PESO - ASAP ROCKY

Repping Harlem........F#$k Swag

KEYSHIA COLE - BECAUSE OF YOU (UNRELEASED)

Well, as I was going through some my iTunes on one of my computers this starting playing. Another song by the lovely Keyshia Cole. I actually remember this session....all I can say is it started with beat cds, and a bottle of Patron. While waiting for Diddy I believe to get to session, Keyshia asked if I had any beats, I believe she wanted to start working on a mixtape. Keyshia work ethic is impeccable. That girl like to write and sing, her tenacity for creating tunes I think even surpass most rappers. Keyshia definitely did her thing, not to mention drank me under a table with that Patron. Props to sis cause I woke up, and she was done.
Although this is a rough I like it a lot especially being it's over a Gangstarr classic. I am not sure who did the beat, this was awhile ago, blame it on the Patron. In The words of Lord Finesse, this is "Strictly for the ladies".
DOWNLOAD
01 Because of You (Ruff) by thegcode sound

HARLEM'S NEXT UP ASAP - ASAP ROCKY, ASAP FERG

As you all my know I was born and bred in Harlem New York. Harlem is birthplace of Teddy Riley, Rob Base, Kool Moe Dee, Camron, Big L (RIP), Mase, Loon, Jim Jones, Vado, Max B, Jae Millz, Darrell "Digga" Branch, Dame Dash, Hip Hop (Hip Hop Since 1978), Kareem "Biggs" Burke, DJ Brucie B, Ron G, and D-Ferg (RIP) Hud 6 (RIP). As you can see a lot of talent surge in this place, and now there are new faces. Straight out of my hood there is a movement and team popping called ASAP. ASAP Rocky is catching huge notoriety and my little homie Ferg is doing his thing as well. I know it's a second before they have a deal. I love what they stand for and represent. Bottom-line their creativity and unique energy bring a breath of fresh air. Funny they even are pushing for a cause I totally stand behind as well, it's to diminish the word "SWAG". lol
Remember folks, I told you about this early!
Enjoy and be on the look out, for this crew. Odd Future is going to have a problem. HA
Hope the ASAP crew was easy on Sag Harbor last night. lol





Here's a freestyle ironically to a Havoc Beat I picked for Diddy for Press Play. Storm and Havoc What Up!
ASAP Rocky "Toast To The Gods" by thegcode sound

My Boy ASAP Ferg also design and make leather belts and bracelets.


Shout to Rell, Claudie B, Curt, Manny, and T-Ferg

READ MUSIC AND PLAY IT BACK REAL-TIME - GAKUFU CAMERA BY KAWAI

Most genius musicians were not the literate to music notes. However in 2011, thanks to the folks at Kawai, there is an app that make playing notes easy. The Gakufu Camera is only available in the Japanese App Store. Basically this app scans the music notes, then play the melody of the notes scanned.
I hope this app come to America and SOON.

The video below is not in English, but you should get the idea.


Via TECHCRUNCH

More Than I Can Say - NaS Featuring Keyshia Cole

Well as you know I worked with a wide range of talent. One cool dude I got to kick it with was my man Nas. Nas is a talented, funny, cool individual. Actually his brother Jungle, to me is one of the funniest dudes I ever met. Don't believe me check the N.O.R.E. skits. I must credit Jungle though, he was a visionary with A&R talent as well. This song was done in 2005 while I was recording "Press Play". This beat was one out of many sitting around. I felt this beat was Hip-Hop and to me I pictured Nas flowing to this beat, it was NYC, Queens, and most of all had substance. Well as we know the track never made the album, however the countless studio sessions with Nas and Keyshia were priceless. They were never in the studio at the sametime. Yummy Bingham originally wrote and referenced the hook. I wish this song made it to Press Play, but it never did, I thought the world could use some blessings from Godson. DOWNLOAD HERE




Shout to LES, NaS, Jungle, Horse, Wiz, Mike Brinkley, and Keyshia. Holla At your Boy!
FYI Keyshia is a talented singer that girl can go hard and her work ethic almost equals Diddy in the studio.

THE GODFATHER - DIDDY FEATURING BLACK ROB AND G-DEP

Here is one of my all time favorite joints. This track right here captured the aura of Harlem. I remember while in Puff's Room at Daddy's House Tony Dofat was going through songs. This song accidently played and he almost skipped over it. The song at the time just had Dep verse on it, and a couple bars from Black Rob. I was like hold up, stop the press! Puff walked in and was like what's this playing. Then he kept talking about how hot G-Dep is lyrically. What people may not know but Puff is into LYRICS. Puff can dissect and analyze lyrics with accuracy of a sharp shooter. Well I was like man this joint is Harlem, this is 8th Avenue, Lenox, 145th, 155th, 116th, etc. It was a job to get this finished, Black Rob at Star island accompanied by bottle of Hennessy Privilege, Puff creating synergy of a grand wizard, DJ Drop and Tony Dofat overseeing the sounds. I remember all of us talking about days of Harlem, dudes driving down 8th avenue with a leg out the window, honey's on 125th, games at King Dome. I pushed hard to get this song done. It got finished, thanks Fafu and Bink. The end result the sample got rejected. This song was one of early songs we recorded when doing Press Play album. I sent to Flex, and NYC got to hear the magic. Well on this summer day crank this joint.
G-dep hold your head, Black Rob good to see you doing your thing, Dofat keep them sit-ups popping! Diddy you already know. Harve What up! Bink the world need more joints from you! Harve, a true soldier and General, what up!
DOWNLOAD HERE

BE IN THE HOOD - (UNRELEASED) N.O.R.E. FEATURING CAPONE PRODUCED BY EZ ELPEE

Hello, and Happy Friday! Here is a track produced by my boy Ez Elpee featuring Capone. This was a track Nore did on one of them sporadic late night sessions at Sound On Sound Studios. Ez Elpee bought his MPC2000 and I ordered the Henny. This is one my favorite joints. Classic Queens right here! Shout to Mayhem, and DJ Rell Love!
DOWNLOAD HERE!

COME TO ME (REMIX) - DIDDY FEAT. NICOLE SCHERZINGER, B.I.G. and THE VOICE OF HARLEM

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to everyone. Well once again here is treat I dedicate to celebrate the life of Biggie Smalls. Here is a remix I did with my man K-Def for "Come To Me" off the Push Play Album. This remix was done and in the pocket; thanks to sample clearance politics it prevented this remix from seeing the light of day. Hot is hot to me, ladies and gentlemen be the judge. Well crank this, roll down the windows, drop the tops while listening. Everyone have a safe weekend, toast up to Biggie Smalls!
DOWNLOAD HERE!



I swear making the making of Press Play should have been a reality show on MTV. Shout to Tony Dofat, Harve Pierre, Capricorn (One of The hottest Female A&R's in the game today if you ask me) and of course my good friend K-Def, Mister Raja, DJ Chuck Barrett and Young Lord What Up!

WARNING - THE 2005 VMA VERSION FEATURING SNOOP DOGG

Here is a tribute put together when Puff was Executive Producer for the VMA's in 2005. Music was orchestrated by Miri Ben Ali, Ryan Leslie, J-Dubb and Stevie J. I remember we were up for 3 and half days straight. Puff was like we had to break the record for sleep deprivation lol! Well here is something that to point shows the West Coast had love for BIG. Shout to Ted Chung, and Snoop! Rles and The Next Selection Fam what up! What Up! DOWNLOAD HERE!

B.I.G. MONTH - SUICIDAL THOUGHTS (UNRELEASED BY THE HEATMAKERZ)

As mentioned before this a month to pay homage to greatness! B.I.G.'s bday is this month so toast up some Barcardi Limon and Ciroc while cranking this joint. Remixed by Heatmakerz with Product G&B (yep from that Santana Maria Maria Song) when we were doing The Biggie Duets. Shouts to Bad Boy, and definitely to my homie Lord Finesse who did the original version.

DOWNLOAD HERE

SALUTE TO THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - BIGGIE DUETS B SIDES

Well we all know the day we lost one of our great MC's straight out of Brooklyn. However the month of May let's celebrate the life of Christopher Wallace. BIG's birthday is on May 21st. Well for the next couple weeks I drop tunes that were songs that never made Biggie Duets. That was a very complicated and touchy project to work on, however I tried to deliver the best records I could for that project. Countless nights working with Harve, Wayne Barrows and the many producers along with artist who contributed to the project.
Biggie was a cool dude. I met him a handful times with Loon, (Loon used to be in group called Crime Family back in that era). Also can't forget chilling with BIG while with Uncle Paul at Hoodstock on 125th. Biggie always showed love, never an "Hollywood" attitude. I remember one late night when him and Cease was on 125th in that big body Benz they were bumping tunes and sipping Henny; Big was like get a cup want some? Yea he was that type of dude, he spread love the Brooklyn Way!
RIP BIG and fans enjoy the tunes! DOWNLOAD HERE



Shout to Wallace Family, D-Roc, Money L, Cease, Uncle Paul, Cudda Love, D-Dot and Stevie J for sharing those studio stories, Mark Pitts, Wayne Barrows, Diddy. Can't forget my boy Ez Elpee aka Mr. Get Money and Buckwild aka Story To Tell. Jean Nelson What Up!

Heatmakerz you had one of my favorites. Next Up
Swizz, Sean C, Scram Jones, Raekwon, ( I remember you was tight you had to do that verse over), Danja, Ted Chung, Snoop, Jim Jones, Weezy, Juelz, Nelly, Nas, Just Blaze, Neysa, Macho, Joe, Bun B, Too Short, Ralph Tresvant, Skid the Senator (Remember we found them vocals for Whatuwant and that long talk and snap session with Big on that other track, PRICELESS), Yandy, Mona Scott, Missy, Pusha T, Malice, Geezy (hold ya head G), Chink Santana, Grady, Storm, Havoc, P and Korn, Atticus, Slim Thug thank you all for not giving me headaches. Most of all thanks for the contribution to Big's memory!

BELIEVE IN MAGIC -JIM JONES AND GIRL TALK

This right here is real artistry where "Uptown" meets "Downtown", or "Streets" meet "Mainstream". Pitchfork.tv has a series called "selector" which a rapper choose from two beats produced by indie artists for a freestyle track. In this case they took DJ and Mashup King Girl Talk and Jim Jones. Good to see my homie Jim doing his thing. One thing I can say he always try something new, been the same ever since I knew him, which has been about 18 plus years. Whenever I needed a verse from him, he laid his rhymes with no hestitation. Rather it was for the Cheri Dennis track, or whatever.
Shout To Harlem 110th to 155th Lenox to St. Nich.
DOWNLOAD HERE

FRIDAY SOUNDS - GUN LOVE BY PRODIGY

First and foremost the jewel for the day, "You can't be always be right, but make right decisions for the right moments, and you can never be wrong later".

Back in 1997 my boy Ez Elpee did this record with Prodigy. I remember me, Elpee, Mike Lighty, and Johnathan Lighty playing this record for Chris at Violator Def Jam Office. This was when Def Jam just moved from Varick Street to 825 8th Avenue. Well Chris was playing this record pretty loud, also saying how he would make sure Slick Rick clearance gets done. Meanwhile two other A&R's at Def Jam ducked in, bopping heads. Long story short and weeks later Montel Jordan has a record with the same sample, ironic?!
This record never came out, however it still rock. Prodigy talking about his weapon as his girlfriend and trusted lover that's always there for him was a cool concept, something you definitely don't get from too many new artist. Conceptual Dialog, artist step your rap game up, please!

Elpee and Prodigy went on to make another great record by the name of "H.N.I.C.". We also can't forget "Get Away", which was a record Elpee and I did with another group before Mobb Deep. A lot of people slept on that record and even their manager at the time said it was just an OK record, even after Mobb recorded the song. Johnathan Lighty always served as a great visionary with Mobb Deep, props always J! Mike Lighty What Up!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Gun Love

LEAK FOR THE LADIES - R&B GIRL BY AMERIE

Well as an A&R and former manager I done a lot of tunes or my producers did many works. Rather Ez Elpee, Darrell "Digga" Branch, or The Hitmen many great songs were done. Here is a classic that never came out and was recorded when Amerie was doing her Sophmore album. Ladies and Gents for some reason someone didn't lke the record, I however thought it was a good record and so did a handful of others, hence here it is being leaked by me. Produced by Ez Elpee and co-written by an artist/songwriter by the name of Makeda, which at the time Amerie's (Ed Holmes) manager used to manage at that time. This record is not mixed, however enjoy and crank it!

Enjoy! Download Here

Shout to Rich Harrison, EZ Elpee, DC EZ, Ed Holmes, Makeda (The world need your songs come out), Amerie keep shining and congrats to you and Lenny! DINO DELVALLE THANKS FOR TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN THE CLUTCH HOMIE

FRIDAY SOUNDS - BQE PRODUCED BY EZ ELPEE

I'm a keep it simple on here beat by Ez Elpee (Get Money, Bloody Money, OOchie Wally, etc), featuring Bleek, Maze and Muse, Capone from CNN, beat delivered by yours truly.

Shout to Stan the engineer and my dude Martin Moore and of course my brother Noreaga.

DOWNLOAD HERE

STRAIGHT FROM THE VAULT - "LIVE" By CAPONE-N-NOREAGA

Well here is a classic and unreleased record by a group I used to A&R. Amazing how 11 years to this date it was recorded and this sound like it was recorded late night. Great beats, careful beat selection, and some Hennessy does make CLASSICS! Note I didn't go in with the intent of making a radio record, I just went in with the intent of making a GREAT record, so A&R's take note.
DOWNLOAD HERE

Shout to my partner Mayhem, Producer SPK and to the original "Slime" Poppy AKA Nore! Lol

THE AUTOMATIC DJ - LET YOUR FACE BE THE TUNE SELECTOR

Face recognition programs are on the rise. We can get told our favorite foods, and now songs we like by just using our face. The AUTOMATIC DJ is a system that plays tunes from the Hunch API based on your face. The code for the program is released on Github, which is a social network website for programmers and developers.

DEATH BECOMES YOU : CHART OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

Well, I think the music industry slept on capitalizing on Napster. Also neglecting a shift in technology resulting in a "digital" monetizing gained by Apple. If I was a label I would be snatching candidates from Science and Technology schools for New Business Development Department. Labels need to look at game developers, screen writers, and etc. End of the day you are in an "Entertainment" industry. Being we are breeding a "free music" generation, next step should be a subscription motto. The chart below shows profits made from various formats. Peep how digital is the smallest. Yikes!



Via Influx

VINYL AND CARDBOARD A DOUBLE STANDARD

Nowadays the two creative passions are growing-the DJ and the photographer. Things are always accessible so it would make sense to make listening easy. I know when I used to purchase records at Rock & SOUL or The Music Factory (a store that was located in Times Square where all hot producers and dj's shopped) there was long lines to listen to records you wanted to purchase. Now is a vinyl sleeve which double as a record player! Done by the folks at GGRP!Check It Out!


To all my producers keep the sampling alive and get rid of this crappy boom bap fast food!

FOR $300 AND CHANGE YOU TOO CAN BE T-PAIN

KORG has released the 37 Key microKorg. This analog model synthesizer and vocoder is available in black keys and has 128 user rewritable programs. This is definitely a collector edition for keyboard fanatics, or the producer who want to get into the new genre sweeping the music sweeping the music scene.
FYI leave that singing vocoder stuff to the dance, house, techno, trance, trip-hop folk unless you are a P-Funk artist, Teddy Riley, T-Pain, or my dude Kokane. Unless you making a hot joint like Sensual Seduction folks!
SINGING IS NOT RAP!
RIP Roger Troutman