TheMeaningOfDope

» Published by Ace Six

(Be…let my ghetto photoshop job live, ok? lol)

This post started by accident. I was over at Kaewonder’s crib prepping for our debut this weekend under our new moniker, the Air Max Thuns and wanted to get a couple vinyl rips going for him to throw up on the site. After we listened to a couple joints, Kae had the brilliant idea that we go in on some remix shit. What started as 2-3 records suddenly became 8-9 and we just decided to go all the way with this and pop this remix thing off correctly. This is Volume 1, and trust that there will be more to come.

This is our version of what a dope remix is about. Obviously, we left off your favourite, it’s impossible to please everyone with 1 post of 13 songs. Tell us in the comments what those missing joints are for you. This was us going through a few crates and picking the first things that really jumped out at us, so the selection criteria was really only “is this dope?” and then it made the cut. I wrote/picked the odd numbers, and Kaewonder has the even joints.

If you’re in Toronto, catch the 2 of us getting our fingers dusty on some serious vinyl-only dj shit at 751 as the pre-party for the annual Manifesto Festival.

1. The Roots-Distortion To Static(Ques Jim Mix) from the Distortion To Static Remixes 12′

I’m on the rap scene/repellin’ fellas like a vaccine..

Ay-yo ?uestlove! Why does this song come in offbeat? Something I always noticed and was a little bit irked by and when listening yesterday, still don’t understand fully. Either way, this beat bumps. The ill intro with Malik and Tariq going back to back and the bugged out loop once the verse starts? Totally make this song stand out from the OG version. A couple minor lyric switchups too. I love when remixes have an alternate take of the vocals, it makes it seem more special.

2. Main Source-Just Hangin’ Out(Remix) from the ??? 12′

Freshly dipped off the rack/never the Van Grack..

Damn, is this ever one of my favorite remixes EVER. I’ll be damned if I can explain why, but this shit is just RUGGED. Re-using the Sister Nancy shit on the entire track as opposed to the mini-section it got before? Great idea. Sparse guitar licks and a slamming break? Slightly alternate verse? This shit is so
banging it had me running through discotheques like sound,royal riches profound, yelling ” free James Brown”. I am literally willing to throw down loot to get this piece of wax, but no one seems to know where to find it or even what it’s on. This is the only piece of wax we don’t have here, and the pic above is just for reference.

3. Slick Rick-It’s A Boy(Large Professor Remix) from the It’s A Boy 12′

ask heavenly father/help me raise my shorty right..

This song was begging for a remix. The OG version is about 2 levels above hot garbage with it’s corny-ass baby crying loop and confused Grover Washington sample. Of course, Paul comes in and laces the shit to epic proportions. Drums? Anyone want some retarded drums and echoing horn loops? Extra P has what you need on this joint. Turned an almost unbumpable track about Slick Rick’s parenthood into a mixshow and party anthem. There’s a funny story about my copy of this…as you can see I have tagged up a copy of Nice N Smooth’s How To Flow 12′. My man Eric bought that for $2 at this record spot that we used to crush back in the day, sealed. Opens it up, and wtf? The It’s a Boy vinyl was inside the How To Flow sleeve. He already had the It’s A Boy 12′ so he laced me with this and I am still grateful.

4. Jeru Da Damaja-Can’t Stop The Prophet(Pete Rock Remix) from the Can’t Stop The Prophet 12′

Ignorance is a poison/and knowledge will nourish..

“Another Pete Rock… Remix!”. This was definitely when Soul Brother #1 was on his remix grizzly and could do no wrong. This was also around the time he started to stray away from the typical heavy bassline and horn formula that people were accustomed to and started digging deeper into what would later be defined as the Pete Rock sound. He gives Jeru the perfect backdrop to kick his tale of the prophet- a
crusader for knowledge in the ever-corrupted city. Personally, if it wasn’t for the production, I would have never fucked with Jeru . I always felt he was straight-trash.

5. Tha Alkaholiks-Daaam(Buckwild Remix) from the ??? 12′

I’m from the crew that sets it off by spraying beer in your face..

First off, this song is NOT on the Daaam 12′, even though I put it in the picture. I have it on a dope Alkaholiks bootleg white label Archives Inc jumpoff that has 4 hard to find ‘Liks tracks on it. This one comes with the instrumental, too so this must have been a B-side to a later release or came out on it’s own? I dunno. Buck adds some seriously pretty samples and crispy drums to completely transform this song from the muddy, bass heavy OG version. It comes in weird though, so it always sounds abrupt when you drop this live and is impossible to mix because of the vocal-heavy intro.

6. Gangstarr-Gotta Get Over(Large Professor Remix) from the Gotta Get Over 12′

Sinister/I’m selling no wolf tickets here..

Right from the very first bass hit,you know you’re dealing with a certified BANGER. Extra P adheres to the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) rule, and with such a thick bassline, crunchy drums and the flute at the chorus, proves that less is more. Waaaay more.The shit is just such a textbook example of how to freak a remix, its scary. To be honest, I’ve always felt the OG was a little too happy (I mean, using an Average White Band sample on a track that’s on some “the loot is for the taking” shit?) I definitely think that the beat for the remix was a much more suitable choice, given the subject matter. Once again, Extra P goes in on the remix tip. Oh and whoever chose to edit the song using snares and kicks, creating an AWFUL skip-like effect? FALL BACK!

7. Outkast-Southernplayalisticadillacmusik(Diamond D Remix) from the Southernplayalisticadillacmusik 12′

Takin’ em deeper than a submarine/so scream when you hear the team of two..

The OG version of this joint and Player’s Ball were my introduction to ‘Kast and I remember being confused but impressed. I couldn’t quite catch all their slang, but they definitely had flow and looked cool as shit in their videos so I was checking for Outkast right away. Needless to say, I didn’t discover this weird remix until years later when I went on a serious Outkast 12′ binge. Diamond laces them with a darker, mysterious vibes loop and some chunky Bronx drums and it gives the song a totally new feel. The only bummer is that they didn’t retake the vocals, but honestly this song is rare enough to just live as it is.

8. Casual-That’s How It Is(Disseshowedo Remix) from the That’s How It Is 12′

You’re wack and it’s all your fault.

My initial introduction to this song came via local college radio, and I always thought this track was a tight joint, but the impact of this song was completely unknown to me until I heard it at a show. I think It was P-Plus that dropped it and the crowd LOST IT. I remember catching goosebumps when the bassline
thumped through the weathered speakers (Reverb? Comfort Zone? Can’t quite remember). I bought the 12″ later on that month and I still continue to give this song steady run at any and all of my DJ gigs. The fact that Casual produced this is definitely the icing on the already tasty remix cake.

9. A Tribe Called Quest-The Chase Pt. II(Consequence Remix) from the Award Tour 12′

Catching more growing pains than that N*&$@ Michael Seaver..

This is more of a sneak preview/headfuck than an “actual” remix but whatever. Before the Midnight Marauders album came out, this song from it was thrown on the Award Tour 12′ with none other than Tip’s Cousin and future honorary Tribe member, Consequence. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time anyone ever heard him rhyme on wax. He gets about 2 minutes over this dope ass beat and does not disappoint. It was hard to pick a quotable since he is just throwing lines the entire time with no chorus.

10. Artifacts-C’mon With Da Git Down(Buckwild Remix f/Busta Rhymes) from the C’mon With Da Git Down 12′

rap is my job/Tame the terror drops the bomb on the move-fakers..

There’s always been a lot said about Busta’s appearance on this cut, but to me the accolades go to none other than the notty-headed terror Tame One. From the beginning to end of his verse to the very end, he roasts rappers up for practice, proving that they are, in fact, far below average. Buckwild flips David Axelrod’s “Holy Thursday”and some heavy- Bob Azzam “Rain, Rain Go Away” type- drums (I’m assuming that’s the beat he used, as it seemed to be a Buck favorite). I know Ace will agree with me when I say that it was damn-near impossible not to go crazy with the Buckwild remix productions. Homie was ON FIRE.
Cuts by the legendary Roc Raida.

11. Redman-Rockafella (Erick Sermon Remix) from the Month Of The Man Promo 12′

My crew runs thicker than syrup/from the borough..

So so so so dirty! We used to be on some serious mc shit when this record dropped. Weekends were about 2 things, smoking out and having freestyle sessions at my man Jomo’s crib. He was the only one of us old enough to have his own spot, and we just smoked that joint out every week. So when this ill Def Jam promo record came out, it got some heavy run in our sessions. The “Bring the Pain” 12′ was attached on the other side of the gatefold cover with Meth’s logo, and this side had the Rockafella 12′ with this amazing remix. To me, this is one of my favourite instrumentals to listen to of all time. It holds a special place for me because of how many times we would put the needle back to the start in those weekend sessions.

12. De La Soul-Stakes Is High(Jay Dee Remix) from the Itsowezee 12′

Try to test and get suppressed like a government scandal..

Believe it or not, I had the Spinna remix as my first choice for this post, but upon revisiting the Dilla reworking of his OWN beat, I had to go with this mix. As much as I love Spinna the shit is just undeniable. Did I also mention how much we love alternate verses here at MOD? Here we have a hungry Mos Def in a fairly early, post Urban Thermo Dynamics pre”Universal Magnetic” guest appearance, and does he ever get busy on this one. Truth Enola (coming up in the ranks as a strong ‘Milk Carton Mondays’ contender) catches wreck as well, with one of the most unique voices on the whole record. Dilla’s skillful flipping of James Brown’s “Mind Power” using the guitar licks , horns and vocals (”vibes… vibrations”) in addition to freaking the same Ahmad Jamal record (”Swahililand”) he used to make the OG version of “Stakes Is High” is irrefutably dope. Such a good look.

13. Organized Konfusion-Stress (Large Professor Remix) from the Stress 12′

I can’t relate to livin’ less than great..

This joint comes last for a reason. Both Kaewonder and I believe that this version really captures what a remix is about. A totally different feel than the OG version, and Paul just demolishes this beat. From the rolling drum into to the bonus Extra P verse on it that is able to hold it’s own alongside 2 complicated and accomplished mc’s, everything about this remix is butter. He turned a dark, almost scary song into a serious party anthem that gets a huge reaction when you drop it on the 1.

We decided to be nice and throw you guys a zip file of all of the bangers in this post, after all what is this world without sharing?

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 1:12 pm and is filed under Audio, Dope, Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.