Erick Sermon featuring Marvin Gaye ‎– Music - (2001)

Polydor ‎– 497 622-2

I'm putting up two posts today, technically three, all with a certain theme, but you'll get what I mean by that with #2 later today. You're allowed to go a little nuts on your birthday, right? :D

As a huge fan of both Marvin Gaye and EPMD/Def Squad, I was delighted when Erick Sermon dropped the track "Music" in 2001 - even happier that it was a bona fide hit for both parties. 

The song was inspired when Erick Sermon heard an outtake of Gaye's 1982 album track, "Turn On Some Music" (titled "I've Got My Music" in its initial version), Sermon decided to mix the acappella vocals and make his own song with it.

This hip hop and soul duet featuring the two veteran performers was released as the leading song of the soundtrack to the Martin Lawrence & Danny DeVito comedy, "What's the Worst That Could Happen?" (which I've not seen to this day). 

The song became a runaway success in the US rising to #2 on Billboard's R&B chart and was #1 on the rap charts. It also registered at #21 pop giving Sermon his highest-charted single on the pop charts as a solo artist and giving Gaye his first posthumous hit in 10 years following 1991's single, "My Last Chance" also bringing Gaye his 41st top 40 pop hit. 

I can't find the data on what it did in the UK - not much probably, considering the awful mainstream consensus.

There was also a version that removed Erick Sermon's verses, leaving Marvin's vocals over the beat, although that ain't available here.

There's an F bomb on the Album version, so depending on whether you're okay with profanity or not, go with either the Album version or Radio Edit. The Instrumental should be of interest to some more DJ minded folks.

I wish it had the Marvin Gaye-centric mix on here as well for completion, but mostly I'm just happy to have the track. 

This is one brilliant release.

- Kymba x

Tracklist

1. Music (Album Version)
2. Music (Radio Edit)
3. Music (Instrumental)

Discogs page

Download: ES&MG-M.7z | Filesize: 25.4MB

Chico DeBarge featuring Erick Sermon & Redman ‎– Soopaman Lover (Remix) (1999)

Motown ‎– UDM-56233

It's my birthday today and you'll have to excuse me being self indulgent: I'm dropping two tasty joints from my favourite DeBarge today - the badboy of the fam, Mr Chico DeBarge.

First up is the oh so wicked remix of Superman, the red hot Soopaman Lover remix featuring Def Squad heavyweights Erick Sermon and Redman (my man).

This remix is straight fire with a hot beat supplied by Mr Sermon, surely one of Hip Hop's most underrated producers (EPMD were effing with the funk before a certain Dr Dre had even conceived of G-Funk)? All props are due. 

It opens with Red in fine style revisiting one of his own Soopaman Lover rhymes - Soopaman Lover Part II if I recall correctly? Chico then takes the reigns and re-sings, in a new styley, the lyrics of his Superman track, which is included as track 4 on this CDS, from his excellent Long Time No See album (you really should check that out if you've not heard it. It's full of Neo Soul goodness). Erick Sermon has a verse at the end to wrap it up. It's R&B/Soul/Hip Hop perfection and I love it as much today as I did back then. Twenty years old now. Damn.

I can't big this track up enough. It's 90s R&B perfection.

You have a street and clean version so take your pick as to if you like profanities or not. There's a nice instrumental as well for mixology. We then have the album version which is a great song as well, just with a different vibe, and it's ably finished off with another cut from Long Time No See, Virgin. It's a really nice track and all round a seriously heavy release.

Next post is the ever so sexy Iggin' Me from the same album. Boom.

See you on the flipside.

Tracklist

1. Soopaman Lover (Remix) (Street Version) Featuring – Erick Sermon, Redman
2. Soopaman Lover (Remix) (Clean Version) Featuring – Erick Sermon, Redman
3. Soopaman Lover (Remix) (Instrumental Version)
4. Superman (Album Version)
5. Virgin (Album Version)

Download: CD-SL.7z | Filesize: 42.5MB

Lynden David Hall - Do I Qualify? (CD1 & CD2) - (1997)

Cooltempo ‎– 7243 8 85075 2 3, Cooltempo ‎– CDCOOL331, Cooltempo ‎– 8850752

Kym says: It was Lynden's birthday last week and I should have posted this back then so I'm a week late. Sorry Lynden!

Mick originally posted up CD2 back in the day so I am adding both that and CD1 in 320.

Highlight of Disc 1 for me are the Def Squad remixes, in particular the Def Squad No.2 Remix. Erick Sermon is the Daddy!

Back over to Mickey...

CD1 Tracklist

1. Do I Qualify? (Album Mix)
2. Do I Qualify? (K Gee Remix)
3. Do I Qualify? (Darc Extended Mix)
4. Do I Qualify? (Def Squad Remix - No. 2 Remix)
5. Do I Qualify? (Darc Midnight Remix)
6. Do I Qualify? (Def Squad Remix - No. 1 Remix)

Mick says: Another piece from the 'LDH collection', this is CD2 (EMI Records 7243 8 85245 2) from the UK release of Do I Qualify? supplied once again by Alifunk. Top Man!

The prize on this particular release is the exclusive Untouchables Remix of Sexy Cinderella featuring Rha Goddess. We also get the DARC Extended Remix of Do I Qualify? in glorious digital and, as if that wasn't enough, this includes The Jimmy Lee Story which includes girl-on-girl action. OK, sorry, I'm a sad bugger?

CD2 Tracklist

1. Do I Qualify? (Album Mix)
2. Do I Qualify? (Darc Extended Mix)
3. Sexy Cinderella (Untouchables Remix)
4. The Jimmy Lee Story

Download : LDH-DIQ.7z | Filesize: 104MB