game has got cheaper Rappers is more commercially successful now But the heart's a lot weaker

Remix the joints you had But they could never, ever duplicate your swag Meanwhile, I'ma keep pursuing my lil' plans And you might bump into a few of my lil' mans
Up there steppin with God Down here, Mister Cee and BK is still reppin you hard

Good looks to Jada for keepin the spirit alive, forever RIP.

Fabolous - Brooklyn (Go Hard) Freestyle

Speaking of BK, Loso just couldn't stay away from this beat. He reps his birthplace to the fullest over the Kanye-laced heater:

Gates and Nostrand to Linden and Powell I need an O, I would like to buy a vowel Known for ice grillin not for phony smilin' Fresher than Easter Sunday on Coney Island

Go head, Fab. Why not?


Wale - UK Freestyle

And last we'll take a trip across the Atlantic courtesy of Capital City newcomer Wale. He has some fun on this freestyle:

Y'all ego is your ethos
Behind is where I leave 'em
Remind you when I see you
Cause I lap you very easy
Hundred miles and runnin
They behind but they frontin
Zero on any table of multiplication, young'n


I'll leave y'all fresh and clean on that note, lemme go 'head and put the mop away. Til tomorrow, when I unveil my picks for Best Hip-Hop of the Year and Guilty Pleasures '08.

Thanks to TSS, Shake & Meka, Eskay and Lowkey for the new tracks, Enjoy!

Links in the Cbox --->

Addicted To Fresh, HFTB 12.14.08

What's good!

Before I partake in my usual Sunday ritual - watching NFL football (Go G-Men) and relaxing heavy - I gotta hook you up.

The homeboys DJ Benzi, Ivan over at HHIR, & Throwbacks at ItsBx came thru big with some fresh mixes of brand-new joints this week. In case you missed 'em, they've inspired me to compile a line-up of my favorites from these efforts and my daily blog-snooping to end your weekend properly.

Check the heat - crafty blends by DJ Noodles, remixes of songs by Ghostface, Notorious B.I.G., Kanye West, Jay-Z, & Akon plus new jams from Jadakiss, Camp Lo, Styles P, Pete Rock, Drake, Fashawn, and many more..

Big ups to all the usuals, and special thanks to Benzi, I and TB.. Enjoy!

One download link in the Cbox ------->

HFTB 12.14.08

6th Sense & Wildabeast Are... - You Gotta See It Live
8thW1 - Peace (feat. Fresh Daily & Silent Knight)
Ackronym - If I Ruled the World (Ackronym Remix) ft. Nas & Lauryn Hill
Akon - My Dream (Noodles Mix) ft. Notorious B.I.G. & Kanye West
Akon - Sunny Day ft. Wyclef Jean
Ali Vegas - It's So Hard ft. AZ, Styles P & Danny McClane
Camp Lo - OnSmash ft. Styles P & Pete Rock
Charles Hamilton - Brooklyn Girls
Charles Hamilton - We Major Freestyle prod. The Kickdrums
Colin Munroe - Piano Lessons ft. Joel Ortiz prod. Black Milk
Drake - Say What's Real
Fashawn - Sunday Morning (K-OS Remix)
Ghostface Killah - Be Easy (Remix) ft. Ice Cube
Jadakiss - Pop Champagne Freestyle
Jamie Foxx - Digital Girl ft. Kanye West & The Dream
Jay-Z - Addicted to Fresh (Noodles Mix)
Jay-Z - Jockin Jay-Z (Travis Barker Remix)
Jay-Z ft. Fela Kitu - Sweet (Mash-Up)
Kanye West - The Real Hip Hop (Noodles Mix) ft. Jadakiss & Jay-Z
Keyshia Cole ft. Lil' Wayne - I Love You (Dirty)
Kid CuDi - Super Boo
Naledge - Move Freestyle
Truck North - Flyer Than The Rest ft. Wale
Wale & Daniel Merriweather - Pot Of Gold prod. Mark Ronson
Wale ft. Brother Ali - 2nd Time Around

Obligatory Nas vs. Jay Post

Find me, Virgin Islands
Crown Bay marina, '88 Filas
Marijuana aficianados, grade-A reefer
I ain't stressin' shit
This recession don't affect the rich
Count 100 G's in 100 degrees
But Mumia's locked up so none of us are free

.. Leave it to Esco to amp my mood up on a cold Saturday afternoon. I've always like Nas' ability to combine words and phrases that no one else could A. think of or B. use effectively. I might catch heat for this one from the Jigga dick-riders (I could understand why, he's arguably top 3), but their beef on wax sparked the never-ending discussion of Jay vs. Nas.

This is my take. Nas is more pure MC on the mic than Jay, he's a poet first - then a hustler. Jay's swagger is his best attribute, not to mention the rag-to-riches mentality that permeates his entire catalog a la Biggie Smalls.

Don't get me wrong, I love both dude's music - but Nas' lyrics intrigue me on a different level than most. Where Jay is flashy, Nas bears all - for better or worse. Jay's overall verses are more memorable because (usually) he flows better, but Nas' lyrics are too unique and thought-provokingto ignore.

I'm gonna disappoint y'all and declare that I can't decide between the two. My bad, it's just that I like 'em both too much to put the other down - their styles are too independent to compare.

Anyway, on to the good stuff. I grabbed the ultra rare video of the Queensbridge MC freestyling with the G.O.A.T. from my homegirl Shenda (thanks ma!) and I got my hands on a spankin' new Nas track featuring June called "Smoke," via Eskay.

Real heads recognize - relax and Enjoy!

Nas ft. June - Smoke ----->

The One & Only

For anyone into golden era hip-hop, DJ Premier is a legend. Shit, he's one of the main reasons I got into hip-hop way back when. I mean, dude created the beats for Big's "Ten Crack Commandments," Nas' "NY State of Mind," Rakim's "When I Be On The Mic," Jay's "D'Evils" and Mos Def's "Mathematics" - all some of my favorite tracks, period.

As one half of Gangstarr and crafting neck-snapping instrumentals for hip-hop's A-List, the Houston-born and BK-bred Primo has been one of the hardest working producers ever - if not the best of all time.

That's why I gotta give major props to Eskay and Heather for posting these video clips. Peter Rosenberg interviewed Primo last night and the footage is great. The production guru sheds light on the making of "Nas Is Like," working with Biggie, Nas and Jay, and of course, porn.

I've posted the clips below - now pay your respects to one of the greats, Enjoy!

The making of "Nas Is Like"



Chatting about Biggie



A-list rappers, top-notch producers and porn

Now Move Yo' Behind

What a depressing-ass day in the Tri-State. With all this rain, I need some sunshine in my life. It's days like today I wish I hadn't taken off work, but since I can't go back in time I'm gonna keep y'all up on all the hotness hitting the blogosphere this morning.

Up top we've got a vid of Common performing "Universal Mind Control" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Comm is a straight up entertainer, he controls the crowd a rocks with a veteran swag. I've seen him twice and can't wait 'til he comes back around the way.

For your bootlegging pleasure, I first want to point you in the direction of one of the best Biggie-related posts I've seen in a minute. TC over at TSS gives a dope synopsis of Christopher Wallace's rise to rap royalty and kindly provides download links to a substantial portion of Frank White's catalog. Good looks, homes!

Finally, I'll hook it up proper with some MP3's. Check these new joints - a Travis Barker Remix to "Jockin' Jay-Z," Kid CuDi's "Super Boo," and T.I.'s "Message to the Government." Hopefully these will get you through this rain-soaked nonsense, stay dry!

Thanks to Perajok for the video and Obese, KSY-Music and illRoots for the songs, Enjoy!

Links over thurr ------>

Jay-Z - Jockin' Jay-Z (Travis Barker Remix)

Kid CuDi - Super Boo

T.I. - Message To The Government

Today's Mathematics, Son, Knowledge God & Hits From the Past

Rap Represented in Mathematical Charts & Graphs


Big ups to my boy Maurice at Maurice Knows Everything for this link. I couldn't help but crack up out loud at some of these, check it if you got a second and need a good laugh. Below are a couple blasts from the past inspired by the graphs.


Dust Off the Crates: Hits from the Past - 2nd Edition


Souls of Mischief - '93 Til Infinity

Here's the title track off Oakland, CA collective Souls of Mischief debut 93 'Til Infinity - some smooth, relaxing West Coasters.



Notorious B.I.G. & Tupac - "Freestyle"

This classic improv performance from Biggie Smalls and 'Pac is from '94 at Madison Square Garden.

Raekwon - "Knowledge God," Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

How 'bout this for a rap equation: the odds of Cuban Linx 2 dropping in '07 = slim to none

[do the knowledge, God]