Due to the recent signing of Garnett, its only right that I celebrate in fashion by kicking this blog off with my personal top 10 New England Hip Hop classics (
click zshare links to download)
#10 - T-Max - "Executioner Style"
I met T-Max while working at Grit Records/Inebriated Rhythm for the first time in 2003 while working on a mixtape titled "Taking Over The Masses" which contained a who's who of the best in New England. Now anyone thats been in the Danger Room (Grit Records' studio) in West Roxbury, MA know that right when you walk in, the mic booth is directly to your left. I'ma just say this, dude is strictly business cause right when he came through the door, he walked right into the booth, put on the headphones, and said "I'm ready" before even introducing himself, just tearing it down (
mp3 of that freestyle right here:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2934456c9ff2b5/ ). If any of you paid attention to the last Music Nation Hip Hop contest, T-Max won and signed a deal with Epic. So, congrats to him. I see you fam! Check him out at: http://tmax.musicnation.com/
#9 - Wiseguys - "In Tha Company Of Killas" (Prod. By Havoc)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2935072461ae60/Remember these guys?!? This is Beantown's reality rap at its finest. This was their first single off the album of the same title which was released on Def Jam in 1997 and went out of print shortly after. The Wiseguys consisted of Manterror, Mike McNiel, Tangg The Juice, Rasco, and Main T (shouts to Adge187 as I forgot a few names) and often featured Twice Thou, Cool Gzus, Benzino, and Tony Rhome.
#8 - Scientifik, L Tha Headtoucha, K Slaughta and God Wize - "Hold The Key"
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2934573ba085cc/
Featured on the critically acclaimed "No More Prisons" compilation released on Raptivism Records in 1999, this one is a sureshot classic.
#7 - Big Shug feat. Scientifik and Ed O.G - "Official"
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2935247ed651a1/First and foremost, R.I.P to Scientifik. He was easily one of the greatest talents to ever bless the mic period and this is evident if you've ever heard his debut album "Criminal" (which features production from Diamond D, Buckwild, RZA, and more). Go cop that as Traffic put it back in print. Anyways, this joint right here was the b-side on Big Shug's "Crush" 12" and is produced by my man Bless One (formerly of Missing Elements). Whuddup Bless?!? What makes this joint even more classic is that it also contains those famous cuts that Boston rappers love to use where Big Shug says "Its a B-O-S-T-O-N Thing".
#6 - Made Men feat. The Lox - "Tommys Theme"
http://www.zshare.net/audio/293517453795d2/Featured on the Belly soundtrack released in 1998, this one was a big street banger that year. I'd also like to clear up that Swizz Beatz DID NOT produce this joint as that's what most people think, Hangmen 3 produced this one. Don't get it twisted.
#5 - Almighty RSO feat. Mobb Deep - "Wars On"
http://www.zshare.net/audio/29349981f34a64/Featured on the Original Gangstas soundtrack released in 1996, this joint still gives me chills til this day. I mean hard beat and hard lyrics, what more could you ask for? To add on to that, Prodigy murdered this. I miss when that dude was really spitting. Not to say that "Return Of The Mac" wasn't dope but I enjoyed it more for the Alchemist production than the lyrics.
#4 - L Tha Headtoucha (now known as Larry Cheeba) - "Too Complex"
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2935341604bb0f/When this joint came out in 1997, people were saying L was the next Nas and based solely on this joint and everything else that he was coming out with at the time. I had to agree. He was killing everything especially for those that have the recordings of Larry when he was on Stretch and Bobbito and Future Flavas back in the day (which will be posted in my weekly
"classic freestyle" column very soon). Unfortunately though, L did a bid which really hit him hard when his buzz was really starting to generate. I know you gotta do what you gotta do L but I miss the days when you were spitting like this. Incredible. Shouts to my man DJ Shame (of the Vinyl Reanimators) on the beat (Check him out every Sunday at Noon, Tuesday at 10 PM, and Friday at 9 AM on XM 65 - The Rhyme)
#3 - Krumbsnatcha - "Closer To God" (Prod. By DJ Premier)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2934740f9ddb3d/
Another classic from 1997 where Krumb details his near-death experience when he was shot multiple times outside of a pool hall in Lawrence, MA (aka Lawtown) with Preemo on the chops off Krumb's debut "Snatcha Season Pt. 1" (which is out of print and very sought after).
#2 - Almighty RSO feat. M.O.P - "One In Tha Chamba"
http://www.zshare.net/audio/2934357ee2b684/
The infamous controversial single off of Almighty RSO's 2nd album "Doomsday: Forever RSO" basically saying "fuck the police". The song came about after two teenagers died at the hands of the Boston police. Controversy soon followed when the Boston Police Patrolman's Association (BPPA) got assistance from Jack Thompson (who is the attorney who brought 2 Live Crew to court for their use of profanity) in pressing charges against the Almighty RSO based on a state law that prohibits the distribution of material that "advocates, advises, councils or incites assaults on any public official or the killing of any person". Wasn't it the Boston Police that murdered though? Makes you think what a fucked up society we live in, huh?
#1 - Edo.G "I Got To Have It"
http://www.zshare.net/audio/29342907d42227/
Come on. Do I really need to give an explanation for this one?
