Remixxxxxxxx!!!
I want to speak on something I consider near and dear to my heart, “The Remix”. Don’t get this confused with today’s definition of a remix because I’m definitely not talking about someone dropping a catchy tune, possibly implementing auto tune, and within days someone has reworked the words, possibly implementing auto tune, and dropping a new version to the web. What’s the saying? Pouring syrup on dog shit doesn’t make it a better version of “A Milli” and “Pop Champagne”.
I’m talking about a time when you would search out the vinyl single or maxi-single (remember the maxi single? It was a beefed up cassette single usually including remixes, b-sides and instrumentals) to obtain the remix that sometimes was a totally different version of the song. New beat, new words, maybe if you were lucky it would include “Pete Rock”, “SD50″, “Premier”, or “Diamond D” between the parentheses.
I used to love discovering a remix. I use the word “discovering” because it was at a time when I literally didn’t know it existed until it was in my hands. Personally, there are a ton of remixes that meant more to me than the original. Not just because it was a new version but these remixes would be as dope or even doper than the original… on purpose. It was rule of thumb.
Some favorites of mine are:
Rass Kass – Soul on Ice (Diamond D Remix): A lot of dope remixes would end up being the video version of the song. I remember hearing “Miami Life” originally off the movie “The Substitute” soundtrack where Rass went in and bodied it but it wasn’t until I heard the Diamond D version of “Soul on Ice” from the video that I realized the monster he was. Top ten remixes of all time.
A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario (Remix): This joint was a bit of a bitter sweet send off for a tremendous MC named Hood that passed away before the song was even done being mixed. Nas has been quoted as saying that when he first came out, Hood was someone he felt was one of the best lyricist at the time. Everyone was was looking at Nas and Nas was looking at Hood. That says a lot. Besides Hood, Tribe and Leaders of the New School all set this track on fire.
Common (Formally Common Sense) – Soul By The Pound (Remix): I had the pleasure of kickin it with Com recently and I asked him about this joint. I told him how the video made me go out and buy his first album “Can I Borrow a Dollar” looking for the video version of “Soul by the Pound”… and it wasn’t there. He told me at the time he was still learning his craft and it so happened that he made better joints after the album dropped. Was I mad? Not at all. One of the illest remixes ever!
Black Moon – Buck Em’ Down (Remix) / I Got Ya Open (Remix): Another video versus album situation. Black Moon’s, or “Brothers who Lyrically Act and Combine Kickin Music Out On Nations” (didn’t think I knew that huh??), debut album “Enta Da Stage” was revolutionary. Buckshot Shorty (now Buckshot) was always in “best MC” arguments and the Beatminerz introduced their dirty bass filtered Brooklyn style to the world. What was better than the album? The video versions! Not only were they better but they were fuckin classics. And yes I wore army fatigues and hockey jerseys with Timbs.
Public Enemy – Shut Em Down (Pete Rock Remix): Is this considered the illest remix ever? It might be. It was the contrast between Pete Rock’s soul influenced style and the Bomb Squad’s condensed musical chaos that made this remix so popular. The Bomb Squad are one of the best to ever do it and were PE’s in-house production team. When Pete Rock remixed a song that was already potent and made it just as powerful but in a different way, it redefined what remixes are supposed to be. Different but equally good or better. Peep the horns panning from speaker to speaker son!!!
So peep… I enjoy passing on good music. So I put together some definite classics for you to discover, like I once did. I didn’t fuck around either… there are some gems in here. You might be thinking I missed some but these are just scratching the surface. I will do this again soon and cover more ground.
Butcher Block Classic Remixes Volume One
Grand Puba – 360° (What Goes Around) [SD50 Remix]
Showbiz & AG – Next Level (DJ Premier Nyte Time remix)
Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy (Pete Rock Remix)
Kool G. Rap f Nas – Fast Life (Buckwild remix)
Brand Nubian – Slow Down Rmx (Pete Rock)
Nas – The World is Yours (Pete Rock Remix)
Common Sense – Resurrection (Extra P Remix)
Special Ed – Freaky Flow (Premier Remix)
Gangstarr – Words I Manifest (Remix)
Cypress Hill – When The Ship Goes Down (Diamond D Remix)
Redman – Tonight’s da Night (Remix)
O.C. – Time’s Up (Remix)
Redman – Time 4 Sum Aksion (Remix)
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – T.R.O.Y. (Pete Rock Vibes Mix)
Krs-One – Sound Of Da Police (Remix)
Ras Kass – Soul On Ice (Diamond D Remix)
Common Sense – Soul By The Pound (Remix)
Public Enemy – Shut Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)
Fat Joe – The Shit Is Real (DJ Premier Remix)
Butcher Block Classic Remixes Volume Two
A Tribe Called Quest f. Leaders of the New School – Scenario (Young Nations Mix)
A Tribe Called Quest f. Leaders of the New School & Hood – Scenario (Remix)
A Tribe Called Quest f. Leaders of the New School – Scenario (7 MC’s Mix)
Das Efx F Mobb Deep – Microphone Master (Sewa-41st. Side Remix)
Das Efx – Mic Checka (Remix)
Method Man – Method Man (Remix)
Jeru The Damaga – Me, Not The Paper (Remix)
Main Source – Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball (Remix)
House of Pain – Jump Around (Pete Rock Remix)
LL Cool J – Jingling Baby (Remixed But Still Jingling)
Nas – It Ain’t Hard to Tell (Remix)
Black Moon – I Got Cha Opin (Remix)
Junior Mafia F Notorious B.I.G – Gettin’ Money (Remix)
Special Ed – Freaky Flow (Premier Remix)
Ultramagnetic MC’s – Ego Trippin’ (MC’s Ultra Remix)
Artifacts F Mas Skillz – Dynamite Soul II (Lip Service Remix)
AZ F Raekwon – Doe or Die (Remix)
Blahzay Blahzay feat. Trigger, Darkman & Smoothe Da Hustler – Danger Pt. 2 (Street Mix)
Blahzay Blahzay – Danger (DJ Premier Remix)
MC Lyte – Cappucino (Remix)
Black Moon – Buck Em Down (Remix)
Masta Ace – Born to Roll (Jeep Ass Nigguh Remix)
This week I’m going to post something to satisfy your “thirst” for real hip-hop. Um.. “thirst” is a hint.
