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#rewindreview: Alcynoos, Parental & Loop.Holes ‘Rewind’ 2023

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  This album truly touches the HOP audience familiar with instrumental releases from Alcynoos, Parental and Loop.Holes as individuals and as a collective. All three are from overseas with Alcynoos and Parental from France and the Loop.Holes crew from Norway. They team up to deliver a cool out album with a collection of some of the best M.C.’s in the past twenty years. ‘Rewind’ does exactly as it’s title and takes the listener back to a familiar sound of jazzy beats and rapping. ‘Belafonte’ featuring Ill Conscious, Venomous 2000 and Debonair P is the best example of what to expect on this album. ‘Rewind’ not only focuses on rapping and beats but also allows the element of D.J.’ing in HOP music to be focused on too. There is also a “who’s who” of names on this album if you really know your HOP music beneath the surface. Yancy Boys who consist of Jay Dee a.k.a. J-Dilla’s brother Illa J. and Frank Nitt have one of my favorite tracks on here called ‘Stocks Up.’ It’s moody, it’s chill and metaphorically puts life’s ills into a description of the Stock Markets movements. Alcynoos, Parental & Loop.Holes make sure that the audience is engaged on ‘Rewind’ and that the M.C.’s voices are just as an important instrument as the ones they used to craft ‘Rewind.’ What did you think of the album? Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen/ & TuneIn app (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @fanlink.to/QuantumLeapRadio

Jeezy Maintains Consistency with New Album

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  Jeezy may have dropped the Young from his moniker a few years ago, but has maintained the signature sound and adlibs that broke him into the industry with his latest effort I Might Forgive… but I Don’t Forget. In addition to the familiar adlibs of “haha”‘s and the occasional “let’s get it,” The Snowman has shown a bit of growth in his content. Songs like “Don’t Cheat” which claims real men don’t cheat and “Delusional” in which he raps about surviving the street life to leave it.  Keeping it true to his classic sound on tracks like “I Might Forgive”, “My Name” and “Shine On.”  The beginning of the album is dominated by producer Ricky Polo who does his best Trap or Die impersonations, with trappy leads and deep sub bass, certain to please the slab riders with bass for the system.  The second half is dominated by J.U.S.T.I.C.E League who diversifies the sound a bit with tracks like “If I’m Being Honest,” “Titanic” and “Expectations.” Their use of timely samples, raucous intros and interesting percussion is what changes the tone of the project just enough. The project is 29 tracks deep, which seems a bit lengthy for this era and tends to drag on a little too long. Jeezy raps about his typical content of drug tales and thug type references, while showing maturity talking about real estate, relationships and the responsibilities of a legal businessman.  For the loyal Jeezy fan, this project will more than fill their appetites, however it will do very little to draw in new younger fans. Jeezy has found a formula that works and doesn’t stray very far from it.  Favorite Track – “Shine On” Least favorite track – “Nothing to Prove” Album rating 6/10

#rewindreview: J-Live ‘Reveal The Secret’ EP 2007

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  There was this very underrated and unmistakable hit on D.J. Jazzy Jeff’s ‘The Return Of The Magnificent’ album called ‘Practice.’ This track featured the M.C’s M.C. J-Live and sampled one of Allen Iverson’s most famous media outtakes where he proclaimed that action as something he could do in his sleep. Fans of underground music and sports were extremely receptive to this song but had it actually had the machine behind it, J-Live could have been in another tax bracket with audience ears. Going off the momentum of that track and preparing his next release with BBE records was the ‘Reveal The Secret’ EP. A six track release that featured production from certified “beatsmiths” such as Marco Polo, D.J. Spinna, Oddisee, Mr. Walt (Beatminerz) and of course the aforementioned D.J. Jazzy Jeff. J-Live gets back to the HOP music fans love to hear from him on this release featuring his unique form of storytelling and overall presence on the microphone. By 2007 J-Live understood the effect of putting out EP’s to test the waters and once one is on the last track of ‘Reveal The Secret’ they are yearning for more. Break your neck and sing along to this often forgotten gem from a real M.C.! What did you think of the album? Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen/ & TuneIn app (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @fanlink.to/QuantumLeapRadio

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Famous Record Pool Digiwaxx Celebrates 25 Years and Confirms New Digiwaxx Latino Division

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Digiwaxx, the renowned record pool, proudly commemorates its 25th anniversary in the music culture and reveals a significant expansion plan into hyper-focused divisions. The inaugural division to be unveiled is Digiwaxx Latino, which seeks to cater to the immense influence and extensive global presence of the Latino community in the music industry. Heading this exciting endeavor is Brian “Essince” Collins, a distinguished professional with an illustrious career that spans across international markets, particularly in Latin America. A native of Honduras, Essince has played a pivotal role in launching promising artists and collaborating with diverse clients worldwide. As the world joyfully celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hip-hop this year, Digiwaxx takes immense pride in its own remarkable milestone of 25 years in the hip-hop scene. Throughout its journey, Digiwaxx has meticulously curated one of the most esteemed record pools, while wholeheartedly supporting the culture through an array of initiatives. From exclusive events held nationwide to the renowned Digiwaxx calls featuring industry giants as guests, Digiwaxx continues to flourish, propelled by the unwavering support of the hip-hop community and the dedication of its founder, Corey “CL” Llewellyn. The brand’s impeccable reputation precedes it, facilitating connections between artists, DJs, and platforms on a global scale. Corey “CL” Llewellyn expressed his excitement about the addition of Digiwaxx Latino to the Digiwaxx family, emphasizing the desire to create specialized divisions focused on various music genres and cultures. He further praised the choice of Brian “Essince” Collins to spearhead the Digiwaxx Latino division, citing his professionalism and successful track record on both national and international levels. The newly established Digiwaxx Latino division will showcase an array of Latin music playlists, exclusive content, and interviews, providing a platform for Latin artists, industry professionals, and enthusiasts. Essince shared his personal journey with Digiwaxx, recounting how he had been introduced to the platform during his early days in the industry, monitoring Digiwaxx submissions for a New York label. He expressed his delight in being able to leverage this influential platform to highlight the remarkable talent and growth of Latino artists, an aspiration he has held for a significant period. Over the past 25 years, Digiwaxx has been a driving force in promoting and nurturing countless gifted artists. The brand attributes its continued relevance to the unwavering support of numerous DJs, industry professionals, devoted fans, and its own hardworking team. As they celebrate this momentous year, Digiwaxx looks back at those who doubted the longevity of hip-hop, proving them unequivocally wrong. For more information on Digiwaxx and its initiatives, please visit www.digiwaxx.com or contact [email protected] And Follow us on all platforms: @Digiwaxx About Digiwaxx: Digiwaxx is a prestigious record pool that has played a vital role in the music industry for 25 years. With an unwavering commitment to supporting artists and the culture, Digiwaxx continues to thrive, connecting talents with DJs and platforms worldwide.

#rewindreview: Ol’ Dirty Bastard ‘Return To The 36 Chambers’ (1995)

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  The reign of Wu-Tang Clan is comparable to lightning in a bottle. No matter how many may want to try and duplicate or say that it has happened outside of them, it simply has not. Rapping talent aside, the personalities involved in the original nine we might have took for granted while living in it but this was a unique moment. After “The Clan” dropped their debut album, solo acts began to drop as well. Method Man would come out of the gate first with ‘Tical’ but in that same year Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s first single ‘Brooklyn Zoo’ menaced the streets. I was introduced to the song by the video and the look of the visuals and song itself were a perfect combination. This highlighted the personality of “ODB” and set the tone for what to expect on his album. ‘Return Of To The 36 Chambers’ is so raw in it’s approach that I believe had “Ol’ Dirty..” not been associated with Wu-Tang Clan, this album would not be remembered or even released. This might sound like a wild take but the album is everywhere and by the standards set with HOP albums during this time it broke all the rules. The intro is almost 5 minutes of no song while actual songs almost sound like interludes or as though they were off “the cutting room floor.” Ol’ Dirty Bastard is not the most lyrical and songs are mainly just freestyles which unlike the urban myths created for his Brooklyn contemporaries, Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z, I believe “Dirt Dawg” couldn’t have had these raps written down. The reason the album works is because it has such memorable moments and outrageous quotes. R.Z.A. knew what worked for Ol’ Dirty Bastard and the best way to display his personality was to allow him the freedom to be so “anti..” that it became a new standard. The single ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’ dropped after the album was released and the video made one hear the song on the album with different ears. ODB might have been the rawest and most unfocused of The Clan but he was definitely the most dynamic one at that time. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Brooklyn Zoo’ & ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen/ & TuneIn app (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @fanlink.to/QuantumLeapRadio

#rewindreview: The Micranots ‘Return Of The Travellahs’ (1996)

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  The 2000’s decade saw a lot of independent releases as full albums and not just 12 inch vinyl singles. The ability to create a distribute whole albums was much easier than it was in the previous decade. This caused many artist like J-Live, Nas, Juggaknots to name a few, to release previous works that were never available on Compact Disc format. The Micranots who were a two man group out of Minneapolis M.N. made a mark with their ‘Obelisk Movements’ album from the year 2000, so it was simple mathematics for them to capitalize on the fans they had gathered from that release and provide those fans with what they might have missed. ‘Return Of The Travellahs’ was the debut album from The Micranots but this was only available on cassette tape so if you were not a day one fan of the group or possibly in the studio with them creating this, it was more than likely missed. Re-released on CD in the year 2003, listeners got to hear the progression in the groups creativity as compared to later releases. The songs seem to be recorded between at least 1994 through 1996. I Self Divine who is the M.C. of the group drops a few gems on these songs but for the most part it is a “freestyle” of ideas and rhymes. Kool Akiem Allah provides the beats which carry the classic sound of the mid-1990’s, taking the listeners on a journey of that time in HOP music. This album is really for collectors and true fans of The Micranots. It might not serve to create new listeners as one would have to understand the challenges it took to put out music in a pre-easy accessible, internet world. For those that need something to bop your head to on a fall Saturday, this one’s for you. What did you think of the album? Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen/ & TuneIn app (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @fanlink.to/QuantumLeapRadio

#rewindreview: Pete Rock ‘Return Of The SP1200’ (2019)

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  It’s 2019 and why not get a collection of past beats made on an SP1200 from the legendary Pete Rock. After starting the trend of putting out instrumental HOP albums on 2001’s ‘Petestrumentals,’ “PR” knows there is an audience that wants to hear that classic sound from him. On ‘Return Of The SP1200’ the audience will recognize a few familiar tunes of the past that were used, never officially came out, or have recently been resurrected. The Meccalicious heater ‘How You Feel’ is the beat for ‘Hope You World Don’t Stop,’ while we get the instrumental for the Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth’s ‘Death Becomes You’ off the ‘Menace II Society’ soundtrack. There is also a deep cut, ‘Street Dreams’ which is actually an unreleased Pete Rock remix for Nas’ ‘Street Dreams’ remix, Pete rock only played on a ‘Future Flavas’ show. While the track ‘Kool Jazz’ has been recently used by Paul Wall & Termanology on their track called ‘Recognize My Car.’ The usage of melodic samples and filtered basslines as loops are attributes that have captivated Pete Rock fans for years. This is classic Pete Rock beats and if you are fan of one of the greatest moments in his career, which was the mid to late 1990’s, one will be pleased and taken down a trip of days past. ‘Return Of The SP1200’ is not only a return previous production but a return of a feeling. What did you think of the album? Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen/ & TuneIn app (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @fanlink.to/QuantumLeapRadio

“So So Def Presents A 30th Anniversary Tribute Performance At The 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards”

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Jermaine Dupri and So So Def marked a significant milestone, celebrating the label’s 30th anniversary with an unforgettable medley of their greatest hits at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards. So So Def, founded in 1993, emerged as one of the most prominent record labels of its era, not just in the south. Initially propelled by Dupri’s success with the multi-platinum rap duo Kris Kross, the label went on to produce legendary acts such as Xscape, Jagged Edge, Bow Wow, and the first female soloist in rap to achieve Platinum status, Da Brat. Continuing its legacy into the 2000s, So So Def expanded its roster to include artists like the soulful crooner Anthony Hamilton and Atlanta-based rap groups like Bone Crusher, YoungBloodz, Dem Franchise Boyz, and many more. The performance began with Jermaine Dupri paying tribute to Kris Kross and their 1992 hit “Jump.” Wearing a backwards Atlanta Braves jersey as a nod to the iconic duo, Dupri took the audience on a nostalgic journey back to the birth of the So So Def era. He shared, “Back in 1991, I was sitting in my room, and I wrote this song,” before performing the opening verse and chorus. Ludacris then joined Dupri on stage for their 2002 anthem, “Welcome 2 Atlanta,” both donning Atlanta sports jerseys that electrified the audience. last year when Jermaine Dupri sat down with complex, he revealed that he was the youngest producer at that time to have a number one record and even was listed in the Guinness World Records. The set continued with Lil Jon taking the stage and thrilling the crowd with YoungBloodz’s 2003 track, “Damn!” followed by his own hit, “Snap Yo Fingers.” Bone Crusher brought his thunderous party starter, “Neva Scared,” to the performance, and Nelly made a surprise appearance, teaming up with JD for their 2005 chart-topping hit, “Grillz.” Throughout the performance, dancers dressed in Atlanta Braves jerseys and So So Def shirts added to the festive atmosphere as Dupri and his collaborators delved into their treasure trove of anthems. Dupri himself performed his breakout hit, “Money Ain’t a Thang,” and the mood shifted to a more intimate setting when Tyrese and Chingy joined him for “Pullin Me Back.” Dupri, 50 years old, proudly declared, “I write the songs that the whole world sings,” highlighting his extensive catalog and enduring career and how the songs he wrote still make us move to this day. The So So Def reunion wouldn’t be complete without the presence of Bow Wow and Da Brat, both of whom joined Dupri and Dem Franchize Boyz for a spirited rendition of the “I Think They Like Me” remix, concluding the performance on a joyous and nostalgic note. Babyface once told Jermaine Dupri that in order to make history, he would have to make magic in the studio consistently after the success of Kris Kross, needless to say 30 years later we are still dancing and celebrating all of So So Def’s hit records. “Jermaine Dupri Celebrates 30 years of so so def with star-studded Medley at 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards”. www.billboard.com. October 10, 2023. October 11, 2023. “Hip Hop Awards 2023: so so Def’s 30th Anniversary Performance Was a Trip Down Memory Lane”. www.bet.com. October 10, 2023. October 11, 2023.

#rewindreview: Lord Finesse ‘Return Of The Funky Man’ (1992)

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  The second album from the ‘Funky Man’ Lord Finesse was literally a return to what he had already given on his debut album ‘Funky Technician’ with D.J. Mike Smooth. By 1992 HOP music was becoming even more popular and with that comes a change in sound and content. The weird thing about that year was with the success of West Coast “gangsta rap,” rappers outside those borders had to shift and sound more edgy to compete. On ‘Return Of The Funky Man’ Lord Finesse seems caught in this quagmire which prevents this record from having the flare his previous album had by just being in the moment and having fun. This album at times felt like Finesse was trying to overcompensate for the change of hardcore content in HOP music. ‘Return Of the Funky Man’ is still a solid release but it also leans too much on what made the previous album work with certain songs sounding like a carbon copy of tracks off ‘Funky Technician.’ Production is handled by the D.I.T.C. crew which include Showbiz, Diamond D. and Lord Finesse himself, with some outside production from D.J. Aladdin and some early production work from Shafiq Husayn on ‘Save That Ish.’ Lord Finesse is really trying to make a statement with this album of being an elite M.C. The majority of the tracks are more competitive rap content but also the “underestimated” narrative most people can relate to whether it be in relationships or career success. It might not be Lord Finesse’s best album but the record opened the door for M.C.’s like Percee P., Shel Rumble, Harry-O and the up and coming D.I.T.C. member A.G. Lord Finesse clearly learned from this album and “trimmed the fat” for ‘The Awakening’ that would be released a few years later. Would did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Return Of The Funky Man’ & ‘Party Over Here’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen/ & TuneIn app (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @fanlink.to/QuantumLeapRadio

Outkast’s ‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below’ Achieves The Title Of The Best-Selling Hip-Hop Album In History

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OutKast’s 2003 album “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” has become the best-selling rap album of all time, surpassing 13x platinum with over 13 million units sold. This achievement places the classic hip-hop album, known for hits like “Hey Ya!” and “The Way You Move,” in the top position ahead of Eminem’s “The Eminem Show.” The album was originally a double album, with one solo disc from Big Boi and another from André 3000, marking a significant moment in their hip-hop career. Big Boi celebrated this milestone on Instagram, emphasizing Outkast’s enduring impact. The album was a massive success, with songs like “The Way You Move” and “Hey Ya!” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outkast won three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, with “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.” Lauryn Hill’s “Miseducation” is the only other hip-hop album to have won that award. “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” is one of only seven hip-hop albums to be certified diamond, signifying sales of 10 million units or more. Other diamond-certified albums include 2Pac’s “All Eyez On Me” and “Greatest Hits,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Life After Death,” and Eminem’s “The Marshall Mathers LP.” Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” Beastie Boys’ “License to Ill,” and Eminem’s “Curtain Call: The Hits” have each sold 10 million units. Now what’s cooler than being cool? Ice Cold and best-selling of all time, obviously! “Outkast claim title of having best-selling rap album of all time“. www.11alive.com. October 3, 2023. October 4, 2023.

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