Charity Shop Diggin' (after all, it is a credit crunch...or haven't you read the news?)

Soon to come on BREAKS FOR DAYS is my buddy BEAT DETECTIVE's post with some tales of charity shop diggin'. Like the time he found the RENE COSTY lp with "scrabble" on it for 25p with some other library LPs. DANG!
As a little taster, here's yours truly outside an aptly named charity spot in Norwich (UK) that we found after joining DJ JUST ONE on his FUTURE RADIO hip hop show. (Don't forget to check him out every Friday 10pm GMT FUTURE RADIO).
Now in these times of a credit crunch, the more bargain breaks you can find the better. You have to be persistent enough and bother to travel around to find the charity shops, and then once you are there suffer the wobbly pensioners and the smell of granny piss. But sometimes these charity shops can turn up the most unexpected records, despite the usual rubbish you would expect to find.
I would love to find a NIAGARA LP with the nipple cover, or JOHNNY CAMERON & THE CAMERONS on 45rpm....but I know I'm not gonna find dope shit like that in the bargain bins. (oh btw if you can help on the aforementioned please do hit me up in the comments) But without exhausting my pocket money I can guarantee some nice finds in the likes of Oxfam, St. Francis Hospice, Sense and other charity chains. It's a shame that lately Oxfam have started to employ "record graders" to price and condition their records as their prices have gone through the roof.

Let's take a deep breath and check out some cheapies....

JEFFERSON STARSHIP - Freedom At Point Zero LP 1979 GRUNT RECORDS
An easy pick up from most second hand spots and a classic breakbeat on "Rock Music", as sampled and chopped up by many (most notably BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS on "Illegal Business").
I was lucky enough to find BOTH my copies at the same time in the same shop, namely OXFAM in DALSTON HIGH ROAD in EAST LONDON. I love finding ready-made doubles for cutting up, but it rarely happens! In the same crate I also found a BLUE MINK drum break. Thanks Oxfam!
JEFFERSON STARSHIP - Rock Music


FANCY - Wild Thing LP 1974 BIG TREE RECORDS
This rock LP looks nothing special, but it hides away the mutha of all drum breaks on the track "Feel Good". OK it's not quite as hard as NIAGARA drums for instance, but this record will only cost you a few pounds/euros/bucks ... but not the earth! Pound for pound you won't find a better drum break, or better drum noises. The loops are dope, and to chop up it's even better.
On speeding up the record the drums sounds faster and much fatter and just the right pace for hip hop production, no wonder 3 TIMES DOPE ripped this break whaaaay back in 1988 and flipped it for "Believe Dat" .....

Once again I get clever on another endeavour
While you get it together and try to come better
The so sinister rhyme go-getter
Gotta be a winner, that's why I'm the Administer
Tell ya what's my function from the introduction
3-D and the Hilltop are all in conjunction
Makin it right, makin you twist
Makin conversation, hand over fist
Programmin myself to be the premier MC of the century

- check out the two soundclips below.
FANCY - Feel Good
3 TIMES DOPE - Believe Dat


RHEAD BROTHERS - Dedicate LP 1977 EMI RECORDS
Now I'm spoiling you with the charity doubles here, but this b-boy break is a little lesser known than the two mentioned above, but you gotta grab a copy or two. I passed on copies of this for years until Beatmeister SKYE once again put me up on the good shit. It wasn't long before I had found doubles for less than a fiver.
It's also great for doubling up as the beat intro continues for ages before a Rhodes scale warns of the imminent breakdown.
RHEAD BROTHERS - Woman of Soul

....more charity goodness to come soon.

Kid Dyno

RIP Eddie Bo

More sad news as another music legend passes. EDDIE BO passed away on March 18th 2009. Edwin Joseph Bocage (September 20th 1930 – March 18th 2009) was an American singer and New Orleans-style pianist. Schooled in jazz, he was known for his blues, soul and funk recordings, compositions, productions and arrangements. He debuted on Ace Records in 1955 and released more single records than anyone else in New Orleans other than Fats Domino.
Break fiends will no doubt know him best for "Hook & Sling" - a B-Boy classic and dancefloor filler.

Double Vision

Drum crazy!

Dante Ross

Check out THE BERRICS video interviews with hip hop legend DANTE ROSS. Find out the origins of the term "The Gas Face", and the reasons why DE LA SOUL called him a "scrub" on their debut LP. Now this dude is funny!
DANTE ROSS video interview

It's the remix, it's the remix...

You know how we here at DAILY DIGGERS HQ love a remix? (see our "Just Messin' with Beats" posts)
Well, once again DJ CHRIS READ from MUSIC OF SUBSTANCE has been hard at it again, punching the pads and remixing some of your favourite joints. Those of you who loved THE DIARY VOLUME 1 (which we featured in NOVEMBER 07) are gonna dig this even more - THE DIARY VOL 1.5 ... 20 YEARS OF THE REMIX.
CHRIS has taken accapellas from 1989 through to present and given them the MUSIC OF SUBSTANCE twist...and the results are heavy! And there's even a lil re-touch of our very own POPPA LARGE remix. But you know this shit is serious when I tell you that CHRIS READ's NICE & SMOOTH remix is better than the original version - nuff said!
Whilst the practice of releasing mixtapes between albums to maintain relevance has become a common practice in recent years. British DJ and producer, CHRIS READ is turning tradition on its head and releasing what some might describe as an album between mixtape releases.

In January 2008, CHRIS released ‘The Diary (World’s Greatest Rap Megamix)’, a stunningly intricate 800 track mix chronicling the genre’s landmark recordings in order of release from 1979 to 2007. Quick to gain support from many of the world’s best respected DJs and taste makers (including Andy Smith (Portishead), DJ Food (Ninja Tune), Ollie Teeba (Herbaliser), DJ Format, Plus One (Scratch Perverts) and DJ Yoda), the mix was described by some as one of the greatest hip hop mix albums of all time. With tens of thousands of downloads and radio broadcasts in over 30 countries, the mix has achieved cult status and continues to receive attention via the web.

Just over a year later, with work on ‘The Diary Volume 2’ underway, Chris is releasing ‘The Diary Volume 1.5 (20 Years of The Remix)’, a tribute to the innovations in production and beat making over the last two decades. In just under 80 minutes Chris sets about selecting and remixing one iconic track from each of the last 20 years, in each case paying tribute to the production style and trends in sampling popular at the time of the original release.

From the James Brown influenced sound popularised by the likes of Hurby Luv Bug and 45 King in the late ‘80s, to the jazz sampling trends of the early to mid ‘90s, to the iconic and distinct sounds of DJ Premier and Jay Dee, all the cornerstones of the genre’s development are touched upon. The result is an impressive collection of tracks that might easily be mistaken for lost or unreleased remixes from some of the genre’s greats.

“What we’re gonna do right here is go back…”

..here's a little taster in the form of the NICE & SMOOTH CHRIS READ remix, but get yourself over to MUSIC OF SUBSTANCE and cop the FREE DOWNLOAD.

“This CD just shows how much Chris Read knows about historic Hip Hop production techniques - Its just a shame he wasn't creating this stuff during the eras he's covering as we would probably rate the man as being up there with Paul C, Pete Rock, Premier and all! - I can't think of another Hip Hop CD I've played so much in years” (Andy Smith – Portishead)

"Crazy! This is Rap History in the making. Chris proves his production skills on this one to the fullest. A wonderful and refreshing journey through all eras of hip hop. Double thumbs up!"
(Marc Hype – MPM Records / Former ITF Champion)

"Chris continues the rap anthology concept of his super-dope 'The Diary' megamix in the shape of a remix project, re-lacing acapellas from 89-2009 with historically accurate beats. 'The Diary 1.5' serves as a great platform for Chris to showcase his ample beat-making skills whilst referencing those who've inspired him."
(DJ Woody – Former World ITF Champion)

“I'm always a fan of Chris’s stuff. A lot of hard work put into it … which pays off.” (DJ Yoda – Genuine Records)

FREE DOWNLOAD from 1st MARCH at....

MUSIC OF SUBSTANCE

DJ CHRIS READ

Kid Dyno

Breaks For Days Radio

Hmmm great legs! It's nice to know even the sexy ladies are tuned into the breaks & beats!
Anyway, now I have your attention, here's another hour or so of music on offer to pump in your whip, groove to before you hit the town, or simply to fill up your ipod. Some hard-to-find European breaks to start, some classic breakbeat favourites, and the usual selection of quality hip hop beats from the early 90s. A little something for everybody...

Breaks include tracks by GUNTHER FISCHER, SKALDOWIE, CONSUMER RAPPAPORT, FAT LARRY'S BAND, BILL COSBY, INCREDIBLE BONGO BAND and more. You should all recognise a little something from here.

Hip Hop highlights ... LORD FINESSE, BRAND NUBIAN, MYSTERME & DJ 20/20, JUNGLE BROTHERS, AKINYELE & MAD KAP. Only the dope shit!

BREAKS FOR DAYS RADIO

I'm out with the quickness ...and back to those legs!!

Kid Dyno

Kev-E Kev & AK-B vs. Bobby Byrd

Who rocks the groove better? AK-B or BOBBY BYRD?? Hmmm it's a tough call, but suffice to say both of these tracks are 100% killer and guaranteed to move a crowd. I love the added thumping drums of the 1989 release (courtesy of PAUL C's superb engineering skills), but BYRD seems to hold the listener's attention more with his constant chants of "Keep On Doin'" and "Don't Stop!" over the raw funk.
YOU decide!

BOBBY BYRD "Keep On Doin'" BROWNSTONE RECORDS 197?

KEV-E KEV & AK-B "Keep On Doin'" DNA INT. RECORDS 1989

Please let me know in the comments which is YOUR favourite.

Kid Dyno

Warlock Records

Thanks to everyone who voted for WARLOCK RECORDS in the label poll, here goes...

Possibly best known for releasing early material from the JUNGLE BROTHERS, WARLOCK RECORDS was another of those 80's labels that released some great hip hop music. But hardcore hip hoppers will remembert WARLOCK for bringing the legendary TUFF CREW to the masses, after they purchased the SO DEF label and re-named it SOO DEFF.

WARLOCK RECORDS was founded in the late 1980s by ADAM LEVY and went on to release many classic hip-hop, techno & house, and also launched the career of house legend TODD TERRY (who also produced some dope hip hop beats!). Sub-labels included LIGOSA and IDLERS - again responsible for some great hip hop releases. In 1994 WARLOCK also acquired the SLEEPING BAG and FRESH RECORDS' catalogues, and more recently some of the releases have also been picked up and re-issued by Traffic Entertainment.

Now let's dive into the WARLOCK crates and drop a few gems....

TUFF CREW "Days Of Our Lives" WAR-106 1991
TUFF CREW really need no introduction, other to say that everything thing they released is worth copping, but you know that already. DAYS OF OUR LIVES is a later release from the crew, but still sounding on point with LA KID and ICE DOG rhyming hard over MYRA BARNES "Message from the Soul Sisters". Not quite as strong a track as NORTH SIDE OF TOWN or SHE RIDES THE PONY, but sounding more like an early gangster rap record. I believe by this time TUFF CREW were disbanding and as the intro suggests "this record is a message for ya three blind mice who refuse to see what's going on ya know what I'm sayin'?". Mmmm... read into that what you wish.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES


JUNGLE BROTHERS "On the Run" WAR-022 1988
The sound quality ain't great on this record, both because my personal copy is kinda trashed, and from the fact that early JUNGLE BROTHERS joints were recorded with DJ SAMMY B cutting up the beats live rather than using sampling equipment. I'm not sure whether this was done for budget reasons, or to gain that "live" feel on the tracks. Take a listen to their "STRAIGHT OUT THE JUNGLE" LP and you will hear what I mean.
Despite the lack of sound quality, "On The Run" uses some classic breakbeats to great effect - BABE RUTH's "The Mexican", RALPH MACDONALD's "Jam On The Groove", JIMMY CASTOR's "It's Just Begun" and "I Can't Stop" by JOHN DAVIS & THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA, all dropped in where necessary by DJ SAMMY B.
ON THE RUN


KROWN RULERS "Paper Chase" WAR-036 1988
Another favourite Philly joint for the random rap brigade, but don't get it twisted, this is how dope late 80's hip hop sounded, and KROWN RULERS were also BIG back in the day in NYC. "Kick the Ball" is a stone cold killer if you ain't heard it, but right about now it's their biggest and only 12" release "Paper Chase" that we're gonna feature.
Produced by DAVE and TONE LOVE from the TUFF CREW, this track rocks from the dope "Get Down" scratching by DJ GRAND POOBAH in the intro right to the very end. ROYAL ROCKER's rhymes are tight and to the point, and you would be hard pushed to find a wack line.

"The editorial prince above all MCs,
Commentarial whip, legit to a degree,
Executing deejay ROYAL ROCKER my handle,
Crews that broke give thanks to the old school,
Twenty four track lyrical braniac,
B-boy team they improvise in back,
Vocab pure, to never let 'em score,
I'm the GRAND POOBAH adversaries I war,
Eliminating... competition I face,
Rhyme wizard with the dialect,
I'm on a paper chase"

"ain't it good to ya" scratch

The KROWN RULERS are step... the funky duo's kept,
Hardcore in effect while dissing your tape deck,
I'm making records - similar to none of you,
Miscellaneous poets that just wanna do,
A show here and there, to gain dollars,
Glory to the rappers that wear blue collars,
Elevation... mean serves are due,
If I fall to alter each rhyme for your virtue,
I'm a new king not because one fell
Any that I battle... ask they'll tell,
Straight up why? cuz the language is ace,
Do good to be great... I'm on a paper chase.
PAPER CHASE


MC GOLDTOP "My Introduction" WAR-027 1988?
Great UK action here by MC GOLDTOP and produced by RICHIE RICH of RAP ACADEMY fame. This record was originally released on UK GEE STREET records, but then later picked up by WARLOCK after much play on radio and influence from MARLEY MARL. I'm not normally one of RICHIE RICH's biggest fans, but I love this record, and GOLDTOP (a white dude with blond hair) ceratinly rhymes tight.
MY INTRODUCTION


TWO X STRONG "Lyrical Madness" WAR-095 1991
On the CITY BEATS ENTERTAINMENT label distributed through WARLOCK, and a harder piece to track down. This one will not be to everyone's taste, but I like the beats more than the rhymes on this record. Using the THEME FROM SWAT as well as a circus style sample which I recognise but just can't put my finger on where it comes from. Like I said the lyrics can be kinda confusing at times, but the weirdly arranged beats are kinda catchy. This track is actually the b-side to "GET LIFTED" which uses KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND's classic break. Produced by DODGE CITY PRODUCTIONS.
LYRICAL MADNESS


TAKING YOUR BUSINESS (T.Y.B.) "Just Got Laid" WAR-034 1989
Once again RONDO and SUPERB bring us another slice of funk TYB style. Their previous release LONG LIVE HIP HOP and IT'S THE NEW THING are also must-have records, and JUST GOT LAID is classic also. The title gives away the subject matter here, and the beat is funky like some unwashed socks! JUST GOT LAID starts with an infectious bassline, and some whoops and barks from the crew to get you hype. An addictive guitar lick then provides the back bone of the track(sample is 'Memphis Soul Stew'), with some funky horns scratched over the top at just the right moments. Rondo (pronounced Rondoo) tells stories of hitting the clubs in search of skinz to hit.
The b-side cut "Show 'em How it's Done" is also a tight track - BUY IT IF YOU SEE IT!
JUST GOT LAID


MINISTERS OF BLACK "One of a Kind" WAR-056
A strange sounding track if ever I have heard one, mainly due to the screaming horn sample used, and the odd rhyming style. Plus some of the vocal hooks used are a bit suspect - I will let you decide if this is dope or dogfood!
ONE OF A KIND


KING TRE "Damn I'm Good" WAR-017 1988
Man I love this record. KING TRE's lazy laid-back style makes him sound like a sleepy JIMMY SPICER on the mic. And I like the simplicity of simply rhyming over JOHNNY JENKIN's "I Walk On Guilded Splinters" break but with not much else added. Sometimes less is more as they say.
It took me a while to track down a copy of this dope joint, and I have yet to see one since, but I guess it ain't that rare as WARLOCK distribution was widespread. But it barely gets a mention amongst hip hoppers apart from appearing on the odd mixtape here and there.But the track is certified dope and with the "damn I'm good" scratching and bragging rhymes it is an essential IDLERS release.
DAMN I'M GOOD

NDODEMNYAMA "Free South Africa" WAR-067 1990
Man this has to be the biggest ZULU NATION posse cut in history. The who's who of artists appearing on this anti-apartheid release reads like a page in hop hop history - AFRIKA BAMBAATAA, JAZZY JAY, ULTRAMAGNETIC MCs, X-CLAN, JUNGLE BROTHERS, NU-SOUNDS, ULTIMATE FORCE, UTFO, LAKIM SHABAZZ, POSITIVE K, MILK D, BRAND NUBIAN, KINGS OF SWING, LIN QUE, QUEEN LATIFAH, JOESKI LOVE, RAHIEM, MELLE MEL, BUSY BEE, DON BARRON, OVERLORD X to name just a few.
The 12" features 6 different mixes, but I have linked to the AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS mix as it features MASTER ROB and LAKIM SHABAZZ on vocals, as well as a surprise few bars from NATION OF ISLAM's ARTHUR X over PUBLIC ENEMY's BRING THA NOISE beat. This is a serious record - DON'T SLEEP! Produced by BAMBAATAA and engineered by JAZZY JAY, it utilises some classic breaks once again, particularly in the mix we are gonna drop. Comes with a dope picture sleeve too.
FREE SOUTH AFRICA (AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS MIX)

Kid Dyno


(click on photos to enlarge)