The reign of the Harlem Diplomats is without a doubt one of the most influential periods in modern hip-hop. The movement that officially started with family features on Camron’s ‘S.D.E.’ album turned into one of New York City’s most powerful crews. Dipset created a sound that transcended the borders of east coast rap with a style that fueled urban culture for the better half of the 2000s. Killa Cam’s unapologetic uptown crew, Jim Jones, Freaky Zeeky and Juelz Santana, evolved to be leaders in their own rights commanding offshoot rap groups while still reppin’ the eagle and still screaming Harlem.

To celebrate the legacy of the Diplomats, we put together a comprehensive mix spanning years of bandana wearing and flag waving. While there is no possible way to include every significant offering of their vast catalogue, we believe we compiled some of Dipset’s best music in this 100+ minute homage.

Enjoy

DIPSET DIPSET DIPSET DIPSET

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Tracklist

1 – Harlem Radio
2 – Dipset Butcher’s Blade Intro
3 – The Diplomats – I Really Mean It
4 – Juelz Santana – Okay Okay
5 – Jim Jones feat. Camron – Certified Gangsters
6 – Juelz Santana – Clockwork
7 – Camron – Wet Wipes
8 – Jim Jones feat. Max B – G’z Up
9 - ”Know a lot of beats, but I say no names” pt.1
10 – The Diplomats – Dipset Anthem
11 – Camron – Back By Popular Demand
12 – 40 Cal – Paid In Full
13 – Juelz Santana – Broken Language
14 – Vado – Large on the Streets
15 – Camron Juan Epstein interlude

16 – Camron feat. Juelz Santana & Jim Jones – Come Home With Me
17 – The Diplomats – I am Ready
18 – Camron – Killa Cam
19 – Jay Bezel Freestyle
20 – Freaky Zeeky Phone Call
21- Camron feat. Kanye West – Down and Out
22 – Byrd Gang – Purple City Byrd Gang
23 – Camron Press Conference interlude
24 – Camron feat. Jim Jones – Hate me Now
25 – Camron – Get’em Girls
26 – Camron – Show You How to Do This
27 – Juelz Santana – S.A.N.T.A.N.A
28 – The Diplomats – Bout it Bout it
29 – Camron Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito WKCR Freestyle
30 – Camron – Oh Boy
31 – The Diplomats – Crunk Musik
32 – Juelz Santana – Dipset (Santana’s Town)
33 – Camron feat. Jim Jones & Juelz Santana – More Gangsta Music
34 – The Diplomats – Salute
35 – Juelz Santana – Oh Yes
36 – Camron Feat. Jay Z – Welcome to New York City
37 – “Know a lot of beats, but I say no names” pt.2
38 – Jim Jones – Fly High
39 – JR Writer – Get’em
40 – Hell Rell Freestyle
41 – Juelz Santana – Mic Check
42 – Jim Jones – Baby Girl
43 – You Maaaaad interlude
44 – Camron feat Juelz Santana - Hey Ma
45 – Camron – That’s Me

Frankmatic radio is back!!

Frank The Butcher and Paul Mighty are back and brought along a gang of heaters with them. New music from Common, Maffew Ragazino, MOP, Action Bronson, The Roots, Quelle Chris, Gangrene, Kid Daytona and more.

GOOD MUSIC IS FRANKMATIC!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Track list:

Gangrene f. Prodigy – Dump Truck
Black Star – Fix up
Scram Jones – Wild side
LEP Bogus Boys f. Lupe Fiasco – Zombie Land
Action Bronson f. Mayhem Lauren, Maffew Ragazino and AG The Coroner
(Classic Joint) Pharaoh Monch f. MOP – Show No Mercy (Original sample intro)
MOP – No Mercy
Maffew Ragazino – Slangston Hughes
Roc Marciano – Emeralds
Common – Sweet
Push T f. Ab Liva and Odd Future – Ohh
Mobb Deep – Waterboarding
The Kid Daytona f. Action Bronson – Ivory Coast Crime Scene
Termanology f.Easy Money – Compared to you
Fat Joe – My Lord
Vado – NY Ride
Rick Ross – I Love My Bitches
Willie The Kid – Waste Not
Quelle Chris f. Danny Brown & Roc Maricano
The Roots – Make My f. Big K.R.I.T. & Dice Raw

RSVP: www.superfunboston.eventbrite.com

When I first heard of Maffew Ragazino Sr. it was on a stern recommendation from DJ Clark Kent. Anyone that calls Clark a friend understands the pressure of his recommendation. It weighs a ton. Now Clark hails from Brooklyn, which is the same borough that has nurtured the lyricist Maff so off jump the scale was tipped. The difference between supporting an artist from home and celebrating the work of one of the best currently is the factor in which makes your word worth its weight.

Ragazino’s debut effort “Rhymes Pays” is a showcase in bare-knuckle word play without sacrificing production selections. It is rare when the quality of the words and beats line up. It’s that simple – and when they do, magic. Maff is a rare breed of emcee that channel the golden age without sounding dated. Be clear, he is not a throw back rapper who relies on 90’s mojo and haircuts to stand out. Maff is a beast living in 2011 that could hang with your 90’s fav but mangle your man who is on the front page on Nah Right today.

With all that said– ‘Rhyme Pays’ is an amazing debut that has Ragazino on the way to defining what NYC hip-hop once stood for and it’s unapologetic in its delivery.

On a side note – The Butcher’s Block own Paul Mighty mastered the album and took something that was amazing and made it that much more special.

Shouts to Maff, Sha & Paul.

Download Maffew Ragazino’s ‘Rhymes Pays’ HERE

Named after one of Milkcrate’s most popular tee shirt design — this son is definitely ILLSON!

Mobb Deep f. Aaron Lacrate – Illson

DOWNLOAD HERE

Karmaloop TV Piece on the Lacrate / Mobb Deep colab:

Let me start by saying that it’s easy to “like” something when millions support it. So yeah, you like the Wu currently, of course you do. In the beginning it was a journey to understand the madness.

I first was put onto the Wu-Tang Clan in 9th grade — around 1992. I first heard Protect Ya Neck off a local DJ’s white label (independently pressed record usually identified by it’s plain white label) he bought while in NYC. At first listen it was an organized mess with a chaotic sonic backdrop that served as a no topic free-for-all with each clan member sounding like they had separate points to prove. What was the point? I wasn’t sure at first but that became the point. Members had distinct personalities that were revealed in their rhyme style, tone, temperament and voice. Someone like GZA maintained a monotone chokehold on a track without raising his energy level above a Central Park chess match while Method Man was jumping out of his seat during his verse.

Everyone had a different preferred swordsman but no one can deny that the Ol’ Dirty Bastard commanded attention. Meth said that there wasn’t a paternal claim to Dirt’s rhyme style, hence the moniker, which was evident by his freestyle like rants that were only held together by his charisma. Did he always make sense? No. Did he stick out like a sore thumb during posse cuts? Hell yeah. But that’s what made him special. He was a bastard.

It made perfect sense for Method Man’s ‘Tical’ to be the first out the gate after the Clan’s grand entrance. Next up was Ol’ Dirty with his debut ‘Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version’ that was launched on the back of the broken piano loop’d single Brooklyn Zoo. The album felt as if the Rza understood that Dirt had to run lawless to get the best out of him but figured a way to filter the madness into a focused effort – his only focused effort. The album featured most of the clan and some affiliates and was truly a glimpse into the psyche of the drunken master.

What made Dirty special is what ultimately made him self-destruct. His genius was often over shadowed by a history of alcohol and drug abuse that helped him create a rap sheet as long as the list of Wu-affiliates. Over a dozen kids with multiple women, crashing the stage at the Grammys and coming to the aid of a little girl trapped after a car crash are some of the things highlighted in his legacy. Let’s not forget the most important factoids – he is one of the founding fathers of arguably the most important group in hip-hop history and his debut album is nothing short of a classic.

16 years after it’s release, ‘Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version’ will be re-released with commemorative limited edition packaging celebrating one of the brightest figures to ever grace rap music. Ol’ Dirty wasn’t just the clan’s resident live wire but was truly a one in a lifetime character who captured the attention of the world, one rant and incident at a time.

The album with extra goodies, including the infamous food stamp card featured on the original album art, will be released on Get On Down Records distributed by Traffic Entertainment on November 22nd.

Russell Jones | Rest In Peace

Had to chance to connect with the guys and interview them for Karmaloop TV.

PS– Moonie made it clear that he needs a slot on my seeding list. Got you homie.

Peep the video for Lookin’ at Me featuring L.E.P. and Terri Walker off of Ski Beatz’ 24 Hour Karate School II

SKI BEATZ FT LEP & TERRI WALKER- LOOKIN’ FOR ME from DD172 on Vimeo.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Diggy for Karmaloop TV and was pleasantly surprised at how down to earth and personable he was. With all the pressure of proving he is an artist on his own merit and balancing the fact that he’s been famous for quite some time now, he gave off a quiet air of balance that is a rarity amongst young stars. Talented, a good head on his shoulders and a passion to create –

The reverend raised him right.

Shouts to the incredible Karmaloop TV Boston team – Gabe, Chelsea & Alex – for making me feel like a part of the team from day 1. Much appreciated.

Freeway is super talented, lyrical and confident in his music but very humble and genuine in person. He’s has become a friend of mine and I get amped to hear new music, especially over Jake. Heard this joint a couple of weeks ago — Jake One beat is bananas, Free goes ape and me on the art– FRANKMATIC!

Glad I could be a part of this. Shouts to Free, Amir and Jake.

ITUNES DOWNLOAD

In honor of the Butcher’s Block site redesign and relaunch, I am excited to present you with Classic Rap Volume 1 which is mixed by Patta’s own Dj Masta Lee.

This mix consists of 50 of my favorite classic hip hop records, some I felt might be overlooked, sent over to Amsterdam’s DJ Masta Lee who made sure it turned into what we had envisioned: A REAL MIXTAPE BY A REAL DJ.

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD LINK

Tracklist:
01. Classic Rap Intro – Frank The Butcher
02. C’Mon Wit Da Git Down – The Artifacts
03. Take ‘Em To War – Kool G Rap
04. I Shot Ya – Keith Murray / Prodigy
05. Walk in NY – Onyx
06. New Jack City – M.O.P.
07. Boyz-n-the-Hood – Eazy E
08. Murdafest – Smoothe Da Hustler f. Trigger The Gambler
09. How Many Emcees – Black Moon
10. Microphone Master (Sewa / 41st Side remix) – Das Efx f. Mobb Deep
11. Time’s Up – O.C.
12. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (Large Pro Remix) – Nas
13. Soul On Ice (remix) – Ras Kass
14. Reign of the Tec – Beatnuts
15. The Main Ingredient – Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth
16. The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World – Keith Murray
17. Next Level (DJ Premier Nyte Time remix) – Showbiz & AG
18. In The Ghetto – Eric B & Rakim
19. The Infamous Date Rape – A Tribe Called Quest
20. Invasion – Jeru the Damaja
21. Crooklyn Dodgers – Special Ed, Masta Ace & Buckshot
22. 9th Wonder – Digable Planets
23. I’ll Be There For You – Method Man f. May J Blige
24. Mad Izm – Channel Live f. KRS-One
25. Hittin’ Switches – Erick Sermon
26. Manifest (remix) – Gangstarr
27. The Bomb – Akinyele
28. Gansta Bitch – Apache
29. Big Ole Butt – LL Cool J
30. Punk Jump Up – Brand Nubian
31. Oh What a Night – Diamond Shell f. Biz Markie
32. Warrior’s Drum – King Just
33. Road to Ritches – Kool G Rap
34. Chief Rocka – Lords of the Underground
35. Shoot to Kill – Mad Lion
36. Duck Down – KRS-One
37. Ain’t Going Out Like That – Cypress Hill
38. How I Could Just Kill a Man – Cypress Hill
39. Scenario (remix) – ATCQ f. LONS & Kid Hood
40. So What Cha Sayin’ – EPMD
41. 360° (What Goes Around) – Grand Puba
42. Sally Got a One Track Mind – Diamond D
43. Back to the Grill Again – MC Serch f. Red Hot Lover Tone & Nas
44. Live at the BBQ – Main Source f. Nas
45. Uptown Anthem – Naughty By Nature
46. Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) – De La Soul
47. Looking at the Front Door – Main Source
48. Fakin’ The Funk – Main Source
49. Case of the P.T.A. – Leaders of the New School
50. Blue Cheese – UMCs
51. Welcome to the Terrordome – Public Enemy