Freestyle Friday

Freestyle Friday continues with Kamar @ the Jamboree @ Jake's.

Wazzup

Muirdah Dawg's classic "Wazzzup". This fool brought the dirty south to the north east way before anyone else did. He the had funk in his trunk keeping it crunk with an amazing track supplied by Claw.

Wazzzup?!?!

Don Ho

Freestyle from MJB and T-Booth live in 95. Music by "Jeremy, Tyler and them".

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Matt Braunger rapping

Bullet Proof Glass

Kwote, Anoir Akbar and Optiskept styling it free over a Mysterio track.

F**K You

Spee*D sent this time about a year ago. He had been working up in Chi-town and put this together with a producer friend of his. Over a booming beat with sharp orchestral stabs and playful piano Spee*D brings his wild style with humor and social perspective.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

"Cause things ain't free in this economy/ And even good skins can't feed my family/ Or pay for the degrees that has me owing g's/ To Sally Mae and two Universities" - Spee*D

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Blood Red Dressing

The intro is a sample from Fantastic Four's 1967 animated series served up over a chunky beat, with a driving bass line and vibrant violins. Claw and Shockwave concocted this savory morsel back in 2000 and it still holds up to this day. Although it is only one verse it still displays Shockwave's wicked wordplay over Claw's impeccable instrumental.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

"I hold my mic like a knife - steady dissecting/ Life and its mysteries have me wondering and vexing/ Is there more? - in this life - where is a lesson?/ A spiritual guidance keeps me going -one direction/" - Shockwave

Get Bloody

December 2001 Freestyle Session

This session features Kwote, Cise, Climax and Nekia up in the 202 9th Street studio. This particular selection features the three emcees rapping while Nekia belts out some vocals over this Mobb Deep instrumental.

Notable Quotes:

"And we had the dream to represent Brooklyn and Queens/ We got freestyles and we drop sixteen/ Twenty-fours and more - whatever - kicking metaphors/ Every time we spit everybody knocks the door/ They want more..." - Climax

Peep the Style Free

E.N.S., Claw & Big Vic Freestyle

Freestyle Friday continues...

Celestial Sentinels

Strong horn stabs and robotic textures lace this grimy drum track that Claw transformed from the ASR 10. As I reflect I suppose this could be a sequel to Magmatic (with MJB & T-Booth) but this song stands on its own very well.

Each version has differing lyrics but still comes correct with that hardcore feel in this lyrical space saga.

NOTABLE QUOTES:
"I'm breaking down machinery/ Ravage your savage lands/ I'm blasting wack emcees with trash compactor cans/ I'm ripping off the chains, rings and pulling watches/ I'm leaving your face bloody and bruised - stained with mad blotches" - Analytical

"You'll be another homeboy in outer space to get laced/ Trampled and like the show you'll get cancelled/ Ashes to ashes and dust to dust/ When I hawk - spit flows - your whole frame will rust" - Cise

Celestial Sentinels (Take 1.5)

Lifetime

2001. Horns. Xylophones. Strings. Rhymes. Life. Times.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

"Fuck game/ I'm opposite of pain/ Though I deliver those type of things that'll take you back twice from whence you came" - Cise

Time Life

In Ya Face Like Blowww!!!

No tricks in 96. This jam was created in a dirty basement cellar, in a dilapidated row house, in Northwest Washington, D.C.. Despite the grimy environment this sharp dart hit it on all angles. With a wah wah guitar, piano stab, deep bass, vocal snippet and ambient sounds over a tight drum kit Mayhem and Moosie Moe deliver some great verses.

Notable Quotes:

"My territory is the dark side of the story/ It's gory and like a jungle cat my view is predatory/ When I be stalking mics - the likes of which you never seen/ And will again my friend and then I'm gone with the wind" - Mayhem

"With rhythmatic methods I arise from the mist/ Revealing and obliterating snakes that hissed/ And scrambled for their guns and monetary funds/ Unable to cope with the universal sons" - Moosie Moe

In Ya Face!

Mid Day Blues

This song went through several transformations before ending up on the Time-Space Continuum album. First came the beautiful beat created by Jake Lamada which had crisp SP-1200 drums with a mellow guitar and vibe sample pouring right over it. You can hear Optiskept (now known as Sinima Beats) flowing over this one on the solo tip and then Kwote and Cise join him on the next take.

Next Mysterio came through with his rendition of the song with an equally melodic soundscape featuring vocal samples from Robert Plant and Stevie Wonder. Horns and keys lace the thumping drum track set over a deep bassline as the three emcees bring the dope concept to fruition once again.

Finally the track was remixed by a producer that Kwote connected with in Germany. This track keeps the mellow mood with an eighties type twist.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

"The pain won't cease/ You left as a part of me/ As you departed me/ I'm left incomplete/ Wholeheartedly/ I couldn't tell if you were using me or choosing me/ Either way you were abusing me" - Optiskept

"While my heart cause tremors on earth/ The confused look and stare/ Because they're not aware/ Of the love being expressed/ Place your hand on my chest/ Release some stress/ Have a seat and listen to the beat/ A mirror image of you - which looks so sweet/ My heart was empty - you made me complete" - Kwote

"I'm hype/ You got me high/ I'm falling quick like airplane flights/ And crash at your mental - do just about anything to have you/ Cry and die for you - share and laugh with you" - Cise

Mid Day Blues Time-Space Version

New York is Crazy

Way back in 1993 J.O.B. and MJB concocted this little gem on a 4-track where MJB displays his storytelling skills over a funky Snackmaster track. Comedy was always in Matt Braunger's heart as it is show here with this gem.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

"I'm not the one living tired and scummy/ I catch wreck like a crash test dummy"

"I stopped - yelled at this wish (sic) case/ And broke my god damn bottle in his bitch face"

NYC is still crazy

Claw & Aya Da Storm Freestyle

1997 was the year. ELP provided the beat with Aya and Claw freestyling on the mic.

Notable Freestyle Quotes:

"Quite clever on any endeavor/ And I sever/ The head off of the shoulders/ Drop rhymes like boulders" - Aya Da Storm

"I'm always on time with the beat - that's all that matters/ Emcees when I come - they all scatter"

Enjoy

Rare Artist Series: Jeru the Damaja - Me Not Paper (Remix)

Back when they still made cassingles this remix came through by Jeru The Damaja produced by DJ Premier. The original was good but damn this darker version just cracked the case for me and I was excited to hear their third album together but as we all know that never happened.

The Remix

Danger

One of the gems of the Universal Sounds family. Way before thugs dominated the airwaves Spoon and Claw came up with this jam. With a soft horn, wah wah guitar and thumping bass over chunky drums Spoon is able to lay down his vivid vocals. I, myself, would dare to put Spoon up there very close to Kool G Rap and Scarface. Only if we would of known what else he could of or would of done...

Notable Quotes:

"Word life, niggas living trife in my building/ Pissy elevators - no love for the children"

"I walk with my head down - frown on my face/ I can't crack a smile in this land of disgrace"

Warning - Danger Ahead