Rest in Peace and Power Dave Trugoy the Dove Plug 2. An absolute tragic loss that I'm still in shock over. Sending love and support to his family and friends, and of course all the other fans like myself who literally grew up on De La Soul and Dave's voice and artistry. De La Soul is not dead however. Everyone should go out and buy and support their music when it starts streaming and becoming available for purchase in early March!

This is a mix I made last Friday evening of some of my favorite De La records and samples, with a focus on Plug 2's mastery of the written and spoken word. All vinyl except for one obscure guest spot that I love which he did with Moka Only awhile back.

Salute to one of the absolute best groups and emcees EVER.

De La Dedication Mix 2023

Support De La!

De La Soul Dedication Mix

In celebration of Hip Hop's 50th year, we've teamed up with London based ‘Classic Material’ to present a chronologically themed series of mixtapes celebrating the history of recorded Rap music, mixed by Chris Read. This fifth bonus mix focuses on another sub-genre popularised in the 90s, the fusion of Hip Hop and Dancehall vocals. The mix features artists who hung their hat on that particular fusion (Mad Lion, Bobby Konders), Hip Hop styled remixes of Dancehall cuts (see DJ Muggs’ remix of Danny Red), Dancehall artists who vocalled Hip Hop beats (Mega Banton, Lady Apache) plus some pairings of Dancehall Acapellas with Hip Hop production from the era exclusive to this mix. The cover art references Nervous Records' 'Weeded' sub-label responsible for a number of key releases in this particular lane.

Tracklist:

1. Louie Rankin – Typewriter
2. Crown Jam Crew feat Mayjah Kid – Warning
3. DJ Excel – East Coast Reggae Mix
4. Lady Apache – Rock and Comeen (Nite Time Mix)
5. Ruder Ranks – Pump Up The Sound (In Ah Your Jeep) (Matt Nelkin Remix)
6. Danny Red – Rolling Stone (DJ Muggs Remix)
7. Masters at Work feat Screechie Dan – Give It To Me 
8. Funkmaster Flex & The Ghetto Celebs feat Mad Lion, Rayvon & Ricksta – Safe Sex, No Freaks 
9. Jeru The Damaja – Can’t Stop The Prophet (Pete Rock Instrumental) 
10. DJ AP Presents Tiger Ranks – Copper Shot (Acapella)
11. Das EFX – Real Hip Hop (Instrumental)
12. General Levy – Breeze (Acapella)
13. The Fugees – Killing Me Softly (Instrumental)
14. Group Home – Supa Star (Instrumental)
15. Buju Banton – Champion (Acapella) 
16. Lady Lee – Situation (Matt Nelkin Remix)
17. General Levy – Goodas Girl (A-Class Remix)
18. On The Down Low – Booma Dem
19. Shabba Ranks – Original Woman (Matt Nelkin Remix)
20. Mad Lion – Own Destiny 
21. Super Cat – Girlstown (BW Vibe Mix)
22. Rayvon – No Guns, No Murder (Matt Nelkin Remix)
23. The Fugees – Nappy Heads (Remix Instrumental) 
24. General Levy – Heat (Acapella) 
25. Supercat – Warning 
26. Shabba Ranks feat KRS One – The Jam 
27. Poor Righteous Teachers – Easy Star (Acapella) 
28. A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario (Remix Instrumental) 
29. Red Fox – Dem a Murderer 
30. Black Moon – Buck Em Down (Instrumental) 
31. Mega Banton – Graveyard Shift (Acapella) 
32. Mad Lion – Take It Easy 
33. Capleton – Tour (Dynamik Duo Mix) 
34. Frankie Cutlass – Puerto Rico (’94 Mix) 
35. General Levy – Ism Scism (Acapella) 
36. Super Cat – Ghetto Red Hot (Hip Hop Mix) 
37. Funkmaster Flex – Six Million Ways to Die (Instrumental) 
38. Black Moon – Who Got Da Props (MW Smooth Instrumental)
39. Cutty Ranks – Limb By Limb (Acapella) 
40. Jamalski – Jump, Spread Out 
41. Skadanks – 2 Ruff 
42. Louie Rankin – The Muscle (Funk Mix) 
43. Louie Rankin – The Sting 
44. Frankie Cutlass Presents Rayvon – Girls Fresh (Funkmaster Flex Street Jam) 
45. Daddy Freddy – Haul & Pull 
46. Kenny Dope feat Shaggy – Gunshot (Trooper Mix) 
47. Bobby Konders & Massive Sounds – Mack Daddy 
48. Mad Lion – Love Woman So (Acapella) 
49. A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario (Instrumental)

Classic Material Bonus Mix #6: Dancehall Hip Hop '91-99

#HIPHOP50: Classic Material Bonus Mix #5 (90s Dancehall Hip Hop) mixed by Chris Read

In celebration of Hip Hop's 50th year, we've teamed up with London based ‘Classic Material’ to present a chronologically themed series of mixtapes celebrating the history of recorded Rap music, mixed by Chris Read. This sixth bonus mix focuses on another sub-genre popularised in the 90s which is not entirely easy to define. Loops of popular Hip Hop records arranged into club-friendly instrumentals, in their day these tracks were mostly referred to simply as ‘Breakbeats'. They were Club records first and foremost so ‘Hip Hop Club Breaks’ is maybe a more accurate description. Armand Van Helden’s ‘AV8’ is the label most commonly associated with the sound, although Nervous Records & its ‘Strapped’ sub label were perhaps equally active. A few other smaller labels like Slammin’ and Kingsize also played their part. A lot of DJs principally associated with House music or who produced both House and Hip Hop were responsible for many of these records, often under aliases – Armand Van Helden of course, but also Todd Terry, Kenny Dope, DJ Spinna and others. Many other names in the scene were known for making this style of Hip Hop almost exclusively – Crooklyn Clan, Davey Dex, Bobby J to name a few. Artwork here pays tribute to Armand Van Helden's AV8 Records.

Tracklist:

1. Davey Dex presents Da Hip Hop Junkies – Pick It Up (Hip Hop Mix) 
2. DJ Fashion – Bom Bom 
3. DJ I-Cue & Jae Mo Ice – Two Scoops of Ice Cream (Dubplate Mix) 
4. Wreck All-Stars – Hit ‘Em Like This 
5. DJ Rags – To The Beat… 
6. Davey Dex – Get On Down (Davey Dex Remix) 
7. Fat Fluids – Throw Ya Hands (40th Ave. Mix) 
8. The Groove Asylum – We Love ‘Em 
9. Davey Dex – Move Ya Body (Davey Dex Remix) 
10. Davey Dex – Set It Off 
11. DJ Sizzahandz – Can’t Get Enuff 
12. Armand Van Helden –  Hot Butter (Pas Deh Punany Mix)
13. DJ Fashion – My Peoples 
14. Davey Dex – Zunga Zeng (Unreleased) 
15. DJ Rags – It Don’t Stop 
16. On The Down Low – Check The Vibe 
17. Steady G – Rainy Dayz 
18. Crooklyn Can – Clap Dem Handz (The Yeast Mix) 
19. SupaDupa AllCity & Suga Bear – Sunday Night at The Tunnel (Sunday Night Acapella) 
20. Brooklyn Slumlordz – Nobody Beats 
21. Crooklyn Clan – Dirty Dub 
22. Davey Dex – My Peoples (Where You At) 
23. Davey Dex – Throw Ta Handz Up (Davey Dex 12″) 
24. Frankie The Pacemaker – Live and Die Reck Part 2 
25. DJ Fashion – Brooklyn Stylz 
26. Armand Van Helden – Hey Yah Hey (Indian Beatdown Mix) 
27. Crooklyn Clan – A Brooklyn Thing (Brooklyn Anthem) 
28. Davey Dex – Get On Down (Original Mix) 
29. DJ Eclipse – Keep It On 
30. Rek Shit Rebulz – U Wanna Flex (What?) 
31. Frankie Cutlass – Puerto Rico (Original Version) 
32. Funkmaster Flex – Six Million Ways to Die (Instrumental) 
33. Funkmaster Flex – Sad & Blue (Dub) 
34. Rek Shit Rebulz – Make Ya Feel Better 
35. Wrath of Donkey Man – Donkey Twist 
36. Davey Dex – Keep It Movin (Prince Quick Mix Remix) 
37. Steady G – Everybody Groove (A Mos Definitely Long But Yet Chilled Out Mix) 
38. The Flip Squad presents Bobby J – Check Out The Style 
39. Bobby J – Clap Your Hands 
40. Steady G – Ya Don’t Stop (Ya Y’all) 
41. DJ Fashion – Uh Ah Do It Hay (Mix 1)

Classic Material Bonus Mix #7: Hip Hop Club Breaks '93-98

#HIPHOP50: Classic Material Bonus Mix #6 (90s Hip Hop Club Breaks) mixed by Chris Read

In celebration of Hip Hop's 50th year, we've teamed up with London based ‘Classic Material’ to present a chronologically themed series of mixtapes celebrating the history of recorded rap music, mixed by Chris Read. Edition #9 in this year by year series pays tribute to the Hip Hop of 1995, a year which arguably typifies what is often referred to as the ‘mid 90s sound’, with filtered and layered grooves accompanying crisp programmed drums at a tempo generally far lower than in previous years. The general trend for decreasing tempos peaked in ’95 with a significant proportion of single releases barely breaking the 90bpm mark. 1995 is also notable for the rise of a darker more melancholy production style with even the darkest of backdrops (Mobb Deep’s Shook Ones Part 2 being a good example) scoring as unlikely club hits. Artwork pays tribute to heavy hitting 90s imprint Loud Records.

Tracklist:

1. Classic Material Intro
2. Das EFX – Intro
3. Grand Puba – I Like It (Instrumental)
4. Chris Read – Theme #3 (Scratchapella)
5. Mic Genronimo – Masta I.C (Instrumental)
6. Funkdoobiest – Dedicated (Acapella)
7. Jamal – Fades ‘Em All (Pete Rock Remix Instrumental)
8. Mark B feat MCM – A Certain Special Skill (Instrumental)
9. Das EFX – Here It Is
10. Das EFX – Can’t Have Nuttin (Instrumental)
11. Bushwackas – Caught Up In The Game
12. Supreme NTM – Tout N’est Pas Ci Facile
13. Blahzay Blahzay – Danger
14. Show & AG – Time For…
15. Ill and Al Scratch – Don’t Shut Down on a Player (Acapella)
16. Organised Confusion feat O.C – You Won’t Go Far
17. World Renown – Long Jev (Vocal)
18. World Renown – Long Jev (Instrumental)
19. Common – Resurrection ’95 (Acapella)
20. Show & AG – You Know Now (Buckwild Remix)
21. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Searching (Remix)
22. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Searching (Remix Instrumental)
23. Erick Sermon – Bomdigi (Acapella)
24. Masta Ase Incorporated – Phat Kat Ride (Instrumental)
25. Masta Ase Incorporated – Terror
26. Mobb Deep – Give Up The Goods (Instrumental)
27. Lords of the Undergound – What I’m After (Acapella)
28. Lords of the Undergound – What I’m After (Bonus Beats)
29. Funkdoobiest – Who Ra Ra (Instrumental)
30. Chubb Rock, Masta Ase and Special Ed – Brooklyn Dodgers Part 2

#HIPHOP50: Classic Material Edition #9 (1995) mixed by Chris Read

In celebration of Hip Hop's 50th year, we've teamed up with London based ‘Classic Material’ to present a chronologically themed series of mixtapes celebrating the history of recorded rap music, mixed by Chris Read. Edition #13 in this year by year series pays tribute to the Hip Hop of 1999, a year which marked a coming of age for the Indie Hip Hop scene. Whereas the previous year had been dominated by leftfield and arguably less commercially accessible indie releases, 1999 delivered more accomplished and club friendly indie releases with labels such as Rawkus really growing into their hype. Artwork references Tommy Boy's 'Black Label' sub label.

Tracklist:

1. Classic Material Intro
2. The Roots – Act Won
3. Rakim – When I Be On The Mic (Instrumental)
4. Chris Read – Theme #3 (Scratchapella)
5. Quasimoto – Microphone Mathematics (Excerpt)
6. Common feat Sadat X – 1999 (Instrumental)
7. Rob Swift feat Large Professor – The Ablist (Acapella)
8. Cactus Jack feat Ed O.G – Act Like What You Say (Instrumental)
9. Black Rob – Whoa (Acapella)
10. Quasimoto – Microphone Mathematics
11. Nextmen feat Grap Luva – Break the Mould (Instrumental)
12. 45 King feat Common – Car Horn (Acapella)
13. Truth Enola feat De La Soul – Voicetress
14. Travis Blaque feat Fabian, Future & Mac – The Bachelors (Acapella)
15. Phife Dawg – Thought U Wuz Nice (Instrumental)
16. Natural Resource – Heavy Loungin’
17. Ugly Duckling – Now Who’s Laughing
18. Paul Nice feat AG, Gennessee and Babu – Definition of Nice (Bonus Beats)
19. Pharoahe Monch – Simon Says (Acapella)
20. Rip Shop – Crabfakers (Instrumental)
21. M Boogie feat Iriscience & Babu – On Deadly Ground (Acapella)
22. Mos Def – Mathematics
23. J Live – The Best Part
24. Q-Tip – Let’s Ride (Instrumental)
25. Aboriginals – The Essence (Acapella)
26. Phife Dawg – Bend Ova (Instrumental)
27. Mos Def & Talib Kweli – Another World (Instrumental)
28. J-88 – The Look of Love (Acapella)

#HIPHOP50: Classic Material Edition #13 (1999) mixed by Chris Read

S.O.A.D - DDevil (Eddie Glaze Remix/Cover)

cover for my all time favorite band! ;3

S.O.A.D - DDevil (Eddie Glaze Remix/Cover)

CALNDAR Presents

Mixography: The Collectives 
Volume II, Native Tongues
Thursday, August 27th - 10pm at (le) poisson rouge
Tickets: bit.ly/mixography2
COMING UP:
9/24 - Volume III - Death Row vs. Bad Boy
10/29 - Volume IV - Good Music
11/19 - Volume V - Soulquarians
Photo: Deneka Peniston
Art: Adrian J Padarath

1. De La Soul-Ego Trippin pt. 2
2. De La Soul-Stakes Is High
3. De La Soul (ft. Redman)-Oooh
4. ATCQ-Find A Way
5. Q-Tip-Breathe & Stop
6. Beatnuts-No Escapin This (Eh! Team Party Break)
7. Black Sheep-The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)
8. ATCQ (ft. L.O.N.S.)-Scenario
9. ATCQ-Hot Sex
10. Queen Latifah-Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here
11. Jungle Brothers-Straight Out The Jungle
12. Brand Nubian-To The Right
13. De La Soul-Ring Ring Ring
14. De La Soul-Copa Cabana
15. Busta Rhymes (ft. Q-Tip)-Thank You
16. Q-Tip-Life Is Better (ft. Norah Jones)
17. ATCQ-Electric Relaxation
18. Kanye West & Consequence-Electric Relaxation 2003
19. Jungle Brothers-Toe To Toe
20. Brand Nubian-Slow Down
21. Busta Rhymes-Genesis
22. Busta Rhymes (ft. Rah Digga)-Betta Stay Up In Ya House
23. De La Soul-Simply Havin
24. ATCQ-Footprints
25. De La Soul (ft. Jungle Brothers, ATCQ, Monie Love, & Queen Latifah)-Buddy

Mixography: The Collectives - Vol. II, Native Tongues [Mini Mix]

Soul Supreme and Dase Boogie join forces to make a tribute mix to one of their all time favorite groups - the People Under the Stairs.

Each one takes it to his own place so be sure to check both parts!

Enjoy and please share, post, like and spread the word around!

The People Under the Stairs Tribute Mix

This is a mix strictly dedicated to the Remix. These are not new-aged mash-ups, re-fixes, edits, transitions, or whatever other name there might be, these cuts are in the spirit of the traditional remix. Most of these were label releases, b-sides, white label releases, and alternate versions. 

www.djhaylow.com

Goldenera Remixes (A dedication to 90's Hip Hop remixes) Mixed by @Haylow

I am constantly thinking of different themes to build a mix around. With the completion of each mix I typically fall into a 2-3 week funk where I try to think of a new theme for my next mix. Following the Folger's Blends mix I was struggling to think of a new theme. Then, one day while doing a random google search I stumbled onto the above logo. At first glance, I thought the logo was straight dope. However, the logo became even cooler when I learned that it was the creation of my favorite t-shirt designer, Derek from Manifest Worldwide. Given that the saying behind the logo comes from a ATCQ song, I was originally intending to do a Tribe mix. However, since Tribe mixes are a dime a dozen I went in the direction of creating a mix that attempts to capture the jazzy vibe that groups like Tribe and Digable Planets spawned. As the title suggests, all songs on this mix incorporate jazz based samples. The track selection includes music from jazzy groups and producers such as A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, Diamond D, Black Moon, De La Soul, Madlib, No ID, Gang Starr, Showbiz & AG, Big L, The Roots, and Nas (I think that's all of them?). Half the fun of making this mix was doing the research to ensure that all songs maintained a jazz break. Some were no brainers, but other songs with jazz breaks were quite surprising. Jazz based samples have always given a special vibe to hip hop music so I hope this mix captures that magic. Thanks again to Derek at Manifest for inspiring the mix's theme.

We Got the Jazz

During our 30+ year history we have become well-known for championing a wide-range of musical genres, but for many people we will forever be associated with the golden age of hip hop and our Soho stores. The memories of the music and culture from that time are intertwined with the experience of being in that store (for customers and staff alike). Mr Bongo founder and MD, Dave Buttle, recalls that heady period in Mr Bongo history…

"It was a really exciting time. Soho was booming - full of media companies, record, stores, labels, and the place to go in London for your vinyl shopping needs. If you had an exclusive new hip hop release in store the word would spread and it would be a roadblock. We are talking the early Rawkus releases, Mos Def, Company Flow, then we had Dr Octagon, exclusive Lord Finesse bits from Japan."

Hip hop will always be in the DNA of Mr Bongo and a couple of years back we decided to channel that into a Mr Bongo Hip Hop 45 reissue series. Our ambition was to release the best and most in demand cuts from the 80’s and 90’s on 7" in original picture sleeves. It’s a collection of our personal favourites, Bongo store anthems and undeniable classics. We kicked the series off with A Tribe Called Quest ‘Scenario’ and we are about to hit release number 20 with the Egyptian Lover ‘Computer Love'. The series has featured artists such as Nas, Souls of Mischief, Ultramagnetic MC’s, Cypress Hill, Gang Starr, Black Sheep - to name a few. The response to these releases has been fantastic - the demand for these cuts is coming in from all around the world and we are very thankful for the support and love they are getting!

To celebrate reaching release number 20 in the series we thought now would be a good time to showcase the catalogue in full. We called in DJ Chris Read to put together an exclusive Mr Bongo Hip Hop 45’s mix. Chris is a long-time collaborator with Bongo, has a deep knowledge of hip hop, and is an incredible DJ. Perfect for this mix. 

"Every track featured in the Bongos Hip Hop 45s reissues series is a certified classic and a high proportion of these records featured heavily in my DJ sets during the 90s and beyond. It was a lot of fun not only to see these records again on 45, but also to revisit them in this mix. 

In the years after I moved back to London in the early 2000s, a record shopping trip to Soho was a regular part of my Saturday routine and a visit to Mr Bongo's Berwick Street store was an essential stop on a circuit that took in stores including Record and Tape Exchange, Major Flavas, Scenario, Deal Real and many others. The space was small, the queue for the counter usually deep and the vibe was often hectic, but the atmosphere was electric. I have no idea how many hours I must have spent flicking through the racks or stood at the counter trying to get a glimpse of the latest arrivals up on the wall, but they were hours well spent, made all the better by the presence of some top class DJs serving from behind the counter.” Chris Read

Mr Bongo Hip Hop 45s - Mixed by Chris Read

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https://store.waxpoetics.com/

#HIPHOP50: Classic Material Bonus Mix #6 (90s Hip Hop Club Breaks) mixed by Chris Read

Wax Poetics