Microphone Mathematics

Just came across this mixtape earlier today. Nothing new on this mix but it’s probably been a little while since you listened to some Beasties – so it will be a decent listen.

DJ Reason’s “Hand Me Down Puma Mixtape” – HERE

01. the biz vs. the nudge
02. shame in your game
03. dope lil song
04. rootdown (free zone remix)
05. get it together (buckwild remix)
06. skills to pay the bills
07. hold it now hit it
08. ricky’s theme
09. scratch your rump (irt medley) / shake your rump
10. the vibes
11. car thief
12. mullet head
13. sure shot (european b-boy mix) / sure shot (large professor remix)
14. something’s got to give
15. slow and low
16. dub the mic
17. pass the mic (pt.2 skills to pay the bills)
18. electric worm
19. cooky puss

Skins when I please, hit from here to Tel Aviv
I’m gettin G’s, no more time for the line of free cheese
Here’s the 4-1-1 hon, the one who gets the job done
I know you know the flavor of the Puba.

Grand Puba:  a reminder of Polo Gear, Girbaud Jeans, and the occaisonal Sprite commercial back in the day. Two classic Puba tracks from his first solo efforts outside Brand Nubian.

The above video comes from the Meaning of Dope – which blows me away each time I visit the site. You should take the time to scroll through the video posts as they’ve got some footage from over the years that you’ve never seen.

Grand Puba’s “360″ – Zshare / Mediafire

Mary J. Blige w/ Puba “What’s the 411?” - Zshare / Mediafire 

Ready in the intro, cue up the Serch-lite 
Promised to the center stage I’ll grab the first mic
Projectin the voice with this mic that I’m cuffin’ 
You ain’t my nucker, sucker I’m snuffin’

I don’t care what anyone else says cause this was a friggin’ awesome album back in the day. I really miss albums like this because it not only had good songs and beats but it was also all over the place with it’s style and humor – and it definitely has the Prince Paul production sound and feel to it.  This album still holds up today with solid tracks like: Gas Face, Sons of 3rd Base, Brooklyn Queens, Steppin’ to the A.M., and Product of the Environment. Also, before the TV show The Wire was biting on Tom Waits for their intro – 3B had already beaten them to the punch back in 89′.

I’m not saying this is one of the best albums ever but it was one of the best in it’s time and it’s still a fun listen on the headphones. If you haven’t given this a dust off in the last few years then take it out for another spin this week.

Their 1989 Def Jam debut The Cactus Album was greeted with enthusiastic reviews. Clever, good-humored singles like “The Gas Face,” “Steppin’ to the A.M.,” and “Brooklyn-Queens” helped make 3rd Bass a name in hip-hop. Matching MC Serch’s bombastic, goofy good nature and Prime Minister Pete Nice’s gritty, English-trained wordsmith (sounding like a young Don in training), 3rd Bass’ debut album is revelatory in its way. For one, it is full of great songs, alternately upbeat rollers, casual-but-sincere disses, razor-sharp street didacticism, and sweaty city anthems, with A-plus production by heavyweights Prince Paul and Bomb Squad, as well as the surprising, overshadowing work of Sam Sever. The duo may not have come from the streets, but their hearts were there, and it shows. The album embodies New York life. The Cactus Album was important because it proved to hip-hop heads that white kids could play without bastardizing the culture. It may not have absolutely integrated rap, but it was a precursor to a culture that became more inclusive and widespread after its arrival.

I was a little saddened that I couldn’t find the video clip of them with Zev Love X (a skinny MF Doom) performing “The Gas Face” live on Showtime at the Apollo where they seemed to be booed and heckled the entire performance. If you haven’t watch “The Gas Face” video in a long while then peep it below and check out the young MF Doom.

3rd Base’s “The Cactus Album (or C/Dee)” – HERE

“Dudes actin’ like they street when they barely sidewalk”

My buddy Ben in NYC (via Mexico City – via Seattle) sent me the video below in an email the other day saying:

This is from Nyle, a cat I know from NYU. This boy is young, but he got what it takes. It would be great to put this out on Microphone Mathematics and even Scratchamama, no?

FYI – Scratchamama is a hip hop radio program in Mexico City that my man Ben was involved with for a little while when he was in the D.F..

Anyways, check out the video below (Nyle’s version of a Lil Wayne cover) as it’s a friggin’ tight video and dope lyrics! Also check out Nyle’s website (HERE) when you get a chance and read a little more about the NYU sophomore.

I’ll hopefully be enjoying a bagel in 2 weeks with Ben and as we make a visit to Fat Beats.

Here’s a little “gettin’ to know ya”

Nyle’s Wildkick – HERE
Nyle’s Breakdown ft. David Chalk – HERE

Once you experience a whole Kane rhyme
I’ll have you dancin in a Soul Train line

The B-I-G, D-A-double-D-Y-K-A-N-E.  The video below has been out for a little while now but since it’s new to me – peep this 15 minute film made by Lyricist Lounge founder Ant Marshall on the BDK.

Again, I’ve been pretty busy – so here’s a quickie…

I was at Kinkos about a week ago and playing in the background on Kinko’s “I wanna shoot myself in the head for having to listen to this staion all day while I work at Kinkos” FM was the Spinners’ classic “It’s a Shame”. As much as I like the original track – I was a bigger fan of Monie Love’s samplin’ of the tune back in 1990 off her album “Down to Earth”. Really dope guitar riff and chorus sample.

Monie Love’s “It’s a Shame (My Sister)” – HERE

When the East is in the house, Oh my God!

I really don’t have much to say about this track cause I don’t really have that much to say about Blahzay Blahzay. They came – and then they went. In the process they left this track along the way which always gets stuck in my head whenever I hear it due to the Jeru “Come Clean” sample and Q-tip clip.

Note: I’m tired of Zshare links expiring and so I’m going with Mediafire from now on….

Blahzay Blahzay’s ”Danger” – HERE

“Fuck hate – I got love in the face of that cuz I learned thru rap”

I’ve been pretty busy with work and extra-curricular activities so I’ve been letting things get pretty dormant the past month. The good news is that I’ve been sitting on some good old school stuff and some mixtapes. As things get a little more quiet – I’ll start droppin’ em.

For today, a  revamped post of an old one. My friend Todd turned me on to the Grouch a few years ago and the emcee keeps moving further and further up my list of fav’s the more I listen to him. If you didn’t get his most recent album “Show You the World (2008)” then please go out and grab it. Easily one of the top 5 listens of 2008.

Like most of the Living Legends crew – the Grouch drops nothing but personal, real and dope lyrics. If you’re in Portland then check him out with Eligh at Berbattis on May 2nd. Mix list below:

Goruch Mix - HERE

Into
Crumble Your Tower
Simple Man
Never Die
No Slow Thinkers
Show You the World ft. Raphael Saadiq
Cursader for Justice 
God Bless the Elephent ft. Abstract Rude
Ain’t My Life
Hit Em’ Up ft. Mistah Fab
Where I Wanna Get
Nothing’s Changing
Youdontknow
Breath
Mom & Pop Killer 
Road to Road
Favorite Folks 
Some People
Clones
Artsy 

Now I’m sick, fed up with the bullshit
Got the lyrical full clip, giving you a verbal asswhip
Don’t trip – it’s the gifted prolific one
Known as Bald Head Slick — why is the press all on my di-dick?

I’ve been pretty busy these past couple of weeks and have sorta neglected things around here – so my apologies. I’ll see if time allows me to be a bit better this next month?

This 24th round of YHITF is focused on Guru and Preemo – the best pairing of an MC and DJ ever! Sorry, not open for debate. Some of my favorite rhymes and beats are Gang Starr productions with the beats from Mass Appeal & Just to Get a Rep being at the top.

Jean Jacques Perrey’s “E.V.A.” [Sampled on Just to Get a Rep] – HERE

Monk Higgins’ “Little Green Apples” [Sampled on Code of the Streets] – HERE

Clarence Wheeler’s “Hey Jude” [Sampled on DWYCK] – HERE

Kool & The Gang’s “Summer Madness” [Sampled on DJ Premier In Deep Concentration] – HERE

Joe Simon’s “Drowning in the Sea of Love” [Sampled on You Know My Steez] – HERE

Older related posts

DJ A-Smooth’s “Premier Productions” Mixtape- HERE

GURU Jazzmatazz mixtape - HERE