J-Swift's...Bizarre Ride...

J-Swift's...Bizarre Ride...

It is not only a tad ironic, but immensely sad that J-Swift produced a song called 'Pack The Pipe' on Pharcyde's classic 1992 album Bizarre Ride II...and after some personal shit with the Cyde and narcotics ended up falling victim to the crack pipe and homelessness and in the end winning his life and music career back and this was filmed for a documentary titled 1 more hit is due for release this year.
http://1morehit.com


J-Swift (born John Martinez) was one of those producers that made making beats seem easy,his formula was tight drum loops (often familiar breaks), interesting samples (often dusty jazz samples),horns, bass lines and ill track construction, his work for The Pharcyde, The Wascals and Quinton had a style and sound all it's own, so it was incredibly distressing to hear that one of the greatest producers of the 1990's had sold his production equipment, was broke, a crack addict and living on the streets, after falling out with the crew he took to great heights, J-Swift's decline is a tragic and long story and I have included some links below the supplied music...as that is what this post is about J-Swift and his (no pun intended) dope music.



So many questions do remain unanswered though, what ever happened to The Wascals-Greatest Hits album?, is it still collecting dust and cobwebs in locked storage somewhere?, what really went down with The Pharcyde crew?, there were rumours that the fall out was over the 'Cyde claiming credit over J-Swift's beats but I think it was possibly something deeper, and where did Quinton ever go?, will the Pharcyde ever do another album with J-Swift(he did 2 tracks with the only 2 'Cyde members and a remix for 2000's pretty average Plain Rap EP) lastly how many unreleased tracks or remixes has J-Swift not let us hear yet?.


Lastly, while doing some research, I have noticed that a lot of people seem to think that The Wascals was an a.k.a of The Pharcyde, this was not the case at all, The Wascals was Buckwheat (aka Buc Fifty),Spit-Anky, Al-Phie & St.Imey ( all named and based on the classic characters from the Little Rascals TV series) these kids were poised to do big things but alas politics and bullshit got in the way.

I'm not a huge fan of Buc Fifty's hardcore/gangster shit and was quite surprised when I first heard his first 2 Alchemist produced tracks, but it's good that he is still doing his thing,



Enjoy this comp if you haven't heard some of these tracks and remixes.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=USWC2264

1-pharcyde -pack the pipe

2-pharcyde_ft_buckwheat -on the dl

3-quinton_ft_darkskin-quintons_here

4-the_wascals - the dips

5-utd- manifest destiny remix

6-pharcyde - passin' me by

7-the_wascals_class_clown_(album_version)

8-massive_attack-protection (j swift mix)

9-pharcyde-otha fish.mp3

10-the_wascals - hard rhymes

11-pharcyde - 4 better or 4 worse

12-quinton-im_not_an_mc

13-wascals_class clown (fatlip_remix)

14-pharcyde- trust [remix]

15-pharcyde_ft_buckwheat - i'm that type of n----

http://www.discogs.com/artist/J-Swift

http://www.massappealmag.com/article.php?id=218

NB: I couldn't find a good version of the The Wascals-Dream & Imaginate 12" or The Dips (On My Jammie Mix), if you have these please leave a comment.

Thanks for reading and visiting this blog, I appreciate it.

Peace

SD50's-Stimulated Dummies in Effect...

"Dante is a scrub"
"Stop dissing Dante on wax y'all"

Do those quotes sound familiar too you?, they should do as they are referring to the dope beatmaker and a Man we owe a great debt of gratitude too, Dante "The Scrub" Ross was the kid that got the signatures on the dotted lines for such Hip Hop greats as De La Soul, Queen Latifah, and Digital Underground while working as an A & R for the Gravediggaz's all time favourite label Tommy Boy (lol) and later the dope production trio of Dante Ross, Geeby Dajani and John Gamble better known as Stimulated Dummies or The SD50's left a historic imprint on 90's Hip Hop by producing and or remixing for D-Nice (there first remix) Leaders of The New School, Brand Nubian,Hard 2 Obtain,D-Nice, Red Fox, Grand Puba,KMD, 3rd Bass,Fu-Schnickens, Kurious, Shazzy, Del and Old Dirty Bastard, Dante was responsible for getting all of those artists signed as well.

The SD50's had a classic sound, old breaks, funk, jazz, rock and soul samples and dope cuts provided the background for many an album track and a remix that is not heard these days and is missed, some of the material featured on the compilation I provided is over 16 years old.

I don't have any information (and I did a lot of research) on the other parts of the SD50's but I did learn that not all was sunshine and light in the camp,I have included some links below giving detailed Dante Ross background information and also a link about the former DJ of Hard 2 Obtain having more than a few harsh words to say about him when they both posted and went for each other's jugulars' on the imanifest blog in 2005.

http://www.beastiemania.com/whois/ross_dante

In depth article and great read (you will need to change this to translate it)

http://www.hiphopcore.net/artists/danteross.php3


Dante and DJ Six Seven going head to head in 2005.

http://imanifest.blogspot.com/2005/07/dante-is-scrub_17.html

It makes for very interesting reading and it gives great insight into how some artists really do put on a facade for the fans and listeners when all is not cool behind the closed doors.

It doesn't really matter what beefs or politics were involved as this blog is to focus on the most important thing, the music, which unfortunately Dante doesn't really seem to be a part of anymore, I wasn't a fan of his Korn remixes Santana production or the work on the dismal Run DMC-Crown Royal album.

The Stimulated album on Dante's own Stimulated label in 2001 was a good but average album in my opinion but the dude (still running with the Stimulated Dummies name) is getting paid and his history will always be important to Hip Hop.


So, enjoy this compilation I went through 60 or so tracks and tried to get the best feel of the SD50's sound I could... once again all of your comments, link ups and props are very much appreciated and I enjoy having this blog.

Peace

Jaz Presents--SD50'S-Dummies In Effect

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4UD98S0G

1-brand_nubian - step to the rear -1990

2-d-nice -crumbs on the table (stimulated dummies mix)-1990

3-del- boo boo heads -1993

4-3rd bass - 3 strikes 5000-1990

5-grand puba-mind your business-1992

6-kurious -jorge of the projects -1994

7-l.o.n.s--international zone coaster [sd50 remix]- 1991

8-kmd – humrush-1991

9-hard 2 obtain - joker's wild [next mix] -1994

10-del-hoodz come in dozens [sd5o remix] -1992

11-kurious - baby bust it -1994

12-grand puba - lickshot -1992

13-odb - give it to ya raw - sd50s remix -1995

14-3rd_bass- derelicts of dialect (sd50s remix)-1991

15-l.o.n.s. – transformers -1990

Volume 2 will be up soon I am still trying to track down a few remixes

Back to.....1994...

1994


First off the bat, I want to send mad thanks to the kids that have been e-mailing me and giving this blog props, all of you that have left comments and the kind words and big ups on all of the other ill blogs listed in my list, especially Poisonous Paragraphs and Wake Your Daughter Up,Crates of A G and To The Break of Dawn and a very special thanks to Fritz, Nikolaj, Megan and Scholar Wenis..

>>>>now 1994...



Ahhhhhhh the memories, the beats,the bass lines, the loops, the rhymes, the diversity, the talent, the creativity,the MC's and groups that were doing it good for the soul and the culture.

1994 is my third favourite year in rap music, 1988 and 1992 taking first and second place respectively...

Just like those years, 94 had a certain aura and sound and so many ill and classic singles and albums were released from all over, of course from the get go when any rap fan thinks back to 1994...2 MC's and 2 Classic and essential albums come to mind right? (of course I am talking about Nas-Illmatic and B.I.G.'s-Ready To Die)

Yes?...well good we are on the same level (lol) ha ha...no it's because they are my 2 fave albums of 1994 and I hold so many fond memories from both.

But man 94 had so many, many, many other diverse and dope artists as well,it seemed that every couple of weeks there was a fresh new style, single and album and really I think that it's only when you remember back that you get what was so special about that year and that the vibe and sound that was created...

...so for the past few weeks I have spent some time on this Back To 94 compilation,I just wanted to at least try to re-create what the quality of Hip Hop was like in those days, think of this like an old Fat Tape...because a lot of these where on mixes and comps I had back in 1994...and I went through a lot of tracks and different line ups.

Peace and feel free to leave a comment if you check this...(extra special thanks to Smoov from Vinyl Addicts)

jaz presents-back_to_1994_volume_1

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XMN2QN6Y

1-pete_rock_and_cl_smooth-get on the mic (pete rock remix)

2-king_tee-you cant see me (prod: broadway)

3-a.d.o.r-the kid is crazy (prod: diamond_d)

4-bas_blasta-aint_whatcha_do (prod: beatnuts)

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmFTdttvyeI

5-shorty long-shorty’s doing his thang (prod: lord finesse)

6-h20-ism_and_blues

7-extra_prolific-never changing (prod: snupe)

8-e-rule-synopsis (prod: king born allah)

9-black sheep-autobiographical

10-world renown-come take a ride (west coast vibe) (prod: marley marl)

11-down_south-open_sesame (prod: beatnuts)

12-fat_joe-the shit is real (dj premier remix)

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zcs3ICp_Ds

13-keith murray-the most_beautifulest thing in the world (erick sermon green eyed remix)

video (for lp version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcczNdNiqGM

14-kurious_ft_sadat x & mike g-a mansion and a yacht (groove merchantz mix)

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXzvr2hlrEw

15-quinton-im_not_an_mc (prod: j-swift)

16-redman - bobyahed2dis (prod: erick sermon)

17-society -rap as an art (prod: dj slice)

18-slick_rick-get a job (prod: pete rock)

19-people_without_shoes-green_shoe_laces (prod: m.g.)

20-the_legion- legion groove (prod: c.m.e.)

21-dredknotz- the anthem (prod: big ezo)

22–pmd-shade business (beatnuts remix)

23-brand nubian - return of the dread

24-craig mack ft b.i.g., ll cool j, busta rhymes & rampage - flava in ya ear (remix)

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn3lExtaSvo

25-sham_and_the_professor_the_so-low-ist (kenny dope remix)

The following is a list of just some of the artists that were around in 1994

Above The Law

Artifacts

Asia Born

Bas Blasta

Beastie Boys

Black Moon

Blackalicious

Boodah an Da Bandit

Boogie Monsters

Brand Nubian

Bushwackass

Bustin Melonz

Big Mike

Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf

CMW (MC Eiht)

Common Sense

Craig Mack

Da Bush Babees

Da Youngstas

DFC

Diamond D

Down South (Shawn J Periods first group)

Dred Scott

ED OG & Da Bulldogs

Extra Prolific

Fat Joe

Gangstarr

Ghetto Philharmonic

Grand Daddy I.U.

Gravediggaz

Ground Floor

Hard 2 Obtain

Heavy D

Jeru

Keith Murray

King Sun

King Tee

Kurious

KMD

Lord Finesse

Lords of The Underground

M.O.P.

Mad Lion

Maestro Fresh Wes

Method Man

MOP

Nine
OC

Odd Squad

Outkast

Paris

Pete Rock & CL Smooth

PMD

Project Blowed

Quinton

Ras Kass

RBL Posse

Ready Ta Roll

Redman

Scarface

Scientifik

Shadz of Lingo

Sham & The Professor

Shorty Long

Shyhiem

Slick Rick

Smif N Wesson

Society

The Alkaholiks

The Beatnuts

The Dredknotz

The Roots

Top Quality

UMC’s

Volume 10

Yaggfu Front

Stay tuned for Volume 2...