T.R.O.Y.

Baltimore & Washington DC Underground Part 4

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 02:30 PM PDT

Here's trusty old Volume 4 from the Baltimore And Washington Dc compilation series. I know I say this all the time, but this is still one of my favorites. It's got a consistent feel, and rocks hard beginning to end. As is generally true, this collection is full of obscure goodies. The tracks I like best are numbers 3,5,7,10,11.... fuck it I can't even pick. For those familiar with Ray Lugar's more contemporary work, here's a treat from his earliest lp. 'High Roller' is a perfect blend of Baltimore club and hip hop. Also check out the track by Juan Donovan in particular. It may not be your style, but to me it proves without a doubt that hip hop was alive and well even post-2000.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5GO6XRRP

01 (03:58) circle of native vibes - ragtime (baltimore 1997)
02 (02:08) dj 730 & overkast records - intro (baltimore 1996)
03 (04:19) under achieva'z - seems kinda strange (washinton dc 1996)
04 (03:11) starvin art clique - rogue & vagabond (baltimore 1997)
05 (03:31) new testament - sunlight (baltimore 1995)
06 (03:43) wolfe d.o.m - n.y to b more (baltimore 1996)
07 (03:59) k mack - in baltimore (baltimore 1995)
08 (00:13) dj kool - koolin with flavor (washington dc 1991)
09 (01:33) khaos and dba - dope beats always time (baltimore 1992)
10 (04:58) p.u.g. - girls be killing me (washinton dc 1992)
11 (03:41) ray lugar - high roller (baltimore 1991)
12 (02:13) natures problem - bloody rivers (baltimore 1997)
13 (04:39) derrick rebel - all fucked up now (baltimore 1998)
14 (04:02) i.c. - live from the pentagon (washington dc 1997)
15 (04:11) sparrow - inheritance (baltimore 1998)
16 (04:49) s.c.u. - harm city (baltimore 1997)
17 (04:01) norm skola - park heights (baltimore 2000)
18 (04:56) juan donovan - take it like a man (baltimore 2005)
19 (04:36) raw elements - changin seasons (baltimore 1997)
20 (02:57) jb the messenga - one day (baltimore 2001)
21 (05:09) forbidden - how do i say goodbye ? (baltimore 2000)
22 (03:41) l.m.s. - brighter days (baltimore 1997)

A few of these tracks you might have trouble tracking down in other places. No, I am not from the area but I have been transfixed for years. These compilations are the result of much earnest digging. Please tell me know what your feedback is! Comments are always welcome and let me know that people are really listening. Thanks for reading and continue to check back!

--Schenectadyfan

Big L - Put It On (Homegrown Remix)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 03:00 AM PDT

Pic jacked from Kev Beacham's Big L Rarities and Press Kit Post

Now that you've probably already scrolled right past these words to hear the Big L joint below and scrolled back up to see what the story was behind it, here it is:

The original version of Big L's Put It On is just perfect. Sampling Buster Williams version of the Roy Ayers' penned Vibrations gave it a smoothed out, soulful appeal that made it an instant classic.

Years later, I thought more about Put It On and decided that it should have an alternate mix. A darker beat that might match his vocals in a more menacing way was what I wanted to see happen. So, at the time, I had my MPC2000xl for about 2 years and was just really starting to put together half decent tracks.

I sampled Bo Hansson's At The House Of Elrond off of his Music Inspired By Lord Of The Rings album from 1972. From what I can remember, I think I just slowed it down on the turntable and sampled a few different parts and arranged them to my liking through the MPC. Then, I took a not too known drum break, chopped it to pieces, layered some other drums over them and tapped it out on the drum pads.

I originally did this in 2004 and I wanted to recreate this to the best of my ability, so I called on vaporized from the T.R.O.Y. forum for some help. I sent him my beat and the Big L acapella and below you can hear the results. Give it a thorough listen and leave a comment, thanks.

Bo Hansson - At The House Of Elrond

Big L - Put It On (Verge Remix)

Remix Instrumental

Download the Remix, Sample, and Instrumentals here.

Download the original Put It On and much more Big L here.

And check for even more Big L here and at the Big L Rarities blog.

Thanks to vaporized for the blend and to Roy Johnson for schooling me on the Buster Williams sample.

-- Verge