2 Busy Saying Yeah - Oakland rap special with DJ Fresh

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This week I pay tribute to my city, playing an hour of the best new rap music out of Oakland and talking with Oakland representer DJ Fresh.

DJ Fresh was recently named West Coast Mixtape DJ of the Year on the strength of his excellent Tonite Show series of artist-themed albums. We talk about his incredible work ethic, his background as a top-ranked turntablist and DJ for Nas and upcoming projects including installments of the Tonite Show with Messy Marv, San Quinn and Raekwon. Also, we play songs from the brand-new Tonite Show album and PTB label boss J-Moe offers some thoughts on why Bay rappers can't separate the streets from business and describes D-Lo performing "No Hoe" at an Oakland middle school (!).

The show kicks off with a mix of some of the best of current Oakland rap from all styles: turf raps, political raps, cupcake raps, undie raps, you name it:

1. Philthy Rich: Straight from Oakland feat. Ros, J-Stalin, Stevie Joe, Kaz Kyzah, Shady Nate, Lil Blood, Eddie Projex, Beeda Weeda, Keak Da Sneak & Mistah F.A.B.
2. Lyrics Born: Block Bots feat. Trackademicks & Clyde Carson
3. Shady Nate: Head Doctor
4. Sleepy D: Sleepy Fuckin’ D
5. Stevie Joe: 80s Baby
6. D-Lo: You Played Me feat. Rico
7. Clyde Carson: Take It to the Hotel feat. R. Kelly
8. J-Stalin: Millionaire Status
9. Kaz Kyzah: Freeway
10. Beeda Weeda: You Don’t Hear My Tummy
11. Shady Nate: Jug feat. J-Stalin, X.O. & Gary Hawkins
12. Jern Eye: Blowin’ Up feat. Roc C
13. Brwn Bflo: Powerful People
14. Bicasso: Warz Over feat. Saafir
15. Crown City Rockers: Forever Song
16. Vell4Short: Shirts & Baggy Pants
17. The Grouch & Eligh: Say G&E!
18. StreetMedia: Push
19. Mayne Mannish: Flight to Boston
20. Casual: Town Bound
21. Guce & J-Stalin: Another Quelo
22. League510: To the Beat [Trackademicks RMX]

Three things:

I want to give a big shout to Nation of Thizzlam, 38th Notes and Southern Hospitality, all of which stay up on Oakland rap. I first heard many of the songs on those blogs, so credit is due.

I know I messed up by leaving out some Oakland rappers that belong in there (Zion I, Mistah F.A.B., etc.) and including a Berkeley rapper that doesn't (Lyrics Born), but it's due to my general unfocused-ness, not hate. I tried to make the mix as comprehensive as I could but I'm sure there's a lot of great stuff I don't know or just spaced on.

Big shout to my dude XJ, who figured out how to get me mp3s for two of the highlights of the mix, Mayne Mannish's "Flight to Boston" and Casual's "Town Bound".