March 21, 2012

Special EFX - VHS Style


In 1992, Das EFX dropped a home video called Straight From Da Sewer to accompany and promote their debut album Dead Serious.  It seems like not many people know about this video, so I thought I'd share it with you.

I distinctly remember when Das EFX first dropped, in fact I distinctly remember the period just before they dropped as I first heard They Want EFX on Tim Westwood’s show (in his more credible days on the Capital Rap Show!) and I was blown away by it. He premiered it along with House of Pain’s Jump Around so you can imagine what a treasured tape that was for several months to come.

I recall hounding my local record store to get me the 12” for They Want EFX and the very helpful DJ behind the counter repeatedly telling me that he’d never heard of Das EFX and neither had the supplier. About 3 months later I was greeted by that same DJ proudly holding a copy of the 12” and now he was bugging out at its originality. That was the problem with Westwood back then, he premiered things months before they were released and as a DJ wanting to play it on my show, it was so frustrating not being able to obtain a copy.

Anyhow, enough of my recollections. The point I’m making here is that it was fairly rare something so distinct, or original, was released. There were plenty of great tunes, but not that many that would break the mould. Das EFX broke that mould.

Even though they’d used the same break as Lord Finesse had used several several years previous, and not done much to switch it up, it sounded perfect for their crazy style and it still sounded fresh.

On too many occasions I’ve heard people recall Das EFX as the diggity-iggity group and speak of them as though they were a short lived novelty act, but this is completely unjust.

March 13, 2012

New Music, Major Artists, Free Downloads

I didn't think anyone would mind if I shared some new music, especially if that new music is free to download.  But most notable here is that the artists featured are well known, credible artists, and these downloads offer a great mixture of different styles and era's that I'm sure will appeal to the mature b-boy. 

There are 5 albums embedded here, so readers who follow this blog through an RSS feed may need to visit the site directly to see the embedded media players and access all the download links.

Gensu Dean - Jointz Mixtape

Gensu Dean has released this Jointz mixtape that has been mixed by DJ Chief-One.  It features tracks by Ed OG, Brand Nubian, CL Smooth, Large Professor, Roc Marciano and more.

March 7, 2012

Blogwatch - February 2012


I know February is the shortest month, but for me it just seemed to completely pass me by.  To much to do and too little time, and the net result is an all to brief monthly round up.  Sorry folks, but paying bills comes first, lol.

Anyway, here are a couple of highlights from my trips around the blogs, websites and twittersphere.

10 favourite sample flips
Egotrip continue their series of favourite sample flips from some of the best producers in the business.  This time the funky technician Lord Finesse takes his turn followed by J-Zone.
These two beat makers are a perfect example of the alternative approaches taken when producing banging instrumentals.  Whilst Finesse combines funky breaks, his trademark snares, and a signature DITC baselines, J-Zone opts for the rarest, oddest, most bizarre, retro TV and film samples which he combines with a sound that can only be described as organised chaos. 
Either way the end result is the same.  Head nodding, eyebrow raising hip hop.  But who do they think has made some of the best sample flips?  Find out:
http://www.egotripland.com/lord-finesse-sample-flips/
http://www.egotripland.com/j-zone-sample-flips/


1988 Mini documentary on the use of samples
Considering this clip is just under 9 minutes in length, there are some notable contributors such as Coldcut, Prince Paul and De La Soul.
What's most interesting about this footage (other than the retro clothing) is the reminder of the different views about sampling's legality at that time and how this era changed the face of DJing and producing forever.  Props to Battlechasers for digging this up.