Correct Techniques

Gettin' high

Mosi Reeves

NO COLUMN ABOUT 12-inch singles would be complete without paying homage to one of the classics, perhaps the greatest classic in all the world of music (as well as an allusion to one of my previous tasks here at the Bay Guardian). I heard it while nodding my head furiously (yeah, I don't dance at clubs, so what?) at "Sisterz of the Underground," this fresh b-girl showcase that took place at the Justice League a couple of weeks ago. DJ Mai-lee was rocking all of the favorites off this album, and people were crazy reminiscing to joints like "Passin' Me By" and "Return of the B-Boy." Yeeeeeah, I'm talking about the Pharcyde's BizarreRideIIThePharcyde (Four Music, www.fourmusic.com), and if you don't have it on vinyl, run to the record store and pick up a copy! It doesn't have the fish-eye-lens labels and colored vinyl of the 1993 original, but it does rock a gatefold sleeve containing the original liner notes, filled with shout-outs like Slim Kid Tre's dedication "to this crazy ass fucked up industry, who won't remember me when I fall the fuck off." Now, how true is that? Thank the Germans for this reissue.

OK, so let's get down to the new shit, or relatively new shit. It's kinda slow around the industry right now, and since everyone is recovering from the holidays, there's not much "hot off the presses" product out there. So I'll start off with the stuff you should already have. I'm assuming you picked up the Lootpack's "Weededed" remix backed with "Loopdigga" and the Madlib Invazion EP 7-inch (Stones Throw, www.stonesthrow.com). I have the former but not the latter. Since we're talking about tasty breakbeats, I might as well mention that J-Zone has a collection of instrumentals out that pairs his first two EPs, Music for Tu Madre and A Bottle of Whup Ass (Old Maid Entertainment, www.zonesite.net). I'm not a big fan of J-Zone, but his joints are somewhat amusing. I really sympathized with that "Just Friends" skit he did, but let's not go there ...

Looking for that hot shit? We don't do hot shit here. But Alchemist's Gangster Theme Music (AL Music Recorded Library) comes pretty fucking close. It features instrumentals of some of his better-known productions, like the beats for Mobb Deep's "The Realest" and the Terror Squad's "Bring It On." All of them clock out at three minutes, so this is some shit you can just sit back and listen to, or c-c-cut it up, if you feel so inclined.

Half of these rap kids just need to put out with no raps on it anyway, know what I mean? But yo, another record worth picking up is DJ Presto's Breaking Concrete (Concrete Groove, www.concretegrooves.com). Yeah, you read about this Los Angeles cat in XLR8R and were like, "Gee, I don't know. Isn't this a techno magazine?" Well, don't sleep, dog. Presto comes nice with grand groove wizardry. It's some of that golden-era Pete Rock-type shit that sounds oh so lovely when you're getting high.

For the boom bap heads, check out Heltah Skeltah's "The Crab Inn" backed with "Caca Gosa Vixen" (Fat Beats, www.fatbeats.com), both of which feature production from Blahzay Blahzay producer PF Cuttin (remember "Danger"?). According to HipHopSite.com, these two tracks are outtakes from the Bucktown duo's sophomore album, Magnum Force, which makes sense because the single definitely has that late-'90s "I'll kill you in the cipher" vibe everyone was rocking around then. "Caca Gosa Vixen" is essential; it swings off a violin sample that sounds like Heltah Skeltah is just servin' motherfuckers. Edan and company also bring you the raw shit on "Rapperfection" backed with "You Suck" and "Syllable Practice" (Sun Moon, www.sunmoonrecords.com). It's crusty and dirty like an old cassette that you've saved because it has all the jams on it, even though the tape's all warped from years of abuse.

Finally, on the local tip, peep Terracotta Troupe's collabo with Z-Trip and Del the Funky Homosapien, "Dynasty" backed with "Monster" (Revolg, www.e22.com), for Z-Trip's funky remix of "Dynasty." And why are you sleeping on Oaktown MC Kubiq's "Neva U" backed with "2K" (Heratik, www.heratik.com)?

Send all products and gewgaws in care of the author to the San Francisco Bay Guardian, 520 Hampshire Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. Send comments, tips, and disses to mitigate26@hotmail.com.

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