Natural Elements - Live The Life (1994)

The Almighty Era V.1

Pay Me In Gold

Soul Assassins: Dia del Asesinato

Assassination Day

“We searched high and wide, far and low, and we got all the butters here. This is the best of the independent that came out.” – Mr. Dave

“Haze Presents NY Reality Check 101” came along at an ideal time in my life. I was already a hip-hop writer, a college radio show host and a (really lousy) disc jockey who was married to the elements. There was no “I USED to Love H.E.R.” in my life — I had been smitten in my pre-teen years and that love only grew in my teens and 20’s. It was not an easy relationship though living in a very rural part of America. Without magazines like The Source, newsgroups like rec.music.hip-hop, and friendly record store managers (whattup Dean) who would place special orders for me, I’d have been ass out trying to keep up with the scene. “NY Reality Check 101” was one such order in December ’97. You weren’t going to find this album at Walmart.

It’s amazing how an album that was transformative and revelatory to me in the late 1990’s has vanished without a trace a little over 20 years later. You can find an entry here or there with artwork or a release date, but scant little discussion of how amazing this CD was. In a way having a college friend from Philadelphia (whattup Ron) prepared me well for its arrival. It was through him that I got my exposure to the mixtape scene, so I was already listening to compilations from Ron G, Kid Capri and DJ Premier, “P-P-P-Premier” of Gang Starr fame among others. The latter is the man behind the wheels here, and although it’s Haze that “Presents” this mixtape, his presence is basically non-existent. Primo is the one who mixes, blends, juggles and doubles the tracks, scratching up a bevy of what Dave Sumpter a/k/a Mr. Dave aptly described as “the butters” of underground rap.

To this day Primo’s slice and dice of Bigg Jus saying “Bugged like Rwanda” over and over for the intro of Company Flow’s “8 Steps to Perfection” makes the hairs on my arms stand up. “Reality Check 101” was when I discovered Company Flow and by extension Rawkus Records, and hearing it again reminds me of that incredible feeling. Yeah eventually Ron or someone in the know would have hipped me to CoFlow if it weren’t for this CD, but the butter is just spread so smoothly here that I have to toast Premier. If you try listening to this on Spotify or YouTube it’s really not going to do it justice with the buffering, commercial breaks and constant interruptions. The way Primo flowed the song into “Changes” by Shades of Brooklyn made me a huge fan of BOTH acts. You better believe I was immediately trying to cop twelve inch singles for each one.

Read more Here:  http://www.rapreviews.com/2020/10/haze-presents-new-york-reality-check-101-mixed-by-dj-premier/




Dj Premier - New York Reality Check 101
01. DJ Premier - Intro ft Mr. Dave
02. Braggin' Writes [J-Live]
03. Break It Down [Brainwash]
04. Off Balance [Laster]
05. Head Over Wheels [G-Depp]
06. DJ Premier - Skit
07. Lyrical Tactics [Natural Elements]
08. 8 Steps To Perfection [Company Flow]
09. Change [Shades of Brooklyn]
10. Too Complete [L The Head Toucha]
11. Intro 2
12. Metal Thangz [Street Smartz]
13. Inner City Blues [Rezidue]
14. Properties of Steel [Godfather Don]
15. Mixmaster [Brainsick Mob]
16. 21 Years [Choclair]
17. DJ Premier - Outro
18. Feel The High Pt. 2 [Finsta Bundy]

New York Reality Check 101

13. Inner City Blues [Rezidue]

Good for Nuthin (feat. Saipher Soze)

Mixed by Shahin, this is the official teaser of the new album "XVI : Return of the Gods" by New Jersey rapper Tru Trilla which is due for release on May 31st 2024 through New Dawn Records, distributed by Ingrooves / Virgin.

For over two years the Brick City lyrical marksman has painstakingly crafted an absolute masterpiece, gathering together a stellar line up of guest featured artists and producers for what is the much anticipated follow up to the classic banger ‘God of Barz’ released by ourselves almost exactly four years to the day in May 2020. 

A long time affiliate of Naughty by Nature, Lords of the Underground and group member of 050 Boyz, the Newark native brings more of the same uncompromising energy as before, but this time moves the action further afield.

With original foot soldiers still flying the flag for the Garden State, Chicago and Barcelona, the legion’s been bolstered by additional heavy artillery from California, Detroit, Boston, New York, Florida, Canada, Japan and the UK.  

Where God of Barz set down a highly impressive early marker, the new album is its natural successor.  The broad range of production styles raise the levels on again while retaining the original core essence.  A diverse and powerful soundtrack for a blockbuster of fierce bars, slick rhymes and gritty lyricism delivered by some of hip hop’s most renowned verbal technicians at the top of their game.

This is for the warriors.  Venimus. Vidimus. Vicimus.  Welcome to the real.......

Full Album Tracklist

1 SUN RAYS ft Reks & Lakim Shabazz [prod by LG Roc] 
2 END THE DAY ft Ruste Juxx & Julius of Shoe Gang [prod by Frost Gamble] 
3 ONE ANOTHER [prod & cuts by Tone Spliff] 
4 RESPECTFULLY ft Justo the MC & NapsNdreds [prod by Frost Gamble]
5 THE ONLY ONE ft Trilly Trills [prod by Four Limbs] 
6 NO JOKING AROUND ft N.B.S. & Recognize Ali [prod by Jamal Nueve] 
7 GOOD OLE DAYZ [prod by Tru Trilla]
8 WE UP ft Yah Ra [prod by Ramson Badbonez]
9 WINTER HEART [prod by Tone Spliff]
10 TURN THAT DOWN ft Guilty Simpson & Skyzoo [prod by Frost Gamble]
11 GET IT RIGHT BACK ft Trilly Trills & Prince Ak [prod by LG Roc]
12 EXECUTION ft Fly Kwa [prod by Frost Gamble]
13 STAY DANGEROUS [prod & cuts by Tone Spliff]
14 PRINCIPLES [prod by Sumerio Square]
15 TO THE ROOF ft Prince Ak [prod by DNA Beatz]
16 DROP JEWELS ft Prince Ak & Juxx Diamondz [prod & cuts by Tone Spliff]

A series of singles will precede the album with accompanying affiliated videos due to appear on the label's Youtube channel https://youtube.com/newdawnrecords on release.  The singles and album will be available to stream and download at Bandcamp, Apple / iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon and all other major digital platforms.

More information at https://newdawnrecs.com

All media inquiries can be sent to our in house promotional division UrbanElite PR https://urbanelitepr.com/contact

Tru Trilla on Twitter https://twitter.com/TruTrilla050
Tru Trilla on Instagram https://instagram.com/Trilla050

XVI : Return of the Gods

Tru Trilla - "XVI : Return Of The Gods" [Official Album Teaser]

L Da Headtoucha - Stretch Armstrong Freestyle (1997)

New joint produced by Giallo Point more new music coming Now Or Never The Movement

Raw Spit produced by Giallo Point

ILL Conscious x MWP - Drop A Jewel Feat. Recognize Ali - SageInfinite & DJ TMB

LA BELLA MEDUSA

CALL THE CORONER (feat. LITTLE VIC & SLAINE)

Bear Handz 5: Gram Newton

Hannibal's Men ft. Hus Kingpin

You coppin?

HANNIBAL'S MEN (FT. HUS KINGPIN)

Independent hip hop label established 1996, operating until 2004.  Relaunched 2019.  Parent company of in house promotional division UrbanElite PR

Tru Trilla - "XVI : Return Of The Gods" [Official Album Teaser]

New Dawn Records

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