As you already know, the link is not on this site.  Many people have already signed up for new blog and there are only a few open spots left.  Leave a comment if you’re interested.

~Vincent~

Yeah, it’s just about over but I’m still standing.  All active download links on this site are in the process of being deleted.  Even though I’ll keep this site up and may update it in the future, if you still want to get those old out of print Source, Ego Trip and XXL magazines, then check me out here:

 

http://thimkingman.blogspot.com/

 

 

~Vincent~

A long, long time ago, someone asked me to burn the entire sampler.  I don’t know why since only the first track is worth your time.  Anyway, if you didn’t get it last year, then get it via -e-mail only.

Nas’ Source Sampler 1996

~Vincent~

With the help of Spencer and blazedout (both commenting on Part 1), I think they’ve uncovered the mystery of these live ‘demos’.

Here’s blazedout’s comment:

Let’s just put this to bed right now. This live session was performed on 89.1 WNYU Martin Moore and Mayhem in 1996. I’d have to go in my tape crates for the exact date. The show ran from 10:30pm-1am and the band started playing around 12:45am. The show went to static (no pun intended) while they were still playing. The session was recorded to DAT by Mayhem and crew and clips of the entire session were played on the show in the following weeks. Who put out the white label bootleg vinyl for this is a mystery to me (Mayhem?) but I have only seen one copy of this and it it was purchased at Vinyl Mania on Carmine St in NYC (shout out to Carmine). The vinyl is missing parts of the entire session.

http://www.discogs.com/Roots-Live-Vol-2/release/767132

If anyone else has any further info on this release, then please let us know.  And if you missed Part 2 (featuring some fantastic freestyles), then you need to sign up for T.R.O.Y.’s SkyPager.

Part 3

~Vincent~

Just a few more random pics from New Orleans before I get back to normal.  One of the craziest experiences we had was riding by the old projects where Master P & No Limit Records (B.W. Cooper aka Calliope) and Baby & Cash Money Records (Magnolia) made their claims to fame.  Come to find out that my wife used to live in the Magnolia back when these Cash Money guys were just coming up.  I’ve included a few pics of those now defunct projects, which are sadly nothing more than construction sites today.  She also gave me her yearbook so that I could post the pic of Lil Wayne.  Turns out that they went to the same school (McMain) but my wife is 4 years older and hence, she treated him like the little kid he is.  The pic of Weezy from the ’96 yearbook is also below.

~Vincent~

I just returned from an extended weekend trip in New Orleans.  My wife was born and raised there and most of her family still lives there.  The one thing that immediately hit me when we first walked into the airport was that it’s a city with a unique history, flavor, and people.  But from my wife’s perspective, Hurricane Katrina has sucked the life out of the city.  We visited almost every part of the city and I’ll post some of the pictures.  Below, you’ll see some pictures of abandoned houses and neighborhoods in the 9^th ward where we visited some of my wife’s family.  Entire streets were just sitting empty and the few standing houses looked haunted.  I walked through a few of them (carefully) and couldn’t stop thinking that the government is really run by a bunch of a**holes.  You mean to tell me they can go to war across the world, build space shuttles, and bail out banks but can’t help to rebuild a city after 4 years?  I asked my wife, if this happened in San Francisco, would the government look the other way?  She pointed to her skin and shrugged.  There were a few construction crews around, though, building new houses.  We saw some houses being built with the support of Brad Pitt.  Most of these houses looked like space ships sitting next to empty lots.  Built about 15 feet high, I figured that they were getting ready to ‘blast off’ in case the levee wall behind the houses broke again.  The worst scenes for me were the wandering depressed children and the multitude of abandoned schools just sitting empty.  It was crazy to drive a few blocks here or there and see the wealthy neighborhoods going about their business without a clue or care as to what’s happening in the poorer areas.  Another strange thing I saw was the make-up of the construction crews.  In a city with many, many African-American men in need of work, EVERY construction site (and Home Depot or Loews) we passed by had ONLY white and Mexican men working.  What the eff?

~Vincent~

This issue needs no real introduction. If you’re one of the unfortunate people that have never read this, then now’s your chance to get it. And even if you’re not a fan, you can’t deny his lasting impact in hip-hop. R.I.P. Tupac

Record Report:

M.O.P. – Firing Squad (3.5 mics)

Do or Die – Picture This (3.5 mics)

Yo Yo – Total Control (3 mics)

Trigger Tha Gambler – Life’s a 50/50 Gamble (3 mics)

Whodini – Six (2.5 mics)

3-2 – The Wicked Buddah Baby (3 mics)

The Dayton Family – F.B.I. (3 mics)

O.G.C. – Da Storm (3.5 mics)

Poor Righteous Teachers – New World Order (3 mics)

Da Bush Babees – Gravity (3 mics)

Al Tariq – God Connections (2.5 mics)

Punk Barbarians – Sex, Props, Cream and The Drama in Between (3.5 mics)

Source November 1996 issue and fat tape

~Vincent~

Happy 84^th birthday Brother Malcolm

Berkeley University (Oct. 11, 1963): Malcolm X delivers a speech and answers questions at Berkeley University.

  

~Vincent~

There are more than a couple good albums on this list and a few are personal faves of mine.  That Akinyele album was one of best in ’93.  He’s got crazy punch lines for days.  Of course, Masta Ace’s album was ridiculous, too.  If you want beats, listen to Primo get busy on Livin’ Proof.  The production was so good, he could have gotten Dikembe Mutumbo to rhyme with Dap and Melachi and it would have still been in heavy rotation.  The Odd Squad album is just hilarious.  I think Devin the Dude was in that group.  The only one I’ve never heard is the Convicts album, which I’ll be listening to on my way to New Orleans this week.

Get all 20 albums

Part 1

Part 2

~Vincent~