Sean Price passed away in his sleep on August 8, 2015. He completed a final mixtape and was preparing it for release. Songs In The Key of Price was released on August 21, 2015. As a lifelong Sean Price fan who has always supported him whether by buying albums/mixtapes or seeing him live, I knew had to buy his possibly, final project.

Unfortunately, Sean died before the mixtape dropped. To add further insult to injury, the original cover was recalled because it was based on Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key of Life:

Apparently, Universal Records politely asked Duck Down Records to recall the copies with the original cover since it’s based on Stevie’s album cover. According to Duck Down, Universal also sent condolences to the label in regards to Sean’s sudden passing. At least they were respectful and sensitive to the situation.

I love collecting CD’s but I’m not one of those guys who has to have the CD in incredible, mint condition. However, given this recall and Sean’s passing, I decided that if I could get a copy with the original cover then I’ll buy a separate copy with the re-issue cover. I decided to keep the original copy untouched, in the original CD wrapping. The re-issue would be unwrapped. And so, I decided to place an order for the OG version at the UGHH online store. Right after I placed the order, the mixtape was declared “Sold Out”, so I either snagged the final copy or one of the final copies of the OG cover mixtape.

I purchased the re-issue cover (as well as the RIP! t-shirt in the picture above) from Duck Down Record’s online store. The proceeds from all Sean Price related purchases would be given to his family, so it was for a good cause. Plus the re-issue cover is dope as fuck. It was done by Monk & Zero of illfellow. It’s definitely better than the original cover.

This 2015 project is basically an extended version of the Your Old Droog EP which dropped in 2014.

Like most people, last year’s EP was my introduction to Coney Island, Brooklyn’s own, Your Old Droog. He was a mysterious rapper who sounded strangely similar to Nas and never showed his face. A lot of people drew comparisons to the Action Bronson and Ghostface Killah situation. Bronson and Droog are both White rappers who sound like older Black rappers. However, Bronson never hid his face from the public, so you knew that he definitely wasn’t Ghostface in disguise. Things were a bit different with Droog. While there were a couple of pictures and a video floating around that supposedly showcased Droog rhyming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFg3cfh-Nqk

his appearance wasn’t confirmed until about a week before his debut concert in September 2014 (which I attended).

After much speculation, internet chatter and an incredibly detailed video by MarcoPoloVision showing that Droog had to be Nas in disguise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Nlz8ot2FI

Droog’s hype was rapidly growing. Droog finally put everything to rest by revealing his face in a video he recorded of him rapping with DJ Skizz in the background:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0-Wf_jurZ4

About a week after, Droog held his first concert at The Studio at Webster Hall in NYC. The opening acts included Boston rapper, Michael Christmas and Flushing, Queens, NYC rappers, Timeless Truth.

I went to the show to see Droog in person. Despite the biting accusations, I really enjoyed the EP. Droog has incredible wordplay and simply knows how to rap. Plus, I also know Timeless Truth from around the way and I wanted to support them as well.

Droog performed some rhymes over famous Rap beats as well as material from the EP and eventual LP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3PmYgZAHQg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkLE6B9uP6s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXRDxvqbSDY

It was a decent show, everybody did their thing onstage. I wish Droog brought out a special guest (like Prodigy for “Hoodie Weather”). He did play cee-lo with Sean Price but Sean was the special guest for Timeless Truth’s set.

I also saw Droog perform in July 2015 at the 38th Anniversary of The Rock Steady Crew in Central Park. I noticed that he was more confident onstage than at his debut concert. Part of the reason is that he’s been touring the world since then and has even opened several times for Prhyme (DJ Premier & Royce Da 5'9") on their recent tour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njiETLj1hIM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1WQc-PeWfI

Unfortunately, at the RSC show, Droog was performing for a crowd of mostly Old School Hip Hop fans (people in their 40’s and 50’s) who were only there to see Whodini and Big Daddy Kane perform. They weren’t very receptive to Droog’s performance. However, if an artist is to evolve, they need to do shows like this. Every show can’t be a lovefest. I think he should use that experience and become stronger and tighten up his stage show a bit more. Overall, even though he does sound like Nas, I do think he’s a dope emcee and I hope he continues to drop solid projects in the future.

Ghostface Killah’s 2nd full length album from 2000. Personally, Ironman (GFK’s debut) is my favorite in his discography but Supreme Clientele is a close second.

I’m not going to lie. After seeing GFK roast Action Bronson for his comments on Sports Nation, I was reminded of just how great GFK truly is. “Where the fuck is your Supreme Clientele’s, nigga?” inspired me to to annotate this album.

https://youtu.be/z93IaKPY_Wc?t=4m25s

The album came out when I was 14 years old and in the 9th grade. I was a full blown Wu-Tang fan at that point and I bought this album the day that it dropped. Surprisingly, a lot of my friends weren’t so quick to get the album. But I knew right off the bat that it was a classic. GFK’s kitchen sink, stream of consciousness style over incredible, prime Wu production. Guest spots from the Clan and affiliates plus carefully placed Iron Man and kung fu movie samples made this a special album.

My friends and I would sarcastically sing the Intro in the back of the bus. GFK used part of the theme song from the 1966 Iron Man cartoon TV show for the Intro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjTIVaSnRR0

I’ll never forget the first time I heard “Mighty Healthy”. This was before downloading became the main way people got their music. I bought the album and put it into my CD player and went track by track. That dusty kung fu sample about killers brought back that Enter The Wu feel and then the beat dropped. I think I rewound that beat drop about 10 times the first time I heard this song. This is no holds barred, dusty sample, grimy basement concert venue music. I knew the first time that I heard it, it would be my favorite SC album cut and it still remains so til this day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBU7cfXYWLo

I’ve seen GFK live 3 times and this is definitely a fan favorite. When I saw him in 2012, his DJ, J-Love introduced the song with a depressing Schoolhouse Rock song called “Figure 8”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCGNUo-XQJ8

But it worked. That song meshed well with “Mighty Healthy” live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ7bKUY8JNM

“Buck 50” is Wu extravaganza featuring Method Man, Cappadonna, Masta Killa and Redman. An upbeat and frantic RZA beat brought the best out of Meth. I think he had the best verse on the track although GFK’s 2nd verse was nasty too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMxXmVVR4wE

When I think of a triumphant beat, I think of the “Apollo Kids” beat. GFK and Raekwon just stunting on everybody. The production is big and in your face. Fuck just the rap, the whole song is like ziti.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2m6Ghnxf8I

The “Clyde Smith” skit was weird. After 50 Cent and The Madd Rapper (aka D-Dot) dropped “How To Rob,” a lot of rappers were upset. Jay-Z and Big Pun threw shots at 50. In 1999, I took part in an interview with The Madd Rapper and he stated that Raekwon was one of the few who understood that the track was a joke and didn’t have anything bad to say to 50 or him. I guess as time wore on, Rae changed his opinion. Rather than drop a straight up diss track, he distorted his voice and changed his name to throw a shot at 50. It was so absured that it was comical. I don’t know if he was trying to scare 50 with that deep voice distortion but it definitely made me laugh. I guess this was Wu making a point that dissing their members won’t go unnoticed. Regardless, it was one of the most memorable moments in Supreme Clientele.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeF-c44RRvk

“And I’m a have my little snacks and all that with me”

“And your haircut game is fucked up”

“That nigga is a dah duh dah duh nigga”

I ordered Action Bronson’s Bon Appetit…Bitch!!! mixtape from J-Love’s website. I placed the order sometime in 2011. J-Love (or whoever runs his online store) also sent me a free copy of this street album/mixtape. I believe it’s produced by (or mostly produced by) J-Love and he’s rapping throughout the project. Features include JuJu (The Beatnuts), Thirstin Howl The 3rd, Ghostface Killah, AG Da Coroner and Meyhem Lauren. The most fascinating part of this project is that Action Bronson appears on 3 songs: “Another Victory”, “Power of a Roman Candle” and “Call of the Wild” (which is an Outdoorsmen posse track).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7-cgoBNMIc

I’m not sure if this album was released in 2009 or 2011 but clearly, Action’s verses on here are pre-Bon Appetit and pre-Dr. Lecter.

I was aware of each member of Slaughterhouse before the group was formed. First time that I heard of Joe Budden was his “Pump It Up” single in 2003. Royce Da 5'9" I’ve known since “Bad Meets Evil” from Eminem’s The Slim Shady LP in 1999. The first time I heard of Joell Ortiz was a guest feature that he had on Kool G. Rap’s 2002 album, The Giancana Story. I knew about Crooked I (although I wasn’t really a fan) from his dealings with Death Row Records in the early 2000’s. Each artist tried to make it in the Rap industry as solo entities but they experienced hardships. That mutual understanding of the pitfalls of the music industry is what brought this group together. It’s almost like a comic book, superhero group type of aesthetic.

Like most real Slaughterhouse fans, my introduction to the group was Joe Budden’s song, “Slaughterhouse”, that was featured on his 2008 album, Halfway House.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0RO5i2b3gY

The song features all members of the group as well as Nino Bless (who didn’t make the group despite being on this song). The track was incredible and when I heard they were forming a group afterwards, I anticipated their next move. They released tracks here and there, all leading up toward their 2009 debut album, Slaughterhouse.

I bought the album at Fat Beats NYC on the day that it came out. Overall, I thought the album was good but I was hoping for better production choices and just more spazzing out in general. I think “Sound Off” was a great way to start the album though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN6ztYDde6c

The Alchemist produced banger, “Microphone”, is another favorite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkFNg1VxJ6U

But overall, it wasn’t what I was expecting considering the hype that went into the group. I felt that tracks like “Move On (Remix)”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XOrYTltuaU

or “Wack MC’s”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwKFZYNwSlo

are some of the songs that should have made the album. Those songs played to the strengths of the members of the group. Slaughterhouse perform their best when they’re dropping dope punchlines or getting introspective.

I’ve also had the opportunity to see the group live twice (once with Crooked I and once without him). They put on a good show and NYC really shows them a lot of love (Joell Ortiz and Joe Budden are from the Tri-State area). Here’s some videos that I recorded of their performances:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j6FbD2ibPw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAQ86P_E8vE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JflnB8Jh7xc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCAo9g1SEQE

This is Yak Ballz’s debut full length album from 2004. It was released on Eastern Conference Records, the former Indie label owned by rap group, The High & Mighty. Other artists on the label included Cage, Tame One (of the Artifacts) and Copywrite.

I first heard of Yak sometime in 1999 or 2000. In 2000, he released a 12" single for his song, “Homepiss”. The single contained three other songs, so some people have referred to it as an EP. When this came out, I downloaded the song “Homepiss” and instantly became a fan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDfjT0R8OKg

He kind of reminded me of like a nerdy fusion of Lord Finesse and Mobb Deep, but in a good way. There was something about his quirky punchlines and that beat. It was like a rap version of Eraserhead.

I found out later on that Yak was from my neighborhood- Flushing, Queens, NYC. He was down with the graffiti crew, TCK and he used to tag up my town. I took a picture of one of his tags on a mailbox once.

There were Flushing rappers before Yak (Large Professor, Mic Geronimo, Royal Flush) and after (Action Bronson, Heems) but he was holding it down for this city at a time when very few were claiming it. So, I’ve always respected him for that. He did a song on My Claim called “Queens Life”, which detailed his upbringing in Flushing, it was pretty spot on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH4vdZiwhqE

I also like the title track, “My Claim,” which has the best beat on the whole album imo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgqZzO6-L4Y

Yak attempted to do some club tracks on this album. Those songs didn’t come out particularly well but I did like the beat on “Spy On You,” which gained some attention because it flipped the Amelie movie theme song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv9QYej0BOo

Yak released an album in 2012 called Gas Galaxy and he also participated in Noisey’s The Rap Monument in 2014. It’s a 42 minute song featuring various rappers, including Action Bronson and Heems, who are also from Flushing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3tRzrra8fo

This is Cormega’s 3rd full length album (Legal Hustle was more of a compilation album). Although, this album should have been his debut album. It was recorded in the mid-90’s and was scheduled for release sometime in the late-90’s. I even recall seeing advertisements for the album in Rap magazines at the time:

Unfortunately for Mega, Def Jam shelved the album and he was eventually released from his contract in the early 2000’s. However, tracks from the album found their way to the streets and were met with great fanfare. I remember being in the 9th grade in 1999 and one of my classmates was a huge Cormega fan. Back then, Napster was relatively new and still free, so he downloaded as much as he could and made me data discs full of Cormega’s music as well as other artists.

I heard songs like “Angel Dust”, “The Testament”, “Dead Man Walking” and “One Love” (a response to Nas' Mega shoutout on “One Love”). However, my favorite song right off the bat was “Montana Diary”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeflwCKizqg

Who could deny that Scarface movie sample? The grimy beat? Mega’s vivid perspective of the streets? No one. And back in ‘99, my friend downloaded a lo-fi version of the song which gave it an even grittier feel.

The album remained in limbo for so long because Mega didn’t own the album masters, Def Jam did. Supposedly, Mega paid several hundred thousand dollars to obtain the masters from Def Jam. I don’t know how true that is but suffice it to say, Mega did finally obtain the masters and released the album independently in 2005 on his Legal Hustle record label.

See the Jedi Mind Tricks- The Thief and the Fallen annotation on this page.