DMX's Damian

A 16-year old fan of hip-hop right now probably has no idea what the hype behind DMX was about 12/13 years ago. Its tough to imagine that this washed-up, holiday-in-jail, tax-evading failed actor used to be one of the most exciting things in hip-hop, not to mention one of the most consistent.

DMX was in a position to be one of the biggest artists in rap, and probably would have been had the wheels not fallen off so badly that he was left using prison like a timeshare holiday agreement. Honestly, the guy has been in and out of jail more than some of the guards on shift-work.

But let's forget all that. Let's forget that it's 2011 and a DMX article won't be read by a single soul. Let's take it back to 1998. The year DMX became the biggest emcee in New York.

Following a decent run of hype following some guest spots (most notably on LL Cool J's track "4.3.2.1", which subsequently became more famous because of the LL/Canibus beef (sidenote: Canibus won that by the way)) Earl Simmons' debut LP "Its Dark & Hell Is Hot" was released to an absolutely rabid frenzy of support. It was heralded by some as New York taking the power back, but by most it was just an agreement that this wierd guy who growled and barked (and looked like a really dodgy mechanic who would smack you in the face if you didn't tip him) was actually running things.

There was no-one before and has been no-one since who has had a style as abrasive and aesthetically underground as his, but still managed to captivate the mainstream middle-class pop-rap audience just as much as his core fanbase.


"Get At Me Dog" and "Ruff Ryder's Anthem" were huge street hits, as was "Stop Being Greedy", and he followed that aforementioned debut album up quickly with his second LP later in the same year. "Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood" just continued the bludgeoning. Then the Ruff Ryders came with a compilation album...then came his third LP. The guy was basically hip-hop's 'everyman' voice. That is, if by 'everyman' you mean the nutter standing at the end of the bar waiting for someone to glance at him so he can start some shit.

But for all of his success and his huge hits, his career came crashing down just as swiftly as it was established. Its continue crashing since, like a dickhead drummer playing hell with the hi-hat (stop me with these horrendous similes whenever you're ready).

However, enough of the background info, this is about DMX's slow-burning classics. In amongst "Party Up (In Here)", "X Gon Give It To Ya" and "Slippin", there was a trio of album tracks that spanned the best four LPs he released before he went on the wane. They were astonishingly dark for a major label rap artist, not least one who had a huge fanbase and a burgeoning film career, and it was both surprising and refreshing. Even today they still sound new and raw, and get repeat listens from myself on my desperately-trying-to-hold-onto-hip-hop-past iPod library.

The three tracks were called Damian I, II & III, and they recounted DMX fighting his demons, literally. The beats were harrowing on each of them, with the second featuring the en-vogue media hate-mogul at the time, Marilyn Manson, on the chorus. DMX was never a smiling, happy emcee rapping about his relaxing life and loving family, and a lot of his other material felt cold yet emotional. But these were different.

The first Damian is about DMX scolding himself for always picking the wrong route and cursing why he doesn't have a "guardian angel". The "guardian angel" (by the name Damian) then suddenly turns up out of the blue and promises D the world, which is greatly appreciated by our Ruff Ryding friend. However, it becomes apparent over the song that Damian isn't the angel DMX was hoping for. Instead, we're treated to a bloodbath, with Damian instructing Earl to kill off anyone that gets in their way, even people considered friends.

The second one and third continue this trend, with the story developing further, and going into murkier territory as it carries on. The best part of all this is that, in amongst all of this, DMX has chosen to voice this devilish guardian angel with a lisp and a happy disposition, which just happens to make proceedings all the more stark.

Its superb stuff and I pray for the day that a commercial rap artist on a major label would ever have the bollocks to do something like this again. But instead, we're stuck with DRAKE. And sorry, Drake, but you're just a fucking bitch. If you agree, enjoy this small collection and listen to it at full volume on your headphones while rocking back and forth in the corner of your bedroom.

DMX's Damian (1998-2001)

1. Damian
2. The Omen (Damian II) (feat. Marilyn Manson)
3. Damian III

Jehst - Starting Over

New Jehst. This has actually been circulating for a few weeks now but it needs air on this site. Anything by this guy instantly floats to the top of the pile when it comes to UK hip-hop. We all wait with rabid anticipation for a new LP. Even the Menghi Bus Mixtape seems a LONG time ago, Jehst!

Skinnyman - Music Speaks Louder Than Words

New Skinnyman. We've needed him.

The Diplomats - Best Of The Rest

Its amazing how a collective of artists, who individually are no better than average, can come together as one to create a whole movement and generate enough hype and material to create a legacy. Some collectives have talent running throughout and couldn't fail if they tried. The Wu-Tang Clan was as much an advert for each member's solo ability as it was for the group as a whole, and the success of each individual from that group is testament to that.

The Diplomats never had the talent that the Wu had. Not even a single member. They never had the lyrical story-weaving of Raekwon or Ghostface. They never had the commanding aura or intelligence of GZA, nor the presence and individuality of Method Man. However, one thing they did have was charisma. Charisma, the whole of Harlem, and the Heatmakerz.

Its strange to think back to the early 2000s and notice just how dominant Dipset were in the rap scene. Their gully songs, peppered with the odd radio-friendly club track was a snapshot of where hip-hop was at in those years.

The sped-up soul samples that Kanye West supposedly ushered in were being used to just as good effect by the relative unknowns that backed up a large proportion of the Dips' output. And this production crew, The Heatmakerz, were arguably the secret ingredient in Cam'Ron's successful recipe. Sure, it was ignorant, the samples were often lazy and well-known, and they were often repetitive, but they were catchy as fuck. And they were catchy in an acceptable way (ie. guys are going to get a slap by their mates if theyre seen humming a Nelly song, and rightly so...but Dipset? They'd join in).

Today, the Diplomats are a fragmented collective who announced their long-awaited return with a few leaked tracks and freestyles, and most of the extended membership has been shorn. Vado seems to be Cam'Ron's new artist he wants to push, and thats left his old pupils out in the cold.

Juelz Santana and Jim Jones are still working alongside Killa Cam, but not with the same togetherness they had 8 years ago, when they ran NY commercial rap radio. Jim Jones, incidentally, has just released his new LP, and its utter bollocks.

This post is to highlight the lesser known tracks by the Dipset Collective, away from their "Diplomatic Immunity" album, or Cam'Ron's big hits. We're celebrating their weed carriers today, from 40 Cal to Hell Rell, JR Writer to Purple City, just as much as we're celebrating their bigger names. Even these so called "minions" contributed immensely to the movement at the time but can probably found today, homeless and jobless, curled up on a broken couch in a crackhouse somewhere sniffing lines off the inner thigh of a prostitute.

Lets remember them for the good times, the ridiculously over-the-top gangster posturing, the chipmunk soul, the barely literate wordplay that was somehow endearing because of that. I present to you a collection of songs that are ludicrous, amazing, rubbish and entertaining in equal portions. Here is The Diplomats.

Its a big tracklist, because one album's worth of material wouldnt be enough to highlight the OTT epicness (is that a word?) of the Diplomats. This is a monster collection, one that you should listen to ALL DAY EVERY DAY while walking down the street and slapping random bitches and dickheads who give you black looks. This is a gift from me to you, a labour of love, and a collection of songs that I will always love, no matter how silly they are...all four hours and twenty minutes of it. Enjoy.

Click on the album title or the "download" at the bottom of the post for enough Dipset to leave sprinkles of cooked crack round your nostrils without you even realising.

The Diplomats: Northern Author's Best of the Rest

Tracklist

CAM'RON
All The Chickens (feat. Juelz Santana) (from "S.D.E.")
Dipset Forever (from "Purple Haze")
Do Ya Thing (Remix) (from "Killa Season")
He Tried To Play Me (feat. Hell Rell) (from "Killa Season")
I.B.S. (from "Killa Season")
More Reasons (from "Purple Haze")
War (feat. Hell Rell) (from "Killa Season")
Diamonds & Pearls (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 5")
Facts Of Life (feat. Juelz Santana) (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 1")
Pain & Agony (feat. McGruff) (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 2")
Suga Duga (from "Dipset: More Than Music Vol. 2")

JUELZ SANTANA
Daddy (from "What The Game's Been Missing")
Down (from "From Me To U")
How I Feel (from "From Me To U")
Lil' Boy Fresh (from "What The Game's Been Missing")
Monster Music (from "From Me To U")
Santana's Town Part. II (From "Dipset: More Than Music Vol. 1")
Bandana (from "Back Like Cooked Crack 2: More Crack")
Blow (from "Back Like Cooked Crack 1")
Fat Bitch (from "Back Like Cooked Crack 3")
Mr. Postman (from "Back Like Cooked Crack 3")
So Rude (from "Back Like Cooked Crack 1")
You Oughta Know (feat. Cam'Ron) (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 4")
Your Gonna Love Me (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 4")

JIM JONES
Getaway (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 3")
Questions (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 3")
G's Up (from "Harlem: Diary Of A Summer")
Harlem (from "Harlem: Diary Of A Summer")
Talking To The World (from "On My Way To Church")
This Is Jim Jones (feat. Cam'Ron) (from "On My Way To Church")
What Kind Of Life Is This (feat. Juelz Santana) (from "Dipset: More Than Music Vol. 1")
Come On, Come On (feat. NOE & Oshy) (from "Harlem's American Gangster")
Concrete Jungle (from "Hustler's POME: Product Of My Environment")
End Of The Road (feat. TI & Bun B) (from "On My Way To Church")

40 CAL
Dipset City(ft. Hell Rell, JR Writer, Jim Jones & Juelz Santana)(from "More Than Music Vol. 2")
Blackout (from "Trigger Happy 2")
Do It Again (from "Trigger Happy 2")
Fuck It All (from "Broken Safety")
Highway Music (from "Trigger Happy")
If You Want It (from "The Yellow Tape")
Neva Neva (feat. A-Mafia & RU Spitz) (from "Broken Safety")
Real Bitch (from "Broken Safety")
Stick 'Em (feat. Cam'Ron & JR Writer) (from "Broken Safety 2")
Jungle Hood (feat. Su Da Boss) (from "Trigger Happy")
Harlem Blues (from "40 Calories: Get Ya Weight Up")
License To Kill (from "40 Calories: Get Ya Weight Up")
Rain (from "The Eye Of The Eagle")

HELL RELL
This Is What I Do (feat. Cam'Ron) (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 2")
I'm The Shit (feat. Cam'Ron) (from "For The Hell Of It")
Streets Gonna Love Me (from "For The Hell Of It")
Intro (from "Streets Wanna Know")
Ruger Rell & Writer (feat. JR Writer) (from "Streets Wanna Know")

JR WRITER
Y'All Ain't Ready (from "Still Standing")
The Hiest (from "History In The Making")
Riot Pump (from "History In The Making")
To Be A Diplomat (from "History In The Making")
Xtasy (feat. Nicole Wray) (from "History In The Making")
You Make Me Say (from "Dipset: More Than Music Vol. 1")
It's All Over (from "Still Standing")
Jamaican Diplomocracy (from "Still Standing")
Soul Centric (from "Still Standing")

S.A.S.
So Free (feat. Cam'Ron) (from "Diplomatic Immunity Vol. 2")
Built This City Part II (from ""Where Is SAS?")
Ur In Da Army (feat. Juelz Santana) (from "Streets All Salute")
Streets All Salute (from "Streets All Salute")
Missing You (from "Dipset Eurogang: Gang's All Here")

THE REST
Agallah - Purple City Gangsta (feat. Shiest Bub) (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 4")
Un Kasa - Death Is The Only Escape (from "The Diplomats Mixtape Vol. 3")
Freekey Zeekey - Streets (from "Book Of Ezekiel")
DukeDaGod (feat. Hell Rell & JR Writer) - More Than Music(from "Dipset:More Than Music 1")
Jha Jha & Un Kasa - So Gangsta (from "Dipset: More Than Music Vol. 1")
Coinz (feat. S.A.S.) - Doing Fine (from "Dipset Eurogang: Gang's All Here")

DOWNLOAD HERE

(Note: I have intentionally stayed away from most of their staple favourites and the CamRon/Juelz/Jim Jones hit singles, because let's be honest, if you don't already own them then you're a silly fucker and shouldnt be perusing a rap blog in the first place)

Skillit - "Ready To Light"

Hackenbush Is Back

Chester P, one half of UK behemoths Taskforce, has released his new album "New Mic Order Part 2" via his bandcamp website. Its a real return to form (or rather, a return to the music scene, as he was never really "out of form" in the first place) and its very welcome in a UK rap scene that currently stands in a transitional period.

The veterans of the scene are slowly but surely dropping off and retiring one by one, and thus far, there have been very few artists or collectives coming through that can receive the baton and develop the scene further. Chester P has shown with this release, an album I've listened to for the past few hours and enjoyed thoroughly, that he's not ready to pass the torch. Especially not to those who aren't worthy.

The album is called "New Mic Order Pt.2", yet this isn't a New Mic Order at all. Its a return to the roots of Taskforce and UK rap. Its grit and grind sprinkled with inner-city verve and wordplay. Its a highly experienced british emcee (who should get a lot more plaudits and respect than he does) showing the new jacks how its done, and why its important that the UK rap sound stays entirely separate and individual to that of its parent US scene. Its an old mic order that continues to work... and I appreciate that.

The album is a meagre fiver, and for that you get one of the most solid UK rap albums so far this year, so preview the songs below, then head over to the site and get it bought.

Bitchin' Rock Stars From Mars

You can lick a dick, and you can suck a nut. Because Pyro Barz, Loudmouth Melvin and Postman P are WINNING.

The Last Music From The Corner?

Taskforce's Farma G released via bandcamp a track he'd recorded with Chester P back in September 2009 a few days ago, and its the last thing they've recorded together under the Taskforce name.

The track is superb, staying true to the gritty reality beats and rhymes that has made them so revered in the UK hip-hop scene. It would be very sad to see these two UK stalwarts stop making music together entirely, as some of the best moments of the scene since they joined it over 10 years ago have came from them.

One upside to this is, the bandcamp track does come with a short paragraph below stating that one last Taskforce album "Music From The Corner Vol. 5" is still due for release later this year. That gives us something to look forward to still from these two UK legends. Until then, allow "The Final Countdown" to whet your appetite, and continue playing everything from "The Butterfly Concerto" to "Grafdafuckup".

M9 - "Shot" VIDEO

From the incredible mixtape released a few months ago "Orion's Stencil", as presented by Hip Hop Hype Dog (www.hypedog.co.uk) and featured on this very site, M9 has released a mindblowing video for his lead track "Shot". Incredibly well done, and the song is still banging harder than my cock in your bird. Great stuff.

Mystro - 2010 Rap-Up (Radio Rip)

If you've not heard it yet, where have you been?! No matter though, check it out now, as Mystro, one of the UK's finest emcees, gives us the lowdown on anything and everything that happened in the past 12 months.

Coma patients wake up and listen to what you've missed, as Digmund Freud delivers it in with wit, humour and a sharpness akin to the coolest stanley knife you've ever seen.





And it doesnt end there. In conjunction with DJ esSDee (www.twitter.com/djessdee), Mystro has launched his new website complete with brand spanking content, videos and updates.

Visit http://www.mysdiggi.com/ muthaluvers, and be blessed with material from one of our favourite sons.