Low Profile – “Hip Hop I Crave”

Low Profile – “My Dreams“

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

from Hip Hop I Crave 12″ (Nu School, 1987)

This is the very first, pre-Priority record from Low Profile. Released prior to WC’s involvement in the group, DJ Aladdin was using the moniker alongside another rapper, MC Zero. Zero Is more on the scientifical lyricism side of things than Dub C (When has anybody ever accused hip hop of being a “psychedelic trend,” anyway?) but is a solid emcee in his own right. I long figured that the b-side, “My Dreams,” would be a horrible embarrassment, mostly because it has the word “Dreams” in the title. It’s actually pretty tight as well inna goofy, Fresh Prince style, with Aladdin rocking the “Mary Jane” loop.

When it was announced that Snoop Dogg would be taking over as “Creative Chairman” at Priority Records it seemed like another meaningless label job for a rapper, an excuse to get a long forgotten labels name back into the press for a split second. As it turns out Snoop is actually doing something for the label, overseeing a series of back catalog reissues. Three of these represses – Eazy-E’s Eazy Duz It, Master P’s Ghetto D & EPMD’s Strictly Business* – dropped last week, billed as “USDA Editions**” and marketed as “Snoop Dogg Approved.” As if Snoop Dogg, the man who released Tha Doggfather is some sort of bastion of quality control. He is, apparently, writing the liner notes, which could be interesting but probably not interesting enough to justify the purchase of an album you already own.

And that’s the thing. This is just another shallow grab by a seemingly rosterless label to get you to repurchase the NWA catalog. This time with garish artwork. In fact Eazy Duz It and Ghetto D have both seen the full reissue treatment in recent years. And I’m sure if we see anything else from this series it’ll be another EFIL/100 Miles combo pack or something similarly redundant. Still, I’m going to take this moment to suggest a few good nominees for the series, many of which have been legitimately unattainable for years. Because Snoop Dogg might read this blog. (more…)

Continuing the quest to shed some light on the shine block-ed remixes of the past.

The D.O.C. – “Mind Blowin (Remix)“

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

from Mind Blowin 12″ (Ruthless, 1989)
Dre turns “Mind Blowin” even harder on this almost Bomb Squadish remix.

Nemesis f/ Bushwick Bill – “Temple Of Boom (Remix)“

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

from Temple Of Boom CDSingle (Profile, 1993)
Another completely under publicized remix, this time adding Bushwick to an alternate take on this Nemesis banger. There is this great cloud background on the face of this CD that makes it look like a Windows 95 install disc and not a trunk rattling Dallas hip hop single. (more…)

These two should really form a group. Nocan’s Jimmy The Lock is on Amazon now. Physical copy coming eventually?

Jupiter is free and the full Fellowship shop reunited at the Project Blowed 15th Anniversary show. The internet should be more excited about this. (via Grandgood)