'90s underground hip-hop cassette mix tapes (show & tell) -- pt. 1

[@alienarchitect8496]

There's nothing like mid to late 90s underground hip hop!👍

[@eddieleonard6925]

i'm so lucky i grew up on this music. glad you can appreciate!

[@Knick_Fury]

The 90’s underground era was one of my favorite periods in the history of Hip-Hop. 🫡🫡🫡

[@eddieleonard6925]

I'm grateful to have come up during this time. Sooooo many creative artists who only cared about making dope music -- not just making money.

[@daytk4203]

I recently made a beat tape and I have been handing it out around my high school, It's such a good feeling that you can hold ur music physically and if they don't have the tape they cant listen to it such a cool feeling

[@eddieleonard6925]

Love everything about this. Keep beat tapes alive!

[@jazzroom]

Thanks for share - Brings back my NY years ..undeground radio stations , tapes, night clubs, jazz jams ..my 1st ..Sony walkman ( sports) that someone forgot in the Central Park..- yah " those were the days my friend ..we though they would never end" ---- 90s! mpc and Sp1200 all day! peace & Jazz!🤜🤛

[@eddieleonard6925]

I'm glad it brought back some memories. That time period was so unique...so creative...so vibrant...we're fortunate to have grown up in, around, and a part of it. Digging for records, making beats, skateboarding, doing graf, going to shows, buying records, making tapes....yea, good times...

[@jazzroom]

leonard absolutely ! We stay true 🤜🤛

[@xxyyzz8464]

Maybe I’m just stuck in the past, but everything I hear here sounds 100x more like a hit to me than anything I ever hear on the radio or anything kids are blasting out of their cars these days.

[@eddieleonard6925]

I'm with you 100% on this. Modern stuff doesn't sound the same. There are exceptions, but overall, the past had more originality, maybe the result of folks NOT being exposed to absolutely everything, and so relying on developing their own signature sound, out of necessity.

[@Deeper-sessions]

Rest in peace IG Off… german TV used to air a documentary about his live on a network called Arte (people from France and germany know it). Still one of my favorite artists with his partner Hazardous plus the DJ Spinna production, this is just as good as it gets. Thank you for sharing that!

[@eddieleonard6925]

DJ Spinna is very overlooked. He has such a solid and wide-ranging body of work. I want to see this documentary! Do you think it's online somewhere? IG Off was insanely talented. Now maybe I'll have to travel to Europe and visit all the public libraries, looking for this movie :)

[@Deeper-sessions]

​@@eddieleonard6925 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYLZnn94h9ijfpI

[@lucasturney4269]

... now I'm curious to see that doc as well.

[@phdirac]

“I used to selllll, mixtapes. But now I’m an emceee.” Nice vid bro, enjoyed seeing/hearing you go through the archives.

[@bonebap1096]

Just stumbled onto your channel. Love this content and those mixtapes are genuine from NYC back packer days. I am too a proud back packer. That's real underground hip-hop music at it's prime. Natural Elements, Ken Sport, J-Live, I.G. Off and Hazardous... Those tapes are gems. Can't wait to see more videos from you.

[@eddieleonard6925]

YO, thanks so much for checking this. I love those tapes...grew up on those tapes. Glad you understand. It's an era that's hard to replicate. I'll be sharing more soon.

[@bonebap1096]

@@eddieleonard6925 Definitely cannot replicate those days of mixtapes and music. Do you remember Percee P selling his mix tapes/cd's downstairs from Fat Beats?

[@eddieleonard6925]

@@bonebap1096 Percee P! I think I bought one of those tapes. He was ALWAYS around, kicking writtens and selling tapes. I remember walking up those steps and seeing Kweli, Mos, Words and Punch sitting on the steps, ciphering and chatting. You definitely know what's up..props.

[@jamesbankert3375]

Natural Elements never get enough credit their freestyles are off the charts. That track w J live whoever rhymed obtuse w cous cous killed it. America track on the 99’ tape maybe the co flow joint ? We didn’t have smartphones we had walkmans that’s what kept us connected to everything we loved. Peace

[@eddieleonard6925]

ah...the good old days. I absolutely love this era of music and the mediums we used to experience it.

[@mgyb8269]

One of the best thing about these underground mixtapes is that you really hear the hunger and passion from these MCs. Great video man, should definitely become a monthly series or something!

[@eddieleonard6925]

I couldn't agree more. This was a special time. Hunger and artistry were at an all time high. Lots of these lesser known groups have been somewhat forgotten.

[@mgyb8269]

@@eddieleonard6925 Yea definitely was, I had my formative years in the early 2000s so kinda missed out on that cassette mixtape era but I definitely respect it. It's kinda like the current soundcloud/social media rapper era, but with actual talent and respect for the art form.

[@DndndjJehee]

i love these longer form videos mannn you should do this more, im 16 so a lot of these songs and MCs im just learning abt because of you man.

[@eddieleonard6925]

I'm glad you found this useful. I'm planning on doing more soon, with a few of my favorite emcees that are largely unknown. Will definitely make sure you get a notification when it drops.

[@TapemastaJay]

It's all about the tapes!

[@eddieleonard6925]

Tapes all day, forever

[@deanivan3951]

Took Me Back Brother, Salute!

[@eddieleonard6925]

Glad you enjoyed. This was a special era of music.

[@sheshatsciencetemple]

Wow! Thank you for sharing!

[@Lppolymath90]

The music, lyrical content, song structure and the overall ethos of hip-hop was much more erudite during that era- I still have a scant few mix mixtapes from those halcyon years.

[@eddieleonard6925]

You're correct. Also, the regional nature of the budding artform. Toronto emcees had their own flavor. Philly had a sound and language. DC Maryland area produced it's own aesthetic, and every borough of NY had it's own identity. The tapes reflect that. Great times.

[@indyvinylz]

Tony Bones has this song "deep in ya bones" which is such a beauty, but nowhere to found physically which is a shame, as this song is soooo dope!

[@eddieleonard6925]

I have a Tony Bones Mixtape I compiled years ago. I'll take a look and try to find it. It rings a bell, but I'm not sure if I have it. Tony Bones is THE MAN!

[@SauceSoundz]

Nice.. i don't even remember this version of bragging writes .. the one with him scratching is just so ill . Love that you did this. This is a part of hip hop that i miss the most. The 88.9 tapes, Tony touch, evil Dee, Doo wop, dj eclipse , so much good stuff, so many exclusives and freestyles that still pretty much only live on those tapes. I been wanting to talk about tapes and those forgotten vinyls on my joint. So dope you did this. Looking forward to more. Channel is 🔥

[@eddieleonard6925]

Glad you enjoyed this, fam. Those who never participated in this era may not understand the joy of it all, the magic of going downtown, copping a new mixtape and getting lost in your headphones for days. I grew up on tapes...it shapes my beatmaking, so I had to share. Glad I'm not the only one! Peace

[@SauceSoundz]

@@eddieleonard6925 nah your not. I was def a backpacker and i mean this was my life for a long time. Hopping the train to fat beats, goin to in stores coppin vinyls . But the tapes dude.. the tapes is where i lived at cause i know u were like me living in your headphones walking everywhere. Oh and mad props for bringing up sandbox automatic. So much exclusive shit. Mad luv, happy to see you shining a light on this part of our world.

[@eddieleonard6925]

@@SauceSoundz Haha...sandbox automatic was my sh*t! Had to get those tapes/CDs early before they sold out! I love those days. We were lucky to have come of age in the midst of a major cultural movement like that. I plan to do some episodes sharing my sticker collection...more vinyl..and a part 2 for the mixtapes. Fat Beats...2nd floor above the bagel shop....good ol days. :)

[@indyvinylz]

RIP I.G. Off ... such a talent and nice person. ..and thnx for this great video Eddie :) awesome history !!..lovin it too :) dj skeli

[@eddieleonard6925]

Much respect. Your channel is dope. And yes, I.G. Off was one of the illest emcees with off the top or written rhymes. A gem of a talent.

[@indyvinylz]

@@eddieleonard6925 thnx for ya props, bro 🙂✌️🎶... yeah i got several I.g. off records... they also made a documentury about him and hazadous called "where the sidewalk ends". Peeps that, in case you havent already... peace, and i hope to see more dope stuff feom your vaults.. maybe some demo stuff? Peace , dj skeli

[@raynell881]

Nice material

[@eddieleonard6925]

Thanks. This is the music I grew up on.

[@CrookzOne]

This is firé my broth, the hip hop old school is not dead.

[@eddieleonard6925]

I appreciate that, fam! I'm lucky to have lived through a golden era in creative lyricism and the artform of true hip-hop.

[@Hauteclaire16]

Vakill, Mr. Lif, Kool Keith, What What on the same mixtape??? Damn man, that's nice

[@eddieleonard6925]

Some of the nastiest lyricist ever....I can't wait to make a part 2 of this episode. I'm glad you know the names...

[@Hauteclaire16]

@@eddieleonard6925 Mr. Lif has incredible collabs with Thievery Corporation! Learned about Vakill through DJ Vadim's music and about What What through The Herbaliser. Do you happen to know other projects any of these guys were involved in?

[@eddieleonard6925]

@@Hauteclaire16 I love me some Thievery Corporation! Mr. Lif has been the most prolific, especially with his group The Perceptionists. What What changed her name to Jean Grae, and has tons of music. I love her work with the group Natural Resource. She's sooo talented as a lyricist. Cheers,

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

awesome video

[@eddieleonard6925]

Thanks, that means a lot.

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

@@eddieleonard6925 indeed!!!no problem! Looking forward to more content. I enjoy your laid back smooth approach!!!

[@doctorigorbeats]

Fresh

[@eddieleonard6925]

Appreciate you listening. This was my favorite era.

[@fengguo815]

Great video 👏man

[@Hey_russ]

Love your videos man

[@joeybaldwin4752]

I do remember I hear Natural Elements on The Lyricists Lounge Vol 1 with the song Mayday. And they sound dope.

[@eddieleonard6925]

I remember that track well! Natural Elements were top notch lyricists. Such great written rhymes...Peace!

[@joeybaldwin4752]

@@eddieleonard6925 True That and I have Nature Elements album on my KZbin and Spotify and The Whole album is still dope. GREAT LYRICISTS

[@MFgabesylar3030]

Hi Eddie! Are you still in Oakland? I'm in the Bay and just happened to click on this while I worked. I was surprised to hear you were in the Bay! Awesome! Do you happen to have an IG?

[@eddieleonard6925]

yessir! been in Oakland for more than a decade. ig @_eddieleonard

[@awayteamhoopz5096]

Love it

[@eddieleonard6925]

Glad u dig this.

[@awayteamhoopz5096]

@@eddieleonard6925 will there be a part 2

[@eddieleonard6925]

@@awayteamhoopz5096 yes as soon as i find some time. :)

[@pascalthiele6903]

Ohhweeeeeee!!!🤲

[@beatsbysolace]

Love all your videos G, wish I could’ve experienced this era lol. Btw, do you post your beats anywhere these days? Was tryna find some Eddie Leonard originals but couldn’t find em

[@eddieleonard6925]

I appreciate that, fam! I don't have any beats online yet, as it's strictly personal, private meditation practice. But I'm gonna experiment with dropping something on bandcamp later this year. Will let you know. U got some beats to share?

[@llsmffi]

where do i listen to that first I.G off tape

[@SauceSoundz]

Nice.. the myndcrukz. Those are my homies. The deejay, c-reality got a really dope radio show right now called flip the script radio. Def worth checking out. Yo i can leave like a 100 comments as i watch this lol.

[@eddieleonard6925]

What? I need to check that out. Small world...

[@SauceSoundz]

@@eddieleonard6925 yea it's a dope mix show. Play alot of modern underground stuff as well as classics. Dudes like Redman and like starvin b be showing up. Its on mixler. I think you would like it

[@SauceSoundz]

Last comment.. lol that rawcotics joint was my shit!!

[@eddieleonard6925]

Appreciate you, bruh! Thanks for joining me on this trip down memory lane...

[@antonioduartedasilvafilho1879]

Pensei que você era o masta Ice 🤔

[@sirrom5155]

oh no i lost that ig off and haz free.

[@eddieleonard6925]

One of my favs!

[@pascalthiele6903]

I see aceyalone in there List nice !!!

[@eddieleonard6925]

He's another breed of emcee. Love that dude's music.

[@pascalthiele6903]

@@eddieleonard6925 true :)))) Love him too 😇🙏

[@kwesthomas]

Brooooooo, RESPECT!!!

[@eddieleonard6925]

Oh snap! You're one of my favorite emcees man. I used to make Kwest mixtapes for folks, with all the battles, the singles, the b-sides, the freestyles...one of the best to ever do it. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@kwesthomas]

@@eddieleonard6925 Thank you Eddie, that means a lot.

[@kwesthomas]

@@eddieleonard6925 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYfMlWx3mLSEhNE

[@jo_da_pharaoh]

Imma try giving my mixtapes on actual tape and beat tapes like how Dilla did… idk if any other 16 yr olds gonna respect but hey, ill never know until i try

[@eddieleonard6925]

The real ones will respect it. I strongly believe that a handful of a artists are going to move away from digital releases. You wanna hear it..buy the tape/vinyl...