Rare ’97 footage of Big L (RIP), OC, and DJ OGEE on the Croatian TV show about DJ culture, Top DJ Mag. Dope live performance bits at Club Aquarius (in Zagreb), as well as a sit-down with both artists and obligatory freestyle session to close things up nicely.
Shit like this brings back crazy memories of the Fat Beats days where it seemed like my man Ryan (Siko) was constantly going back and forth to participate in overseas shows with various D.I.T.C. members (to then hit local spots like Tramps, RIP). He’d tell me how much love heads received out there (and you can see the proof in just how packed and amped the crowd is during the live segments of these videos), it was crazy to me. At that point, I really began to understand how much the rest of the world, as in countries I’ve never even considered, was in-tune with this Hip Hop shit.
Part 1 – OC Interview, Live Performance, “Far From Yours” video
Part 2 – @2:57 mark: Big L Interview, Live Footage, Big L & OC Freestyle
Today marks the 12th anniversary of DITC affiliate Big L’s passing. Hot 97′s Mister Cee dropped a proper mix of audio selections for the fans of the uptown legend — don’t hesitate to check it here, it’ll remind you why heads consider him one of the best to bless a mic. As a bonus, here’s the mixDJ Soul dropped to commemorate L’s 35th bornday in ’09. The influence dude had amongst the up and coming uptown emcees isn’t questionable. Rest in power L.
Yesterday, I had a chance pre-feast pow-wow with my man Harlem Boog and (Brooklyn) Migz. One cat came through to my lab…then another one made the impromptu stop-in…and boom…we’re in a 3-cornered circle talking about days long passed: our first tapes, buying albums for one song and hating the rest of it (yet still listening through the whole shit since missing somethin’ or poppin’ your tape with rigorous fast-forward/rewind work would have been a much greater tragedy), off-the-radio mixtapes (how we used keep the system on mega low volume, head next to the speaker and finger on “pause”…all to stay under the parental radar since rap music was racy and full of the wrong messages (to them)), $5 limo bags, memos your school would send to pop/ma dukes about certain fly pieces that would put his/her/their child at risk, the first time we heard a Kool G Rap joint, how Ready To Die may have been modeled after Live And Let Die, Evil Dee on HOT97 Monday nights, etc. I love that type of shit.
In today’s featured clip, we see a (similar, yet larger…and perhaps more document-worthy) gathering of the minds at the legendary “Fever” in the Boogie Down. It’s gotta be ’93 or so, and a young Fat Joe celebrates the completion of his debut album with the rest of the BDP/Diggin’ In The Crates crew, Uncle Ralph McDaniels (who more appropriate to host…plus it IS “Nervous Thursday” after all), KRS, Dres, Red Alert, Special K, Teddy Ted, Sadat-X, Primo, Willie D, and then some. The air is thick with grand mutual respect and genuine comradery amongst the artists…something seldom felt in this day and age of pre-packaged egos, Internet beef, and all-pseudo-everything.
So on this day…enjoy the familial vibe of this clip, remember the good times, and embrace the moments you get with your loved ones. Eat well.
Let’s keep it short today. The weekend is looming. I have to run around like a maniac to finish up some projects.
L kills this. One of my favorite combos of verse and beat…I mean seriously…THAT beat?!?! PTP calls it a “nightrider whip anthem”. I would be out at late-enough hours and hear this writhe and pound out of various rides. Shit sounded like ESG’s “UFO” was savagely assaulted by Kubrick’s The Shining. The simplicity of its arrangement just makes for a lumbering giant of a soundscape. Cake taker.
In this episode, Lord Finesse comes through to Yo! MTV Raps to promote his Return Of The Funkyman album. He brings along his man “Nicky” as well as a young chap by the name of “Big L”. Ed Lover almost immediately takes notice of the “Devil’s son” element in L’s almost-too-quiet demeanor. Finesse speaks about being down with Ice-T’s crew, The Syndicate, and spits a freestyle. Enjoy this clip in all of its archival glory.
Around the same time, this cut was recorded…
Showbiz & AG feat. Big L, Deshawn, and Lord Finesse
