Here are some recent tracks of note that we would’ve likely remained unheard if it wasn’t for the same technology that is destroying our lives. I will gladly sit through an eternity of Rick Ross sunglass scandals if it means getting a few more cuts like this.

Cult Of Isis f/ Boots Riley – “Right Turn, Wrong Street”

Cult Of Isis f/ Del – “What You Know“

from Cult Of Isis (Demo Tape, 199?)
Not sure how this forgotten chess obsessed San Mateo crew managed to coax unheard verses (partially… Boots’ was recycled on or from Genocide & Juice) out of two of Oaktown’s finest for this, their only demo, but the world is a better place because of it. Ripped Open By Metal Explosions has the entire four track demo as well as a nice anecdote about Del tripping for days and playing Sega Genesis.

Jungle Brothers – “Troopin On The Down Low“

Jungle Brothers – “Spittin Wicked Randomness (Original Bill Laswell)“

from Crazy Wisdom Masters (Warner Brothers, Unreleased, 1992)
In the annals of aborted hip hop albums, there might be none stranger than Crazy Wisdom Masters. The story has been told already but just in case: scheduled to be their third LP and first second for Warner Brothers, CMW saw the Jbeez bring in new member Torture (who later became Sensational) and producer/slap bass enthusiast Bill Laswell and aimed to take their music in a new direction. That direction, spastic and formless bugged out hip hop was deemed to strange for the house that Bugs built and the Brothers were sent back to the lab to recut it as Jbeez Wit The Remedy, itself a completely bizarre and unmarketable record. But that sounds like a well polished pop collection in light of these original mixes. (more…)

Davey D sits down with the always thoughtful Boots of The Coup. Emory Douglass bonus beat.

…Y’all Just Listening Too Fast.

I am about to exit the blogosphere for a short period of time. Mostly because you hated the muxtape. Here are some photos from fifteen year old Murder Dog back issues to hold you over (more…)

According to Amazon, April 22 will see more than a dozen CD reissues from the legendary Wild Pitch Records, who, despite their allegedly questionable business practices, has one of the dopest catalogs in the history of the genre. Some serious classics – Breakin’ Atoms, Funky Technician, Kill My Landlord – will be made available for the first time in years, Though you have to wonder what sort of demand there is for a Brokin English Klik reish. Or Super Lover & Cassanova Rud’s unmemorable comeback EP.

No idea who is behind this. Last I heard JCor Records had acquired the rights to them 4-5 years ago, but they also folded shortly after that. It doesn’t look like there will much in the way of bonus material either, but it will be nice to have these albums back in stores. You know, to protect the canon.

Update: It looks like The Coup’s Genocide & Juice will also be reissued, just a few weeks later on May 6. Amazon strangely lists it as being released on Pendulum Records, former home to Digable Planets and the Boogiemonsters, which hasn’t existed for about 12 years. Though it was a subsidiary of EMI/Elektra, who, as Paine noted in these comments, may currently own the Wild Pitch catalog. I guess we’ll find out soon enough…

Full reissue list after the jump (more…)

Point Blankk Range – “Check Me”
Point Blankk Range – “Fuck 5′0“
from Check Me EP (Polemic Records, 1993)

Finally tracked down one of my holy grail rap tapes this weekend. You might remember Point Blankk Range as the last rapper to spit on The Coup’s Genocide & Juice. Check Me is the one of just two tapes released by Boot’s Polemic records, the first being The Coup’s own debut EP.

As you’d expect, Point Blankk’s politics are pretty closely aligned with his those of his crew. He even raps a little like Boots, I think. The production, courtesy of Boots and some guy named Onion, sounds like some G&J outtakes. So basically it’s as close as you are going to get to a lost Coup tape from that era.

Now who got some Osageyfo demos?

After the jump are the thank yous, complete with a line drawing of Point Blankk dragging an unconscious or dead police officer by the back of his head in the background. (more…)