Prince Paul: Confessions of a Beat Junkie

Confessions of a Beat Junkie: I found this rare Prince Paul mixtape over at Nerdtorious.com Text below taken from that site:

We’re huge fans of Prince Paul. So naturally, we were geeked to get our hands on Confessions Of A Beat Junkie, a promo tape Tommy Boy put out in ‘97. The 35-minute blend of b-sides, unreleased stuff, famous works, and many skits don’t disappoint—especially if you’re familiar with Paul’s work. Not much info exists, so I wrote Paul and asked him to introduce the tape for us. Here’s his response:

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the tape. I made this for Tommy Boy as a promo item in the late ’90s to reintroduce myself to the public. It was to launch off the reissue of Psychoanalysis and a new project, A Prince Among Thieves. I just wanted to make something different from the old traditional mixtape that was out at the time. I had my friends and mom do little intro pieces to the songs.

I wanted to make it appear like I was this elusive, eclectic guy, and they were describing my work to those who weren’t familiar with me. The photo [on the back] is a picture of my son when he was about 3 or 4. He was always facinated with the turntables now he’s a DJ himself at 17. I put a lot of work into that tape, I’m glad that it’s still being enjoyed. Thanks again.

The DIX: The Art of Picking Up Women [RE-UP]

Another unusual project from one of my favorite producers, Prince Paul. The Dix is a fictional R&B group from a fictional place called Compton, New York. Its real members are producer Prince Paul, Mr. Len, Mr. Dead and Don Newkirk. Their album, The Art of Picking Up Women, is influenced by both classic funk and soul music as well as contemporary styles such as hip hop and raggamuffin. The album's CD is packaged with a bonus DVD which features a mockumentary about the group. I'm guessing that Paul's inspiration for this was bands like Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts (who I discovered in my father's record collection). More on them on Wikipedia.
1. Intro To Women
2. Here Comes The Dix
3. Tears In My Eyes (Dirty Girl)
4. I Luv U Girl
5. When I Come Home To You
6. From The Top
7. Outro To Women
Here's the trailer to the DVD:

The De La Soul Collection, Vol. 1 [RE-UP]

The De La Soul Collection: samples used by De La Soul & Prince Paul.
1. War - 'Magic Mountain' (Used For Potholes In My Lawn)
2. Melvin Bliss - 'Synthetic Substitution' (Drums used for Potholes In My Lawn)
3. The Invitations - 'Written On The Wall' (Used For Plug Tunin (Original 12" Version))
4. Multiplication Rock - '3 Is The Magic #' (Used For The Magic Number)
5. Cymande - 'Bra' (Used For Change In Speak)
6. D. Johnson - 'Transmissions' (Used For Transmitting Live From Mars)
7. Steely Dan - 'Peg' (Used For Eye Know)
8. Lee Dorsey - 'Get Out My Life Woman' (Drums used for Eye Know)
9. Headhunters - 'God Make Me Funky' (Drums used for Take It Off)
10. Sly Stone - 'Crossword Puzzle' (Used For Say No Go)
11. Hall & Oates - 'Say No Go' (Used For Say No Go)
12. Detroit Emeralds - 'Baby Let Me Take You' (Used For Say No Go)
13. Taana Gardner - 'Heartbeat' (Used For Buddy (Remix))
14. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - 'Hihache' (Drum Skit)
15. Funkadelic - 'Knee Deep' (Used For Me Myself and I)
16. Bo Diddley - 'Hit Or Miss' (Used For Buddy Original Version)
17. The Whatnauts - 'Help Is On The Way' (Used For Ring, Ring, Ring (Ha Ha Hey))
18. Instant Funk - 'I Got My Mind Made Up' (Used For A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays)
19. Tower Of Power - 'Ebony Jam' (Used For A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays)
20. The Mighty Ryders - 'Evil Vibrations' (Used For A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays)
21. Frankie Valli - 'Grease' (Used For A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays)
22. Young Holt Unlimited - 'Light My Fire' (Used For A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays)
23. Funkadelic - 'I'll Stay' (Used For Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa)
24. Bob James - 'Sign Of The Times' (Used For Keepin' The Faith)
25. Slave - 'Just A Touch Of Love' (Used For Keepin' The Faith)
26. Ahmad Jamal - 'Swahililand' (Used For Stakes Is High)
27. Wonder Man - 'Hey Love' (Used For Talking' Bout Hey Love')
28. Grand Funk - 'Nothing Is The Same' (Used For En Focus)
29. Wade Marcus - 'Spinning Wheel (Drum Skit)
30. Al Hirt - 'Harlem Hendo' (Used For Ego Trippin')
31. Jeff Beck - 'Come Dancing' (Drums used for 'Pauls Revenge' & 'Area')
32. Milt Jackson - 'Enchanged Lady' (Used For Dinninit)
33. Skull Snaps - 'It's A New Day' (Drum Skit)
34. Taana Gardner - 'No Frills' (Used For Bitties In The BK Lounge)
35. Lalo Schifrin - 'The Human Fly' (Used For Oooh)

MC Paul Barman: It's Very Stimulating

It's Very Stimulating: Paul Barman's first EP isn't nearly as developed as his full-length follow up, "Paullelujah!", but it's still pretty awesome. This one won't be to all tastes, but if you enjoy word play and take some time to follow the rhymes (not just for their content but their construction) you'll love it. Production by Prince Paul.
1. An Introduction
2. The Joy of Your World
3. School Anthem (featuring Mr. Len)
4. Salvation Barmy (featuring Black Italiano)
5. I'm Fricking Awesome (featuring DJ Avee)
6. MTV Get Off the Air, Part 2 (featuring Princess Superstar)

Resident Alien: It Takes a Nation of Suckas to Let Us In

Continuing with obscure Prince Paul productions, this is the never released Resident Alien album It Takes a Nation of Suckas to Let Us In (the picture above is from the single, Mr. Boops). Not a great album, but it has its moments. In searching for the album cover I stumbled upon B-Side Wins Again (excellent blog for 12's) which has the most detailed history of the album I've been able to find:

"The Dew Doo Man was only 20 when Russel Simmons gave him the opportunity to run his own label under the Rush associated Labels umbrella.

Having produced the first De La Soul album, and a couple of hit singles for Third Bass, Nikki D, Queen Latifah, Big Daddy Kane and Groove B Chill Prince Paul was happy being just a producer. It was a better status than just being a DJ in Stetsasonic, that's why he turned down the offer at first. But After Lyor Cohen insisted he gave the idea a second thought and finally agreed to do it.

He took the $50 000 advance, called three friends who really didn't rhyme, and proceed to record his first concept album, called "It Takes A Nation Of Suckas To Let Us In". From day one there was a big gap between what Russel had in mind and what Paul was doing. He had to fight with him to let him called the label Dew Doo Man records. Russel wanted him to make pop hits, and he was making a concept album.

When this 12" came out in november 1991, The Choice Is Yours and Scenario where still on rotation everywhere, so you would think it would have been quite easy to push this record, but Def Jam's staff was busy pushing more traditional stuff like Nice & Smooth or LL Cool J. So Paul decide to come together with Downtown Science and Nikki D to go and talk to Lyor, but none of them show up at the meeting but Paul. The tall Israeli decided he didn't want to be bothered by a&r who cared about music and pull the plug on the Resident Alien project and Dew Doo Man records was no more after only one 12".

Prince Paul: Return of the Doo-Dew Man

Prince Paul mixtape of tracks from his solo albums. Probably released about the time of the first Handsome Boy Modeling School album.

Justin Warfield: My Field Trip to Planet 9

Prince Paul production. Highlights are "Fisherman's Grotto" and "Cool Like the Blues"

1. Tequila Flats
2. 'Introducition' By Ellis Dee
3. Dip Dip Divin'
4. K Sera Sera
5. Fisherman's Grotto
6. Live From The Opium Den
7. Glass Tangerine
8. Guavafish Centipede (Aquatic Meditations)
9. Teenage Caligula
10. Cool Like The Blues
11. Drugstore Cowboy
12. Pit It Up Y'all
13. B Boys On Acid
14. Stormclouds Left Of Heaven
15. Thoughts In The Buttermilk
16. Tequila Flats (Ghosts Of Laurel Canyon)