Silk - Hooked On You - (1995)

Elektra ‎– EKR212CD, Elektra ‎– 7559-66055-2

Discovered by Keith Sweat, Silk are an American R&B group, formed in 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia. They are best known for their 1993 hit single, "Freak Me", which reached number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100. They've had a string of other hits, but this one is my favourite.

There are a suite of remixes on here but the Original Extended Mix is by far the best to my ears. 

We start with DJ Clark Kent's mix, sampling Isaac Hayes' A Few More Kisses to Go, no doubt inspired by Redman's use of the sample.

Next up are the Trackmasters, and while I normally find them a little formulaic for my tastes, this is a surprisingly good mix.

The Chucklife mix is kinda boring to me so moving on quickly to The Trackmasters Hip Hop mix, which features Foxy Brown and Tyme dropping a bar each.

Which all brings us back to the highlight of this CD for me, the Original Extended Mix; simply perfect. I love those Ironside style sirens!

All in all, this was a really great value CD, packed with multiple versions. I'd have liked an acapella but I've lost count how often I say that!

Enjoy!

Tracklist

1. Hooked On You (Radio Edit)
2. Hooked On You (D.J. Clark Kent Remix Edit)
3. Hooked On You (Trackmasters Remix)
4. Hooked On You (Chucklife Remix)
5. Hooked On You (Trackmasters Hip-Hop Remix)
6. Hooked On You (Original Extended Mix)

Download: S-HOY.7z | Filesize: 62.4MB

New York Undercover 4-Track EP (1996)

MCA Records ‎– MCSTD 48002

This is a great EP containing a selection of tracks, some R&B and some more Hip Hop in nature.

The thing kicks off with an at-the-time unforeseen Guy reunion in Tell Me What You Like, which predated their third LP. I was hyped to have the boys back as they had split acrimoniously a few years prior, with Teddy Riley forming BlackStreet in the wake of the fallout. Anyway, this is a seriously dope track and required listening for any Guy or New Jack Swing fan like me.

Next up is the Little Shawn track Dom Perignon and it is FIRE (no pun intended, sample spotters). Sampling Kool & The Gang's dope Too Hot track and Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious BIG from his break-out Party & Bullshit (I love that track) this one's a killer cut and was also great for the dancefloor. That Kool & The Gang loop always sounds so dope - so smooth and just begging for some nice flows, which Shawn capably provides. 

(Speaking of, our very own DJ Filthy Rich served up a phatt blend of Dom Perignon and Party & bullshit which you can (and should) check out here. Thanks, Rich.)

Monifah is up next with an almost classic joint that never quite hit the heights of some of her contemporaries. I Miss You is nice enough and made a big enough splash at the time but she faded into relative obscurity. Please correct me if I am wrong. Still, Easy Moe Bee provides a dope remix here and is well worth having.

The Lost Boyz track is kinda nice for my Hip Hop heads. Mr Cheeks is always dope! A real head nodder. Parental advisory though lol

All in all it is a wicked slice of mid nineties R&B/Hip Hop - in fact, I'd forgotten just how good this was. A nice snapshot of a time when music seemed so much better.

Tracklist

1. Guy - Tell Me What You Like
2. Little Shawn - Dom Perignon
3. Monifah - I Miss You (Da Street Mix)
4. The Lost Boyz - Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz And Benz (Sparks Meets Dawg Mix)

Download: NYUEP.7z | Filesize: 36.7MB