Episode 195 : In The Pocket

"...when they still ain't fixed this one?"

- Treach

It's been a great month - I got married! And just like every month - the podcast is out on time 🙂 Stull, don't expect too much romance and tenderness in the selection this month, as we start off with Brownsville (NY) and Gary (Indiana) in combination and roll from there...

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Playlist/Notes

Sean Price ft. Freddie Gibbs : Remember

Those of us who know a great when we hear one will always remember Sean Price. You needed the deluxe edition of the  "Mic Tyson" LP to get this track, but thanks to digital distribution you can buy it individually - meaning that this combo of Sean P, Freddie Gibbs with his fire guest verse, and Statik Selektah on the boards can be yours for the low!

Lil Will Productionz : Another Day, Another Dollar

I'm sure we've visited "COMMON : THE BEAT TAPE PROJECT" before, but this particular track is probably new to you. Chunky and loping with a little bit of bluesy guitar, this would absolutely have been worthy of having Common bless it on the mic.

Evidence : Sharks Smell Blood

I have to admit that I missed the 2021 "Unlearning, Vol. 1" album, but hearing Evidence perform this track live had me running to mend my ways. Dark and creeping sonically, this is actually not an Evidence beat but a contribution by Sebb Bash, who provides a great backdrop for Ev's measured rhymes.

The Musalini & Khrysis ft. Smoke DZA : On The Go

In full mack mode, Mus brings some smoothness to the traditional Bronx grittiness on this single from his new LP "Pure Izm 2". Khrysis' beat is a tough one to describe, with a seemingly-relaxed relationship to the beat grid, chopped and slowed-down vocal wails, and an overall undeniable, rewindable funk.

DJ Premier & Roc Marciano : Prayer Hands

"The Coldest Profession" pairs one of the best MCs of the modern age - who is also something of a pioneer on the boards - with one of the greatest producers of all time for an enjoyable, if short, new album. Preemo comes with more prominent drums than would be usual on a Roc Marciano cut, and Roc is smooth and witty even with a harder backing. It's also nice to hear the voice of the late Guru on a Premier track once again, even as a sample - a reminder of a beautiful age gone by, and a demonstration of picking out just the right line for a scratch hook.

Jay-Z : Moment of Clarity (9th Wonder Remix)

When the accapellas of Jay-Z's "The Black Album" were circulating in the early 2000s, the result was an absolute swarm of remix editions of the album, including "The Grey Album" which famously mixed Jay with The Beatles, "The Brown Album" produced by Kev Brown, and this one - "Black Is Back" by 9th Wonder. As one of the people who worked on the original album itself (he produced "Threat"), it was striking that even he picked up the remix baton, and his version of this originally Eminem-produced cut is, in my opinion, far superior to the official release. 

Devin Morrison : Villanova Terrace

This feels like just the right kind of flavour for a late-night motorway drive - crisp, clean, uptempo, nimble. Devin Morrison's "Dream Lobby" series has some incredible beats, and this track from the eleventh collection is a glittering take on drum & bass.

Clipse : Hear Me Out

A lot of you will recognise the production here off the top - it's much better-known as the instrumental underpinning to "Knock Yourself Out" by Jadakiss, but Pharrell's beat was first heard here on the shelved Clipse debut "Exclusive Audio Footage". You'd be doing well do find a copy of Malice and Pusha's first outing (when Pusha was still called Terrar) since it still doesn't have an official release, but you might just find a digital version!

Paul Wall & DJ.Fresh : Dedicated To The Game

This new track has been getting plenty of rewinds from me in the headphones and in the car! The "The Tonite Show" series by DJ.Fresh has showcased everyone from Curren$y to Raekwon, but now The People's Champ Paul Wall gets his turn to collaborate with this skilled producer. The synth work on this track is topped with some gorgeous piano, while on the mic Paul Wall stays with his perfected approach to his trademark topics - staying down, and getting money. 

Zion I : A Little Change

As the Lauryn Hill sample says, it is funny how money changes situations and twists the actions of people. The late Zumbi of this Oakland crew is on the mic, Amp Live is on production, and this relatively-chilled track is a contemplative spot in an incredibly varied album, their debut "Mind Over Matter".

De La Soul ft. Supa Dave West : Speed Limit

I could be wrong (wouldn't be the only time this episode), but I think this track may have escaped the notice of many! Featuring Supa Dave West but apparently produced by Dart La, this particular cut was squeezed onto the "Stimulated Volume 1" compilation, a 2001 release which featured a few gems and is worth picking up if you see it for a reasonable price. Always good to hear De La, and a semi-rarity is a treat for the listener.

[DJ Joc Max] Basement Khemist : Correct Technique (Instrumental)

Solid boom-bap, while also supremely laid-back, this is a nice slice from Kansas City's own Joc Max, the producer for Basement Khemist. Showing just how to chop and layer samples, his technique is indeed correct. This particular version comes from "The Beyond Real Experience Volume One Instrumentals", a great pickup for DJs.

Christina Aguilera : Back In The Day

Correction : Preemo didn't produce the entire "Back To Basics" LP, but was a driving force behind the first disc of the double album.

I'm always here for paying tribute to those who've gone before, which this track does wonderfully. The namechecked artists cover a wide time period, while DJ Premier's production keeps us rooted and focused with a steady, yet grand, foundation. Aguilera's love of tracks like Mos Def's "Mathematics" demonstrated she had a knowledge of Premier's work that went below the surface, and the mutual respect comes through in every bar of this track.

Main Source : Atom

You can see how they ended up with "Breaking Atoms" as the title of their first LP! Here we have the very dawning of Main Source, their first single - the B-side, to be precise - with some old-school jazzy flavour coming through the speakers alongside the vocals of Large Professor. Based on what we now know of the group, I'd expect that LP took the lead on production too, making this 1989 track a powerful opening shot from one of the greats of the culture.

Stacy Epps ft. Believe and Madlib : Feels Like

Gloriously sunshiney soul from one of those artists that those in the know rate highly, and who pops up every so often with an amazing guest appearance or surprise release. You may have heard her on "Eye" from "Madvillainy", and here she is again working with Madlib but taking star billing on this single from her new LP "Flowheart". Fellow ATLien Believe comes through with a solid verse, and the overall creation is one that should have every music lover rushing to hear more!

Ambersunshower : Running Song

This was the big tune on the 1996 "Walter T. Smith" album, which definitely hasn't been heard by enough people! Half of the duo Groove Garden, Ambersunshower (actually her real name) came out strong on this LP, and sampling a classic British record from the 80s and adding her soulful vocals over the top makes this track a standout on her debut.

Ronnie Laws : Love Is Here

For the sake of making my voiceover easier to hear, I dropped out the vocals on this track - though to be honest, there aren't that many. The instrumentation takes centre stage on this jazz-funk workout from the 1978 "Flame" LP. You might know this man for "Tidal Wave", which was borrowed for a classic Hip-Hop single, but his catalogue goes much deeper than that. While some contemporaneous music journalists criticised his moves away from traditional jazz, I'd like to think that some of them may have come around as time has gone on.

Naughty By Nature : World Go Round

We finish up in East Orange, New Jersey, with a track from "Poverty's Paradise" that seems more fitting than ever as the world seems to be spinning off its axis. With Minnesota on production blending multiple elements including the Jacksons sample used for the hook, Treach flows comfortably with feeling over two verses as he expresses his thoughts on the world of the time. Some things still haven't changed...

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Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!