[MIXTAPE] dj espionage - Chronic Coadunation (1998)

'98 hip-hop -- majors, but mostly indies. Two live blend tapes covering 100 cuts from the era, as well as a short mix of early-90's classics:

dj espionage - "Chronic Coadunation"

Full playlist is here. Including classic indie records by Fierce, Choclair, Mass Influence, Dilated, Rascalz, Atmosphere, Boo Brown, All Natural, Frankenstein, etc.

Here are links to 12's from this mix already posted on this site, complete with re-ups where necessary:

J-Live, "Sheisty"
Fierce, "Crab"
Choclair, "What It Takes (rmx)"
Blade, "The Way It Has To Be"
Mike Zoot, etc, "High Drama Pt. 3"
Atmosphere, "Primer"
Foot Soljaz, "If You Ain't Got Flowz"
Diamond D, "With the Dope Sound"
Show & AG, "I'm Not the One (original)"
Mental Giants, "Hustler's Hymn"
No False Lyricists, "Funk the Radio"

[MIXTAPE] dj espionage - Notes from Underground (1997)

At this point in 1997, it was clear where mainstream hip-hop was heading, and the vitality of the indie movement (with Rawkus most successfully commodifying it) was what I attempted to pay homage to here, in Notes from Underground:

dj espionage - "Notes from Underground"

48 fresh cuts from the indie movement from '95-'97 round out this mix (playlist here). Classics from J-Live, Mike Zoot, Saukrates, Juggaknots, Ras Kass, Cage, Dilated, Company Flow, Natural Resources, Mass Influence, Rhymefest, Frankenstein, Encore, Blackalicious, Arsonists, Unspoken Heard...probably my favorite overview of the indie joints of the era.

[MIXTAPE] dj espionage - Assiduous Amalgamations (1997)

The next mix in the series, extending the approach of continuous, live blending. '97 was probably the apex of the indie vinyl movement of the 90's, if not in terms of quality, definitely quantity; this mix packs some 65 cuts into 120 minutes:

dj espionage "assiduous amalgamations"

Grab the full playlist here.

[MIXTAPE] dj espionage - Hip-Hop #11 (1996)

Hip-hop from Fall '96, marked by major label releases by KRS, Tribe, De La, Xzibit, and the Roots. Indie releases remained strong, with material by Mister Voodoo, Percee P, J-Live, Mountain Brothers, Redfoo & Dre Kroon, & Royal Flush. This blend tape again focused on smooth, live transitions, with an A-side sliding through 32 cuts in 45 minutes; the flip moves through a mix of 29 strong cuts from the era:

dj espionage - "Hip-Hop #11"

Check the playlist first here.

[MIXTAPE] dj espionage - Spring '96 (1996)

Ah, Spring 1996. The indie hip-hop scene was starting to head towards its peak (Blackalicious' "Melodica"), major labels were still releasing projects by random crews (Ill Biscuits on Atlantic?), and college radio was live. Here's a rip of a pure blend-tape from this era:

dj espionage - Spring '96 hip-hop

The playlist is too long to list here (27 cuts on a 45-min side A, 21 on side B), but check the playlist here. A mix of live major-label joints (Pharcyde, KRS, Das EFX, Mobb Deep) and heavy balance of indie joints (J-Live, Tony Da Skitzo, E.C., Rubberoom).