“Check the technique and see if you can follow it,” went Premier’s cut back in the day and what do you know – Brian Coleman, author of Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies (itself an updated expanded version of Coleman’s Rakim Told Me) has not only checked his first opus on the making of 36 classic hip-hop LPs but followed it with a second volume! That’ll be Check The Technique Volume 2: More Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies then. Well – he did write 50 chapters for the first one and then only use 36 of them. Allegedly. And looking at the chapter selection, I’d say it’s in the hip-hop-loving public’s interest to get this out there as soon as possible. Look at the artists and which of their LPs he’s covered for god’s sake – it’s half the monkey’s favourite hip-hop albums – 3rd Bass’s Cactus Album, Gravediggaz’ Niggamortis, KMD’s Black Bastards and Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s Wanted: Dead Or Alive to name but a few!
In fact, expect a veritable coffee-table brick of 544 pages, 25 chapters, 350 images and around 80 interviews with the likes of Kool G Rap, Mantronix, Ice Cube, the artist formerly known as Mos Def, Black Sheep, Kool Keith and Stetsasonic among others. It’s pretty much your civic duty to check out the dope that Coleman wrote and listen to the tales that he unveils. Brucie bonus vid of KMD’s Stop Smokin’ That Shit below and full chapter list below that. Don’t sleep.
(Out 14 October published by Wax Facts Press)
CHAPTER LIST for Check The Technique Volume 2: More Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies:
3rd Bass The Cactus Album (1989, Def Jam / CBS)
The Beatnuts Intoxicated Demons: The EP (1993, Relativity / Violator)
Black Sheep A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing (1991, Mercury / PolyGram)
Company Flow Funcrusher Plus (1997, Official / Rawkus)
The Coup Steal This Album (1998, Dogday / Polemic)
Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop (1992, Chemistry / Mercury)
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper (1988, Jive / RCA)
Dr. Octagon Dr. Octagonecologyst (1996, Bulk Recordings)
ED O.G & Da Bulldogs Life Of A Kid In The Ghetto (1991, PWL America / Mercury)
Gravediggaz Niggamortis [aka 6 Feet Deep] (1994, Gee Street / Island)
Ice Cube AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted & Kill At Will (1990, Priority)
Jeru The Damaja The Sun Rises In The East (1994, Payday / FFRR)
KMD Black Bastards ([1994] / 2000, [Elektra] / Readyrock / Sub Verse)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo Wanted: Dead Or Alive (1990, Cold Chillin’ / Warner Bros.)
Kwamé The Boy Genius Featuring A New Beginning (1989, Atlantic)
Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth Funky Technician (1990, Wild Pitch)
Mantronix The Album (1985, Sleeping Bag)
Masta Ace Incorporated SlaughtaHouse (1993, Delicious Vinyl / Atlantic)
Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998, Rawkus)
Naughty By Nature Naughty By Nature (1991, Tommy Boy)
Nice & Smooth Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed (1991, RAL / PolyGram)
Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995, Loud / RCA)
Smif-N-Wessun Dah Shinin’ (1995, Wreck / Nervous)
Stetsasonic In Full Gear (1988, Tommy Boy)
Various Wild Style Breakbeats ([1981] / 2014, Kay-Dee / Get On Down)