UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | Add On, Son: 10 Special Features 

A dope rap group usually doesn’t need to resort to flooding their album with guest features. Their notebooks are deep enough to keep all the bars in-house. But still, it’s always a blessing to invite a crew member or extended hip hop family friend to jump on an album cut. It’s exciting for the fans, a good look for the guest, and adds spice to the brewing stew when creating a classic LP. Check these ten special feature appearances on a rap group’s album, all co-signed by UpNorthTrips for our new series, The 10s.

1. A Tribe Called Quest f/ Large Professor “Keep It Rollin’”
Album: Midnight Marauders
Year: 1993
Breakdown: Extra P adds an extra verse to this laidback cut he produced off ATCQ’s third LP. It’s a stellar performance on the mic and behind the boards. Queens represent.
UNT Quotable: ”Yeah, yeah, now check the method.” -Large Professor

2. The Clipse f/ Fabolous “Comedy Central”
Album: Lord Willin’
Year: 2002 
Breakdown: Fab flashes cash, shovels snow, and laughs at funny style rappers with the coldest brothers in Virginia Beach. 
UNT Quotable: ”So cool we could pull bitches, even if it was July and we had on Woolrichs.” -Fabolous

3. Black Sheep f/ Q-Tip “La Menage”
Album: A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing   
Year: 1991
Breakdown: Tip the Sugar Dick talks like sex with his Native Tongue tribesmen Dres and Mr. Lawnge. Somebody give these guys a hole!
UNT Quotable: ”As the dookie hits the fan, in comes the horny man.” -Q-Tip

4. Mobb Deep f/ Kool G. Rap “The Realest”
Album: Murda Muzik
Year: 1999 
Breakdown: There’s a reason why G. Rap’s verse on here was ‘Rhyme Of The Month’ in The Source. It’s fucking sick. This is murder music for real, and one of Alchemist’s early gems.
UNT Quotable: ”Accurate shots in back of your knot.” -Kool G. Rap

5. Tha Dogg Pound f/ Snoop Dogg “Some Bomb Azz Pussy”
Album: Dogg Pound
Year: 1995
Breakdown: Have you ever had some bomb ass pussy that made you want to scream Dogg Pound? They have, and in mad different spots around the globe, most notably Japan.
UNT Quotable: ”Blow-asaki part one gettin’ buckwild.” -Snoop Dogg

6. Outkast f/ Raekwon “Skew It On The Bar-B”
Album: Aquemini
Year: 1998
Breakdown: Hearing Wu Tang’s rawest spitter and Outkast on one track was a pretty off-beat idea at the time, but the end result was so on point they did it again years later on “Royal Flush.” This is where it all started though, and it’s undeniable.
UNT Quotable: ”Deliver this through your audio.” -Raekwon

7. EPMD f/ LL Cool J “Rampage”
Album: Business As Usual
Year: 1990
Breakdown: LL flexes his skills for the hardcore heads with Erick and Parrish. He’s got rhymes up the what?
UNT Quotable: ”Playin’ MC’s like an old accordion.” -LL Cool J

8. Pete Rock & CL Smooth f/ Grand Puba “Skinz”
Album: Mecca & The Soul Brother 
Year: 1992
Breakdown: Now Rule and Money Earnin’ connect for this 914 flamer, all about the skinz. The skinz, you know, girls, fine women. Check the resume and parlay.
UNT Quotable: ”Drop my load then get up and make some french toast.” -Grand Puba

9. Black Star f/ Common “Respiration”
Album: Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star
Year: 1998
Breakdown: Common reminisces on a lost friend, and revisits his old stomping ground in Chi-Town on the third verse of this standout Black Star banger. It’s deep.
UNT Quotable: ”Sometimes I take the bus home, just to touch home.” -Common

10. Channel Live f/ KRS-One “Mad Izm”
Album: Station Identification
Year: 1995
Breakdown: Channel Live invites their big homie Kris Parker to the cipher to do their two favorite things; Diss wack MC’s and spark up mad izm.
UNT Quotable: ”Like Lionel Ritchie, your whole style is bitchy.” -KRS-One

words by @stanipcus / mix by @unitedcrates

UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | Primo Treats: 10 Classic Non-Gang Starr Primo Productions

DJ Premier’s catalog is incredible. If he was only known for his work with Gangstarr, he’d still be considered a Top 3 producer of all time, easily. But the fact that he’s worked with everyone from Biggie to Jay-Z to Nas to KRS-One makes his discography pretty much incomparable. And we’re not talking about obscure cuts that lost their appeal years ago. These are timeless songs! So for today’s edition of The 10s, we present Primo Treats: 10 Classic Non-Gangstarr Primo Joints. We’ll probably have to do a part two and three to this because dude has worked with everyone we love and always comes correct. All praises due to DJ Premier, thank you for all the music you’ve given us. It’s our pleasure to celebrate the work you’ve put in. I guess right now we should start the show.

1. Group Home “Supa Star”
Album: Livin’ Proof
Year: 1995
Sample Source: Cameo “Hanging Downtown”
Breakdown: Gangstarr Foundation duo Lil’ Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker release the realness on the first single from their first album (which was entirely produced by DJ Premier). All you punks, hear this.
UNT Quotable: “You can’t take money wit’cha when ya die.” -Melachi the Nutcracker

2. Notorious B.I.G. “Unbelievable”
Album: Ready To Die
Year: 1994
Sample Source: The Honey Drippers “Impeach The President”
Breakdown: Supposedly Biggie personally requested that Primo flip this sample, and even recommended the R. Kelly scratches on the hook. Who knew B.I.G. had such a good ear for production?
UNT Quotable: “If I said it I meant it, bite my tongue for no one.” -Notorious B.I.G.

3. Nas “I Gave You Power”
Album: It Was Written
Year: 1996
Sample Source: Ahmad Jamal “Theme Bahamas”
Breakdown: Premier contributed one beat to Nas’ sophomore album, and he definitely delivered. And so did Esco, as he portrays the life of a gun and sets a new standard for concept records.
UNT Quotable: “Always I’m in some shit, my abdomen is the clip, the barrel’s my dick, uncircumcised, pull my skin back and cock me, I bust off when they unlock me.” -Nas

4. Jay-Z “D’Evils”
Album: Reasonable Doubt
Year: 1996
Sample Source: Allen Toussaint “Go Back Home”
Breakdown: Signature scratches and a perfect sample structure give Jigga just what he needs to tell his story of how having money and power changes everything.
UNT Quotable: “We used to fight for building blocks, now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killing.” -Jay-Z

5. D’Angelo “Devil’s Pie”
Album: Belly (Soundtrack)
Year: 1998
Sample Source: Teddy Pendergrass “And if I Had”
Breakdown: This song first appeared in the movie Belly, and later on D’s second album Voodoo. It’s actually pretty cool to hear Primo produce a hard R & B record. We’re not mad at this at all.
UNT Quotable: “WIth 85 dumb and blind, there can be no compromise.” -D’Angelo

6. CNN “Invincible”
Album: The Reunion
Year: 2000
Sample Source: Jimmie and Vella “Hey Boy Over There”
Breakdown: The invincible, untouchable, CNN return (after Capone’s bid) to make their second album together. And with Premier on the boards for their first single, it’s clear that this Queens tag team is still in tact.
UNT Quotable: “Spit gutter on a Primo beat, for the love of the street.” -Capone

7. The LOX “Recognize”
Album: We Are The Streets
Year: 2000
Sample Source: Edwin Starr and Blinky “Sweet Joy of Life”
Breakdown: The hardest rap group in the streets links with the hardest producer on the beats. Don’t get it twisted, y’all.
UNT Quotable: “I know y’all couldn’t wait to hear ‘Kiss over Premier, kill you on tape then watch it over a beer.” -Jadakiss

8. O.C. “My World”
Album: Jewelz
Year: 1997
Sample Source: Barry White “Killer’s Lullaby”
Breakdown: O.C. drops jewels for his competitors and foes to due the knowledge to.
UNT Quotable: “Microphone fiend, I make beats do backflips.” -O.C.

9. Devin The Dude “Doobie Ashtray”
Album: Just Tryin’ ta Live
Year: 2002
Sample Source: Miriam Makeba “Quit It”
Breakdown: Damn, someone did Devin dirty and dipped off with his doobage.
UNT Quotable: “Somebody had the nerve to take the herb up out my doobie ashtray, why’d they do me that way?” -Devin The Dude

10. KRS-One “Rappaz R. In Dainja”
Album: KRS-One
Year: 1995
Sample Source: Jaco Pastorius and Bob Herzog “Come On, Come Over”
Breakdown: Primo did six songs on KRS-One’s first solo LP Return of the Boom Bap, and contributed a few more to his follow-up self titled album, including this one which sets it off. When KRS is in house, oh my god, danger!
UNT Quotable: “Kickin’ rhymes ‘til I wrinkle, and my brown eyes twinkle, God-core hip hop for the nine-cinco.” -KRS-One

words by @stanipcus / mix by @unitedcrates

UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | Do Remember: 10 Dope DJ Clue? Freestyles

Though other mixtape DJ’s would hate to admit it, DJ Clue? was the king of the exclusives game for years. If there was a new song, Clue? would find a way to get it on his latest tape, sometimes even without the artist’s blessing. In fact, Fat Joe recently told a story about Biggie going to look for Clue? with a gun, ready to shoot him over leaking his shit (Biggie called Clue? out on Hot 97 back in ‘94 and Clue? turned around and used the audio for the intro to his Scarecrow’s Birthday mixtape haha). But what made DJ Clue? tapes special were not only the unreleased songs, but also the exclusive freestyles he got artists to do for them. Most of these freestyles were used for intros, but some he just threw in the mix to make his tracklists stand out. Here’s 10 Dope DJ Clue? Freestyles from the days when mixtapes were still hot in the streets. Do remember.

1. Mobb Deep “The Infamous Intro”
Tape: Springtime Stickup
Year: 1996
Breakdown: Havoc is missing in action, but Prodigy brings along QBC thug Ty Nitty to set off Clue?’s first tape from Spring 1996, with high powered raps over Ghostface’s “Motherless Child.” It’s a Queens thing.
UNT Quotable: “My rap style, should be stuffed inside a crack vial.” -Prodigy

2. The LOX “Back 2 Back”
Tape: Show Me The Money
Year: 1996
Breakdown: Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch go in over Show and A.G.’s “Next Level (Nyte Time Mix)” and prove their capability to body a Premier beat. Them boys from Yonkers were young and hungry, and not to be fucked with.
UNT Quotable: “I’m the blunt three in the morning you take to the head.” -Styles P

3. Mase, Cam’ron, Noreaga, Tragedy, Iman Thug, and Cardan “All Boro Freestyle”
Tape: Show Me The Money Pt. 2
Year: 1997
Breakdown: Oh. My. Lord. This is off the hook. Take all the hottest new rappers from Harlem and Queens (and semi-old head Tragedy) and let them get busy over “Who Shot Ya” and “Bitches Ain’t Shit.” Great idea, Clue?!! Mase is murderous, Noreaga is vicious, and Killa Cam hogs the mic and blacks the fuck out.
UNT Quotable: “We wear hoodies and skullies to your jiggy affairs.” -Cam’ron

4. Jadakiss and Styles “Fiesta Freestyle”
Tape: Hev E. Components: Part 3
Year: 2001
Breakdown: Jada and Styles shoot up some sombreros and do the in and out thing over R. Kelly and Jigga’s summer club banger.
UNT Quotable: “Two shots to the kneecaps just to see you bow down.” -Jadakiss

5. Big L and McGruff “Freestyle”
Tape: Triple Platinum
Year: 1997
Breakdown: Harlem pals Big L and McGruff exchange verses as if they were standing on the corner of 139 and Lenox, over The LOX and Biggie’s “You’ll See” instrumental. You gotta love it. 
UNT Quotable: ”Hopped out the grey BM, went to the ATM, took a thou out, later on had to wild out, in the club knocked some nigga and his pal out, afterwards went to the bathroom and pissed Cristal out, now I’m thinkin’ which chick number I can dial out.” -Big L

6. Nas and Nature “The Foulness Pt. 3”
Tape: 4,5,6 (Going For Broke)
Year: 1997
Breakdown: Nature makes his grand debut appearance with Firm general Nas Escobar. This verse (over Nas’ “Shootouts”) put Nature on the map, and left mixtape fans begging for more.
UNT Quotable: “It’s time to breeze, plant my roots overseas and have my seeds speakin’ Guyanese.” -Nature

7. CNN “Watch Me Freestyle”
Tape: The Great Ones Pt. 3
Year: 2000
Breakdown: Fresh off a bid in the slammer, Capone reunites with his partner in rhyme Noreaga to bang out on one of the more underrated tracks from Jay-Z’s In My Lifetime Vol. 3.
UNT Quotable: ”Give a nigga a two-way, he think he CEO.” -Noreaga

8. Canibus “‘97 Mentality/Incarcerated Scarfaces Freestyle”
Tape: ClueManatti- The New World Order
Year: 1997
Breakdown: Newcomer Canibus makes a list of all the different ways he will battle you over a couple classic Wu beats. He eats MC’s, digests them, shits them into the toilet, and flushes them into oblivion on this. 
UNT Quotable: “I’ll battle you on the net, I’ll battle you in the flesh, I’ll battle you over the phone you can call me collect.” -Canibus

9. Jay-Z “Who Shot Ya Freestyle”
Tape: The Great Ones Pt. 1
Year: 2000
Breakdown: In the wake of his arrest for supposedly stabbing Lance “Un” Rivera, Hov goes H.A.M. over his late homie Biggie’s classic “Who Shot Ya” and addresses not only the biters and haters but his supporters too. Watch the throne. 
UNT Quotable: ”If they lock me in the cage, fuck it, party away.” -Jay-Z

10. DMX f. The LOX “Get At Me Dog Freestyle”
Tape: ClueManatti- The New World Order
Year: 1997 
Breakdown: DMX brings his dogs from YO to tear apart the beat from his first single. What the deal.
UNT Quotable: “Take a puff then a swig, and think about how I’ma hold it down for B.I.G., my motherfuckin’ nig.” -Jadakiss

words by @stanipcus / mix by @unitedcrates

UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | Wu Duets: 10 Deadly Wu-Tang Clan Combinations

With a ten-man team led by the grimiest producer in the five boroughs, it’s been easy for the Wu-Tang Clan to come up with ill combinations of MCs to create unforgettable rap songs. Even when members of WTC went solo, their albums’ still sounded like Wu projects, with tons of features and posse cuts. With our latest edition of The 10s, we thought it would be dope to focus solely on Wu Duets, when two different Wu-Tang Clan MCs go dart for dart on one banging track. Sure, it’s easy to get everyone to hop on a beat and pile on the verses, but finding the bomb combo can sometimes be tricky. Well, not for these dudes. Sharpen your swords, let’s duel.

1. Inspectah Deck f/ Masta Killa “Friction”
Album: Uncontrolled Substance
Year: 1999
Breakdown: RZA didn’t bless Deck on his first joint with a full album of production like he did most of his other Wu brothers, but he definitely laced him with some gutter shit for this collabo with Masta Killa.
UNT Quotable: “Gritty like the subway tracks.” -Inspectah Deck

2. Ghostface f/ Cappadonna “The Odd Couple”
Album: Hidden Darts Special Edition
Year: 2007
Breakdown: This song came out years before on the mixtape circuit, and was finally made available in 2007 on the official release of Hidden Darts, which features a few songs like this that weren’t on J-Love’s original. These guys are definitely a couple of oddballs!
UNT Quotable: “My style is gangsta, bulletproof Guess shorts, I’ll fuck you up and come through on a horse.” -Ghostface Killah

3. Genius f/ Method Man “Shadowboxin’”
Album: Liquid Swords
Year: 1995
Breakdown: Meth was given ‘Rhyme Of The Month’ in The Source for his opening verse on this song, but the GZA is no slouch as he takes us back to the Rec Room Era with his witty wordplay. This be that Wu shit.
UNT Quotable: “We reign all year round from June to June, while niggas bite immediately if not soon.” -Genius

4. Method Man f/ Raekwon “Meth vs. Chef”
Album: Tical
Year: 1995
Breakdown: Method Man and Raekwon take it to the ring for a lyrical slugfest. ‘Tack the boards!
UNT Quotable: “I’m goin’ all out kid, no turn backs.” -Raekwon

5. Ol’ Dirty Bastard f/ Method Man “Dirty Dancin’”
Album: Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
Year: 1995
Breakdown: Meth gets Dirty dusted on this bonus cut from ODB’s classic first album.
UNT Quotable: “I elect myself President MC.” -Ol’ Dirty Bastard

6. Raekwon and Ghostface Killah “The M.G.M.”
Album: Wu Tang Forever
Year: 1997
Breakdown: Rae and Ghost finish each other’s bars as they scope the scene at the Chavez/Whitaker boxing match.
UNT Quotable: “We too black for B.E.T.” -Ghostface

7. Cappadonna f/ Ghostface Killah “Oh Donna”
Album: The Pillage
Year: 1998
Breakdown: Another one from The Odd Couple. We guarantee you’ve never heard someone flip a 50’s doo wop classic on a rap record vocal like this.
UNT Quotable: “Good black women sleep over at Cappa’s.” -Cappadonna

8. Ghostface Killah f/ RZA “The Grain”
Album: Supreme Clientele
Year: 2000
Breakdown: RZA creates a razor sharp breakbeat for him and his pal Tony Starks to drop science on. Peace lord.
UNT Quotable: “Fingering Pamela Lee, we on the balcony, dare one of y’all to Malcolm X me.” -Ghostface Killah

9. Genius/GZA f/ Masta Killa “High Price, Small Reward”
Album: Beneath The Surface
Year: 1999
Breakdown: GZA definitely fell victim to the curse of the weak sophomore album, but we found this gem laying amidst the rubble. No hook necessary here.
UNT Quotable: “Youths thirst for knowledge, I teach but hold heat, ‘cause some savage niggas are lost beyond reach.” -Masta Killa

10. Cappadonna f/ Raekwon “Love Is The Message”
Album: The Yin & The Yang
Year: 2001
Breakdown: Cappa’s second album didn’t really hold up to his first either, but this track featuring Lex Diamonds is worthy of praise.
UNT Quotable: “Hold the Mac splendid.” -Raekwon

words by @stanipcus / mix by @unitedcrates

UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | Colors: 10 Cool Colored Vinyl Releases

Vinyl collectors, pay close attention to this edition of The 10s. Our UpNorthTrips resident DJ, The Vinylcologist, dug through his collection and pulled out a choice selection of 10 Cool Colored Vinyl Releases. It’s a rare mix of LPs, singles, and promos, that only a true school record conoisseur would have in his stash. Read his stories behind each, then sweat the techniques in the mix as he puts his needle to the grooves. Shout out to all you Ebay DJs, get your PayPal up.

1. Artist: Michael Jackson
Release: Thriller LP
Color: Picture Disc
UNT Mix Pick: “Human Nature” (Vinylcologist Blend)
Vinylcologist says: “This is like the holy grail of garage sale gold. I went to this garage sale an offered this lady five dollars for a box of records. She said, ‘You like records? I have more in the basement.’ She told me I could have the rest as well if I went and carried them out myself. I grabbed a box of 45s (tons of gems included) and another mini-crate that had a bunch of Motown joints in it. For weeks I never looked in the sleeve, until one day I was spinning this party and couldn’t find my regular copy of Thriller, so i grabbed this one and almost shit when I took it out of the case. It only helped the value when MJ passed. This is super rare. If you ever see anyone selling a Thriller record (everyone had this wax at on time or another) always check to see if it’s the picture disc. Some people forgot they even bought this version. I’ve only come across one for about every ten or so Thriller records.”

2. Artist: Nubian Crackers
Release: Cracker Beats Vol. 1
Color: Clear Red
UNT Mix Pick: “Nubian Sunday”
Vinylcologist says: “The early issues of this series had a few colored vinyl. #6 was on green translucent, and #8 was on orange clear. These records are extrememly hard to come by so if you do see one at a flea market or vinyl swap, buy it. Just know that it will only increase in value. These have gone for up to $40 on ebay. The people abroad eat these NY beat records up all day.”

3. Artist: Foxy Brown
Release: Candy VLS
Color: Bubble Gum
UNT Mix Pick: “Candy”
Vinylcologist says: “Def Jam was killing it in the early 2000’s with any single they dropped. At this time, Budden just dropped ‘Focus’ and Ashanti was crushing the charts. Nicki Minaj aint got shit on Fox. I really wasn’t going to include this one, but considering Nas wrote most of her verses, I figured, ‘Oh, what the heck.’ If you listen close, and pretend it’s Nas rapping, you can totally tell by the wordplay. The other funny thing about this record is that it featured Kelis on the hook. Considering that Nas used to bang both these chicks, he probably hates this record like we all hate our ex’s. It was all good just 10 years ago.”

4. Artist: Jay-Z
Release: The Blueprint LP
Color: Clear Blue
UNT Mix Pick: “The Takeover”
Vinylcologist says: “I received this as a promo when I was doing a report for college on The Roc. they blessed me with a huge care package and I was hyped to have this record. I really don’t know how many are out there. As far as I know this has never be reissued on colored vinyl.”

5. Artist: Funkdoobiest
Release: I’m Shittin’ On ‘Em VLS
Color: Clear
UNT Mix Pick: “I’m Shittin’ On ‘Em”
Vinylcologist says: “This is a funny story. Some girl around the block we used to blaze with and get BJs from gave me a ton of vinyl that was being thrown in a dumpster. Because her dad worked next to the radio station and knew I liked records, he filled his trunk with whatever he could fit. Five copies of this clear record were in there. I kept three and gave two of them to my boy who was also a DJ at the time. I think you could get this single on clear vinyl when it first dropped back in ‘93. Funkdoobiest also released a few other singles on clear vinyl on Immortal Records, but only the promotional copies. So if you want one of these, you are either going to have to pay Ebay prices, or find a DJ that may have an extra one he or she will part with.”

6. Artist: Cam’ron
Release: Purple Haze LP
Color: Purple
UNT Mix Pick: “Bubble Music”
Vinylcologist says: “When Cam dropped this album, Def Jam pushed it heavy with the singles ‘Hey Lady’ and ‘Shake.’ I can’t tell you how many girls asked me to play ‘Hey Lady’ out at the club. Actually, I can…almost as many times as they asked for ‘Oh Boy’ and ‘Hey Ma.’ I’ve always been a big fan of Cam since I found out he wrote half of the emcees rhymes that were coming out of NY at the time. They should have released this as an all instrumentals album as well. ‘Bubble Music,’ which features a dope reggae sample, was the jawn I played the most and the one I chose for the mix. I also loved the ‘More Reasons’ song he dropped with Jaheim on here. That beat was crazy chill. Classic Cam.”

7. Artist: El-P
Release: Tune Mass Damper VLS
Color: Clear Blue
UNT Mix Pick: “Tune Mass Damper”
Vinylcologist says: “This record is mega-rare. Another promo that was at my doorstep one day when I came home from class. I actually think I was chillin with [UNT Founder] Ev Boogie that day. He saw it and was like, ‘Damn, how can I get free records too?’ This was early on in Def Jux history when they were strapped for cash, as is any indie label, so they only threw a handful of these out there.”

8. Artist: Doom Starks
Release: Victory Laps (Single)
Color: Picture Disc
UNT Mix Pick: “Victory Laps (Remix)”
Vinylcologist Says: “This is one of the newer ones on the list. Obviously we can’t hit ‘em all in The 10s, but we sure can try to pick the most incognito of the releases. This record was issued not too long ago to promote the MF Doom x Ghostface Killah collabo LP that has yet to happen. I did purchase one of these at full price, and plan to cop the album when it drops as well.”

9. Artist: Raekwon
Release: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Part II LP
Color: Purple
UNT Mix Pick: “Baggin Crack”
Vinylcologist Says: “This record should have been released on clear indigo and they should’ve re-released the original on clear purple as a set to celebrate the success of Cuban Linx II. I own three copies of the first Cuban Linx and would’ve still bought this set if they put it together. Blame the marketing teams in Shaolin I guess. Great record, and Rae couldn’t have followed up the original any better. I still have this in constant rotation on my Ipod.”

10. Artist: DJ Shadow
Release: Hindsight VLS
Color: Graffiti
UNT Mix Pick: “Hindsight”
Vinylcologist says: “I remember finding this in the wrong record case after I bought this guy’s whole collection. He was finished with college and was selling his stuff so that he could buy suits to go on job interviews. He did keep a handful of his more rare vinyl, and I remember thinking to myself how I lucked out with this one. He was probably DJ’ing some frat party half cocked and put it in the wrong sleeve. Whatever the case was, I came up on it. It’s full of dope ass drum kits and chilled out trip hop instrumentals.”

words by @stanipcus / mix by @unitedcrates

UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | Add On, Son: 10 More Special Features

Last week, our inaugural edition of The 10s showcased special feature appearances, highlighting guest slots with rap groups by artists from KRS-One to Kool G. Rap. Today, we kick off our second week of The 10s with a follow up installment of rappers displaying their gift to gab in the same format. Notice there are a couple repeat offenders, but no great pretenders. Welcome to the next level.

1. EPMD f/ Redman “Hardcore”
Album: Business As Usual
Year: 1990 
Breakdown: Reggie rips a really, really ridiculous rap rhyme (using different letters of the alphabet repetitively throughout) with his Brentwood brothers. Fucking fire.
UNT Quotable: “My afro’s in the house!” -Redman

2. Goodie Mob f/ Andre 3000 “Thought Process”
Album: Soul Food
Year: 1995 
Breakdown: Outkast’s Dungeon Family first cousins (led by wise intelligent Cee-Lo Green) bring Andre 3000 in to discuss the frustrations and hardships of southern slum living.
UNT Quotable: “I got off at the 13th floor, [but] they told me that there wasn’t one they said it skipped from 12 to 14.” -Andre 3000 

3. De La Soul f/ Common “The Bizness”
Album: Stakes Is High
Year: 1996 
Breakdown: Native Tongue vets and Chi-Town’s native son come together beautifully on this bouncy track.
UNT Quotable: “Whip anybody’s ass in NBA Live.” -Common

4. Souls Of Mischief f/ Del Tha Funkee Homosapien “‘94 Via Satellite”
Album: No Man’s Land
Year: 1995 
Breakdown: Del hops in the cipher with his Heirogplyphics homies to get busy over a butter Bay Area breakbeat on this sleeper cut from the Souls’ sophomore album.
UNT Quotable: “Dirty devils never question us.” -Del Tha Funkee Homosapien

5. Organized Konfusion f/ O.C. “Fudge Pudge”
Album: Organized Konfusion
Year: 1991 
Breakdown: D.I.T.C. MC O.C. hops on the third verse of this O.K. classic. Got it, my G?
UNT Quotable: “When you hear the bassline, you’ll be hummin’ it.” -O.C.

6. The Beatnuts f/ Grand Puba “Are You Ready”
Album: Street Level
Year: 1994 
Breakdown: Puba takes a trip out to Queens to spit lingo with latin lyricists JuJu and Psycho Les, over a funky fresh beat and bassline they mixed with maracas or some shit.
UNT Quotable: “Beatnuts hit the rhythm, and I join right with ‘em.” -Grand Puba

7. The Alkaholiks f/ Diamond D “Next Level”
Album: Coast II Coast
Year: 1995 
Breakdown: Diamond gets drunk with the Liks for this bi-coastal banger.
UNT Quotable: “I’m sippin’ on Pina Colada, two blocks off La Cienega at the Ramada.” -Diamond D

8. Mobb Deep f/ Method Man “Extortion”
Album: Hell On Earth
Year: 1996 
Breakdown: Queensbridge and Shaolin connect once again as Meth and the Mobb showcase their keys to extortion. Give that up kid.
UNT Quotable: “Wanna pop the most junk? Be the same motherfucker with the most lumps.” -Method Man

9. Artifacts f/ Busta Rhymes “Come On Wit Da Git Down (RMX)”
Album: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Year: 1994 
Breakdown: The Artifacts enlist Busta Rhymes (and producer Buckwild) to remix their already bangin’ second single, and it turned out to be so ill that they made it a bonus track on the follow-up pressing of the album.
UNT Quotable: “Sit back and max relax with the Artifacts, never faking jacks blacks, lyrics bleeding through the entire multi-tracks.” -Busta Rhymes

10. Beastie Boys f/ Q-Tip “Get It Together”
Album: Ill Communication
Year: 1994 
Breakdown: Q-Tip gets in the booth with the Beasties for a fun freestyle session of sorts (Tip is definitely going off the head) that they somehow pull together to become an actual song. They must’ve had a blast making this.
UNT Quotable: “Phone is ringin’, oh my god.” -Q-Tip

Words by @StanIpcus / Mix by @UnitedCrates / Graphics by @CNTRBND

UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | QU Duets: 10 Killer Queens Combos

The Galaxy of Queens has a healthy handful of superstar street rappers, each with their own style. There’s the rapid fire flow of Kool G. Rap, the introspective genius of Nas, the reckless gangster mentality of Mobb Deep, and the thugged out energy of Noreaga. And don’t forget about hood legends Large Professor, Tragedy, Cormega, Capone, Big Noyd, and Nature, all of whom influenced the likes of modern day Queens rappers such as 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Action Bronson. And though their voices and rap patterns may differ, they all share a common love for banging beats and heavy slang. So for our latest edition of The 10s, we present some of the finest two-man collaborations that display this bond with QU Duets: 10 Killer Queens Combos, a follow up to our Wu Duets we dropped last week. Enjoy, dun duns.

1. Prodigy f/ Noreaga “What U Rep”
Album: H.N.I.C.
Year: 2000
Breakdown: Pee and Nore pop off and rep their projects to the fullest on this one.
UNT Quotable: “Stick it to you, black magic like voodoo, ya’ll can’t fuck with us ‘cause y’all cats straight doo doo.” -Noreaga

2. Kool G. Rap f/ Nas “Fast Life”
Album: 4, 5, 6
Year: 1995
Breakdown: The two biggest rappers in Queens flaunt their skills and skrilla on this flashy Buckwild track. Smell the success.
UNT Quotable: “Two major players gettin’ paper by the layers.” -Kool G. Rap

3. Big Noyd f/ Prodigy “Recognize & Realize”
Album: Episodes Of A Hustla
Year: 1995
Breakdown: These two QB brethren go rhyme for rhyme on this mixtape classic from Noyd’s solo project. Recognize the real.
UNT Quotable: “Lookin’ for trouble, ‘fraid so, you found a couple, me and Rappin’ Noyd blastin’ off like NASA space shuttles.” -Prodigy

4. Cormega f/ Large Professor “Sugar Ray and Hearns”
Album: Legal Hustle
Year: 2004
Breakdown: Mega and Extra P throw a few jabs and uppercuts on this J-Love jewel. It’s short, but it packs a punch.
UNT Quotable: “Ghetto philosopher like marijuana I’m sparkin’ ya, verbal conquerer, drama choreographer.” -Cormega

5. Large Professor f/ Nas “One Plus One”
Album: The LP
Year: 1996
Breakdown: Nas made his breakthrough appearance with Large Pro on Main Source’s “Live At The Barbeque,” and he returns years later to lay a verse on this mellow cut for LP’s solo LP, which originally was shelved in ‘96 but is now available worldwide.
UNT Quotable: “Truly, reppin’ QB, my life is like a movie.” -Nas

6. Half A Mill f/ Ali Vegas “Tuff Guy”*
Album: Milion
Year: 2000
Breakdown: At one point, Ali Vegas was being dubbed as the second coming of Nas. But as nice as he might have been, he never made the impact that was predicted. Still, youngin’ definitely shows his potential on this cut with the late, great, and extremely underrated Half A Mill.
UNT Quotable: “Six million ways to die, which way you want, spray players, have you runnin’ with one gator on.” -Half A Mill

7. Noreaga f/ Nas “Body In The Trunk”
Album: N.O.R.E.
Year: 1998
Breakdown: Here’s how the story goes. N.O.R.E. reaches out to Nas after murking some cat and throwing him in his trunk in the mall parking lot. Turns out Esco knows the kid, and now they have to dispose of the body without getting knocked. This is definitely some movie shit.
UNT Quotable: “This ain’t no game god, dump his body in the train yard.” -Nas

8. Nas and Prodigy “Tick Tock”
Album: 1st Infantry
Year: 2004
Breakdown: Alchemist brings the big guns into his lab for this highly slept on collaboration of mics. To the, tick tock, ya don’t stop!
UNT Quotable: “Cock your seat back, relax while I spit, the spitting image of how I live.” -Prodigy

9. Nature f/ Noreaga “I’m Leaving”
Album: The Album (The Firm)
Year: 1997
Breakdown: Trackmasters provides the beat for Firm rookie Nature and Lefrak animal thug N.O.R.E. to do what they do best.
UNT Quotable: “We used to pop bottles and slugs the same night.” -Nature

10. Cormega f/ Prodigy “Thun and Kicko”
Album: The Realness
Year: 2001
Breakdown: Prodigy joins Mega to celebrate the thun language and expose frauds who talk tough on wax. Brace yourself.
UNT Quotable: “You’s a notebook crook, with loose leaf beef, a backseat criminal who pass the heat, to somebody who blast the heat, man it sound bad on the pad, what happened in the street?” -Prodigy

*Editor’s Note: Shout to @TEFLONDONPOST for correcting us. Yes, Half A Mill was from Albany Projects in Brooklyn, our bad. But we’ll consider him an honorary QU rapper for the purposes of this episode of The 10s. Like we said before, we never claimed to be experts, we just love this shit. Good looks, enjoy the mix. RIP Half A Mill.

words by @StanIpcus / mix by @UnitedCrates / graphics by @CNTRBND

UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | Three The Hard Way

Ever dreamed of taking three of your favorite MCs and putting them on one track? It would be pretty dope, right? Well, dreams come true in hip hop all the time. Today at UpNorthTrips, 3 is the magic number as we present our Three The Hard Way edition of The 10s. It’s a lyrical miracle! UNT rolls a 4, 5, 6….trips!

1. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien x Pep Love x Q-Tip “Undisputed Champs”
Release: Del Tha Funkee Homosapien “Wrongplace/Don’t Forget/Undisputed Champs” 12 Inch
Year: 1993
Breakdown: Del grabs his Heiro bro and east coast Jive roster mate Q-Tip to set the record straight on who is running this rap shit.
UNT Quotable: “Y’all niggas know I got lyrics out the anal.” -Q-Tip

2. Fat Joe x Grand Puba x Diamond D “Watch The Sound”
Album: Fat Joe Da Gangsta - Represent
Year: 1993
Breakdown: With a Sister Nancy sample in toe, Joey Crack, Puba, and Diamond dig a sound boy burial on wax. 
UNT Quotable: ”Even Italians say I’m one cool Mooly.” -Diamond D 

3. Buckshot x Masta Ace x Special Ed “Crooklyn” 
Release: Crooklyn Dodgers “Crooklyn” 12 Inch
Year: 1995
Breakdown: Three of Brooklyn’s finest MCs reminisce on the good old days. Shout to Q-Tip on the boards!
UNT Quotable: “Feels so good to be a Crooklyn Dodger, What’s Happenin’ to ReRun and Roger? I think I seen ‘em wearin’ Timberlands and runnin’ down the block from Dwayne and Dwayne had a glock.” -Masta Ace

4. Jeru The Damaja x Lil’ Dap x Guru “Speak Ya Clout”
Release: Gangstarr - Hard To Earn
Year: 1994
Breakdown: The follow up to Daily Operation’s ”I’m The Man” brings Jeru, Lil’ Dap, and Guru (RIP) back together again over three custom fit Primo beats.
UNT Quotable: ”I got the clout, all you pussy rappers be out.” -Guru

5. Big Pun x Prodigy x Inspectah Deck “Tres Leches”
Release: Big Punisher - Capital Punishment
Year: 1998
Breakdown: Remember these guys? Yeah, the ones you got your whole style from. This is definitely one of the illest borough to borough album cut collabos of all time.
UNT Quotable: ”My rhymes get Ruger endorsements.” -Prodigy

6. Mos Def x Q-Tip x Tash “Body Rock”
Release: Lyricist Lounge Volume 1
Year: 1998
Breakdown: Rawkus assembles an ecclectic mix of characters for this futuristic throwback to the old school. They gon’ award this!
UNT Quotable: ”I’m doper than sherm, plus the way I put it down could burn the perm off Big Worm.” -Tash

7. Xzibit x Ras Kass x Saafir “3 Card Molly”
Release: Xzibit - 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
Year: 1998
Breakdown: Don’t slip up, or you might get got by one of these Golden State Warriors. Keep your eye on the mic.
UNT Quotable: ”Pick a card, any card, I bet you can’t pull it.” -Ras Kass

8. O.C. x Pharoahe Monch x F.T. “Metal Thangz”
Release: Street Smartz “Problemz/Metal Thangz” 12 Inch
Year: 1996
Breakdown: You want a hardcore, underground, top notch display of lyrical skill? Then listen to the way these three blam off. Pharoahe’s verse was ‘Rhyme Of The Month’ in The Source (and for good reason), O.C. is brilliant as usual, and a relatively unknown F.T. lives up to his group’s name.
UNT Quotable: “I’m sorta psycho like a retard on a motorcyle.” -F.T. 

9. Jay-Z x DMX x Ja Rule “Murdergram”
Release: Streets Is Watching (Soundtrack)
Year: 1998
Breakdown: What did you think would happen if you took three of the illest street rappers in the game and put them on one track? It’s murder.
UNT Quotable: ”However it went down, I made it happen.” -DMX

10. Tragedy x Nas x Noreaga “Calm Down”
Release: Capone N Noreaga “Capone Bone/Calm Down” 12 Inch (Promo Only)
Year: 1997
Breakdown: It’s hectic in QU, but this somber beat makes these thugs calm down. Peep Nas’ project tale of love lost between brothers on the second verse, it’s one of his best ever.
UNT Quotable: “I know you hate to hear the drama, but drama’s all we know.” -Nas

words by @StanIpcus / mix by @UnitedCrates / graphics by @CNTRBND