Guest Mix Series and a Nice Write Up

I know that I normally do not post up on Thursdays, but today is a special occasion. It’s been two weeks in a row that I got some shine here in the blogosphere from some good people. Eric over at Dirt Castle was kind enough to put me up with the big boys and their mixes last week, and Evan Mix of Listen In did a feature on FMF yesterday. It definitely excites me that this blog is getting out there to people that are as passionate about this music as I am. Big Ups to all of you, and more great things to come here in the future.

Which leads me to the following announcement: The Flea Market Funk Guest DJ Series is about to kick off at the end of this month. I told you I wanted to do something special for the first year anniversary, so I decided to combine that with my rapid approach to 200,000 hits (which is unbelievable, it seems that I was just at 100,000). I’ve sought out a bunch of people who have been contributing to this Funk and Soul game for a long time, as well as some of my peers, who definitely have some great music to share. This list is far from complete, but as of FMF time today, I had commitments from the following DJ’s:

-Cosmo Baker (The Rub)
-DJ Mr. Supreme (Soul Gorilla)
-Larry Grogan (Funky 16 Corners)
-Jason Perlmutter (Carolina Funk)
-DJ Bluewater (Bluewater Music)
-COOP (the Artist)
-Aaron Soma (Milwaukee, WI )
-DJ Prime (Prime Cuts Ltd.)

I’m pretty excited to start this off, and even more excited to bring some other DJs into the mix. I will keep you posted on the progress of the project and when exactly we’re gonna kick it off. Thanks for all the support and Keep Diggin’!

Shirley Scott - Soul Shoutin’

Shirley Scott - Soul Shoutin’ from the Prestige Records Lp of the same title

With all this inclement weather coming my way this week, I thought I’d put some music out there that reminded me of a sunny Spring day. It’s music like this, that I can listen to anytime, but what really makes me feel like I’m hanging out on a day with no rain. I’ve been buying up everything I can find out in the field from this woman. It’s this kind of Jazz that I featured on The Real Roast Mix previously. So, no matter where you are, let Shirley Scott give you a bit of “Soul Shoutin’ ” with Stanley Turrentine on Prestige Records.

Born in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, PA in 1934, Shirley Scott would start out her musical career by playing the piano and trumpet. However, she’d make that progression to the B-3 Hammond, in the vein of maestro Jimmy Smith, and turn be one of the most notable female Jazz organists around. A Philadelphia Jazz scene veteran, Scott would often play with a younger John Coltrane. She caught the eye of Basie alum Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, and her recording career began. Scott and Davis would record many a record, most recognized for their 1958 hit “In the Kitchen”. Her career was long and she recorded for all the big labels: Prestige, Impulse, Cadet, Atlantic, Strata East, and much later in her career, Muse and Candid. She would marry saxophone great Stanley Turrentine, where she would make most of her greatest music with. Scott stood out, not only because she was female, but because her mastery of of the organ and versatile playing of Jazz, Blues, Gospel, and eventually a newer genre called Soul Jazz. The organ’s popularity would soon fade out, but regain it’s popularity in the early 80’s. Masters like Groove Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Smith (who Scott was a great admirer of) would be back on the scene respectively, still tearing it up throughout the country. Despite their age, Soul Jazz had made a bit of resurgence, and these players were exposed to a whole new appreciative audience. Shirley Scott’s health would fail, as she would be involved with the drug fen-phen, eventually winning an $8 million lawsuit from the manufacturer before she succumbed to heart failure in 2002.

“Soul Shoutin’ ” is a brilliant piece of Soul Jazz for sure. Scott and Turrentine are both playing like they hadn’t a care in the world, almost if they were just happy playing as husband and wife. Drummer Grasella Oliphant (Grant Green, Bobby Hutcherson) keeps the time on the drums, while Earl May (Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Billy Taylor Trio) lends his massive bass skills to the quartet. It’s this organ sound, that really grabs me every time. The fact that it was recorded in Bergenfield, NJ, is also near and dear to me. I am proud to be from the Garden State, who has turned out some pretty damn good Funk, Soul, and Jazz musicians. The fact that Rudy Van Gelder recorded this thing doesn’t hurt either. I’d love to ask him about this session, but getting him to talk is like winning the lottery. I hope you enjoyed Mr. and Mrs. Turrentine doing their thing on this record. I’ll be back Friday with some more of the good stuff. Keep Diggin’!

**PS: Hopefully within the next week or too I’ll have some Flea Market Funk vinyl stickers. I will keep you posted. Put one on your portable turntable.

Counts - Funk

Counts - Funk from the Aware Records 45

Well we had a big turn in the weather this weekend. The Summer like conditions dropped back into the 50’s and brought rain, which deterred me from getting my dig on on Saturday morning. Not to worry though, I believe I have a few 7″ records that are piling up in my queue. This one is a recent purchase, and on second thought I should have bought both copies the guy was offering. I’m happy with this piece of Funk though, so much that I featured it as the first track on my collaboration with DJ Jack the Ripper, Funk and Soul for Losers. Get on down with The Counts, and an aptly entitled record, “Funk” from the Hotlanta Sound label Aware.

The Fabulous Counts, as they would start out as, were formed in 1968 in Detroit, Michigan. They were comprised of: Mose Davis (organ), Leroy Emanuel (guitar), Demo Cates (alto sax), Andrew Gibson (drums), Jim White (tenor sax) and Raoul Keith Mangrum (percussion). Typical story of the time, the band backs national acts while they come to town, plays locally and makes a name for themselves. They would eventually hook up with producer Richard “Popcorn” Wylie, who would record their classic “Jan Jan” on Detroit label (and Atlantic affiliate) Moira. Like so many of these bands, and god damn if it bums me out to keep hearing the same story over and over, the commercial interest for this urban, edgy, Funk band was slim. Detroit Funk would keep rolling though, and they would release one full length on Cotillion, Jan Jan, produced by Oliie McLaughlin. Their string of 7″s, “Get Down People/ Lunar Funk” and “Dirty Red” on Moira, “Pack of lies” on Westbound, and this line up and name changed 45 have solidified them with some cult staus among the diggers. Both of the full lengths on Cotillion and Westbound have been reissued, and they were featured on the What It Is! box set. As far as the Aware record label, it was started by Mike Thevis, and besides the cool owl and “Hotlanta Sound” tag line on the label, boasted such acts as Delia Gartrell, King Hannibal, Loleatta Hollaway, Deep Velvet, and the Counts among others.

“Funk” is the epitome of a description of the genre. If someone would ask me, what exactly is this Funk music you’re so crazy about? I feel confident I could pull out this gem (and definitely not their best) of a 45 and illustrate my point with it. Funky organ, check. Great wah-wah guitar, check. Midtempo funky ass beat, check. Inaudible mumbling and screaming at some point, check. Even though the Fabulous Counts changed their name, their location, and some of their players, they remained true to themselves and kept it funkay. It didn’t hurt that their publishing company was called Fudgie Lips, I mean if any of the members read this, please contact me, I need to know that story. See you midweek with some Soul Jazz organ. Keep Diggin’!

FMF 28: Funk & Soul FOR LOSERS: DJ Prestige and DJ Jack the Ripper

For those who have been following FMF since it’s inception, y’all know the deal. I like to do collaborations. In fact, this is the year of collaborations. I’m trying to do a week of collabos in the near future, and I will have some guest mixes which should make you very happy. For now though, I finally was able to pin down the elusive DJ Jack the Ripper. Here’s a low key kinda guy that has quietly made a niche for himself here in New Jersey, spinning dirty R&B, pre 1990 Hip Hop, Rockabilly, and heavy doses of Horace Andy. We have been talking about a joint mix for quite sometime, and over some Sly Fox Dunkel Lager, we whipped this baby up. I have to give Archie Shepp a nod, because his cover art is exactly what we needed. It’s all 45’s from start to finish, even the breaks inbetween. You see, people call us losers. Not just any losers, record losers, record nerds, vinyl heads, old record men, you name it. The thing is, we’re OK with that. Getting into records has been one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. It may not be a huge deal to many, but for guys like us, music is life, and we go to great lengths to preserve it, and get it out there to share with others. Which leads me to this: FMF Vol. 28: DJ Prestige & Jack the Ripper - Funk & Soul For Losers. Enjoy this trip, we’re taking the train. Next stop: Loserville, and along the way hear some drug references, blaxploitation tales, and kung fu fighting, but most of all, solid Deep Funk, Rare Grooves and Raw Soul 45’s. We’ll keep digging up the lost gems, and you keep listening.

FMF Vol. 28: DJ Prestige & Jack the Ripper - Funk & Soul FOR LOSERS Tracklist

1. Counts - Funk/ Aware
2. Clarence Paul & The Members - Operation Breadbasket (Part 1)/ Pride
3. Merced Blue Notes - Thompin’/ Galaxy
4. Vic Pitts Cheaters featuring Omar Dupree - Loose Boodie/ Jewel
5. The Zeet Band - Moogie Boogie/ Chess
6. Simtec & Wylie - Do It Like Mama/ Shama
7. Helen Shapiro - Woe Is Me/ Epic
8. Merced Blue Notes - Do The Pig/ Mammoth
9. Paul Humphrey & His Cool Aid Chemists - Funky L.A./ Lizard
10. The Electric Express - It’s The Real Thing-PT.1/ Linco
11. Dave Bartholomew - Junk Man/ Broadmoor
12. Harmon Bethea - She’s My Meat/ Musicor
13. Filthy McNasty - Filthy McNasty/ Filthy McNasty’s
14. Javier R. Rodrigez - Rumble/ Raw-Wax
15. Memphis Black - Why Don’t You Play The Organ Man/ Ascot
16. Wendy Rene - Bar-B-Q/ Stax
17. Brother Jack McDuff - Can’t Get Satisfied-Part 1/ Atlantic
18. Harold Burrage - Got To Find A Way/ M-Pac!
19. Assagai - Telephone Girl/ Vertigo
20. Marsha Gee - The Peanut Duck/ Joker

Download or Listen To FMF 28: Funk & Soul FOR LOSERS: DJ Prestige and DJ Jack the Ripper

Keep Diggin’!

Herbie Mann - Philly Dog

Herbie Mann - Philly Dog from the Atlantic Records 45

Here we are at midweek, and I had a great 45 to write up, however the info was really scarce. I thought I’d do a bit more scouring and searching before I just put it up. It’s something I think the FMF family will enjoy, so keep an ear out for that in the upcoming weeks. I was definitely down with the Augustus Pablo side from Monday, and if anyone can settle the flute vs. the recorder from that track, I’d surely appreciate it. Up today is an artist that I pretty much buy up anything I see from him. He is definitely a musician that has done some straight ahead as well as some funky stuff. Here’s Herbie Mann with “Philly Dog” on Atlantic Records.

Herbert Jay Solomon was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1930. He progressed from pots and pans, to a clarinet (after attending a Benny Goodman concert), to a saxophone, and ending up with the flute, an instrument he has been well known for throughout his career. He played gigs in the Catskills at 14, and played tenor in the Army. After his Army stint, he threw himself into the NYC music scene, only to be lumped in with many other sax players. When an opportunity arose to be one of only a handful of Jazz flute players, he jumped at the chance to be included on a Carmen McRae record. The rest is history. Along the way he played with quality notables, and after he decided to take up the flute, his added many a Latin percussionist: Willie Bobo, Candido, Ray Barretto, Potato Valdes and others. It was around this time he would put out Live At The Village Gate, which is one of my faves. He’d go on to tour Brazil and Africa with the State Department, which would filter into his music. Mann would play a variety of styles, incorporate popular music of the day, and collaborate with a lot of big players. From Roy Ayers to Chick Corea to David Newman to Bill Evans and beyond, Herbie Mann was the man. Mann would also be a producer, television music composer and arranger in his long career. His collaborations with Ayers to me are legendary, especially Memphis Underground. This is one record I can not get enough of. That will have to be for another write up. Throughout his career, he would record for Prestige, Savoy, Riverside, Bethlehem, and most notably Atlantic among others. Afetr he left Atlantic, he’d release records on his own label, but not before he would get a feel for even more genres, which would include Reggae, Pop, and Disco. Herbie Mann would die in 2003.

What we have here today is one of Herbie Mann’s many, many covers. Whether it was Brazillian, Funk, Jazz, or Soul, he could cover them better than the rest. It’s 1966, and Mann does a great version of Rufus Thomas’s classic. Mann has a great knack for putting out quality covers, all done with his own unique twist. I can’t give props enough to Herbie Mann and his Jazz flute. If you had mixed feelings about the man and his music, give it a try, you’ll be glad you did. I’ll be back Friday with a joint mix collaboration with Jack the Ripper called funk & soul For Losers. Keep Diggin’!

Rockers All Stars - Jah Dub

Rockers All Stars - Jah Dub from the Rockers International Lp Chanting Dub With the help of the Father

This weekend has definitely been a busy one. With the No Half Steppin’ Party I did with Jack the Ripper, a Red Bull match (a draw at that), and Sunday’s Hazlet Record Show, I wanted to slow down a bit. Before I push on, I wanted to give a shout out to the good people over at Dirt Castle. I’m honored that they would put the Flea Market Funk Vol. 1 Mix on their site along side DJ’s I’ve looked up to for years. Guys like Pete Rock, Kon and Amir, J-Rocc, Miles Tackett, and many, many more. It’s a good feeling to know that all this craziness with records and mixes can get out there. Good Look guys. On that note, here’s some Monday Reggae to get your week started. Say hello to The Rockers All Stars with “Clean Sweep” on Rockers International Records from 1978.

I bought this record from Psyche Dave, who has been kind of slow in the record game as of late. If I see him at the Spot, I usually buy vinyl crack from him out of his van. He usually holds good Reggae for me, and I’m hoping to get another load of it from him shortly. So as in many cases in Reggae records (Jamaica releases hundreds of records every week), there isn’t too much out there on this record. It is a collaboration of the great Augustus Pablo and Everton Da Silva. Pablo, the king of the melodica, producer, keyboard player, and genius of Roots and Dub would co-produce this side, as well as the full length with Da Silva. Legend has it, the whole record is really a reworking of 10 Da Silva productions. The backing band is listed by the Rockers All Stars, but no names are given at all. Prince Jammy may or may not be the Dread at the Controls, but one could assume Pablo has drawn from the usual pool of players and studio cats (Jamaica was always full of them) to lay the foundations of this piece of Dub.

“Jah Dub” moves along slowly like any one of the Augustus Pablo productions I have grown to love throughout the years. It’s slow, chugging drum beat and great guitar work, combined with just enough delay and reverb will have you nodding your head and dancing like Horsemouth from Rockers. Pablo had a distinctive sound, and what really makes this Dub treat special, is the flute (or fife as Bob Marley would say on Talkin’ Blues) sound. At first I thought maybe it was a melodica (with the Pablo involvement), but it’s definitely a flute or a recorder, and it separates this track from the rest. As seen in the photo above, Pablo is playing a recorder, and I’m hoping he put that piece of goodness on the track. Please enjoy some Monday Dub from one of the masters. Keep Diggin’!

45’s are dead….

…..according to a voice at today’s Hazlet, NJ record show. I beg to differ people. 45’s are alive and well, and there were plenty for all today. This Groovy Productions Show, run by Creepy Ira, a guy who usually sells porn at his “Fantasy Island” table at the Spot, has been around for quite some time. He used to have a record store up in East Bruinswick, and is a staunch follower of the Stinky Steve Goldmine book practice. In fact, for those not in the know, the show was formerly held over at the Raritan Center. It used to be huge, but has now been stuffed into a small, overcrowded, and hard to move around Holiday Inn banquet hall. Ira is there, a sort of a tanned looking George Gobel type. I mean he could sit on the panel of the Gong Show or Match Game AM (not PM). “While shopping for records, she liked to put _______ in her mouth.” You get the picture, definite slimy material. He wears a lab coat throughout the whole show, which raises the creep factor up a few notches. I cruised up with my man Larry from Funky 16 Corners, and we met the digger’s digger DJ Prime, hungry for some vinyl scores. Apparently he got shut out at the Spot on Friday. It must be that time of the year, where the droves of part time diggers try to hijack the Spot when the weather turns a bit warm. Not one to be kept down, Prime was back for some vinyl gold. All the usual suspects were there, DJ Skills, DJ Jack the Ripper, and a whole crop of out of area diggers carrying Vestax, Columbia, Numark, and Fisher Price portables. The early admission is key, it’s where I get my best digging done. I find 95% of my stuff before general admission begins. After the GA, it gets too crazy: people pushing, no room to listen, and the English or European diggers are about, some right up your ass or in the crate you’re in. I saw some of the local dealers: Egg Beard (lurking about us again), The Mooch (who was trying to move in on my shit and I had to tell him to step), Big Gay Joe, Candy and her husband (who are really great people with really great records), and one of my favorite dealers, Doug from American Oldies. He always has quality product, and has some great conversations.

Here’s a question, why are there always guys asking me while I’m diggin if i have any Beatles records for sale? It’s always some mop topped dude with ankle high zipper boots trying to recapture “the good old days” asking the same question. This guy actually was walking around with a FLIGHT CASE. These cases are heavy (even heavier when full), and are not conducive to small spaces, let alone a small spaced record show. I can’t believe people are still looking for Beatles records. It amazes me every time, as they are pretty easy to come by. He must have just discovered E Bay, and needs to put some other artists like Elvis, The Eagles, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller (because it’s rare) up on his auction block. Ok, I’m way behind on reading the times and there is some fresh pressed coffee ready to be drunk. See you tomorrow with another gem. Keep Diggin’!

45 Scores:

James Brown - Soul Pride/ King
Betty Everett - Better Tomorrow Than Today/ Uni
The Jaggerz - Born Poor/ Kama Sutra
The Formations - At the Top of the Stairs/ MGM
Simtec & Willie - 9 Times Out of 10/ Mister Chand
Simtec & Willie - Do It Like Mama/ Shama
Bobby Byrd - I Can’t (Do It Alone)/ King
Pieces of Eight - Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?/ A&M
Counts - Funk/ Aware
Freddy Robinson - Black Fox/ World Pacific Jazz
Leon Thomas - L-O-V-E/ Flying Dutchman
Gershon Kingsley On the Moog Synthesizer - The First Step/ AF
The Sand Pebbles - Soul Keeps Rolling Along/ Calla
El Chicano - Michaels Theme/ MCA
Nina Simone - O-O-H Child/ RCA
Barbara & the Uniques - You’re Gonna Make Me Cheat On You/ Arden
Oscar Weathers - The Spoiler/ Top and Bottom
Clarence Paul & the Members - Operation Breadbasket/ Pride
Kool & the Gang - Funky Granny/ De-Lite

Tonight! No Half Steppin’! Golden Age Hip Hop in Asbury Park

Hot damn Ho here we go again. It’s the start of what will hopefully be more than a one off partay here in Asbury Park. It’s all about the Golden Age of Hip Hop this time people. You know where I’m coming from: De La, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B. and Rakim, Public Enemy and the rest. Let’s not forget about Joeski Love, Cool C, Spoonie G, Princess Ivory, BDP, and maybe even some Captain Skyy. Let’s Do it in the Park like they used to say. DJ Prestige, DJ Jack the Ripper, and Special Guest Roger T. Quinn will be holding it down. This is going to be a good one folks, so come up and say hello. See you on the dancefloor. Keep Diggin’!

Marley Marl (feat MC Shan) - Marley Marl Scratch

Cold Chillin’ Promo Photo

Marley Marl feat MC Shan - Marley Marl Scratch from the NIA Records 12″

When I started this blog over a year ago, I wanted to focus on the foundations of Hip Hop, the songs that were sampled, and the originators. These were the men and women of Funk, Soul, Jazz, and Reggae who would lay down these foundations for Hip Hop since it’s inception. There are so many Hip Hop blogs out there who can do a better job than me, so that is why I didn’t include Hip Hop commentary in this blog specifically. I do own an enormous amount of it, and like I’ve said in earlier posts, Hip Hop is what started me DJing. However, in light on the new party I’m throwing, someone (DJ Jack the Ripper) suggested I write up this very record, said to be one of the most influential Hip Hop 12″ of all time. So without delaying it any further, here’s Marley Marl and “Scratch” on Nia Records from 1985.

Marley Marl. aka Marlon Williams was born in Harlem in 1962. Starting out in Queensbridge, the famous housing project that fueled Hip Hop’s first beef, he learned his production as at Unique studios. He would release a record on Tuff City under the name NYC Cutter with “DJ Cuttin’” in 1985. An innovator in drum sampling, the man set the bar (and it was a high one), combining drum machine sounds and record samples, James Brown, Parliament, etc. His weapon of choice was the Roland 808, and it would be by mistake almost that he would combine a sampled snare on a record with a snare from the drum machine. The Marley Marl Sound was born. It took quite a while for other producers to catch up. By that time, he had scored hits as a producer with Roxanne Shanté , The Biz, MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B. and Rakim, and went on to have production credits on records by LL Cool J, Lords of the Underground, Masta Ace, and many, many more. His record “The Bridge” by MC Shan spawned the first Hip Hop beef, with the Bronx’s own Boogie Down Production answering back on their record “The Bridge Is Over”. Hip Hop beefs and crew battles begin. The Juice Crew, which consisted of Kane, Markie, MC Shan, Masta Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap & Polo, Shanté, and others, would really be a super crew of performers, who all gained iconic success and fame with Marley as the leader (also A&R man) and captain of Cold Chillin’ Records. A great group effort can be heard on “The Symphony” (where you’ll hear the Juice Crew and a young Nas doing his thing), which is said to be the first Posse cut. Marley Marl, besides being a ground breaking producer, artist, and A&R man, also held down several radio shows in his illustrious career. Starting out on Mr. Magic’s Rap Attack on WBLS, he also did In Control with Marley Marl, teaming up Chocolate Boy Wonder Pete Rock, and also the latest and greatest, Future Flavors, which has launched careers for many rappers.

My man Jack the Ripper is right. This timeless classic, featuring MC Shan, shows the all around skills of Marley Marl: his production and scratching as a DJ. “All you other DJ’s are a bunch of jerks” is challenging all comers to battle. It introduces the Marley Marl scratch (which is funky fresh), and is the epitome of an 80’s rap record. This side has all the right pieces: A dope MC, great beats and production, and some tight scratching. Shan and Marley call everyone out, and I can imagine there were many in Queensbridge trying to get to what Chuck D has called “the one man production predecessor to Dr. Dre.” Marley Marl once said that if people were feeling his production they heard out the window in Queensbridge, he knew it was right on time. His production has come a long way, has influenced many an aspiring Hip Hop producer, and make shim one of a kind. Without Marley Marl, we would not have many of the classic Hip Hop records we have at present time. He changed the game then and continues to keep the game fresh today. I’ll see you Friday. Keep Diggin’!

Just For Fun - FMF Vol. 27

I haven’t dropped a mix in a minute. It seems that real world moves have been getting in the way of making a few, so since I had the weekend off from DJ gigs, I decided to do a another one. Before I start on that, I want to give a massive shout out to Groove Holmes’ daughter, Denise Holmes Carter. She contacted me about my review, and thanked me for writing it. There is no thanks needed, as her father is a legend, and his music desperately needs to be preserved. That being said, on with the program. This time, the mix I’m dropping will coincide with a new party I’m throwing next Friday April 18th. The Party is called No Half Steppin’ with DJ Jack the Ripper, and will feature Golden Age Hip Hop and some definite 80’s and 90’s party jams to keep you moving. Since I stopped doing my Rock Box party, I’ve wanted to do a few one offs that focused on Golden Age Hip Hop and related tunes. This mix is some of the records you’ll here on the new night. I’ve had a lot of these records under wraps for 10 years or more. So enjoy some unheard classics and pre Yo! MTV Raps sides, all on original 12″, because back in the day, it was just for fun.

Just For Fun - FMF Vol. 27 Tracklist

1) Love Bug Starski - Live at the Fever/ The Fever: This former Bronx DJ at The Fever was credited by Afrika Bambataa for coming up with the name Hip Hop. This record was sampled by The Beastie Boys on “Get on the Mic” on Paul’s Boutique, Run DMC on “Krush Groove”, and then later on the Beasties would use the lyrics as an extra nod on To the Five Boroughs. Released in 1983 and is still strong despite some corny lyrics.

2) Queens Brooklyn Connection - This Is Called Hip Hop/ Capitol: It’s ‘88 we have to set it straight. This record was produced and mixed Mantronix. The crew consisted of Bryce-Luv, DJ D, and Rev-Rock. They released another 12″, which I have, called “Back to School”.

3) Word of Mouth feat. DJ Cheese - Coast to Coast/ Profile: I had my man Skills over the house one day and he told me his sister had a kid with DJ Cheese. Apparently, he’s locked down, but before all that, he was a 1986 DMC Champion. Teaming up with KMC and Ali-G, this classic from 1986 was launched. Known for the ever used scratch record sample of “Listen Up”.

4) Fresh 3 MC’s - Fresh/ Profile: Signed to Profile in 1982 and releasing this in 1983, this trio was featured on the Pumkpin 12″ “Here Comes the Beat”. A term not used too much, but you know what? I’m gonna bring it back. Yo, those Sergios are fresh. Do you think it sounds dated?

5) Ruthless Rap Assassins - Just Mellow/ Syncopate: I picked this up when I was in London from The Big Man. This band came from Hulme in Manchester and were made up of MC Kermit La Freak, Dangerous Hinds, and Dangerous C. This record came out in 1990, and also features a remix by Norman Cook, aka Fat Boy Slim.

6) T La Rock and Jazzy Jay - It’s Yours (Scratch Party Death Mix) / Def Jam: This very first Def Jam record has a great background. Originally Rick Rubin had it lined up for Treacherous Three rapper Special K to team up with Jazzy Jay on this record. Special K couldn’t make it, so his brother T La Rock subbed, and well, that was that. Ad Rock from the Beastie Boys helped make the beat, the Beasties sang some back up, and an instant classic was born in 1984.

7) Gangster D - Smooth/ Creative Funk: Released in 1988, and definitely influenced if not biting Rakim’s style, this is a record I actually picked up in a basement sale of some crazy couple. It’s recorded a bit low on the Creative Funk label, but after browsing their discography, I can see why. The biggest name on the roster is DJ Kool, unless you feel Smoothie or Scratchmaster Chuckie T were household names.

8.) Whistle - Just For Fun/ Select: Whistle was Jazzy Jazz, Kool Doobie, and Silver Spinner. Known more for their 12″ “Just Buggin’ “, this side is the A side on Select Records from 1986. It was produced by The Kangol Kid and Howie Tee.

9) Stetsasonic - Sally/ Tommy Boy: The band was originally named after Stetson hats, and this 1988 classic sampled Dyke and the Blazers and would be an example of what members Daddy-O, Prince Paul, and Fruitkwan would be capable of in the future. Prince Paul and Fruitwan later founded the Gravediggaz, Paul would become an All Star producer with De La Soul (although he would almost bankrupt them by not clearing samples on 3 Feet High) and independently, while Daddy-O would work with the RHCP, Mary J. , and others.

10) Jimmy Spicer - The Bubble Bunch/ Mercury: Released in 1982, it was a side after 13 minute rap opus “The Adventures of Super Rhymes” on Dazz. I can remember listening to this thing on Philadelphia’s Power 99 and 98 WCAU as a teen.

11) Chuck Chillout and Cool Chip - I’m Large/ Mercury: Original member of The B-Boys from the Bronx. Chillout would go on to host a radio show on WBLS, and then team up with Cool Chip to release this side in 1989.

12) Marley Marl - Scratch/ Nia: What more can I say about Marley Marl? He’s the originator of the Juice Crew, super producer, and all around Hip Hop guru. Released the first beef record (unintentionally..or was it?), released the first posse cut (The Symphony), and still continues to make records, do a ground breaking radio show, and be respected as one of the best Hip Hop producers ever. Teaming up with MC Shan, this 1985 record is a sought out piece. Thanks to Jack the Ripper for this copy.

Download or listen to Just For Fun - FMF Vol. 27

Keep Diggin’!

***PS: Don’t forget Friday April 18th!