Chopped Herring Vinyl, CD & Tape 205 Items

"Straight up one of the dopest albums I’ve ever released on Herring. Yes it’s a big statement – but this one is sheer perfection. Loads of sick jazz samples, killer drums, played bass lines, interludes, wicked scratch sections and incisive, satirical lyrics make this project by Buffalo, NY natives a stand out album of our time. One of the Aoty for me and straight into my top 20 Herrings – NO DOUBT!!"

Incredible unheard 1992 demo sessions from Texas Roughneck Papa Chuk.

So Joe City aka Third Eye Ent hits me up and says B, hook up with my man Strez, he might have some ish you are looking for. So outta Norfolk, Virginia, this is the Foundation Entertainment EP. Most of these tracks appeared on an extremely rare couple of cds from 97 & 99 as well as one off a demo tape and one unreleased from the House of Reps unreleased stash!!! Peep this short interview with DJ Strez for some background info:



Where did you grow up? “I grew up in the Park Place/Villa Heights section of Norfolk Virginia born & raised.”

What are your earliest memories of the culture? “My earliest moments of the culture are begging my mom to go to the record store to buy The Fatboys first album, LL Cool J “Radio”, Run-D.M.C. “Raising Hell” & Beastie Boys “Licensed To Ill” albums. When I got home that day I played these albums non stop. That’s when I knew I was in love with Hip Hop.”

Who were your fav beatmakers coming up? “My Favorite Beat Makers/Producers coming up was Marley Marl, Pete Rock, The Bomb Squad, DJ Premier, Large Professor, Diamond D & Joe City (VA Native)”

What was the VA scene like? “The VA Scene Between 1991-2001 was a great time to be involved with music.A lot of local artists that were coming out started making tapes and selling them at shows or in the clubs.We had so many outlets back then and the major artists were also coming down checking the scene out as well. We definitely had hidden gems as far as talent.”

When did you start making beats? “I started making beats when I was around 16 years old. I was always fascinated with making music and always wanted to learn. The music that was made between “87-99″ was always mind blowing to me. Once i realized that they were taking loops from old records,sampling and making beats out of them i knew that that is what i wanted to do”

What were your first bits of gear? “My first bits of gear was a Casio Sk-1, a Gemini Sampler Ds-1224, a Korg M1, a Boss Dr-5 & a Pair of technics belt drive turntables.”

When did you set up Foundation Ent? “Foundation Ent was formed around 93-95 through my partner Carlton Barnard and he was also my manager. We met at a mall out here in VA called Military Circle in 1996 and we chopped it up and immediately clicked. It all started and developed when he said he had equipment that wasn’t really being used and i asked him if i could use it and eventually it led to us getting a building for a studio and signing artists.”

How did you hook up with all the mcs? “Before Foundation Ent, I was in a group with a friend of mine named Stratagee Real which later became an artist on Foundation Ent so we were already connected. Carlton did beats and had the group Coalition & a female artist named Bad News already so we started teaming up and recording music together in the studio. The other artists that were on the roster were mostly people that we came across that rap and sing.”

When I dropped The Perfect Time EP back in 2017 I was begging for some unreleased flava to go along with the 4 tracks on the OG 12″, but they were nowhere to be found. Since then, a lot of digging has been done and finally we are extremely pleased to announce, we have more period Afiliashun material – and boy was it worth the wait!! Here we have 8 unreleased Afiliashun crew heaters from 97-99. Enjoy!!!!!

So Joe City aka Third Eye Ent hits me up and says B, hook up with my man Strez, he might have some ish you are looking for. So outta Norfolk, Virginia, this is the Foundation Entertainment EP. Most of these tracks appeared on an extremely rare couple of cds from 97 & 99 as well as one off a demo tape and one unreleased from the House of Reps unreleased stash!!! Peep this short interview with DJ Strez for some background info:



Where did you grow up? “I grew up in the Park Place/Villa Heights section of Norfolk Virginia born & raised.”

What are your earliest memories of the culture? “My earliest moments of the culture are begging my mom to go to the record store to buy The Fatboys first album, LL Cool J “Radio”, Run-D.M.C. “Raising Hell” & Beastie Boys “Licensed To Ill” albums. When I got home that day I played these albums non stop. That’s when I knew I was in love with Hip Hop.”

Who were your fav beatmakers coming up? “My Favorite Beat Makers/Producers coming up was Marley Marl, Pete Rock, The Bomb Squad, DJ Premier, Large Professor, Diamond D & Joe City (VA Native)”

What was the VA scene like? “The VA Scene Between 1991-2001 was a great time to be involved with music.A lot of local artists that were coming out started making tapes and selling them at shows or in the clubs.We had so many outlets back then and the major artists were also coming down checking the scene out as well. We definitely had hidden gems as far as talent.”

When did you start making beats? “I started making beats when I was around 16 years old. I was always fascinated with making music and always wanted to learn. The music that was made between “87-99″ was always mind blowing to me. Once i realized that they were taking loops from old records,sampling and making beats out of them i knew that that is what i wanted to do”

What were your first bits of gear? “My first bits of gear was a Casio Sk-1, a Gemini Sampler Ds-1224, a Korg M1, a Boss Dr-5 & a Pair of technics belt drive turntables.”

When did you set up Foundation Ent? “Foundation Ent was formed around 93-95 through my partner Carlton Barnard and he was also my manager. We met at a mall out here in VA called Military Circle in 1996 and we chopped it up and immediately clicked. It all started and developed when he said he had equipment that wasn’t really being used and i asked him if i could use it and eventually it led to us getting a building for a studio and signing artists.”

How did you hook up with all the mcs? “Before Foundation Ent, I was in a group with a friend of mine named Stratagee Real which later became an artist on Foundation Ent so we were already connected. Carlton did beats and had the group Coalition & a female artist named Bad News already so we started teaming up and recording music together in the studio. The other artists that were on the roster were mostly people that we came across that rap and sing.”

So you finally find the producer, he finally finds the DATs and finally he gets to listen to them and damn, only one track is on there. So what do you do?

Well when it’s as Huge as this joint, you drop a one-sided 7″!!!



The Radikal Doodz were an early 90s rap group from Flatbush, Brooklyn consisting of Po Rich, Dunndee, PZD and Akeem. Po Rich was the lead MC. Akeem was his hype man, PZD handled the DJ duties and Dunndee along with PZD handled production.

This was the lead track from their first and only release which dropped on the independent Mission Recordz label in 1993.



What a monster!!!!!

The excellent Herring vinyl release gets a limited CD release including previously unheard demos and instrumentals. Bangin!!

The incredible Trevor J & Loop.Holes album gets a limited cd release!!!

Extremely dope sophomore album from Arizona’s own MC Shinobi. The first album was self-released a couple years ago and this follow up features killer production from the likes of DJ Obsolete, MPadrums, B.B.Z. Darney and DJ Daredevil [R.I.P.] as well as guest features from Herring regulars MC Gels & Hahyeem. Underground hip hop at its finest. Now on limited CD!!!

The debut album from MC Shinobi – previously only 100 copies on CDR – now on a proper, limited CD release!!

“Year 1994, a hardcore hip hop crew called the KGB decided to come together as a unit and form a group called the Meccanizm, outta New Haven,Ct. These dudes always was in competition with other Mcs and Beat makers and each other. What’s special about the crew is that they concentrated on Lyrics and Beats. The Mecc consist of Chief Rhythm, Gbo, Xtra, Doc Terror and Producer Dooley-O. This album represents the grimy era of hip hop. 1994”

Dope new album from Buffalo, NY crew Pseudo Intellectuals. Mad breaks and beats on a dare I say it, almost Prince Paul-esque tip. Dude’s hit me up with the demos and I was totally blown away. Loved the samples, the drums, the cuts, the vibe – the whole nine yards. It’s so Herring, it had to happen. Big up yourselves fellas – great work!!

Killer album from Chicago MC, DJ, Producer and writer Epik1. Breaks galore on this ridiculously dope new album. Features include Chino XL, Copywrite, Kwest Tha Madd Lad, Wordsworth and more. One of the nicest projects I’ve heard all year. Peep it – you will NOT be disappointed.

“Year 1994, a hardcore hip hop crew called the KGB decided to come together as a unit and form a group called the Meccanizm, outta New Haven,Ct. These dudes always was in competition with other Mcs and Beat makers and each other. What’s special about the crew is that they concentrated on Lyrics and Beats. The Mecc consist of Chief Rhythm, Gbo, Xtra, Doc Terror and Producer Dooley-O. This album represents the grimy era of hip hop. 1994”

Dope new album from Buffalo, NY crew Pseudo Intellectuals. Mad breaks and beats on a dare I say it, almost Prince Paul-esque tip. Dude’s hit me up with the demos and I was totally blown away. Loved the samples, the drums, the cuts, the vibe – the whole nine yards. It’s so Herring, it had to happen. Big up yourselves fellas – great work!!

"Ahhh yeah – we’re back in Virginia for some more super rare joints from the excellent Third Eye Entertainment camp. Included are more hard2find bangers from the extremely rare records on the label as well as two unreleased heaters from the Suspects and The Halfbacks. VA’s best kept secret right here….." - Chopped Herring

Now on CD!

Now on CD!

Now on CD!

Stupid dope debut album from Last Jazz Club’s Mike B along with San Jose MC Tha Anthom. If you dug Mike’s last release on Herring [LJC’s – ‘Jazz Is..”] you will flip out for this one. Every joint is a killer and every joint is on a jazz tip. Double bass lines galore!! Amazing full colour artwork from Rockin Roger aka AzhqOne [who did the Interviews Vol 3 art]. An absolute sureshot!





Tracks:

A1 Intro A2 Neva Sellin Out A3 Diggin This Right Here A4 Mic In My Hand A5 Likwits ft Mikey PG A6 Like Dat Interlude

B1 If The Beats Fat B2 Check It B3 Murderous Status ft Iron Slaughter B4 Get Drunk B5 Timeless

All tracks produced by Mike (Last Jazz Club) B

Following the first volume from earlier this year, Russ dug deeper into his archives and found DATs of these unreleased bangers. I know cats loved the KGB joints last time so here are 2 more unreleased jawns including the incredible original version of ‘Journey Through Hell’ from 1993 and ‘Boom Bang’ from 1996. Also included in this volume are 2 unreleased tracks from Madame Star which would’ve been on the Cold Chillin album had she not been dropped after 2 singles. Both Sick!! We also have for your listening pleasure 2 more joints from Coney Island MC Lac The Rippa and one unheard and unleaked track from Now Born Click’s Born-God. Peep Vol 1 Here in you missed it – Enjoy!!!

Hardcore Reps were a three man crew from Far Rockaway, Queens made up of two brothers Damian and Majestic along with beat maker and producer Angelo “A.N.G.” Foukas. They never released a project on their own and just featured on Angelo’s 1996 instrumental album on the only two tracks with vocals. Angelo was introduced to the brothers way back in the early 90’s through a mutual friend.. He played them a few of his instrumentals and the boys were suitably impressed and they made a few demo tapes in 1994 that they passed around local heads. They never pursued a deal and just used the tapes to get some recognition among their peers. The demo tapes have been in a much demand and only a few have survived. We have five joints from those tapes, remastered from the original studio DATs and three tracks that have never surfaced before. The two joints from that 1996 inst album are on here but slightly different versions. Big up to my man Dougpark for the hook up – Dougpark provided the connect for the excellent Speakeasy demos we dropped a couple years back. And before anyone says it’s Full Proof not Fool Proof, no it isn’t. Enjoy!!

Following the first volume from earlier this year, Russ dug deeper into his archives and found DATs of these unreleased bangers. I know cats loved the KGB joints last time so here are 2 more unreleased jawns including the incredible original version of ‘Journey Through Hell’ from 1993 and ‘Boom Bang’ from 1996. Also included in this volume are 2 unreleased tracks from Madame Star which would’ve been on the Cold Chillin album had she not been dropped after 2 singles. Both Sick!! We also have for your listening pleasure 2 more joints from Coney Island MC Lac The Rippa and one unheard and unleaked track from Now Born Click’s Born-God. Peep Vol 1 Here in you missed it – Enjoy!!!

Hardcore Reps were a three man crew from Far Rockaway, Queens made up of two brothers Damian and Majestic along with beat maker and producer Angelo “A.N.G.” Foukas. They never released a project on their own and just featured on Angelo’s 1996 instrumental album on the only two tracks with vocals. Angelo was introduced to the brothers way back in the early 90’s through a mutual friend.. He played them a few of his instrumentals and the boys were suitably impressed and they made a few demo tapes in 1994 that they passed around local heads. They never pursued a deal and just used the tapes to get some recognition among their peers. The demo tapes have been in a much demand and only a few have survived. We have five joints from those tapes, remastered from the original studio DATs and three tracks that have never surfaced before. The two joints from that 1996 inst album are on here but slightly different versions. Big up to my man Dougpark for the hook up – Dougpark provided the connect for the excellent Speakeasy demos we dropped a couple years back. And before anyone says it’s Full Proof not Fool Proof, no it isn’t. Enjoy!!



Tracks:

1 Big Timers 2 Fool Proof 3 Dead Em 4 Rip Code 5 Rip Code [Remix] 6 The Music 7 We Raw 8 Keep It Hot

All tracks produced by Angelo “A.N.G.” Foukas