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DORKMAG X ROOTDOWN SHOW 10
Rootdown By Ken Peebles!

1. Gangstarr – Just to get a rep

I love Guru on the mic but this track is all about that Jean Jacques Perrey sample! Premiere knows how to pick ‘em that’s for sure. I was late in the game with Gangstarr. I remember calling the local college station and requesting those gangstarr guys. From that green request is where I first heard this gem. Along with another fantastic Primo beat Guru’s story raps bring this one all together. But shorty said naw / pulled the trigger and stepped / it was nothing / He did it just to get a rep.

2. Shabaam Sahdeeq – Sound Clash

I can thank my girl A.J. for this one. I was already deep into collecting all the Rawkus releases I could get my hands on when she decided this one was crate filler. I also originally picked this up for the B side 5 Star Generals f. Eminem but I ended up rocking Sound Clash much more often. Nick Wiz provided the backing including that classic JB yell and some distorted guitars. This one is full of energy.

3. Cali Agents – Crash the Boards

This one is all about my man DJ Res. I had just finished my purchases for the day at Dr.Disc when he slipped the Cali Agents snippet tape into my bag and knowingly nodded you’ll be back for this. Ever the master of my taste after only a few days with the snippets I had to jump back to the basement and cop the Rasco and Planet Asia collabo. I recommend this whole album if you can grab it, but this track doesn’t get played enough in my mind. Rocking on nothing more than some boom bap and a bumping bass line the rest is left in the capable hands of two master craftsmen from the bay.

4. Reflection Eternal f. De la Soul – Soul Rebels

I’ve been hype on Talib Kweli since Manifesto off of the Lyricist Lounge compilation. Hi-Teks incredible production only sweetened the pot. I’ll be honest here. I was really expecting Talibs debut Train of Thought to be perfect. I don’t know why really but I just thought it couldn’t lose. Here’s the thing though. It was. I could understand if you may disagree and I’ll openly admit I don’t bump the album as often as when I bought it, but man that thing was solid. There were 20 tracks on there with no cracks showing anywhere. Picking a track for the mix here was more about what sound fit best, not the best track. If you don’t own Train of Thought and dig this tune, I recommend you hit up your local record spot with the quickness.

5. Saukrates – Money or Love

One of my favourite emcees and producers on the Canadian side finishes off this edition. Unfortunately for me I think Big Sox has mostly moved to production and label management meaning there may never be another full length. Money or Love was the lead single from the album The Underground Tapes. Strung along by an unstoppable guitar line and bass bumps this one was the theme to a couple of summers for me.

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DORKMAG X ROOTDOWN SHOW 11

For Show 11 I decided to pick some of my favourite album openers. Track one is so important, especially for the hip hop consumer. After all the hype and anticipation from the single, you run home, pop in your new purchase and wait for that first beat to break the silence. That song is probably the one you have the most patience for and sets the tone for the rest of your experience with that record. With only 5 tracks to choose from, there are of course a few that missed the vote and I’ll send honourable mention right now to Common for Introspective. That probably is one of the best album openers ever. This show wasn’t just meant to remind you of these particular tracks, but I hope each of these songs sends you back to your experiences with these albums.

1. KRS ONE – KRS ONE Attacks

We will be here forever! How classic is this. The album is bonkers, but DJ Premier really sets it off right with the cuts to the throwback tracks. The bass drops to the crash cymbal produce an instant head nod reaction. I remember my man Bill had this first. He had this busted old component system with the loudest speakers I had ever heard. I remember him asking if I know what was up with the album. I had heard Outta Here and the seen the video for Return of the Boom Bap that sort compiles all tracks off the album. He dropped this in the deck and I lost my mind. Blastmaster KRS. You damn right.

2. Ghostface f. Raekwon & Cappadonna – Iron Maiden

I had to really cut out a lot of the opening dialogue here for pacing, but if you know this one, you know what’s up. This track contains some of my favourite vocal snippets ever. “Let me get mines first. Then after I get mines y’all can do what y’all wanna do” Priceless. Back when this came out I really wasn’t up on Ghost. He was nice, but I hadn’t really given him a lot of attention yet. I was amp to pick this up based on the Daytona 500 single. I brought this over to my man Adam’s house and I resisted the urge to flip right to the single and let it play out. Once Iron Maiden dropped though it was over. This beat is so hard. Ghost slays it with Raekwon and Cappadonna playing clean up. I would never view Ghost the same again.

3. Tha Liks f. The Lootpack – WLIX

It’s the Liks baby, it’s the Liks! I can’t believe I’ve missed the chance to see these guys…twice. Although the Alkaholiks have fallen out of favour they still remain one of my favourite all time groups. This is such a strong opener for the album Coast 2 Coast. It captures a song structure that makes you want to rewind, but leaves in the cipher essence. I caught this on tape dub from my boy Adam who always had the new joints. I had it on lock forever, especially for that verse from Tash. In retrospect the funny thing is this track would be my introduction to a young emcee and producer named Madlib.

4. Rock n’ Roll (Could never hip hop like this) – Handsome Boy Modeling School

You’ve got martinis, cigars, fake moustaches, Prince Paul and Dan the Automater. What else could a hip hop fan ask for? Handsome Boy Modeling School’s So…How’s your girl was one wacky album. Two of hip hop’s most eccentric producers cut and paste their way to a certified classic. The opening track Rock n’ Roll gives you that rolling stream of conscious feeling. The weird vocal breakdown near the end is one of my favourites. “Dear Ms.Bowers…” Who else gets away with this stuff?

5. Heltah Skeltah – Here We Come

All respect to Sean Price, but back in the day it was all Rock for me. I remember, me and my man would split up duties with rap duos and do the routines on the way to school and stuff. He was PMD, I was Eric Sermon. He was Mr.Cheeks, I was Freaky Tah. He was Ruck and I was Rock. That voice is so crazy. Just rugged baritone all over the place. This album is so solid. In fact I’d even forgotten how great it was until I threw it on recently. Along with the rest of the Boot Camp movement, this was very much the soundtrack to my life. Rock flips his way through all the titles of the tracks on the album and warms you up for the gritty adventure to come. If you a dedicated soldier say here we come.

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