It's a Demo!

[ALCATRAZ]

Most people ain’t trying to hear it when you are shopping them. Kool G rap couldn’t sell Nas to any label and it took Serch a while too before Columbia saw the potential. Jay even started Rocafella because nobody would offer him a decent deal. KRS started his Juice crew war over the fact that Mr.Magic wasn’t trying to hear his early BDP tracks. However, in retrospect it’s always fun to hear the first steps of artists who later became certified superstars (or at least much respected). This is for the listeners…


Jay-Z
http://www.zshare.net/download/4853563d817d04/

Most of these are not demo’s but early features and freestyles. It’s no secret Hova started out as a sidekick to Big Jaz, his feature on ‘Hawaiian Sophie’ is the best known one. The other notable features are with Original Flavor who had some momentum at the time, Jigga steals the show though. It’s also where he gained his first stage experience, touring with the crew.
‘What’s in a name’ cleverly uses some famous names from that time and ‘I Can’t get with that’(which was a b-side to in my lifetime on payday) showcases Jay’s fast flow.


Nas
http://www.zshare.net/download/48539088aa4568/

This is supposedly the original demotape that G Rap and later Serch shopped around. All of these tracks have been widely spread on the internet, showcasing a pre-illmatic Nas that already shows the promise of one of the greatest. On some tracks like ‘I’m a villain’ and ‘number one with a bullet’ you can still hear the G Rap influence dominating his style ( G Rap also features on the latter), but on tracks like ‘Déjà vu’ the brilliance of nasty nas prevails. ‘Understanding’ also features the first ever appearance of a young AZ.


Notorious BIG
http://www.zshare.net/download/4854304c228a12/

Most of the tracks featured on here are actually lifted from ‘the last king of NY mixtape’ that came out earlier this year. The quality is at times horrible and there is a loud mouth DJ screaming over them, but the material is just too interesting. Notable is the ‘unsigned hype tape’ that obviously won Biggie Smalls the UH spot in The Source. Some later demo versions of known songs and early freestyles are also included.


Snoop Dogg
http://www.zshare.net/audio/48540487b79ed1/

This is actually a 213 demo in bad quality due to the cassette tape. But if you can listen through that you will hear a unique pre-chronic/deep cover Snoop going at it with Warren G. The unique voice stylings are already there, I wonder if this is the track that got Dre’s attention?


Wu-Tang Clan
http://www.zshare.net/download/485472196fc7fa/

Some people say that the Wu’s early work was badly engineered and had that vintage basement sound, but listening to these demo’s they stepped it up a lot one their later releases. RZA lays the foundation to the signature sound on here with some very early versions of later Wu-Bangers. The unique style and swagger that made the wu movement so big, with such an impact, is already evident. They did grow a lot from this 92 demo to 93’s Enter the Wu-Tang… and i’m glad they did.


KRS One/BDP
http://www.zshare.net/audio/485440303ca110/

This joint still sounds like the old school sound that KRS’ generation revolutionized. The influence of a Melle mel is definitely heard. Also the Synth/bongo sound didn’t make way for the JB breaks yet. The young KRS does already show his teacher persona attacking the crack epidemic of that time. He evolved from this powerful, yet rather average mc to one of the biggest Hip Hop artists of his generation.


OC
http://www.zshare.net/download/48548050f05cf7/

O to the C made a lot of heads turn when his classic ‘Time’s up’ dropped in 94. His debut album is still an underrated 90’s eastcoast classic. He was first heard on Organized Konfusion’s fudge pudge, but the talented DITC lyricist had a demo out at that time as well. These tracks showcase an already mature artist that was ready for his ‘word…life’ and ‘jewelz’ records. A shame he never really made it above ground really….


Pharoahe Monch/Organized Konfusion
http://www.zshare.net/download/485496273ca6b0/

Speaking of OK, Pharoahe and Prince Po had their own demo out some years before that. The virtuoso flows of the duo (then known as Simply II Positive) are already evident on here.
The influence of a Rakim and a G Rap is more obvious on here, but the signature cadence is already there. On tracks like ‘Prisoners of war’ their knack for original concepts also shows.


Lil Fame/MOP
http://www.zshare.net/download/48550534ac3a74/

These are really Fame demo tracks, but since Fame went on to become one half of Brownsville’s hardest; MOP, i will look at it as such. These two tracks indicate the hardcore mentality of the young fizzy Womack, but the sound is still funky and less adrenaline induced- in your face than the later work the Mash Out Posse put out.


Common (Sense)
http://www.zshare.net/download/4855183dce845d/

Com has always been artist whose artistic growth was evident from album to album. In retrospect his debut album ‘Can i borrow a dollar’ almost sounds like a demo. Here are two tracks from even before that record. Lifted from a mixtape again. But interesting enough to include in this list. With the success of his last releases Com has finally gained the commercial acclaim to match his talent and music.


Black Moon
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4855333f20c183/

The distinct jazzy laidback jeep sound from the Beatminerz combined with Buckshot’s gruff voiced singsong flows were not there from the very start. The same crew is responsible for this uptempo demo in a typical early nineties NY style. The bucktown attitude is already there, as well as the obvious talent and the duckdown chants. Interesting start to one of NY’s nicest movements from that era.


Dead Prez
http://www.zshare.net/download/48554319387db4/

Hip Hop’s favourite militant act of recent times started out as just that. These early demo’s indicate the same political mindstate that made them relatively famous, but have a more traditional eastcoast sound than the more progressive sounds and flows featured on their debut album (which had some of the earlier Kanye beats) and later work. Nevertheless these are some dope conscious tracks from the RBG’s.


DMX
http://www.zshare.net/audio/48555790b69bc9/

Not really a demo, but still a great listen. This track actually had some monetum in the early nineties and features a young DMX without the style that made him a household name in the late 90s. with the decline of his career over the last years, the only time he makes headlines nowadays is when Darkman X clashes with the law. ‘Born loser’ after all??

[ALCATRAZ]

no doubt fam

[NY_Mami]

PLEASE put on MP3's I don't have a program for RAR. type files.........

[NY_Mami]

Originally Posted by Wu-Matic

this is where I got winrar, totally safe:

http://www.download.com/3000-2250-10007677.html

..........................................

[bamboo]

Props for sharing this dope material!

[main_man]

good thread.

[LuckyTheWonderDog]

Got any Mobb Deep from when they were Poetical Profits?

[SHEEPISH LORD OF CHAOS]

i've heard most of these and its dope what they've become kudos 4 dis post man

peace

[ALCATRAZ]

Originally Posted by Spinx

Got any Mobb Deep from when they were Poetical Profits?

no

[NY_Mami]

Originally Posted by speakonitgod

no

MP3's?????????

[ALCATRAZ]

Originally Posted by NY_Mami

MP3's?????????

nah all i got is those links srry

[claaa7]

mega props

[Maxxx Millisecondz]

thanks for making this thread, speakonitgod.

[CommSense]

best topic on this site.

[MsRzaRecTaH]

great thread! props for posting this!