More Reasons Why Being Deaf Sucks/Rocks

Ok, so just over a year ago Nick Salemi began his amazing Five Disc Mixtape Series which compiled the best the East Coast had to offer in the mid 90’s (specifically 1994/95). I often put them in and just reminisce. You should really check it out before you go too much further.
Disc One :: Disc Two :: Disc Three :: Disc Four :: Disc Five

Now clearly Nick has a pretty all encompassing mix here. However, being a fan of the same era myself there were a few songs that I felt were missing from the mix. And now, after a year of trying desperately to actually find 18 songs that I thought warranted placement with Nick’s selections, I present my attempt at creating an addendum to Nick’s Mid 90’s East Coast Mix.

(Bear in mind, my mix has some artists with two songs on it. Ideally these songs would have been naturally incorporated into Nick’s original mix spread them out a bit.

1. The ArtifactsWrong Side of Da Tracks
This is the song that made me fall in love with The Artifacts. The beat is sick. I mean I’m still diggin’ this beat to this day. Anyway, the song is about graffiti, one of the aspects of Hip Hop that’s not really easy to incorporate into song. But the Artifacts do a pretty job and make a dope song.

2. The RootsThe Lesson
Nick included Proceed & Proceed II, but I think that this deserves to be in the mix. It’s a essentially a freestyle over a beat box. It was rare in 1994 and even more rare over a decade later. Great song.

3. KuriousI’m Kurious
I’m really upset that Kurious didn’t do too much after his debut. I really dug it. This is a type of “reflective” song that was coming into fashion in the mid 90’s, with Kurious getting kind of introspective on the mic. And c’mon, he even gives his dog a shout out. That alone gets him a slot.

4. Digable PlanetsGraffiti
After dropping a huge crossover debut, the Planets came back with an amazing, if less commercially successful, sophomore album. This track was dark and murky, in contrast to their perceived image. It also features the then current “hot” MC; Jeru the Damaja.

5. The BeatnutsAre You Ready
Everyone should know that I love the Beatnuts. Of course I was going find a way to put them on my addendum. It was really difficult to pick which song, but this one made it. It features Grand Puba, at the top of his game. Sick beat, fun rhymes, what more do you want?

6. Big LMVP
RIP Big L. This joint from his debut, had the unfortunate timing of riding the same sample as the One More Chance remix (DeBarge’s Stay With Me). Still the beat is more menacing, less suave and L rips it. Damn, just listening to this song again makes me miss him that much more.

7. The ArtifactsC’mon Wit Da Get Down
The Artifacts return with a more buoyant beat and lighter, yet equally precise lyrical fare. This was their second single and probably got more play. Tame and El were doing their damnedest to give New Jersey some Hip Hop cred.

8. Grand PubaA Little of This
Nick doesn’t dig Puba’s lyrics, but I do. This song is vintage Puba. It’s another laid back track just like I Like It (which made Nick’s mix). I don’t think that Puba’s skills are that horrendous and this track will made your head nod.

9. The RootsDistortion To Static
This was The Roots first single and it got me open. I remember watching BET hoping they’d play this video. It had a sound unlike anything on the air at the time. There were so many elements that begged for attention; the laughing in the background, the actual live elements. This is the song that made me a fan of The Roots for life.

10. A Tribe Called QuestElectric Relaxation
This was the song that had everyone open. This was definitely a “lay up on the couch with your girl” type of song. I still pump this instrumental! It had the video in black and white (which meant “classy” back then). And doesn’t everyone know Q-tip’s opening couplet? Classic!

11. KuriousUptown Sh!t
Now this was a track that just had that party vibe. This was right around when the “party song” was becoming a “must have” on every album. It stands out because he’s repping someplace other than BK, BX and QU.

12. BahamadiaUknowhowwedu
Am I the only one who picked up Bahamadia’s debut? Was I the only one who noticed how this inspired Lil’ Kim’s Crush on You? I’ll admit that part of my reason for diggin’ this song is the association with The Roots, but I still can’t think of this period without having this song somewhere.

13. Digable Planets9th Wonder (Blackitolism)
This beat was ill. This is yet another instrumental that I continue to bump to this day. This first single off of Blowout Comb was such a departure from their “cool like dat” days that it probably frightened some folks away. This is raw uncut Hip Hop.

14. GravediggazDiary of a Madman
To me this is the best of the Gravediggaz cuts. It really captured the essence of what they were trying to do. This track has an eerie beat features off kilter flows with some creepy content. I think I still know the lyrics to this song. Man, I love tripping down memory lane.

15. Pete Rock & C.L. SmoothAll The Places
This was my favorite song off of The Main Ingredient. I dig the banjo. I dig the “cool out” vibe. It’s chill Pete Rock beat, with C.L. rhyming. You really can’t ask for more.

16. Big LPut It On
This song was my introduction to L. It really opened my ears to him, and I’m better for it. Sure some of the references are dated (by a decade) but what L’s spitting is still sick and probably better than half of MC’s on the radio now. And it’s got a classic D.I.T.C. shout out at the end.

17. The BeatnutsLet Off a Couple
Every mix needs some humor, if only to provide balance. And who better to do this than The ‘Nuts? No one. This track barely qualifies as a song, yet has one of The Beatnut’s best beats. It’s a hilarious track.

18. Wu TangShaolin Brew
We close with a St. Ides commercial. Y’see back in the 90’s some of the hottest things on the radio were St. Ides commercials. This one features the Wu hawking malt liquor, and its dope.

And there you have it. No disrespect to Nick, whose mix was almost perfect. I just thought that there were some other songs that deserved inclusion.

1994

Aaron claims to have a fever. But the least he could do is make it musical (maybe 112 degrees?) He makes up for the lack of the aforementioned Nick by including IMs with Joe Reid.

Jeff had a weird dream last week. He also admits to having both a Pringlesâ„¢ addiction and OCD (we at IP Music are planning an intervention for the new year, second quarter).

KDP dealt with a fanatic.

Gloomchen trumpets the virtues of keeping your ears open.

1996

Ian has good news for Radiohead fans, and news for David Cross fans.

Phil concludes his history of Gangstarr.

Five Artists Whose Follow Ups Shawn Carter Needs To Release

1. Freeway
2. Juelz Santana
3. Joe Budden
4. Ghostface
5. Memphis Bleek (I keed, I keed)