Ethan Hunt Stunts


Torae preps his super-producer studded gem of a debut, For The Record, which means another leak to get the mouths watering…this time it’s a Pete Rock-laced heater. November 1st, mark that.

Torae “That Raw” (Produced by Pete Rock)

Metal Muskateers


The 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s conglomerate of Camp Lo and Pete Rock, plus Rapper Big Pooh, do a slight hat-tip to LL with this new burner. I’m not at all unhappy with the fact that many of these 80 Blocks joints have been recognizable/non-rare samples flipped again…the slanguage and flow are just that futuristic to balance it all out.

80 Blocks From Tiffany’s “Booming System” (Feat. Rapper Big Pooh, Prod. by Pete Rock)

Beat Walkers On The Reg

Classic Video Music Box “Nervous Thursday” segment with Crazy Sam on the scene of a ’95 Harlem anti-police brutality rally with community leaders, radio personalities, and some of the hip hop’s elite. All of you youngins, don’t get it twisted, the abuse of power and authority by government issued thirstbuckets has always been an issue in the city, just that it’s easier for us to document the atrocities with today’s everyday-carry technology. This is especially golden since last week’s horrendous events, downtown.

Highlights include commentary/points made by: Crazy Sam, Group Home, Smif-N-Wessun, Frankie Cutlass, and Lauryn Hill. Other cats you’ll see and hear from: Jeru Da Damaja, OC, Top Dog (O.G.C.), DJ S&S, Method Man, Cash Money Click (Ja Rule and Irv way before the Def Jam deal), Wyclef, and then some.

I can’t front, some of the rhetoric is on that public access/Two-Fifth Israelite steez (ahem…Jeru…ahem), but that’s what it was at the time. At least cats were willing unify and speak out without the big corporate sponsor shitshow…and many of these people were rap’s posterchildren, at the time. Imagine any one of these popular newfangled rappers, mainstream or street-level, doing something like this without a reality show camera crew. Quoting some ill theories on history and government hierarchy? Never would happen, especially not on any major/daytime media outlet. Even with the freedom of the Internet, these younger MC’s are too caught up in acting like they’re starlets, sharing the spotlight with the headliners of Hot97′s Summer Jam. Fuck outta here. The caliber of character behind the talent is at disgustingly low levels these days.


Part 1

Part 2 (ill bit about Elvis Presley and Method Man on a bus)

Part 3 (Lauryn & Sam vs. Jeru)

Part 4

Part 5

The Warriors


Camp Lo and Pete Rock bang out a new 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s joint (for the next installment of the “mixtape” series). Classic Pete Rock sample being flipped again? Check…but, it’s really a more basement-like approach where the cats throw on the instrumental side of The Ambassadors‘ 45 for “I Ain’t Got The Love” and rock. It was bound to happen soon. Funny thing is, that very 45, from 1969, literally fell into my hands the day this came out (earlier this week).

80 Blocks From Tiffanys (Camp Lo & Pete Rock) “No Hook (Ambassador’s Theme)”

They Create More Chaos

Bloomberg‘s foot soldiers once again showing their collective asses.

What was, at first, a peaceful event for Smif-N-Wessun and Pete Rock’s Monumental album release, ultimately malformed into a display of grotesque ignorance and tactlessness by the most heavily-armed gang in the city, the boys in blue (and no, I definitely am not talking about any Crips). Apparently, a single altercation OUTSIDE of the venue brought on the rushing gaggles of soldiers and pepper spray fog cover. Mind you, it was the evening of the 3rd to last day of the month – the answer to all of this nonsense is not as confusing as how that just read (think about how else they’d reach those end of the month quotas). Nothing new here, just further documentation on the fact that New York’s Finest simply practice anti-concern, intolerance, and brute force – no questions asked.

Now I have a question. Since when has a public event (even if teetering on becoming a so-called situation) reaped any peace-restoring benefits from police intervention? Maybe in a small domestic dispute between a couple, or the chance petty-theft-turned-1-block-chase scenario, but in community-type instances, the NYPD‘s patented style of flexing their menace (read: crowd control) has only quickened the climb from stability to red button magnitudes (read: non-civility). Perhaps greeting the people, whom you’ve sworn to serve and protect, with swinging nightsticks and hands on holstered firearms just isn’t the best way to start a conversation on defusing any loom-heavy tensions. Pardon me, I forgot about the Mace and Tasers.

That just shows exactly how these droids are (mis-)wired. By now, any half-awake 10-year-old knows that the image of an officer putting in effort to relate to the common citizen is simply some press conference podium hype, tell me, a born and bred New Yorker of 30 years, otherwise.

Coincidentally, I just found out that Mace was originally manufactured by Lake Erie Chemical (as “Chemical Mace”), an underling of Smith & Wesson (the New England-based arms maker). Ain’t that some shit?

Thankfully, the rumors of Pete Rock’s wife and daughter being harmed in the midst of the chaos were false. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about many other people and their friends and loved ones.

EDIT: No, wait, they did put hands on Pete’s family.

FATHER-YOU-SEE-KING THE PO.

For more info on this utter fuckery, okayplayer just posted an insightful interview with Tek and Steele.

Big ups Jay Diamond and Miss Info.

Couldn’t Reach Me

Smif-N-Wessun and Pete Rock not only drop their new effort Monumental today, but new visuals for “That’s Hard” featuring Styles P and Sean Price are in too. And if you’re in or around the Apple check the trio tonight at Tammany Hall (152 Orchard St.) for the album’s release party, entrance is free with a RSVP to: events@bucktownusa.com — check the official flyer.

No Weak Link

Some producers who’ve put together some of the illest hip hop full-lengths speak on another one of the greatest producers, and rap duos, and why the combination will make for a listening experience so seldom felt these days. The importance of both legacy and loyalty.

Pete Rock and Smif-N-Wessun‘s Monumental, out June 28, via Duck Down Records.

East Village Pillage

More streamable chunkiness from our favorite source for on-air listening pleasurables…EVR. Here are some recent happenings (equipped with photos, brief descriptions, direct stream links and …what not) that we know will help you jet across those waves of workday tedium.

Last week on Deadly Dragon Sounds, special guests Pete Rock, DJ Muro, and Magachin came through to switch the pace from the program’s usual fare of traum-heavy, kulcha don vibes to some seriously nasty sets of funk goodness (Muro on those mean little 45RPM platters). Stream that April 18 Episode.


Two weeks ago, on one of our absolute favorites, Forty Deuce, the dynamic duo of Keene and Gee maintain their colossal, musical wiz, guest tribute flow from the previous week with Mr. Jimmy Castor, and pay homage to the legendary Funk Brothers guitarist, Dennis Coffey (sandwiched between the appropriately placed chain of Motown gems, plus random hip hop). This is the guy who brought the guitar to Motown! Mr. Coffey even calls in and the listeners are treated to another monumental on-air interview (the guy is dealing with some heavy science…literally). Stream that April 13 Episode.

Also, switched the links on the previous Forty Deuce posts with Ad Rock and Jimmy Castor to one-click streamable joints for your ease of navigation. We know dealing with your boss and dickhead co-workers has been headache enough.

Liquid Lasers Let Off

80 Blocks From Tiffany’s, the Camp Lo and Pete Rock collab, on some supersonic b-boy shit. Visuals by Court Dunn. Very excited for this project’s release.

“Mic Check” (Produced by Pete Rock)

My Posse From The Bronx Is Deep


Ladies and gents, the precursor to the Camp Lo & Pete Rock collaboration, 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s, has been put out for public consumption. This release of new bangers, blends, and lesser-known Lo’ah gems is seamlessly thrown together by DJ’s Trackstar and Mark Divita (with most of the production handled by The Soul Brother #1, himself). I’ll let the guys responsible for the mixtape’s release, The Smoking Section, do the rest of the talking…

This tape does double duty. It reminds us of Camp Lo’s sometimes slept-on lyrical talent while serving hardcore fans with appetizers off the forthcoming full-length…

While we’re always fans of new material, it’s the hidden gems from Camp Lo’s earlier days that stand out. The Marvin Gaye sampled “Sandman,” stands out—a soulful reinterpretation exposition on Camp Lo’s love for women (plural). The focus on sampling and lyrical proficiency recalls a style fundamental to Hip-Hop, but in some ways passing us by. As distant descendants of Native Tongues, both Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede fit comfortably with this genre, mixing classic sounds with their own brand of off-the-wall, multi-syllabic rhymes. Should be interesting to see what they can do over a full stable of Pete Rock joints.

Click here for the The Tiffany Blue Mixtape Pt. 1.

While we’re on the topic of classic shit from the Diamond Crooks…looky what I stumbled upon today.

Yeah man…those were the days when BET was actually watch’able. Peep Mya in the tan(?) sweater on the right side at the end of the crowd on stage (she got her start as a background dancer and “correspondent” on here…was another reason why I watched back in my wonder years). I miss sitting down on a Saturday and being blessed by a gem of a performance on Teen Summit. More on that later…