On the latest podcast of SUPER DUTY TOUGH WORK (Blueprint & Illogic) they ask the public ‘Who killed The DJ?”..This particular question has been on my mind for many years at this point..

WHY?

I have witnessed acclaimed beat diggers play “Footloose” at jams…

I have witnessed cats that started DJ’ing 5 years ago travel the world and spin their bullshit sets to PACKED crowds…

I have witnessed “celebrity” types get booked coast to coast that do not even know how to blend / mix….

I have witnessed “keep it real” dudes defend playing top 40 rubbish under the guise of “playing what the people want”…..

Personally, I could give a fuck how low the bar has gotten – I’m going to stay focused on the foundation: Skills, practice, refinement, digging (past and present), and staying away from real live suckers (fuckery is contagious)…If you think along similar lines you should give this a listen….

**DISCLAIMER – I DO NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF THE VIEWS STATED ON THIS PODCAST..

With the P-WING & STADIUM re-issues it is painfully obvious RALPH LAUREN has his eyes on the LO-LIFES and the entire Hip Hop nation in general….I never thought that in 2017 these prized pieces would be reintroduced but with the current so-called “retro mania” state of affairs, your going to see a lot more classical shit pop back up…

The Polo godfather RACK LO takes us on a journey of boosting flashbacks, 80’s recklessness, and all that other wild shit that will hold your attention…

PEEP-

My cuzzo ARCHITECT & BYRDLAND link up once again for more of that 2017 rawness on “Halal Chopaz”…Out of all of their collaborations, this one gets the championship belt…

PEEP-

ROCKNESS links up with the CIPHER podcast for a heavy Q&A session that will hold your attention…

“Rock is best-known for being one half of the seminal rap duo Heltah Skeltah, along with his partner, the late Sean Price. The duo, also known as Rock and Ruck, released three albums and were a key part of NYC’s influential underground rap crew the Boot Camp Clik.

As a solo artist, Rock has released a number of great mixtapes – including our favorite, 2010’s Rockin’ Out West. But despite several record deals, he’s never released a proper solo album, until now. Rock has just released ‘Rockness A.P.’ on Digital Deja Vu Records. The “A.P.” stands for “after Price,” and the album shows Rock making his way in the world after the 2015 death of his partner”.

PEEP.

HIP HOP BATTLEFIELD can strike from anywhere, at any time so make sure you stay in tune on the daily!!!!!!

I’m going to take you back all the way to 2002 for a heavyweight STRUT RECORDS release- “Music For Dancefloors : The Cream Of The Bosworth Library Sessions”…Do yourself a favor and catch a groove….

TRACKLIST-

01. Paolo Zavallone & His Orchestra – Yellow Fever (3:52)
02. Paolo Zavallone & His Orchestra – Papillon Rouge (4:23)
03. Toni Campo – Two Way Stretch (4:30)
04. Jonny Teupen Group – Tropical Scene (4:07)
05. Paolo Zavallone & His Orchestra – Big John (3:34)
06. Paolo Zavallone & His Orchestra – Sparkling Music (Speedometer Mix) (3:00)
07. Piet Van Meren & the Flying Dutchmen – Mr Buzz (3:21)
08. Albert Mayer – High Spirits (2:25)
09. Bob Downes – Percussion Monoton (2:13)
10. David Snell – Crab Apple Jam (3:10)
11. Summer Style – Cat & Mouse (3:16)
12. Paolo Zavallone & His Orchestra – Chez Vous (4:32)
13. Geoff Bastow – Fillet of Soul (2:58)
14. John G. Tyssen & Danielle Prencipe – No Exit (2:37)
15. Wolfram Brunke & the Gary Pacific Group – Knitting (2:36)
16. Midas Touch – Modern Times (2:11)
17. Lew Howard & the Allstars – Hula Rock (2:15)
18. Brian Green & Saul Nathan – Indian Dream (8:24)

DOWNLOAD

If your on the hunt for under the radar UN joints, Kenny Parker mixes, UNRELEASED DEMOS, remixes, A1 Record shop sessions, and all types of other material – head over to the FROZEN FILES spot, but make sure you tell them the grimy dude from HIP HOP BATTLEFIELD sent you jack !!!

PEEP

AWWW SHIT….Back in 2010 I posted up a mix by DJ KOKO- AKA DJ SHIMOKITA called “Underground Railroad 2” that got plenty burn on this side…FFWD to 2017- KOKO is starting to get the props he truly deserves by flipping the fuck out 45’s in a way that has many shaky DJ’s scared to fucking death !!!

WHY ?

Because he is approaching 45’s with a pure BBoy approach….Doubles, cuts, blends and all that other shit that makes your average, run of the mill, lazy DJ stick out like a sore thumb..Much props to Japan’s KOKO for keeping it fresh like your supposed to!!

TRACKLIST-

01. Born Talent / For All The Heads
02. Handz / Handz Of Def
03. Godfather Don / Properties Of Steel
04. Donny Hoffa / No Escape
05. Mass Kunfusion / I Do My Dirt
06. J-Force / For All Thoze
07. Big Dubez & Ed.Og / Act Like What U Say
08. Born Suspicious / 44 Maggin’ (Inst)
09. Khromozomes / Say Word
10. Brainsick / Mix Master
11. The Professionals / Sit Back Relax
12. Tragic Technicians / A&R Killers
13. Buddah Nation / Buddah Nation
14. Skemen / Under Pressure
15. Showbiz & Ag / Under Pressure
16. Mellow T / Pressure
17. Q.Ball & Curt Cazal / Hedz To Bed
18. T.D.K. / Street Life (A World Of Crime)
19. Mood / Info For The Streets
20. Shabaam Sahdeeq / It Could Happen
21. Demastas & Nine / Feel No Guilt
22. Strong Peoples / It Ain’T Safe
23. Tru-Form / King Of Yes Yall
24. Nomad / Blessed 2 Mic Check
25. J.U.I.C.E. / Unrational
26. Bored Stiff / Nine-Six
27. Dereliks / I Am A Record

If you missed out on the first edition of THIRSTING HOWL’s “Bury Me With The Lo on” book, here is your chance to scoop up the 2nd edition homeboy…Please do not snooze I’m quite sure these bad boys will sell out with a quickness..

Peep this very ill trailer that unveils some secret society, previously unreleased footage..

ROC RAIDA’s musical contributions will live on forever…ROB SWIFT and RAIDA’s family have assembled a way for his supporters to pay homage…

CHECK IN….

*IN THE WORDS OF ROB SWIFT

I loved Roc Raida to death, LITERALLY.

Fresh off the road, on 9/18/09 (8 years ago), I drove down to Maryland and visited with Raida at the rehab facility he was moved to after his accident. I brought some of the guys – Mista Sinista, DJ Precision, Andrew Venable, and Guds –with me too. After the 4 hour trek, it felt good to finally see Raida and let him know, in person, we were pulling for him.

After getting over the initial shock of seeing Raida in a hospital bed paralyzed, we were back to our joking ways. The crew being together reminded me of occasions we’d be on the road, hanging out backstage or in one of our hotel rooms, shootin’ the shit about whatever. It’s like I forgot why we were there. It was like old times again. It was beautiful!

The few hours we spent with him went like a flash. None of us were ready to leave but we knew he needed his rest. So we all gathered around Raida while Dr. Butcher led us in prayer. As we left, each of us gave Raida a big hug and said our goodbyes. I left thinking I’d see him again the following week but approximately 14 hours later (Saturday, 9/19/09) he suffered cardiac arrest and passed away. Getting the news was confusing. I couldn’t comprehend how Raida could go from “yo they’re gonna teach me how to get into my wheelchair and I’ll be able to cruise around the rehab facility on my own…” to physically leaving us hours later? The key word in my previous sentence is PHYSICALLY though. Let me explain.

His presence is eternal and I, along with my fellow X-Ecutioners/X-Men and Battle Sounds : Hip-Hop DJ Documentary are committed to never letting y’all forget the name Roc Raida.

Just like many of the Hip Hop Battlefield readers, the first time I heard material from LASTER is when DJ PREMIER cut up doubles of “Off Balance” on the “New York Reality Check” mixtape…He dropped a few 12 inches after that, but we never got a full length album unfortunately…

FFWD- to 2017 the folks at BACK2DABASICS got access to a stash of unreleased joints from that era that never saw the light of day for whatever reason..

TRACKLIST-

A: One on One
A: Hardknocks
A: Clueless
A: Elbow Room
A: Twisted Logic

B: Open House
B: Gone With The Wind
B: Backstabbers
B: Flattery
B: Step Up Front

Here are snippets to the limited edition wax release-

You need some new 2017 hardcore frequencies in your life ?

LIL ETO teams up with MEYHEM LAUREN for more of that abrasive boulevard maniac rap on “High” off that “Omertà” Ep…

PEEP-

One of the highlights of the recent strictly Milwaukee mix I posted up was “Black Czer” by E-PLAY SMOOTH
(Go back and check out that joint for further analysis of straight mid-west hardcore)….That song was so explosive I had to check for more of his shit….

On “Jack Move” he flexes even more sinister bars, “I got a pistol with my name on it / every round that I blast also has my name engraved on it”….

WRECK ALERT – VENDETTA VINYL TEES and sweatshirts are currently available…Worn by hard rock troopers, crate killers , Vendetta Vinyl enforcers, and top ranking B Boy scholars..Shipping worldwide-

Salute to everyone that has supported the wreckage over the years, it is appreciated to the fullest..(In the flick below – my ace AYATOLLAH rocking the crew neck with QU pride..

Hit me up before they disappear for good…#PHYSICALJEWELS #GEMSONDECK #ROCKORGETROCKED #VENDETTAVINYL #IFYOUSNOOZEYOULOSE

What comes to mind when you think of Milwaukee / Illwaukee if you have never been there before ?

Beer, cheese, Laverne and Shirley, pimps, cold weather, industrial landscapes, etc..HAHAHAHA…Truth be told the city has a heavy history of Mafia dealings, ruthless gangbangers, and a true to the grain Hip Hop lineage that has never fully received the proper light..CHRIS DOPE FOLKS took it upon himself to assemble a session that is flooded with strictly obscure 90’s Milwaukee joints…Give it a listen- I’m quite sure you will be surprised by how nasty some of these mid-west dudes were coming back then…..

TRACKLIST-

MC Richie Rich N $cratch Luv featuring Stricklin, Rock La Flow,
and B Day Rock: Pull the Trigger (1991 Cassette)
E-Play Smooth: Black Czar (1992 Cassette)
True Hustlers: I’m A Soldier Remix (1992 cassette)
Sixx-Dog And JD Love (Of The N.C.T.): So Funky (1992 Cassette)
Powerhouse: The Deadline (1995 Cassette)
Soul Food: Hands in The Sky (1997 Cassette)
The Rapper’s Time: Freezin’ Ice (1992 Cassette)
OZ (Ozmola): True Story (1994 Cassette)
Expose: Whatever (1997 12″ single)
Rhetoric: 414 (1997 Cassette)
Wikkedness: The Huntest (1997 Demo tape)
Sixx-Dog And JD Love (Of The N.C.T.) Ruff N Tuff Ghetto (1992 Cassette)
Tha R.A.N.: Radio Banned Me (1992 Cassette)
Powerhouse: Funky Verse (1995 Cassette)
Shotemak & Pitt: Swing (1994 Cassette)
Cess Pool: Want Everything (1997 Cassette)
Rusty P’s: Keep it Locked (UK 12″)
DJ Wolf D: Always Had Love For Ya (1997 Cassette)
E-Play Smooth: I-94 2 Zion (1992 Cassette)
Outro: D. Tucker & The Big Bank Brothers: Live on the set (1994 cassette)

I seriously doubt I will spot another flick today that can compete with this….SHOWBIZ finessing the avenue in the 80’s with the kitted out BM, nuff jewelry, and a dash of MCM stunting has classic steez written all over it…

Shout out to all my dudes in the BX…