I didn't really like the original, so what can I do???

This week is dedicated to that unrelenting art form know as "remixing". While I'd like to go into a series of points that highlight the pros and cons of "remixing", I think I'll pass. Remixing today has become one of those things that people expect to happen. I'll just hit on the origins of the new jack swing version of remixing....for those uninformed.

The current re-remix phenom seems to have it's origins in two bootleg cd's (in my opinion anyhow). The first, producer supreme 9th Wonder (Wundrah!!!) redid the beats for the Nas LP "God's Son". The overnight (literally) success of the "God's Stepson" cd was nuts. Heads were checking for it everywhere. I had to get a copy from my man's brother who knew a guy who worked with a lady who's husband had a copy. Sheesh!

The second of these discs was the now infamous "Grey Album" from DJ Dangermouse. Premise? Take the accapellas from one Mr. Shawn Carter's Black Album, samples from the Beatles' White Album, stir, bake at 450. The result was the most talked about, downloaded, critiqued, over-hyped (possibly), and media darling LP of the year. There was a national movement to get the album pressed. They had sites dedicated to the free download of the album. This cd set off a plague of similar efforts of remixation. Some good (Paul Nice), some terrible (....).

But the funny thing is that because these albums were technically illegal, you couldn't buy them in stores (thanks Warner Music!). So if you got a copy, you technically got your hands on a bootleg of a bootleg. Which in itself is a crazy and mysterious testament to the artform.

Good news? The remix isn't dead. Not by a long shot. As long as people have computers or turntables, it'll never die. The thing is that I think two things will happen. One, the remixing of radio singles will have it's own grammy category, and the good producers will rise to the top of the remixing artform and the rest will die off or go back to work at Burger King (the Kang!).

But Lil' John hasn't retired yet so there is a good bet everyone will eventually get Crunked at some point.
_________

No song of last year was heard more, played more, or shoved down our collective throats more than Terror Squad's "Lean Back". While at the FSU/Miami showdown in the MIA last September, I counted at least 30 times that it was played over the loud speakers. Ask Baffoe, he'll tell ya. Everyone, the kids, the parents, the ushers, security, players, cheerleaders, student section, announcers...was doing that dag gum dance after about the 10th rotation. It was a sight to see. It's the new wave and whatnot. Seriously. If you are ever at a professional or collegiate sports event, check for it. Unless, you are at a UVA football game. Those bamas are some seriously stiff individuals. I mean who wears a shirt and tie to a football game?????

Enter my main man, my homie, my brother from another family and city, DJ Mentos. He did up this remix to that song of songs and to me it's better than the crap that came out off the major labels. Certified!!!

Enjoy, get crunktified, and remember...do the rock-a-way

Lean Back (DJ Mentos Remix) - Terror Squad

You without me is like Corn Flakes without the milk...

Dedicated to all the women who have ever played a man.

Be back next week.

Mark Ass Tricks!!!!

- Furious aka Holleratmah Ghandi

Walking In The Rain - Oran "Juice" Jones

F*@K you, F*@K you, you're cool, and F*@K you I'm out!!!,

Over the next few months I'll occasionally post some stuff that has to deal with the mean muggiest (hunh?) clique out this here way, Beta Alpha Nu. In substitute for an official site (which will be up sooner or later), I'll be shouting out folks and doing some historical "back in the days" see what had happened was type stuff.

And I'll try to get some of the tracks we were bumping during that period.

Shout out to the following (round one):

Mo'Lammad
Mentosis Symplex 7
Hurt McGirt
Franweezie
Butt Nekkid
Big Dre
Big B
Mr. Burns
Ko'Cain
Dr. Roof
Jammer

The Champ Is Here!
-Furious

Def not Wise Intelligent, god.

My Name Is Diana...(My name is Busta)

As if High School in the mid nineties wasn't hard enough (end of Desert Storm, Bush I, Clinton and his ugly family, hiding my rap tapes from my mom, etc.), if you had no access to some wheels, be it catching a ride or owning one, you were lower than dirt. Which in retrospect was kinda stupid for the simple reason that the school charged 100 bones for a parking pass. Ridiculous.

Anyhow, somewhere between running thangs in Intermediate school, getting shipped off to Russia, and starting football in the 9th grade, L.O.N.S. came out with their seminal album, A Future Without A Past. To me, this album came out right about the same time that I figured out that there was an organization who ran the entire school from behind a cloak of rumors and overall shady dealings.

Of course I speak of the Underground PTA. The militant wing of the booster club. Stuff would happen at school that was beyond explanation. The recent Richmond, VA law dealing with "sagging" pants was introduced the day after O.P.P. came out in my school. You got detention and shit. Not lying.

So with the UPTA doing it's do, the "Just Another Case Of That Ol' PTA" track on the L.O.N.S. album was right on time. The whole album spoke to what we were dealing with. The unfair policies towards Hip Hop Kulture, the crotchety old teachers (not like the ones today), the rules, the BS.

I recently found the original cassette copy that I bought through a friend and hid in my closet everynight so my mom wouldn't take it away. Quality is shot but the essence of that time period still lives on.

But my jam, "Sobb Story", really spoke to the original purpose of this post. I refused to take the bus and nobody in my immediate circle had access to a ride. Rain or shine, I'd hump the 2 miles to school. That or skip school altogether.

I did that once, then found out who ran the UPTA.

My mother.

Yikes!

Rap will never die!
-Furious

Sobb Story - L.O.N.S

Loose Booty!!!!!

Most of the songs I'll be posting have a story or two attributed to them. You know how you can listen to a track from say 93 and it'll take you to a certain place in space (hmmmmm)? Well being from the Metro DC area has its downfalls (traffic, high prices for everything, congressional interns, crappy high school football coverage) but it also has it's benefits (melting pot scenario increases the female opportunities....like 10 fold, good standard of living, unique music).

The Go-Go existence is one of pleasure and pain in this city. On the one hand, it makes for a great conversation piece when you travel out of town and try to explain what Go-Go is and does (to the girlies anyhow). I learned quick that if you find yourself in a strange town bar where the folks look deader than JaRule's career, pop in some Go-Go and shit goes ballistic.

Point in case, Fall 1998.
Middle Tenn. State University.
Terrible party about to go down the drain.
Insert Junk Yard Band mix into CD player.
Watch clothes come off hoochies.
Rinse.
Repeat.

On the other hand, Go-Go sort of stigmatizes (sp?) DC as not being able to support any other kind of music. A rack of folks from DC have had to break through in NYC or ATL to get noticed by major labels. There have been some exceptions (nonchalant, err...brain freeze). But having seen the attempts of more than one artist or group try to get some kind of exposure by repping the district, I can honestly say that root canals would be easier to endure. But I love Go-Go becuase at it's roots, it is some fonky ass music. And that's alright with me.

So if you find yourself stuck in a party rut in middle America, get some Go-Go, and watch the magic happen. It works man, seriously.


-Furious

Loose Booty - Junk Yard Band

Mr. Pink and his T-Shirt...before the cops found him.

Go Leon Go!

Hey or Hay?

Yet another one from the "Where The F*%k are they Now?" files. Crucial, not to be confused with Cru, did a whole album, had a video to boot and overall did okay, but I challenge you to name me another one of their songs.

Hay was one of the tracks that sort of indirectly re-opened the door to the Chi-Town talent, albeit briefly. I mean, Com was still holding it down, but it'd be years before Mr. West and his minions would reach the world (up to you if it's a good or bad thing).

I always liked this track, just cause at RMC, when you put it on while in the attic at Theta Chi, all the white girls would do their dance. DJ K-os represent!

Ghost Deenie-
Furious

Hay - Crucial Conflict

T.O.N.Y. and his brother Manny

Back when I was getting out of High School, I remember seeing these ads in the Source (now referred to as Da Sauce) for the CNN album. I can't remember if they had a loose afiliation with Nas or not, but I thought I would check for the LP when it dropped.

T.O.N.Y. has been one of my all time NYC tracks for the simple production and sewerage rhyme style (not Das however). Things were looking good for CNN and company til the long arm of the law reached out and grabbed Capone for a hot minute. After that Nore did his solo jammy and launched the Neptunes into another stratosphere. I bet you could do a Six Degrees of Kevin bacon with CNN....

Ghost-
Furious

T.O.N.Y. - Capone N Noreaga