A Tribe Called Quest and the A Milli Sample

While I was reading some forums this morning I ran across some interesting information on the sample source for the popular Lil' Wayne track A Milli. And that information reminded me of a great version of one of my favorite hip hop tracks, which just happens to be hard to find for a lot of people. The track I am talking about is a remix of A Tribe Called Quest's I Left My Wallet in El Segundo by Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim. It was released on a 12" along with a couple other remixes of the same track by him. This is the infamous Vampire Mix. Most people can only find this mix on the ATCQ cd Hit's, Rarities, and Remixes.



ATCQ - I Left My Wallet In El Segundo (Vampire Mix)



The dancehall sample used at the beginning of the track was slowed way down and repeated over and over in the new song by Lil' Wayne and produced by Bangladesh. I particularly love when hip hop samples it self.

Lafa Taylor and others at 3rd Annual Tayberry Jam - Reggae on the Mountain

I have been meaning to post up a track from Lafa Taylor's cd Different. This weekends festival, The 3rd Annual Tayberry Jam - Reggae on the Mountain, outside of Cottage Grove Oregon, gives me the perfect opportunity to do so. Lafa will be playing there on Saturday evening along with Clinton Fearon, Jah Sun, Prezident Brown, and many more. It will be a great opportunity to see some great music at a great venue, Cougar Mountain. The Festival is three days with lots of bands all day everyday as well as many spoken word presentations.

Back to Lafa Taylor. He is a multi talented MC, Electronic Wizard, and Beatboxer. His CD Different has been out for a while now and should be in your collection. He mixes hip hop and reggae and often collaborates with Marv Ellis, another extraordinary MC from Eugene. You can pick up his music at his website www.lafataylor.com, as well as lots of other info and some free downloads and bunch of videos. Below is a video of the track Rolling Dough off of the Different CD.


And here is a track that you can download from his website:

Lafa Taylor - Making Love

Summer Madness in the Summertime

Here is a couple classics for that summertime feeling. The first, Summer Madness, from Kool & The Gang, found on both the Light of Worlds LP 1974 and the Love And Understanding LP 1976.



Kool & The Gang Summer - Summer Madness



Summer Madness was the foundation for our next jam by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince classic hip hop single, Summertime(released 1991).



Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime (DJ Jazzy Jeff Mix)



And a bonus:


And remember this (from back when MTV actually had music)?

Yo L, Happy Birthday!

Big L - MVP Remix

Got the Wild Style

Came across this Big L video while surfing. I could watch this all day long. Man was the real-ness. Possibly my favorite mc of all time.

Z-Z-Z-Zelly Rock

My friend Zelly is one of the most talented mc's I know. I posted a track from one of his other acts the Don Dignitaries a while back. He also just did an album with Sleep from Old Dominion, Combination Locked, that is a must to check out. If you are up in Portland, Oregon look out for him and crew you won't be disappointed. This is one of my favorite tracks from his third solo effort that dropped back in 2006. Zelly is king of the catchy hooks and this is no exception. Featuring B-Legit and Duna.

Zelly Rock featuring B-Legit & Duna - The Turf Top

Jay Smooth and the Ill Doctrine

Hip Hop is Dead (For You)...

Beating the Little Hater...

I found this blog, the Ill Doctrine, some months back. Jay Smooth has the longest running hip hop radio show in NYC. The show, called Underground Railroad, is on Sat. nights 12am - 2am WBAI 99.5 FM. Since 1991. Respect. His video blog site deserves some as well. His blurbs are down to earth, inspirational, and humorous. I have had it in my favorites for a minute now and look forward to the next post. And I encourage all to check it out as there is much more content than I can post here, all of it worth checking. Keep on keeping it real Jay!

www.illdoctrine.com

The 40 Watter

Been listening to the second disc of this old E-40 cd a lot lately. The verse's on the second disc are classic 40 watter. Kind of gone back through the old school west coast in the rotation last couple days because of a couple posts in a forum I read. This disc is fourteen years old...get up on your classic ish.

E-40 - From The Ground Up ft. Too Short, K-Ci, and JoJo
E-40 - Ballin' Out of Control

Lafa Taylor Last Friday Night

Got a last minute call spin this past Friday before the bands took the stage at the Summit Saloon and Stage. Lafa Taylor was in town, with Marv Ellis in tow, backed by the Escort Service Band. DJ Marko opened the live music for the night, again backed by ESB. The Northwest really has got some great music happening again. Lafa and Marv, both have been holding it down for more than a minute, but this past year the ante has been upped. They really know how to work a crowd up into a frenzy, most of whom I don't think planned on being frenzied up either. But you can't stop a good time once it gets rolling. DJ Marko came correct with the reggae riddim Jamacain style DJ banter. Check out all these guys when you can. And definitely pick up their music, which you can find on their sites (links below). ciao!

www.LafaTaylor.com
Lafa's Myspace

www.MarvEllis.com
Marv's Myspace

DJ Marko Myspace

Don Dignitaries - High Grade Export

Happy New Year! It was a memorable year past and I am looking forward to a positive one ahead. I ushered in 2008 at the newly opened Summit Saloon and Stage in Bend,Oregon with my friends the Don Dignitaries supported by The Escort Service Band. A great time with lots of good vibes. The Don Dignitaries first full length album has been in heavy rotation in my decks for the past year. A memorable appearance this summer at the Northwest World Reggae Festival, again accompanied by the Escort Service Band, I feel has thrust them into the limelight as one of the Northwest's premiere acts. Definitely check them out when they come around. They are great showmen with a great live band bringing the best new roots and dancehall sounds around. And as a little encouragement to check them out and pick up there cd, High Grade Export, here is one of my favorite cuts from it. Big Ups to RK1 and Zelly Rock! No Hate in '08!

Don Dignitaries Myspace Page

Don Dignitaries - Original Don Dignitaries

Appreciate

Like to dedicate this post to my friends and and their baby Ellis who came into the world this past week. Was wanting to get back to some of that feel good hip hop here. And this is the track, my favorite of of Pete Rock's Soul Survivor II album. There are some good beats on this album but I felt a lot of the tracks lacked umph! Then I got to the last one and I played it like 20 times in a row. This track just makes me think about how much we got to be thankful for and how special life is, instead of it always being hard day to day which is how I view it a lot of the time. When I need perspective this is what I put on, that and some good Jerry Band tapes. The instrumental stands on its own as well.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Appreciate
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Appreciate Instrumental

Heads Up 'Cause We're Droppin' Some...

Ya'll have to remember Jeru. Always a fan of Primo's beats, when Jeru dropped back in '93 I was all over it. Fond memories of the golden age of Hip Hop.

Lifeline, Since We Last Spoke

Just in from a day of classes and now listening to some Roy Ayer, Lifeline LP. And for the new school a lil' RJD2's second album. Some of the best bagels ever on this shitake. Wish I had time to figure out how to make a post of some of this soul but you know it is coming. Til tomorrow. But just keep thinking for your self 'til then.