Off the Dome : Article about freestyling in VIBE Magazine (1995)

An article about the main thing that separates MC from rapper, published in VIBE Magazine in October 1995, written by T-Love.

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.

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

Unsigned Hype : DJ Shadow in The Source (1991)

Another Unsigned Hype from way back, that time Matty C was reviewing a demo tape by the young DJ Shadow. It was in the June 1991 issue of The Source.

Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy : Too $hort in The Source

Too $hort in the August 1992 issue of The Source, written by Reginald C. Dennis, photo by Victor Hall.

Quintessential Hip-Hop Bluesisms : Biz Markie in The Source (1992)

Biz Markie in the February 1992 issue of The Source, written by Adario Strange, photo by Michael Benabib.

I Know You Got Soul : Hank Shocklee & Bill Stephney in The Source (1990)

An interview with Bill Stephney and Hank Shocklee (Public Enemy/Bomb Squad) conducted by Jon Shecter in may 1990.

Wayne’s World : Lil Wayne in Blaze (2000)

This here is from the February 2000 issue of Blaze Magazine and was actually his first time gracing a cover as a solo artist.

Celebrated Outlaws : Graffiti pioneers in The Source (1993)

Four pages article written by Ricky Powell (RIP), covering various graffiti kings : Daze, Revolt, Zephyr, Futura 2000, Dondi, Team and Lee. Published in the “True School” special issue of The Source, November 1993.

Classic Review : Movin’ On (remix) in The Source (1991)

Review of Master Ace last single for Cold Chillin’, written by Reginald C. Dennis in The Source, june 1991.

Sleeping Snakes : A fiction by Masta Ace (The Source, 1993)

No offense to Slick Rick, but there is not any rapper who can mess with Masta Ace when it comes to story telling. Below is a fiction about a young graff writer written by Masta Ace and published in The Source in 1993.
Page 3 is a short interview with Ace to promote his album Slaughtahouse.
The song that comes with it is an early demo that didn’t make the final cut for his Take A Look Around album, unearthed a few years ago.

 

 

Props For The Propmaster : Kool DJ Red Alert in The Source (1993)

Feature on the legendary DJ Red Alert written by Reef in the Source, october 1993.

Classic Review : A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing in The Source (1991)

Review of Black Sheep’s first album in the november 1991 issue of The Source, written by Atco.

 

 

“There is a lot of talk about the lack of slammin’ jams on recent albums. That’s definitely not the case with the Black Sheep debut. Riding the jazzy “Flavor Of The Month,” Dres and Mista Lawnge follow-up with a style that’s bound to annoy and enjoy. With tracks such as “Similak Child,” “Hoes We Noes,” and “La Menage” (featuring Q-Tip), it’s plain to see that the Sheep rhyme about topics that might upset a few feminists, but it’s all in fun.

 

Musically the Sheep are unique, giving you an ear-ful of previously unused beats, basslines and samples from all types of music without making their tracks noisy or cluttered. The production comes off sounding crisp and clear to the point that you’ll find yourself freestyling over their funky beats.

 

Dres flows like a waterfall, and “the sugardick-daddy” Mista Lawnge spouts the lingo on a couple of cuts like on “Pass The 40,” where he states: “l stick gum in my ass cause I like to pop shit. ” Other dope cuts include ” Black With N.V. ” (No Vision), the tour-de-force “Try Counting Sheep” (which has a clever Rare Earth sample) and a message to the legions of wack rappers on “To Whom lt May Concern.” Throw in a couple of funny skits and you’ve got an idea of what the Sheep are about.

 

Although Black Sheep are down with the likes of De La Soul, Quest and the JB’s, they don’t sound like any of them-their shit just sounds dope.”

 

ATCO