Sure Shot : It Ain’t Hard To Tell in The Source (1994)

Unsigned review of Nasty Nas’ second single in february 1994.
The audio companion is an early demo with totally different lyrics and slightly different beat.

Nas : It Ain’t Hard To Tell (demo) (DivShare)

Second Coming : Nas in The Source (1994)

Classic article on the Illmatic sessions written by Jon Shecter in april 1994.

DJ Premier : Represent original demo instru (DivShare)

Categories : feature, queens, Jon Shecter, Demo.

Taking You There : Pete Rock & CL Smooth in Rap Pages (1994)

Lenghty interview with Pete Rock and CL Smooth in Rap Pages, september 1994 . Div Share seems to work again, let me know in the comments if it’s trippin again.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Lethal Weapon (demo) (Mass Mirror)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth : Lethal Weapon (demo) (Div Share)

Categories : Interview, Demo, Ghetto Communicator.

Unsigned Hype : Saafir in The Source (1992)

Digital Underground’s, Hobo Junction’s, Golden State’s and Bay Area greatest MC ever before becoming the movie and music star that he is today, in the Unsigned Hype column,  august 1992.

Saafir : Light Sleeper (demo) (DivShare)

Categories : Bay Area, Demo, Unsigned, Matty C.

A Point Of Clarification : CL Smooth letter to the Editor in The Source (1992)

After the august interview CL Smooth took time to write to The Source to make sure his manager-mate LL Cool J didn’t take offense of his remark.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth : CL Strikes Again (demo) (DivShare)

Categories : Letter, Demo.

Classic Review : KRS One in URB (1995)

Magazine reviews used to be something that people in the industry respected. Sometimes bad reviews could lead to an album being sent back to the drawing board, shortened, or cancelled. Which was the case with KRS One’s second “solo” album. As you can see in the URB review, the song Clubs Dem was not really considered by Elliott Wilson as one of the best tracks, and it didn’t appear on the retail version of the album.

KRS One : Clubs Dem (demo)

Categories : Demo, Review, Bronx, Elliott Wilson.

Evolve : Pharoahe Monch editorial in The Source (1995)

Editorial written by rappers’ rapper Pharoahe Monch for The Source in may 1995. As far as I know he never used the lyrics that mysteriously appeared in his rhyme book, if they did, I’d really like to hear the song. And you should know how much I love this Simply II Positive demo, so that’s where the MP3 of the day comes from. 

Simply II Positive : International Arrival (demo) (Divshare)

Categories : Queens, Demo, Editorial.

Classic Review : Organized Konfusion in The Source (1992)

Published in the Source, january of 1992, a review of Organized Konfusion first album, penned by Matty C. The audio is a track from their famous demo produced by the late Paul C, back when they called themselves Simply II Positive MC’s.

Simply II Positive aka Organized Konfusion : Mind Over Matter (demo) (DivShare)

Livin Proof review in The Source (1995)

You know you suck when the guy who review your album can’t find one decent line in your rhymes and can only quote an interlude ! You gotta appreciate how Joe Charles tries hard not to make fun of their lyrics. Lyrical enthusiast will surely appreciate the demo version of Supa Star, with different lyrics ! Have fun.

Group Home : Supa Star (demo) (DivShare)

36 Chambers Of Death… Choose One : Wu-Tang in Rap Pages (1994)

Early feature on Wu-Tang Clan from Rap Pages written by Cheo H. Coker with the controversial illustrations by Elika. This created a brawl between the writer and Masta Killa, as exposed later in a Source editorial (see below). This created a strange situation in hip-hop where many artists from Keith Murray to Chuck D justify the beating down of journalists.

Wu-Tang Clan : Bring The Ruckus (demo) (DivShare)
Wu-Tang Clan : Bring The Ruckus (demo) (zShare)

Category Feature, Wu-Tang, Editorial, Demo, Cheo H. Coker

The Mayor Of St James : Notorious Big in The Source (1994)

Chris Wilder followed Chris Wallace when he wasn’t the King Of New-York yet, from The Source, october 1994. The mp3 is a dope demo with an awful sound.

Notorious Big : Biggie Got The Hype Shit (demo) (DivShare)

Categories : Chris Wilder, Feature, Brooklyn, Demo

Bronx Bombers : Ultramagnetic MC’s in The Source (1992)

Interview from 1992 with Ultramagnetic MC’s in The Source reminiscing about the good old days, talking about how I Like Your Style is a great song and discussing Kool Keith mental state.

Ultramagnetic MC’s : Message From The Boss (demo version) (zShare)
Ultramagnetic MC’s : Message From The Boss (demo version) (Send Space)