DJ Essence - Terminal Illness (2002)

Dope freestyle mix album put together by DJ Essence in 2002, released on Sick & Tired Records. This album features mostly Pittsburgh artists, but also some national hip-hop acts including Prevail, Oldominion, and Virtuoso. J. Sands, Strict Flow, and Dos Noun are relatively well known in hip-hop circles, while others such as Black Sun and Ron Noodles have been recognized as some of the illest lyricists locally.

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01 - The Mist of Darkness
02 - Intro
03 - Ron Noodles Freestyle
04 - Ambush & Dos Noun Freestyle
05 - Prevail (of Swollen Members) Freestyle
06 - Bishop (of Oldominion) Freestyle
07 - Black Sun Freestyle
08 - Parts of Speech Freestyle
09 - Ron Noodles Freestyle
10 - Caleesh Freestyle
11 - Soulheir the Manchild Freestyle
12 - J. Sands (of Lone Catalysts) Freestyle
13 - Oldominion Freestyle
14 - Strict Flow Freestyle
15 - Virtuoso Freestyle

Strict Flow - Homegrown (1997)

Strict Flow is a legendary hip-hop crew from Pittsburgh, PA. In fact, releases such as their "People On Lock" b/w "Radio" 12-inch and the Without Further Ado LP have helped to earn them props from hip-hop heads worldwide.

Strict Flow is made up of four artists, two emcees and two producers. The lead emcee is Masai, who is a lyrical heavyweight. He is assisted on the mic by Sied. The production is handled by Chad Glick and E. Dan. For this album, they composed the laid-back, head-nodding boom bap that me and my a-alikes love. The scratches are handled by local favorite, DJ Selecta.

Although the group disassembled around 2004, they have each continued to have successful music careers. Masai is the lead emcee for Formula 412, a Pittsburgh band à la The Roots. Sied now goes by the alias Pittsburgh Slim, and reached the mainstream with his 2007 hit single "Girls Kiss Girls." E. Dan has contributed production to Wiz Khalifa, ChaRon Don, The Govament, and many other local and national artists. Him and Chad run I.D. Labs, one of the most highly regarded studios in Pittsburgh. Chad also created the Rostrum Records label and manages Wiz Khalifa.

Sadly I do not have scans for this, as I only have an mp3 version of the album. It was released on CD, and possibly vinyl and tape. This album is truely an underground classic and a important piece of Pittsburgh hip-hop history.

Strict Flow - Homegrown
Tracklisting:
01. Intro
02. Homegrown

03. The Classic Pittsburgh Story
04. Live & DieWrecked
05. Who U Be (Ebonics Version)
06. 1 Night Stand

07. The 6 Elements
08. Fall of '95
09. Dirt

10. Mark My Words
11. Whatsitallabout

12. It Just Happens
13. Real Heads Relax
14. The Equation

15. Somethin' Like This

16. Once You Get the Props

Strict Flow - Without Further Ado

Strict Flow's debut album, Without Further Ado, released in 2003. Strict Flow consists of MC's Masai Turner and Sied. Masai is now down with Formula 412, whose album I will post soon, and Sied now goes by Pittsburgh Slim. Production is by Chad and E. Dan. The duo now owns ID Labs, which is one of the premier recording studios in Pittsburgh. E. Dan is also one of the illest producers around the way, both him and Chad played a major part in the jump-off of Wiz Khalifa. Back in the late '90s-early 2000s Strict Flow were regarded as the dopest crew in the Burgh, their first single People On Lock/Radio is still one of my favorite 12s I own. The album is relatively easy to find cheap on Amazon, eBay, or Discogs.


1. Ur Not Ready
2. Move!
3. 4-1-Too Much
4. Genuine Article feat. J-Sands
5. Watch Out
6. Deja Vu (This Song About Some Girl) feat. Nikki Jean
7. As Good as It Gets Feat. Invincible
8. Who Else?
9. Russian Roulette
10. PA's Finest, Pt. 1 feat. Chops
11. Don't Stop feat. SMI
12. Outflow
13. Authentic (Bonus Track)