StoriesAboutSongs with Kevin Beacham

In part two of New Music Seminar MC Battle For World Supremacy, our last episode for season 2, we focus on the years; 1993 and 1994! I recount the stories I heard about 1993 with MF Grimm, Mad Skillz, and the '93 champion, Supernatural. As for '94, I explain how my writing for local Chicago publication The Flypaper, created a lane for me to have some “involvement” and a front-row seat to many of the key happenings at the seminar that year, including getting a chance to interview Bobbito Garcia, The Artifacts, Count Bass D, Hard 2 Obtain, Zev Love X, and Muddbones (Cage and Masai Bey) for an article in The Flypaper, which never came out, and ultimately inspired Caught In The Middle magazine, that I started planning with J-bird only weeks after the seminar. And, I share the memories of being at a showcase that had Indigenous Theory, Keith Murray, Rampage The Last Boy Scout, Notorious B.I.G, Craig Mack, and Original Flavor with Jay-Z. Plus, some insight on the actual MC battle itself, which was won by Judgemental from Chicago, who I was in town with. It's an action-packed episode!! Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

From approximately 1985 until 1994, the New Music Seminar MC Battle For World Supremacy was one of the most exciting and inspiring things for an upcoming MC, especially those whose styles were battle-ready, myself included. Ultimately, this two-part episode is about how I went from an aspiring MC hoping to compete in the contest one day, which I never achieved but did find myself in the audience for the final one ever in 1994. Part two focuses on the years of 1993, and especially my experience attending in 1994. Part one focuses on my path to becoming a battle MC, including the Hip Hop scene in Lake County (North Chicago, Waukegan, and Zion specifically) circa '86-'90, which led to me eventually learning about the NMS MC Battle, and starting to rehearse for my chance to hopefully compete there one day. And, I also touch on the various stories and rumors I was hearing and reading about the early 80s/90s seminar events, and how that was inspiring for what I was doing as an upcoming artist at the time. Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

From 1995-2002, I hosted/produced Time Travel Radio on WNUR FM in Evanston/Chicago. One part of the show was regularly doing theme shows telling the history of various artists. In 1996, I did a spotlight show on The Jaz (a.k.a Big Jaz, Jaz-O) and his partner Jay-Z. Then, a year later, as he was promoting his second solo album, I did a Time Travel radio spotlight show on Jay-Z. I was able to interview Jay-Z to get some historical info to use bits and pieces on the show, but I never shared the full interview until now. In this 20-minute interview, at a critical turning point in his career, we have a candid conversation that covers a range of topics, including; early inspirations, battling LL Cool J, decoding hidden lyrics in his music, his relationship with Notorious B.I.G, what happened with his deal with Priority Records, his primary goals with his music, and more! This interview also reveals where the idea for Jay-Z releasing acapellas of his music originated. Be sure to listen to the previous two episodes, which tell the story of The Jaz & Jay-Z. I guess it's the Time Travel Radio spotlight update… Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

For part two of The Jaz & Jay-Z special, we continue to take a look at the greatness of The Jaz with his second album, and the follow-up EP, and as he transitions into the mid-90s, which also saw him take his production skills to the next level. I also touch on some of the styles that The Jaz was a pioneer in and/or helped popularize. And, all that leads into me getting a chance to meet The Jaz, and through him, Jay-Z, and the few interviews that followed to close out the 90s, including a useful idea that I randomly gave Jay-Z... Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

The Jaz and Jay-Z are certainly each worthy of their own stories being told, but one of my favorite things is peeling back the layers of how various stories tie things together, and that's the adventure we begin here, in this two-part special that touches not only on the history of The Jaz and Jay-Z, but touches on some other key stories along the way, including moments with Fresh Gordon, UTFO, LL Cool J, Chubb Rock, Gary Byrd, Roxanne Shante, Choice MCs, and more.... Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

I was lucky enough to do street promotions in Chicago for Sha-Key's debut album, produced largely by Earl Blaize, as I was, and remain a big fan of that album, "A Head Naddas Journey To Aidi Skizm" ('94). This is the story of that record, including input given to me from Sha-key and Earl Blaize to help fill in some gaps. it talks about her being signed to Imago Records, and what went wrong, as well as what happened next in her career, which included a transition into the world of tech, creating one of the earliest Hip Hop platforms on the world wide web, Guillotine Hip Hop. Listen to the Sha-Keys lost classic "A Head Naddas Journey To Aidi Skizm" here: https://redefinehiphop1.bandcamp.com/album/a-head-naddas-journey-to-adidi-skizm-digital-deluxe Read Kevin's 2001 interview with Earl Blaize here: https://medium.com/@kevinbeacham/a-unearthed-conversation-with-earl-blaize-of-anti-pop-consotrium-from-2001-4a53a9a21918 Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

From doing street promotions in Chicago for Wildpitch Records in the mid-90s, I got to work with some of my favorite artists of the time, and of all-time in some cases; including Ultramagnetic MCs, UMC's, Main Source, O.C., and The Coup. This episode talks about my work with Wild Pitch, focusing on the first two albums by The Coup, and goes into detail about a few other connections and interactions I continued to have with Boots Riley over the years, where he's remained one of my favorite artists, and I consider him one of the great elite writers in Hip Hop, and beyond, as well. I touch on all of that here... You can read the full transcript of Kevin's interview with Boots Riley here: https://medium.com/@kevinbeacham/boots-riley-of-the-coup-a-2001-unreleased-interview-deccd324b9bd Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

I'm a huge fan of all three artists who this episode focuses on, and if you are a fan of them as well, you already know some of the connections. This episode breaks down how I personally connected with each of them, and great memories, rare demos, and additional connections that are all part of the story...To start it off, we take it back to the Ultamagnetic MC's... Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

Many people, especially in the time before the internet, depended on the radio to hear new music, or any music for that matter, for the most part. For me, growing up on military bases, specifically in Germany most of my childhood, radio wasn't an option unless I wanted to hear Top 40. Once I heard Hip Hop, and my vow to "find everything that sounds like this", I heavily relied on trading and dubbing tapes with fellow music lovers and enthusiasts, and the most prized possessions of the 80s...tapes of New York Radio. There's a list of amazing, impacting, pioneering, and influential shows/DJs that come to mind, such as; Mr. Magic, Marley, Zulu Beats with Afrika Islam, The World Famous Supreme Team Show, Kool DJ Red Alert, Chuck Chillout, Awesome Two, Vandy C and Bill Blast, Awesome 2, and so on. This episode details those days, the passion and struggle to track down the latest tapes, and meeting all sorts of challenges along the way. And, eventually focuses on the radio station tapes that I most often got my hands on; WBLS and 98.7 Kiss FM, two rival New York stations. I also touch on a few other key radio shows that I was able to get tapes of or hear live, in the 80s, including Lady B and Mimi Brown in Philly, Electrifying Mojo, The Wizard a.k.a Jeff Mills, WKKC in Galesburg, and WNUR in Chicago. Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

Big L is regarded by many as one of the greats of his time, and rightfully so. This episode talks about Big L's skill as an MC, and how we first met, which included me being unintentionally dismissive...well it was somewhat intentional but I just didn't know who he was... As we go on a quest to trace some roots to his style, I talk about the Fearless Four, MC Shan, Juice Crew, & Lord Finesse. And eventually, we get to how my writing for The Flypaper in Chicago in '92, my first Hip Hop journalism gig, led to me meeting Grav, who formed a group called Indigenous Theory with Black Man Zeke, who I was the producer for previous to him being in that group. And, how that led to me being in Harlem in '94, where Grav was from, and running into a young rapper who was on the come up, named "L". Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

StoriesAboutSongs, now part of the Stony Island Pod family, explores Hip Hop history from the vantage point of my decades as an artist, radio host, promoter, event organizer, journalist, documentarian, artist advocate, label rep, & of course, a fan, from the '70s up until the present. Each episode explores an artist whose music was inspirational, or a movement in Hip Hop, that made a lasting impression on me, in some shape or fashion. These are the stories of not only how I fell in love with Hip Hop, but how that love has continued to keep me connected.-Kevin Beacham Follow all of Kevin's work here: https://linktr.ee/kevinbeacham21 Follow Stony Island Audio here: https://www.instagram.com/stonyislandpods/?hl=en

The season one finale takes us right back to the days I spoke about in Episode #1. It's 1983, and my final days living in Germany are upon me, before permanently moving back to the United States. This is the story of one of the last movies I was able to see before leaving, Star Wars Return of the Jedi, and the one I learned I was going to have to miss because of that same move, Wild Style. How much influence that factor had on the Wild Style Soundtrack becoming one of my all-time favorite albums I don't know, but the importance and brilliance of that album still drives me to listen to it regularly to this day. Plus, as a young inspiring MC, the performances of Grandmaster Caz, Prince Whipper Whip, Shock Dell, Rammellzee, and especially Lil Rodney Cee, were monumental. Plus, as an avid fan of the art of DJing, the sounds of Grandmixer D.st, Grand Wizard Theodore, and DJ Charlie Chase, the focus on the turntable on this soundtrack had an additional impact.

Admittedly, putting the names (Rudy Ray Moore and Tragedy) in this episode title feels a bit like giving away the punchline to the joke, but also sometimes the power of the punch is solid enough, it's able to retain its potency, or so I believe in this case. This is one of those stories that every time I tell, or think of, it I have to pause and reassure myself it's not a false memory or a dream that blended with reality. But nope, there was a day, 5-13-93 to be exact, where I was able to introduce Tragedy to Rudy Ray Moore, and then spend a day hanging out with the both of them, as well as Evan (E-Man) Forster, who was running Tuff Break Records for A&M. This was all possible due to my promotions company, Rage Promotions, that did work for Tuff Break on a few projects including Intelligent Hoodlum, Dred Scott, Top Choice Clique and The Posse Soundtrack. This episode also touches very briefly on major labels gaining interest in rap music in the early 80s, with more of a focus on A&M Records' early flirtations and history with signing rap artists, leading up to their first true full effort, Tuff Break Records. The story itself is so bizarre and unexpected that I still have to chuckle at the spectacle of it. R.I.P. to the myth, the man, the pioneer, and one of the great forefathers of Rap, Rudy Ray Moore a.k.a Dolemite.

If you don't know about the legend of the Medusa, I'm hoping this episode can change that. Although there is a career spanning many decades, with a trail of great songs, explosive live shows, and continuous dynamic vocal performances, there are far too many who are still in the dark. Regardless, whenever Medusa has an opportunity to wield a microphone, her namesake is earned. Any educated listener is captivated and frozen in time by the sheer vocal dominance, if only for a moment. This episode speaks about the tales of whispered legend about Medusa that I would hear and read about, leading to finally witnessing it with my own ears, and eventually leading to an unforgettable moment where she became one of my favorite performers, as well as secured her place as one of those artists who I'm permanently tuned in to, curious as to what they shall do next. Unfortunately, her relatively limited catalog is not easily accessible on the internet, including most of the songs that I talk about in the podcast, hopefully, that will eventually change. In the meantime, for those that want to dig deeper, I suggest tracking these down: -Feline Science-Power of the P (early 90s) -Feline Science-How To Serve Man (early 90s) -Medusa-You Better Be! (‘97) -Medusa-It's A Gift (‘97) -Medusa & Aceyalone-Yes (‘99) -Nobody featuring Medusa-Fiend Or the Fix (‘00) -Medusa-Cold Piece Of Work (‘02) -Medusa-My Momma Raised A G (‘02) -This Kid Named Mile featuring Medusa-New Definition (‘04)

As we entered the new millennium in 2000, I started to seriously think about finally starting my own record label. From doing my Time Travel Radio Show, being Co-Owner of Caught In The Middle Magazine, hosting/organizing Scribble Jam, and running my Rage Promotions company, I was regularly meeting indie or unsigned artists with no outlet for their music, and I hoped I could help make a difference. Aesop Rock and Vordul of Cannibal Ox were planned to help me launch the label with exclusive releases, so I could then shift the focus to promoting some new and upcoming talent; Monkey Wrench Factory, Alltruisms, and more! But, this is the label that never was, so what happened?

Up to this point, I would guess that most anyone interested in listening to this podcast has thus far been aware of all the artists I've covered, but Rhyme might be the first exception. For the entirety of my career in the music business, from my days running a home studio(Rage Cage Studios) in the late 80s to the early 90s, to my various other adventures, I've always sought to be an artist advocate, especially for those who I feel are unheard. In 1995, Rhyme, from Chicago, was one of those artists to make an instant and long-lasting impression on me. This is the story of his “Warrior's Ink” Demo, as well as how his career developed from that moment, as well as how Daddy-O, from Stetsasonic, was involved.

Personally, DJ Pooh was one of my biggest inspirations as a producer in the 1980s. Additionally, his career clearly showcases that he is one of the most intriguing, creative, and diverse producers of his time. His work as a producer (and in some cases as a DJ) with King Tee, Deadly Threat, Nefertiti, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Del The Funkee Homosapien, Ultramagnetic MCs, Dogg Pound, Snoop, Too Short, Breeze of L.A. Posse, Run-DMC, Yo-Yo, Mixmaster Spade, 2Pac, and more, illustrates a resume that easily cements that point. And, his history as a producer is only a part of what he has accomplished in his amazing career. Also, super shout out to King Tee, who I am a big fan of, and it was his music that initially led to me hearing DJ Pooh.

For anyone who is an attentive listener and has a grasp of understanding the merits of lyricism, it should be clear that Kool G Rap is one of the most skilled rhyme writers of all time. His road to this level of praise was hinted at ever since his debut in 1986, but “Poison” (‘88) was truly a moment that marked his ascension to that prestigious level as inevitable. This episode talks about the quick rise to the ranks of the MC elite, starting with his debut in 1986, and making a notable statement with his debut album, Road To The Riches (‘89)

In 1995/96, rap icon Ice Cube ignited a feud with rising talent Common Sense from Chicago. Though the situation was short-lived, it made a lasting impact, and the story has been told many times over, but in nearly all of those stories, a perhaps trivial, but notable factor has been left out, the smart part I played in that story. The art for this episode is from the cover of Caught In The Middle Magazine, of which I was the Co-Owner, alongside Jason "J-Bird" Cook. This was the first issue of the magazine and also Common's first time being on a magazine cover, and was released in December of 1994. Designed by Boom Design!

With rap music being born in New York, and quickly spreading throughout the upper East Coast in areas such as Philly and throughout New Jersey, that section of the world dominated the rap industry from the music's conception in the mid-1970s until well into the 80s. However, around 1988 a shift started to occur as the West Coast rose to be a force to be reckoned with, courtesy of the powerful and influential sounds of Too Short, 2 Live Crew, N.W.A, and Ice-T. “Colors” is an integral part of that shift. This episode also takes a walk through Ice-T's amazing career as an MC, and it also touches a smidgen on some history of rap soundtracks.

My dad was drafted into the army in 1968, and approximately two years later, I was born in a hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, joining him, my mother, and my older sister living in Hanau. In my first 14 years of life, we lived in three different parts of Germany, including our second trip back to Germany living on military bases in Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, between the years of 1977-1984. It was during that time, in October of 1979 specifically, that I learned about rap music, courtesy of my dad buying me “Rappers Delight” while on a trip to Indiana for some work training. This episode talks about how living on army bases affected how I, and others living a similar lifestyle, experienced the growth of rap music and eventually Hip Hop culture as it exploded out of the upper East Coast. Additionally, it touches on the scarcity of rap music at the time, as well as a lack of outlets to easily discover it, learn more about the artists, find the music, and so on, especially if you didn't live in one of the few major metropolitan areas were the scene was thriving at this time; Philly, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Oakland, and of course, its place of birth, New York. Based on the way this episode flows, I thought it best to keep the spotlighted artists a secret, but they are early pioneers, who helped bring a sense of elegance, style, and materialistic outlandishness to the rap game.