Freestyle Kinetics

This must of been one of those days, in 1994, where the studio was filled to the brim with UNI Sounds members. Analytical is trying to get Fred Dogs on the microphone one last time but after refusal he proceeds to drop his bugged out style on this quick cut.

Get Kinetic

Shockwave Freestyle

Over the years emcees have claimed they freestyle when their verses were really written. We all know that true freestyle emcees have a quick way with words but when they try to write some songs they end up coming out flat (ie: Juice and Chino XL).

Anyhow, here is a written verse by Shockwave that he spit over a track created by Mysterio back 1999. While not a freestyle - I really love this verse which would later show up on the song "7th Sign".

NOTABLE QUOTES:

"American laws and standards we must amend/ Open your third eye wide - overstand these evil trends/ Everyday our people fill state and federal pens/ How long will it take until we say never, never again" - Shockwave

From the beginning to the end...

Mind of A Man

In 1995 a beat was crafted, lyrics were written and vocals were recorded. In 2009 the beat was lost but two different beats took its place. The Murk Mix is a bit grimier while the O.G. Mix is more laid back.

The tempo and drums are the same but the musical elements poured over the boom bap, by Mysterio, are two different animals entirely. E.N.S. created the song concept and is accompanied by Moosie Moe on the mic.

Come and take a journey

Corner Store Freestyle 2000

At the turn of the century, freestyle sessions were still in effect for the Universal Sounds crew. Here Kwote Scriptures along with Optiskept (now known as SINIMA BEATS) met up with Anoir Akbar and DJ Mysterio for some freestyle fun in the studio.

No visit to 202 9th Street would be complete without a stop at the corner store up the block. Whether you had the munchies, a need for a stoge or looking for something to quench your thirst you would hit the bodega before proceeding to the bomb shelter.

If you listen close you might even hear the rumble of the F Train going by.

Enter the Corner Store Session

Cise Byrd

Back in 2000 in Park Slope, Brooklyn this little gem was created by Claw and Cise. Digging upon a Donald Byrd sample from "Steppin' Into Tomorrow" Claw and Cise made one song that will always take me back to those cold winters in New York.

However, when listening to the track I am not thinking of the grey, grimy streets filled with dirty snow treaded upon by people with scowls on their faces. Nah, I think of good times up in the warm comforts of 202 9th street hanging with the fellas; whether we were talking politics, playing X Box, drinking Carlos Rossi or smoking some blunts ("high like five blunts to the head, duke").

Cise brought a very distinctive and refreshing flow to what seemed to be an impossible beat to rhyme over. To put it in Cise's own words it took an Escargot flow.

Included are the first 3 test mixes, final mix and instrumental.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

"Street corners sick for the dro/ Green lights look at em go/ Fiend for the cash flow/ Same way that you blow"

"Dripping blood - fuck them thugs/ You going home with a slug/ Rolling trees - not of the drugs/ Believe you me it's a mystery/ You place the post with me like Camby/ And dish like Anthony"

Cise Byrd (take 3)

Live From Planet E

Welcome, to the FREESTYLE FRIDAY EDITION of this blog. Over the next few months there will be one installment per week showcasing freestyle sessions from members of Universal Sounds.

First up is a session from 1997 showcasing Eli-173, who was then known as ELP. This was before he heard of the dude from Company Flow. Anyhow - I was digging in the vaults and stumbled across this cassette tape. Upon first listen I did a double take because I don't remember Eli being so damn good on the mic in a freestyle capacity.

Here he is along with E.N.S. and Infinite. Mysterio was bouncing around somewhere in there as ELP and E.N.S. both rocked freestyles over ELP productions. Included is an instrumental which I believe may have been co-produced by Claw with ELP.

transfer to PLANET E here

Green Grass EP

In my opinion this song still stands the test of time right next to Claw's other song "Assassins" but this one hits closer to home. No remixes here (well except for the 2001 revision with Cise on the chorus). Spee*D makes an appearance with Claw at the Bistro while Moosie Moe shows up on the original version.

The production handled by Mysterio included samples from Stevie Wonder, Willie Hutch and the band called Stuff. These samples were dug from records supplied courtesy of MJB back in 1995. The song was imagined by Claw and the musical landscape matched the lyrics in a very soulful way.

ORIGINAL MIX

2001 REMIX

U.N.I. Sounds Time=Space Continuum

In 2001 U.N.I. Sounds completed an album featuring some new members from the tri-state area. Kwote Scriptures, Concise and Optiskept joined the crew of Aya da Storm, Anoir Akbar, Analytical, Shockwave and Claw. Even a guy named Murdah Dawg snuck into the studio on 202 9th Street in Brooklyn to drop his gem "Wazzup?".

Through the blunt smoke, beer and bottles of wine this album was born. Plenty of fun times were had in between with peeps playing X-Box Goldeneye, watching Sopranos and playing pool on the miniature table in the living area. At times the place would be filled with over a dozen people; surprising given it was less than 1000 SF.

All production was handled by Mysterio, Claw and Lamada on dual ASR-10's with the songs recorded in Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 equipped with a Layla Echo.

Most of the mc's went into reclusion while a few still put in work to this day. Those including Kwote Scriptures and Concise now known as Khalil Darius b.k.a Black Jack Napier. Optiskept is now known for his production as Sinima Beats. Mysterio is on the down low but loves making music each and every day.

Time-Space Continuum Download

U.N.I. Sounds The Remix Project

Here are a few songs I have been messing around with after transferring vocals from the old 8-Track. I tried to keep close to the originals but can't find the original samples for all of them so I end up making some new simple chords over basic beats.

I am a perfectionist to some degree so the transfers are obviously not perfect due to conflicting BPM's. I will be going back on each of these songs and tighten them up as I go on as far as overall mix, compression and mastering in my cubicle. Overall - it is just for fun and for reminiscing :0)

As most know we recorded all our songs to an 8-track. One track was for the beat from the asr and the rest vocals, cuts and back up vocals. Needless to say the recordings were muddy.

Rob did this original track with Lateef and me on vocals back in, I what I believe was, the summer of 1994. We were probably blunted as hell and decided to record the vocals in the adjoining bathrooms. Rob probably had a bunch of snacks on him so you might hear him munching towards the end. And of course he couldn't resist belting out some R&B vocals.

I tried to recreate the magic of the Blackbyrds sample Rob used but the drums don't feel as grimy as they did on the original. Anyhow:

lyrical masterblasters

I had no idea this song was even on an 8-track tape. A blast from the past with me and E.N.S. circa 1995.

mind of a man

When we did the original Enemies Danny made a remix. I think that his beat was a lot better. The first one was dark and his was more funky. Anyhow - most of those samples got corrupted so as I did with the original Enemies Mix I remixed it. So this remix is a remix of the original remix. Ha ha ha. Basically our vocals are different. Well, mine are - I always hated how I sounded on these two songs. Anyhow...

Enemies (The Remix Part Deux)

Enemies (Original Mix Remixed)

Having a lot of fun with this little project and as time goes on I will go through the 30 plus 8-track tapes which include songs like:

Big Up To Myself

Torture

Tabasco

Exploration

Suckas

Blackberry Cream

Bring on the Crowd

Mayhem

WWW3

Deadly Rhyme Medly

Jamboree @ Jake's

Rap Pioneer

Mad as Fuck

Mellowin 2 Da Groove

Real Shit

I do happen to have most of the original beats on the ASR and will transfer the samples to "remaster" them the best I can.