O.C. & Apollo’s Trophies project is easily one of my new favorite LPs of the year. Authentic rap. Make sure to cop it digitally, on wax or CD.

PREVIOUS: OC (of DITC) – People’s Champ (prod. Apollo Brown)

You heard the instrumental. Today, Show drops off visuals for the cut off Show’s instrumental LP, Still Diggin available on iTunes now. The vid has old DITC footage mixed in with some modern visuals, including Show doing what he does (second) best (diggin).

PREVIOUS: Showbiz & A.G. – The Bond

NYC legend, Showbiz of Showbiz & AG and DITC is releasing “Still Diggin: Volume 1″ dropping on April 24th via DITC Records. It’s an instrumental album of 18 tracks and is the prelude to upcoming new music from Showbiz & AG.

Today, enjoy the free download for the song “The Cloth” featured on “Still Diggin: Volume 1.”

Nice!

DOWNLOAD: Showbiz & A.G. – The Cloth (Instrumental)
PREVIOUS: Showbiz & A.G. – South Bronx Sh*t (prod. Showbiz)

Ahh shit, I know Justice is gonna be psyched for this one! Detroit’s Apollo Brown is linking up with the legendary DITC member for 16-tracks of no nonsense hip hop w/ Trophies, dropping March 27th via Mello Music Group.

Preme and DITC veteran Showbiz sit down at HeadQcourterz Studios to talk the upcoming Show & AG album, Mugshot Music which is executive produced by Preme. Preme talks about his versatility in production, from producing for Christina Aguilera to Madonna. They build on who will be featured on the LP, and yes, Premo will have a joint on there. It wouldn’t be a DITC album without one. From the leaks we’ve heard so far, it has a very different sound than some of the dustier, 90s DITC material, but still with that same, raw, gritty soundscape that they’re known for. Mugshot Music coming soon. Peace to DPB on the head’s up.

You gotta give it up these dudes. This shit is fucking HARDROCK music. Hereʻs the third leak off Show & A.G.ʻs upcoming LP, Mugshot Music which is being executive produced by DJ Premier. With Show & Andre, expect nothing but hard knocking drums, samples and rhymes; add DJ Premier to the mix and you know the chances of this shit sucking is damn near zero. Spotted at DJPB.

DOWNLOAD: Showbiz & A.G. – Here and Now (prod. Showbiz) | Mediafire
PREVIOUS: Showbiz & A.G. – God Is 4 Us (prod. Showbiz)

Here’s a short clip of one of the DITC founders and super producer Diamond D spinning 45s at Shadow Lounge in PA as well as retelling some of his recent favorite digging stories. Peace to Semantik.

New Show & A.G.? Damn sure to make this dinosaur smile. This is a lot tougher than the previous leak, Suspended Animation. Turns out, the new Show & A.G. album will not be titled Suspended Animation, but Mugshot Music; and will be executive produced by DJ Premier. Props to DJPB. UPDATE: Just got word from DJ Eclipse that the song is actually called God Is 4 Us. Please update your mp3 tags accordingly.

DOWNLOAD: Showbiz & A.G. – God Is 4 Us (prod. Showbiz) | Mediafire

Complex recently sat down with the Diggin In the Crates producer and picked his brain for some interesting stories behind some of his classic production. A few highlights:

On Biggie’s I Got a Story To Tell:

“That was originally meant for Foxy. Tone from Trackmasters picked the beat for Foxy, and Foxy heard it, then she said, ‘It’s the worst beat I heard in my life.’ But you can’t knock it because Foxy’s album is so dope and has so many hits on it. So fast forward to next year. Biggie does the song, Foxy comes in, she hears it, and goes, ‘Big, this got to be the best record on your album.’ And then I called Tone and said, ‘Yo, this the same beat I gave Foxy. I thought you said she didn’t like it.’ Tone was just like, ‘Man, don’t pay attention to her.’ [Laughs.]

On Black Rob’s Whoa:

“Lenny S gave the beat to Jay-Z, then Memphis Bleek, then Amil, and then other people. They all passed on it. So Rob does the record and a week later I walk into Def Jam, I hear Lenny playing the record going, ‘I told ya’ll this record is going to be crazy! All ya’ll niggas slept on this record.’ That record kind of brought Bad Boy back.”

On Big Pun’s Dream Shatterer (Original Mix:

“I remember we went to Mystic Studio in Staten Island. He went inside the booth and sat on a stool, and just breathed fire through the whole song. I’ve never seen him finish a song without doing punches.”

On Terror Squad (Armageddon’s) Pass Away [Sidenote: I always told those around me who thought Geddy was trash to listen to this joint]:

“That was Armageddon’s record. Fat Joe said that record was about him. I don’t know if it is, but…”

Read the full thing here.

PREVIOUS: (2)Deep: Buckwild – 12.12.1992 (Mixtape)

Not to be confused with this remix (though I like that version more), this track will be found on Buckwild’s upcoming Buckwild Presents EP, featuring a bunch of “then-and-now” tracks from the D.I.T.C. producer’s legendary career.

DOWNLOAD: Kool G Rap – Fast Life (Buckwild Remix) f. Nas | Mediafire

Enjoy this brief but dated bio-doc on The Funky Man. Props to cratesofjr.blogspot.com for the upload.

DOWNLOAD: Lord Finesse – Keep the Crowd Listening (DJ Premier Remix) | MF

The capo of the Diggin In The Crates crew reminisces about working with the late Keith “Guru” Elam, from the Wild Pitch days to more recently, as well as being influenced by Show(biz) & Premo. Lord Finesse > your favorite MC / producer (right after Pete Rock). Props to Young Sav.