Nas & Ludacris ft. Doug E. Fresh - Virgo (2004) [HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAS!]

An official track on both Nas' Streets Disciple album and Ludacris' The Red Light District, "Virgo," released in 2004, didn't experience much commercial success. After 8 years, the song has stood the test of time as a genuinely dope hip hop track created by a trio of incredible MC's who share a common bond. To celebrate the greatest astrology sign in the universe (since, you know, I'm a Virgo too), let's take a listen to this interesting collaboration between Nas (Sept. 14), Ludacris (Sept. 11) & Doug E. Fresh (Sept. 17).

Too bad they didn't shoot any visuals for this, but you can check out the lyrics at rapgenius.

Fred Durst Interview on The Howard Stern Show (unedited, 2.27.2003) [AUDIO]

The other day I was listening to Howard 101 on Sirius when I heard the 2003 interview between Limp Bizkit leader Fred Durst and Howard Stern. At that point in time, Fred and the band were still commercially successful after a few years on top and were getting ready to put out a new album later that year.. But let me backtrack .. The reason this interview was so compelling at the time was because Fred decided to come on the show and air out Britney Spears, who was still considered semi-innocent at the time.. There were some shocking revelations and this was a pretty hilarious interview as is the usual case with Howard..

In honor of Limp Bizkit's new deal with Cash Money, we present to you the debaucherous (50 minute) Fred x Howard interview in all of it's (for the first time) unedited glory!

alt: hulkshare

Lil' Wayne - G'd Up ft. Mack Maine & Curren$y (Unreleased, 2005) [NEW MUSIC]

unreleased cash money track from 2005. props to illwill.

Download/Stream the mp3:

Mediafire | Hulkshare

Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own (Organized Noize x Dungeon Family Remix) (unreleased) [NEW MUSIC]

For some reason ONxDF never released this remix. Big Boi finally dropped it today in memory of Amy.

Download/Stream the mp3:
Mediafire | Hulkshare

Jay-Z - DJ Self Freestyle (1995) [NEW MUSIC]

Download/Stream the mp3:
Mediafire | Hulkshare

Jay-Z & Red Handed - Chubby Chub 7.13 Freestyle (rare, circa 1994) [NEW MUSIC]

Rare 6 and a half minute freestyle recorded circa 1994.

Props to ForAllMasters.

Download/Stream the mp3:

Mediafire | Hulkshare

Hip Hop Is Read Presents: Guru - Collaborations & Rarities (Part 1 & 2) [MIXTAPES]

Hit The Jump For Tracklistings & Download Links for Parts One & Two

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Mr. Cee's "Throwback At Noon" Big L Tribute Mix on Hot 97 [AUDIO]

props to unt for the flick
Download/Stream the mix:
Mediafire | Hulkshare

The Trackmasters Collection (presented by Ugh..Nice Watch) [MIXTAPE]

props to Ugh..Nice Watch:
"Aside from Puffy, Poke & Tone were the most villified producers of the ’90s, synonymous with rap’s jiggy era after co-producing “Gettin’ Jiggy With It.” But their discography reveals more hip-hop and R&B classics than crossover cheese, beginning with singles from Chubb Rock, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane in the early ’90s. Tone (a.k.a. Red Hot Lover Tone) released two solo albums, while Poke linked up with Puff Daddy to co-produce a ton of early Bad Boy/Uptown classics, from Mary J.’s “Be Happy” to Biggie’s “Juicy.” But the Trackmasters name really became infamous to most rap fans in 1995 and ’96 when they produced the majority of both LL Cool J’s Mr. Smith and Nas’ It Was Written.

"Golden boys in the golden era of New York rap’s glossy makeover, their reputation as hitmakers was unparalleled by the end of the decade. They started to move away from samples in the early ’00s, and things were never quite the same. Their attempt to bring Jay-Z and R. Kelly together on The Best of Both Worlds turned out to be a debacle, and in 2003 they were perhaps unfairly branded “the guys who missed out on 50 Cent.” Remember the good times with my mixtape of 30 Poke & Tone classics…"

Track Listing:

1. Nas f/ AZ, Cormega & Foxy Brown “Affirmative Action” (1996)
2. Soul For Real “Candy Rain” (1994)
3. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Ill Street Blues” (1992)
4. LL Cool J “Hollis To Hollywood” (1995)
5. Foxy Brown f/ Jay-Z “I’ll Be” (1997)
6. Little Bastards “Bitch Get A Job” (1992)
7. T.C.F. Crew “I Ain’t the One” (1993)
8. Allure f/ Nas “Head Over Heels” (1996)
9. Shante “Straight Razor” (1992)
10. Chubb Rock “Just the Two of Us (Trackmasterz Remix)” (1991)
11. Nature “Nature’s Shine” (1999)
12. R.Kelly & Jay-Z “Take You Home With Me A.K.A. Body” (2002)
13. Little Shawn “Dom Perignon” (1995)
14. Will Smith “Miami” (1997)
15. The Firm f/ Noreaga & Nature “I’m Leaving” (1997)
16. LL Cool J “I Shot Ya (Remix)” (1995)
17. Mary J Blige “Round & Round” (1997)
18. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “On The Run (Al Capone Version)” (1992)
19. Mariah Carey “The Roof” (1997)
20. LL Cool J “Hey Lover” (1995)
21. Total f/ Da Brat “No One Else” (1995)
22. Faith Evans “No Other Love” (1995)
23. Big Daddy Kane “How U Get A Record Deal” (1993)
24. Rihanna “If It’s Lovin’ That You Want” (2005)
25. Red Hot Lover Lover Tone “Give It Up” (1992)
26. Mary J. Blige “Be Happy” (1994)
27. Mya f/ Jay-Z “Best Of Me Part 2″ (2000)
28. 50 Cent “Ghetto Qu’ran (Forgive Me)” (2000)
29. Bravehearts f/ Nas “I Wanna Live” (1998)
30. Nas “The Message” (1996)

ALL SONGS WERE PRODUCED, WRITTEN, REMIXED OR PERFORMED BY POKE AND/OR TONE

Download: mediafire

2Pac - If They Love Their Kidz x Reincarations (Unreleased) [NEW MUSIC]

Download/Stream the mp3's:

If They Love Their Kidz (unreleased)
Mediafire | ZShare | Hulkshare


Reincarnations (full unreleased)
Mediafire | ZShare | Hulkshare

Jay-Z & Big L Stretch and Bobbito 1995 Freestyle (Unreleased Full 10 min Version) [NEW MUSIC]

Holy fuck. One of the greatest freestyle sessions ever just took steroids!!!!!!!!! No longer the "7 minute freestyle," here's the full, uncut version (as it should be, featuring S & B). "Wash your mouth out with soap!"
Download/Stream the mp3:
Mediafire | ZShare | Hulkshare


props to djpremierblog

Wu Tang Clan - Duel Of The Iron Mic (Unreleased ODB Verse)/It's Yourz (Live) [NEW MUSIC]

This was posted up on the Wu-Tang forums yesterday and it seems from this live cut that RZA cut out ODB's part on the final version of Duel of the Iron Mic. RZA has said before that he had a difficult time choosing whose verses to place on certain tracks as it was impossible for all 9 Clan members to make the cut on a single track. Nevertheless, the verse has been unearthed and resurrected (in a clear live format). I wouldn't mind if the studio version was released next 'Wu Wednesday.' ((wishful thinking))

Download/Stream the mp3:
Mediafire | ZShare | Usershare


spotted at steady bloggin

2Pac - Ride For Me ft. Fatal & Kurupt (Unreleased) [NEW MUSIC]

Download/Stream the mp3:
Mediafire | ZShare | Usershare

NEW MUSIC: Big L - Give It To 'Em L x No Endz, No Skinz [Unreleased Original Mixes] CDQ

Here are never two before heard original demo versions of L's classic cuts "Give It To 'Em L" and "No Endz No Skinz." (!!!!!!!!!) Both tracks were produced by Showbiz (as opposed to the album version of "Give It To 'Em L" which was produced by Craig Boogie) and were thought to have been destroyed in a fire until recently. Props to Big L online and TROY for getting the music out. For more info about the demos, click here. Spotted at 2dopeboyz.

Download/Stream the mp3's:

Give It To 'Em L
Mediafire | ZShare | Usershare


No Endz, No Skinz
Mediafire | ZShare | Usershare


CDQ OG Instrumentals:
Give It To 'Em L
No Endz, No Skinz

THROWBACK MUSIC: Men In Black 'The Album' [1997] (Featuring Snoop, Nas, Alicia Keys, Roots, JD, ATCQ, Destiny's Child, more)

Found this CD while cleaning up and figured let me rip the CDQ (256kbps) audio from this pretty impressive soundtrack/album. Check out the talent on here (including a young, almost unrecognizable Alicia Keys).

Track Listing:
1. "Men in Black" - Will Smith featuring Coko of SWV
2. "We Just Wanna Party with You" - Snoop Dogg featuring Jermaine Dupri
3. "I'm Feelin' You" - Ginuwine
4. "Dah Dee Dah (Sexy Thing)" - Alicia Keys
5. "Just Cruisin'" - Will Smith
6. "The 'Notic" - The Roots featuring D'Angelo
7. "Make You Happy" - Trey Lorenz (with Mariah Carey's back vocals. Carey also
wrote and produced the song.)
8. "Escobar '97" - Nas
9. "Erotik City" - Emoja
10. "Same Ol' Thing" - A Tribe Called Quest
11. "Killing Time" - Destiny's Child
12. "Waiting for Love" - 3T
13. "Chanel No. Fever" - De La Soul
14. "Some Cow Fonque (More Tea, Vicar?)" - Buckshot LeFonque
15. "M.I.B. Main Theme" - Danny Elfman
16. "M.I.B. Closing Theme" - Danny Elfman
Download the Full Album: ZShare | Mediafire

AUDIO: Nicki Minaj w/Lou$tar & Crew on Hot 97 w/DJ Kay Slay (2003) [+mp3]

Here's the audio from a 2003 cypher on Hot 97 w/DJ Kay Slay and Nicki Minaj and her crew. Nicki's part comes in around the 4:15 mark.
Download/Stream the mp3:
Mediafire | ZShare | Usershare

Spotted at realtalkny
props to @loustar

VIDEO: Lauryn Hill's Guest Performance on "Days of Our Lives" Soap Opera [Throwback]

youtube link
Long before her Miseducation, Grammy Award-winning singer, rapper, musician, songwriter, producer, and film actress, Lauryn Hill, appeared on As The World Turns. While still in high school in Maplewood, New Jersey, Hill played a recurring role on the Daytime Drama as the troubled runaway, Kira (1991).

AUDIO: Unreleased Eminem Interview w/Detroit's DJ Butter [1998]

Check out this unreleased 1998 Eminem interview with Detroit's DJ Butter
youtube link
WhatupdoeTV:
Eminem talks about how the Source Magazine (Unsigned Hype) helped his rap career, working on a 25 minute movie styled video and drug abuse with the mixtape legend, DJ Butter. spotted at xclusiveszone


Download the interview:
ZShare | Usershare

Happy 15th Birthday to The Purple Tape!

Yup, a few big milestones today.. Besides MTV's 29th birthday, today is also the 15th Anniversary of the release of Raekwon's classic debut album, "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx," in 1995. Who would have thought, even with the Wu's unprecedented take-off, that "Cuban Linx" would not only be regarded as the hip hop staple that it is in NYC but throughout the world. People were ready for the genius raw compositions that RZA & Rae constructed for our ears.. Hands down one of the GREATEST hip hop albums of all time. Biggest shout outs to The Chef, RZA, Ghostface & Steve Rifkind who made it possible!!! What makes it even more special this year is that the long awaited sequel finally arrived last September. And that baby did NOT disappoint. Congrats and thank you to Raekwon and all those involved in the process that birthed The Purple Tape.
Hit the jump to check out OB4CL reviews by VIBE (Dream Hampton) & The Source (Nicholas Poluhoff) from their September 1995 issues & more.

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Birthday Shout Out: Tameka 'Tiny' Cottle

Though most know her now as the wifey of Atlanta hip hop superstar, T.I., we must not forget the impact her solo career as a singer and writer has affected hip hop, rnb & pop culture. Tiny was formerly a member of the multi-platinum selling rnb female group, Xscape. The group was discovered by then up and coming producer and label-head, Jermaine Dupri. They were signed to SoSo Def recordings. The group's three albums all when platinum, but in 1998 the group parted ways.
So you thought Tiny fell off the map after that, huh? Well a year later, Ms. Cottle and former groupmate Kandi Burress won a Grammy award for writing TLC's major hit, 'No Scrubs' (hello!?!!). She won more awards for that track and even an ASCAP award for the response track "No Pigeonz."
Don't sleep on Ms. Cottle. Many don't know of the success she continues to achieve because of her past nd present endeavors. She is now working with the OMG Girls while she is hot off a run from her reality series, Tiny & Toya, one of the highest rated BET television shows. Respect!
I found the cassette for Xscapes debut album, "Hummin' Comin' At'cha" while doing some cleaning. Check out the cassette insert & Tiny's thanks. After the jump. Hi res at gallery

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