Mad Flava - (Rare & Unreleased)

Mad Flava - (Rare & Unreleased)

Mad Flava is a collective that represents from the roguish boulevards of Dallas, TX. It consists of Cold Chris, Hype Dawg, Don Kassan and DJ Baby G. The group was formed by Cold Chris in the late eighties but was a trio with DJ Baby G and Don Kassan. It wasn't till the early nineties when the group inducted their fourth member, Hype Dawg who is originally from the city of St. Louis in Missouri. Together, they released their one and only full length album which dropped on Priority Records, known as, "From Tha Ground Unda." This album is a compilation of B-Sides, rarities and unreleased material from the group which was recorded between the years of 1990 to 1998. The record was put together by Hype Dawg circa, 1999. Most of the songs are either recorded under Raw Deal Records or Du Damage Entertainment. Production, as always, is led by the magnificent, Hype Dawg and he certainly does not disappoint. His production pattern is so unique and intricate, that it becomes hard to classify. His choice of samples is exceptional and it tends to become the dominant portion of the beat. His creativeness also plays a huge role when constructing and it immediately indulges the listener from the very first track. The rhythms are hard hitting and very groovy to say the least. They are a perfect illustration of that Old School Hip Hop sound and are thoroughly enjoyable. Lyrics are also of an exemplary nature. Extra emphasis is given on the technique and proper delivery of a rhyme. Word play is immensely used which then makes their vocals very unpredictable. Rhyme schemes and patterns are one of a kind and each member can wreak havoc on any given track. The songs have a strong sense of direction and are conveyed in such a fashion, that it's up to the listener to understand and decipher them. The compilation signs off with a total of fifteen bonafide tracks with a wide range of subjects and topics. This is not a official release, it is merely a compilation of tracks that Hype Dawg dug out of the vaults of the underground. While it may not be formal in appearance, it is still authentic in character. What it lacks in actualization, it more than makes up for it in the core quality of content. After listening to this material, it is baffling to understand why the group fell out of favor with Priority Records. The label had such flexibility with the group that the only thing they had to do was market them properly. And since the major label failed to do just that, the group did not stand a chance. In the end, Mad Flava dissolved into the depths of the underground and eventually became a victim of their own time.

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Fatherless

Young Bleed - My Balls And My Word

Young Bleed - My Balls And My Word

Glenn Clifton Jr., better known as Young Bleed is a rapper from the wicked streets of Baton Rouge, LA. He is also a dominant member in the group known as the Concentration Camp. His main influence and the root for all his rhymes is his loving mother. She would read a lot of classical poetry to him at a very young age. Bleed started writing around the age of nine and started recording rhymes by the time he hit his teenage years. He would sell his home made tapes to friends and family before joining forces with fellow Baton Rouge rapper, C-Loc and then ultimately forming the invincible Concentration Camp. My Balls And My Word is his debut solo album and it was released in 1998. Although this release was originally intended for C-Loc Records, it was put out through No Limit Records and Priority Records. The reasoning behind all of this is very simple. In the year 1997, Young Bleed met Thug Drama a local producer, who would eventually introduce him to Master P. Now at that time, Bleed was already signed to C-Loc Records while Master P was pretty much running the state of Louisiana as well as the entire southern region with his empire and army of rappers known as the No Limit Soldiers. So to get maximum exposure for the album throughout the southern United States C-Loc and Young Bleed decided that it would be best to distribute the album through No Limit Records. Also with Master P having the publishing deal with Priority Records, Bleed could quite possibly get world wide attention for his work. It was a win win situation for the rapper as well as all the people involved with C-Loc Management. Production behind this project is done by the expert team of producers known simply as Beats By The Pound, which consists of KLC, Carlos Stephens, O'Dell, Craig B and Mo B. Dick. They are assisted by the extremely talented and always masterful, Nathan "Happy" Perez along with Pimp C of UGK who is also credited for one of the tracks. The beats exceed all expectations as one would suspect with such extreme talent listed above. The melodies are comprised with multiple instruments and their southern vibe is beautifully present. They are crafted with such clarity and precision that each cut gives off an orchestrated feel. All the tracks are laced with superb melodies and such intricate rhythms that the listener has no choice but to oblige. Lyrically the album goes into a whole different realm. Young Bleed is an absolute brute on the microphone and he demolishes the tracks laid out by the producers. No two rhymes are the same and no two lines are the same. His unorthodox flow pattern is a direct result of the poetic mentoring by his mother and his choice of word play is so unique that it may take listeners a few replays just to understand his message. Its no wonder that he received all the backing from Master P since really no other artist from C-Loc's camp has had the honor or the privilege to work with him to such an extent. Guest appearances are made by Mystikal, Master P, Fiend, C-Loc and the Concentration Camp (Max Minelli, J-Von, Lee Tyme & Lucky Knuckles). Although the album only manage to achieve the gold plaque, it is always held in high regards due to its uncanny nature. It may have been that no one expected such a release from No Limit or it could have been that the work was truly ahead of its time. Whatever the reason maybe, it is quite clear to see the talent at hand and a genuine masterpiece at large. At a time when only a few southern artists were known for their lyrics, Young Bleed came and set the standard pretty high and accomplished this feat with ease. All it takes is one listen of this debut album and it can make anyone into a true believer that the South does have quality emcees; one just has to know where to look.

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Sat N Smooth - The Awakening

Sat N Smooth - The Awakening

Sat N Smooth is a group that represents from the northside of Houston, TX. The group consists of Brad-D and D-Bone. The two were discovered by Doug King of NewStyle Records and were quickly signed to the label. After impressing the executive producer Mark Lerch, the group was given a green light for a full length record. The Awakening is their debut album and it was released in 1993 on NewStyle Records and Flashpoint International, while it was distributed through Priority Records. The production is done by the impeccable DJ Storm also known as "Tha Funky Aztec." One might remember DJ Storm for remixing the track "Eyez Open" by Bam of the legendary Killa Klan. The beats are a classic example of southern funk. They are laced with heavy drums, scintillating horns, deep bass lines and not to mention some very fine keyboarding. All of this is presented through the signature style of DJ Storm which mainly consists of a deadly hook that is looped and superbly sampled. The lyrics is where this record really excels. Both Brad-D and D-Bone are more than capable on the microphone. Their rhymes are filled with brilliant word play and are the cornerstone for this project. Their chemistry together is unmatched and they seem to feed off of each other very easily. Guest features are made by C-Major of the Gang Society, The Mad Man, Lonnie.B.Rankin and Alisha who basically provides the backup vocals. Even though the group had quite a few singles, the tracks pretty much failed to crack any kind of meaningful rotation. Some said it was their harsh subject matter that was directed towards society while others believed that the group was ahead of its time. Whatever the reason maybe, it is quite plain to see that this gem of an album deserves a spot in any collection.

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Same Thang ft. C-Major (Storm's Remix)

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Mad Flava - From Tha Ground Unda

Mad Flava - From Tha Ground Unda

Mad Flava is four man crew from Dallas, TX. It consists of Cold Chris, Erich "Hype Dawg" Krause, DJ Baby G and Don Kassan. It is a group that focuses specifically on rhyming technique and lyrical flow. They tend to give off that east coast hip-hop vibe with their style of production and even the delivery of their lyrics. From Tha Ground Unda is their debut album and it was released in 1994 on Priority Records. All the production duties are assigned to Erich Krause while DJ Baby G provides the mixing and scratching. Since the beats are mostly derived through the process of sampling, the producers make sure they put the keyboards and the drum machines to good use. In the end, the beats turn out to be very crisp and completely entertaining. Lyrically the record is solid and all four members contribute. They show a lot of emphasis toward their flows and project them with clever word play. Cold Chris seems to be the more dominant member but the rest of them are not too far behind. Featuring on the album is Docta Ling and Goldie "The Mack Mother." All in all the record delivers a good product and shows great poise. Although the group seemed to be headed in the right direction, Priority Records somehow ended up mismanaging them. Everything from licensing the samples to distribution issues and lack luster promotional marketing all led to the group fading into the depths of the underground. Also, with no follow up release in sight, the members became disgruntled and eventually fell apart. To their credit though, what they did release as a group was something far more astonishing and rewarding.

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Young Bleed - My Own

Young Bleed - My Own

Young Bleed is a rapper from Baton Rouge, LA. He is a member of the infamous Concentration Camp and is also very well respected through the southern region of the United States. He first started recording with fellow Baton Rouge rapper, C-Loc on C-Loc Records. He then had a joint venture with No Limit Records, who helped by releasing his debut album, "My Balls And My Word." After gaining a good amount of notoriety he decided to leave No Limit over creative differences and royalty issues. My Own is his sophomore album and it was released in 1999 on Priority Records. Production credits are courtesy of Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, Happy Perez, and Steven Below. The all star line up of producers bring forth some of the most harmonic melodies to come across a human ear. Each track is laced with a plethora of instruments this includes wailing guitars, menacing horns, scintillating synths, and of course a solid dose of ruthless drums. The end result is a masterpiece of twelve tracks laid out for Bleed to demolish with his vocal artistry. Young Bleed is hailed as one of the finest lyricist to emerge from the south. His word play is so unique that it is almost indescribable. His relaxing tone and his laid back persona go hand in hand. His rhyme pattern is also very unorthodox. Simply put, Bleed just savagely attacks the microphone. Guest appearances are made by Too $hort, Daz Dillinger, Lay-Lo, Lucky Knuckles, Gram, Uncle Pauly, and Jennifer Brumfield. Overall it is a complete and faultless work of art. This record is considered to be a timeless classic and it should be held in the collection of every southern rap fan.

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