The year is 2001! CHH is starting to make some waves. Then something unexpected happens. Gotee Records artist DJ Maj drops a mixtape entitled “Full Plates: Mixtape. 002”. This was his follow up mixtape release. The previous year he dropped a mixtape entitle “The Waxmuseum,” but this second one was special.
Now when I was coming up, a mixtape was a lot different then what it is now. To me, now a mixtape is no different than a regular album or an EP for the most part. The closest thing I’ve heard recently to what I call a traditional mixtape is Lecrae’s “Church Clothes Vol. 1.” He had DJ Don Cannon not just hosting, but mixing some of the songs. Similar to what you would hear when you hear a DJ mix at a party or on your favorite hip hop and r&b radio station. I came up with cats like DJ Clue and Funkmaster Flex. This is not what you hear typically on a mixtape today. It’s usually just one artist and compilation of their songs. When I came up, a mixtape gave you a party feel and also was an opportunity to hear freestyles, unreleased music or be introduced to new music from multiple artists.
That’s where this #TBT feature comes into play. At the time, a lot of the artists featured did not have the notoriety we may know them to have now. Like when I say names like Da T.R.U.T.H. or Corey Red. What DJ Maj did with this mixtape was take hip hop back to one of its roots – The DJ. I feel like sometimes that’s a lost art of hip hop in CHH that seems to be making a resurgence, but still not like it was in the 80’s and 90’s. DJs were just as essential, if not more, than the MC. You had graffiti art that is an element of hip hop, but the MC and b-boy take a bit of a hit without the DJ. DJ Maj with his mixtape offering takes us back to that element. This mixtape has features from CHH greats, such as KJ-52, Tunnel Rats, Mars ILL, Grits and Sup The Chemist.
This week we feature 2 tracks from the album. First, “What’s My Name” by New Breed (Tunnel Rats). Secondly, “Champion Sound” by CHH legend Sup The Chemist. Check out these songs, the album and let us know what you think.
Peace and blessings.
