Classic Material

1993 - Classic Material Edition #7 Bonus Tracks

In keeping with tradition, we wrap up our entries for the year with a new download of bonus tracks. This one's another special one since it includes a remix never before available online, a remix of Da Youngstas' 'Iz U Wit Me' in stylistic tribute to early Pete Rock productions / remixes. One of our favourites from the series in fact.

Listen / download via Bandcamp here.

1993 - A Year In Rap

1993 was a year which many consider the pinacle of the so called early 90s golden era. Sampling and production techniques honed during the early 90s had reached a natural maturity by 1993 with key golden era producers such as Pete Rock and the Beatnuts establishing their own trademark sounds. The East Coast also ushered in a new harder edged sound with Wu Tang Clan (pictured) and Onyx both delivering gritty debuts. On the West Coast, the 'G Funk' sound which found its feet the year prior delivered arguably its most accomplished album in the form of Snoop's seminal LP, Doggy Style. 1993 was also a great year for emerging undergound acts carving out their own sound, Souls of Mischief being a notable example. Below is a snapshot of some of the year's key events, produced this time with the assistance of Dream Door's hip hop timeline:

- KRS-One, deciding on a change of approach, officially 'retires' the name Boogie Down Productions, subsequently releasing albums only as KRS-One.

- A loose collective of Staten Island MCs calling themselves the Wu-Tang Clan featuring former Cold Chillin' artist The Genius release their first single, 'Protect Ya Neck.' It becomes an underground hit, making anticipation for the nine-man crew's debut album extremely high. Wu-Tang Clan's debut album, 'Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers' is released in November that year to critical acclaim but moderate sales. After the single, 'C.R.E.A.M.' is released, the album begins a steady climb up the charts, beginning a new age for hardcore, gritty East Coast hip-hop.

- 2Pac releases his second album, "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z." Almost as inflammatory as his debut, it also showcases a sensitive, thoughtful side to the rapper. The single, "Keep Ya Head Up" is especially praised as a love letter to Black women, and becomes his biggest hit to date.

- Run DMC make an unexpected return to the charts with their acclaimed comeback album, "Down With the King."

- Sean "Puffy" Combs sets up his own label, Bad Boy Entertainment, running the label initially from his apartment. The company grows rapidly, and Combs soon signs two up-and-coming MCs, former EPMD roadie Craig Mack and a former drug dealer from Brooklyn named Christopher Wallace aka Notorious B.I.G.

- Dr. Dre protege Snoop Doggy Dogg releases his highly-anticipated solo debut, 'DoggyStyle' for Death Row Records. The album is a monstrous hit, becoming the first debut album to enter the Billboard chart at #1. Around the time of release, Snoop is implicated in the murder of a Long Beach man and is charged with second-degree murder. Surprisingly, this does nothing to slow his skyrocketing popularity.

- 2Pac is arrested on charges of assault and battery after he attacks director Allen Hughes on the set of the film "Menace II Society".

- MC Lyte releases her first hardcore rap album in four years (after a brief foray into more pop-friendly territory). Her hit single, 'Ruffneck,' becomes the first rap single by a female artist to go gold and is nominated for a Grammy.

- Craig Mack's 'Funk Da World' becomes the first album to be released by the fledgling Bad Boy Entertainment label. It eventually goes gold.

- Continuing their string of brilliant albums, A Tribe Called Quest releases 'Midnight Marauders', which spawns their biggest hit to date, the infectious single 'Award Tour'.

- 2Pac is charged in the shooting of two off-duty police officers in Atlanta, GA. The charges would later be dismissed. He also lands a second high-profile film role, starring in John Singleton's urban romance 'Poetic Justice'. He follows that with yet another starring turn in the basketball drama 'Above the Rim'.

- Queen Latifah releases the uplifting respect anthem, 'U.N.I.T.Y.', which wins a Grammy. Her third album, 'Black Reign', becomes the first gold album for a solo female MC.

- C. Deloris Tucker, Dionne Warwick, and several other high-profile moral activists call for a boycott against gangsta-rap artists such as 2Pac, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Doggy Dogg, citing the lyrics of much of their music to be violent and misogynistic.

- Salt-N-Pepa release their fourth album, 'Very Necessary'. It goes on to become the best-selling rap album of all time by a female artist.

- After six years and four critically-acclaimed albums, (and jump-starting the career of close friend Redman) EPMD, one of underground rap's most respected groups, announce that they are going their separate ways.

1993 to 2007 - The Are’s Manipulated Marauders

A Tribe Called Quest's 'Midnight Maruaders', released November 1993 is without doubt one of the genre's best loved albums, a 90s classic which broke new ground in terms of production techniques, sample material and lyrical content. As a well loved album it has, probably more so than almost any other album, seen its fair share of unofficial remixes and reworks. One of our favourites is from Houston beat maker The Are. You can listen to (and buy) the 'Producers I Know' affiliate's 'Manipulated Marauders' beat tape via bandcamp here.

1993 - Diary Rap Megamix

Another nugget from the Classic Material vaults, our 4 minute megamix of 30 or so of 1993's best loved hip hop releases.

Listen / download via bandcamp here.

1993 - Ego Trip’s Top 25 Rap Albums

A snapshot of 1993's best loved hip hop album releases, borrowing the top 25 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers)
2. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
3. Snoop Doggy Dogg - Doggystyle
4. De La Soul - Buhloone Mind State
5. Black Moon - Enta Da Stage
6. KRS One - Return Of The Boom Bap
7. The Beatnuts - Intoxicated Demons EP
8. Onyx - Bacdafucup
9. Ultramagnetic MCs - The Four Horsemen
10. King Tee - The Triflin' Album
11. Alkaholiks - 21 & Over
12. Souls of Mischief - 93 Til Infinity
13. Masta Ace - Slaughtahouse
14. Mr Scarface - The World Is Yours
15. Yo Yo - You Better Ask Somebody
16. Del The Funkee Homosapien - No Need For Alarm
17. Geto Boys - Til Death Do Us Part
18. Too $hort - Get In Where You Fit In
19. Cypress Hill - Black Sunday
20. Eightball & MJG - Comin' Out Hard
21. E-40 - Federal
22. Akinyele - Vagina Diner
23. The Roots - Organix
24. Lords of the Underground - Here Come The Lords
25. Fat Joe - Represent

1993 - Whooliganz - Put Your Handz Up (Chris Read Remix)

This remix of The Whooliganz' 'Put Your Handz Up' originally appeared on the 2009 remix compilation 'Diary 1.5: Twenty Years of the Remix'. As with all remixes from the Diary collection, the production style owes something to popular production styles of the day. In the this instance some inspiration was taken from jazzy uptempo dancefloor cuts released at the time by the likes of Yaggfu Front and early Bush Babees cuts such as 'Swing It'.

Listen to / download the vocal version here or grab the instrumental version here.

1993 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

A snapshot of 1993's best loved single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg: "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang" (Death Row)
2. Wu-Tang Clan: "Protect Ya Neck" (Wu-Tang)
3. Jeru the Damaja: "Come Clean" (Payday)
4. The Pharcyde: "Passin' Me By" (Delicious Vinyl)
5. Redman: "Tonight's da Night" (Def Jam)
6. 2Pac featuring Shock G & Money B: "I Get Around" (Interscope)
7. A Tribe Called Quest featuring Trugoy: "Award Tour" (Jive)
8. Onyx: "Throw Ya Gunz" (Def Jam)
9. Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg: "Fuck wit Dre Day (and Everybody's Celebratin'" (Death Row)
10. Redman: "Time 4 Sum Aksion" (Def Jam)
11. Wu-Tang Clan: "Method Man" (Loud)
12. KRS-One: "Outta Here" (Jive)
13. A Tribe Called Quest: "Electric Relaxation" (Jive)
14. Souls of Mischief: "93 'til Infinity" (Jive)
15. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: "On the Run (Dirty Untouchable Remix)" (Cold Chillin')
16. Onyx: "Slam" (Def Jam)
17. MC Eiht: "Streiht Up Menace" (Jive)
18. M.O.P.: "How About Some Hardcore" (Select)
19. The Pharcyde: "Otha Fish" (Delicious Vinyl)
20. Notorious B.I.G.: "Party and Bullshit" (Uptown)
21. Alkaholiks: "Make Room" (Loud)
22. MC Breed featuring 2Pac: "Gotta Get Mine" (Ichiban)
23. Beatnuts: "Reign of the Tec" (Relativity)
24. Casual: "That's How It Is (Remix)" (Jive)
25. Fat Joe: "Flow Joe" (Relativity)
26. KRS-One: "Sound of da Police"/"Hip Hop vs. Rap" (Jive)
27. De La Soul: "Breakadawn" (Tommy Boy)
28. Ultramagnetic MCs: "Two Brothers with Checks (San Francisco,Harvey)"/"One, Two, One, Two" (Wild Pitch)
29. Diamond D: "I'm Outta Here"/"You Can't Front (the Shit is Real)" (ChemistrY)
30. Casual: "I Didn't Mean to" (Jive)
31. Lords of the Underground: "Chief Rocka" (Elektra)
32. Kurious: "Walk Like a Duck" (Columbia)
33. Geto Boys: "Crooked Officer" (Rap-a-Lot)
34. Leaders of the New School: "What's Next?" (Elektra)
35. Domino: "Getto Jam" (Outburst)
36. Intelligent Hoodlum: "Grand Groove (Remix)" (A&M)
37. 2Pac: "Keep Ya Head Up" (Interscope)
38. Trends of Culture: "Off & On (Remix)" (Mad Sounds)
39. Cypress Hill: "Insane in the Brain"/ "When the Shit Goes Down" (Ruffhouse)
40. Mobb Deep: "Hit It From the Back" (4th & B'way)

1993 - Classic Material Edition #7 Mixtape

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1993, here's a quick reminder of our own 1993 mixtape. Classics from the likes of KRS One, Tribe Called Quest, Black Moon and Main Source alongside lesser known cuts. Mixed by Classic Material's Chris Read.

Listen on Mixcloud here or grab yourself a free download here. We've also now created a handy Mixcloud playlist where you can check out all of the mixes from the Classic Material mix series in one place.

1993 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Moving on to 1993, we kick things off with another offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to their 1993 mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here. And to make life easier, we've now created a handy Mixcloud playlist where you can check out all the mixes from this series in one place. You can check that out on Classic Material curator Chris Read's Mixcloud page here.

1992 - Classic Material Edition #6 Bonus Tracks

In keeping with tradition, we wrap up our entries for the year with a new download of bonus tracks. This one's a little more special than the last couple of bonus giveaways since it includes a remix never before available online.

Listen / download via Bandcamp here.

1992 - A Year In Rap

1992 was a year notable for shifts in production techniques and styles and perhaps more importantly sampling trends. Abandoning over-saturated funk standards in favour of obscure jazz samples, producers such Showbiz, Diamond D, Q Tip and many others besides laid the foundations for the laid back jazz led sound that characterised countless East Coast classics of the early to mid 90s. On the West Coast, Dr Dre's seminal Chronic LP also broke new ground in terms of production style with a polished classicly LA sound that formed the blueprint for the 'G Funk' sound which ruled supreme throughout the early 90s. Below is a snapshot of some of the year's key events, produced this time with the assistance of Dream Door's hip hop timeline:

- 2Pac Shakur, former roadie, dancer, and second-string MC for Digital Underground, releases his debut album, '2Pacalypse Now'. It immediately incites controversy for it's content, particular lyrics regarding police officers. Vice President Dan Quayle even calls for a ban of the album during his campaign for re-election. Shakur's visibility is also raised by a star-making performance in the gritty urban drama 'Juice'.

- Body Count, Ice-T's new rap-metal band, release their debut album. The song 'Cop Killa' ignites a firestorm of controversy. After nationwide protests from law enforcement officials, Time-Warner pressures Ice-T to pull the song from the album and eventually sells it's share of Interscope Records, the distributor.

- With "Paul's Boutique" having obtained cult-classic status in the years following its release, the Beastie Boys (pictured above) release their third album, 'Check Your Head'. It becomes a smash hit debuting in the Top Ten and returning the Boys to the charts for the first time since their debut album, although with a much different sound.

- After producing a successful album for R&B singer Mary J. Blige and remixing several other hits for artists including Jodeci and Heavy D, Sean "Puffy" Combs is fired from Uptown after a dispute with label head Andre Harrell.

- Eric B. & Rakim release their fourth album, 'Don't Sweat the Technique'. The album is critically acclaimed, but the duo split almost immediately after its release. Eric B continues to produce for other rappers, (with mixed results), while Rakim, arguably the most celebrated MC in rap at this point in time goes into seclusion.

- After the acquittal of the officers accused of beating Rodney King, South Central Los Angeles erupts in violent street riots. After the two-day mayhem, rappers including Ice-T and Chuck D of Public Enemy are called upon to provide insight.

- Dr. Dre and Suge Knight form a partnership and create Death Row Records. Their first project is a song for the soundtrack to a police drama called 'Deep Cover'. The song features a previously unheard young rapper from Long Beach named Snoop Doggy Dogg.

1992 - Diary Rap Megamix

Another nugget from the Classic Material vaults, our 4 minute megamix of 30 or so of 1992's best loved hip hop releases.

Listen / download via bandcamp here.

1992 to 2012 - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde 20th Anniversary Mixtape

In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of The Pharcyde’s seminal ‘Bizarre Ride’ album and in support of the group's ‘Bizarre Ride Live’ tour Classic Material's Chris Read produced this special mix for OG West Coast label Delicious Vinyl in conjunction with Wax Poetics.

Comprising original album tracks, remixes, instrumentals, acapellas, original sample material and even some interview snippets from the time of release, this 40 minute mix takes in the high points of this incredible album. Check out the feature on Wax Poetics here.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud here or via Soundcloud here.

1992 - Ego Trip’s Top 25 Rap Albums

A snapshot of 1992's best loved hip hop album releases, borrowing the top 25 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Dr Dre - The Chronic
2. Brand Nubian - In God We Trust
3. Gang Starr - Daily Operation
4. Redman - Whut Thee Album
5. Diamond D & The Psychotic Neurotics - Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop
6. Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
7. Beastie Boys - Check Your Head
8. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Meccas & The Soul Brother
9. Showbiz & AG - Runaway Slave
10. Das EFX - Dead Serious
11. Da Lench Mob - Guerillas In Tha Mist
12. EPMD - Business Never Personal
13. Ice Cube - The Predator
14. DJ Quik - Way 2 Fonky
15. Heavy D & The Boyz - Blue Funk
16. Grand Puba - Reel to Reel
17. Positive K - Skills Dat Pay Da Bills
18. Too $hort - Shorty The Pimp
19. Compton's Most Wanted - Music To Drive By
20. Boogie Down Productions - Sex and Violence
21. UGK - Too Hard To Swallow
22. Spice 1 - Spice 1
23. Common - Can I Borrow A Dollar
24. House of Pain - House of Pain
25. J.T The Bigga Figga - Don't Stop Til We Major

1992 - Ultramagnetic MCs - Poppa Large (Daily Diggers Remix)

This remix of Ultramagnetic MCs' 'Poppa Large' originally appeared on the 2009 remix compilation 'Diary 1.5: Twenty Years of the Remix'. As with all remixes from the Diary collection, the production style owes something to popular production styles of the day. In the this instance some inspiration was taken from the likes of Diamond D and the practice of using well chosen drum loops laced with sample material from unusual sources.

Listen to / download the vocal version here or grab the instrumental version here.

1992 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

A snapshot of 1992's best loved single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Black Sheep: "The Choice is Yours (Revisited)" (Mercury)
2. Gang Starr featuring Nice & Smooth: "DWYCK" (Chrysalis)
3. Das EFX: "They Want EFX" (Eastwest)
4. Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg: "Deep Cover" (Epic)
5. Pete Rock & CL Smooth: "T.R.O.Y. (They Reminisce Over You)"(Elektra)
6. A Tribe Called Quest featuring Leaders of the New School: "Scenario" (Jive)
7. Main Source featuring Neek the Exotic: "Fakin' the Funk (Remix)"(Wild Pitch)
8. Brand Nubian: "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down" (Elektra)
9. Nas: "Half Time" (Columbia)
10. EPMD: "Crossover"/"Brothers from Brentwood L.I." (Def Jam)
11. House of Pain: "Jump Around" (Tommy Boy)
12. Ultramagnetic MCs: "Poppa Large (East Coast Remix)" (Mercury)
13. Das EFX: "Mic Checka (Remix)"/"Jussumen (Remix)" (Eastwest)
14. Redman: "Blow Your Mind"/"How to Roll a Blunt" (Def Jam)
15. Naughty by Nature: "Uptown Anthem" (MCA)
16. Eric B. & Rakim: "Juice (Know the Ledge)" (MCA)
17. EPMD featuring K-Solo & Redman: "Head Banger" (Def Jam)
18. A Tribe Called Quest: "Jazz (We've Got)" (Jive)
19. Naughty by Nature: "Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Ghetto Bastard)"(Tommy Boy)
20. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: "Ill Street Blues" (Cold Chillin')
21. Black Moon: "Who Got da Props?" (Nervous)
22. Apache: "Gangsta Bitch" (Tommy Boy)
23. Cypress Hill: "Hand on the Pump" (Ruffhouse)
24. Afrika Bambaataa Presents Time Zone: "Zulu War Chant" (Planet Rock)
25. Grand Puba: "360 Degrees (What Goes Around)" (Elektra)
26. Diamond D: "Best Kept Secret"/"Freestyle (Yo, That's That Shit)" (Chemistry)
27. DJ Quik: "Just Like Compton" (Profile)
28. Double XX Posse: "Not Gonna Be Able to Do It" (Big Beat)
29. Pete Rock & CL Smooth: "Straighten It Out" (Elektra)
30. UMC's: "One to Grow On" (Wild Pitch)
31. Beastie Boys: "So What'cha Want" (Grand Royal)
32. Fu-Schnickesn featuring Phife Dawg: "La Schmoove" (Jive)
33. Show & AG: "Fat Pockets (Remix)" (Payday)
34. Organized Konfusion featuring O.C.: "Fudge Pudge" (Hollywood BASIC)
35. Chi Ali: "Age Ain't Nothin' But a #" (Relativity)
36. Del tha Funkee Homosapien: "Mistadobalina" (Elektra)
37. Eric B. & Rakim: "Don't Sweat the Technique" (MCA)
38. MC Ren: "Final Frontier" (Ruthless)
39. Sir Mix-a-Lot: "Baby Got Back" (Def American)
40. N2Deep: "Back to the Hotel" (Profile)

1992 - Classic Material Edition #6 Mixtape

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1992, here's a quick reminder of our own 1992 mixtape. Classics from the likes of Showbiz & AG, Gang Starr, Brand Nubian and Diamond D alongside lesser known cuts. Mixed by Classic Material's Chris Read.

Listen on Mixcloud here or grab yourself a free download here. We've also now created a handy Mixcloud playlist where you can check out all of the mixes from the Classic Material mix series in one place.

1992 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Moving on to 1992, we kick things off with another offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to their 1992 mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here. And to make life easier, we've now created a handy Mixcloud playlist where you can check out all the mixes from this series in one place. You can check that out on Classic Material curator Chris Read's Mixcloud page here.

1991 - Ollie Teeba’s 4 Hour Classic Material Guest Mix

For the last of our 1991 entries, we have something pretty special for you. The Herbaliser's Ollie Teeba, guest DJ at our 1991 party, went all out on the preparation and put together an amazingly comprehensive 4 hour set which he performed on the night. What's even better is that he recorded the whole thing and uploaded it to Mixcloud in seven handy sized chunks. We've added all seven parts to a convenient playlist so you can listen in one sitting or in parts as you please.

Listen here.

1991 - Classic Material Edition #5 Bonus Tracks

So, we arrive at the fifth of our Classic Material Bonus Tracks giveaways. This week's edition may not be of quite as much interest to seasoned followers since both tracks featured in this week's giveaway have in fact been available online before, but if you've always had a hankering for that Nice & Smooth Remix from the Diary Volume 1.5 remix album without the ident at the beginning, then you're in luck.

Listen / download the tracks from Bandcamp here.

1991 - Diary Rap Megamix

Another nugget from the Classic Material vaults, our 4 minute megamix of 30 or so of 1991's best loved hip hop releases.

Listen / download via bandcamp here.

1991 - Ego Trip’s Top 25 Rap Albums

A snapshot of 1991's best loved hip hop album releases, borrowing the top 25 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. NWA - Efil4zaggin
2. A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
3. Main Source - Breaking Atoms
4. De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead
5. Ice Cube - Death Certificate
6. Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill
7. Black Sheep - A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
8. DJ Quik - Quik Is The Name
9. Mr Scarface - Scarface Is The Name
10. Show & AG - Soul Clap EP
11. 3rd Bass - Derelicts of Dialect
12. AMG - Bitch Betta Have My Money
13. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - All Souled Out EP
14. Leaders of the New School - A Future Without A Past
15. Naughty by Nature - Naughty by Nature
16. Nice & Smooth - Ain't A Damn Thing Changed
17. Public Enemy - Apocalypse '91... The Empire Strikes Black
18. UMCs - Fruits Of Nature
19. Del Tne Funkee Homosapien - I Wish My Brother George Was Here
20. Geto Boys - We Can't Be Stopped
21. Tim Dog - Penicillin on Wax
22. KMD - Mr Hood
23. Compton's Most Wanted - Straight Checkin' 'Em
24. Organized Konfusion - Organized Konfusion
25. Freestyle Fellowship - To Whom I May Concern...

1991 - Nice & Smooth - Hip Hop Junkies (Chris Read Remix)

This remix of Nice & Smooth's 'Hip Hop Junkies' originally appeared on the 2009 remix compilation 'Diary 1.5: Twenty Years of the Remix' and was subsequently featured as a bonus track on the Classic Material Edition #5 mix CD. As with all remixes from the Diary collection, the production style owes something to popular production styles of the day. In the this instance I took some inspiration from the SD50s, Electra Records remixers of choice, notable for their bouncey productions liberally borrowing recognisable Jazz-Funk hooks.

Listen to / download the vocal version here or grab the instrumental version here.

1991 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

A snapshot of 1991's best loved single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Geto Boys: Mind Playing Tricks on Me" (Rap-a-Lot)
2. A Tribe Called Quest: "Check the Rhime" (Jive)
3. Naughty by Nature: "O.P.P." (Tommy Boy)
4. Public Enemy: "Shut 'em Down (Pete Rock Remix)" (Def Jam)
5. Cypress Hill: "How I Could Just Kill a Man" (Ruffhouse)
6. Brand Nubian: "Slow Down" (Elektra)
7. Main Source: "Just Hangin' Out"/"Live at the Barbeque" (Wild Pitch)
8. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince: "Summertime" (Jive)
9. Brand Nubian: "All for One" (Elektra)
10. Ed O.G. & da Bulldogs: "I Got to Have It" (PWL)
11. MC Breed: "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin'" (Ichiban)
12. EPMD featuring L.L. Cool J: "Rampage" (Def Jam)
13. Nice & Smooth: "Hip Hop Junkies" (Fresh)
14. Black Sheep: "Flavor of the Month" (Mercury)
15. De La Soul: "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" (Tommy Boy)
16. Ice Cube: "Steady Mobbin'"/"No Vaseline" (Priority)
17. Leaders of the New School: "Sobb Story" (Elektra)
18. Compton's Most Wanted: "Growin' Up in the Hood" (Orpheus)
19. Tim Dog: "Fuck Compton" (Ruffhouse)
20. Digital Underground featuring 2Pac: "Same Song" (Tommy Boy)
21. AMG: "Jiggable Pie" (Select)
22. MC Lyte: "Poor Georige" (First Priority)
23. Ed O.G. & da Bulldogs: "Be a Father to Your Child" (PWL)
24. WC & the MAAD Circle: "Dress Code" (Priority)
25. Gang Star: "Step in the Arena"/ "Check the Technique"(Chrysalis)
26. Poor Righteous Teachers: "Shakiyla" (Profile)
27. De La Soul featuring Q-Tip: "A Rollerskating Jam Named 'Saturdays'" (Tommy Boy)
28. Leaders of the New School: "Case of the P.T.A." (Elektra)
29. K.M.D.: "Nitty Gritty (Remix)"/"Plumskinzz" (Elektra)
30. Del tha Funkee Homosapien: "Sleepin' on My Couch" (Elektra)
31. K-Solo: "Fugitive" (Atlantic)
32. Eric B. & Rakim: "Mahogany" (MCA)
33. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: "Bad to the Bone" (Cold Chillin')
34. AMG: "Bitch Betta Have My Money" (Select)
35. D-Nice: "25 ta Life" (Jive)
36. DJ Quik: "Tonight" (Profile)
37. Special Ed: "Come on, Let's Move It" (Profile)
38. Ice-T: "O.G. Original Gangster"/"Bitches 2" (Sire)
39. K.M.D.: "Who Me?" (Elektra)
40. Raw Fusion: "Throw Your Hands in the Air"/"Do My Thang" (Hollywood BASIC)

1991 - Classic Material Edition #5 Mixtape

As we push on with our entries for 1991, here's a quick reminder of our 1991 mixtape. Classics from the likes of Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep and Del alongside lesser known cuts. Mixed by Classic Material's Chris Read.

Listen on Mixcloud here or grab yourself a free download here.

1991 - A Year In Rap

1991 was the year which many consider to have signaled the birth of a golden period for club friendly credible hip hop releases. Aside from numerous memorable LP releases, 1991 was above all a year of anthems - Tribe's 'Scenario', Nice and Smooth's 'Hip Hop Junkies', Showbiz and AG's 'Party Groove' and many other club friendly cuts with catchy hooks saw release during the year. 1991 was also a solid year for long players with stand out debut LPs from Black Sheep and Main Source amongst others. Debut LPs from Del the Funkee Homosapien and Cypress Hill both broke preconceptions about the West Coast sound in very different ways. Below is a snapshot of some of the year's key events, produced this time with the assistance of Dream Door's hip hop timeline:

- Gilbert O'Sullivan successfully sues rapper Biz Markie, claiming that Biz's single 'Alone Again' uses a sample of O'Sullivan's song 'Alone Again (Naturally)' without consent. The lawsuit signals a turning point in hip-hop sampling, dissuading future producers from building multi-layered sound collages out of multiple samples for fear of litigation.

- Digital Underground follow their well received debut album with the quirkily titled 'This Is An EP Release'. The hit single 'Same Song' features a young, lesser-known member of the crew named Tupac Shakur.

- Ice Cube stars in the gritty urban drama 'Boyz N the Hood', telling he tale of a group of young black men growing up in South Central Los Angeles. The film is a huge hit and spawns a legion of similarly styled movies in the following years.

- Bronx rapper Tim Dog (pictured above) releases the single 'Fuck Compton,' firing some of the first verbal shots in a simmering feud between East Coast and West Coast rappers.

- A Tribe Called Quest releases their much-anticipated sophomore album 'The Low End Theory'. Praised by critics and fans, the album is notable for its jazz-led production sealing the group's reputation as leaders of the 'new school' movement of the day.

- After the success of A Tribe Called Quest's 'Low End Theory' and De La Soul's sophomore effort 'De La Soul Is Dead', an alternative movement in hip hop gains momentum supported by strong debuts from Digable Planets, Arrested Development, Del the Funkee Homosapien, the Pharcyde, and Gang Starr.

- N.W.A. release their second full-length album, the inflammatory and controversial 'Efil4zaggin'. In spite of widespread media criticism of the album's graphic content, the album debuts at number one on the charts.

- Vanilla Ice's film, 'Cool As Ice' premieres to poor reviews and even worse box office returns. He is also criticised for fabricating his entire life story in interviews. To add insult to injury, Ice is successfully sued by David Bowie and Queen, who claim that he used the bassline from their hit 'Under Pressure' for his hit single 'Ice Ice Baby'.

- A video showing four Los Angeles police officers brutally beating a black man named Rodney King filmed by a third party onlooker is broadcast on television news wordwide provoking outrage. The incident provokes a wave of politically charged commentary in hip hop releases shortly thereafter. The subsequent acquittal of the four officers on assault charges the following year spark the 1992 L.A. riots.

- M.C. Hammer releases his third album, '2 Legit To Quit'. Although the title cut is a sizeable hit, the album fails to match the success of it's predecessor as the backlash against 'pop-rap' has Hammer losing his (already limited) crediblity among rap fans and the general public.

- Dr. Dre, citing a dispute over finances with Eazy-E and Ruthless Records quits N.W.A. Dre is still under contract to Ruthless and hires gangster-turned-businessman Marion "Suge" Knight to get him out of his deal with the record label. With Dre departing for a solo career, N.W.A. officially split.

- Sean Combs, still only 20 years old, is promoted to A&R at Uptown Records and executive produces hit albums for Father MC and Heavy D.

- New York rap group Main Source release their debut LP, the critically acclaimed 'Breaking Atoms' on Wild Pitch records. Despite moderate sales, the album goes down in hip hop history as one of the greatest debut long players of all time and the single 'Live At the Bar-B-Q' features a memorable verse by a seventeen year old Queens rapper named Nas.

1991 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1991, we have a further offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here.

1991 - Rap History Mix by DJ Crash

Moving on to 1991, we kick things off in the customary fashion with a mix from Berlin's Rap History crew. As with the 1989 and 1990 installments, we have a 75 minute mix from DJ Crash.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud and check out the tracklist here.

1990 - Classic Material Edition #4 Bonus Tracks

As is customary, we complete our blog entries for the year with a free download of bonus tracks. For our latest, we offer you 2 remixes and a megamix, all produced in keeping with the styles of the day.

Listen and / or grab yourself a free download from Bandcamp here.

1990 - Diary Rap Megamix

Another nugget from the Classic Material vaults, our 4 minute megamix of 30 or so of 1990's best loved hip hop releases.

Listen / download via bandcamp here.

1990 - Ego Trip’s Top 25 Rap Albums

A snapshot of 1990's best loved hip hop album releases, borrowing the top 25 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Ice Cube - Ameirkkka's Most Wanted
2. Brand Nubian - One For All
3. Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet
4. NWA - 100 Miles and Runnin EP
5. EPMD - Business As Usual
6. LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
7. Eric B & Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit Em
8. Kool G Rap & Polo - Wanted: Dead or Alive
9. A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels In The Paths Of Rhythm
10. Gang Starr - Step In The Arena
11. Boogie Down Productions - Edutainment
12. Above The Law - Livin' Like Hustlers
13. X Clan - To The East Blackwards
14. Ice Cube - Kill At Will EP
15. Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth - Funky Technician
16. Too $hort - Short Dog's In The House
17. Special Ed - Legal
18. Digital Underground - Sex Packets
19. King Tee - At Your Own Risk
20. K Solo - Tell The World My Name
21. Poor Righteous Teachers - Holy Intellect
22. Masta Ace - Take A Look Around
23. Digital Underground - This Is An EP Release
24. Compton's Most Wanted - It's A Compton Thing
25. D Nice - Call Me D Nice

1990 - Eric B & Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit Em (Chris Read Remix)

This remix of Eric B & Rakim's 'Let The Rhythm Hit Em' originally appeared on the 2009 remix compilation 'Diary 1.5: Twenty Years of the Remix' and was subsequently featured as a bonus track on the Classic Material Edition #4 mix CD. As with all remixes from the Diary collection, the production style owes something to popular production styles of the day. In the this instance I took some inspiration from early Showbiz productions, particularly with regards to the jazzy bass groove and those trademark raspy horns.

Listen to / download the vocal version here or grab the instrumental version here.

1990 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

A snapshot of 1990's best loved single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Public Enemy - Welcome To The Terrordome
2. A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum
3. Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
4. LL Cool J - Jingling Baby (Remixes and Still Jingling)
5. Nice Smooth - Funky For You / No Bones In Ice Cream
6. EPMD - Gold Digger
7. Gang Starr - Just To Get A Rep / Who's Gonna Take The Weight
8. A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It? / When The Papes Come
9. Main Source - Looking At The Front Door
10. Boogie Down Productions - Love's Gonna Get Cha (Material Love)
11. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Streets Of New York
12. Eric B. & Rakin - In The Ghetto
13. Public Enemy - Brother's Gonna Work It Out
14. LL Cool J - Around The Way Girl
15. Jungle Brothers - J Beez Comin Through
16. Ice Cube - Amerikkka's Most Wanted / Once Upon A Time In The Projects
17. Terminator X feat Chuck D & Sister Souljah - Buck Whylin
18. Digital Undergound - Freaks Of The Industry
19. D Nice - Call Me D Nice
20. Chubb Rock - Treat Em Right
21. 3rd Bass - Product Of The Environment (Remix) / 3 Strikes 5000
22. K Solo - Your Moms In My Business
23. LL Cool J - To Da Break Of Dawn
24. Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth - Strictly For The Ladies
25. Poor Righteous Teachers - Rock Dis Funky Joint
26. Above The Law - Murder Rap
27. Special Ed - I'm The Magnificent (Remix) / Ready 2 Attack
28. KMD - Peachfuzz
29. Ice Cube - Who's The Mack?
30. K Solo - Spellbound
31. King Tee - Ruff Rhyme (Back Again) / Played Like A Piano
32. X Clan - Funkin' Lesson
33. Kid Frost - La Raza
34. Kings Of Swing - Nod Your Head To This
35. Masta Ace - Me And The Biz
36. Double XX - Executive Class
37. Special Ed - The Mission
38. LL Cool J - Bookin System
39. Above The Law - Untouchable
40. The Jaz featuring Jay-Z - The Originators

1990 - Classic Material Edition #4 Mixtape

If you're following the daily updates here on the blog, then you'll no doubt be used to the formula by now: first some relevant mixtapes from friends and kindred spirits, then a reminder of our own for the relevant year. So, true to that formula, here's a reminder of our 1990 mix!

You can listen on Mixcloud here or grab yourself a free download here.

1990 - A Year In Rap

As we enter the '90s, we present another round up of the key events in rap history for the year 1990. In terms of general trends in the culture's development, 1990 is probably most celebrated as being the birth of the 'afro-centric' era, with debut albums from X-Clan, Professor X, Poor Righteous Teachers, Tribe Called Quest and many others hitting the stores during the year. But 1990 was also an important year for the artists from the opposite end of the spectrum: Compton's Most Wanted, Capital Punishment Organisation and Above The Law all released debut albums proving LA's harder edged sound had more to offer than just NWA. Aside from new developments, established artists including LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Public Enemy and EPMD all dropped certified classics. Below is a snapshot of some of the year's key events, produced this time with the assistance of Dream Door's hip hop timeline:

- Queens-based A Tribe Called Quest (picture above) follow close stylistically in the footsteps of De La Soul's '3 Feet High And Rising' with the release of their debut album, 'People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm'. Building on the template established by fellow Native Tongues crew members the Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah and De La Soul, the group is praised for it's intelligently quirky lyrics, inventive musical style and use of unconventional sample material.

- Following an acrimonious split from NWA, Ice Cube takes his new crew, Da Lench Mob to New York and records his solo debut with production from Public Enemy's production team, The Bomb Squad. The album, "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted," goes down in history as a classic and sets Cube on the road to solo superstardom.

- M.C. Hammer continues to enjoy pop-rap notoriety with two Grammy nominations, a Saturday morning cartoon, and an action figure. Despite all of his commercial success; there is a growing backlash against his image and music among rap fans and artists, 3rd Bass's 1989/1990 single 'The Gas Face' being a notable example of Hammer receiving a lyrical lashing from the credible underground.

- Salt-N-Pepa release their third album, "Blacks Magic." The album receives strong reviews with the single 'Let's Talk About Sex' both causing controversy and attracting praise for it's honest look at relationships and promiscuity.

- After shooting his cousin and leading police on a high-speed chase, Slick Rick is captured and taken to prison. Def Jam head Russell Simmons bails Rick out in time to finish his second album, 'The Ruler's Back', but Rick is eventually sentenced to five years in prison on charges of attempted murder.

- Will Smith aka The Fresh Prince is tapped to star in a new sitcom, dubbed 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air'.

- Oakland-based alternative rap group Digital Underground release their debut album, 'Sex Packets'. Drawing heavily on staple West Coast sample material from the Parliament / Funkadelic camp, the group are quick to capture the world's attention with rapper Shock G adopting a number of voices in his raps to create a cast of quirky characters including the hapless 'Humpty Hump'. The Album's second single, 'The Humpty Dance,' becomes a platinum hit.

- Run DMC release their fifth album, 'Back From Hell'. The single 'What's It All About', which samples UK indie rockers The Stone Roses' 'Fools Gold', is a moderate success, but in stark contrast to earlier releases, the album barely goes gold and the group takes a break from recording.

- 'Ice, Ice Baby' becomes a hit for Miami-based white rapper Vanilla Ice. Though Ice is derided as a fake, his debut album, 'To The Extreme' goes on to sell over seven million copies.

- Popular rapper Heavy D. convinces Andre Harrell, the president of Uptown Records (Heavy D's label), to take on a young college student/dancer named Sean Combs (later known as Puff Daddy / P Diddy) as an intern. Combs goes on to forge the sound of the label's further releases and play a central role in a hip hop / RnB crossover movement that will shape popular hip hop for years to come.

1990 - ‘Stompin’ To Tha 90s’ mixed by Bobafatt

Friend of the site Bobafatt who kindly played at our 1993 party has put together not one but two mixes documenting the musical output of 1990. Check out Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

1990 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1990, we have a further offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here.

1990 - Rap History Mix by DJ Crash

Moving on to 1990, we kick things off in the customary fashion with a mix from Berlin's Rap History crew. As with the 1989 installment, we have a 75 minute mix from DJ Crash.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud and check out the tracklist here.

1989 - Strictly Kev’s Classic Material Guest Mix: “88 Was Great But 89 Is Mine”

The last blog entry for 1989 is also the first to showcase a guest mix from one of our contributors. Strictly Kev who kindly played at our 1989 party made a live all vinyl recording of the set he prepared for the night which he aptly titled '88 was great but 89 is mine'. Kev also wrote a great blog post in which he reminisces on his favourite releases from the year, home made De La Soul t-shirts and much more besides.

Check out the mix on Soundcloud here.

1989 - More Remembrance of Paul’s Boutique

We certainly weren't the only ones to put together a tribute to the Beastie Boys' 'Paul's Boutique' worthy of your time. Ninja Tune's Strictly Kev (coincidentally the guest DJ at our 1989 party) and his Solid Steel compadres DJ Cheeba and Moneyshot put together this mix entitled 'Caught In The Middle Of A Three Way' reconstructing Paul's Boutique from its constituent parts creating something of an online hit.

Read more about it on the DJ Food blog here, together with tracklist and stream links for Soundcloud and Mixcloud.

1989 - Classic Material Edition #3 Bonus Tracks

So, we finally arrive at the third of our Classic Material Bonus Tracks giveaways. This week's edition may not be of quite as much interest to seasoned followers since both tracks featured in this week's giveaway have in fact been available online before, but if you've always had a hankering for that Heavy D Remix from the Diary Volume 1.5 remix album without the ident at the beginning, then you're in luck.

Listen / download the tracks from Bandcamp here.

1989 - Beastie Boys’ ‘Paul’s Boutique’ Remembered

It's no coincidence that the two albums that appear in positions 1 and 2 in Ego Trip's Top 25 albums of 1989 (De La Soul's '3 Feet High And Rising' and Beastie Boys' 'Paul's Boutique') are renowned for their unique take on the use of samples - both in terms of quantity and variety. It's perhaps for that reason that both albums have been so heavily celebrated over the years. Unlike De La Soul's much celebrated debut however 'Paul's Boutique' was very much the Beastie Boys' 'difficult second album'. It's a testament to the album's unique feel that it subsequently rose above it's comparatively poor sales figures and lack of mainstream media attention at the time of release to take it's place in hip hop history as one of the genre's unsung classics.

Following the untimely passing of Beastie Boys' MCA last year after a lengthy battle with cancer, tributes were understandably numerous and varied but many focused on Paul's Boutique and its famously quirky sample material. Our 'Boutique Beats' mix blends a selection of Beastie Boys favourites, acapellas and more with original sample material, largely (but not exclusively) from the Paul's Boutique LP.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud here or grab yourself a download here.

1989 to 2009 - Twenty Years of De La Soul

The presence of De La Soul's '3 Feet High And Rising' in the number one spot in Ego Trip's Top 25 Rap Albums of 1989 gives a good opportunity to remind the world of this great mixtape released in 2009 celebrating 20 years of De La Soul. Although presented as a 'mixtape', in fact it's a collection of De La Soul classics (from 3 Feet High And Rising and subsequent albums) reworked by some of the genre's best talent, including Talib Kweli, Phife, Tanya Morgan and Camp Lo.

You can download the individual tracks via Mixstream here.

1989 - Ego Trip’s Top 25 Rap Albums

A snapshot of 1989's best loved hip hop album releases, borrowing the top 25 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. De La Soul - 3 Feet High And Rising
2. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
3. Jungle Brothers - Done By The Forces Of Nature
4. Big Daddy Kane - It's A Big Daddy Kane
5. The D.O.C - No One Can Do It Better
6. Geto Boys - Grip It! On That Other Level
7. 3rd Bass - The Cactus Album
8. 2 Live Crew - As Nasty As They Wanna Be
9. Nice & Smooth - Nice & Smooth
10. Biz Markie - The Biz Never Sleeps
11. EPMD - Unfinished Business
12. Queen Latifah - All Hale The Queen
13. LL Cool J - Walking With A Panther
14. Special Ed - Youngest In Charge
15. Chill Rob G - Ride The Rhythm
16. Low Profile - We're In This Together
17. MC Lyte - Eyes On This
18. Three Times Dope - Original Stylin'
19. Stezo - Crazy Noise
20. Boogie Down Productions - Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop
21. Ice T - The Iceberg / Freedom of Speech ... Just Watch What You Say
22. Willie D - Controversy
23. Heavy D & The Boyz - Bug Tyme
24. Sir Mix-A-Lot - SWASS
25. Kwame - The Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning

1989 - Diary Rap Megamix

Another nugget from the Classic Material vaults, our 4 minute megamix of 30 or so of 1989's best loved hip hop releases.

Listen / download via bandcamp here.

1989 - Heavy D - We Got Our Own Thang (Chris Read Remix)

As we approach the last of our blog entries for 1989, we finally have an opportunity to post the first of our Classic Material remixes. This remix of Heavy D's 'We Got Our Own Thang' originally appeared on the 2009 remix compilation 'Diary 1.5: Twenty Years of the Remix' and was subsequently featured as a bonus track on the Classic Material Edition #3 mix CD.

Listen to / download the vocal version here or grab the instrumental version here.

1989 - Classic Material Edition #3 Mixtape

With all the 1989 mixes we've posted on the blog over the last week or so, it's only right that we give a little reminder of our own mix. 30 or so classic and lesser heard tracks from 1989 in the mix. CD copies of this mix have long since sold out but you can listen on Mixcloud here or cop a free download (and read little more about the mix) here.

1989 - ‘Who’s Flat Top Ruled in ‘89?’ Mixed by Bobafatt

There's no shortage of mixtapes reminiscing on 1989 it seems. Friend of the Classic Material family Bobafatt (who kindly played at our 1993 party) put together this very nice mixtape aptly titled 'Who's Flat Top Ruled in '89?'.

Have yourself a listen on Mixcloud here.

1989 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

A snapshot of 1989's best loved single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Public Enemy - Fight The Power
2. EPMD - So Watch Sayin'
3. Slick Rick - Children's Story
4. Special Ed - I Got It Made
5. Slick Rick - Hey Young World / Mona Lisa
6. Biz Markie - Just A Friend
7. Big Daddy Kane - Smooth Operator / Warm It Up Kane
8. De La Soul feat Native Tongues - Buddy (Native Tongue Decision)
9. NWA - Straight Outta Compton
10. Three Times Dope - Funky Dividends
11. DOC - It's Funky Enough
12. NWA - Express Yourself / A Bitch Iz A Bitch
13. Eazy E - Eazy-er Said Than Dunn
14. 2 Live Crew - Me So Horny
15. 3rd Bass feat Zev Love X - The Gas Face
16. Stezo - It's My Turn / To The Max
17. LL Cool J - Big Ole Butt
18. Gang Starr - Words I Manifest (Remix)
19. Digital Underground - Doowutchalike
20. Chubb Rock feat Hitman Howie Tee - Ya Badd Chubbs
21. Positive K - A Good Combination
22. YZ & G Rock - In Control Of Things / Thinking Of A Master Plan
23. 3rd Bass - Steppin' To The AM
24. Main Source - Think / Atom
25. Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies / Shake Your Rump
26. Nice & Smooth - Early to Rise / More and More Hits
27. MC Lyte - Cha Cha Cha
28. Chill Rob G - Court Is Now In Session
29. MC Sugar Ray & Stranger D - Knock Em Out Sugar Ray
30. Ice T - You Played Yourself
31. Stop The Violence Movement - Self Destruction
32. Boogie Down Productions - Why Is That?
33. Queen Latifah - Dance For Me / Inside Out
34. Low Profile - Pay Ya Dues
35. The Bizzie Boyz - Droppin' It
36. Young MC - Bust A Move
37. Divine Styler feat The Scheme Team - Ain't Sayin Nothin
38. Kwame The Boy Genius featuring A New Beginning - The Rhythm
39. Cool C - The Glamorous Life
40. Tone Loc - Wild Thing

1989 - MC Lyte Photo Print by Normski

Once again, we refer back to last summer's product range which included a series of T-Shirts and limited edition photograph prints produced in collaboration with central London sneaker boutique Foot Patrol and renowned UK streetstyle photographer Normski. This shot of MC Lyte was taken following a performance at London's Astoria club in 1989.

You can purchase this limited edition photo print embossed and signed by Normski in the Classic Material store here.

1989 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1989, we have another offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here.

1989 - Rap History Mix by Daniel Drumz

Joining their Berlin counterparts, Rap History's Warsaw chapter provide another 1989 mix, this one mixed by Daniel Drumz.

Listen to the mix / check out the tracklist on Mixcloud here.

1989 - Rap History Mix by DJ Crash

Moving on to 1989, we kick things off as ever with a mix from Berlin's Rap History crew, this time a 75 minute mix from DJ Crash.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud and check out the tracklist here.

1988 - Classic Material Edition #2 Bonus Track!

So, it's a taken a little more than a week to get to the second of our free bonus downloads, but here it is, an extract from 'The Breaks of '88' a mix of the tracks sampled in 1988's best known hip hop tracks which originally appeared in its full length version as a bonus track on our Classic Material Edition #2 CD. The full length mix will be released online in due course as part of a forthcoming Classic Material breaks mix series.

Listen / Download here.

1988 - Diary Rap Megamix

Another nugget from the Classic Material vaults, our 4 minute megamix of 30 or so of 1988 best loved hip hop releases.

Listen / download via bandcamp here.

1988 - Classic Material Edition #2 Mixtape

As we approach the last of our entries for 1988, here's a quick reminder of our 1988 Mixtape. 30 classic and lesser known cuts from 1988 in the mix!

Listen (and check out the tracklist) on Mixcloud here or grab a free download here.

1988 - Yo! MTV Raps Revolutionises Music Television

In August 1988, a new music television show went to air giving much needed exposure to hip hop music and culture in a move that would revolutionise music television for ever more. Although rap videos had made occasional appearances on the largely rock biased network in its early years, Yo! MTV Raps was the first show on US MTV to focus entirely on hip hop and its huge success paved the way for the integration of hip hop music videos into the station's regular rotation, hip hop ultimately coming to dominate the mainstream video playlist in later years. Commissioned by Ted Demme and Pete Dougherty, the content of the show was based to some extent on the MTV Europe Europe show simply named 'Yo!' hosted by Sophie Bramley which went to air approximately one year prior.

Hosted by Ed Lover & Doctor Dre with outside reports from Fab 5 Freddy, the show's mix of videos, interviews, scene reports and light hearted comedy presentation style was key to its success. The show ran until 1995 when it was rebranded simply as Yo! and continued to run under that name until 1999.

VH1 produced a great documentary on the show which tells its story and that of rap music's development on music television including some interesting commentary on how rock-rap cross over from the likes of Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys was instrumental in allowing rap music to break through the rock dominated playlisting on the early '80s.

Watch the documentary here.

1988 - Ego Trip’s Top 25 Rap Albums

A snapshot of 1988's best loved hip hop album releases, borrowing the top 25 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
2. NWA - Straight Outta Compton
3. Slick Rick - The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick
4. EPMD - STrictly Business
5. Boogie Down Productions - By All Means Necessary
6. Big Daddy Kane - Long Live The Kane
7. Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown
8. Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader
9. Biz Markie - Goin' Off
10. Jungle Brothers - Straight Out The Jungle
11. Eazy-E - Eazy Duz It
12. Run-DMC - Tougher Than Leather
13. MC Lyte - Lyte As A Rock
14. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's The Rapper, I'm The DJ
15. Marley Marl - In Control Volume 1
16. Salt N Pepa - A Salt With A Deadly Pepa
17. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Road To The Riches
18. Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew - The World's Greatest Entertainer
19. Stetsasonic - In Full Gear
20. 2 Live Crew - Move Somethin'
21. Super Love Cee & Casanova Rud - Girls I Got 'Em Locked
22. Too $hort - Life Is... Toos $hort
23. King Tee - Act A Fool
24. Kid 'N Play - 2 Hype
25. Lakim Shabazz - Pure Righteousness

1988 - Big Daddy Kane Photo Print by Normski

Once again, we refer back to last summer's product range which included a series of T-Shirts and limited edition photograph prints produced in collaboration with central London sneaker boutique Foot Patrol and renowned UK streetstyle photographer Normski. This shot of Big Daddy Kane was taken during the 1988 Cold Chillin' UK Tour and shows Kane and tour crew late night shopping at 7-Eleven in West London.

You can purchase this limited edition photo print embossed and signed by Normski in the Classic Material store here.

1988 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

A snapshot of 1988's best loved single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - It Takes Two
2. Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full (Seven Minutes of Madness Remix)
3. Big Daddy Kane - Ain't No Half Steppin'
4. Boogie Down Productions - My Philosophy
5. Run-DMC - Run's House / Beats To The Rhyme
6. Public Enemy - Don't Believe The Hype
7. Marley Marl & The Juice Crew - The Symphony
8. De La Soul - Plug Tunin'
9. EPMD - You Gots To Chill
10. Biz Markie - Vapours
11. Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew - Keep Risin' To The Top
12. J.V.C Force - Strong Island
13. Biz Markie - The Biz Is Goin' Off
14. 45 King - The 900 Number
15. Boogie Down Productions - Jack of Spades / Still #1
16. Eric B. & Rakim - Microphone Fiends
17. MC Lyte - 10% Dis
18. Stetsasonic - Sally / DBC Let The Music Play
19. Jungle Brothers - Because I Got It Like That
20. De La Soul - Jenifa (Taught Me) / Potholes In My Lawn
21. Chubb Rock feat Hitman Howie Tee - Caught Up (Remix)
22. 2 Much - Wild Thang
23. Marley Marl featuring Craig G - Droppin' Science
24. LL Cool J - Going Back to Cali / Jack The Ripper
25. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Road to the Riches
26. MC EZ & Troup - Get Retarded
27. Stetsasonic - Talkin' All That Jazz
28. Queen Latifah - Wrath of My Madness / Princess Of The Posse
29. MC Lyte - Paper Thin
30. Positive K - Step Up Front
31. MC Shan - I Pioneered This
32. Chill Rob G - Dope Rhymes / Chillin / Wild Pitch
33. Kid N Play - Do This My Way
34. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud - Super Casanova
35. Antoinette - Hit Em With This / Unfinished Business
36. King Tee - Bass
37. JJ Fad - Supersonic
38. Sir Mix-A-Lot - Posse On Broadway
39. Supreme Nyborn - Versatitlity
40. Kid N Play - Gittin Funky

1988 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1988, we have another offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here.

1988 - Rap History Mix by Marc Hype

Moving on to 1988, we kick things off as ever with a mix from Berlin's Rap History crew, this time a 75 minute mix from former ITF Camp Marc Hype.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud and check out the tracklist here.

1987 - Demon Boyz Photo Print by Normski

For the second of two photos from 1987 in our range of limited edition photograph prints produced in collaboration with central London sneaker boutique Foot Patrol and renowned UK streetstyle photographer Normski. This portrait shot of Music of Life recording artists Demon Boyz was taken on the rail tracks at the disused Primrose Hill overground station in North London.

You can purchase this limited edition photo print embossed and signed by Normski in the Classic Material store here.

Classic Material Edition #1 Bonus Track!

Those of you who have been following the blog and / or our CD series over the last couple of years will be aware that each of the Classic Material CDs contained a number of bonus tracks not available on the download version. With all the CDs having long since sold out from the online store and preparations underway for our season 3 range, we've decided to start a series of giveaways. Every week (or every couple of weeks depending on how quickly we can get the blog updated!), we'll be giving away at least one of those bonus tracks as a free download. So, without further ado, here's the first in our series of giveaways, the bonus track from Classic Material Edition #1:

Listen to / download the track from Bandcamp here.

1987 - Flavor Flav Photo Print by Normski

Referring back to last summer's Classic Material product range which included a series of T-Shirts and limited edition photograph prints produced in collaboration with central London sneaker boutique Foot Patrol and renowned UK streetstyle photographer Normski, this shot of Public Enemy's Flavor Flav was taken as Flavor made his way to shoot a cameo appearance in the video for UK DJ Simon Harris' house hit 'Bass, How Low Can You Go', the title of which refers to a sample taken from Public Enemy's 'Bring The Noise'.

You can purchase this limited edition photo print embossed and signed by Normski in the Classic Material store here.

Classic Material 80s Electro Bonus Mix

Originally issued as a bonus feature on the Classic Material Edition #1 Part 2 CD and subsequently made available online in conjunction with the now defunct Spine Magazine some months later, now seems an appropriate time to post a little reminder of our 80s Electro Bonus Mix.

So, if you missed it first time round, you can listen to (and check out the tracklist of) this 40 minute journey through mid 80s Electro and Drum Machine Rap on Mixcloud here or grab yourself a free download from our mixes page.

Classic Material Edition #1 Mixtape Part 2 (1984-1987)

As we continue through our posts for 1987, it seems appropriate to post a little reminder of another of our Classic Material mixes. This mix is the second of our two part Edition #1, covering music from the year 1984-1987, with some bias toward the more sample based material from the later part of that period.

You can get yourself a listen (and check out the tracklist) on Mixcloud here or grab yourself a free download from our mixes page. Physical copies of this CD are now sold out but there are other Classic Material goodies available from our online store.

1987 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

A snapshot of 1987's best loved single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Audio 2 - Top Billin'
2. Public Enemy - Rebel Without A Pause
3. Boogie Down Productions - The Bridge Is Over
4. EPMD - It's My Thing / You're A Customer
5. Big Daddy Kane - Raw
6. Public Enemy - Bring The Noise
7. Biz Markie - Nobody Beats The Biz
8. Eric B & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul
9. Public Enemy - Public Enemy No. 1 / Time Bomb
10. Big Daddy Kane feat. Biz Markie - Just Rhymin' With Biz
11. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud - Do The James
12. LL Cool J - I'm Bad
13. Ultramagnetic MCs - Funky
14. Eazy E - Boyz N The Hood
15. Divine Force - Holy War (Live)
16. Schooly D - Saturday Night
17. Eric B & Rakim - I Ain't No Joke
18. MC Lyte - I Cram To Understand U
19. NWA - Dope Man
20. Just Ice - Going Way Back
21. Roxanne Shante - Have A Nice Day
22. Biz Markie - Pickin' Boogers
23. Salt-N-Pepa - Tramp / Push It
24. Boogie Down Productions - Poetry
25. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Rikers Island / Rhyme Time
26. Jungle Brothers - Jim Browski
27. Dismasters - Small Time Hustler
28. Heavy D & The Boyz - The Overweight Lover's In The House
29. Spoonie Gee - The Godfather
30. Alliance - Bustin Loose / Do It, Do It / Oreo Cookie
31. Antionette - I Got An Attitude
32. Spoonie Gee - Take It Off
33. Kid N Play - Last Night
34. Latee - This Cut's Got Flavor / Puttin On The Hits
35. Steady B - Use Me (Before I Let Go)
36. Masters Of Ceremony - Sexy
37. Busy Bee - Suicide
38. Lord Shafiyq
39. Classical Two - New Generation
40. 2 Live Crew - We Want Some Pussy!!

1987 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1987, we have another offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to their 1987 mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here.

1987 - Rap History Mix by DJ Dejoe

Moving on to 1987, we kick things off once again with a mix from Berlin's Rap History crew, this time a 70 minute mix from DJ Dejoe.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud and check out the tracklist here.

1986 - Kool Moe Dee Photo Print by Normski

To round off our entries for 1986, we refer back to last summer's product range which included a series of T-Shirts and limited edition photograph prints produced in collaboration with central London sneaker boutique Foot Patrol and renowned UK streetstyle photographer Normski. This shot of Jive recording artist Kool Moe Dee was taken at Battery Studios in Willesden, London in 1986 during Kool Moe Dee's UK tour.

You can purchase this limited edition photo print embossed and signed by Normski in the Classic Material store here.

1986 - The Birth of the Bridge Wars

1986 marked the starting point of what might be described as the second of Hip Hop's major battles to be played out on wax, the so-called 'Bridge Wars', a lyrical battle waged between the crews of New York's South Bronx and Queensbridge projects (from which the battle takes its name). The battle centers around claims over hip hop's origins in New York, crews from the New York boroughs of the Bronx and Queens each stepping to the mic in a series of releases to defend the honour of their neighbourhood.

In truth it was the release of Marley Marl & MC Shan's 'The Bridge' in 1985 that sparked the feud, but it was not until the South Bronx's Boogie Down Productions (pictured above) launched an attack on the Queens duo with their retort entitled simply 'South Bronx' in 1986 that the battle was born. Accounts of the intent of these initial records vary but the salient facts are that the Bronx crew understood the lyrics contained in 'The Bridge' ("You love to hear the story, again and again, of how it all got started way back when, the monument is right in your face, sit and listen for a while to the name of the place, the Bridge, Queensbridge") to be a claim that Hip-Hop had its origins in Queensbridge. MC Shan has since gone on record as saying that was not his intent and that the record was simply intended as a celebration of the early days of Hip-Hop in Queens. Whether the perceived attack was intentional or not, a battle had been born and with the release of BDP's 'South Bronx' that battle took on a hostile tone as the lyrics demonstrate: "So you think that hip-hop had its start out in Queensbridge, if you popped that junk up in the Bronx you might not live."

Whilst BDP's response was viewed at the time as an attempt to defend the Bronx as rightful owner of it's claim to be Hip Hop's birthplace, subsequent interviews with BDP's KRS-One suggest there was more to the feud than met the eye. Prior to the release of 'The Bridge', KRS-One had approached Queens' Juice Crew affiliate Mr Magic, seeking interest in his group '12:41' (an earlier incarnation of BDP of which Scott La Rock was also a member). Magic had rejected the track causing some resentment between the two camps. Although arguably the original source of the feud, the absence of Magic's approval did not prevent the group from forging a career and in the same year they released the single 'Succe$ i$ the Word' on Fresh Records.

1987 saw the battle escalate with Shan and Marley Marl responding with the track 'Kill That Noise' appearing on Shan's 'Down By Law' LP, but the track was soon eclipsed by BDP's lyrically bold 'The Bridge Is Over'. Although arguably the strongest lyrical blow in the series of releases, the battle continued with Juice Crew member Roxanne Shante (also centrally involved in the Roxanne Wars) taking a shot at KRS-One in her track 'Have A Nice Day', ghostwritten by fellow Juice Crew member Big Daddy Kane. Shan's 'Juice Crew Law' contained similar sentiment.

As with the Roxanne Wars, the popularity of the battle records prompted a number of artists not directly involved to step up and give their take on events. Philadelphia's Cool C weighed in with 'Juice Crew Dis' and Queens MC Butchy B responded in his track 'Go Magic' / 'Beatin Down KRS', the former a promo cut for Queensbridge DJ Mr Magic. Queens duo DJ Rockwell Noel and the Poet further contributed to the feud with "Taking U Out'. The heat of the battle had certainly subsided by 1988 but that didn't prevent BDP's KRS-One making reference to it in both 1988's 'My Philosophy' and 1990's 'Blackman In Effect'. Into the '90s vague references were made by a number of artists but the battle was in essence over. Putting matters beyond doubt was the release of the 2007 collaboration album between KRS-One and former Juice Crew producer Marley Marl entitled 'Hip-Hop Lives', officially putting the feud to bed and celebrating the legacy of one of Hip-Hop's most important battles played out on wax.

1986 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

Replacing our usual 'notable releases' section which appeared in the earlier sections of the blog, we give you a snapshot of 1986's best loved single releases by borrowing a top 40 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists:

1. Eric B & Rakim - Eric B is President / My Melody
2. Run DMC - My Adidas / Peter Piper
3. MC Shan - The Bridge
4. Boogie Down Productions - South Bronx
5. Ultramagnetic MCs - Ego Trippin
6. Beastie Boys - Hold It Now, Hit It
7. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - It's A Demo / I'm Fly
8. Biz Markie - Make The Music With Your Mouth Biz
9. Stetsasonic - Go Stetsa I
10. Just Ice - Latoya
11. Just Ice - Cold Gettin Dumb
12. Roxanne Shante feat Biz Markie - Def Fresh Crew
13. Beastie Boys - It's The New Style / Paul Rever
14. Ice T - 6 N The Mornin
15. Salt N Pepa - My Mic Sounds Nice
16. Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew - Play This One Only At Night
17. Too $hort - Freaky Tales
18. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble
19. Joeski Love - Pee-Wee's Dance
20. Sweet Tee & DJ Jazzy Joyce - It's My Beat
21. Cutmaster DC - Brooklyn Rocks The Best
22. Dana Dane - Nightmares
23. Word of Mouth feat DJ Cheese - Coast to Coast
24. Whodini - One Love
25. Original Concept - Knowledge Me / Can U Feel It
26. Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew - All The Way To Heaven / Nuthin'
27. Divine Sounds - Do Or Die Bed Stuy
28. Rodney O & Joe Cooley - Everlasting Bass
29. Whodini - Funky Beat
30. Sweet Tee & DJ Jazzy Joyce - It's Like That Y'all
31. King Tee - Payback's A Mutha
32. DBL Crew - Bust It
33. Stetsasonic - Faye / 4 Ever My Beat
34. MC Shan - Jane, Stop This Crazy Thing / Cocaine
35. Kool Moe Dee - Go See The Doctor
36. Grandmaster Flash - Style (Peter Gunn Theme)
37. Heavy D & The Boyz - Mr Big Stuff
38. The Real Roxanne feat Hit Man Howie Tee - Bang Zoom (Let's Go Go)
39. Steady B - Bring The Beat Back
40. B Fats - Woppit

1986 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1986, we have another offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to their 1986 mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here.

1986 - Rap History Mix by Andre Langenfeld & DJ Scientist

Picking up where we left off before a brief hiatus for our latest product launch, we move on to the music of 1986. We kick off our 1986 coverage with a mix from Berlin's Rap History crew, this time a one hour mix from Andre Langenfeld and DJ Scientist.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud and check out the tracklist here.

Classic Material x Normski x Foot Patrol launch party [Video]

A massive thank you to Jonny Griffiths for putting together this great VIDEO of the launch party we held last week for the Classic Material x Normski x Foot Patrol t-shirt collection. Thanks also to our DMC champ DJs Mr Thing and Matman for moving the crowd, our sponsor Red Stripe beer and everyone who came down, supported, bought t-shirts, partied and generally made it a night to remember!

The collection is available now exclusively from Foot Patrol.

Classic Material ‘Bonus Material’ CD teaser track

In advance of the Classic Material x Normski x Foot Patrol launch party tonight, we have added a little treat to Bandcamp, a teaser track (and instrumental) from the Classic Material 'Bonus Material' CD available exclusively from tonight's launch party.

Listen and download from Bandcamp here.

Classic Material x Normski x Foot Patrol T-Shirt Collection 2012

We are pleased to release details of our latest project, a capsule range of 6 limited edition t-shirts in collaboration with UK streetstyle icon Normski and central London sneaker boutique Foot Patrol. Details on our launch event and availability coming later this week. Watch this space!

1984-1985 The Roxanne Wars

Released in 1984, UTFO's 'Roxanne Roxanne', a song launching a verbal attack upon a fictional character who refused the advances of the group, was a surprise hit thanks largely to its frequent airplay on New York radio. In fact the b-side of UTFO's single 'Hanging Out', the track triumphed over its a-side counterpart in popularity and unwittingly started one of hip hop's first (and arguably most famous) battles to be played out on wax. Over the following year literally dozens of records would be released in what became known as the 'Roxanne Wars'.

'Roxanne Roxanne' may have been limited to a hip hop footnote however were it not for Juice Crew affiliate Roxanne Shante (pictured) siezing the opportunity to capitalise on the popularity of UTFO's original song with the Marley Marl produced 'Roxanne's Revenge'. Roxanne's original profanity laden response was an instant hit. Rumoured to have sold of 250,000 copies in the New York area alone, the track used the instrumental version of UTFO's original track as its backing. Following legal action from UTFO's record label, the track was eventually re-released in early 1985 with a new Marley Marl produced instrumental replacing the original and profanities toned down.

Not prepared to let Shante have the last word on the matter, a third record in the series, UTFO and Full Force's 'The Real Roxanne' was released later that year in response to Shante's track. The role of the 'Real Roxanne' on the record was played by relative unknown Elease Jack although female rapper Adelaia Martinez later took on the moniker and enjoyed a successful recording career using the name including, most notably, the 1986 Howie Tee produced hit 'Bang Zoom Let's Go'.

What happened next, however could not have been predicted. Estimates vary, but over the following year anywhere between 30 and 100 follow up records were released by artists in most cases unconnected with the original call and response giving their stance on the Roxanne story or alternative fictional tales of Roxanne's exploits. Some of the more notable releases are listed below:

Sparky D - Sparky's Turn (Roxanne, You're Through)
Dr Freshh - Roxanne's Doctor The Real Man
Dr Rocx & Co - Do the Roxanne
Gigolo Tony & Lacey Lace - The Parents of Roxanne
Tanganyika - I’m Lil Roxanne
Crush Groove - Yo, My Little Sister (Roxanne's Brothers)
DW and the Party Crew featuring Roxy - Rappin' Roxy: Roxanne's Sister
Ralph Rolle - Roxanne's a Man (The Untold Story—Final Chapter)
The East Coast Crew - The Final Word: No More Roxanne (Please)
UTFO - Roxanne, Roxanne, Pt. 2: Calling Her a Crab
Roxanne Shanté - Queen of Rox
Roxanne Shanté and Sparky D - Round 1: Roxanne Shanté Vs. Sparky Dee

1985 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

Replacing our usual 'notable releases' section which appeared in the earlier sections of the blog, we give you a snapshot of 1985's best loved single releases by borrowing a top 40 list from the rap nerd's bible that is Ego Trip's book of Rap Lists:

1. Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew - The Show / La Di Da Di
2. Schoolly D - PSK / Gucci Time
3. LL Cool J - Rock The Bells
4. Run DMC - King of Rock
5. Marley Marl featuring MC Shan
6. LL Cool J - I Can't Live Without My Radio
7. Mantronix featuring MC Tee - Fresh Is The Word
8. Whistle - (Nothing Serious) Just Buggin'
9. Cutmaster DC - Brooklyn's In The House
10. Stetsasonic - Just Say Stet
11. Roxanne Shante - Bite This
12. Grandmaster Flash - Larry's Dance Theme
13. The B Boys - Girls
14. The B Boys - Girls pt. 2
15. Roxanne Shante - Queen of Rox
16. Word of Mouth featuring Dj Cheese - King Kut
17. Boogie Boys - A Fly Girl
18. Toddy Tee - Batterram
19. Too Short - Girl
20. Kurtis Blow - If I Ruled The World
21. Run DMC - Together Forever (Krush Groove 4)
22. Bad Boys featuring K Love - Bad Boys
23. Hollis Crew - It's The Beat
24. Beastie Boys - Rock Hard
25. Bad Boys featuring K Love - Veronica
26. Rockmaster Scott & The Dynamic Three - The Roof Is On Fire
27. DJ Hollywood - Hollywood's World
28. Jazzy Jay - Def Jam / Cold Chillin
29. Super Nature - The Show Stoppa
30. Sparky D - Sparky's Turn (Roxanne You're Through)
31. Super Kids - The Tragedy (Don't Do It)
32. Steady B featuring Roxanne Shante - Just Call Us Def / Fly Shante
33. LL Cool J - I Want You / Dangerous
34. Mantronix - Needle To The Groove
35. Craig G - Shout (Rap Version)
36. Force MDs - Itchin For A Scratch
37. Beastie Boys - She's On It
38. Tricky Tee - Johnny The Fox
39. DJ Born Supreme Allah - 2, 3 Break (Part II - The Sequel)
40. Masterdon Committee - Funkbox 2

1985 - West Coast Electro Mix by DJ Friction

Following on from 1984 Electro mix that was posted a week or so back, we have another great mix of West Coast Electro from Germany's DJ Friction, this time covering music from the year 1985.

Listen to the mix and check out the tracklist on Mixcloud here.

1985 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1985, we have another offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to their 1985 mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here.

1985 - Rap History 1985 Mix by DJ Haitian Star

Moving on to 1985, we kick things off once again with a mix from Berlin's Rap History crew, this time a one hour mix from Germany's DJ Haitian Star.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud and check out the tracklist here.

1984 - Ego Trip’s Top 40 Rap Singles

So far in the our chronology, we've posted a list of 'Notable Releases' for each year from 1979 through to 1983, which has been as complete a record of the releases for that year as we have been able to compile. As we hit the mid 80s the number of hip hop releases in any given year has grown to a size that makes that impractical so we're going slim the annual list down to a "best of" and borrow from a reliable source, Ego Trip's good old Book of Rap Lists. Here's their top 40 rap singles of 1984:

1. T La Rock & Jazzy Jay - It's Yours
2. LL Cool J - I Need A Beat
3. Run DMC - Rock Box
4. UTFO - Rock Box
5. Whodini - Friends / Five Minutes Of Funk
6. Roxanne Shante - Roxanne's Revenge
7. Kurtis Blow - 8 Million Stories / AJ Skratch
8. Davy DMX - One For The Treble (Fresh)
9. Cold Crush Brothers - Fresh, Fly, Wild & Bold
10. The World Famous Supreme Team - Hey DJ
11. Whodini - Freaks Come Out At Night
12. Disco 3 - Fat Boys / Human Beat Box
13. Divine Sounds - What People Do For Money
14. Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown - Unity
15. Freddy B & The Mighty Mic Masters - The Main Event
16. Fat Boys - Jailhouse Rap
17. Newcleus - Jam On It
18. Grandmaster Melle Mel - Beat Street Breakdown
19. The Furious Five feat Cowboy, Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio - Step Off
20. Kurtis Blow - Basketball
21. Grandmixer DST - Megamix II (Why Is It Fresh?)
22. Chuck Chillout - Hip Hop On Wax Volume 1
23. Kool DJ Red Alert - Hip Hop On Wax Volume 2
24. Fat Boys - Can You Feel It?
25. Donald D - Don's Groove
26. Pumpkin & The Profile All-Stars - Here Comes The Beat!
27. Doug E Fresh featuring DJs Chill Will & Barry Bee - Just Having Fun
28. Doug E Fresh - Original Human Beat Box
29. Trecherous Three - Turning You On
30. Master OC & Krazy Eddie featuring Peso & Tito of the Fearless Four & Main Attraction - Masters of the Scratch
31. Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde - Fast Life / A.M P.M
32. Cutmaster DC - That's Life
33. Captain Rock - Cosmic Blast
34. DJ Hollywood - Hollywood's Message
35. Lovebug Starski - Starski Live at the Fever Pt II
36. Ultimate 3 MCs - What Are We Gonna Do?
37. Awesome Foursome - Funky Breakdown
38. Just Four - Games Of Life
39. Frederick "MC Count" Linton - I'm Somebody Else's Guy
40. Masterdon Committee - Paid The Cost To Be The Boss

1984 - A Year in Rap

Produced with some assistance from Mr Wiggles of the Rock Steady Crew's 'Hip Hop Timeline', here is a round up of some of the significant hip hop related events of 1984:

- Classic Hip Hop movie 'Beat Street' is released, featuring appearances from legendary acts including Kool Herc, Treacherous 3, Doug E Fresh, Rock Steady Crew and New York City Breakers.

- Released in the same year was the more commercially orientated 'Breakin' (re-titled 'Breakdance the Movie' in the UK), a more Hollywood take on the breakdance phenomenon featuring an all West Coast line up which included breakers such as Boogaloo Shrimp and Poppin' Pete plus a young Ice T who appears performing in the night club scene alongside West Coast Electro DJ Chris 'The Glove' Taylor. (Screenshot from the movie above)

- Both 'Beat Street' and 'Breakin' prompted world tours featuring the cast and dancers from the films, culminating in a breakdance battle featuring members of both tours at a Paris nightclub.

- DJ Cheese wins the New Music Seminar DJ battle in Philadelphia

- Photographers Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper compile the seminal New York graffiti photo anthology "Subway Art"

- Although Chalfant and Cooper's book is often credited as the first book to investigate the phenomenon of New York subway graffiti, earlier the same year Craig Castleman's book "Getting Up" documented the inside story of the lives and activities of New York's graffiti artists through a series of candid interviews.

- Run DMC release their self titled debut LP on the Profile label ushering in a new harder edged sound in contrast to the disco rap sound popularised by artists such as Kurtis Blow who released his 'Ego Trip' LP the same year.

- UTFO released the controversial single 'Roxanne, Roxanne' prompting a response from Juice Crew affiliate Roxanne Shante in the form of her 1984 single 'Roxanne's Revenge'.

- Dancers Boogaloo Shrimp, Shabadoo and Pop 'n' Taco appeared in the video for Chaka Khan's hit single "I Feel For You".

1984 - West Coast Electro Mix by DJ Friction

Whilst seeking out the 1984 mix from the Rap History series, I stumbled on this great mix of West Coast Electro / Electro Rap from the year 1984 put together a year or so ago by Stuttgart's DJ Friction. It's a very nicely executed mix that covers a side of the music from that year not really tocuhed on by the Rap History or Rub mixes.

You can listen to Friction's 1984 Electro mix on Mixcloud here.

And to do a little catch up, Friction has another mix of similar West Coast material covering the years 1980-1983 which you can also listen to on Mixcloud here.

1984 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1984, we have another offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to their 1984 mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here.

1984 - Rap History Mix by Dejoe

Moving on to 1984, we kick things off once again with a mix from Berlin's Rap History crew, this time a one hour mix from Rap History resident Dejoe.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud, read what the compiler has to say about the mix and check out the tracklist here.

Classic Material Edition #1 Mixtape Part 1 (1979-1983)

So, as we complete the entries for 1983, it's only right that we give you a quick reminder of the first of our Classic Material mixtapes before moving on to the events of 1984. With a cover graphic inspired by arguably the most influential label of hip hop's disco era, Sugarhill Records, the mix covers a selection of disco rap's better known cuts plus a few of the lesser heard for good measure.

Listen or download here.

1983 - Notable Releases

The most notable rap single releases of 1983 (alphabetical by name of artist):

10-Speed - Tour De France
4 Killer M.C.'s - Killer Rap
Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Looking For The Perfect Beat
Airplay - Troy The Wonder Boy And Duck
All Ages - Ages Rap
B Beat Girls - Jungle Swing
B.E.B. - Hotdog
B+ - B-Beat Classic
B-Boys, The – Two, Three, Break
Bobby Stringer - The Sarge
Boo-Dah Bliss Crew - Pass The Boo-Dah
Break Machine - Street Dance
C.O.D. - In The Bottle
Canute - Amazing Mind
Captain Jones - Space Dawg
Captain Rapp - Bad Times (I Can't Stand It)
Captain Rock - The Return Of Capt. Rock
CD III - Get Tough
Chapter Three - Smurf Trek
Chilltown - Rock The Beat
City Rappers Band - Sundden Move Syndrome
Clair - Ya Dog
Cosmic Touch - Nothing Ever Changes
Crash Crew - On The Radio
Crash Crew - We Are Known As Emcees (We Turn Party's Out)
Cutmaster D.C. - That's Life
Cybotron - Clear
Dark Star - Sexy Baby
Debbie Deb - When I Hear Music
Dimples D. - Sucker DJ's (I Will Survive)
Disco 3 - Reality
Disco Daddy - Zodiac Rhymes
Disco Four - Throwdown
DJ Divine - Get Into The Mix
Donald Banks - Status Quo
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde - Gettin' Money
Dynamite Two - Can't Stop (Till I Reach The Top)
Fantasy Three - Biters In The City
Fantasy Three - It's Your Rock
Farrari - Simon Says Dance
Felix & Jarvis - Jam The House
Freestyle - Summer Delight
Freestyle Express - Freestyle
Fresh 3 MC's - Fresh
Funky Four - Feel It (The Mexican)
G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid - Play That Beat Mr. D.J.
Garrett's Crew - Nasty Rock
Gary Byrd & The G.B. Experience - The Crown
George Clinton - Nubian Nut
George Nooks & The Electrons - Computer Reggae
G-Five - Keep It On
G-Force Featuring Ronnie Gee & Captain Cee - Feel The Force
Glen Adams and D.J. Freeze - Chicken ScratchGrandmaster Caz & Chris Stein - Wild Style Theme
Grandmixer D. ST. - Crazy Cuts
Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)
Herbie Hancock - Rockit
Home Boy And The C.O.L. - Money's Funny Change Is Strange
Hurt 'Em Bad And The SC Band - The Boxing Game
Ice "T" - The Coldest Rap
Interface - Robot Love
Jazzy Dee - Put It To The Test
Jenny Burton - Remember What You Like
Jimmy Spicer - Money (Dollar Bill Y'all)
Jonny Bankcheck - The Runaway
Ken 'C' - Get Outta My Face
Kevie Kev (Waterbed Kev) - All Night Long (Waterbed)
Kevin Fleetwood And The Cadillacs Of Sound - Sweat It Off
Kilowatt - Kil-O-Watt
Kinetic Force - Wait Take A Minute
Krome - Get On Up
Lambchops - Bus Stop
Lemon Lime - The Hollyweird Game
Leon Kittrell And Formula V - Killer Groove
Little Toni Marsh - Video Burnout
Magic Mike Crew - Magic Mike Theme
Maniacs - Sweet Ladies
Maurice Starr - Electric Funky Drummer
Maxine Dee & Dr. Jyve - Don't Do That Rap
MC Connection - Burnin' For Another Shot
Men At Play - Dr. Jam (In The Slam)
Monzie-D & Too Quick - Intelligence
Newcleus - Jam On Revenge
NJ 4 - How Many Girls You Got
Osé - Computer Funk
Otis Clay - Love Bandit
P.C. Crew - Get Fresh - Get Fresh (Break Dance)
Project Future - Ray-Gun-Omics
Rammellzee vs. K-Rob - Beat Bop
Rhythm Makers Ltd. - Party Rap
Rich Cason And The Galatic Orchestra - Year 2001 Boogie
Rickey G & The Everloving Five - To The Max
Robert Schröder - Space Detective
Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic 3 - It's Life
Royal Cash - Radio Activity
Run-D.M.C. - Hard Time
Run-D.M.C. - It's Like That / Sucker M.C.'s
Shango - Shango Message
Sine - Rotation
Slingshot - You Shook Me All Night Long
Solo Sound - Chilly
South Bronx Movement - You've Got The Power To Get High On Yourself
Spoonie Gee - The Big Beat
Spyder C - Unity (In The Place To Be)
Starr's Computer Band - Computer Rock Control
Steve Green - Video Reaction
Stockingcap - Wave Craze
Sugarhill Gang - The Word Is Out
Supa-Rap - Bills
Sweet G - Games People Play
Synergy - Project 5
Terry Lewis And Wildflower - The Peoples Message Take Two
The "P" Crew - Busy Body
The Art Of Noise - Into Battle
The B-Boys - Rock The House
The Beat Boys - Be Bop Rock
The Caution Crew - Rhythm Rock
The Caution Crew - Westside Storie
The Cold Crush Brothers - Punk Rock Rap
The Computer People Communicator - Talking And Scratching (For The People)
The Extra T's - I Like It (Corn Flakes)
The Increadible T. H. Scratchers - Hip-Hop-Bommi-Bop
The Jazzie Ladies - Blowin' Your Mind
The Jonzun Crew - Pack Jam (Look Out For The OVC)
The Micronawts - (I Can Do It...You Can Do It) Letzmurph Acrossdasurf
The Motor City Crew - Let's Break
The Plainwrap Band - The Ghetto Bird
The Public - Win Jesse Win
The Radio Crew - Breakig And Entering
The Rake - Street Justice
The Rock Steady Crew - (Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew
The Russell Brothers - The Party Scene
Tilt - Arkade Funk
Tim Greene & The Philly Four MC's - Let's Get Exotic
Time Zone - The Wildstyle
Tony Davis - Bootie Whip
Tranquilizing Preview / Tranquilizing 3 - Vote Like You Party / A Fact Of Life
Trans-Lux - Big Apple Noise
T-Ski Valley - Cut It Up
T-Ski Valley - The U.S.A. Is The Best
T-Ski Valley & Grand Groove Bunch - Never Let Go
Twilight 22 - Electric Kingdom
Twilight 22 - In The Spirit
Valerie Oliver - (GTM) Get The Money
Vericheri - Ultra-Sonic Breakdance
Verycheri - 69 Cancer Sign
Warp 9 - Beat Wave
West Street Mob - Break Dancin' - Electric Boogie
Whodini - Rap Machine
Whodini - The Haunted House Of Rock
Wuf Ticket - The Key
Xena - On The Upside
X-Visitors - Hokey Pokey
X-Visitors - The Planet Doesn't Mind

List produced with the assistance of Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists and Spitfire's Hip Hop On Wax database.

For a comprehensive list of Rap and related releases from the year with label and release info, Rap History has a helpful database.

Diggers With Gratitude - Old School Rap (1979-1983)

This great poster has just been released by Diggers With Gratitude. Limited to just 100 copies and perfectly in keeping with our recent activities, it's a must have item for anybody with a penchant for clean design and old school rap nerdery.

More information from www.diggerswithgratitude.com

1983 - Club Flyers

Selection of club flyers from 1983 designed by Buddy Esquire, "King of the Flyer". I particularly like the Pac Jam Record Co flyer "celebrating 10 years of hip hop", which gives some indication of just how long New York had a coherent hip hop scene before the first hip hop records were released in 1979.

1983 - A Year in Rap

Produced with some assistance from Mr Wiggles of the Rock Steady Crew's 'Hip Hop Timeline', here is a round up of some of the significant hip hop related events of 1983:

- Revered jazz musician Herbie Hancock (pictured above) drafts in the DJ skills of Grandmixer DST to perform scratches on his hit single 'Rockit' taken from the album 'Future Shock'.

- DJ Afirka Islam, son of hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa starts his own hip hop radio show on New York's WHBI. The same year Afrika Islam wins the New Music Seminar DJ battle in Los Angeles.

- Hip Hop documentary Style Wars is aired on PBS in the USA. The film featured appearances from genuine figures from graffiti underground of the day including Mare 149, Skeme and Seen.

- Hip Hop spreads its influence further on the international stage with the 'Wild Style' tour taking the Cold Crush Four and Rock Steady Crew to Japan.

- Rock Steady Crew appear in the hit movie Flash Dance.

- Rock Steady Crew also appear in the video for Malcolm Mclaren's Buffalo Gals single taken from the 1983 album 'Duck Rock'.

- B-Boy crews also appeared in music videos for artists outside the hip hop fraterntity. The New York City Breakers appeared in the video for Gladys Knight and the Pips' 'Save the Overtime for Me'

- New York punk band the Beastie Boys release the first of their records to experiment with new recording technology and the hip hop sound. The A-side 'Cookie Puss' placed scratching and recorded phone calls over drum machine programming.

- Rammelzee & K Rob release the leftfield classic 'Beat Bop' produced by renowned New York artist Jean Michel Basquiat.

1983 - Rap History Mix by Roscow (Jazzanova) & DJ Runex

Yes, that's right, another 1983 Rap History mixtape. This time, we have a great mix put together by Jazzanova's Roscow and DJ Runex, tocuhing on boogie rap classics and a few related 80s soul joints from the likes of Mtume. Tastefully mixed in a style which, in their own words, pays tribute to the Latin Rascals.

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud here.

1983 - The Rub History of Hip Hop Mix

Continuing with another mix documenting the music of 1983, we have another offering from New York's Rub DJs.

Listen to their 1983 mix on Mixcloud here or download from the Rub blog here.

1983 - Rap History Mix by DJ Scientist

Moving on to 1983, we kick things off once again with a mix from Berlin's Rap History crew, this time a half hour mix from DJ Scientist which he describes as "28 minutes about money and hard times".

Listen to the mix on Mixcloud, read what the compiler has to say about the mix and check out the tracklist here.

1982 - Notable Releases

The most notable rap single releases of 1982 (alphabetical by name of artist):

Afrika Bambaataa & The Jazzy 5 - Jazzy Sensation (Remix)
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock
Ah-Boo - Jungle Pack Man
Aural Exciters - Chinese Rap
Azymuth - May I Have This Dance
Began Began - Computer Wars
Began Began - Stay In Touch
Blaze - We Come To Jam
Blowfly - Business Deal
Bon Rock & Cotton Candy - Junior Wants To Play
Bunny Wailer - Back To School
Busy Bee - Making Cash Money
Captain Rock - Cosmic Glide
Carver Area High School Seniors - Get Live '83
Cat Claw - Out In The Streets
Chris Thomas - Celebrity Funk
Cold Crush Brothers - Weekend
Connie Case - Get Down
Count Coolout - Touch The Rock (Rhythm Rap Rock Revival)
Cybotron - Cosmic Cars
D.J. Magic Ray And The Undefeated Three - Unity Rap
Disco Four - Country Rock And Rap
Disco Four - We're At The Party
Disco Four - Whip Rap
Dizzy Heights - Christmas Rapping
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde - Jeckyll And Hyde Dance
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde - The Challenge
Drum Machine - Drum Machine
Dwayne Omarr - This Party's Jam Packed
Edwin Birdsong - She's Wrapped Too Tight (She's A Button Buster)
Electrik Funk - On A Journey
Extra T's - E.T. Boogie
Extrol (E.S.P.) - E.S.P.
Eye Beta Rock - Super Rock Body Shock
Fab 5 Freddy - Change The Beat
Falco - Der Kommissar (Rap' That)
Felix & Jarvis - Flamethrower Rap
Funkmaster General - L.A L.A
Funky Four - Do You Want To Rock
Futura 2000 - The Escapades Of Futura 2000
G. & G. Rhytmn Section - Funkadelic Funk
G. & G. Rhytmn Section - Hankie Pankie Funk
Galaxxy - We Like To Party
Grand Master Flash - Flash To The Beat
Grand Wizard Theodore & The Fantastic Romatic Five - Can I Get A Soul Clapp
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Hurt 'em Bad - N.B.A. Rap
Hurt 'em Bad And The SC Band - Monday Night Football
Infinity And Grandmixer D.ST. - Grandmixer Cuts It Up!
Interboro Rhythm Team - Watch The Closing Doors
J. Griffin - Rock Attack
Jahneen - Gigolette
Jalil - Smirfathon U.S.A.
Jimmy Spicer - The Bubble Bunch
Just Four - Games Of Life
Just Four - Girls Of The World
Just Four - Jam To Remember
Kasso - Key West
Ken Lewis - Cosmic Cars
King Josey - Keep On Dancin' (Rap All Night)
Kool D.J. A.J. - Ah, That's The Joint
Kool Kyle - Getting Over
Kurtis Blow - Tough
Lavaba & E. Mallison - A Game Of Life
Lazerock - The Ballad Of Mr. T.
Les Love & The Love Kids - Let's Get It On
Malcolm McLaren - Double Dutch
Malcolm McLaren And The World's Famous Supreme Team - Buffalo Gals
Man Parrish - Hip Hop Be Bop (Remix)
Man Parrish - Hip Hop, Be Bop (Don't Stop)
Man Parrish - Man Made
Masterdon Committee - Gonna' Get You Hot
Maximus III - Rock It Out
MC Chocolate Star / The Professor - The Pop / Space Walking & Slow Walking
MC Romeo - Give A Little Bit To Ethiopia
MC Sweet - Jesus Christ
Melle Mel & Duke Bootee - Message II (Survival)
Mr. JC - School Days
Mr. Magic - 2001 Kazoo's
Mr. Sweety G - We Want To Get Down
Nairobi - Funky Soul Makossa
Orbit - The Beat Goes On
P.L. - I Don't Know What It Is
Phase 2 - The Roxy
Phoenix - Be Happy (Live, Love, Laugh)
Pieces Of A Dream - Mt. Airy Groove
Planet Patrol - Play At Your Own Risk
P-Man - Rock It Baby
Portable Patrol - Cop Bop
Pressure Drop - Rock The House (You'll Never Be)
Q - The Voice Of "Q"
Quadrant Six - Body Mechanic
Radiänce - This Is A Party
Ramsey 2C-3D - Fly Guy And The Unemployed
Rappers Rapp Group - Rappers Rapp Theme
Reggie Griffin & Technofunk - Mirda Rock
Rich Little - President's Rap
Ricky Clark - Flam
Ron Hunt – Spider
Ronnie Hudson & The Street People - West Coast Poplock
Ronnie Jones - Don't Turn Around (The Kommissar)
Sandy Kerr - Thug Rock
Shock - Electrophonic Phunk
Silver Star - Eei Eei O
Soul-Sonic Force - Planet Rock (Adams Family Mix)
South Bronx - The Bottom Line
Spyder-D - Smerphies Dance
Sugarhill Gang - The Lover In You
Sunburst Band - Easton Assassin
Super 3 - When You're Standing On The Top
The Computer People Communicators - Hey Party People
The Crash Crew - Breaking Bells (Take Me To The Mardi Gras)
The Evasions - Jocks Rap (The Passage)
The Fearless Four - It's Magic
The Fearless Four - Rockin' It
The Jonzun Crew - Pak Man (Look Out For The OVC)
The Masterdon Committee - Funkbox Party
The Murphys - Murphy's Jive Law
The Packman - I'm The Packman (Eat Everything I Can)
The Sequence - Simon Says
The Smurfs - Smurf For What It's Worth
The World Of Mazehe - Everybody What's The Word
Tony Cook & The Party People - Do What You Wanna Do
Treacherous Three - Whip It
Tribe 2 - What I Like
Trigger Finger And The Space Cadets - Video Freak (Defent It)
T-Ski Valley - Big Stuff
T-Ski Valley - Catch The Beat
T-Ski Valley - Sexual Rapping
T-Ski Valley - The Jam Is On
Tyrone (Tystick) Brunson - Sticky Situation
Tyrone Brunson - The Smurf
Verticle Lines - Beach Boys
Warp 9 – Nunk
West Street Mob - Ooh Baby
Wham! - Wham Rap (Enjoy What You Do)
Whodini - Magic's Wand
Wuf Ticket - Ya Mama
X-25 Band - Black Hole Bop

List produced with the assistance of Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists and Spitfire's Hip Hop On Wax database.

For a comprehensive list of Rap and related releases from the year with label and release info, Rap History has a very comprehensive database.

Classic Material store offers!

Well, the Classic Material sale is now over and we are in full swing preparing for our new range in collaboration with Foot Patrol to be released this summer. In the meantime, however, we’re pleased to offer the last few tees in two of our most popular designs at the reduced price of £15. Limited sizes remain in very limited quantities so don’t sleep!

Grab an Edition #5 or Edition #6 t-shirt for just £15 plus postage from the online store here.

Final week of the Classic Material 25% online sale

Just a quick reminder that there is just one week left of our 25% Spring Sale. All items except photography prints are reduced by 25% until the end of February. That brings box sets down to £24, t-shirts to £18 and CDs to just £5. Take advantage while the deals remain by visiting www.classicmaterial.co.uk/shop (online store tab above).

Final week of the Classic Material exhibition

All good things must come to an end and the Classic Material exhibition at City Arts and Music Project is no exception. This week will be the final week that the exhibition is on display, so if you've not yet had a chance to check it out, take yourself along to the City Arts and Music Project for a look while you still have the chance. The work will be taken down on 28th of February so we're extending an open invite to friends and anyone else who would like to come along to pop in for a beer or two on the evening of Monday 27th to say goodbye to the exhibit and also offer a few bargains on Classic Material products as a thanks for everyone's support. Hope to see you there...