http://canigetadub.muxtape.com/ OR
http://8tracks.com/Cinnie...-get-a-dub



Can I Get A Dub?

artist name "song title" / album source [year, label]

Big Daddy Kane "Somethin' Funky" / Get Into It 12" [1987, Prism]
D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" / Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble 12" [1986, Word-Up]
Steady B "Use Me" / What's My Name [1987, Jive]
Michee Mee & L.A. Luv "Elements Of Style" / Elements Of Style 12" [1987, Justice]
Beastie Boys "Caught In The Middle Of A 3-Way Mix" / Shadrach 12" [1989, Capitol]
L.A. Star "Fade To Black" / Poetess [1990, Profile]
Mantronix "King Of The Beats" / Join Me Please 12" [1988, Capitol]
Sugar Bear "Don't Scandalize Mine" / Don't Scandalize Mine 12" [1988, Next Plateau]
Salt-N-Pepa "I Am Down" / Hurby's Machine [1987, Next Plateau]
L.L. Cool J "Rock The Bells (Original Version) / Rock The Bells 12" [1985, Def Jam]

Running time: approximately 48 minutes

THE THOUGHT BEHIND IT

With this mixtape I wanted to share a few songs that are non-album tracks, album tracks that are simply less mentioned, or a version orgers might not have heard.

From the time the Org mixtape idea had been announced I kind of felt it would be best if I represented with an all-rap mix. I know rap in its current form is generally not celebrated on the Org, but I realize that the strongest critics were once fans of the genre. When we talk about "old school" rap, the response is enormous.

To a degree I understand why old school rap is more popular on the Org because a good portion of my own hip hop listening is still from the first two decades, from its infancy up to its over-saturation. This is why I have focused my mixtape around the late eighties, debatably rap's golden era.


BREAK IT DOWN LIKE THIS

Big Daddy Kane "Somethin' Funky" / Get Into It 12" [1987, Prism]
* Before his classic 1988 debut Long Live The Kane, Big Daddy Kane released a 12" with this song on the other side followed by "Just Rhymin' With Biz" which ended up on the album. The beat is very similar to "Just Rhymin' With Biz", starting with the sampler-tuned Melvin Bliss piano on the intro, then the James Brown "Payback" loop. Kane's rap is totally different though, and there is a heavier emphasis on the "Funky President" scratches, which makes "Somethin' Funky" an essential listen unto itself! Big Daddy Kane is probably my favorite rapper of all time, and I think the strongest to come from the Juice Crew. Marley Marl is one of my favorite hip hop producers.

D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" / Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble 12" [1986, Word-Up]
* I think most people are familiar with the version that was re-recorded for Jive Records in 1988. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince started on a smaller label called Word-Up Records and released this song as a 12" in 1986, then released Rock The House in 1987. The Word-Up version of the Rock The House album shows Jeff and Will's heads sticking out of the bottom edge, a mockup of Run DMC's King Of Rock. If you buy Rock The House today, the version of this song is the 1988 Extended Remix, though the result is very similar, with "I Dream Of Jeannie" being sampled, but a few lyrics were changed. If you ever saw the video for this song, it was the Jive version. Actually, I didn't know this version existed until the first season of Fresh Prince Of Bel Air when it was used for a scene where the family went to the mall to look for Halloween costumes, and Will is looking for a date. Fun fact: Did you know that the idea for the show Fresh Prince Of Bel Air was originally developed for Juice Crew rapper M.C. Shan?

Steady B "Use Me" / What's My Name [1987, Jive]
* Steady B is a Philadelphia rapper as well. He debuted on the Pop Art label where Roxanne Shante and Salt-N-Pepa (then Supernature) also debuted in the mid 1980s. "Use Me" is from his second album What's My Name, his first first for Jive Records. The producer of this is not Marley Marl shares a similarity and sound to the drum pattern of Biz Markie's "Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz". The synth has replayed the bassline to the "Before I Let Go" by Frankie Beverly And Maze. The hook features a scratch from the original song, plus a chant from "Give It Up Or Turnit Loose" by James Brown, a b-boy staple.

Michee Mee & L.A. Luv "Elements Of Style" / Elements Of Style 12" [1987, Justice]
* This is the song I most wanted to share. Michee Mee and her DJ L.A. Luv are from Ontario Canada and this is their debut. What makes it so special is that it was produced by Boogie Down Productions' KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock before his death in 1987. You hear the voice of KRS-One introduce Michee Mee at the beginning of the song and also the chorus. Who even knew that BDP was linking with Canada like that? Perhaps it had something to do with London DJ Tim Westwood whose label Justice released this 12". It sounds like only the drums and the horns from "Get Up And Dance" by Freedom are programmed, while the main sample "Heartbeat" by Taana Gardner is lined up by turntable due to the limits of sampling technology. Michee Mee and L.A. Luv hooked up with First Priority (MC Lyte, Audio Two) in 1988 and finally had an LP in 1991 with the hit "Jamaican Funk Canadian Style".

Beastie Boys "Caught In The Middle Of A 3-Way Mix" / Shadrach 12" [1989, Capitol]
* Taken from the 12" single for Shadrach which is rich with non-album treats, such as an alternate radio skit for the fictional Paul's Boutique. The album version of "Ask For Janice" has a man's voice. The Beastie Boys album ends with "B-Boy Bouillabaisse", a twelve minute suite of songs which features a portion called "Stop That Train" which is featured in full on the 12", and now here for you on this mixtape. The Dust Brothers produced instrumental comprised of Southside Movement drums and "Draw Your Brakes" by Scotty were lifted wholesale for Vanilla Ice's 1990 recording called... "Stop That Train".

L.A. Star "Fade To Black" / Poetess [1990, Profile]
* L.A. Star had an LP on Profile Records called Poetess, and this was the debut single that preceded the album's release. The beat is comprised mostly of a drum break from Wilson Pickett, "Engine Number 9". Though this song displays a promising female emcee, she did not enjoy an enduring career. If anyone has been watching Egotrip's Miss Rap Supreme this year on VH1, L.A. Star is the mother of contestant Rece Steele.

Mantronix "King Of The Beats" / Join Me Please 12" [1988, Capitol]
* New York DJ and producer Kurtis Mantronik produced albums for Just-Ice and his own act Mantronix, pushing technology to its fullest capacity, displaying amazing creativity and hot dance tracks that endure to this day. One of them was featured on the 12" for "Join Me Please" but not on any album. I included it mainly due to its rarity, though its impact will soon be made apparent, from the way he chops the The Winstons "Amen Brother" break which provided the blueprint for Drum & Bass, to the fraction of a second of Bob James "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" during the beat that was later lifted for Snap's "The Power". The "power" behind Snap's hit was really thanks to Kurtis Mantronik's mastery of production. Another one of hip-hop greats J Dilla used the siren from this song when he was referred to as "King Of Beats", an obvious nod to this song.

Sugar Bear "Don't Scandalize Mine" / Don't Scandalize Mine 12" [1988, Next Plateau]
* I do not believe Sugar Bear even got an album out of this, but his single "Don't Scandalize Mine" backed with "Ready To Penetrate" got a lot of mileage. If you have been to a club in the last 2 years, you know that the Lyn Collins "Think About It" drum break has made a resurgence, and "Don't Scandalize Mine" sounds timeless as ever. The track also features a loop from Talking Heads "Once In A Lifetime" and a scratched phrase from Eric B & Rakim "I Ain't No Joke" during the breakdown. I also hear the urgent guitar push from "Fire It Up" by Rick James.

Salt-N-Pepa "I Am Down" / Hurby's Machine [1987, Next Plateau]
* One of Salt-N-Pepa's best songs does not appear on any Salt-N-Pepa albums except the UK version of their greatest hits compilation. Their first 3 albums were produced by Hurby Luv Bug, and in 1987 he released a compilation called Hurby's Machine with other acts he produced such as Kid-N-Play and Antoinette. I love this vocal performance of rapping from Salt-N-Pepa when they are almost yelling they are so hype! The guitar is from Babe Ruth's "Keep Your Distance" and the drums are from saxophonist Fausto Papetti's version of "Love's Theme", both available on the Ultimate Breaks And Beats compilations which I think Hurby Luv Bug sampled everything off of.

L.L. Cool J "Rock The Bells (Original Version) / Rock The Bells 12" [1985, Def Jam]
* This is the second most important song I wanted everyone to hear because I know you'll see this title and immediately start thinking "LL Cool J is hard as HELL!" but this version of Rock The Bells is a totally different song, with Rick Rubin's spare production and alternate verses from Cool J.


THE SONGS I BOOTED

1. Roxanne Shante "Roxanne's Revenge [Street Version]" The famous 1984 Roxanne answer record, but it was the version she did over the actual UTFO beat and not the commonly heard mimic beat by Marley Marl. In the end, I figured this wasn't as obscure as I thought because many Orgers have mentioned this as one of their all-time favorites. UPDATE! This track is now included on the 8tracks edition of Can I Get A Dub.

2. Public Enemy "At The Edge Of Panic" This is the same as "Terminator X At The Edge Of Panic" from 1988's It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, but the verses have replaced with some more scratching. It is only on the 12" single for "Night Of The Living Baseheads". In the end, I thought it would be weird to feature Public Enemy on my mixtape and not have a verse from Chuck D so I left it off.



muxtape -> 8tracks edit.
[Edited 9/12/08 15:56pm]

As soon as I give Herman's a listen, I'll listen to yours, but I have to say right away...

Cinnie said:

...I didn't know anyone besides me knew this one. I mean, obviously they do but I've never heard it mentioned. I recorded this video off of Yo MTV Raps long, long, time ago. Good pick.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Yeah my whole thing is.. it deserves a mention! Cool that you knew it.

Great! I'll try and write down some thoughts tomorrow before I leave this weekend.

sextonseven said:

grrr

I have to go to work and I am only halfway through.

You on point as usual Cinnie, you just gave those who aren't familar with these cuts a Hip Hop education. I got all these cuts on various mix tapes my cousin used to make for me back in the late 80's-early 90's, he was a DJ and he was deep into the hip hop movement back then.


Of course being born and raised in Philly I know all about those Steady B. & Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince joints, they used to run those versions to death on our radio stations back then, it a shame what's become of Steady B. and his "Hill-Top Hustlers" co-hort Cool C, both in jail. Steady doing life and Cool on Death Row.....

Anyway thanks for this trip down memory lane Cinnie
[Edited 7/10/08 21:41pm]

Abdul said:

That would have been so cool to hear.. I never heard any of these on the radio.

Abdul said:

That is a tragedy all around. It seems to overshadow their positive contribution to hip hop, but I guess that's on them!

Abdul said:

Thanks for your warm feedback Abdul.

I am currently listening to the second part. But there is one thing I can say already; most artists seem old-skool and I love, love, love old-skool.
Some artists I have of course; I got all albums by Salt n Pep, Mantronix and the Beasties and some by Cool James.

So I knew up front I would love parts of this tape. I am now going to read!

I need to listen a few more times, but instant winner to me is King Of The Beats.

Also feel love for Don't Scandalize Mine, Fade To Black and Elements Of Style.

Actually, the five songs from Michee Mee is a powerhouse.

I'm so glad you included I Am Down by SnP, it's one of the most underrated tracks from their entire discography. What was Hurby thinking when he held this off their first album for inclusion on Hurby's Machine (the album which introduced us to the hard-hitting Antoinette, and the playful Kid N Play under the guise of The Mau-Mau Clan Overlords)?

Nice mixtape overall, the golden old-school era is definitely my favorite!

:swiffin off the Sugar Bear track!!:

...
[Edited 7/11/08 9:47am]

A lot of rap and hip hop these days is very stripped down and elemental, so I can really appreciate the selections you included in this mux. They echo the energy of the stuff today and has a raw snazz to it that's hot.

My favorite on your mux is "DON'T SCAN'ALIZE MINE" [!!!] HOT track right there. Not too familiar with his stuff, but that track is very cool especially that Talking Heads interp! I could whyle out to this @ a party!

The Michee Mee track was also a treat for me because I enjoy BDP affiliates -- so hearing KRS introduce this hot new "Canadian" female talent was nice. Too bad she never went anywhere. Never heard of her and that's kinda bad, since even the nation got exposure to Ice Cream Tee on BET @ least and her singles weren't even as hot as this Michee Mee track. Didn't know Michee Mee existed until today.

So thanks for this mux, it opened my eyes to some things I haven't heard before and is more proof that there SO MUCH crate digging that folks can still do in the '80s decade. We exhaust the '80s hits to death, but there's so many hidden album gems nestled away that people don't even and still have never been exposed too. Thanks!

HamsterHuey said:

Funny you say that! Those 5 were definitely in sequence when I was compiling and then I worked the other 5 as start and finish tracks.

GoActive said:

That's why I gave it a lil' spotlight!

Mara said:

That's definitely the '"'hypest'"' track on the mux!

That Michee Mee takes me back, but back to the Sugarhill Gang who used that same horn sample (Get Up & Dance? I never knew)

"Beat beat, you & the crew, HOLY!!!"

Cinnie, I'm really enjoying your muxtape! I am by far no hip-hop/rap connaiseur, but your selection of old school rap takes me back on a trip to the 80's and proofs how good this stuff was! Great raps about the game, no bitches, gangsta's and bling-bling.....well done!

Big Daddy Kane - "Somethin' Funky" - Can't honestly remember if I ever heard this one before. Love the snare and the slightly out of sync piano note sample throughout. Kane is a master on the mic.

D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" - I was never really a fan of Jeff and Prince, but I remember this was a cool record before they blew up.

Steady B - "Use Me" - This one brings back memories. The samples are awesome here. This might be my favorite on the mix.

Michee Mee & L.A. Luv - "Elements Of Style" - I never heard of Michee Mee. Didn't even know BDP worked with Canadian artists! Not a bad cut.

Beastie Boys - "Caught In The Middle Of A 3-Way Mix" - I had this 12" before the big purge a few years ago when I sold a lot of my old vinyl. I agree all those Paul's Boutique b-sides were very cool. Love the voicemail message at the beginning, lol.

L.A. Star - "Fade To Black" - I don't know this one either, but by 1990, I had moved on to alternative music so I missed a lot from that point on. It's pretty good.

Mantronix - "King Of The Beats" - Awesome! Maybe this one is my favorite now.

Sugar Bear - "Don't Scandalize Mine" - Love the "Once In A Lifetime" sample here. The faster tempo makes this one stand out.

Salt-N-Pepa - "I Am Down" - I remember actually not liking this song that much back in the day. The same thing you like about SNP yelling on the chorus is I think what turned me off.

L.L. Cool J - "Rock The Bells - My friend used to play this 12" a lot and I thought the bells were really cool, but I missed the rock guitar of the original.

This mix was really good. I like how it captures hip-hop after it had grown a few years, but still before it really went pop. Very nostalgic.

sextonseven said:

Ask Cinister for the mashup he did of Talking Heads and Britney Spears.

Totally amazing mashup.

Cinnie, are you CRAZY!? I fucking loved your mix! I can't believe you were going to deny us this jamfest!

Clearly what you have mixed is pre-trash rap! Back in the day when samples mattered. Now these motherfuckers are lifting whole songs and rapping over them with Cher I believe in Life after Love sound effects on top!

I really don't know about the rest of the folks but these were the sounds coming out of my neighborhood. It's only in my adult years that I branched out musically as there was not very many varieties of music coming out of the hood This brought back SO MANY MEMORIES FOR ME!

The thing I love about this mix is that it reminds you of the reason why some of us have regard for hip hop and rap. Artists like Biggie and Tupac took things in a darker heavier direction and of course you had public enemy and the likes but the birth of rap was a true and genuine expression. It also points out this era of rap's influence on popular culture because you still hear some of these samples being used. It's invigorating hearing these samples as they were originally used.

My Fave: I have to go with Sugar Bear "Don't Scandalize Mine"! I mean where else are you going to hear Talking Heads and Rick James in the Same space Brilliant.

I also want to give major props to "Fade to Black" What I like about this song is that it is a statement. Rap used to be a platform for airing grievences and giving voice to dysfunction and while maybe there isn't an inherent solution in that, the rap culture of today has taken dysfunction to a whole new level and glorified it and made it a way of life people want to live

Rap has become so perverted. Granted these are largely innocent compared to today's standards but I appreciate the simplicity of the mission of these songs and rappers having their individual thumbprints on their art. Now everything is the same and lacks total substance. This throwback mix is the bomb

I KNEW you'd have something great to contribute and I'm so happy you decided to stay in

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

It's a good thing we convinced him to stay in.

NDRU said:

I think this is the one you mean:

abierman said:

Thanks abierman

Cinnie said:

right, GMF, I knew that I swear!

sextonseven said:

There might be some familiar bits on this song besides having the same beat as "Just Rhymin With Biz". The line "ahhh, let's see what's next on the menu" was used for the title of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's song on the Who's The Man soundtrack.
I think the syncopation on the piano note is one of the reasons I can get with this!

sextonseven said:

Thank you for your commentary.

NDRU said:

See instead of calling it "Get Up And Dance" after the horn sample... they called it "Freedom" which was the name of the group.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

And actually I agree with you there. These songs were still in an era where the artists could smile on the album covers! I think The Chronic outlawed smiling. As influential as the gangsta 90s were, I think we lost the balance between "social commentary" (and I am being generous with that term) and "unabashed fun". Even the best example of a group who specialized in social commentary, Public Enemy, presented a balance with their music, as Flavor Flav was the comic foil of the group, and some songs were just about how awesome Terminator X was. They weren't glorifying the ills of the community.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I am so glad that I put this on my muxtape. I think this has been most people's favorite! There is a serious throwback to this kind of sound in the clubs right now and I think it is because of the danceable tempo of the breakbeat. I'm glad you enjoyed this one.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

This goes along with what I was saying about "balance" in rap. If the antagonism described in this song had been recorded TODAY, the rapper would be the one turning the gun on someone, personifying the villain, rather than making a song about hope, courage or empowerment. And today's rapper would use the same old excuse: "I'm just telling you what is going on in the hood". Well, a lot of listeners are already in the hood, and what they need is a voice to lift their spirits up. For me, that's the difference in what LA Star's song provides.

Double-C,


Somebody hep me...



...i'm all B-Boy'd out.


Nice layout and very informative explanations.


You already know that i'm not a Hippity-Hop fan but I appreciated the selections you chose.
They all sounded like they were from the "Fun" era of the genre.

You even had my head bobbin' a few times.

Mantronix just edged out Sugar Bear as my favorite of the set.
Probably due to the number of variations in the track. Bear was bangin' though.



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I swear that King Of The Beats was sampled by the Chemical Brothers on one of my favorite dance tracks ever...Song to the Siren

And Timbaland also sampled some parts on the outro of a famous Missy E song....
[Edited 7/12/08 16:45pm]