Simply II Positive – “International Arrival (Feelin’ Good)”

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from Untitled Demo (Unreleased, 198?)

Ghostface Killah – “Break Beatz 2“

Ghostface Killah – “Break Beatz 3“

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from Supreme Clientele Snippet Tape (Epic, 1999)

Outkast: “Gangsta Shit (Original)“

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from Stankonia Promo (Arista, 2000)

Ras Kass – “Articulate Thugs”

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from the Van Gogh Sessions (Unreleased, 2001)

The Roots f/ Project Pat – “Should I“

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from the Phrenology Sessions (Unreleased, 2002)

Sorry about the slow day. I’ve been trying to get this VHS ripping gadget to work. And I’m almost there. Stay tuned for the SOME SHIT YOU NEVER SEEN series. Until then, here are some loose tracks you, the reader, requested from the archives.

“Break Beatz 1″ was just a snippet of “The Grain” from SC. S2P eventually became Organized Konfusion and “Feelin Good” was produced by the late, great Paul C. “Articulate Thugs” was produced by Alchemist and was later remixed/rerecorded when Ras and Al had their little falling out. (I have no idea why youtube is saying that’s a Snoop Dogg record.) Everything else should speak for itself.

If there’s anything else you’re looking for you better keep the requests coming while I’m still feeling generous.

The Guidelines: A West Coast Indie Rap Compilation ’94-’00

Last week Bfred ^[1] put up a pretty great overview the late 90s backpack era that had me flashing back to gortons fisherman caps and provided a self contained compilation for my ipod so I no longer have to scroll past “L-Fudge” every time I want to hear some La Monte Young. As great as it is to have CDQs of “5 Star Generals” and “Repetition” Bfred’s mix was notably lacking on the west coast side of things, featuring only a single Dilated Peoples track.^[2] So to compliment I zipped up a bunch of West Coast indies from around the same era. (more…)

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(Unreleased, ????)

Of all the mythical rap super groups to never fully form, the Golden State Warriors trio of Xzibit, Ras Kass & Saafir may have been the most devastating. With a handful of tracks actually recorded, it seemed like it might could’ve actually gotten off the ground, until label obligations and NBA lawyers (who forced a change to the oh so clunky Golden State Project) stopped it dead in its tracks. So it’s a pleasant surprise to hear this previously unheard of, presumably archival, track turn up out of nowhere (or, Xzibit’s myspace, which is basically nowhere for all intents and purposes at this point). It’s not exactly “Plastic Surgery”, but it’s nice enough.

Related: Ras Kass talks Golden State.

(Via Phila.)

Ras Kass – “Core Audience“
Ras Kass – “Capital R-A-S“
Ras Kass – “Remain Anonymous“
from Soul On Ice Demo (1994ish)

So since Ras Kass has been free for a minute, I’m posting a few of his demo cuts out of support for him getting his shit together and releasing the classic material he’s capable of (first step – stop driving drunk, homie!)

Anyway, these cuts were from the demo tape that circulated off his initial wake up show buzz. His (or rather, producer Vooodou’s) obvious choice in samples is what resulted in a drastically different final version record (“Fuck Luther & Sade for keeping food out my babies mouth, denying sample clearance”)

I’ve always considered it to be a bit of an exaggeration that these demo tracks were far superior to what actually ended up on the retail Soul On Ice, but they are very dope, so, yeah check ‘em out.

“Hey there, My name is [*****] and I work at [MAJOR LABEL] and love your website. We are very interested in blogs and I was wondering if you could post this mp3. It’s by one of our new bands – [*****]. They are an indie rock band and we would love for people to hear the bands music from your site. Here it is, listen to it and let me know if you will post it. Thanks!!”

For the record, cocaineblunts.com does not ever accept unsolicited mp3s, especially from indie rock bands on major labels (isn’t that a contradiction?)

Look for updates here to significantly decrease over the next few weeks. Your boys got exams then is on vacation the following one. But i’ll be back in full force late August/Early September (as will the Friday night radio show, boasting a return of our OG co-host and bay area afficianado J-Gaines).

Mp3(s) Of The Day:
Ras Kass – “Hot Game” (unreleased, 2001)
Ras Kass – “Root OF Evil” (unreleased, 2001)
Ras Kass – “Articulate Thugs” (unreleased, 2001)
A couple tracks from Ras Kass’ unreleased Van Gogh LP. “Hot Game” is the albums opener and features Ras straight spitting over a Blu Cantrell chop (yes…), but the real gem is “Root Of Evil”, where, as the title implies Ras breaks down the origin, effect and nature of the dollar/capitalism. This album was perhaps the first time ras ever sucessfully reconciled the dichotomy of his self proclaimed “articulate thug” persona. His debut Soul On Ice was a lyrical masterpiece but was marred by poor production and comprimising commercial attempts (“Miami Life”, anyone?). The follow-up, Rassassination, was even more of a mess, with blatent, unecessary crossover appeal cameos (although it did feature “Interview with A Vampire”, probably the greatest theological rap song of all time). On Van Gogh he avoids these pitfalls. The production (presumably, courtesy of unheraled west coast luminaries like Battlecat) was decidedly west but not overbearingly so. Lyrically, Ras maintains his intellectual approach but without the high brow/big words approach he took on the first lp. “Since niggas don’t read”, Ras pledges to “recite entire almanacs for retired carjackers” on “Articulate Thugs” and that’s probably the best description of his approach to this record. No heavy handed lessons, just dope raps with a sprinkling of knowledge. (The Alchemist produced this outtake that didn’t even make the promo, due to beef over Al reselling Jadakiss the beat for Ras’ “Home Sweet Home” (later “We Gonna Make It”). The scraps of Van Gogh were supposedly rerecorded/rearranged into another album, Goldyn Child, boasting additional production from Dr. Dre, DJ Premier & Hi-Tek and a Pharoahe Monch cameo, but that too, was eventually shelved (anyone got a leak of that?). Ras is currently locked down (for his third DUI offense, so please leave the “Free Ras Kass” t-shirts at home!) but maybe he’ll actually escape the middle tier never to blow up dope rapper catagory when he gets out.