Champion sound 2007

First quarter

As much as I wanted to talk finance and quartal economics, time series and degrees of stochastic dominance, this blog stays strictly music. What we have here is probably the best first quarter of any album ever. A shaky hands photo straight outta my crates. As Fat Joe said, LISTENNN! 320 for my Serato bitches.

Reasonable Doubt was released on June 25, 1996 after Jay-Z, Damon Biggs and Damon Dash had agreed about a distribution deal between their newly-founded Roc-A-Fella records and Priority records. The album reached #23 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold roughly three months after its release (RIAA). The platinum sales for this album in the US were certified first in 2002.

Can't Knock the Hustle, produced by Knobody from Puffy's production team Hitmen and featuring the R&B superstar Mary J.Blige, was the only one of these three that got a single release. Even its' success in the US is questionnable as it only peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK Can't Knock the Hustle however made it to U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at #35 and I remember the song being in heavy rotation on the airwaves during my London visit in the spring 1997.

Politics As Usual featured production from the Camp Lo-legendary beatsmith Ski and features a sample of "Hurry Up This Way Again" by The Stylistics.

Brooklyn's Finest was produced by the Air Force 1 connoisseur slash cousin of Foxy Brown, Rodolfo Franklin bka Super DJ Clark Kent, who sampled "Ecstasy" by The Ohio Players for this urban masterpiece. In the song Jay-Z traded verses with Bedstuy's own Christopher Wallace (R.I.P.) and this is arguably the best of the few collaborations between these two heavyweights.


Download 320kbps Jay-Z feat. Mary J. Blige - Can't Knock the Hustle

Download 320kbps Jay-Z - Politics As Usual

Download 320kbps Jay-Z feat. The Notorious BIG - Brooklyn's Finest

On my own

in-de-pend-ent (in'de pen'dent, dipendent)

1. a) free from the rule of another; controlling or governing oneself; self-governing
b) free from influence, persuasion, or bias; objective an independent observer
c) relying only on oneself or one's own abilities, judgment, etc.; self-confident; self-reliant independent in his thinking
d) not adhering to any political party or organization an independent voter
e) not connected or related to another, to each other, or to a group; separate an independent grocer

2. a) not depending on another or others, esp. for financial support
b) large enough to enable one to live without working: said of an income, a fortune, etc.
c) having an independent income; not needing to work for a living

Ok Go - Here It Go Again
The Raconteurs - Steady As She Goes
The Sounds - Tony The Beat

Hola Hovito

My life ain't rosy but I roll with it. From some serious whip game in the '96 classic Dead Presidents to a solid (as a rock) mixtape by DJ Noodles. Some pre-taste of American Gangster coming soon.

DJ Noodles - Once Upon Time In Brooklyn (Jay-Z Edition)

Friendly game of Finnish baseball

A little late on this one but no matter what I wanted to share with the world. Tahko from Hyvinkää are the champions of Finnish baseball (bka pesäpallo). The above clip is from the game #3. A sweet homerun by Simo Eerikäinen.

De La Soul - Fanatic of the B word

New Jay-Z

King back.

Jay-Z - Blue Magic [320kbps]


Jay-Z - Roc Boys [320kbps]

Push the feeling on

Tonight I will be playing at Jani Tolin aka Alfons Helsinki birthday bash with a close ally of the Network, DJ Anonymous, so it's going to be nothing but good times, memories and future. Expect to hear this classic among all other songs:

Nightcrawlers - Push The Feeling On (Extended mix) [320 kbps]

Drivin' me wild

Common is officially (and by this I mean I Used To Love H.E.R.-officially) back at it.

For those about to rock (Part 2)

Too many bullshit posts lately I figured. Hip hop is not dead is what some say. As usual they are right and I am wrong. As wrong as can be. R.Kelly still raps better than Nelly. Here's an essential 3pac of hot right now rap (even though Party Like A Rock Star is kinda old already, I still thought it would fit this post). Kanye's new album is going to be weak and do I even have to mention Curtis "Curtis" Jackson's upcoming thrash so please pay attention to the Kells song from the album of the year - Double Up. Get with the movement.

Montana Da Mac feat. UNK - Rock On
R.Kelly feat. Ludacris & Kid Rock - Rock Star
Shop Boyz - Party Like A Rock Star (dirty)

Feel like dancing

The weekend is here and I feel like disco dancing (demonstrated in Finnish in the video above). The soundtrack has got to be the twelve inch version of Street Player which is great for looping on turntables and one of the best disco tracks ever. Just ask Kenny Dope.

"Street Player was reviled by critics and bewildered the group's rapidly dwindling fanbase."

Chicago - Street Player [320 kbps]

Italo disco stars pt.1

German Fancy (born Manfred Alois Perilano, July 7, 1946) was an instant hit when the single "Slice me nice" shot on top of the charts in 1984.

"He could not have hoped for a better beginning to a long and colourful career of international success."

Fancy has also recorded many hits for other artists using a variety of other names. Mostly frequently in the name of Tess or Ric Tess he has written music for Grant Miller, Linda Jo Rizzo, Marc Buchner, the Hurricanes, Mozzart, Timerider amongst many others. The famous producer and singer Bobby Orlando produced Fancy's songs. Bobby Orlando also produced songs for Pet Shop Boys, Divine (actor), Grant Miller, Claudja Barry, and many others.



Fancy - Slice Me Nice [320kbps]

If you want to know more about Fancy, I recommend his official homepage. Please check out at least "Fancy's fabolous picture gallery".

It's a world premiere

A new Fam-Lay video of an old song: Da Beeper Record.

Before they were rapstars

Some more not-so-usual New York white label action from my crates.


Jay-Z - In My Lifetime
[Roc-a-fella Records, ROC-001, 1994]


Papoose - Alphabetical Slaughter
[Select Records, PRO-77, 1999]


Saigon - Favorite Thingz
[Sure Shot Recordings, SSR-1001, 2003]

Friday night live

The #1 choice tonight would have been Justice at UMF in Turku (one of the many suburbs in Helsinki). Unfortunately I have to make my living elsewhere, gotta make 'em d.a.n.c.e.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (radio edit)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT remix)

Don't forget DJ Sasse tomorrow at Sähkö & Keys Of Life stage:


Freestyle Man - Blue Skies

3x random house

It looks like every ex-urban DJ is on some house (hardly mastered 128 kbps Bmore) shit nowadays. Here we go:


Cookie Watkins - I'm Attracted To You


Federal Hill - I Have Something For You


Xpansions - Elevation (Puffasonic mix) (also known as "Move Your Body")