The Meaning Of Dope

Watch a hungry Smiff N Wessun destroy the Deep Cover beat in an unknown record shop. With the support of Buckshot and 5ft, these two MC’s GO IN.

For your listening pleasure, the album version below.

(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.

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Photo Credit-my man Phil at Dope-A-Lot aka the go-to guy from now on. Taken last night at the NY Giants Dj Series.

So being that I like to nerd out and really really get my point across, I’ve prepared a list of my favourite Diamond D(fuck the herb who trademarked the name and made D legally change his performing name to just Diamond, it’s Diamond D for life) tracks that I hope will get some run tonight and some that he played in his DJ set last night that I definitely consider his best work.
1. Freestyle (Yo That’s That Shit) from the Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop LP

i’m just an ordinary/brother who is very/dedicated to real rap so don’t compare me/to another brother

First Diamond D joint I ever heard. As Funkmaster Flex said on his now-famous July 4th weekend mix, “this record created the word bop!” and nothing could be more true. I dare you motherfuckers to listen to this and not bop your head. The shit is contagious, from A-yo wait a minute this track just makes me get live and Diamond sets the bar for producers rocking on the mic. I had to actually turn the track off while writing this because I was practically writing the verse down.

2. Feel The Vibe from the Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop LP

you gotta get your fingers dusty/and keep your ear to the street so you won’t get rusty

All kiddies, take note. Learn your roots and put on your Timberland Boots. Diamond and Showbiz lace these chunky drums and the ill repeating horn sample with a fresh hook and a couple solid verses. Diamond is already lamenting the passing of realness in music and tells a very timeless hip-hop story in his last verse. Not to mention how they throw in that vocal sample from “Fanatic of the B-Word” as a sort of outro. That was my shit from De La Soul is Dead. Word up.

3. A Day In The Life from the Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop LP

hit the stereo in an instant/then I twist up a bud/light an incense

I’ve definitely started plenty of days like that, and thanks to Madlib, I was able to pick my quote from this song immediately. Lord Jamar and Derek(ahem, oh I forgot, I meant Sadat) X from Brand Nubian join Diamond D on this absolutely classic joint. The only guest appearance on this album that wasn’t immediate crew, and could this song be any easier to listen to? I swear by the time Sadat’s verse is on, I’m already wanting to run it back. The ill minor flange on the adlibs at the end of both Lord J and Sadat’s verses is one of those things I just picked up listening to this joint 5 times in a row.

4. I Went For Mine from the Stunts, Blunts and Hip-Hop LP

the object of a song is to keep your head movin’

This album was so stacked. 17-18 tracks deep, a couple ill interludes and like 3 singles before the actual album(tape) ended up in my hands. Instantly, my favourite joint on the album was clear to me. This shit was just so smooth. I remember getting shivers when the flute first comes in. This is one of those breaks that I can listen to the whole song and enjoy almost as much as the track that sampled it too. Just pure magic. I wasn’t that stoked when Dj Scratch flipped this again for Busta, but I guess the heads will always know that it’s the Diamond joint first and I never mind hearing both of them followed by the break in a dj set.

5. You Can’t Front (B-Side) from the Fuck What You Heard 12′

n*&%@s was sleepin’/but now have awakened/ask the boriquas/ask the jamaicans

B-Side, B-Side, B-Side. Those were the words you wanted to hear when a new 12′ came out. Having a dope new track with Finesse and Sadat X on it was definitely a huge deal when this shit dropped. The first time I heard this it was on +4 at least so I def had to speed it up when I finally got my copy, but still this track is pure fire. I can’t pick a best verse, but I’m leaning towards Finesse. “I write rhymes more than bitches get they hair done”?? Come on! Ill shit. The beat is crazy too, such heavy drums.

6. Slappin’ Suckas Silly Remix(Yaggfu Front) from the Busted Loop 12′

I got the stamina of a Vietnam Vet..

Not sure why Diamond kicks a sex rhyme for the ladies on this joint, but regardless this was an ill remix. A couple chopped up drum loops and chunky bass. Sound familiar? The classic DITC formula and Diamond wrote the book. Where the fuck are Yaggfu Front? Like for real, these kids were ill.

7. Welcome To The Next Level(Tha Alkaholiks) from the Coast II Coast LP

so recognize when you feel it/DITC-you can’t steal it.

Besides coining one my favourite phrases in life ever, the safest way to have sex is right between the titties, this joint was probably my shit from this album. Diamond brings the ill repeating horns in the chorus and the soft echo-y snare to lace up Cali’s finest and they don’t disappoint with the rhymes. My favourite shit about Diamond D at this point was that he dropped a verse on everybody’s tracks that he produced to further his point that he was the best producer on the mic.

8. No Wonduh (The Projects) from the Hatred,Passions and Infidelity LP

Dice games and robberies/til I hit the lottery

The intro of this song is tight! From the opening speaker and the intense sirens, it totally sets the scene for a descriptive track where Diamond opens his project windows to us. I love how the siren sneaks back in to the track here and there and then gets hectic in the chorus all over again. Not to mention, he samples Posdonus’s classic line. This track is such a well-executed concept. Kudos, Diamond D.

9. Flowin’ from the Hatred, Passions and Infidelity LP

Yours truly, don’t forget my name

Who’s John Dough? Just saying the guy who tears a ton of tracks on this album along with K-Terribull won’t cut it? These 2 cats came out of nowhere and have sick cadence and tight rhymes, Diamond def made a powermove putting them on. Did I mention that I like feelgood album cuts yet? This is another perfect example, and it even fits in the short song category clocking in under 3 minutes long. I love short songs, and I’m not even sure why. The shouts in the hooks are fresh, too. Sometimes dudes gotta get shouted out and why not throw them on the hook?

10. Never from the Hatred, Passions and Infidelity LP

When cats was anti-drugs/there was weed seeds in my rugs

Hey gang, I’ve got some grass! I have been a huge weedsmoker at many times in my life and this was one of my anthems for real. What is it about Diamond and Sadat that automatically makes any track they’re on together fire? He takes the song in my opinion..definitely tells a totally true story and manages to slip in some humour too. The mini-skit scenes in the choruses are some dope shit too. I can relate to both. This is another Diamond break that I appreciate as much as the track too. Jerry Butler, what? Oh, so now I can’t smoke on a blunt, right? Ha.

11. This One from the Hatred,Passions and Infidelity LP

even had a brother on a pair of ice skates/turned me on to snacking on rice cakes.

A love song done proper for real. Diamond shows his sensitive side, but still over some heavy drums and a vibey loop. Throw Busta on the chorus complete with a little profanity, and it just ends up being an anthem for any of the thugs with a thoro wifey out there.

12. Double Dare (produced by Mark the 45 King) from the Drop Da Bomb 12′

lay in the cut/see the game about to change

I don’t know much about this track except that it bumps like craig mack’s grill and both Diamond and K-Terribull rip it up. A banger I recently discovered that sounds retarded on a big system.

13. You’re In The Wrong Place (B-Side) from the With The Dope Sound 12′

It ain’t a game duke/you can’t call mine!

A release on Diamond’s indie imprint, Dusty Fingers that came out shortly after Hatred, Passions and Infidelity. It features Jon Dough, K-Terribull, some other guy, and none other than Ras Kass. I can just see all the NY dudes trying to write something that would outshine Ras who absolutely shits on this track coming in the last spot. He ever airs out Ray Benzino. Reality Bites like bad blowjobs? Word up..oh and Diamond’s beat is crazy, but he doesn’t even rhyme on it which was a bit of a surprise considering his track record.

Once again, please enjoy this zip file of all the songs listed here. Especially that You’re In The Wrong Place shit, that was a last-minute vinyl rip right before I made this post. On my way to the show, see you T.O. heads there.

Photo Credit-Thesmokingsessions on flickr. Thanks Gotty and Crew!

Word the fuck up. Last night was ill. Ag, Diamond D, Lord Finesse, O.C., Extra P, Juju and Psycho Les ALL in the building for the NY Giants Dj series. Finesse tore it up more than anyone in my opinion but the whole night was banger after banger.

To get people in the mood for tonight’s festivities at The Opera House in Toronto, I’ve compiled a list of my 13 Showbiz and Ag tracks that I want to hear tonight. Whether this actually happens, who knows..I tend to like album cuts way more than singles, but either way this is a thoro list, y’all.

1. Giant In The Mental from the Party Groove/Soul Clap EP

i’m hittin hard/and what does my card say? i’m unstoppable/you had to find out the hard way

Ag steps to the world on this one, like fuck all y’all…I’m a 5′3 tornado on the mic. The fierce horn stabs and drums sound like some Bomb Squad shit just way crispier. This was probably the first song after Party Groove and Soul Clap that I heard and I was bugging out. He is so proving a point that he really felt he was better than everyone else out.

2. Catchin’ Wreck from the Runaway Slave LP

a petty diss, i’ll ignore it..

Ag is way more simple and less furious on this joint, but it’s just so clean. The flute loop and bassline just keep my head bopping and both Show and Ag rhyme proper on this one. I really think it’s the chorus to be totally honest. Shit gets stuck in my head like crazy.

3. Diggin’ In The Crates from the Soul Clap/Party Groove EP

back when i was a hoodlum/beatin on nerds..

This is the joint that really really did it for me. It was pretty much the first time I realized how thoro this click really was. Diamond sets it off, then Showbiz with a tight verse including the quote above, Ag then Lord Finesse. Wow. The horn sample in the chorus is butters, and the piano breakdown that comes in a couple times, too. Not to mention this has the vocal sample that Show later used for Fat Pockets. This is definitely one of the best posse cuts of all time. I have realized that all over again.

4. Still Diggin’ from the Runaway Slave LP

when show drops the beat/i say holy mackerel!

This track is on some Yaggfu Front-Busted Loop shit. Chaotic, tight and almost abrasive horn samples. The whole basis of the song is horn samples..so sick. Wtf happened to horns? They aren’t cool anymore, producers? Take a page from Show and Diamond on this shit. Horns can be super ill. Somehow Ag and Finesse didn’t make this one, but Diamond makes up for it with the opening verse for sure.

5. Hold Ya Head from the Runaway Slave LP

it’s too easy to kill another young muthafucka

Ok. The fucking drums on the intro to this shit? Bananas! I swear Premo flipped those on the intro to You Know My Steez. Anyways, like I said. I love album cuts, and I love songs that are saying something. This is the mostly-Showbiz rhyme joint where he gives a little life advice and they shout out some peeps in tough times or who passed away. The filtered bassline is so smooth, and the whole track gives me a dope happysad feeling.

6. Silence Of The Lambs from the Runaway Slave LP

you think you’re able to win, huh/you better chill/cuz you never will/you ain’t even never been

Another sick intro! This time with Freddie Foxxx and him talking shit over a sick little loop that Show probably cooked up in 3 minutes. The flute loop is my favourite part of this track by far, and there’s a different effect on Ag’s voice that sounds ill. He goes in on this joint, really setting the bar with his layered rhyme patterns and staggered punchlines. I love Ag’s flow and he’s still fucking with it to this day, and it’s STILL just as dope as when I first figured it out.

7. Bounce Ta This from the Runaway Slave LP

my respect/and all that dough/that’s all that counts

How the fuck does Cipha Sounds not like this track? Yeah I heard you making fun of it, B! That doesn’t make any sense. To me, this is like the perfect pairing. 2 emcees that no one ever bit or emulated because their structure was just way too fucking advanced for the rest of the fools to catch up to. Seriously, this song was such a banger. I lost it when this first played on a mix show here, Ciph you need a good reason to hate that hard.

8. Next Level OG Version from the Good Fellas LP

the shit is type hype/cause the sample is tight, right?

Indeed it is, AG. Indeed it is. I don’t give a shit, sorry. The Premo remix is the obvious choice and I’m not the obvious guy. I think I even heard this version AFTER the remix and appreciated it that much more. The subtle strings that fade in and out here and there(I think they’re strings) are so dope, and the guitar loop in the chorus? Hell yeah, I’m still GOIN’ IN. Ag’s flow on this is absolutely razorsharp. Considering how long it was between Runaway Slave and this, it was good to hear how tight Ag still was, not to mention that he had totally improved. Quiet is kept, it’s best that you step on the low. I could quote this song all day.

9. Got Ya Back from the Good Fellas LP

and momma duke gets nuff respect/because she kept me in check/one deep..now that’s a roughneck

Another feelgood album cut. Right up my fucking alley for sure. The Wally World who we’ve been hearing shouts out for since the first EP ends up rhyming on a cut. Ill. I did like your debut quite a lot, good sir. After seeing DITC all together(minus Crack TS and Show) last night, I totally believe everything Ag is saying in this cut. They have each other’s back for real and shit like that is why they’ve had such longevity and are true legends in this game. Period.

10. Medicine from the Good Fellas LP

the loot’ll come through if we stay true now/but some can’t stay true/cuz they don’t know how

Definitely on some dark, eerie sounding mid 90’s NYC underground shit. I love this track though. That snare is basically punching you in the face everytime it hits. I think Deshawn does the chorus on this, right? Either way, Ag goes in like every single track on this album and the sneaky Masta Ase vocal sample here and there adds an extra dimension to the track. I just love how this song feels.

11. Hidden Crates from the Full Scale LP

look at all these fakes/musically you imitate the crates

Kae. What the hell is this sample? Jeebus! Show absolutely murders this beat on some I was always better than these other dudes, you just didn’t realize shit. Once again, years pass and Ag just got way tighter but still keeps the same flow. I wonder if Show did the cuts on the chorus? Hmmm so many questions.

12. Hold Mines from the Full Scale LP

respect this culture like i’m supposed ta/different from the jokers that talk that talk/i’m true and livin

Diamond D said it best. Keep It Simple Stupid. This beat isn’t anything crazy, just a dope fucking bassline and drums and Ag just rolling with it. I also really love the chorus, this song is just some smooth rap shit.

13. Full Scale title track from the Full Scale LP

I got some new shit here for y’all to rock to..

I’m on my own dick/like sleeping on my stomach

Arguably, the most bangin’ beat on this record. Classic Showbiz murky bassline and heavy drums. Reminds me of the joint he did on The Equinox for Organized Konfusion, just a little slicker. O.C. on the chorus? It’s a wrap. I ended the post with this joint for a reason. This is truly how hip-hop is supposed to sound and feel.

Here’s a zip file for all you new jacks or cats without digital versions of shit, hold that. You’re welcome and if you’re in TO, we better see you at the show tonight. The significance of this concert is huge.

This is probably going to be the first and last clip we feature coming from “Regis and Kathie Lee”.

Watch this interview with, my favorite, Rosie Perez. She reveals that she met Spike Lee during a booty contest, soon after that he casted her as his babys mother in “Do The Right Thing”. Well done Spike!

As an added bonus, here is “Operation Lockdown” by Heltah Skeltah. Where Ruck tries his best impression of the Rosie Perez voice.

3 of 3. The final part of the Common Sense drunk on Rap City talking about Resurrection and where his head was at in 1995. You can tell he was tispy when he has a “moment” with the host, Oliver at the end of the clip. One of those, this seemed way cooler when I was wasted kind of experiences. Sober, serious, Gap commerical Com would probably hollywood his way through that interview today and end it with a plug for his new flick.

And just for good measure, here’s audio of the song that’s been inspiring all my titles for this 3 part video. Sum Shit I Wrote from my favourite Com Sense album, Resurrection.

This tape was heavy in my walkman when it first dropped. Yeah I said it..cassette tape in a sony walkman bopping down the hallways in my high school on some “you clowns have no idea about the shit I’m on”. I went to a super-corny high school where I was one of the few people who really listened to hip-hop at the time. I think it might be time to download this album again and take it in since I forget every track except the singles and that one where Butterfly gets all pro-choice on that ass. Anyways, here’s a video of them performing on In Living Color during their heyday.

Ps. Butterfly later changed his name to Ish. Like really, can that be considered an upgrade? Go from being named after one of the softest insects to a short form of your real name which in slang terms is a piece of doodoo. No dis, I genuinely ride for Digable Planets on both of their albums. Just in retrospect, he had the softest name out the crew.

Pps. I saw Digable in concert in 2005/2006 and Ish had all new verses to the old tracks that were absolutely fire. He totally threw off all the concert goers who wanted to rap along with his verses since they were 100% different, but he has way more spit in him now. I was impressed and hoped that they’d have a new project out by now.

Ppps. Here’s audio of the only post-digable song I can think of that Ish is on. Swing aka the B-side of Luchini that no one ever plays(except Skratch Bastid and Dj Serious) even though it’s just as dope as Luchini.

RazorBlayd- “Razor’s Gruv” (Blast/Justin Entertainment) 1991

There’s only a few things I know about this record:

A)- The shit is SLAMMING.

B)-RazorBlayd was born in Detroit and later moved to Windsor where he honed his skills and eventually moved to Toronto in 1990.

C) He apparently performed one of the tracks off of his album on Electric Circus (*see the explanation of the Toronto phenomena known as EC here)

Razor’s Gruv (4:23)

Razor’s Gruv Remix (4:49)

Shout out to the homie Sipreano on this one.

Photo Courtesy of TheSmokingSection on Flickr.

Here it is, first post, JC- Kweezy- Ace Lover-be i see’s you. So it’s my birthday, a year away from 30 and i’m feeling mighty negative. On that note, i thought i’d go and share my favorite diss track of all time. Everyones always talking Bitch in You this, No Vaseline that, but how bout a little known Craig G track, off his lesser known 2nd LP. Juice Crew law out the window, Craig G goes IN on Mc Shan.Enjoy.

Download here

Casual-”I Didn’t Mean To” Comic Book (1994)

I don’t think I know anybody with this.I DO however know that there was
also a Dream Warriors one and an Extra Prolific one. Shit is hilarious. Peep the rest…

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