I’m not entirely sure what time period this is from, but judging by the tracklisting, I’d guesstimate around ’96 or ’97. This one is really rare, I’ve found no traces of a copy of this floating on the net. EQed as properly as possible.
CONTINUE READING
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
First leak off the MA-based producer’s upcoming ReCon mixtape; which will contain a collection of mid-90′s underground classics being remixed by Confidence and mixed by Belgium’s European DMC Champion, DJ Grazzhoppa.
DOWNLOAD: Lord Finesse – Brainstorm (Confidence Remix) f. KRS-One & O.C. | MF
There’s a reason why he’s called The Funkyman. Can you dig it?
Photo via: upnorthtrips.com
First of all, shame on Bad Boy management* for not trying harder at getting these pressed up and out to the masses back when it meant more. Instead, we had to wait nearly a decade to hear this. *Refer to Industry Rule #4080. Now on to the music. First up, we have the demo version of Come On (Motherfuckers) produced by DITC’s Lord Finesse. Originally released on Finesse’s Rare Selections V. 1 in 2008, Japanese label Soundtable repressed these on a double-sided 12″. As expected, Finesse’s version beasts on Clark Kent’s, so much to the point that listening to the Born Again version is nearly unbearable, as is practically the entire album. Just imagine if this version was a part of the official tracklist for Ready To Die; a whole ‘nother echelon!
Next up is the original version of Think Big by Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard which unfortunately barely saw the light of day (with the exception of a few test presses that made it out) due to sample clearance issues. Although I was hardly a fan of Pudgee, all three emcees went in and did their thing. A few years later, Biggie was replaced by Sadat X and the Donny Hathaway sample (props to KN) stripped, with production handled by someone else. For more behind-the-scenes info, read the official review here.
DOWNLOAD: Biggie – Come On f. Sadat X (Demo Version) (prod. Lord Finesse) | Mediafire
DOWNLOAD: Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard – Think Big f. Lord Tariq & Biggie (prod. Minnesota) | Mediafire
In the next installment of Grind Music Radio’s sit down with The Funky Man, Finesse breaks down the story behind Dre’s The Message which he explains was originally for himself and how he wasn’t able to shut Dre down on taking the beat, as well as working with Biggie, including their first record together; the Party & Bullshit remix.
In Part 2 of Grind Music Radio’s interview with the legendary DITC leader, Lord Finesse explains how Diggin In The Crates crew came together, from the early days of Diamond D’s Ultimate Force all the way up to (Big) L’s signing.
PREVIOUS: Lord Finesse Interview pt. 1 (Video)
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.
While not a rarity, this little gem right here defines the true essence of that classic 90s sound, and more specifically, the distinct D.I.T.C. sound. Lord Finesse’s S.K.I.T.S. (Shorties Kaught Up In The System) was the B-side to J.R. Swinga’s Chocolate City on Mad Sounds Recordings. The two above tracks were also featured on the 1994 compilation, State of Emergency: Society In Crisis Vol. 1. J.R. Swinga (now known as J.R. Hutson) studied under the infamous Teddy Riley, which led to work with 90′s R&B heavy hitters Zhane and Boyz II Men. Fast forward, freeze frame on today, he’s best known for producing Musiq’s Sobeautiful and three tracks on Jill Scott’s The Real Thing: Words And Sounds Vol. 3 including, Crown Royal. As a bonus, I’ve included Pharcyde’s My Soul which was featured on the State of Emergency: Society In Crisis Vol. 1 compilation.
DOWNLOAD: Lord Finesse – S.K.I.T.S. | J.R. Swinga – Chocolate City | Pharcyde – My Soul
PREVIOUS: (2)Deep: The Fugees – Rumble In The Jungle f. ATCQ x Busta Rhymes x John Forte
Media Gasface catches up with Lord Finesse and Ogee (of D.I.T.C.) to talk about L’s passing 11 years ago.
The building you see behind Ogee (at 0:56) has been Lamont Coleman’s home for the fast 24 years he lived : 104W 139th Street. The park where we stand is the place where he used to hang out and rhyme at with his friends from the Children of the Corn (COC) crew : Cam’ron, Ma$e, McGruff and Bloodshed. 11 years ago, at 8:30 pm, Big L was shot and killed a block away from here, on 45 W 139th . In the heart of what he used to call the Danger Zone.
PREVIOUS: Big L – Put It On (Video)
If it wasn’t for this place, Lord Finesse never would’ve fucked wit Dr.Dre on 2001. A crossroad for all loop diggers and disco fiends. Alphabet City’s A1 Records gets weekly visits from the likes of Pete Rock, DJ Premier, but also LCD soundsystem and many other producers and deejays from all fields. That being said, none of them ever had access to what you’re about to see… Mind the step!
And once again, Gasface comes through with some (2)dope material.
As the day starts to wind down, here goes two D-Block joints to pick ya’ll back up. Shouts to DJ OP.
DOWNLOAD: Styles P – Dirty Money f. Bully | Mediafire
DOWNLOAD: Sheek Louch & Lord Finesse – I Know You Missed Me | Mediafire
