MIXTAPE OF THE WEEK: DJ Aristocat-Focus

MIXTAPE OF THE WEEK
DJ Aristocat-Focus

LISTEN


LINKS
http://www.djaristocat.com/

http://www.myspace.com/djaristocat

http://djaristocat.blogspot.com/

I started ripping some of the mixtapes I've had lying around for a few years now and I popped this one for a listen for the first time in quite some time and it sounded as fresh as new. Aristocat's tapes are without a doubt one of the most fun and creative tapes in my collection. His remixes have some insane combinations that you gotta hear. This tape has a nice mix of rock and hip hop with music from Weezer, Queen, ACDC, The Verve, The Beatles, Guns N' Roses, Jay Z, Eminem, 50 Cent, Kweli, Dilated Peoples and a host of others. I love the fact that he also plays out some of the rock vocals and even throws some rock over hip hop mashups. Listening to any of his tapes you immediately recognize Aristocat's love for music from all over the specturm from any and all genres. The tracklist is RIDANKULOUS but I'm not gonna post lol in order for ya'll to experience the twists and turns of this tape.

Take a listen to his "A World of my Own" tape here as well. Cop his entire collection at his website linked above or here.

TRACK OF THE WEEK: Phene-All My Life

TRACK OF THE WEEK

Phene-All My Life

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LINKS
http://www.myspace.com/phene
http://twitter.com/Phene
http://highofflife.com/
http://www.myspace.com/williefloyd

If you haven't listend to Phene's "This is the Phenemix Vol. 2" yet, GO GRAB THAT ISH cause you're missing out on one of this year's best mixtapes from one of the best up and coming artists. My favorite track from the tape is the above "All My Life." Phene and I are the same age so his lyrics got me in a nostalgic state as well. The old days of playing Mario Kart, Golden Eye, WWF Revenge, and Zelda on the N64 for hours at at time. BBallin' it up on the court until the sun set and then arguing over Jordan, Barkley, Malone, Ewing, and The Dream. Playing Man Hunt, eathing only cereal and ramen, riding our trick bikes to the mall...the good ole days lol.

"Heard about the fight, so we all at the park
used to stay up all night playing mariokart
a goldeneye, i had the golden gun
so if you want some imma put a hole in son"

1on1: DJ Unexpected (Jay Z & Big Daddy Kane) vs. DJ Rondevu (Nas & Rakim)

LISTEN
DJ Unexpected-Under the Influence (Jay Z & Big Daddy Kane)

DJ Rondevu-God Brothers 2 (Nas & Rakim)


LINKS
http://www.myspace.com/djunexpectedbx1
http://thediggersunion.com/
http://www.myspace.com/djrondevu

http://www.djrondevu.com/

Not too many people checked out last week's 1 on 1 but hopefully you're all ready for this week's DOPPEE MATCHUP between 2 DJs who are at the top of the game. DJ Unexpected's tapes have the dopest concepts and he consistently pushes the boundaries of creativity. He's known for his "Look what I found" sample and break tapes, Recycled Material remix tapes, and insane artist tapes (50 Cent: The Undertaker, Busta & Ludacris: Animaniacs). DJ Rondevu is a veteran DJ who doesn't drop your average commercial blend tape but crafts blends and remixes strictly for the raw hip hop fan (Four Horsemen, Knights of the Roundtable, and Napalm series).

Now to the matchup. Nas, the street poet, and Jay Z, the former hustler, are arguably the top 2 hip hop artists of all time. Nas is the verbal assasin who can string together words and stories like no other. Hov, on the otherhand, is the hit king. He's all about the swagger and flow and his songs have been consistenly at the top of the charts. However, as Esco said "No Idea's Original" and neither were their different styles. They were both strongly influenced by two other legends who paved the way for them to become two of the most successful rappers ever. DJ Rondevu showcases Nas and his biggest influcence RAKIM on "God Brothers2" with the 2 going bar for bar on classic songs, blends and remixes while DJ Unexpected showcases how BIG DADDY KANE paved the way for Jay Z.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ON THE TOP OF THE RIGHT SIDEBAR (OR JUST LISTEN AND ENJOY THE 2 TAPES)

MIXTAPE OF THE WEEK: DJ Muggs-Rock Superstar

MIXTAPE OF THE WEEK

DJ Muggs-Rock Superstar
LISTEN

LINKS
http://www.djmuggs.com/
http://www.myspace.com/djmuggs
http://soulassassins.com/

The FIRST full mashup tape I ever heard. After one listen I was absolutely hooked. When Biggie's "Dead Wrong" dropped over Led Zepplin's "Whole Lotta Love" I couldn't believe that shit. Once Eminem dropped his childhood memories from "Cleaning Out My Closet" over the Eagles' "Hotel California" I was a straight addict. This tape had some crazy combinations and was way ahead of its time. In addtion, I was pretty much a close-minded hip hop junkie but this tape actually pushed me to check out a lot of the rock tracks that served as instrumentals to hip hop's biggest stars. DJ Muggs is one of the originators of the mashup and this tape will mos def go down as a mashup mixtape classic.

TRACK OF THE WEEK: Paragon & Merari-Taken for Granted

TRACK OF THE WEEK
Paragon, Merari, & ?????-Taken for Granted

LISTEN


LINKS
http://www.crowncitymedia.net/
http://www.myspace.com/crowncityrecords
GRAB THE FULL TAPE HERE

Finally gave a listen to Crown City's "Pangea" tape and DAMNNN!! Wasn't expecting that type of tape at all. I've listened to tracks from Camiliano, Willie Maze, and Evil Eye as well as the DRAMA initiative tape and I was expecting some raw lyrics and beats but I was pleasantly surprised with the tone of this tape. You still got some raw lyrics which will rip other emcee to shreds on the first half of the tape but the rest are on some introspective, story-telling, and reality ridden ish. The beats are more sonic and melodic with what I always like to refer to as an "epic" feel. Tracks like "Different World," "Destined to Be,"The Truth,"Like You Used To", and "Legacy" made my day as I needed to rid my system of the Black Eyed Peas boom boom trash which was playing on the radio all day as I was running some errands with no CD in the ride.

My favorite track (at the moment anyway) is "Taken for Granted." Not sure who spits the first verse but the simple but effective lyrics fit like a glove over KP's instrumental. Merari also puts the finishing touch on the track with her powerful vocals (had me thinking of Jill Scott when she sings "my strength, my time...") and you got yourself this week's track of the week.

"You see the best things in life are the simplest things
but we tend to take for granted the feeling it brings
waking up another day with a chance to make history
thinking of another way to crack life's mystery
we overlook our health, the fact that we're still alive
take a day for granted when tomorrow might not arrive
thats the reason why, cause you never know
believe what makes you happy is rigth there under your nose
and yea it just goes to show, you prob heard this before
but its like the saying goes,
you never miss the water till the well runs dry
finally understand love when your elders die
a precious friendship or a a significant other
a blessing brough from god or a hug from your mother
the love from your folks, now whats stronger than that
y'all better appreciate this before its no longer there"

1on1: Mekka Don-Life Goes On vs. Joell Ortiz-Rican Ebonics 09'

LINKS

http://www.mekkadon.com/
http://www.myspace.com/joellortiz

Mekka Don-Life Goes On (2PAC TRIBUTE)

Joell Ortiz-Rican Ebonics 09' (BIG L TRIBUTE)

Two young cats paying tribute to two fallen legends. You have Mekka Don: an educated young man who gave up a high profile law firm job to pursue his passion of hip hop. He has the intelligence (and even a bit of the voice) of 2Pac and created a whole tape with Mick Boogie paying homage to Pac and President Obama. Then you have Joell Ortiz: a street cat who didn't go to school and just spits straight lyrics as raw they come. Who better to recreate Big L's classic "Ebonics" with a 2009 refix? Both emcees capture the essence of the originals: Pac's spiritual and emotional side on "Life Goes On" versus Big L's legendary punchlines and lyrics.

Take a listen & vote for your favorite on the poll in the top right