Mixtape Assembly

The legendary Suspence MC talks to host Hartley Lloyd Pack about the music that has meant the most to him. It does get emotional !

Very happy to re-release this Mixtape Assembly episode from the archives, presented by the actor Shazad Latif , who will be well known to any Trekkies out there, playing as he does Lieutenant Ash Tyler in the CBS series Star Trek: Discovery.

In his Mixtape Assembly, Shaz reveals the random encounter that led to his first major role in the spy series Spooks, and pays homage to his mum Elaine, who taught him the importance of throwing moves whenever Elvis comes on.

Shaz talks vividly about his love of nature, remembering times spent at my family's cottage in Norfolk, as well as bittersweet walks through Hampstead Heath, accompanied by the ghost of William Wordsworth.

Musically, Shaz's selection is nothing if not eclectic, perhaps in part reflecting his mixed heritage, representing as he does for England, Scotland, and Pakistan.

TRACKLIST:

1. Bruce Springsteen: I'm on Fire
2. Ryuichi Sakamoto: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
3. The Voice Squad: The Banks of the Bann
4. Salif Keita: Madan
5. William Wordsworth: From Lines Composed a Few Miles from Tintern Abbey
6. Ralph Vauhghan Williams: The Lark Ascending
7. Elvis Presley: All Shook Up
8. Peter Gabriel and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Passion
9. Ismael Lo: Tajabone

Listen to Shazad's tunes here >> https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2PfDfbRVL9CtDeN07A48xf?si=awnkD6jTQCGkSxDDSMF9dQ

It's Nasty the villain, he just won a Grammy and besides that he's chilling !

Yes indeed, Nas is the third rapper featured on our GOAT Debate series, and the timing feels good; in recent weeks, Nas' most recent LP, Kings Disease, picked up Best Rap Album at the Grammys, while his debut release, Illmatic, was inducted into the Library of Congress.

Regular listeners will recall that, on the Biggie episode that kicked off the series, there was considerable tension between the hosts, with Hartley leaving Simon flabbergasted when he revealed that the Notorious doesn't make his top 3. It's fair to say that the roles are reversed this episode, with Hartley - backed up by Janai on some Foxy-Brown-the-Firm-baby-business - desperately trying to show Simon why Nas has to get named anytime GOATs are mentioned in the rap game.

Obviously we discuss the legacy of Illmatic, as well as other classic Nas verses, including collaborations with Mobb Deep, Damian Marley and Scarface. Nas' style is considered in comparison to his peers, none more so than his old friend Jay-Z...

Much love to everyone who contributed to the episode with their favourite Escobar lyrics, too many names to mention here, but listen out for your contributions dotted throughout the episode.

It's like Ghostface said on the recent Verzuz show: Nas is the Golden Child born with a beam of light on him...

Check out previous episodes at http://mixtapeassembly.com/

There's no shortness of rawness! This Mixtape Assembly is curated by Mongo, an artist who will be well known to anyone who knows a bit about the history of hip-hop in the UK, being as he was a founding member of the Mud Family, alongside fellow rappers Skinnyman and Chester P.

Mongo honed his rap skills whilst roaming around Finsbury Park as an aggy adolescent, with his raw delivery allowing him to develop a style what was unmistakably his own.

In his Mixtape Assembly, Mongo recalls early memories of the Mud Family, including a mythical battle between the US emcee Common and Highbury’s very own Chester P.

Moving beyond his life in music, Mongo reflects openly on his personal challenges with addiction, and talks in depth about the pain and difficulty of witnessing his older brother - a gifted poet himself - suffer from chronic mental illness.

A North Londoner to the bone, Mongo considers the way the city has changed, particularly in terms of the racism he experienced as a lad with brown skin growing up in Islington. As his instagram followers will know well, Mongo is a skilled photographer, and this Mixtape Assembly proves his observations on the mic are just as vivid.

TRACKLIST:

1. Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb

2. M.O.N.G.O: No Running

3. Orbital: Chimes

4. Roxanne Shante: Have a Nice Day

5. Mud Family: Itchy Town

6. London Posse: Original London Style

7. Oglala Laktoa: Colour

8. Prince: Christopher Tracy’s Parade

9. M.O.N.G.O: Thankful

10. Mike Khan: Daydreams

11. Diamond D: Fuck What U Heard

Some of these tunes are by Mongo / Mud Fam and so we could include them in the episode - for his other choices check out the Spotify playlist here - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/42nD7QGRDTdRWVzHbvKAKz?si=JqhxHju-Rtigw0KVPhTX4Q

To be top 3, or not to be, that is the question...

Lauryn Hill's a GOAT, no word of a joke...but it feels like her name is rarely mentioned in these lists and debates, so we had to take action. Affirmatively.

This time the discussion was a three way thing, with Janai now on board as a co-host alongside Simon and Hartley - a real boost to the team.

As well as critiquing Lauryn's style in general, each host chose a favourite verse to explore: Simon kick's off with Lost Ones, Janai comes through with Doo-Wop, and Hartley hits us with How Many Mics.

We were also lucky enough to get a bunch of artists to share their favourite L Boogie lyrics with us, including Shezar, Gorgon City and Nesah Gonzales. Big ups all round.

It's clear that we're all in love with Lauryn, though feelings towards Wyclef are more complex, and, in a strange twist, Talib Kweli is cast as the story's pantomime villain...

For more shows check out http://mixtapeassembly.com/ and look out for next episode on Nas - hit us up on social media with your fave lyrics from the Queensbridge don...

Artwork by Hush