Episode 201 : Beat The Clock

"Algorithms can't silence the beat of the brave..."

- Chuck D

This one has been a challenge to get together in time (thanks Numa Pompilius), but here we are! We've got J Dilla and Big L in the mix (dropped the ball on a Big Pun record that went missing 😕), alongside new material from some of the all-time greats still with us, and gems from newer artists who are very much still writing their stories. Tempo is moderate to low all the way through, as we drag ourselves through what feels like an extended winter... Headphones on, volume up, let's go!

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Playlist/Notes

Bugzy Malone : The 10 Graft Commandments

We start the episode right here in Manchester, for a track just over a year old from the "The Journal Of An Evil Genius Vol. 2" EP (also available as a single). Over dark, atmospheric production from Glxtch, Bugzy pays tribute to Biggie's "Ten Crack Commandments" as he runs down the steps to his come-up - and what happens when you get there. This one will move your speakers for sure, but to appreciate the bars in details it's one to play in your headphones and sit with.

J Dilla : Dillatronic 14

This selection from the collection of sketches, ideas, and prototypes from Dilla's "Dillatronic" does contain a few synth stabs at the low end along with a sparse drum track and choral sample, but it's not half as electronic as the Dilla beat that follows here...

Phat Kat : Nasty

...the full synth onslaught of this 2007 track from one of his close compadres, Detroit's own Phat Kat! The production is busy but Kat's voice stomps a path through it all to create a fierce B-side to the "Cold Steel" single. 

Nas & DJ Premier : Git Ready

The long, long-awaited album from Nas and DJ Premier, "Light-Years" was the final instalment of the "Legend Has It..." series of releases from Nas' Mass Appeal label, and one which I think has been hastily underrated by writers and posters desperate to get their hot takes off. Overall I think it was an excellent album, and this track is the first to pick up the pace after the low-tempo opening track. I think the title of this track comes from the Git version control system used by many software engineers, and Nas goes full tech on the lyrics. He may not be an engineer himself, but he's made a lot of money investing in the industry so the perspective he's writing from here is definitely his own! Preemo's beat is one of my favourites on the LP, lean and funky.

Erick Sermon ft. Public Enemy : How Long

One of the greatest MCs of all time on a track produced by one of the most legendary producers. Erick Sermon's new LP "Dynamic Duos (Volume 1)" sees him behind the boards with a host of mic duos, and this track continues the vibe we're in of blending that old-time funk into the Hip-Hop. Flavor Flav is quite literally just adding the flavour here rather than getting a full verse to himself, while Chuck's radio-clear voice, as always, comes through with exactly the right spirit for these times.

The High & Mighty ft. Large Professor and Tash : Prism (Caruana Mix)

The British producer Tom Caruana kills it on this breezy remix - that flute adding the levity - that gives us a nice midtempo groove with a little Bollywood flavour taking it over the top! It might be a High & Mighty track, and Tash of The Alkaholiks is also always quality, but for me Large Professor steals the show here. He might be best known to most as a producer, but don't forget that he gets very busy on the mic. Great flow and tone, makes the track his own, on a guest appearance you can't help but respect. The original track from "Sound Of Market" is definitely worth hearing, but this single is an excellent re-working.

J Dilla : Jay Dee 44

Simple but not plain, this is taken from another collection of Dilla's prolific unreleased output, "The King Of Beats / The Lost Scrolls", moving along with his trademark bounce. It's well under two minutes long, so there's a little bit of looping here to make it a more suitable length for this mix.

Kofi Stone : Busker Flow

If you hear a busker with bars like this, you'd better dig into your pockets and put something in the bucket! In this case, however, you can buy this track for less than £1, or splash out and pick up the whole 2019 "Nobody Cares Till Everyone Does" album for well under a tenner. Over production from Manchester heavyweight Pitch 92, the self-(but accurately)-styled Mayor of Brum (Birmingham, for international listeners) absolutely obliterates the mic with rapid, precise, and controlled flows that amazed listeners when I recently included it on a Twitch stream. This one should have you reaching for a rewind!

Kardinal Offishall ft. Estelle : Kaysarasara

Canada and UK combined on this one - I'd like to have heard Estelle get a full verse, but at least she does her thing on the hook! I just remembered I had this while ripping a chunk of my CD collection this week, and decided to share this cut from "Fire And Glory" at the last minute. Kardi has the versatility to come off at a range of speeds, and so has no problem fitting into this Jake One production from 2005 which bumps along nicely.

Wu-Tang Clan : Cash Still Rules/Scary Hours

Easily one of my favourite cuts on the second Wu-Tang LP "Wu-Tang Forever", this is a beast of a record building on the "C.R.E.A.M." motif from their debut LP. 4th Disciple outdoes himself here on production, with a ridiculous sample flip and some heavy bottom, and the vocalists absolutely keep the quality level up with the bars. Raekwon is unmistakeable with his slang-encrusted crime rhymes at the start, Method Man follows up with a fire second verse immediately on his heels, and then transitions into the artfully done lowering of the instrumental where he and LA The Darkman (I believe) come together loosely to deliver the killer bridge that ties into the track title. Finally, Ghostface takes the mic, and as though he were channeling the spirit of a young Kool G Rap, rhymes right off the end of the instrumental and is faded out, still rhyming. This track is raw not in the sense of being crude or unpolished, but just in the level of unbridled dopeness at every turn. Classic in my opinion.

Team Demo & Wais P ft. Planet Asia & Skyzoo : Quest Love Bounce

Shouting out the incredible and influential drummer of The Legendary Roots Crew is this banger from the DMV production squad Team Demo, who bring in some fierce MCs to battle their drum-heavy beat - Fresno's Planet Asia and the Brooklyn pairing of Skyzoo and Wais P. A wicked tune from the 2024 "It's A Demo" LP that makes for good weight-training music. Oh yes - bonus points to Skyzoo for the mention of Jabo Starks, another revered drummer!

[Buckwild] Celph Titled : Eraserheads (Instrumental)

Vintage production from Buckwild here, who pulled this one from an old, old floppy disk as part of the haul that Celph Titled rhymed on for the 2010 "Nineteen Ninety Now" album. The beats on the LP were created in the 1994-1995 period, but aged beautifully - and knowing the history, it's nice to know that they eventually went to good use!

Raz Fresco, Futurewave, Estee Nack, al.divino : Alpaca

This track is named after, and samples, what for some reason is still the line I remember best from "American Gangster" - and one which, if I'm honest, has absolutely influenced my approach to stain removal. The only credited artist here I'm familiar with at all is the producer Futurewave, and so it's always a win to become aware of new talent to search out for future listening. Raz Fresco is a Canadian compatriot of Futurewave and they connected for the "Stadium Lo Champions" LP from which this is drawn, and everyone involved gets busy - I'm not sure who that is on the closing verse, but he slays it! I'm always here for street-level rhymes and Polo stunting, and along with the slow and vaguely menacing production, there's plenty to go around.

elBrown016 ft. Criseal : The Get Down

With vocals coming all the way from Dubai, this new single is produced by Criseal, who some of you will know from his appearances at the WORKINONIT beat sessions in Manchester, soundtracking the lyrics of Caribbean/Pakistani MC elBrown016. Sounding both luxurious and ominous, this brand new single is a polished union.

Massive Attack and Mad Professor : Cool Monsoon 

A little instrumental bonus between two tracks that are on the brief side, this is the dubbed-out Mad Professor remix of the beautiful "Weather Storm" from the "Protection" album, which you can find along with the rest of his re-imagining of that LP on 1995's "No Protection". Originally only one track was to be remixed as a single release, but once Massive Attack heard the result they asked Mad Professor to see what he could do with more, eventually resulting in a dub version of almost the whole album! Definitely one to check out if you want some high-grade chill music.

Big L ft. Novel : All Alone (Quiet Storm Mix)

A very short track, from the all-too-short life of Big L. The "Legend Has It..." series featured a new Big L LP, made up of unreleased and remastered tracks as well as some classic freestyles. This brief track is notable for being produced by (as well as Dylan Graham) Lord Finesse, the man who discovered Big L and brought him into the Diggin' In The Crates fold. It's a million miles away from something like "Devil's Son", and sees L wishing for romance alongside Novel, who adds an R&B touch.

LE$ : 89 Carrera

"Even though it's in the past, can't forget what I seen" - relatable. I'm going to keep bringing you this Houston artist with the insane workrate, who is back again with his new "Gran Turismo 3" project - entirely self-produced, and fabulously so. This track is the opener and an absolutely fire start, with mellow piano-laden production and Le$' reflective lyrics.  

Illa J & J Dilla : Everytime (Instrumental)

The final instrumental of the show is another Dilla production from the "Yancey Boys" LP - enjoy it as a piece of music in its own right, but also take it as a reminder to check out the Illa J catalogue as well as the discography of his famous older brother.

DJ Stussy : Blacker

Sometimes the various social media algorithm actually get something right! This one popped up on my feed, and plenty of Hip-Hop luminaries were backing it in the comments - once I released it was an actual retail release, I picked up the single and thought it'd be a great one to end with at the close of US Black History Month. It moves through various vibes throughout, from tongue-in-cheek to serious to proud, with a melodic flow to give it all an uplifting feel. This has the potential to be something of an anthem!

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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!