I’ve mentioned this before but after putting down the Malcolm X photo book yesterday, this one found its way into my hands.  If you’re a real hip-hop junkie, then this book needs to be purchased by you (or your mom) ASAP.  We could all make arguments about what should have been included in this first round (Illmatic, Word…Life, Ready to Die, The Chronic, OB4CL, Death Certificate, etc.) and at first I was a little grumpy about that.  But I realized that the author must be including those and many others in the second round.  Let me say this again.  BUY.THIS.BOOK.  I’ve read it at least three times now and I’m still not bored with it.

Read 10 of the album ‘making of’ chapters here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=QuOBbFeg0JIC&dq=check+the+technique+liner+notes+for+hip-hop+junkies&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=EMKEloKR62&sig=AioR8GdfFshQs9WVrfcBoZQy7Fs&hl=en&ei=VtekSoDtOMjrlAehwOWPBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Buy it:  http://www.amazon.com/Check-Technique-Liner-Hip-Hop-Junkies/dp/0812977750/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Only available here

Every 1994 Fat Tape – Only available here

Every 1993 Fat Tape – Only available here

Every 1992 Fat Tape – Only available here

Another interesting article from Ego Trip #7 (Q-Tip, Large Pro & Posdnuos cover).  This is one features Pete Rock (my 2^nd favorite producer of all time) after he and CL decided to part ways.  We all know who benefitted from that decision in the long run.  This is late ’95 so I assume he was working on completing that INI Center of Attention album, which features some of his best production work ever.  Get those instrumentals if you haven’t heard them.