Good Times

This song was forgotten until I stumbled across it on one of the many Universal Sounds cassettes residing in the archives. This song pairs MJB with Moosie Moe over a Mysterio track made in 1994. A very light hearted song with a mellow beat that samples some old Bob James record and hooks pulled from Biz Markie & the X-Clan.

Notable Quotes:

"If it comes down to mic time you know I got dibs/ And I even look fresh eating barbeque ribs"

- MJB

"Competion was said to be arriving?/ They lost in the seventies - I see them still jiving"

- Moosie Moe

Smile

Propaganda

This was a track that J.O.B. created for a Spee*D concept song.

One Big Fat Lie

Founders Freestyles 1994

Back in Founders during the summer of 1994 many freestyle sessions took place in a smoked filled room. This session features beats by E.N.S., J.O.B., Claw and Mysterio. Emcees featured are E.N.S., Claw, Moosie Moe, T-Booth, J.O.B. with Fred Dogs and Spee*D giving support in the background. All scratches vary from each of the emcees and producers - that's just how we did back then - constant rotation.

Highlights include when T-Booth hits Claw in the head with the microphone and E.N.S. encouraging a reluctant Fred to get on the mic.

Get Free

Time & Again

This classic track was made in 1996 by MJB and Mysterio. The horns and piano set a tone similar to the "Uptown Anthem" song by Naughty by Nature and then what comes in is something less sinister but equally head nodding.

The bassline is funky and the drums crunchy enough to fit around it like a glove with the pianos giving the proper accent. Lyrics from the emcees of Universal Sounds set up the hook for this U.N.I. standard.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

"A perfect compliment to any type of groove/ Like Kix I'm kid tested and mother approved" - MJB

"And who wrecks mics better? You?/ Yeah, whatever/ I bet a dime in five minutes time your pants will be wetter" - MJB

Grape Ape

Rare Artist Series: Lace Da Booms Cut That Weak Shit

I remember having this jawn by Lace Da Booms on a mixtape back in the day.  Recorded off of one the mix shows in New York.  I searched and searched for years onward and did not stumble onto it until about two months ago.  Love it.  Just pure hip hop.  Not the most amazing rhymes but the beats fit the vocal inflections of the emcees perfectly.  So...

Cut That Weak Shit

St. Ides Rap

What beer drinker didn't drink St. Ide's back in 1993? Well, I guess those with taste. I was not one of them and neither was T-Booth or J.O.B. who came up with this PSA at the same time Ice Cube and his friends were endorsing said brew.

Notable Quotes:

"Drink all night and don't stop it/ But use a brown paper bag so you can hide it from the cops, kid" - T-Booth

Listen responsibly...

Get Drunk

Deadly Rhyme Medley

1997 was the year when this little gem was born. Claw crafted the dark beat where himself, Aya and MJB laid down some serious verbal warfare. This track will never get old to me. The beat is sinister and the lyrics are the type that make you want to rewind or read them as liner notes. Definitely a highlight of the Universal Sounds collective.

Notable Quotes:

"Hip Hop Temple desecration/ So I bring terror like the book of Revelation/ Emcees throughout the nation/ Just heed me when I warn/ Or face shame and scorn/ Wish you were never born/ In your side I'll be the thorn" - Aya Da Storm

"Stringent contingents/ Continue to put the rent through/ But some sit for self and try to eat the whole menu/ Sights I send to/ Don't even try the evil that men do/ I'm way ahead of you/ I correspond with men who bend you" - MJB

"I curse the track - disperse my rhyme verse/ I be the first - you be the worst/ I'm doing work/ My style lurks and creeps on emcees that sleep/ It's deep - I play for keeps and the keeps are steep" - Claw

Enter the Medley