: ( Legendary MC Guru in a coma



UPDATE: There have been some false rumours going around about Guru passing, but this is not true, he is in surgery still.


Absolutely tragic news, Keith Elam, better known as Guru had a heart attack and is in a coma, please read the following from Hip Hop DX, and if anyone has any more info, please contact me.
Guru is one of my favourite MC's of all time and he is in my thoughts and I really hope he pulls through, according to DJ Premier, Keith is due for surgery tomorrow.


http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10731/title.gang-starrs-guru-goes-into-cardiac-arrest-in-a-coma

Guru-Lifesaver (DJ Premier Remix)

http://sharebee.com/2f2f4d9e
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D-Day

I got 20 pieces of this DOOOPe Tee-Shirt
You won't find it anywhere else
hit my mail if you want one

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Can you ID these tracks?

Over at the infamous Philaflava, T.R.O.Y. forum, there is a section called "Track ID's

http://www.philaflava.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=106067&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

and we use spot this to ID obscure, rare and forgotten tracks from Hip Hop's golden age etc.


We have a very good team of really knowledgeable heads in there, but some tracks are sometimes difficult and we need your help please.

If you know who the artists are for any of the following, please leave a comment







Peace

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Je suis Funky, Je suis Frenchy

Some Obscure French Funk From The Eighties
France Got Not Only Camembert and Baguette
But Breaks And Phonk for Days
Arthur King,
My Over-Talented Friend
and his Blond Moustache
Did This Podcast A While Ago
But Just Recently Put it On Sound Cloud
"Enorme"
"Fabuleux"
"Extraordinaire"
Don't Sleep
Keep It Frenchy
Keep It Funky


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Go Nottz

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M-PHAZES "GOOD GRACIOUS!" OUT FEB 26

The long awaited debut full length album from acclaimed producer M-Phazes is finally here. Renowned for his ability to craft the perfect beat, his global pedigree is reflected by praise from his peers with an ever-growing list of artists seeking his sound for the backbone to their flow.

After two years of countless studio hours, the album is his artistic triumph; a selection of work culled from the best of his production. Enlisting an unmatched collection of Australia’s most respected MCs, this 15-track album elicits a response synonymous with it’s title.
Featuring Muph & Plutonic, Illy, Mantra, Phrase, Drapht, Bliss N Eso, Solo (of Horrorshow), Dialectrix, Pegz and many more!

We will have a limited number of signed CDs available for sale instore Friday 26th Feb.

M-PHAZES CONTEST

We’re giving you a chance to win an Obese tshirt along with a copy of the brand new M-Phazes album*! All you have to do is answer the simple question:

Which city does M-Phazes originally hail from?

Send your answer to publicist@obeserecords.com and we’ll draw the lucky winner.*CDs will be sent after the February 26 release date.
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Big L, Rest In Peace!


Props To
From
For Putting Out This Dope Tribute
To The Gone Too Soon Over Talented Mc
Big L
You have read this article Big L / Dj Kozi / HHR with the title February 2010. You can bookmark this page URL http://truehiphopspot.blogspot.com/2010/02/big-l-rest-in-peace.html. Thanks!

Cheesy Philly

champion meets deluxe groover

Just Dizle
and
Uncle T
aka
French Best Kept Secrets,
put out together
this three hours ode to philly
(YES THREE HOURS)

tracklisting is sick
from Billy Paul to Peedi Crakk, Steady B
passing by the Delfonics, Teddy Pendergrass,
Bahamadia, Jill Scott
and so on and so on

mix is smooth like cheese
from deep soul to raw hip hop
this is THE philly mix you've been dying to ear
it goes in two parts
and
100% fat free
don't sleep


You have read this article Just Dizle / Philadelphia / Uncle T with the title February 2010. You can bookmark this page URL http://truehiphopspot.blogspot.com/2010/02/cheesy-philly.html. Thanks!

Falside of Poorly Drawn People presents "Dollars Make Change" The Mixtape


Falside has got beats kid...download this and leave a comment with your thoughts...

Falside's latest free mixtape, "Dollars Make Change" is now available. The Providence beatsmith has compiled an extensive display of his different varieties of production for the mixtape, including his recent collaborations with such wordsmiths as Reef the Lost Cauze, C-Rayz Walz, El Da Sensei, Pacewon, Reks, Poorly Drawn People, Vast Aire, Slaine (La Coka Nostra / Special Teamz), Intuition, C-Chan (Slow Suicide Stimulus) and more.This is 19 tracks worth of dope that can be appreciated by leaders of the new school and boom bap veterans alike. (This mixtape is presented by Poorly Drawn Recordings (Providence RI) and Leedz Edutainment (Boston MA). Enjoy.



"Dollars Make Change"

http://usershare.net/2DopeBoyz/ju7ygioo7zgx

1. Dollars Make Change Introduction
2. Catching the Strange ft. C-Rayz Walz

3. King of the Jungle Remix ft. Blaq Poet, Jaysaun (Special Teamz), Termanology

4. Too Many Mc's ft. El Da Sensei, Pacewon, Exposition

5. No Gentleman ft. Alex Minor

6. Al Bundy Remix ft. Intuition

7. Tape on Drugs Remix ft. Reason (Poorly Drawn People)

8. Hit That Shit Remix ft. thekeenone (Audio Hustlaz), B-Real (Cypress Hill), Reg Riddem, Ill Bill (La Coka Nostra)
9. Shallow and Hollow ft. Reef the Lost Cauze, Blak Madeen
10. Juice Barz Freestyle ft. Amadeus the Stampede

11. Hall of Game ft. C-Rayz Walz

12. Umbrella's and Mac 10's ft Dirty Hank

13. The Crush (Original) ft. Vast Aire (Cannibal Ox)

14. Designer Kids ft. Reason, Storm Davis (Poorly Drawn People)

15. Headlines ft. Reks

16. Say Your Prayers ft. Good Brother, Amadeus the Stampede

17. Educated Suicide ft. Rite Hook, C-Chan (Slow Suicide Stimulus)

18. What Rap Don't Say ft. Stu Cat

19. Too Much ft. Slaine (La Coka Nostra/Special Teamz), Amadeus the Stampede


http://www.falside.com
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From L.A to D.C... USA Exile in belleville

Hip Hop Next Generation Was Rocking The Stage,
Last Week in Paris
Treklife,
Diamond District,
Fashawn,
Blu
and
Exile

check out Pics
and the final freestyle video
Exile is THE killer of the MPC
Babu showed up just to support the Team




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Molotow is back and ready to burn

The wait is over BELTON MOLOTOW is back. Over 40 colours instock and more to come in the following weeks
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RZA - FRI 12 FEB @ THE PRINCE BANDROOM

RZA returns to Melbourne, playing THE PRINCE BANDROOM Friday 12th February. Tickets are available from our retail store in Prahran. Supports from GDP (USA) and DJ 563.



RZA is the pivotal force behind the Wu-Tang name and his much imitated lean and menacing production work has been the foundation of many albums from the Wu-Tang family, the Gravediggaz classic debut 6 Feet Deep and soundtracks including Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai and Kill Bill.

A veritable Renaissance man, RZA has worked as a rapper, producer, composer, actor, director, screenwriter and author – his newly published book The Tao of Wu details the philosophy of the Wu Tang and his own worldview.
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ThaiMex, Hue of Intuition, Infinite Shades of Gray


A proud native of San Diego, CA, ThaiMex has been in the Hip Hop game for more than a few years and produced for some notable dope acts, including ICONS, Scribe Sayar, and Riccasshay, ThaiMex is a writer, performer but is probably best known as a producer and for being part of the collectives Hue of Intuition and Infinite Shades of Gray and as a former member of the seminal Chicano spoken word poetry collective The Taco Shop Poets.

 Way back in 1994, ThaiMex first started getting busy recording and producing beats for fellow classmates, out of this work Hue of Intuition formed in 1995 and in 1996 his Thoughts project, a tape that he made dubs of out his bedroom and gave copies out for free, this tape of beats was handed around and MC's used his beats to freestyle over, because of this ThaiMex added 3 songs to make it an even hour long, put a cover together, and had it duplicated
for “official release.”

Hue of Intuition
eventually grew to a collective of 10 members known as Infinite Shades of Gray, ThaiMex was an MC in the group and the group's sole producer, he was involved with the group for seven years and then decided to focus on his professional and personal life and left music for a while.


As ThaiMex was finishing up college, music came calling again by way of the English
Department at San Diego State University and he was recruited as a writer and performer by the internationally recognized spoken word poetry collective known as Taco Shop Poets late in 2002.

His membership with this group consisted of extensive travel and performances as
well as occasional stints as an instructor of poetry and performance workshops and artistic
residencies.


The 10 year strong Taco Shop Poets decided to call it a day in 2004 though due to personal commitments of the members

For a time, ThaiMex decidedly remained low-key. He focused on other areas of artistic output such as a small role in an independent film called “3 Ways to Sunday.” He was also a very active participant in two multimedia sculptures called “Soy Beaner” and “PhoZole” created by cutting edge artists Jamex and Einar De La Torre.

Inspired by a letter he had written to his new born daughter in 2007, ThaiMex realized that he still had things left to say and after putting his pen to the pad he began working on an album titled Brand New Starts (2009) which was produced, arranged and performed by ThaiMex.



Thanks to ThaiMex here is the full history of Infinite Shades of Gray

Infinite Shades of Gray Members:

ThaiMex – Rhymes/Production
Tan Phact – Rhymes
Mxyzptlk – Rhymes
Splerge One aka Wordup – Rhymes
The Mage – Rhymes/Guitar/Bass
Justifeye – Rhymes
Didactic – Rhymes
Kazoo – Poetry
Syko – DJ/Turntablist

The origins of Infinite Shades of Gray start at Helix High School in San Diego, CA. ThaiMex, Tan Phact, and Mxyzptlk all knew of each other and participated in rhyme circles on occasion during lunch breaks, however, the three never connected since ThaiMex was two years older and graduated before anything could happen.



It just so happens that ThaiMex’s younger brother, Didactic, knew Tan Phact from their childhood days of little league baseball and, as he heard more and more of Tan Phact’s rhyming, he suggested Tan Phact and ThaiMex should meet since ThaiMex had recently purchased some equipment and was now making beats.


Although they spoke a few times, ThaiMex and Tan Phact did not start discussing music in a serious way until both Tan Phact and Mxyzptlk graduated from high school and, coincidentally, along with ThaiMex, all three found themselves attending Grossmont Community College in 1996.


Initially, Tan Phact and Mxyzptlk were a group called “Mind Over Matter” and were only interested in ThaiMex providing them with production. This was not a problem since ThaiMex’s main interest was making beats. In addition, ThaiMex was in a separate group with Splerge One called “The Low Down.” However, Splerge One ended up having to leave town due to some family issues and Tan Phact and Mxyzptlk ended up asking ThaiMex to rhyme with them to speed up the song creation process. ThaiMex agreed, however, asked to change the name to “Hue of Intuition” after discussing a lecture he and Tan Phact had attended for a Humanities class they had together. Plus, ThaiMex didn’t like the potential idea of people referring to them as M.O.M.


From about 1997-1998, Hue of Intuition began the process of recoding songs, making underground tapes, and performing up and down the California coast. During this time; ThaiMex’s brother was constantly writing rhymes; Splerge One came back into the picture; and Jusifeye, Kazoo, and The Mage ended up coming around more and more due to their love for writing and music. This group of artists was in constant association and discussions that took place at a coffee shop that Hue of Intuition used to hang out at every night called “The Living Room.” They were able to hang out every night due to the fact the coffee shop was open until 2am every day. As a way of including everyone, ThaiMex named the collective “Infinite Shades of Gray.” The name came from everyone’s extremely diverse backgrounds and views on life.


As is apparent in various forms of organization, there is indeed strength in numbers, but numbers are also difficult to manage. The group began growing apart due to a number of reasons including the direction of the group, people moving away, varying levels of substance abuse from different members, and egos. First, it seemed that the split was right down the middle with two camps emerging. One had Mxyzptlk, Kazoo, The Mage and Splerge One; the other had ThaiMex, Tan Phact, Didactic, Justifeye and Syko. However, shortly after this happened, Splerge One moved to Georgia; The Mage moved to Los Angeles, CA; Mxyzptlk moved to Arizona; and Syko moved to Fresno, CA. So, with no one else around, Kazoo ended up associating with the remaining members again.


In 2000, after a short time with this version of the crew, ThaiMex decided he couldn’t see himself being 40 years old, jumping on stage trying to convince the crowd of how dope he was. He decided to step away from music and focus 100% on completing his college degree. He had hoped the crew would continue to work on projects in his absence, but it didn’t happen in any way, shape, or form.


Strangely, music still found ThaiMex in the University setting. ThaiMex majored in English and Literature and found himself surrounded by many writers and poets. After some time, he soon began associating with and was eventually recruited as a writer and performer with the globally recognized “Taco Shop Poets” who were founded in 1994. With Taco Shop Poets, ThaiMex toured extensively across the United States and some of Mexico. This lasted from about 2002 until the Taco Shop Poets disbanded in 2004.


At this point, ThaiMex simply thought it was time to be a “normal” grown up man and thought he was done with music. He participated in two multimedia sculptures with the cutting edge artistic team of Einar and Jamex De La Torre and played a significant role in an independent film called, “3 Ways to Sunday.” There were occasional acapella/spoken word performances that were well received but he didn’t seem to enjoy it anymore.


Then, once his daughter was born in 2007, ThaiMex began writing while she took naps. One day, he compiled them and began reading them and realized he felt inspired again. Thus, work on “Brand New Starts” began and brings us to the current day.
Pics of the crew (thanks to ThaiMex)

Hue Of Intuition


Infinite Shades of Gray

Lowdown





Thanks to a post that started with a request for Infinite Shades of Gray's "Seasons Change" on Philaflava's infamous T.R.O.Y. forum, I was contacted by 619archive and he sent me this message"


i have a roommate who's older brother's friend was in both "hue of intuition" and "infinite shades of gray." my roommate gave me a bunch of their stuff on CD and i liked it so i was searching for more, which is how i came across your post on philaflava.
We e-mailed back and forth, talked about getting hold of ThaiMex (and we did) and eventually he uploaded these albums, which ThaiMex is cool with me sharing here on CRDS, so a massive thank you to ThaiMex and 619archive and I Smell Like Un Kasa...this post is for you, I hope you enjoy this music as much as I have.

Hue Of Intuition-No Lucciano, Just A Drum and Piano (2001)

http://thaimex.bandcamp.com/album/no-lucciano-just-a-drum-and-a-piano


Infinite Shades of Gray-Blind Issues (2000)

http://thaimex.bandcamp.com/album/blind-issues-an-anti-violence-racism-project

Infinite Shades of Gray-Intuition Is The Key (1999)

http://thaimex.bandcamp.com/album/intuition-is-the-key



Hue Of Intuition-Californians

http://thaimex.bandcamp.com/album/californians-b-w-whos-this-12-single


http://thaimex.bandcamp.com




If any fans out there have any material that is missing please contact me











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Welcome Aboard, it's Love


Love is in The Air
and We All NEED Love Don't We
Props To My Man
for lovely puttin' together all those lovely tracks
ain't nuttin but love up in here
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BREAKESTRA + J-ROCC

Tonite at The Corner Hotel in Richmond with support from none other than world famous J-ROCC. Tickets available from the venue.
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DMX: Crazy Or Conflicted?

DMX was one of the biggest names in Hip-Hop at one point.  Now he spends his time in an Arizona correctional facility, charged with drug possession and animal abuse.  We have all dismissed X as "crazy" because of his recent actions and run-in's with the law.  But are we being too quick to label this convicted rapper as insane?  Much like most of acclaimed rap artists, I believe DMX "sold his soul" to the Devil in return for his success.  DMX has even quoted this in his lyrics on several occasions early on in his career.

 

But recently, I think DMX has been trying to find a way out of his "soul imprisonment" deal.  So he moves to Arizona to find himself and claims to have had a revelation from God.  The way that this man talks, it seems as if he is fully aware of the purpose God has called on his life and he is ready to live it out, no matter the result.  He is, however, still signed under his contract (both physically and spiritually I believe) therefore he must still produce music.  I think him running to AZ was him trying to escape without having to make any more music.  But the Satan (and the Illuminati) doesn't allow people to just leave, there must be a price. Now we have a DMX, bruised and battered spiritually, hoping that Jesus will break his chains. Here is his recent interview in Arizona correctional facility:


(Notice as he reads over his lyrics it is almost as if doesn't recognized them; like someone else had wrote them)

Here is his gospel song "Lord Give Me A Sign"
Right after the making of this song, he was convicted with the charges that placed him in jail. How convenient that an artist that speaks of Jesus name THE RIGHT WAY gets put in jail right afterward.
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New Releases - CD

Some Melbourne styles for y'all to hear....
Dekota-C-Rodent "Songs for Ben" EP



Nymphlow "Sickadenmost Sampler" EP
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