Real Live Shit

Camu Tao - RIP

2008-05-30T02:38:00.003-04:00

Camu Tao and Jakki da Motamouth with Bobbito in spring 2000

Akbar, Copywrite, and Camu Tao on Bobbito's CM Famalam Show in spring 2001

Aesop Rock and Camu Tao on the Halftime Show in late summer 2003

Homeboy Sandman

2008-04-11T01:57:00.006-04:00

Lionel Essrog, the narrator of Jonathan Lethem's novel Motherless Brooklyn, has Tourette's Syndrome. One of the ways his disorder manifests itself is in the manipulation of language. Occasionally, he hears a word or phrase which triggers a compulsion to turn the words upside down and inside out. In his head, Lionel's own name becomes Liable Guesscog, Final Escrow, Ironic Pissclam. Reference to an alibi causes him to tic, "Alibi hullabaloo gullible bellyflop smellafish."

This is what I am reminded of when listening to Homeboy Sandman. Listen to this first verse he kicked on Squeeze Radio's 5th Anniversary show last month. He digs into the words, using slant rhymes, alliteration, and assonance to explore every possible sound they inspire before moving on. Do his lyrics make any sense? Who gives a shit?

Word to your motherless

Here's a couple other verses:
A capella to close out Squeeze's anniversary show
Freestyling over a too-slow beat on the Halftime Show last November

Kamakaze - RIP

2008-04-10T00:19:00.003-04:00

Kamakaze aka KL, of Screwball, died on March 28.

Here he is on WNYU in spring 2004.
KL on WNYU Halftime Show

This must be one of his last recorded performances, on the Halftime Radio Show's 10th Anniversary on March 5, 2008.
KL on Halftime's 10th Anniversary

Artifacts

2007-05-20T16:06:00.000-04:00

I don't know when this first performance is from. Some time prior to 1997 is all I can say. The Artifacts are joined by B-Wise and C-Style. If you know anything about them, or when this was recorded, share the wealth.

Part 1 of Artifacts on Stretch and Bobbito
Part 2

Ten years after their final group album, both El da Sensai and Tame One continue to make moves as solo artists. El was joined by a cat named Ink on the radio a few weeks ago.

Part 1 of Ink and El da Sensai on Squeeze Radio
Part 2

Tame also did his thing recently, accompanied by a couple MCs from his Boom Skwad crew. I gotta pull out those old Artifacts albums again; I usually preferred El, but Tame shows off mad zaniness here that I didn't really remember from him.

Tame One interview
Tame One, Rhino, Devlaree on Squeeze Radio

I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet, but Stretch Armstrong recently posted up a bunch of Tame One performances from the old 89-tec-9 days.

Polyrhythm Addicts

2007-04-28T00:04:00.000-04:00

Eight years later, a new album sneaks out of nowhere. Hip-hop has been rejuvenated. Well, maybe not. These are just the type of cats whose records I don't usually check for, but they can be entertaining on the freestyle tip.

The first time I ever heard of Shabaam Sahdeeq was on Stretch and Bobbito in June 1996, rhyming back to back with Black Thought. (For more Black Thought, check here.) One of the things I like about live radio sessions is hearing combinations of MCs who wouldn't ordinarily interact with each other.

Shabaam Sahdeeq and Black Thought on Stretch and Bob

This probably isn't the greatest performance Mr. Complex ever gave, but he gets warmed up and flows pretty nicely after a bit. He teams up with Maestro, who sounds like a second-tier Chubb Rock. From November 1999.

Mr. Complex and Maestro on Stretch and Bobbito

Finally, the realigned Addicts (now featuring Tiye Phoenix) showed off their talents last week in support of the new album. Obviously, Shabaam has come a long way in the past decade (though he only spits writtens on this session).

Polyrhythm Addicts on Squeeze Radio

Phone Tap

2007-04-08T02:30:00.000-04:00

What's the only thing better than live rhyming on the radio? I love hearing MCs spit over the air late at night, over an unfamiliar beat, without a professional mixdown, most likely drunk, high, tired, or some combination thereof. But even better is hearing them rhyme over the phone. Calling into the station, probably can't hear the music, voice stripped of soul and personality -- I love it! Here's a few examples of recent vintage:

Da Nuthouse in Spring 2004

Phil da Agony in Spring 2004

Queen Herawin (of the Juggaknots) in Spring 2005

All from WKCR Squeeze Radio.

NYOIL

2006-11-29T23:48:00.000-05:00

While I'm slacking on updates, I'll share this recent interview with NYOIL recorded on WBAI's Hip-Hop Takeover. It's fairly brief and pretty interesting if you've never heard him speak before. He seems passionate and genuine. I'm not yet decided if he's a dope MC behind the relative shock-value, but it's nice to hear someone with some substance and thought behind their rhymes, so I'll keep listening for now.

NYOIL interview on WBAI

A Tribute to Ignorance has had a few entries on NYOIL, including his controversial videos and some heated discussion that the artist himself has gotten involved in here, here, and here.

I don't know if these interviews are mad boring to everyone, but I like them when it's a charismatic guest with a good story to tell. Regardless, I will try to focus on some more music soon.

Termanology

2006-11-18T17:18:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posts...shit is rather disorganized here.

Termanology dropped a tremendous 12" this year, thanks in no small part to beats from DJ Premier and Statik Selektah, and a guest verse from Trife Diesel. Despite a penchant for looking like a corny bastard on his cover art, Term is pretty nice on the mic himself. Here are three verses from his appearance on WNYU's Halftime Show earlier this year.

Termanology on the Halftime Show
verse #2
verse #3

Apparently he's dropped a few mixtapes; has anyone heard them? I'll have to check a couple out once my self-imposed hiatus from buying any new music ends.

Hiero vs. Hobo

2006-10-29T21:04:00.000-05:00

In 1994, Saafir made a brilliant guest appearance on Casual's debut album Fear Itself. Saafir wanted Casual to return the favor on his own debut, Boxcar Sessions, but for whatever reason Casual didn't show up. Saafir took it personally, and soon his crew, the Hobo Junction, was beefing with Casual's Hieroglyphics crew. They agreed to settle it in a battle broadcast on Sway and Tech's Wake Up Show. There was dispute about whether Saafir was using written rhymes, and whether he had warned he would do so beforehand. But when you hear him open his first verse "Did your momma tell you that you was my son," sounding "like he could swallow the fucking planet" (as Cocaine Blunts described him), it doesn't really seem to matter.

The entire battle is long (over 45 minutes) but there's stuff worth hearing throughout. Click the second link if you just want to hear the opening few salvoes from Casual and Saafir, before their soldiers get involved.

Hiero vs. Hobo (whole battle)
Casual vs. Saafir

Less remembered is the pre-battle battle which took place at San Francisco's Crash Palace. The sound quality is poor, but it's part of the history, so here you go:

Crash Palace battle

Fondle 'Em Fossils

2006-10-22T13:57:00.000-04:00

A few performances from artists who helped make Fondle 'Em Records one of the greatest hip-hop labels ever during its brief existence.

If you are familiar with Siah and Yeshua da poED, then you know they left far too few recordings before Siah retired to apply his efforts to the disaster that is Middle East politics. Coincidentally, A Tribute to Ignorance (one of the best websites around, peep that shit) just posted three old freestyles from the pair. Here's one more, joined by J-Treds in 1996.

Siah, Yeshua, and J-Treds on KZSU

Next, J-Treds comes back to New York for a live performance at the late Wetlands club. After a couple solo joints, he is joined by Breezely Brewin, El-P, and Big Juss to form the Indelible MCs. I'm not sure of the date on this; some time between 1997 and 2001. Try to ignore Bobbito's periodic shouts.

Indelible MCs live at Wetlands

Finally, a freestyled promo for WKCR 89.9 FM recorded by Cage and Godfather Don, from some time in the mid-90s.

Cage and Godfather Don promo

Jay-Z

2006-10-15T20:06:00.000-04:00

Surprise, surprise. The "comeback" is official; the new album is imminent. Now that he's a business, man, and everything he does is an event, it's easy to forget that Jay-Z reached this status in no small part by being a formidable MC. In 1995, Big L had the record deal and Jay-Z was just an underground rapper still putting in dues. You may have heard this classic radio appearance before but it's always worth another listen. Both MCs show off rapid-fire deliveries, with Big L focusing on the punchlines and Jigga switching up his patterns with ease. Seven minutes of microphone terrorism.

Jay-Z and Big L on Stretch and Bobbito

I am not sure where or when this brief live performance comes from. Based on The Jaz's presence, it's around 1998 at the latest, and I'm guessing a few years before that.

Jay-Z, Jaz, and Busta Rhymes live

Freddie Foxxx

2006-10-08T19:20:00.000-04:00

No musical performance today, but a fascinating radio interview with Bumpy Knuckles (including the story of how he got the name Bumpy Knuckles). The entire thing is over an hour long, but well-worth listening to. Freddie Foxxx is candid, funny, and intelligent in discussing his problems with Rakim, his recordings with KRS, and battling rappers over the Internet.

If you just want to hear about the beef with Rakim, I posted that as a 20 minute excerpt. You can also read this.

Entire interview
on Rakim only

PEACE

2006-09-28T22:52:00.000-04:00

My favorite scene from Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme: Divine Styler is explaining how a freestyle referred to a "non-conceptual" rhyme when he was coming up, and evolved to the current definition of unwritten, spontaneous lyrics. PEACE then drops 40 seconds of heat, strides off-camera, and leaves Divine Styler speechless.

Divine Styler and PEACE in Freestyle

In 1999 PEACE faced off against relative unknown Eyedea at Scribble Jam. Eyedea was awarded the title, and probably deserved it, but he did have the advantage of knowing PEACE's history and being able to use it against him. This mp3 consists of two rounds which I put back-to-back; I'm not sure why they faced each other twice in the battle.

Eyedea vs. PEACE at Scribble Jam

Wake Up Show / Future Flavas

2006-09-24T15:34:00.000-04:00

Digging through some old tapes, I came across this radio recording I had forgotten about. A gang of MCs spit rhymes from coast-to-coast during a show that was apparently simulcast on Sway and Tech's Wake Up Show and Marley Marl's Future Flavas, I believe some time in late 1997. Aceyalone, Common, and Mikah 9 are particularly on top of their games here. I spoke to Common briefly in early 1998 and he asked me if I was looking forward to the Cappadonna album. "That guy's funny to me," he said, and I wonder if he was thinking back to this show. 'Donna's unique approach to freestyling is certainly showcased here. Other performers include Killarmy, Killa Priest, Mykill Miers, Abstract Rude, and Diverse. The whole thing is about 35 minutes long.

Wake Up Show / Future Flavas freestyles

Masta Ace

2006-09-09T23:16:00.000-04:00

First is a nice freestyle on the Stretch and Bobbito show. I'm not sure when it was recorded, but he's accompanied by Lord Digga, so I assume it's from the Masta Ace Incorporated era of the early-mid '90s. Ace shows off that classic on-beat/off-beat flow with some great punchlines off the top of the head.

Master Ace and Lord Digga on Stretch and Bobbito

More recently, he appeared on the 5th anniversary of the Halftime Show, along with new protege Apocalypse. Here are a couple of his turns on the mic. Early 2003.

Masta Ace on Halftime Show
Masta Ace and Apocalypse

Wise Intelligent

2006-09-02T13:28:00.000-04:00

If anyone's reading this, sorry for the delay in updates...to hold you over, here's a Wise Intelligent interview from last month on WNYU's Halftime Show. He builds on the early days of Poor Righteous Teachers, the Nation of Gods and Earths, and his new music.

Wise Intelligent on the Halftime Show

I'll try to have some more goodies early next week.

The Roots

2006-08-19T17:23:00.000-04:00

Their seventh album, Game Theory, drops at the end of the month, so we'll take it back to when they first burst into national consciousness. Both of these selections are from around 1994, when The Roots recorded their second (and best) album, Do You Want More?!!!??! First is Black Thought alone on New York's WBLS.

Black Thought on WBLS

Next the group visits Stretch and Bobbito. Black Thought is joined on the mic by Malik B. and Dice Raw, and Rahzel provides some beats at the end. The three MCs all go off the top and show some great interplay. It's a little bittersweet to hear all the talent in that room. Since then, Malik B. has had some serious personal problems, Dice Raw (about 15 years old at the time) never lived up to his tremendous potential, and Rahzel apparently left the group on bad terms. Malik and Dice do make appearances on the new album though.

The Roots on Stretch and Bobbito

KRS-ONE

2006-08-12T18:16:00.000-04:00

I couldn't make up my mind what to do for the second entry, but finally decided I couldn't go wrong featuring the greatest MC of all time.

First we have KRS with Lord Finesse and Supernatural on the famed Stretch and Bobbito show in 1995. Finesse kicks writtens, Supernatural of course is off the top, and Kris slides back and forth from written to freestyle. Everyone sounds like they're just having a great time, goofing on each other and enjoying hip-hop.

KRS-ONE, Lord Finesse, and Supernatural on Stretch and Bobbito

Second is KRS and Common rhyming on New York's Hot 97 in early 1998. (I think I actually snatched this from some mixtape back in the day, but I don't remember which.) Favorite moment: Common's laugh as Kris prepares to pass the mic, sounding somewhat intimidated at the thought of following up the Teacha's monster verse. He acquits himself admirably.

KRS-ONE and Common on Hot 97

Rhymefest

2006-08-05T12:17:00.000-04:00

Our first entry is dedicated to Rhymefest, an MC who has certainly paid his dues and finally released his first album last week. I actually find Blue Collar pretty disappointing thus far, but I'm still digesting it.

I first heard Rhymefest about 10 years back, when he and fellow Chicagoan Juice were winning battles all over the country. The first link is from that era, circa 1996, performing on Kevin Beecham's show on WNUR. I lived on the South Side of Chicago at the time, and WNUR broadcasted from north of the city, so unfortunately most of the time it was out of earshot.

Rhymefest on WNUR

The second link is from fall 2003. Poison Pen, PackFM, and Immortal Technique were on WNYU's Halftime Show. Rhymefest shows up, absolutely DESTROYS the mic, and pisses off DJ Eclipse in the process. Good times. In his second chance he kicks the verse that Kanye West would make famous in "Jesus Walks" 6 months later.

Poison Pen, PackFM, Immortal Technique, Rhymefest on Halftime Show

Alpha

2006-08-05T11:45:00.000-04:00

If anyone is reading this, welcome. This is a hip-hop MP3 blog, but I'm hoping it will be slightly different than most. I'm not planning to post forgotten obscurities, or tracks that were never released, or hot shit that ain't even out yet. There's already a ton of sites which offer that stuff, and there isn't much I could add to the table. The focus here will be on live performances and freestyles. A lot of the music I'll offer will be MCs rhyming live on the radio. Even if they're not going off the top of the head, something about those performances often interests me. It can be an average MC with average lyrics whose records leave me ambivalent, but if he's spitting those same rhymes live on the air without worrying about making a polished record, there will often be a raw energy which is captivating. Of course, I hope you'll consider most of the stuff you find here to be better than average MCs with better than average lyrics. So feel free to tune in for freestyles, freewrittens, battles, concerts, maybe a few recorded interviews, and whatever else I feel like throwing up here. I'll try to update at least once a week, but who knows.