Beats And Rhymes

AUTHOR

: FRITZ LE CHAT

Before we get started, I have to repeat: CDs are lame. Please don’t send them to me, it’s too much work. All right.

Spoon is the sickest rapper in the world. “Anti-Christ” is fucking nuts. Pick it up right now on Mary Joy Records or we’ll have to fight next time we see each other. You know that dude Checkmate from Vancouver? I thought he was hella wack on that “Northern Touch” joint, but I just picked up a couple 12”s by him and guess what? They’re good. There’s a new one coming out soon too, but I lost my tape of it, so I can’t tell you what it’s called, but it’s good, so cop it (doubleupmusic.com). The Villains rock too. They’re some cats out of the UK, holding it down with their new album Welcome to Wolftown (wolftown.co.uk). Some other rappers with accents: Celcius from Australia. They’ve got an album out that’s good too. Amad Jamal’s good too. He’s some guy from Los Angeles who’s on ABB Records now (bahhc.com). His 12” is called “The Renaissance.”

Some other shit I like is Djinji Brown’s “S.O.S.” 12” (sevenheads.com) and Lexicon’s “Come Up” 12” (spytechrecords.com) which features 4-Zone. My favorite song right now is Storm the Unpredictable’s “Up In You,” which is included on a little four-song blue-vinyl 45. Try to track it down if you can (stormtheunpredictable.iuma.com).

T-Love also rocks. Her new single “With Bitch” rocks too, not surprisingly (ninjatune.net). I used to love this group called the Poet Society, who did a few songs with QDIII back in the day. The rapper from that group then formed another group called Mannish and released a really good album that nobody listened to. Now he’s called 13 and has a really good 12” out on ABB Records. I like weird sounding rap sometimes, so I like Tes’ “Acts of Tragedy” single (vsfprods.com). I hope I never have to go to jail, but if I do, I’ll listen to the OZ Soundtrack (Nettwerk) cuz it’s really good, and has a song from my favorite rapper in the world, Devin the Dude, on it. Plus, the Kurupt and Pharoahe Monch songs kick ass. The Swollen Members song “Deep End” is really good. The beat Hi-Tek made for Phife’s “Miscellaneous” is also really good.

Ever heard of Onry Ozzborn? Me neither, until he sent me his “Venom” EP, which is awesome (bsi-records.com). Is it just me or does Snoop Dogg rock? Does anyone know who finally put out the J-Live album on vinyl? I’d like to thank them. Shout out to MF Grimm. Everyone should go buy “WW III” (sanboxautomatic.com/fondle). I recently checked out some dope videos, Culturama and Practice. Culturama features videos and freestyles with cool rap types like The Coup, Cali Agents, Sixtoo, Willus Drummond and Zion I (culturama.org). Practice has wicked stuff in it, like Dilated Peoples, Del, Scribble Jam, Mr. Dibbs, and other neat rap-related stuff (practicevideomag.com).

Man, it’s hot in here. Stuff I got on CD that I’ll only be reviewing if it’s really dope: Crossphade Family, Smut Peddlers (personally, I can’t stand these guys, but they seem to be pretty popular with the kids), Mystic, Moka Only, Self Scientific, Dubchek, Awol One & Daddy Kev, Gamma, Brougham Records compilation (I forget the name), Edo G. (why isn’t he called Ed O.G. anymore?), Bad L.T., Cat Burglaz (corny name, but it might be good), some All Natural compilation or something, Grand Agent, Pocket Dwellers, E.V.S. (dude, I think I lost your tape), Sir Menelik (man, forget rereleasing this, put that Cyclops shit out already), DJ Sushi, Met Fly, Droopy.

Fritz likes getting free shit. Send VINYL (not CDs!!), shoes (size 10) and job offers to: Fritz the Cat, 650 Dupont St. Box #501, Toronto ON, M6G 4B1 Canada. e:

fritzlechat@excite.com

www.fritzlechat.com

. Check out Fritz’s picks online at

www.illnoiz.com

Top Nine (in no particular order):1 Storm the Unpredictable: Up In You (Ty-She) 2 Spoon (of Iodine): Anti-Christ (Mary Joy) 3 Amad Jamal: The Renaissance (ABB) 4 T-Love: Witch Bitch (Ninja Tune) 5 13: Slow Burnin’ (ABB) 6 Kurupt feat. Nate Dogg: Behind the Walls (Nettwerk) 7 Tes: Take Home Tes (VSF Productions) 8 Onry Ozzborn: Venom (BSI) 9 Djinji Brown: S.O.S. (Seven Heads)