Recommended Reading

I can't recall what I was searching for when I stumbled on writer/critic Carol Cooper's (Village Voice, Rolling Stone etc) homepage. Doesn't matter, really. If you're interested in solid contemporary writing on artists we all know & love you should pay her a visit as well.
I particularly enjoyed her pieces on Emerald, Sapphire & Gold (ESG), August Darnell and of course Prince.

Edit: oh yeah.... I stumbled there trying to find Gichy Dan dude's real name. Therefore:
Gichy Dan: Cowboys & Gangsters (Edit De Shux)(1981/2005)

New Episode Of True Hip Hop Stories

The latest episode in D-Nice's True Hip Hop Stories series: Big Daddy Kane and his all-time classic Ain't No Half Steppin.

Disco Files pt2

Vince Aletti's Disco Files 1973-78 book definitely lived up to my expectations. Eli liked it so much that he had to go and record a Pre-76 Disco Mix in the middle of the night - go get it!

Wow... looking forward to this

The Disco Files 1973-78- New York's Underground Week By Week will be published by DJHistory.com and should be out in April.

Words Of Wisdom pt 2

This is the latest installment in D-Nice's excellent True Hip-Hop Stories series, if you missed the earlier episodes make sure to check them out as well.

One Of My Favorite Blogs part 132

S/FJ, no doubt. Dude's end of the year list is solid too.

My HKI Peoples...

...read about one of my favorite songs, DJ Deeon's Everyday, here.

Bladerunners' 900 Number

Their useful edit of the 45 King classic as well as an interesting piece on the early days of The Source Magazine, up on the blog.

Lubrication

It seems like many of us who grew up with mid-90's rap still have a place in our hearts for Kwest The Madd Ladd's very entertaining 101 Things. I always thought dude's debut single from the year before is just as good.
Kwest The Madd Ladd: Lubrication (1993)
(click to preview or right click save as to DL)

Btw, here's an interesting read about what happened with Kwest's deal at Rick Rubin's Def American, courtesy of Ego Trip magazine (Mao what's up???) and via Pressrewind.

Deep Concentration

DJ Premier in RapPages' 1996 DJ issue, by Chairman Mao.

Bobbito's News & Views

My Bladerunners peoples just posted a whole set of Bobbito's RapPages columns. Essential reading or re-reading if early- to mid-90's rap means anything to you. Btw... thanks for the Blue Jays jammy!

Bobbito's Barber Shop

A few days back I was asking for Bobbito's old Rap Pages columns and I just found out there's a good one from August '93 up here. From what I hear more will be added soon too.

Mikä on tag?

My apologies for not updating for a while, I've been busy with all kinds of different things. Deejaying of course, but also the final 9 Sopranos episodes.

Anyway, here's some ancient hip hop journalism for my Finnish speaking peoples. This article was published in 1984 in the leading teen magazine Suosikki and is more or less based on Steven Hager's book Hip Hop. Shout outs to Pimpu for the scans (click to enlarge).




As a bonus, here's one my faves from the disco-rap era, "Get The Party Jumpin" by Solo Sound.