T.R.O.Y.

Vinyl Selections: Masta Ace, God Sunz, Dee Surreal

Posted: 12 Feb 2009 02:30 PM PST

What's the deal people? Its Tired & Broke (from 12inchers),and I was granted the great opportunity to bring 3 select pieces of wax from my little collection and share with the visitors of this site.

The first treat I have served up is from the Tru Criminal Catalog and features the duo God Sunz with O.G.C. number 1 Starang Wondah on the banger "1-718." This is a single track 12" with 4 versions of the song including Dirty, Clean, Instrumental & Accapella. "1-718" features all 3 emcees going back and forth rhyming a few bars and then allowing the next man come in and kick another random 2 to 3 bars. This track isn't anything ground breaking but its surprisingly effective. The eerie synths with the simple beat provide the perfect layer for hood inspired metaphors and mic tough talk.

The next single is an unknown gem from an emcee named Dee Surreal. I honestly don't know anything about dukes beside the 12" piece of wax I own of his. The A-Side, "Beast Within" is decent but clearly gets outshined by the B-Side, "Call Of The Wild." On "Call Of The Wild" Dee gets blessed with an ill piano back drop with heavy drums and shows more of his talent on this track. His first lines describe him perfectly, ..Survival Of The fit and it won't quit/ while 99.9% don't know jack about this rap nigga, figure it out. It seems clear Dee knows not too many ears will hear this, but as long as u got crate addicts like me I hope to change that. Dee Surreal also delivers clever lines like…Napoleon rippin every Bone Apart… to flex some wordplay for the listeners. The next snappin beat provided by his producer, Cave Precise, is the icing on the cake even tho the intro/outro to "Call Of The Wild" are pretty detestable. Single includes LP Version, Radio Version and Instrumental for both tracks.

The last piece of wax of this trio is another collaboration between J-Love and the Juice Crew legend Masta Ace. These 2 first hooked up on the ill "NFL" 12" Single and the outcome was a treat for all hip-hop heads. This time around we get a 2-track delight with "3Some" and "Splash." The A-Side, "3Some" consist of Ace using his elaborative story-telling skills. It starts with him describing his man Shawn and his past, then he quickly shifts to the present, where Shawn meets a female and things pick up from there. The end to this joint is pretty slick and shows why Masta Ace is one of the best to ever do it. The next joint "Splash" is a smooth late night banger that originally appeared on Tommy Boy's "Hip-Hop 101". J-Love impresses with more smooth production that allows Masta Ace to splash on the track. Ace shows more lyrical prowess with bars like …Got Spice like Dijon/ My Legion from the Brooklyn Region/, Ima preach on/ And baby if you 19 like Keyshawn/ Ima go Deep on it/So don't sleep on it. Overall this is easily a great commodity to have in the crates (as well as the 2 previously mentioned pieces of wax.) It comes with Dirty, Clean & Instrumental versions. Enjoy.

Download All 3

- Tired & Broke

PS: Oh yeah don't 4get to holler @ 12inchers for more updates coming soon.

Who Flipped It Better? Company Flow, Parallax, Lord Digga?

Posted: 12 Feb 2009 03:00 AM PST

Yes, I know these aren't the only tracks to sample this Bob James cut, but they are the focus of the day. The first time I heard this used was on one of my favorite obscure 12 inches, Parallax "Bleeding Hate". It felt like such a perfect, vibe out, meaningful beat. Then, I heard theCompany Flow usage for "Juvenile Techniques", which I thought was incredible at the time. I really dig the whistling sample in Co Flow's version and the overall vibe to it.

Anyway, fast forward to around 2002. So, I'm visiting my father in some godforsaken town in Wisconsin and I'm bored to death. I brought my MPC, but obviously couldn't bring crates of vinyl with me. What I did manage to lug along was a bunch of CDs. One of them was Bob James Two, which contains the original song sampled for these cuts. So, I figured why not do my own rendition of this sample. I liked the way two separate bass pieces sounded , so I let them play at the same time and I think it came off nice. Check it out with the rest below, labelled Verge - Parallaxin'. Feel free to leave your thoughts on this in the comments section.

Fast forward to 2008. I join the T.R.O.Y. forum and soon learn that this song has been sampled to death. Other than myself, Company Flow, and Parallax sampling this, we also have:

Shyheim & Gp Wu used the bass line to great effect for Let's Go To Lap. I think I hear a little bit of "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" on there, too.

Almighty Arrogant used the sample for Arrogant SOB. This is from an unreleased demo tape excavated by Kev Beacham. Very, very ill shit right here. It sounds like they used a piece from the same part that Parallax used, except with an extra sample in there.

Miilkbone's track, Mind Gamez', uses one of the sections that I used. Not a bad working at all.

Lord Digga has one of my favorite flips of this sample on Take The Cake. This was off the unreleased High Plains Drifter EP that finally saw the light of day thanks to One Leg Up Records[only 200 copies were pressed]. Peep their pretty thorough interview with the Diggaman here.

Kaotic Sypher used it for Tight Situation, off of his first album One Million Strong. I don't know much about this cat or his crew, but you can check his discog here. Dope rhymes over tight production is all I can really say.

Previews:

Bob James - I Feel A Song (In My Heart)

Parallax - Bleeding Hate

Company Flow - Juvenile Techniques

Shyheim & Gp Wu - Let's Go To Lap

Almighty Arrogant - Arrogant SOB

Miilkbone - Mindgamez

Lord Digga - Take The Cake

Kaotic Sypher - Tight Situation

Verge - Parallaxin'

Download this whole collection here.

I'm still torn between Parallax, Lord Digga, and Company Flow. Let us know who you think did best flipping the sample in the comments. This doesn't mean it has to be your favorite song out of the bunch, just the best beat.

--Verge