TITLE: Dancehall Style
ARTIST: Horace Andy
LABEL: Bullwackie's 1982

" One of my favorite reggae records: early eighties reggae at its best. The singing is dope as always from Horace, but the production really takes you somewhere else. Heavy, heavy dubs from Wackie's sound run the entire album. Wackie's production was based out of New York and was really at it's height during this time, producing some excellent sides for such stars as Horace and Wayne Jarret. "

TITLE: Tonight's the Night
ARTIST: Redman
LABEL: Def Jam 1993

" A classic by Redman off his first album. Great horn riff and production by Eric Sermon/Def Squad. One of the best hip-hop party tracks ever. Head nodder in all situations. And for such a popular tune it's pretty hard to find.

TITLE: Zodiac Blowfly
ARTIST: Blowfly
LABEL: Weird World

" One of the funniest covers ever. The music is straight funk and that's dope in the first place, but then you listen to his lyrics and it's all about getting smoothies and crazy stuff. Definitely uncensored, for mature audiences only. Funny as hell, a 70's 2 Live Crew with funk accompanyment.

TITLE: Upside Down
ARTIST: Fela Anikulapu Kuti And Africa 70
LABEL: London 1977

" All of Fela's records are excellent up to the early eighties, so it was tough to choose, but this is very dear to me. The title track is really incredible. His political message was always very strong, but what he says and the way he puts it in the song is so powerful. Everything is being turned upside down. And his singing is great. He is known as the African James Brown, and he took all the good things out of American funk and added that African vibe- the singing, and the drums. It's just insane. "

TITLE: Children's Story
ARTIST: Slick Rick
LABEL: Def Jam 1988

" All-time classic, very difficult to find on original vinyl. Smooth beats and the smoothest rapper ever. A story which should be told to all children. Some children just play in the wrong fashion. Uncle Ricky? "

TITLE: Best Dressed Chicken in Town
ARTIST: Dr Alimantado
LABEL: Greensleeves 1978

" Every track on here has a really different vibe and they're all hitting so hard. Some rhythms are slow and creeping, heavy, some faster. Alimantado stays right there…My favorite song is "Plead I Cause"- superior, superior quality organ. The production is incredible, very unique sounds by Black Ark, King Tubby's, and Randy's. Also Greensleeves first album release. "

TITLE: S/T
ARTIST: ESG
LABEL: 99 Records 1980

" I first heard about this group pretty recently. I was listening to the radio a few years ago and I heard this one song called "Earn It" [which is on this lp]. I was looking for the record for a long time. I finally found it and when I listened to it I realized that these guys also did the famous "UFO", which has been sampled by everybody, but made famous by Big Daddy Kane's "Ain't No Half Steppin". Every drum break on the record is good, very hard. It's a great, strange album from the early eighties New York scene. "

TITLE: Moog Indigo
ARTIST: Jean Jacques Perrey
LABEL: Vanguard 1970

" It's amazing how this guy could have done this on the moog, in France, in the early seventies. He's a classically trained pianist and this is like space music, funked out. The famous track on here is Eva, sampled by Premier for "Just to Get a Rep". It's crazy, like listening to something from the year 3017, out there. "

TITLE: Si Dieu Veut
ARTIST: Fonky Family
LABEL: Cote Obscur 1997

" Obviously, me being French, I had to represent a little bit. Probably my favorite hip hop album ever. All of the guys in the group are Arab and they bring that sensibility to the record. First of all, the beats are really dope and very original. But it's the lyrics are incredible. Reality, powerful lyrics, not about guns or any stupid content. Just an eagle's eye view on everything, contemplating society and just seeing what's going on. Contrary to most French hip-hop [from Paris], they have a totally original sound, drawing from their own surroundings rather than imitating American styles. "

TITLE: APC Tracks 1
ARTIST: Bill Laswell
LABEL: APC 1995

" I really respect Bill Laswell and all of his work/history. To me, he is one of the last people making real dub music. This album is just amazing from beginning to end. You could chill to it, work to it or do anything and it doesn't stop you from doing things, but at the same time it captivates mind and imagination. The owner of the clothing store/record label APC plays the guitar and hooked up with Bill Laswell to do this album. "

I wouldn't wipe my ass with your kung fu!
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