I make sure everything remains raw

A bunch of mixtapes worth checking have dropped lately. I haven't really kept up with them so try at your own risk but I bet there's at least a couple of good ones among them. (ht: Get Right Music)

I like what I've heard from Red and Meth's latest so far. Blackout 2 is out soon. This is definitely worth a listen.

DJ Green Lantern & Red and Meth - Lights Out

I'm still not totally sold on The Cool Kids but I've heard this 'tape is good. I've only heard a few tracks so far. It hasn't blown my mind.

The Cool Kids - Gone Fishing

Rae's Cuban Linx 2 is almost getting into Detox territory. Still, he's been working hard and the songs that've been leaking are strong. Check it.

DJ Absolut & Raekwon - Blood on Chef's Apron

Busta's new stuff is promising (if a bit ridiculous). I'm looking forward to listening to this one through.

DJ Scratch & Busta Rhymes - I Bullshit You Not

A cool mixtape of Wu Tang and other golden age stuff. It's an education. Definitely check this one.

DJ Fricktion & The Lovesoul DJs & Wu Tang - The Golden Chamber

Ice Cube hasn't been the same since the mid 90s but he's got plenty of material for a best of mixtape. One of the best angry rappers.

Mr Peter Parker & Ice Cube - No Sleep 'Til Compton

Classickness vol. 3

This mixtape is awesome! It follows on from this one I posted last year. Psycho Les from the Beatnuts hosts this instalment. There's so much gold on here. It's got Wu Tang, Pacewon, Def Squad and a heap of others. Download it now. Do it.

And let me know what you think.

Classickness Vol. 3 hosted by Psycho Les

The song and the sample - Wu Tang edition

The song:



Hollow Bones - Wu Tang


The sample:



Is it Because I'm Black - Syl Johnson

I was sitting in a cafe earlier this year when they chucked on a Syl Johnson cd. It was great! It's been a bit of a gateway to soul for me. So many of his songs have been sampled over the years. RZA has definitely mined lots of gold from his albums. Another example is Different Strokes sampled on Wu Tang's Shame on a Nigga.

Al Green samples + Wu Tang = Happiness

Jeff Weiss got to interview Al Green the other day. He also posted a list of Hip Hop's Greatest Al Green Samples and on his blog put up a few of his songs with their hip hop debtors.

Wu-Tang - The Heart Gently Weeps