Random 7"s Part 2 - Quasimoto - Hittin Hooks

It was 1999 and although we had heard rumours of this entity called Quasimoto and even heard him on the Lootpack album we were unsure of what exactly he was. Was he a rapper in his own right or was he Madlib on helium ? The names Quasimoto and Madlib have been linked since the Soundpieces album that we first heard him on. Yet they’ve never been seen in the same room together. In fact, Quasimoto’s never been seen in the same room with anyone – he’s The Unseen as his debut album's title told us. But you can hear him - and there’s no mistaking his voice.
The rumour goes that Peanut Butter Wolf first heard him on a dusty old tape, one of Madlib’s infamous beat tapes – the kind he’d make to listen to himself or pass around to the Likwit crew. Madlib and Quas had been up in Oxnard, CA, making music for years without the slightest intention of releasing it to the masses. Wolf got it out though – after some begging and pleading, and after signing a contract with Quas vowing not to reveal his name or association to the Beat Konducta we finally heard hi on his own vinyl; the Hittin Hooks 7".

At the time this came out I was going to Amsterdam 4 or 5 times a year and spending incredible amounts in the long since closed Fat Beats not to mention the splendid Green House, but thats another matter altogether. I bought this 7" in the Dam Fat Beats for two reasons; the first being it was on Stones Throw and the second being because it was produced by Madlib. Two reasons that still stand strong to this day. The A side is a play on Biz Markie's Pickin' Boogers only Quas is talking about Hittin' Hooks (Hookers) and Madlib uses elements of the original. Quas's lyrical ode to Hookers is superb and the fact that its being spat in such a ridiculously high pitched voice makes it even better.
The B side features the Madlib remix to the classic Microphone Mathematics which has the same lyrics as the first but features entirely different beat. Although slightly shorter than the original it is still pretty dope. It features an off kilter beat with piano stabs and a funky bass riff with that dope Pos da nous sample. Check both of them out by following the link below.
I dont mean to diss you but let me shake your hand 'cause I'm never gonna kiss you.

New Track from the Gold Deluxe edition of Cuban Linx Part 2

After the success of Raekwon's Only Built for Cuban Linx Part 2 and the untold amounts of leaked track that never made the album it was only a matter of time before a deluxe version was released. The Deluxe Gold version is currently only available on the US iTunes store but will hopefully make it over to Europe soon and maybe even get a vinyl release sometime in the future although I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.
Below is the listing of the extra tracks the Deluxe Gold deluxe version;
About Me (rmx) f. Game
Broken Safety (rmx)
Penitentiary (Travis Barker Remix)
Never Matter to You f. Bun B
New Wu (rmx)
Rock Stars f. GZA & Inspectah Deck
Check the link above for the MP3 of the New Wu remix.

I like the idea of these extra tracks but surely he could have just combined them with some of the earlier bootlegs, mixtape joint and that rare purple 7" of Flawless Crowns to make Cuban Linx 3? In fact you can check out a number of these bootlegs and rare tracks in my post from Feb 2009 here

Random 7"s Part 1 -Lootpack - The Anthem remix

It was 1998 and although the name Madlib had been known to underground heads since Tha Alkaholiks superb Coast II Coast album where he had produced the smoking WLIX no one had even the slightest idea how Madlib would go on to become a musical Juggernaut who would drive through genres with more aliases than Carlos the Jackal over the next decade. He went on to produced on the Alkaholiks' follow up album, Lkwidation in 1997, he secured himself and the rest of Lootpack a slot in the Likwit crew. But it was The Lootpack's debut album in 1998; Soundpieces: Da Antidote that really allowed Madlib to show just how creative he could be. The album was a success and allowed Madlib to introduce his style of bass heavy, Jazz and obscure sampling production. Not to mention a certain Quasimoto, my favorite of all his aliases.

It was a long album, 22 full track to be exact and 2 or three interludes. Although Stones Throw had already shown themselves to be the best indie label on the Left Coast, possibly in the US only be rivaled by Rawkus at the time, this album added to the level of quality set by the previously released long players from Peanut Butter Wolf and Rasco. The album spawned a whole heap of remixes almost all of them dope. This 7" here was given away with the European pressing which was done by Superappin. Its features the remix to the Anthem and is of course produced by Madlib and contains the vocal and instrumental version. The beat features some off key strings coupled with a strange shifting bassline. The lyrics are the usual bragging lyrics sprinkled with funny metaphors that would expect from members of the Likwit Crew.
Over the next ten years Madlib would go on to work with MF Doom, Jay Dee, Badu, De La Soul, Kweli, Mos Def, Ghostface, Percee P, Strong Arm Steady, Guilty Simpson, Dudley Perkins, Slum Village and Vasyt Aire amongst others. Not too mention his work under other guises; Ahmad Miller, Beat Konducta, DJ Lord Such, DJ Rels, Duma Peterson, Eddie Prince Fusion Band, The, Jahari Massamba Unit, The, Jazzistics, The, Joe McDuphrey, Joe McDuphrey Experience, Junior Taylor, Kamala Walker and The Soul Tribe, Kay Henderson, Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble, The, Loopdigga, The, Malik Flavors, Monk Hughes, Monk Hughes & The Outer Realm, Morgan Adams III, Otis Jackson Jr., Otis Jackson Jr. Trio, Russel Jenkins, Sound Directions, Suntouch, Tyrone Foster, Yesterday's Universe All Stars, Yesterdays New Quintet, Young Jazz Rebels and of course Quasimoto.

Madlib aka Otis Jackson is a musical genius and his name should be spoken alongside Premier, Pete Rock and Jay Dee. His rhymes are dope, his production beyond belief and the amount of instrumentals he plays is outstanding, I mean Blue Note invited him to raid their vaults and remix his favorite tracks, who else gets an offer like that ?
Check the Link for the 7" rip.

"If You're not dropping tracks like real emcees the you're not representing with the LPs"