http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes Latest mixes from Classic Material en Classic Material Copyright 2021 2021-05-16T12:27:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/classic_material_bonus_mix_6_dancehall_hip_hop_91_99 The Classic Material ‘bonus’ mixes fill the gaps in the original Classic Material Hip Hop History mixtape series, exploring specific sub genres or spin off genres not covered in the main series. #6 delves into Mid 90s Dancehall Hip Hop, the pairing of Ragga/Dancehall vocals with classic Hip Hop production. The mix features artists who hung their hat on that particular fusion (Mad Lion, Bobby Konders), Hip Hop styled remixes of Dancehall cuts (see DJ Muggs’ remix of Danny Red), Dancehall artists who vocalled Hip Hop beats (Mega Banton, Lady Apache), pairings of Dancehall Acapellas with Hip Hop production from the era exclusive to this mix and similar pairings put together by others (thanks Matt Nelkin). The date range of ’91-99 is slightly misleading – most of the action really occurs around ’92-95 and the tracks all boast the classic Early to Mid 90s production sound. Tracks from either end of the decade are really outliers (there’s only one track from ’91 or ’99 and none at all from ’98 for example). As with previous editions, the artwork is a pastiche of a popular sleeve from the era, in this case Nervous/Wreck‘s ‘Weeded‘ sub-label, responsible for the imprint’s more Reggae influenced output and several of the tracks on this mix. 2021-05-16T12:27:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/classic_material_bonus_mix_5_hip_hop_soul_92_98 The Classic Material ‘bonus’ mixes fill the gaps in the original Classic Material Hip Hop History mixtape series, each exploring a specific sub genre or spin off genre not covered in the main series. #5 delves into Mid 90s R&B, specifically the pairing of R&B vocals with classic Hip Hop production,’Hip Hop Soul’, the natural evolution from New Jack Swing, covered in the previous edition. The mix features production from many of those frequently associated with the sound, The Untouchables, Sean Combes et al, alongside names from the Hip Hop underground who dabbled in R&B: DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee, The Beatnuts, Salaam Remi and others. 16 Bar rap verses abound – AZ, KRS One, Grand Puba, Notorious BIG, Nas and many lesser known all appear. Featured only on this mix, many of the tracks pair R&B Acapellas with Hip Hop production from the era. As with previous editions, the artwork is a pastiche of a popular sleeve from the era, in this case the Bad Boy Records company/promo jacket. 2021-05-09T09:34:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/classic_material_bonus_mix_4_new_jack_rap_89_93 The Classic Material ‘bonus’ mixes fill the gaps in the original Classic Material Hip Hop History mixtape series, each exploring a specific sub genre or spin off genre not covered in the main series. #4 delves into the late 80s / early 90s sound of New Jack Swing, and more specifically some of the Hip Hop from the time that was influenced by the New Jack Swing production sound. Features production from producers central to the sound – Teddy Riley, Eddie F, and some better known for other sounds who dabbled during the era – Marley Marl, Pete Rock and many more. As with previous editions, the artwork is a pastiche of a popular sleeve from the era, in this case the Uptown Records label company/promo jacket. 2021-04-25T12:34:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/classic_material_bonus_mix_3_hip_house_89_91 About this time last year I put together a mix of Hip-House tracks as bonus mix for the Classic Material series, which filled a gap in the series’ coverage of 1989 which had previously overlooked the short-lived but still pretty important sub-genre of Hip-House. More people liked it than I expected and ever since I’ve kept stumbling on tracks that I wish I’d included, often tucked away on the b-sides of late 80s albums or 12″s. So here they are, a less focused collection of Hip House tracks from the 1989 hey day of the scene through to around 1991 when the wave was largely over. As with the previous mix, the cover art is a pastiche of one of Stylus Records’ budget Hip Hop compilations from the period: this time 1988’s ‘Rap Trax!‘. 2021-03-09T20:37:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/classic_material_bonus_mix_2_hip_house_89 “Back when Nick Armitage and I kicked off our Classic Material project back in 2011, my intention had been to compliment our monthly series of era specific mixes with a set of Bonus Mixes focussing on various Hip Hop sub-genres and spin off scenes that emerged during those eras. With good intention I put together one (mid 80s Electro-Rap and Electro-Funk), but beyond that it turned out that a mix a month in the main series was quite enough work on its own. I hate leaving things unfinished though so, years later, here’s another: Hip House ’89. Not every record on this mix was released in ’89 – there’s one or two from ’88 (Fast Eddie was ahead of the curve) and one from ’90 (Queen Latifah was behind it), but it’s fair to say ’89 was epicentre of this sound. I’ve got some mixed feelings about this collection – if truth be told I dismissed a lot of this material as a fad for a long time, but 30 years down the line I find an undeniable charm to these fun, dancefloor oriented records.” The cover artwork is a pastiche of the interior gatefold of the 1988 Stylus Records compilation ‘Hip Hop & Rapping in the House’ 2021-03-09T20:35:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_the_main_ingredient_25th_anniversary_mixtape November 8th 2019 marks the 25th Anniversary of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth’s 2nd (and final) full length LP ‘The Main Ingredient’. Following in the footsteps of 1992’s Mecca and the Soul Brother, the album comprises tracks built from densely layered samples, frequently previously un-sampled jazz fusion cuts mixed with crisp drums and short vocal snippets plundered from well known 80s/90s Hip Hop tracks. Use of a number of go-to tracks defines the sound of the album and the presence of vocal samples from Biz Markie and Big Daddy Kane in particular is a key ingredient in the album’s sonic palette. In celebration of the album’s 25th year, we’ve partnered once again with Wax Poetics to present this mixtape of album tracks, alt versions, interview snippets and of course original sample material, mixed by Classic Material’s Chris Read. 2019-11-26T23:13:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_resurrection_25th_anniversary_mixtape October 4th 2019 marked the 25th Anniversary of Common’s classic sophomore LP ‘Resurrection’. The follow up to his 1992 debut ‘Can I Borrow a Dollar?’, the album is produced almost entirely by No I.D., with contributions from Ynot. With a heavy reliance on jazz, samples on the LP come from the likes of George Benson, Freddie Hubbard and the The Modern Jazz Quartet among others. The album spawned two popular singles, the timeless ode to Hip Hop’s ever changing nature ‘I Used to Love H.E.R’ and the Ahmad Jamal sampling title track ‘Resurrection’. In celebration of the album’s landmark anniversary, WhoSampled teamed up with Wax Poetics to present this exclusive mixtape of album tracks, alt versions, interview snippets and of course sample material used in the making of the album. Mixed Classic Material’s by Chris Read. 2019-10-08T20:39:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_illmatic_25th_anniversary_mixtape April 19th 1994 saw the release of one of what would go on to be recognised as one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time, Nas’s seminal debut, ‘Illmatic’. Following much talked about appearances on Main Source’s ‘Live at the Barbecue’, MC Serch’s ‘Back to the Grill’, and the release of the now classic soundtrack cut ‘Halftime’, Illmatic delivered on the hype with a compact 10 track offering helmed by the cream of Mid 90s Hip Hop production talent: DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Large Professor and L.E.S.. Pairing crisp head nod drums with an eclectic palate of Jazz, Funk and Soul samples, the all star line up of producers prepared a musical backdrop over which Nas delivers a no holds barred guided tour of life growing up in New York’s Queensbridge projects. Sampled cuts range from the timeless Jazz of Ahmad Jamal and Jazz Funk of Donald Byrd to the Pop of Michael Jackson via well sampled staples by the likes of Kool & the Gang. In celebration of the album’s 25th year, WhoSampled partnered once again with Wax Poetics Magazine to present an exclusive mix of album cuts, remixes, interview snippets and of course tracks sampled in the album’s making mixed by Chris Read. 2019-04-23T21:29:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_3_feet_high_and_rising_30th_anniversary_mixtape On March 3rd 1989, De La Soul released their critically acclaimed debut album ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ and Hip Hop music changed forever. At a time when samples of James Brown and various other breakbeat staples ruled supreme, De La Soul and long time production partner Prince Paul cast the net far wider, snatching up snippets of vintage Soul, Rock n Roll, Disco, Spoken Word albums and children’s records to create a collage the likes of which had not been heard before and would not be heard again until the release of Beastie Boys’ similarly eclectic Paul’s Boutique several months later. Lyrically, the album married zany humor, honest observations of real life and occasional social commentary. Released less than a year after N.W.A’s ground breaking ‘Straight Outta Compton’ and Public Enemy’s politically charged opus ‘It Takes A Nation of Millions…’, ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ offered a light hearted counterpoint to the harder edged sounds emerging on both coasts and would set the scene for revered Long Players of comparable stature from groups including A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde in the years that followed. In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of this classic album, WhoSampled teamed up with Wax Poetics to present an exclusive mixtape of album tracks, original sample material, alt versions, interview snippets and more, mixed by Chris Read. 2019-03-08T10:54:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/the_diary_volume_2_the_breaks_of_the_80s A little over 10 years ago Chris Read released a mixtape called ‘The Diary’, an ambitious mix of 801 iconic Hip Hop tracks in order of release from 1979 to 2009 in an 80 minute mix. It took literally years to put together and created enough buzz when it came out to set in motion a minor obsession with chronologically arranged mixes, the main result of which was the Classic Material mis series, a set of 16 mixes each containing music from a specific year in Hip Hop history (in date order of course) hosted right here on this site. Volume Two, takes the concept a level deeper, this time reconstructing classics from Hip Hop’s first decade from their constituent sample material. Arranged chronologically of course, this mix reassembles popular Hip Hop tunes from 1979 to 1989 utilising only the Funk, Soul, Rock and Jazz tracks from which they were originally composed. Close to 200 tracks appear. Original cover artwork by John Brotherhood in tribute to the late Buddy Esquire. 2019-02-03T19:52:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/the_diary_volume_1.5_twenty_years_of_the_remix_10th_anniversary_expanded_ed The Diary Volume 1.5 is a ‘remixtape’ released as a follow up of sorts to Chris Read’s popular rap chronology mixtape ‘The Diary’. The concept expands on the chronology theme of the original, this time concentrating on trends in production: one iconic track from each year between 1989 and 2009, remixed in tribute to the popular production styles of the original year of release, from the James Brown influenced style of the late 80s and the jazz inflected styles of the early 90s to the unique sounds of producers Buckwild, Jay Dee, DJ Premier and others. For this 10th Anniversary expanded edition ten additional tracks put together around the same time that were not included on the original CD have been added. 2019-01-09T21:25:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_enta_da_stage_25th_anniversary_mixtape Released October 19th 1993, Black Moon’s classic debut LP ‘Enta Da Stage’ celebrates its 25th Anniversary this week. Produced entirely by Da Beatminerz, the album’s production style epitomises early 90s East Coast boom bap sonics with laid back, filtered jazz-funk samples meeting crunchy drums, cut choruses and gritty wordplay. In celebration of the anniversary we’ve teamed up once again with Wax Poetics magazine to present this exclusive mixtape pairing album tracks and remixes with their sample sources, interview snippets and more. Mixed by Chris Read. 2018-11-05T22:03:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_buhloone_mindstate_25th_anniversary_mixtape De La Soul’s third studio album ‘Buhloone Mindstate’ was released on 21st September 1993 and provided another step change in the celebrated band’s constant evolution. As the group’s last album produced by long time production partner Prince Paul, the LP was no less musically ambitious than previous efforts. Sample material, as before, touches on Soul, Funk, Rock & Jazz, this time with the incorporation of some guest vocalists and notably live instrumentation from jazz/funk legends and frequent James Brown collaborators Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis. The result is an album that, even if not their best selling, certainly stands up to its critical acclaim 25 years after release. “It might blow up, but it won’t go pop” as the album’s mantra states. In celebration of the album’s 25th anniversary WhoSampled in collaboration with Wax Poetics Magazine present this exclusive mixtape of album cuts, remixes, interview snippets and of course original sample material, mixed by Chris Read. 2018-09-24T21:45:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_reachin_25th_anniversary_mixtape February 9th 2018 marked the 25th Anniversary of Digable Planets debut LP ‘Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space)’, an album as memorable for its rich jazz-heavy sample material as it is for its evocation of the post-civil rights era poetry. The lead single ‘Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)’ won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a duo or group in 1994 and the LP is frequently lauded as a classic of the era, largely due its innovative use of jazz. Producer Butterfly, has stated the group’s ‘jazz group’ image was not initially intentional and that the group’s sound evolved from the resources they had available - his father’s record collection, which was mostly jazz. In celebration of the album’s 25th year, we’ve teamed up with Wax Poetics to present this exclusive mixtape of album tracks, alt versions, interview snippets and of course original sampled material, mixed by Chris Read. 2018-02-13T14:12:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/the_diary_worlds_greatest_rap_megamix_10th_anniversary_expanded_edition Extended version of Chris Read’s cult 2007 mixtape ‘The Diary’, a chrnological mix of Hip Hop’s landmark recordings - 801 records in the blend. “Great! I couldn’t take it out of the CD player. I just needed to hear what was coming next!” (Andy Smith – Portishead) “So deep … Incredible stuff” (DJ Yoda – Genuine Records) “A tour de force through the history of hip hop. A unique view of hip hop’s golden moments” (DJ Food – Ninja Tune / Solid Steel) “Bloody great! One of the best hip hop mixes I’ve heard in years.” (DJ Format – Genuine Records) “A mixtape king no question.” (DJ Ollie Teeba – The Herbaliser) “Megamixing at its finest… Original and essential!” (DJ Plus One – The Scratch Perverts) “An amazing piece of work!” (Mr Thing – Former World DMC Team Champion) “This mix simply kicks ASS” (Freddy Fresh – Author, The Rap Records) 2018-01-28T17:43:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_bizarre_ride_ii_the_pharcyde_25th_anniversary_mixt On Nov 17th 2017 Craft Recordings, releases a 25th Anniversary Edition one of the greatest and most celebrated Hip-Hop albums of all time, The Pharcyde’s ‘Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde’. The album will be available as a Deluxe Extended Vinyl package (original album on 2LPs + 3 12” singles) and 2CD (original album, plus a full disc of bonus material) with audio remastered by Dave Cooley (J Dilla, Madvillain, Madlib) and will include non-album tracks, remixes, and rarities. New liner notes by leading music journalist and author Jeff Weiss (Passion of the Weiss, LA Weekly) round out the package. Standard versions of the original album with remastered audio will also be available on vinyl and cassette. In celebration of this new release WhoSampled teamed up with Craft Recordings to present this exclusive mixtape of album tracks, remixes, alt versions and of course original sample material mixed by Chris Read. 2017-11-24T22:24:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_reel_to_reel_25th_anniversary_mixtape Grand Puba’s debut LP ‘Reel to Reel’ celebrated its 25th anniversary a little less than a week ago. The album was recorded in the wake of Puba’s departure from Brand Nubian and the largely self-produced long player is more closely aligned sonically with the Nubians’ early work than the harder edged material they became known for post-split. Production wise it’s a relatively simple affair with catchy jazz loops and funk breaks providing the backdrop for Puba’s light hearted braggadocio. Staple samples (James Brown adlibs and the ubiquitous drumsof The Honey Drippers’ ‘Impeach’) rub shoulders with more obscure selections (Byrdie Green, Nathan Davis) to create a dynamic palate of sample material. Soul too is well represented with Otis Redding and Gladys Knight both making multiple appearances in our tracklist. Featured artists include tape-master Kid Capri and a young Mary J Blige. Mixed by Chris Read. 2017-10-30T22:59:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_stunts_blunts_hip_hop_25th_anniversary_mixtape Celebrating its 25th year on 22nd September, Diamond D’s largely self produced debut LP ‘Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop’ also featured production contributions from an all star cast that included Jazzy Jay, Showbiz, The 45 King, Large Professor and Q-Tip. The LP was notable for its eclectic sample sources from Blues to Funk, Soul and Jazz, largely steering clear of cuts that had previously been sampled by other artists. Together with Showbiz & A.G.’s debut (Runaway Slave), released the same day, it helped lay down the blueprint for the D.I.T.C sound, mining obscure cuts for memorable loops. In celebration of this classic album anniversary, we’ve teamed up with Wax Pooetics to present this exclusive mixtape of album cuts, remixes, alt versions, interview snippets and of course original sample material, mixed by Chris Read. 2017-10-03T21:21:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_mecca_the_soul_brother_25th_anniversary_mixtape Among the many greats of hip hop’s golden era currently celebrating their 25th year, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth’s debut long player ‘Mecca & the Soul Brother’ is rightly considered a standout - frequently lauded as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. The album owes its distinctive sound in no small part to the eclectic and inspired choice of sample material. In addition to drawing on sampled staples popularised in the late 80s (James Brown, The J.B.‘s), the album references jazz heavily and was pioneering in its use of layered samples, creating coherent tracks from small snippets of multiple disparate sources. In keeping with tradition, WhoSampled has teamed up with Wax Poetics to present this exclusive mixtape of album tracks, remixes, and of course original sample material, mixed by Chris Read. 2017-08-23T20:48:00+00:00 http://www.classicmaterial.co.uk/mixes/whosampled_x_wax_poetics_daily_operation_25th_anniversary_mixtape Last month saw the 25th Anniversary of ‘Daily Operation’, the third studio album by one of Hip Hop’s most celebrated duos, Gang Starr. That anniversary having coincided with the release of our Ahmad Jamalb celebration mix, we’ve held this one back a few weeks but are pleased to now share with you this exclusive tribute mix to the much loved LP containing album tracks, interview snippets and of course original sample material. In keeping with tradition, this mix is presented in collaboration with Wax Poetics and mixed by Chris Read. 2017-07-02T17:36:00+00:00