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Review: Jack Foley
PAUL Nice is one of underground hip-hop's most respected producers,
having worked with the likes of The Beastie Boys and Biz Markie,
and it's easy to see why when listening to this mash-up compilation.
Journey to the Centre of the Beats is the sound of Nice
flexing some serious mixing muscles, straddling every musical
genre from funk, soul and classic rap, to jazz breaks and, of
course, hip-hop.
What's more, he also brings in some exclusive tracks from the
likes of Lord Finesse, Black Thought (from The Roots) and Talib
Kweli, as well as some killer bootlegs from his extensive back
catalogue.
The result is a compilation album to rate alongside the DJ Shadow/Cut
Chemist collaboration, Brain Freeze, in terms of out-and-out
enjoyment, while also putting the bland Summer compilations from
the likes of Kiss FM firmly in their place.
If you want a party album, this delivers on the funk-front in
spades; while it also stands out as a collection of timeless classics,
with everyone from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five to
the Wu-Tang Can getting a look in.
DJ Nice sounds as though he is having some serious fun delivering
bootleg megamixes of Grandmaster Flash classics, before dropping
some ultra-sexy soul ballads late on (complete with some moody
beats).
And for those who still need convincing, then some of the tracks
to savour include The Sugarhill Gang's Rappers' Delight,
Grandmaster Flash's timeless White Lines, complete with
Bugs Bunny intro (!), William Devaughn's smooth Be Thankful
For What You Got, Debarge's All This Love and J-Live's
Satisfied, to name but a few.
The name may be Nice, but the journey is downright excellent.
Try taking it.
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Track listing:
1. Intro
2. El Gant Freestyle
3. Lord Finesse vs. Percy P - The Rematch
4. Masta Ace Freestyle
5. Talib Kweli, Jane Done & Black Thought - Bullshit (Paul
Nice Remix)
6. The Real Live Show - Up Inj Our Spot (Paul Nice Remix)
7. Clipse - When The Last Time
8. J-Live - Satisfied/Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
- The Message
9. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message (Paul
Nice's Super Duty Bootleg Mash Up)
10. Paul Nice Sugar Hill Remix
11. Biz Markie - Turn The Party Out (Paul Nice Remix)
12. William DeVaughn - Be Thankful For What You Got/Clipse - Grindin'
Instrumental
13. De Barge - All This Love/Jeru The Damaja - Come Clean Instrumental
14. Jhelisa - Friendly Pressure
15. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt.2
16. Wu Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M
17. Raekwon - Ice Cream
18. Paul Nice - Everyday
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