T.R.O.Y.

Boot Camp Click - Duck Down Sampler VLS (1996)

Posted: 26 May 2009 02:00 PM PDT

Here we have a rare promotional Duck Down Sampler vinyl from 1996. If you are familiar with the Headz Ain't Ready VLS, no instrumentals were featured for the main track. Well, the sampler starts off with a dub instrumental of Headz Ain't Ready(Original Buckshot Mix). I know some of you are already saying "why didn't they just put the full instrumental without any vocals", well I don't know. The next track is Let Tha Brainz Blo (Babee Pall's Dolla Cab Lab Mix) by Heltah Skeltah. I don't know if this is supposed to be a Baby Paul remix but it sounds identical to the album version on Nocturnal; maybe it was released before the album? The B-Side wins again on this 12": Boot Camp Click - Niggaz Ain't Ready (Dirty F*cking Mix). While the original Headz Ain't Ready 12" version isn't censored, instead of saying "Headz" on the chorus, it now says "Niggaz". I believe that it is a super rare version that can only be found on this sampler which hasn't been ripped on the blogsphere until now. Enjoy!

A1 - Boot Camp Click - Headz Ain't Ready (Original Headz Instrumental)
A2 - Heltah Skeltah - Let Tha Brainz Blo (Babee Pall's Dolla Cab Lab Mix)
B1 - Boot Camp Click - Niggaz Ain't Ready (Dirty F*cking Mix)

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-- Thomas V

I'ma Addict For Sneakers

Posted: 26 May 2009 03:00 AM PDT

Stream the track while reading...

Lexicon - Nikehead

For as long as any of us can remember, sneakers have been synonymous with hip-hop. It's a perfect marriage and to this day both use one another for inspiration. Whether it was RUN-D.M.C. telling us about their Adidas or Nas' confessions on his addiction or favorite brand, sneakers have always been prevalent within the hip-hop community. Today it's common to hear cats like Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Rick Ross, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Bun B and T.I. to commonly reference sneakers. (Click all hyperlinks)

But out of all the sneakers, there is only one staple of the hip-hop community and that has to be the Air Jordans.

A few years back there was this preeminent documentary titled Just For Kicks. It was about the sneaker phenomena and the marriage of hip-hop. It featured the likes of Grandmaster Caz, D.M.C., Damon Dash, Bobbito Garcia & King Ad Rock spittin' their favorite stores or dropping science on the birth of kicks like Nike Air Force Ones aka Uptowns.

I would strongly encourage those, like myself, who are indeed sneaker addicts to cop the movie at your local store, but for in the meantime definitely check out the full 82 minute video here.

It's no secret that emcees influence many of us. It's also no secret that those very emcees are influenced by their environment, so in essence we all play a role in this. A lot of stand in line for hours (some days) at places like Alife Rivington Club, Flight Club, Shoe Gallery or Ubiq just for the latest limited release, retro or exclusive colorway.

While sneaker companies go to great lengths at befriending rappers like Bun B, Kanye West, Fat Joe or Nelly in hopes of promoting their brands to millions, it's ultimately us the consumers who dedicate what becomes the hot item. Because after all if it don't make dollars it don't make sense, right?

So next time you're in line at Foot Locker and you happen to do a double take because you think you just saw your favorite album appear on a sneaker shirt, rest assure you're the reason why. Jordan Brand is not run by Michael Jordan. It's not even run by the HDIC, Gentry Humphrey, who after all is just a Jordan stan. No, It's run by young guns scrambling to reconnect with you and take your dollars. The great MJ couldn't name 5 A Tribe Called Quest tracks if his life depended on it. It's the recent 20-something grad who his trying to appeal to the 30-something recovering addict. It's not a coincidence that Jordan Brand just released 3 hip-hop related themed shirts that all happen to feature 3 bona fide classic albums covers.