January 5th, 1995 – Rosie Perez, L-Swift, Mr. Voodoo, Tash, Mikah 9, Talib Kweli, Cokni O’Dire were guests that night.

Rare footage released and dedicated to the memory of Beasley 79. And according to Stretch we can expect a documentary, one day.

Last night in NYC, Company Flow reunited on stage in front of a sold out crowd alongside fellow Indelible MC’s Juggaknots. It was definitely a special night made even more incredible by the hyped crowd. Peep the audio I recorded of the entire show below.

Company Flow, Live @ Reunion Show 7.16.11

Juggaknots, Live @ Company Flow Reunion Show 7.16.11

update: Due to the overwhelming response, the links above are dead until July 21st. Peep the new links below.

Download Company Flow, Live @ Reunion Show 7.16.11

Download Juggaknots, Live @ Company Flow Reunion Show 7.16.11

Great collection of photos from the Stretch & Bobbito 20th anniversary show last week. link

I wasn’t sure what to expect at this show. How many people were going to be there? Who was getting on? Was Stretch, Bob and Lord Sear going to sit there and snap on cats in the crowd all night? Two things I definitely didn’t expect were the large turnout and the energetic crowd. I’ve been to enough classic Hip-Hop shows in NYC to know that people don’t come out to shows anymore. And, for those that do make it out, most like to stand in the crowd and give artists the face like “yeah, I’ve seen better.” Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the crowd. But where are all these dudes and the handful of lovely young ladies at other NYC shows? Where were they at the Nice & Smooth show in BB Kings a few years back, where there was literally no one left after the mud wrestling opening act was through. Yeah, I know. Things got so bad that the venue started giving out free tickets to people on the street outside…for a show that costs 30 bones previously. So the crowd was chock full of random tourists and passerbys with nothing better to do that night. Where are all these “real” fans hiding? Do people not care enough to make an effort anymore? Do people even know about these shows? It takes me less than five minutes online to see what’s going on in the next few months so I can’t imagine it’s a question of accessibility. Which means it has to be a lack of interest. For a long time, and even still, I’m mad bitter about all the shows I go to and seeing a thin crowd. I’ve gotten used to it but it doesn’t mean I’m happy.

Enough ranting. Stretch & Bob 20th anniversary. Classic. Audio below and videos after the break.

update: Peep the audio this Wednesday on EVR.

update 2: Audio below.

Stretch & Bobbito 20th Anniversary Celebration @ Le Poisson Rouge 2.10.11 by GRANDGOOD

As mentioned previously.

Friendswelove.com

FRIENDS WE LOVE is an interview series created by filmmakers Mike Vargas and DJ Moni. In this episode, Bobbito Garcia is the featured guest as he speaks about his first trip to South Africa, water issues, and of course music and basketball!

Stretch & Bobbito talked about doing a live show of sorts on their final broadcast last month. Well, here it is. Put together by that good dude Peter Agoston. Yeah, the same cat who was responsible for all those dope Hip-Hop shows at the Knitting Factory a few years ago. The show is still a few months away but do you doubt that this will sell out? Get your tickets soon because you never know who’s going to show up. Much props to Peter. link

V: Aw, you played it and I was gonna ask if that was a lost Cenobites joint.

B: Hah. Yeah I don’t know, I get emails at least once every week, two weeks like, “yo Bob, you and Stretch played this song at like three four on April [dadada night]..”. You know how many records we played in twelve years? Well Stretch and I were together for eight years and then I stayed on until 2002, you know how many records were played? You know how many shitty demos, that like barely had any label information, or group information, you know? [Laughing]. You know how many white label test pressings we played?

V: Yeah, no doubt.

B: When I played Wu-Tang in December of 1992, there wasn’t even any writing on it. It was just a blank test record. They didn’t even write out of courtesy, like Wu-Tang Clang. I didn’t even know what I was playin’, people were callin’ up the show like, “Yo, what was that?” I don’t know. [Laughing]

V: [Laughing] Ah man, … J-Treds, “Recognize” and “Peace of Mind”… I think you remember J-Treds, the Peace of Mind demo. There was two versions. One had more of a hook["..through tough times and hardships, I'm lost in the depths of reality.."]. Do you remember if they were strictly demos or if one was on a white label [or test press]?

B: You got me on that yo.

V: Okay. No doubt.

B: I have no idea. I know I put out a J-Treds 12 inch on Fondle ‘Em. ["Make It Happen"]I know he was part of Indelible MCs and that’s my man. J was more my man than anything. Like, that was my homeboy, you know, he’d been there for me. Like years before he started rhymin’.

yo yo yoyoyoyo yo yo yo, some footage from the anniversary show

via nahright

Streaming live now, as if you ain’t already know. We’ll update with the rip eventually

stream: Real Audio | MP3 Stream

previously: “Yes, Stretch and Bob, WKCR this coming Thursday night, 89.9 fm 1am” – Stetch Armstrong

update: Download the entire show here.

Link (update: peace to Hopp for the zip, and to noz for point that out)

Peace to Alex from ClassicRhymes.com for the write-up. link

Before Joseph Abajian opened the legendary hip-hop record store Fat Beats back in 1994, shopping for hip-hop vinyl in New York wasn’t easy. “I remember having to go to so many different stores to find records. It made no sense in a city where hip-hop was born,” recalls 39-year-old Abajian, whose frustration would push him to turn his relatively modest mom and pop shop not only into an iconic vinyl playground frequented by artists and fans alike, but a meeting place where the craft of hip-hop always took center stage. “A lot of people who made up the community we had at Fat Beats moved on to Hollywood. They stopped scratching, using vinyl, and many just fell off, so the energy has not been there in the store for some time. Indie retail is something that is needed in hip-hop. Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart have a dominant presence in the market, and if they decide to pass you have nowhere to sell your record,” says Abajian.

Shookmag Podcast on Bobbito Garcia’s new Alala Records. Link

Funkmaster Flex at it again with his dope hip-hop legends shows. All the acts on the bill are great but if you know me, you’ll know I’ll be primarily there to see Diamond D. “Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop” still gets crazy airplay with me. link

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42 Street
New York, NY 10036

I miss real filters like Stretch & Bob

It’s all about perception

peace to @fymtg