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> Artist: Sport ''G'' & Mastermind
> Title: 'Let The Rhythm Roll EP'
> Label: Vinyl Addicts
> Year: 2008
Very little is known about this Long Island duo who dropped 'Live' and 'Louder' 12"s on the Streetwalk label over 20 years ago. Both records have been considered collectible for some time, with copies exchanging hands for anything between $300 - $1000, in part due to the Paul C association (he mixed the tracks).
It's pretty safe to say that Sport "G" wasn't expecting a call from Europe's Vinyl Addicts crew in 2008 regarding releasing unreleased tracks, but thank fuck that call was made! As with V.A.'s previous Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth EP, you get press photos and the obligatory one sheet providing some insight into the release.
But let's get to the music... There are six tracks here produced by the group, and once you put the needle to the groove you get transported back in time, to an era when Lil Flip (probably) still lived in his father's scrotum. The EP starts off with 'Sport Could Get Fluid' utilising the horns from 'Shaft', a dusty bassline and elements of Marvin Gaye's 'T Plays It Cool' - a great first track, MC Sport "G" demonstrates his flow in "hard shit mode".
Next up is the Eddie Drennon sampling 'Catch My Lyrics'; again you can't front on Sport's hungry flow and apparently this was recorded whilst they were shopping their post-Streetwalk demo tape. I love the line about making heads spin "... like that bitch from the Exorcist". The third track is 'On The Dope Tip' (the break escapes me; it's either Bobby Byrd or some James Brown production). whilst its good, Yogi Bear & Tim Scratch's 'It Is What It Is' utilises the same break to better effect.
The first track on side two is the funky 'I Used To Be A Hustler' where both Sport and Mastermind trade verses about their illegal activities (hopefully this stuff is mainly fiction, otherwise the feds may want a few words). 'Let The Rhythm Roll' might be my favourite track, with liberal use of a "yeaaaahh" vocal sample (courtesy of The Osmonds) and Parliament 'Flashlight' cuts in the chorus.
The EP is rounded off nicely with 'Don't Do It To Yourself', which in Sport's words is basically "...that guy, girl thing" (couldn't have put it better myself). The track will be of interest to rap aficionados as it samples the same Jody Watley track as KMD's 'What A Niggy Know', except Sport "G" & Mastermind beat them to it by around 4-5 years!
Despite people sleeping, this record is one of the finest 'expensive' releases to date, and no doubt rap vinyl fanatics will be expecting the Vinyl Addicts to come up with more quality music in the future. Rumour has it that VA003 is dropping in June 2009 - but keep that on the low low.
> Reviewed by: Rare Dave
> Title: 'Let The Rhythm Roll EP'
> Label: Vinyl Addicts
> Year: 2008
Very little is known about this Long Island duo who dropped 'Live' and 'Louder' 12"s on the Streetwalk label over 20 years ago. Both records have been considered collectible for some time, with copies exchanging hands for anything between $300 - $1000, in part due to the Paul C association (he mixed the tracks).
It's pretty safe to say that Sport "G" wasn't expecting a call from Europe's Vinyl Addicts crew in 2008 regarding releasing unreleased tracks, but thank fuck that call was made! As with V.A.'s previous Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth EP, you get press photos and the obligatory one sheet providing some insight into the release.
But let's get to the music... There are six tracks here produced by the group, and once you put the needle to the groove you get transported back in time, to an era when Lil Flip (probably) still lived in his father's scrotum. The EP starts off with 'Sport Could Get Fluid' utilising the horns from 'Shaft', a dusty bassline and elements of Marvin Gaye's 'T Plays It Cool' - a great first track, MC Sport "G" demonstrates his flow in "hard shit mode".
Next up is the Eddie Drennon sampling 'Catch My Lyrics'; again you can't front on Sport's hungry flow and apparently this was recorded whilst they were shopping their post-Streetwalk demo tape. I love the line about making heads spin "... like that bitch from the Exorcist". The third track is 'On The Dope Tip' (the break escapes me; it's either Bobby Byrd or some James Brown production). whilst its good, Yogi Bear & Tim Scratch's 'It Is What It Is' utilises the same break to better effect.
The first track on side two is the funky 'I Used To Be A Hustler' where both Sport and Mastermind trade verses about their illegal activities (hopefully this stuff is mainly fiction, otherwise the feds may want a few words). 'Let The Rhythm Roll' might be my favourite track, with liberal use of a "yeaaaahh" vocal sample (courtesy of The Osmonds) and Parliament 'Flashlight' cuts in the chorus.
The EP is rounded off nicely with 'Don't Do It To Yourself', which in Sport's words is basically "...that guy, girl thing" (couldn't have put it better myself). The track will be of interest to rap aficionados as it samples the same Jody Watley track as KMD's 'What A Niggy Know', except Sport "G" & Mastermind beat them to it by around 4-5 years!
Despite people sleeping, this record is one of the finest 'expensive' releases to date, and no doubt rap vinyl fanatics will be expecting the Vinyl Addicts to come up with more quality music in the future. Rumour has it that VA003 is dropping in June 2009 - but keep that on the low low.
> Reviewed by: Rare Dave
