The Nineties Sessions

Godfather Don | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: No Sleep Recordings
• ASIN: B000XJZA12
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,625 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Status

2. Do My Thing

3. 7 Degrees Of Elevation

4. The Architect

5. Do I Come Off?

6. Forever (My Lady)

7. Stuck Off The Realness

8. Inverted

9. Listen Close

10. Colors Of Death

11. Sleep

12. Rip Dat

13. Memories

14. Assuming Dat

15. Step Up Front w/ Mega Rat

16. Sadistic

17. Burn (Original Version)

Editorial Reviews

In the early 90s heyday of NYC underground, few emcees could ever claim to have reached the status of Godfather Don. Already having debuted in 1991 with his Select Records LP "Hazardous", Don became a legendary fixture in 1993 after he started collaborating with The Ultramagnetic MC's and most specifically, Kool Keith. Gaining worldwide notoriety by producing and guest appearing on the "Raise It Up" single off of Ultra's "Four Horsemen" LP, Don and Kool Keith soon combined to form a unique, creative project called The Cenubites. They recorded dozens of demos and promos and appeared frequently on the Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito show to rhyme, play tracks, and co-host. While Don was enjoying this mid-Nineties reemergence as a recording artist, he was also excelling as a producer. Alongside V.I.C. (of Beatnuts fame) he formed The Groove Merchantz, and the duo produced and remixed tracks for the likes of Nas, House Of Pain, Kurious, and others. Around 1995, Godfather Don also started recording a series of 12" records on Queens, NYC indie label, Hydra Records. Tracks like "Properties Of Steel" and "Piece Of The Action" continued to cement Godfather Don as one of the great emcee/producers on the underground. These releases culminated in 1998 with the release of Don's second LP "Diabolique." That album and the 1995 release of The Cenubite project on Bobitto's Fondle Em' label are now extremely rare and both are considered essential to anyone who enjoyed classic underground Hip Hop. Don has put down the mic in recent years, but in response to a growing demand, he has agreed with No Sleep Recordings to finally unearth 17 vintage recordings done during the Cenubite and early Hydra era. Some of these were played at times on the Stretch and Bobitto show and have been sought after by collectors for years. Finally available on CD, these songs are all produced by Don and feature the complex flow and wordplay that made him a fan favorite in the underground. Sure to be as rare as his first two releases, this is underground Hip Hop at its finest...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unadulterated HipHop, February 17, 2008

By 

O. KAKA (WOODBRIDGE, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Nineties Sessions (Audio CD)

There isn't one word I can use to encapsulate nor to describe this album; GodFather Don---Nineties Sessions-- as it's pure hip hop at best. Without any equivocations HIPHOP that were released between 1992-1996, particularly NYC Hip Hop exhibited poignant lyricism and inerrant productions, and GodFather Don's--Nineties Session is a personification of that. To be honest with you I have never heard of this guy until now, which is unlike me because I'm arguably the largest collector of pure underground NYC Hip Hop to date WORD UP. Nonetheless, I found him to be a very skilled MC, who also produces what a combo. Now, I would say preponderance of these tracks were recorded in 95 based on the productions alone, believe me I know my NY Hip Hop. Moreover, the album is cohesive throughout, one would think it was an album rather than a compilation. Hence, all tracks are my favorite from STATUS to the last track BURN, as all of them are imbued in quality productions and cogent lyricism--antithetical to the contemporary hip hop--YUNG JOC et al.
Finally, I implore you all to cop this album without hesitation SON, please do as you would get your money's worth. ONE!

4.0 out of 5 stars Unreleased classics, December 8, 2010

By 

Riccardo Ghidoni - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nineties Sessions (Audio CD)

I really have to say thank you to the No Sleep Recordings for putting this compilation together. Godfather Don is one of the most underrated producer in the rap game and everybody should recognize that he represents one of the rawest expressions of the mid-90's New York's sound. The songs are extra-rare dope gems, that were cleaned and now sound perfect (same volume level in every track, no background noise). Every instrumental sounds inspired: the Don's style in sampling fusion, jazz and funk works perfectly in almost every track. Godfather Don is not wack on the mic even, but his lyrics have no particular content and that is the only flaw of these songs.

5.0 out of 5 stars Since the 12" piece of the action, January 24, 2008

By 

Fellini's Hippocampus (Roma Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nineties Sessions (Audio CD)

I've been a fan since like 1997 when GodFather Don released "piece of the action" and "properties of steel" 12"s. ill stuff.This cd brought me back to that feel. its rare and unreleased material from sessions in the 90's. Definitely a dope cd if you like ill rhymes over dope beats. Put Yourself in early 90's boom bap heaven. cop it for sure