Synthetic Substitution | 1.24.11

In 1973 R&B vocalist Melvin Bliss released a song entitled, Synthetic Substitution, as a b-side for a single that was put out by Sunburst Records. Since then the groovy b-side has gone on to become on of the most sampled songs in Hip-Hop music and other genres as well. Oddly enough this was the only record Melvin Bliss was known to have released. So in true Hip-Hop fashion the crew from Ill Street paid tribute to this unique and timeless work by Melvin Bliss by playing numerous songs that have sampled Synthetic Substitution. It's too funky to miss!

Here's the link.

Tracklisting

Ego Trippin' ][ Ultramagnetic MCs
Watch Your Step ][ Xperado feat. OC

Holy War ][ Divine Force

Mighty Healthy ][ Ghostface Killah

So Called Friends ][ Group Home

Jam 4 U ][ Redman

Saturday Nite Live ][ Masta Ace, Inc

Cool V's Tribute to Scratching ][ Biz Markie

Mind Blowin' ][ The D.O.C.

Real Niggaz Don't Die ][ N.W.A.

Yoke the Joker ][ Naughty by Nature

Throw Ya Gunz ][ Onyz

Snake Eyes ][ Main Source

Cuttin' Heads ][ Ol' Dirty Bastard feat. RZA

Clan in the Front ][ Wu-Tang Clan

DWYCK ][ Gangstarr

5 Men and a Mic ][ Special Ed

Versatile Extension ][ Supreme Nyborn

Wreck Shop ][ Run DMC

Bass Is Loaded ][ LONS (Leaders Of The New School)

For Pete's Sake ][ Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Code Of the Streets ][ Gangstarr

O.G. ][ Ice-T

Hip-Hop Junkies (remix) ][ Nice and Smooth

Don't Believe the Hype ][ Public Enemy

MmmBop ][ Hanson (I know...We're just as shocked as you)

Bring da Ruckus ][ Wu-Tang Clan

Potholes in My Lawn ][ De La Soul

Police Brutality in DC

Roger Rudder and his family came to Ill Street on Monday, Jan. 17th to discuss his family's lawsuit against the DC Metropolitan Police Department which was thrown out of court pending appeal. They're still looking for justice after an unwarranted attack by police officers on several of them at the Annual Carribean Festival on DC's Georgia Avenue in June, 2008. Here's a report about the incident on WUSA 9.

The Power of 10 | 1.10.11

To commemorate the 10th day of January 2011 (which to most folks was nothing more than just another Monday) the crew from Ill Street decided to do something special. With the help of RBI and 2-Tone Jones on the decks, we examined the number 10 in Hip-Hop. Every song that we played had some connection to the #10 (10th song on an album, the #10 in the song title, a song from an artist's 10th album, a song from a group with 10 members, etc.). Plus, our man Mazi Mutafa stopped thru to talk about Words, Beats and Life, Inc. (which was founded 10 years ago at University of Maryland) and their Urban Arts Academy after-school program (go to http://www.wblinc.org/ for more info); the brothers of Spiffkicks rapped with us about their shoe rejuvenation business; and 3-Time winner of Apollo's Amateur night, Messiah, spoke about his current project, a video he shot for track #10 off of his album entitled, The Manual, and his upcoming work. Listen to the show here and pass the link along to 10 other people!

(Quick Trivia: How many times does the number "10" appear in the show summary above?)

TRACKLISTING
Triumph ][ Wu-Tang (10 MC's rapping on the track)
The Points ][ Various Artists (song is based on the Panthers' 10 Point Program)
Fa Ha ][ LL Cool J (featured on LL's album entitled, 10)
9 x out of 10 ][ Organized Konfusion (10 is in the title)
Ten to Run ][ Cru (10 is in the title)
Thank You ][ Jay-Z (featured on Jay-Z's 10th #1 selling album)
Skin Tight ][ Chicago (featured on their album entitled, X)
10,000 Watts ][ J Dilla ("10" thousand)
Blindfold Test #10 ][ Madlib feat. J Rocc (10 is in the title)
10 Crack Commandments ][ Biggie Smalls (10 is in the title)
All 4 tha Cash ][ Gangstarr (from their album entitled, A 'Decade' of Gangstarr: '89-'99)
It's Don't Matter ][ 10 Thieves (10 is in the name of the group)
Basketball Throwdown ][ ColdCrush Brothers vs. Fantastic Four (10 MC's on the track)
Top Ten List ][ Masta Ace (10 is in the title)

2010 Wrap-Up part 2 | 1.3.11

1 show just wasn't enough for us to properly wrap-up 2010, so we had to do a part 2! DJ's RBI and 2-Tone Jones go hard on a mix featuring new music that recently dropped at the end of the year including Ghostface with Raekwon, Alchemist & Oh No, Jay Electronica & Jay-Z (just in case you forgot how lyrical Jigga is), Clan Destined, Fat Joe with DJ Premier, and more! And on the eve of the release of his debut album on Inner Loop Records, Laelo Hood hung out with the crew and dropped a couple exclusive joints on us from the album....COP THAT! Lastly, Darel Dawson from Grindstone Universal clothing line slid thru with the latest on some of the hottest tee's on the streets. Cop it all right here.

2010 Wrap-Up | 12.27.10

With the new year approaching the ISG took time to reflect on 2010. RBI and 2-Tone traded off on the turntables and played a mix of some of the best songs released throughout the year including music by Big Boi, Akua Allrich, Gods'Illa, Kanye West, De La Soul, Roc Marciano, Pudgemcee, Royce da 5'9", Phil Ade, Low Budget Crew and more! The show closed out with a dope cypha, along with a tribute to some of the incredible artists we lost this year. RIP Teena Marie, Catfish Collins, Guru, Lena Horne, Dio, Solomon Burke, Teddy Pendergrass, Tony Curtis and the many others who will be missed. Check it out right here.

Saigon's Story | 12.20.10

Christmas came early for ISG. Saigon stopped by the show to rap with us about the release of his long-awaited and highly anticipated debut album on Just Blaze's Fort Knox Entertainment Record Label entitled, The Greatest Story Never Told (set for release on February 15, 2011). He also shed some light on the ills of the music industry and why he continues to create music that is true to him. And as always, RBI and 2-Tone Jones dropped some gems on the 1's and 2's. Here's the link.

New Music + Elzhi | 12.13.10

Despite the cold front hitting the Nation's Capitol and the rest of the country, the crew from Ill Street keeps coming with the heat. DJ 2-Tone went in with an all-vinyl set rockin' joints from EPMD and Queen Latifah to Ghostface and Westside Connection. Plus, the lyrical heavywieght Elzhi (from Slum Village fam) called in to rap with us about his past with SV, his future as a solo artist and his performance later that night in DC. Check it all out right here!