But Trife did make some noise. With roots in Long Island and Queens he ran with other area artists including Roc Marciano, who later would go on to introduce him to Pete Rock and Busta Rhymes. With the re-prioritization of live performances in recent years it’s disappointing to consider the new opportunities a rapper with his talent could have had to show and prove. Astute observers removed from the Tri-State may still have heard rumors of Technical Rival Implying Flagrant Excellence, of Long Beach battles with Subroc and Zev Love X or of rhyming outside radio stations with Natural Elements and Nas. But then again, chances are when you see the name Trife it will likely only trigger a faint acknowledgment of an unrelated artist from Ghostface Killah’s extended fam, which reminds me, someone should really add to that Discogs entry.

We were hoping to change all that one day by getting Terry in the studio, but like many of our grand ideas, it was not meant to be. We’re left only with rough bedroom recordings and memories of uplifting conversations. Respect to Robbie over @ Unkut for asking about him and much respect to Marci who recently hinted at writing some music for his fallen friend and was also generous enough to share some of his memories of Trife which we hope to be publishing separately soon.

RIP

Trife – Trife (Prod. by Trife)

Trife & Megalon aka Tommy Gunn (1999)

Pete Rock – Give It To Y’all ft. Roc Marciano, Trife

Audiocast No. 34
Mix by CV

Omid – Politikin
Harlem Boog – Miles Davis (Prod. by Geng-Grizzly)
Ridd of CVE – Got Away (Prod. by Gnu Sense)
Matt Gamin – Up For Nomination (Produced by t.v.)
Roughneck Jihad – Salem Witch Trial
Bored Stiff – I Remember
Andre Nickatina – Drug Love
Ceschi Ramos – Disease
Dj Ian Head w/Gabriel Teodros – Sippin Coffee
Toomer feat. Sick Jacken, 2Mex, B-Real – Death or Retirement (Prod. by Deeskee) [demo version]
GrimeySuspect – Beat from a beat tape
Kay of the Foundation & Soulbrotha – Go Left
The Fucking Mutants – Video Show snippet/interlude
Daytona + Dj Doo Wop – Bronx Tour
Trife – (This is Trife)
Immortal Technique – Reverse Pimpology
Gila & Luka – Lonely Dub

Ripped Open By Metal Explosions by Galt McDermot
Line Up & Target (feat DJ Marlon B, Daddy Swift & Sugar Phree) by Ken Sport
P Dap Prohibit (feat Killa Sha) by Tragedy Khadafi
Give It To Y’all (feat Rock Marciano & Trife) by Pete Rock
Top 10 List by Masta Ace
Up On Prospect by The Hillfiguz
Ah Yeah (Diamond D Remix) by KRS One
Verbal Attack by Black Attack
Goldmindz ft Shabazz The Disciple by Maccabeez
14 Years of Rap by Skeme Team
Judas Theory by Tragedy Khadafi
Death Ministry by Maestro

As mentioned here in the past, this Trife is not the same rapper down with Ghost or Biggie. Sometimes, the best rhymers don’t surface for various reasons. This self-titled song was recorded in 2007, produced by Trife. We’re excited to present unreleased music from the Long Island MC who has recorded with Pete Rock, Roc Marciano and the U.N., Megalon aka Tommy Gunn and others while holding it down in the 90s rhyming in ciphers with other noteworthy MCs. We look forward to new recordings this year. Thanks Trife.

Trife – Trife [Produced by Trife]

bonus audio:

Trife + Megalon aka Tommy Gunn, 1999

Pete Rock Featuring Roc Marciano + Trife

Monster Island Czar Tommy Gunn/Megalon’s full length is available over at UGHH….or shipping soon anyway. Peace to Day by Day, the hardest working label in hip hop music. They hooked up with Atoms Family backbone Cryptic One a while back and finally released his album (which is one my favorites this year…). And if you didn’t know, Day by Day also runs a rock label and serves as a distributor for magazines TABLIST and Cool’Eh. I wonder if Grimm is hiring….

Here’s a lost and found ‘freestyle’ session with Tommy Gunn and Trife – another legendary long island spitter, going back and forth (circa 1999) . For those of you who aren’t familiar with Trife (no not this Trife…) check this old Pete Rock 12″ featuring trife and rock marciano of the U.N. (Carson Daly’s 456 Enterainment recently released the U.N. album). Trife has been tearing up mcs in Queens, Long Island and beyond since the early 90s battling or sharing stages, mics, and cipher-time with the best of them. Semi-recently he recorded a crazy 3 or 4 verses, one-take-jake style, over a moog-ed out DJ Signify beat but don’t expect that to ever surface. Be on the look out for possible Trife appearances on future GRANDGOOD projects.