Tragedy and Capone Thugs Paradise and the Theme from S.W.A.T.

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I have always been a Queensbridge fiend and whilst getting some of my dodgy bootlegs up here my man, Domski asked me a about a Tragedy track called Thugs Paradise. I had totally forgotten this track and after a bit of digging I found my copy of it and threw it on. The track Thug Paradise was originally the B side to True Confessions which featured Iman Thug and was released on Tragedy's 25 to Life Entertainment label back in 1997. There are no production credits for either of the songs on the 12" but if anyone knows who was behind the boards on these two tracks let me know.

Thug Paradise came towards the beginning of the end of the whole Thug era. It uses the Rhythm Heritage Theme from S.W.A.T. sample that has been used by loads of people before and after; 3rd Bass, LL Cool J, K-Solo, Lauryn Hill and UTFO to name a few. But it was just something about this track and the time it came out. I picked this one up from Deal Real Records in the summer of 1997 and I remember taking my one and a half year old daughter with me the day I picked it up.

The sample is taken from Rhythm Heritage's 1976 album Disco Fied and is easily the best track on the album. It can also be found on Ultimate Breaks and Beats volume 10. The A side was True Confessions and features Iman T.H.U.G. (I don't know what T.H.U.G. stands for probably something incredibly silly) and this is pretty much your run of the mill, boring and ignorant thug song with some wack ass singing. Not deserving of the A side in my opinion but what the heck. They even throw in an instrumental of True Confessions for good measure. Check the link for the rip and the break. Another cool thing about this 12" is for the radio version they use cool sound effects to cover the swearing, don't you just love that shit.

I'm deep like a Saukrates

Comments

DJ MK said…
Yeah this is the one i was talking about...i remember the day we got our 1st copies of this in the shops...the copy u have must have been the last one as its got shortee blitz s writing on it!!!! wicked post
6 January 2009 at 01:33
scottajronan said…
Yep it was the last one, I remember someone else asking for it just as I took it off one of you guys.
6 January 2009 at 07:03
grimen said…
True Confessions is one of the illest songs released - even put it on my widely recognized mixtape QB Memory Lane Vol 1. Btw, I got like 5 different versions of Thug Paradise.
7 January 2009 at 00:32
diabolical lack of hair follicle said…
respect sir!!! peace the dutty bald man domski and shouts to all hip hop junkies..RIP DEAL REAL EVERYTIME
10 January 2009 at 21:11
scottajronan said…
Glad you Like it Dom. Keep checking back got some other nice shit for you guys in the next few days. For real on the Deal Real tip, I picked up many a gem in that place as MK knows as he sold me most of them.
10 January 2009 at 22:34
HowFresh said…
SAJR, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree on this one. True Confessions is BANGING. From the harp then those sampled vocals and then that boom bap- oowhee. That shit is so dirty. I can do without IMAM Thugs verse but it comes with the property.

It was also released on another 12"- Iron Sheiks (Tragedy & IMAM Thug)- which had the Alluminati joint with a Tony Touch freestyle and DJ Clue freestyle- no Thug Paradise though.

Kepp them coming.
10 January 2009 at 23:44
diabolical lack of hair follicle said…
yes sajr super duper props ..in fact the trune i was huntin was in fact the a side..my hazy memory is damaged by too much bunning!! LOL keep em coming .. by the way MK could sell sunshine to the Australians u getz me !
13 January 2009 at 15:28
diabolical lack of hair follicle said…
true confessions slept on hip hop tune without doubt killa instrumental!
13 January 2009 at 15:30
BLITZ BWOY said…
YOOOOOOO!
i recognise that handwriting....lol
just stumbled on this blog...good shit!!
3 March 2009 at 19:18
Imam T.h.u.g. said…
Hey, it's Imam T.h.u.g.

I see you wanted to know who made True Confessions. G-money made that track.
29 January 2010 at 21:57
scottajronan said…
Many props for the comments Iman, it's very rewarding to see someone whose music I have enjoyed enjoying me blog.
29 January 2010 at 22:39
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