not before christ / but a long fuckin’ time…
High Potent – “HP Gets Busy“
from HP Gets Busy (Get Live, 1986)

Well here it is, the rarely mentioned, first recorded appearance from the Jiggman (The Jaz, too). It’s pretty corny (although not quite as corny as “Hawaiian Sophie”, recorded some three years later), but it’s a damn significant artifact. Who could’ve possibly predicted that this kid would one day become the best rapper alive?

This record is nearly twenty years old. So how old does that make “Young” Hov? Discuss.

And after that, listen to our radio show tonight! 8-10 PM EST on Gwradio.com

Keefy Keef – “Cause I’m Keefy Keef“
from Three’s Company 12″ (GMV, 1992)

I think one of the biggest perks of the ‘random rap’ phenomenon is digging up early, unknown cuts from artists who later became established hip hop heavyweights. Keefy Keef, for example is the original alias of Def/Hit Squad affiliate Keith Murray, before becoming the most beautifullest thing in the world and well before the jailtime and the alleged choking incident killed what was left of his career (for more details on that check this post-Def Jam video interview with Keith)

Although his major label debut saw a smoother, fully modernized style, as Keefy Keef he was dropping nothing but late 80′s inspired grimey, underground shit, thanks in part to having one time JVC Force DJ Curt Cazal behind the boards. I’m not completely feeling the posse cut on the A-Side (although it must have been comped/on a mixtape somewhere, judging by how many want lists it shows up on), but the B-Side, “Cause I’m Keefy Keef” is straight fire.

And no, this 12″ is NOT for sale. Sorry to you Japanese/European heads who are frantically writing an email proposal as we speak. But I do have some other nice indie rap 12″s up on ebay – Sparrow (so hot right now!), Labtekwon (who incidentally is putting on a free, painfully under-publicized concert for WRGW in DC tonight), Unique (EDANFASTRAPRARE!!!!), Ministers of Black (slept on trenton/tony d shit) and more.

Ultramagnetic MCs – “NBA All Stars“
from Smack My Bitch Up (Tuff City, 1998; recorded, 1989)

So my emo heads were crying when I didn’t do a Valentine themed post. Not to worry, today cocaine blunts is celebrating this weeks other major holiday – NBA All Star Weekend.

Here’s a nice long Ultramagnetic all star session from ’89 where they dedicate a few bars to every player over a medley of classic Ultra beats. ex – karl malone / the mailman / so understand he’s in command / the way he runs and slams with authority / he is the utah jazz top priority / you know why? / ’cause he’s an all star!

I’m pretty sure this was officially sanctioned by the NBA and aired during the game. Which is crazy to think that Ultra was getting that kind of attention.

I do know that it was one of the worthwhile cuts on a series of otherwise bootleg late 90s Ultramagnetic cash ins from Tuff City, who Ced Gee sold a bunch of masters for crack money

Don’t forget we got Cocaine Blunts radio tonight 8-10 EST. Listen live online at gwradio.com.

Mikey D & The LA Posse – “Bust A Rhyme, Mike“
from Bust A Rhyme Mike / My Telephone 12″ (Public Records, 1986)
Bonus Beat: Mikey D – “Freestyle“
unreleased (1984)

Here’s a record I got a compelling request for a long time ago and only recently got around to ripping. It was from a head who apparently used to rhyme around the way with Mikey and found my playlists on a google search. Enjoy!

Mikey first appeared as the male foil on Symbolic Three’s Doug E. Fresh diss cut “No Show”. Then he dropped a string of singles on Public Records, many of which were produced by the late Paul C (If you don’t know, now you know). This was the first of those. This also is one of the records with Paul’s name on it that doesn’t cost several hundred dollars.

So yeah, Mikey kinda sounds like LL Cool J, huh? Well rumors has it that Mikey traveled in the same Queens circles as LL and actually taught L to rhyme. More random nerdom – that’s none other than sometimes Roots member Rahzel on the beatbox. The godfather of noyze got his start with the LA Posse (and then joined the Vibe Khameleonz, but I guess that’s a post for another day) before gaining fame as THE BEST HUMAN BEATBOX IN THE WORLD.

I wish I had more info on Mikey and didn’t have to distract you by writing about the careers of who he worked with. Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot out there. I’m not even sure where this freestyle came from. I do know that in the mid-90s Mikey D replaced Large Professor on the almost never released second album, Fuck What You Think, but that’s about it.

Big L & Jay-Z – “Freestyle“
live from Stretch & Bobbito Show WKCR 89.9, 1993(?)

As hard as it is to believe, it’s been six years to the day since Big L’s murder.

I think the major difference between L and more prominent fallen hip hop heroes lies not as much in the realm of financial/mainstream success than in the fact that he never got the chance to deliver that truly classic record he was capable of. With BIG you can always go back to Ready To Die and know that he got to drop his masterpiece on the world. L, on the other hand, never got to that level. While his debut (and only album to be released during his lifetime) Lifestylez of The Poor & Dangerous was pretty dope, it really only hinted at his potential. He was an immature rapper with an incredible style, he didn’t quite know how to put together a great song yet, but as his later recordings like “Ebonics” would show, he was well on his way there (not to mention he was on the verge of inking a deal with roc-a-fella at the time).

Steady Bootlegin’ already did an overview of some of his scrapped studio cuts. So I decided to give you guys this seven minute freestyle session from Stretch & Bob with L trading verses with a then virtually unknown jiggaman. L is at the top of his game here (Jay not so much).

So yeah bump this shit and put your L’s up for today and remember a dude who would’ve probably been one of the best rappers out if he were alive today.