TURNTABLE LAB

J. Dilla
Dillanthology Vol.3 CD

classic Dilla production

Third and final installment of in the Dillanthology. Whereas the first volume focused on his best known producton for other artists and the second on focused on his remixes, this one gives shine to Jay Dee's best solo work. Many of the tracks featured are from his last few years on this planet with highlights from Welcome To Detroit, his Jaylib collab with Madlib, his final masterpiece Donuts,as well as tracks from posthumous releases The Shining, Jay Stay Paid and Ruff Draft. Can't front on any of these beats. This is classic material you can bump from beginning to end. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
stones throw shop

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Madlib
Madlib Medicine Show No.1: Before The Verdict CD

raw beats from Madlib and raps by Guilty Simpson

Madlib is ready to take 2010 by storm. The blunted beat monster has promised to drop 12(!) CDs this year, one every month for the ENTIRE YEAR on his own Madlib Invazion imprint. Talk about a tall order, but if anyone can deliver on something as crazy as this it would be Madlib! This is the first of the one-a-month, 12 CD series (odd numbers in the series are original albums, even numbers are mixtapes), and features Madlib droppin' his signature rough and rugged beats for Detroit's premier rough and rugged MC, Guilty Simpson. The two smash through 17 tracks of raw, unadulterated hip-hop with only two guest spots - one from MED and one from J Dilla (a previously unreleased interlude from the Jaylib sessions). Many of the tracks are dubbed as "OJ Simpson" remixes, foreshadowing the 'Lib & Guilty collab album of the same name coming out in the near future. Heavyweight hip-hop material.
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
stones throw shop

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MF Doom
Expektoration Live CD

MF Doom in concert

A live MF Doom album (and yes, it's really him, not some "DOOMmposter" that he supposedly sent to lip-sync at shows) featuring materials (mostly) from Operation Doomsday, Madvillainy, and MM...Food. It was recorded at B.B. King's in New York, but there is no telling when; judging from the tracks he's performing, however, we would guess sometime around '04 or '05. Doom's rhyming style that's prevalent in his studio albums is replaced by more hyped, lively delivery of lyrics, and the awesome crowd response (like how they sing along to "Hoe Cakes") coupled with DJ Big Benn Klingon's backing of the MC really make this CD a worthwhile listen. Divided into Act 1 and 2, with a brief Star Trek-inspired intermission in the middle.
reviewed by NI


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MF Doom
Special Blends, Vol.1&2 2CD

classic hip-hop acapellas over Special Herbs beats

Before mash-ups, there were the Special Blends. Problem was that this Doom side project was impossible to track down. Now thanks to Nature Sounds we get a new volume, plus the sought after volume 1, all on this 2 disc set. For Doom huggers the amount of material here is staggering, 27 tracks, chock full of smog inducing, air freshening beats. The acapellas Doom selects stay away from the obvious for the most part, and at multiple times he hits unlikely favorite spots in my hip-hop crate. The end result is enlightening, like reviewing the last 10 years of hip-hop through the eyes of mask. No need to go through each track, I'll just point out some winners: D'Angelo(1), Big Pun(2), Erykah Badu(3), MOP(4), De La Soul(5), MC Lyte(6), Raekwon(7), Lil Vicious(8), Method Man(9), and Cash Money(10).
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Nas & MF Doom
Nastradoomus Vol.1&2 2CD

complete collection of Nas/Doom blends

The complete collection of Nas/Doom blends packed on two discs (both volumes 1 and 2). You know the deal here - razor sharp instrumentals from Metal Fingers Doom (mostly from his Special Herbs series) and acapellas from Olu Dara's son, blent to perfection by the villain himself. If you missed the vinyl bootlegs when they were around, this is probably you best bet to score. Features "If I Ruled The World (1)," "Nastradoomus(2)," "Last Words(3)," "Project Windows(4)," "One Love(5)," "The Flyest Angels(6)," "It Ain't Hard To Tell(7)," "Hate Me Now(8)" and "I Can(9)," and plenty more. 24 tracks total.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Ol' Dirty Bastard
Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version 2CD Boxset

deluxe edition of classic Ol' Dirty album

This is how you do a re-issue. Ol' Dirty Bastard's Return To The 36 Cahmbers receives the "Dirty Version" treatment, which means a lot of extras in addition to the classic album. First of all, here is the original review of Return To: "The One Man Army Ason has become one of the most misunderstood and maligned artists of our time. All you got to do is give the man a chance cuz he's one of the most human mcs out there. Some people just don't understand the beauty of two straight minutes of making that croaking noise with your throat. Live and uncut when you feel the earth tremble beneath your balls. For real though, this album is a slept on classic like a second round draft pick steal. RZA's production is untouchable on here matching the Dirty style perfectly with the two singles "Brooklyn Zoo(1)" and "Shimmy Shimmy(2)," plus "Hippa to the Hoppa(3)," "Baby C'mon(4)," "The Stomp(5)" and of course everybody's favorite: "Rawhide(6)" with Meth and Raekwon. ODB is for the Children." Now to the other content, the pack includes disc two, which includes various remixes as well as instrumental versions of the tracks on the full-length. The two cds come housed in a custom deluded bill fold wallet, which includes a promotional sticker and a LAMINATED FOOD STAMP CARD! You'll also find a vintage "On Tour" poster and a booklet featuring extended artwork, liner notes, milestones and accolades. Highly recommended.
reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
special edition + deluxe

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V/A
Juice!, Vol.1 (A-Trak, Curtis Vodka, Kid Sister) CD

French vs. North America heater pack!!! Disque Primeur brings the best and brightest club dance buzz-getters of this and last year. Check the value - it's like getting all these singles plus some hot sleepers. Everyone know Kid Sister's ultra catchy single "Control(1)," Curtis Vodka's smooth Bmore flip of Tyte Wurk's "Mary Jane(2)" and Plastic Little's tongue in cheek hipster-hop hit "The Jumpoff(3)," but have you heard A-Trak & TTC's "Quitte La Piste(4)" or Goon & Koyote's super hype "Keep Dancin(5)?" How about the hyper guitar rock of Fortune's "Bully(6)" and the addictive dancey sounds of Strip Steve's "Skatin'(7)." Also includes tracks by NY natives Purple Crush and Roxy Cottontail, and Australia's mighty Midnight Juggernauts. Pretty much the most bangers for your buck you can get.
reviewed by Cmish


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Viktor Vaughn (MF Doom)
Vaudeville Villain (w/ Instrumental Bonus Disc) 2CD

classic Doom album plus bonus gold-colored cd of instrumentals, acapellas + rarities

Here is the 2-CD Gold Edition of Vaudeville Villain, which includes the classic album in its entirety (including two bonus tracks "Open Mic Night" and "Change The Beat") as well as a bonus gold-colored CD of instrumentals, acapellas and other rarities! Fans of the metal faced villain probably already know this album inside and out, but for those who slept on it, here's some background. Vaudeville Villain was originally released back in 2003 and found Doom reincarnated as the mad scientist Viktor Vaughn. The signature quick-witted, tongue tying rhymes are there (and entertaining as hell as usual), but this time the villain lets other producers take the reigns on the beats (which isn't a bad thing in this case). Featuring production from King Honey, Heat Sensor, Max Bill and RJD2, the album explores next level electronica and downtempo influenced beats that are a perfect compliment to Doom's conceptual flow. This is now the definitive version of the album and will definitely sell out quickly, so act fast! Recommended.
reviewed by Von Bee

file under:
special edition + deluxe

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