9th Wonder & Buckshot feat. Talib Kweli & Tyler Woods-Hold It Down

This is another track off the '08 Buckshot and 9th Wonder collab album entitled The Formula. Not quite as good as the initial effort Chemistry, but it's still 9th wonder beats and Buckshot rhimes. Quite honestly, what's fuckin' with that?

This was one of the singles off the album, with a guest spot by Kweli and the hook sung by Tyler Woods. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a pretty decent jawn.


06 Hold It Down Feat. Talib Kweli Tyler Woods



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Common-I Used To Love H.E.R.

I have limited access to a computer, so I apologize for posting such a blatant classic. Hopefully, for your sake, you already have this jawn. If not, feel free to relieve yourself of your ignorance. Although Common's opus is far from the best track recorded in hip-hop history, it is the undeniable pinnacle of symbolic storytelling (aside Nas' I Gave You Power of course).


I Used To Love H.E.R.



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Kam Moye-Where And Why

I already showed some love for Kam Moye's Self-Centered EP, however I failed to mention one of the premier jawns off that tape. Where And Why is the intro track, and proves to be the source of Kam's most smoothest rhimes while equipping a silky flow over an dope instrumental. Nothing incredible, but a solid jawn that deserves a listen.


01 kam moye where and why



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Ice Cube feat. Kam, WC, Coolio & King Tee -Color Blind

This is a jawn off of Ice Cube's 1991 release Death Certificate. Although there's countless dope cuts to be found on Cube's 2nd LP, Colorblind is on it's own level of unrivaled illness. The funk sample equipped for the instrumental is majestic and flawless, and the guest features for this track make it even that much better.


16 Colorblind



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Inverse-Rise And Shine

You can find this on Inverse's So True EP, that was released in '09. From my limited understanding, Inverse is a Cali-based group equipping some of the illest blog-rap producers for their optimistic rapps. I'm not such a big fan of these guys, but Rise And Shine is definitely a dope cut, and the production is top-notch.

Rise and Shine



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Cyne-Nothing Is Sacred

Cyne aka the elite cultural critics.


Nothing Is Sacred



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Rhyme Asylum-Multiplicity

Another jawn off Rhyme Asylum's '08 release State Of Lunacy. I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but this tape is perfection. The production is crisp, yet simplistic enough that it doesn't interfere with the UK rapps. The lyricism is the main selling point though, the boys of Rhyme Asylum can pack a serious verbal punch.


06 rhyme asylum multiplicity



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X Clan-Funkin' Lesson

Surprisingly, I haven't upped any X Clan yet. To The East, Backwards is the only album I have by the Clan, and I've found that it's good for an occasional listen. Lots of counterculture sentiments that are echoed by similar pseudo-revolutionary groups. Actually, Boots Riley of The Coup draws a fair bit of inspiration from the Clan, if you listen to some of his earlier rhimes. Not that you can really draw much significance from this early '90's single. Dope on the funk tip, and fairly simplistic with the linguistics.


01. funkin lesson



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Flipmode Squad feat. Buckshot-We Got U Opin (Part 2)

A cutesy remake (or continuation) of the classic Black Moon single. Blasphemy or respekt by Busta & weed-carriers?


10 flipmode squad we got u opin part 2



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Masta Killa-Last Drink

It's fair to say that Masta Killa is the most oft-forgotten member of the Wu, and ironically he waited longer than any other Wu member to drop his first album. Still, No Said Date is straight piff, and long worth the 10+ year wait since Masta Killa first appeared on the hip-hop scene. Last Drink is an exhibition of the type of jawns you can find. Supremely produced with countless kung-fu samples, and MK dropping science on the youngn's.


04. Last Drink



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illest Album by A Tribe Called Quest

I'm proud to say that the noble readers of this very publication, elected The Low End Theory as the very illest of all the albums released by the venerable group A Tribe Called Quest. Not surprisingly, it came down to The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders, and I'll give props to the enlightened gods who voted for a holistic sound rather than a general aesthetic. That said, here are the results of the poll, and below are some choice cuts off the winning album:

Excursions


Verses From The Abstract


Jazz (We've Got)

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Boogie Down Productions-Jack Of Spades

Ahh, the brilliant narrative of ghetto hero Jack (of Spades), all dictated by 'renegade teacher and scholar' KRS-1. On the real, the production for this jawn is surprisingly dope, especially since it's mainly credited to the Teacha. The hook for this jawn is quite ill, and the scratching/sample loop is intricate perfection. Not to say that KRS' poignant storytelling doesn't also shine through..


04 jack of spades



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Jake Lefco-What It Is

Jake Lefco is a Philly-based rhymer who released a tape called Missing Trooth back in '08. I personally found out about dukes through a jawn he performed with Reef Da Lost Cauze. Then I checked out his tape, and had to show love for a vocal sample of Paulie Walnuts on Don't Lie To Me. Although What It Is is a bit sentimental and cutesy, shit is still type dope, and easily worth a listen.


03 jake lefco what it is ftd



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Foreign Beggars-On A Winter's Day

Some UK rapps fo' dat ass. You can find this solemn gem on the Foreign Beggars' Crypt Drawl EP. Not an EP that I recommend copping, but this track does make the 4-track tape worth a download. The instrumental really makes On A Winter's Day so powerful, and you have to appreciate the priceless sample equipped for this production.


Foreign Beggars Crypt Drawl EP 04 On A Winters Day



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Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker-My Melancholy Baby

Is it bad that this is my favorite cut off such a classic album like Bird And Diz? The first time I heard this tape, I was a bit underwhelmed, but with time it's definitely grown on me. For true jazz aficionados, you have to cop the remastered version (as if it's even possible to find an reasonably priced copy of the OG tape anyway). The outtakes and breakdowns are awesome. Then again, anything extra from Bird And Diz is awesome.


07 My Melancholy Baby Complete Take



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Kev Brown-Another Random Joint

Low Budget Records released The Budget Is Low Mixtape Volume 1 towards the end of '09. You obviously can't expect anything but quality from the Low Budget collective, so rest assured that the tape is brolic. What I wasn't expecting was a cold gem of an instrumental to start the tape. Not sure if Kev Brown produced this jawn, but the instrumental is type ill, also equipped with bars that cause SARS. This track is the sickness.


1 Kev Brown Another Random Joint



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Royal Flush feat. Mic Geronimo-illiodic Shines

A track off Royal Flush's '97 release Ghetto Millionaire. Genuine phlegm spit between Royal Flush and his long time companion Mic Geronimo. Late '90's boom-bap shit that bangs ruff, especially over this simplistic piano loop-laden sample.


05 Illiodic Shines f Mic Geronimo



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Das EFX-Undaground Rappa

Some Straight Sewaside Das EFX shit 'fo that ass. Although Skoob & Dre are comparable only to Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede in terms of linguistic innovation, dukes flow poetic on the premier cut off Das Efx' second album. Golden-age rapps unparalleled.


02 Undaground Rappa



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The Beatnuts feat. V.I.C.-World's Famous

You should already know how V.I.C. does. Dukes has more beats than Puerto Ricans got cousins. The 'Nuts provide they mans with some solid instrumental backing, and V.I.C. tears it up on the m-i-c. You can find this jawn on Intoxicated Demons: The EP.


02. World s Famous Feat. V.I.C.



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Domino feat. AMG & La Quan-That's Real

You can find this track on Domino's self-titled '93 release. Some type ill left-coast G Funk to be found on a strong sexual tip. As such, there are only a few jawns worth hearing again, and That's Real is one of them. Some invaluable life advice as well as sex rapps.
And yo, remember, don't ever let a ho pimp you.


10 domino thats real ft amg and la quan osm



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Reflection Eternal feat. Res-Too Late

Off Reflection Eternal's Train Of Thought. I've just now deducted that TOT is lacking of standout tracks, but is a great holistic album. Not sure how that figures into a critique of Too Late, but I'm sure it bears some sort of correlation.


06 Too Late



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Pete Rock & CL Smooth- I Got A Love (Remix)

That classic Pete Rock production shit. For I Got A Love, CL Smooth waxes poetic about his temptations to fiddle with the female anatomy. Honestly sounds like an ill instrumental wasted, but what you gonna do?


Pete Rock CL Smooth I Got A Love Remix



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Ras Kass' Soul On Ice EPK

I've jocked Ras' Soul On Ice ever since the start up of this site. Shit's an extraordinary tape with so many layers that you don't fully appreciate what Ras Kass crafted until you've heard Soul On Ice 20 or 30 times over. I'm not gonna go to in-depth with the description, you can find that here.

Only recently did I find an viral EPK that accompanied the release of Soul On Ice. Since the toothpick'ed-MC doesn't like to talk about his latest opus, it's dope to find some sort of breakdown from the creator himself. Anyway, take my stannery for what it's worth:

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Redman-Da Countdown (Saga Continues)

One of the very few tracks worth salvaging off the Ill At Will Mixtape Vol.1. Although I got love for the Funk Doc, his material from Muddy Waters onwards is type mediocre. Not the same quality as you expect from mid-90's Redman. More of a How High Redman, nahmean?


02 Da Countdown Saga Continues



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The Last Emperor-The Expedition

This jawn is off an album by The Last Emperor called The Legend Of Bigfoot. A really interesting conceptual tape, especially tracks like The Expedition. Some ill rapps with a serious historical context.


04. The Expedition



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Grime-Let Freedom Ring (Remix)

Grime's Let Freedom Ring With A Buckshot is a 2007 release rooted in South American socialism. Dukes rhymes true on a political tip, and as such he shares a remarkable resemblance to Immortal Technique.

I would heavily recommend copping dude's tape. Aside from the social commentary, it's remarkable to hear anyone outside the Jedi Mind clique mention the Ottoman empire in their rapps.

08 Let Freedom Ring Remix



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'94 Vs. '88 Tape

Almost exactly a year ago, I got at the good people of DotGotIt.com, with an idea to contest the two greatest years in hip-hop history ('94 and '88). As a purist, I jumped at the opportunity to hold down the '94 side of the tape. You have the obvious choices with Illmatic, Word...Life, Ready To Die, and the countless other classics that were released that year. But there's also tapes that didn't receive that same critical acclaim, yet they house an out-of-place gem. How about On And On off Shyheim's AKA The Rugged Child? Downright illness from a teenage Wu-affiliate. Or what about Part Deux from Fat Joe's Jealous One's Envy? Everyone remembers Primo's remix of Shit Is Real, but where's the love for Don Cartagena as a punchline rap czar? Blame it on the short memory span, but '94 is much more than a handful of classic albums.

That was the intent for the '94 side of the tape. For every Flava In Ya Ear, there would be a Down For The Real. I folded to the pressure, and ended up with too many classics, but shit still bangs far ruffer than '88. Believe that.

With all that said, I present to you the '94 vs. '88 tape. Brought to you by Illcuts.com and Dotgotit.com, with special considerations due to Cenzi for the artwork and DJ Grandman for the mixing on the '88 side. An huge shout to my dude Elmattic for the mixing and suggestions for the '94 side.

Lastly, don't front on the 94. You can't tell me '88 is a better year for hip-hop than '94 with a straight face.

'94 Side:

Download Mixtape

http://www.mediafire.com/?mmtmzkthl2m



http://usershare.net/u2jtebns8otm

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Ayatollah-G.A.T.S. (Instrumental)

Another Ayatollah instrumental fo' that ass. Shit seems like it might be off a 12", but I'm completely clueless as to where you would find this jawn. Some genuine illness that sounds perfect for Prod and Havoc to rip.


Ayatollah G.A.T.S. Instrumental



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Eminem feat. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit & Nate Dogg-Bitch Please II

Bitch please, you must have a mental disease, assume the position and get back down on your knees.


Eminem Bitch Please II



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Danny! feat. Naledge-Guess Who's Back

I feel kinda vagina-like posting this hipster shit, but there's something to this Danny! cat. His tapes are full of unorthodox production and all sorts of interwoven concepts. On this tape, Danny! made an album based off Common's concept of HER, and incorporated the female aspects of hip-hop into a modern day perspective. Most of it is a cutesy annoyance to the ears, but Guess Who's Back offers some interesting rapps over an very eclectic instrumental. Naledge from Kidz In The Hall provides a feature spot, which is type dope.


02 guess who s back



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Grand Puba-2000

Few people know this, but Grand Puba (of Brand Nubian fame) invented the futuristic swag anthem. For whatever reason, dukes started crafting tributes and predictions for the new millennium back in '95. Like he had an affinity for the year 2k and couldn't help but express it in poetics. Anyway this is the title track of Puba's 2000 and it's not bad.


06 2000



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Fabolous-Suicide

This is a track off Fabolous' Gangsta Grillz tape called There Is No Competition. As far as mixtapes go, shit is fires, and might even trump a large part of Fab's earlier albums. Dukes provides some serious punchline-type rapping and the way he delivers his clever witticisms makes them all the more memorable. As for this jawn, it's some Gravediggaz 1-800-Suicide type shit.


02. Suicide



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Chino XL feat. Ras Kass-Riot!

That lyrical miscomprehension shit. You can find two of my favorite emcees together over one of Bird's finer instrumentals on Chino's Here To Save You All. Otherwise, Chino's debut features barren production and countless pop culture references that would go over Perez Hilton's head. Still, when you've got illness like Chino and Ras over Bird production, it's not all bad, or is it?


07. Riiiot Feat. Ras Kass



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Jurassic 5-The Game

This track is off J5's Quality Control album. To be honest J5 have their fair share of dope jawns and the like, but most of their albums are straight gahbage. Shit that's tough to listen to. The Game was a concept track they made about basketball, shit's corny, but still some illness from the J5 clan.

13 the game



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Ultramagnetic MC's-Ego Trippin (Original 12")

On some truly old-school shit comes a jawn off the Ultramagnetic MC's Critical Beatdown tape. I honestly can't listen to pre-90's rapp, but Kool Keith makes this track worth hearing as he flows eccentric. But what you expected?


03 Ultramagnetic MC s Ego Trippin Original 12



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Cypress Hill-Insane In The Brain

Don't you know I'm loco homes?


03 Insane In The Brain.Mp3



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K-Def: Monty

My apologies for the lack of posts today. Finally finished with school, so hopefully posts will be more regular. Anyway, this is a track off K-Def's original Beats From The '90's tape, which was ironically released in 2008. I like dukes as a producer, but it's hard to post only one of his songs. He has this way of compiling beat tapes where it's hard to listen to individual jawns, because each track is part of a larger sound. Still, it's hard to deny Monty. Great jazz riff and the piano loop makes this instrumental really stand out.


K-Def: Monty



http://www.mediafire.com/?mrz2lqvhm24
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Killah Sha-Air

This jawn finds it's derivation off Killa Sha's GOD Walk On Water. I remember hearing Sha on some of Trag's tapes, and decided to check out dukes on the strength of his affiliations. His tape is pretty mediocre, equipped with some spotty production, yet Sha still manages to spit dope. Air is one of the few tracks that features decent production, and Killa Sha blesses it with some decent rhimes.

On a sidenote, RIP to Killa Sha as well.


03 killa sha air



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Kronic Plague-Please

I already posted one song off Kronic Plague's Legal Dope tape. To be honest, shit is definitely on an underground level, but Kron still packs some heat with the rhimes and gets some top-notch production for this jawn.


10 kronic plague please ftd 1



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Little Brother-The Becoming

You can find this jawn on Little Brother's The Minstrel Show. Over an ill soul-sampled 9th Wonder instrumental, Phonte kicks knowledge universal, equipped with countless punchlines and other shit.


03 The Becoming



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L Da Headtoucha-Evolution

You know that type of storytelling that gives you goosebumps? This be it.


03. Evolution



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Emilio Rojas feat. Dwayne Collins-I Want It All

Most can remember when Emilio Rojas' collab tape with Green Lantern dropped earlier in '09. Like most blog rap projects it was heralded as the best thing ever while maintaining an predictable level of mediocrity.

Still, there were some gems to be found on The Natural. I Want It All being one of them.


Emilio Rojas 10 I Want It All feat. Dwayne Collins prod. by DJ Static Dub Z



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Hell Razah feat. Tragedy Khadafi, R.A. The Rugged Man & Timbo King-Renaissance

Off Hell Razah's Renaissance Child tape. Over an ill instrumental, Razah enlists the help of the god Tragedy Khadafi and RA The Rugged Man to wax poetic about the origins of hip-hop in the form of personal embodiment. It's no question that all the dudes turned in solid performances, but Khadafi's verse was the rawest and therefore the illest.


03. Renaissance Feat. Tragedy Khadafi Timbo King R.A. The Rugged Man



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