Gang Starr-The Remixes, The B-Sides and The Rest and other Bits...

DJ Premier (Chris Martin) and Guru (Keith Elam), imagine if we never had these two veterans, honestly can you?... There would be a massive dent in your rap collection but you know what?...I can't imagine it, because the Gang Starr imprint is etched into my mind until I die, horns, precise cuts, bass,perfectly chopped samples, loops, drums,strings, a deep and monotone symphonic vocal tone, pianos, guitars,influential, hooks,innovation, vocal cuts and dazzling and superior scratching displays.

All of those words are what I think of when I think about Gang Starr, I will never understand why the ill duo never went double platinum or had sales go through the roof...this is Hip Hop, Gang Starr are Hip Hop and always will be...when people ask me who my favourites are or who I still listen to, I can guarantee you that when I list them off Gang Starr are one of the first to leave my lips.


For those that don't know the back story of Gang Starr check the Wikipedia link below and it will tell you everything you need to know.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_Starr


I feel privileged to have lived through the Gang Starr era, not from the very beginning but from getting a CD single of 'Jazz Thing' in 1990 and when the brilliant Step In The Arena dropped and I remember my man Big Daddy Cam (BDC) sending over a dub (cassette) of the album from his vinyl because he got it in Australia first...well long before us anyway that's for sure

The MVC Posse and I played tracks off it from the tape on air on the Wednesday Nite Jam and we were in awe at the whole tape, I remember hearing that the spot to get imports The Soul MIne (RIP) had got it in on tape, CD and LP along with the 12"'Just To Get A Rep'

That was a happy day and my Gang Starr tape was never far from my reach after that, I learned all of the rhymes and held DJ Premier as my favourite producer from that album, I wanted more and went and spoke to a friend at another record store if he knew of them, he was all hell yeah and asked me if I had the first album.

I looked at him with wide eyes and said "the first album?", he told me about No More Mr Nice Guy and I told him that I remembered seeing that listed in Tim Westwood's NME Top Hip Hop 20 and it was on a wish list and more than likely I had heard earlier tracks on the Weds Nite Jam show.

But I only had recordings from taping the show,man back in those days I used to make compilation tapes from tracks I recorded off radio and would title them er...Thatz Def and Raw Power Raps and things of that nature.

Luckily for me the record store my friend worked at was getting imports in the next week and by the following Friday I was $45 poorer but now had Gang Starr's Wild Pitch album in my hands (and still do :D ).

I put it on and realized I had heard a few tracks before but listening to the album in it's entirety was a dope listening experience and I thought Guru sounded the same but really young and I could hear DJ Premier being influenced by the great Marley Marl on this album.

Gang Starr have consistently released dope material time and time again, sure some of the tracks differ in quality (I still think some people hated on The Ownerz unfairly) but that happens to every artist in a long career, we all know that Guru does not have the same impact on his solo albums, as he does with Preem behind him as well.

Who knows if there ever will be another Gang Starr album, DJ Premier is still murdering it behind the boards and behind the wheels of steels and Guru still has some solid releases now and then, I recently had to do a Top 25 Beats of all time at the infamous When They Reminisce site and included "The Illest Brother" and I wasn't the only one...

http://whentheyreminisce.blogspot.com

you should read all of the lists...

I would like to state that the list I did it over there isn't really an official one, I'm happy with most of it, but would re-do it if I was asked to.

Okay, so what have I got for you good readers?, well...I thought it was a dope idea to do a compilation with their non album tracks,remixes, b-sides and the rest and yep I am sure others have done this before...but this is the Cold Rock Da Spot one and yours if you send me an e-mail (by the way the reason I do this, is so I can get to know my readers and to annoy the leeches...haha)

gang starr-the remixes,b-sides and the rest


1. flip the script (minor adjustment remix)-produced by dj premier-(1992)
2. bust a move boy-produced by the 45 king-(1987)
3. positivity (remix)-produced by dj premier-(1989)
4. ex girl to next girl(remix)-produced by dj premier-(1992)
5. check the technique (remix)-produced by dj premier-(1991)
6. so wassup-produced by dj premier-(1997)
7. natural-produced by dj premier-(2002)
8. all 4 the cash-produced by dj premier-(1999)
9. the squeeze-produced by dj premier-(2001)
10.battle-produced by dj premier-(2002)
11.credit is due-produced by dj premier-(1991)
12. jazz thing (movie mix)-produced by dj premier-(1990)
13. gotta get over (large pro remix)- (radio)-(1992)
14. here's the proof-produced by dj premier & guru-(1989)
15. believe dat-produced by dj 1 2 b down and guru-(1987)
16. no more mr nice guy (remix)-produced by dj premier-(1989)
17. the question remainz-produced by dj premier-
18. the militia (pete rock remix)-(1998)
19. it's a jazz thing (video mix)-produced by dj premier-(1990)
20. 2 deep (may we get a bit deeper remix)-produced by dodge & ig culture-(1992)

coldrockdaspot@hotmail.com

Special thanks to Stylus

and...

Uncle Travis is feeling burnt out (lol)
http://wakeyourdaughterup.blogspot.com/2007/08/links-links-and-more-links.html

Dart Adams is straight killing it on the writing tip yet again
http://poisonousparagraphs.blogspot.com/2007/08/whats-new-in-darts-ipod-3-aka-back-in.html
http://poisonousparagraphs.blogspot.com/2007/08/top-50-non-hip-hop-songs-of-80s-that.html

The Goldmine aka Bust The Facts celebrating one year...congrats Jimmy and Dread, Happy Anniversary
http://bustthefacts.blogspot.com/2007/08/exactly-1-year-btf-forum.html

Grandwizard Robbie E is feeling the re-issues
http://www.unkut.com/2007/08/three-times-repress

No, I loved the Pharcyde...sorry Robbie and I dig The Wascals too...each to their own though b

Diggin In Da (Indie) Crates seem to have endless crates and I am not complaining
http://indie-cratez.blogspot.com

Special shout out to DJ Cosm, get better soon B and lastly, please sign up at our Pete Rock forum
http://peterocksp1200.16.forumer.com/index.php






The chain represents unity amongst struggle. The links represents the link we all have through struggling. The star represents the power of the music and the power of the creativity that shines through all of the adversity

More Soup with your meal?

Word Up...I have had quite a few e-mail requests for the truly great Alphabet Soup-A Sunny Day In Harlem EP and I am sure Yassin won't mind me providing a link, avid Cold Rock Da Spot followers will know that I included each track off this dope EP on my fat tapes, but I haven't linked it as a full EP.

E-Mail me at www.coldrockdaspot@hotmail.com

and the link to the ep is yours.

easy connect

and a super fat big thanks to a lot of good people for filling a lot of my requests...yes indeed.













Well, what are you waiting for?...

Hmmmm...something just isn't right about that Top Shelf 8/8/88 album...

First up, the album is dope there really are some ill beats on this and it all works, but as I listen through it more I am struck with a sense that a lot of these tracks just weren't recorded in 1988 and who had ever heard of Top Shelf until this year?.

I find a lot of the production a little to advanced in places, I mean let's be real '88 production was for the most part, just straight loops, but on here there are beat changes and breakdowns.

These are the questions I am seeking answers to

Why has this only been released in Japan?

Why do at least 4 of the artists mention Top Shelf and 1988?

Where Black Sheep actually formed in 1988? and why is just Dres on the track

Where Leaders of The New School?

What does Biz Markie mean when he says "18 Years strong"?

How could Special Ed have "sold a lot of records" if he didn't even his first single out in 1988?

Why does Big Daddy Kane sound liked an older Kane on 'Like That Y'all"? and how come the track uses the same break that was used on Come On Down?

Why is MC Lyte's track a loop of Positive K's Night shift?

Why does Masta Ace sound like today's Masta Ace?

If Craig G recorded his song in 1988, then why is he listed as Graig G on the CD and the tracklist?

See, it's just not adding up and I am puzzled as to why we are (possibly) being lied to?, do the producers of this think that "oh no one really remembers rap from 1988, so we will be able to pull the wool over their eyes and make lots of dough in the process, while they snap up the lost 2 inch tape rarities"?

It's possible that the Grand Puba one is legit and maybe the Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz but ultimately the question that has to be asked is, if this actually is older artists doing '88 type tracks then why be ashamed of it?...I think the Special Ed track is my favourite with the Craig G a close second


The link is everywhere now and if these dudes are trying to pull a fast one on us, it deserves to be all over the net.



01. Fab 5 Freddy - Intro 02. Black Sheep - I'm The One 03. Big Daddy Kane - Like That, Y'all 04. Biz Markie - My Name Is... 05. MC Lyte - Listen Up 06. Grand Puba - Let's Go 07. Smooth B of Nice and Smooth - I Want My Money Back 08. Craig G - Catch A Lyrical Beatdown 09. Chubb Rock - Chubb Rocks The Party 10. Special Ed - This Mic 11. Doug E. Fresh - It Ain't Nothin 12. Jungle Brothers - Back In The Jungle 13. Just Ice - I Run The Streets 14. Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz - The Battle Is On 15. Master Ace - Revolution's 'Bout To Start



http://www.megaupload.com/?d=206LN9G3

I look forward to any comments and thoughts you may have.

Peace

Werner's thoughts

http://journals.aol.com/wvwalenrod/werners/entries/2007/08/07/cmon-get-in-the-car-guys.-were-moving-to-japan/1031

The Cold Rock Da Spot/World Renown Challenge and other stuff...

Ahhhhh What's good kids?

how ya.....all doing out there (oh...oh yeah)

Life is strange sometimes but that's the beauty of it really, you probably know that I haven't ever been a fan of Eminem, but I out all prejudices aside the other night and finally watched 8 Mile, I can't front (jack) that shit was good and Eminem put in a good performance.

It had me thinking, if he was that Eminem on record then there is a chance I would have been a fan, I just always thought there was to much gimmick, novelty and I found his whine hard to listen to, I thought that in the movie when he was burning dudes that his flow was good and there wasn't so much of a whine, he ripped Xzibit's character as well.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if Eminem dropped the act,I might be a listener, I don't know Eric and Travis rant like this so I thought I would just follow haha...(just joking fellas)



I was over at the infamous diggerswithgratitude.com and some users (shout to rare dave, dj smith,chris , the disc eater and stilts were asking about the unreleased World Renown album, well thanks to my good man Magnifik at our Pete Rock forum http://peterocksp1200.16.forumer.com/index.php

I have the album (it is missing 3 tracks that K-Def couldn't get hold of) anyway if you haven't heard it, you are in for a treat friends, it is an ill 1994/5 album with lots of fat drum loops,butter basslines,soulful samples, horns and Jon Doe and Shawn Seven are mad smooth on the whole album,


Like my man Werner Wallenrod said (who kindly sent me the scan of the How Nice I Am cassingle, don't they just look ancient now? and also gave me the idea for this) it's a shame this never got released, for the past month or so, I pretty much play this everyday in my headphones and I often lose it to the horns (they are some of my favourite horns sampled ever) on 'Easy Connect', so here is the challenge...

Please scan my requests list on my blog and fill at least one request (full mp3 please) and I will send you the link to the album and a link for the 'How Nice I Am' (S.I.D. remix) and 'Come Take A Ride' (Extra Ride and Re-vibed versions).

sound good?

I thought so

I look forward to my loyal c r d s family hooking me up with some joints I have been after for soooooo long and I look forward to you being happy that you finally got to hear that lost World Renown just like I was.

Some other stuff to check out if you haven't...

Travis (wakeyourdaughterup.blogspot.com) lists his Top 25 Beats at Eric's site

http://whentheyreminisce.blogspot.com/2007/08/its-gotta-be-beats-voliiitravis-glave.html

and Dan Love and Ill Poetic

http://whentheyreminisce.blogspot.com/2007/08/its-gotta-be-beats-top-25-beats-of-all.html

and Mike Dikk

http://whentheyreminisce.blogspot.com/2007/08/its-gotta-be-beats-voliimike-dikk.html

I am trying hard to do mine, but it's very hard.

Done

http://whentheyreminisce.blogspot.com/2007/08/awwwwwwww-man-my-bad-everyone-ive-been.html


A massive big up to Mike at http://www.thisistomorrow.blogspot.com
for featuring the 45 King mix at his spot.

and to you for asking for and enjoying the PMD compilation

and lastly if you are an Alkaholiks fan there will something special coming up soon at http://souledonmusic.blogspot.com


Peace

It's all gravy with seasoned potatoes

You know I just had to post this up......

http://www.spinemagazine.com/music/august/epmd/blow.mp3

Thanks to Tobes at spine magazine for this

This is a very good sign...why?, well because EPMD said recently at a live concert that We Mean Business will be out this year.

20 years later and I still get excited by new EPMD material...

one Mississippi and two Mississippi...

and trust E to use a Barack Obama line...oh and I wonder who this was aimed at?


"Yo P, I don't need to take my shirt off to flex muscle"



:D

Parrish Smith a.k.a PMD-Strictly Underground Funk...

Yo Erick Sermon had his turn now it's time of the other half of the legends EPMD...Ladies and Gents...




PMD, the purple heart admiral, the other half of the rhyme and production rap vets EPMD, the one who had the deep vocal infliction and paved the way for so many MC's.

Parrish Smith first started out as a DJ (EZ-P) in the short lived Rock Squad with his brother Smitty D releasing the "Facts of Life" 12" in 1985 and in 1987 he teamed up with a young lispy kid that went by the name of Erick Sermon and the legend of EPMD was born, after the 30 days later the LP went gold, Strictly Business LP, PMD produced a track for MC Lyte in 1989 and worked most (all?)of the beats on...

1989's Unfinished Business,
1990's Business As Usual
and K-Solo's debut Tell The World My Name.


Fast forward to 1992 and after great success with their 4th album, the incredible Business Never Personal LP and...

Das EFX's Dead Serious
Redman's-Whut Thee Album
and K-Solo's-Times Up,

The Hit Squad were set to rule the 90's but something happened to Parrish in late 1991 that changed the course of the Hit Squad drastically.




Parrish had his home broken into by three gunmen that were looking for him, luckily he wasn't home at the time, but he arrived at the time his alarm was set off, Parrish suspected something so he stayed close to the area and ended up getting the number plate details of the gunman's car when they drove off.

Parrish kept the incident quiet as kept and continued working on the Business Never Personal album with Erick and in August of 1992, PMD was called down to the precinct and was asked if his group was breaking up?, Parrish was stunned and asked what he meant and was then told that the Police had caught the three guys who confessed that Erick Sermon had paid them $5,000 to break into P's home.

PMD, DJ Scratch and Das EFX were the last ones to know, Redman, K-Solo and The Knucklehedz all knew and had kept quiet about it, Parrish told the Police that he was was going to go through with the tour and then follow ithe incident up after the tour.

Erick knew this so he re-located to Atlanta and EPMD broke up and PMD took Redman and Das EFX, while Erick got Redman and Keith Murray (and later formed Def Squad) to go into all of the details would require a lot of reading but in short, after the Hit Squad blew up Erick and Redman felt that they weren''t getting the money they should have been but it wasn't the case as PMD was the business minded one and stated in interviews that EPMD was a 50/50 split for budget and all other expenses but for that 50/50 budget to work, there had to be two signatures on the checks, not just the one signature.

PMD released his first solo album, Shade Business in 1994 on RCA records, which was met a lot of disdain, but there are some very ill tracks on it, the problem was that most people felt PMD's flow was too choppy and after Erick's solo No Pressure in 1993, fans knew that there was no E without the P and P without the E.


What fans need to understand though is that Parrish's mind was not in the best state on that record, his Mother wasn't in the best of health and he was pissed off at Erick and a few others, if you listen to the lyrics he takes many shots at Erick and others, for years there were disses from Erick aimed at PMD,Keith Murray aimed at Das EFX, ("Ill rip the dreads out of your scalp") and PMD at Redman, check "It's The Pee (remix) where he calls Red the punk doctor, that he sounds too much like Meth and does to much cocaine.

During 1994 PMD had formed his own new Hit Squad with Das EFX, Top Quality,DJ Scratch,Zone 7 (RIP), and Jesse West the same year he introduced the Top Quality debut the Magnum Opus LP.


PMD dropped another solo album, 1996's Businesss Is Business (Relativity) which was received very well by the underground and sold reasonably well, PMD had Das EFX, MOP, Nocturnal, 8 Off (Agallah), and production from Solid Scheme, DJ Scratch and Charlie Marotta, the lead single “Rugged N Raw” was well received as well.



In 1997 PMD got Prodigy on the remix for “It's The Pee” which blazed on underground radio shows and mixtapes, the b-side “Many often Wonder” was dope as well and later in 1997 EPMD finally reformed and released Back in Business, the duos fifth album leading up to their final album for Def Jam, Out of Business in 1999.

Japan's DJ Honda enjoyed working with PMD on a few tracks and asked him to do a full album with him, 2002's Underground Connect P recorded another solo album, The Awakening in 2003 and it featured the my favourite solo PMD cut, the ill as hell Kutmasta Kurt produced "Straight from da Heart" and the Pete Rock produced the head nodding "Buckwild.


After that came the Hit Squad-Zero Tolerance which was an odd album really,old and new verses with some great beats and some not so great beats, with some mediocre MC's and some good MC's, it wasn't a wack album but it wasn't of the of the quality fans had come to expect...between 2001 and 2007 PMD appeared on records with Big Noyd, GM Grimm,Chris Lowe,Agallah and underground kids Cashino and R & R (who have i never heard to be honest).


The dope joint EPMD did with Keith Murray and DJ Knowhow at the beginning of 2007 ("Main Event") and the ferocious freestyles they both did on BET this year shows that these rap veterans are not done yet and after 20 years and some change in the game it's still Strictly Business and Hoodies and Fisherman Hats and Timberland Boots duke.

PMD-The Mic Doc Files Volume 1...

1. pmd - straight from the heart (prod kutmasta kurt)-2002
2. epmd ft redman - hardcore (prod pmd) 1990
3. pmd ft prodigy - its the pee (remix) (prod havoc) -1997
4. pmd - buckwild (prod pete rock)-2003
5. pmd - many often wonder (prod pmd_-1997
6. k-solo - real solo please stand up (prod pmd)-1990
7. mc lyte-slave 2 the rhythm (prod pmd)-1989
8. pmd-in the zone (prod pmd)-1994
9. chubb rock ft pmd & das efx-beef (prod frank"nitty"pimental)-1997
10. k-solo-the formula (prod pmd)-1992
11. dj honda and pmd -constant elevation-2002
12. pmd-the truth (prod pmd)-2004
13. pmd ft mobb deep & fat joe-back to work (remix)(prod havoc)-2004
14. pmd-swing your own thing (izum remix) (prod pmd)-1994
15. epmd- check 1, 2 (prod pmd & 8-off)-1999
16. das efx (feat. pmd) - bad news (prod dj scratch)-1995
17. pmd- feat. das efx nocturnal and l da pro-knick knack part ii (prod pmd)-1997
18. pmd, nocturnal and skoob-comin with the ruff shit-(prod dj scratch)-2004
19. pmd-rugged-n-raw (solid scheme remix)-1996
20. das efx (ft. redman)- rap scholar [original version](prod pmd)-1998

e-mail me for the links if you would like this comp


Swayze


.