I had the pleasure of watching this project develop from a conversation with my brother Rick Williams of Burn Rubber, to a sample, and now a release. Rick did it again — he took the 580 and made magic happen. Lighting does strike twice. The ‘Workforce’ pack will drop in 2 releases – The ‘Blue Collar’ will release Feb 1st with the ‘White Collar’ dropping a month later. Both available on Burn Rubber site.

Congrats Rick & Ro!

Shouts to my guy Michael Dupouy / LaMJC for another great release.

Shouts to Complex for the support.

“Boylston Trading Co sits with Queens rapper Action Bronson to discuss his wardrobe as a youth, fashion likes, dislikes and what happened when he met American style royalty Ralph Lauren.”

The reign of the Harlem Diplomats is without a doubt one of the most influential periods in modern hip-hop. The movement that officially started with family features on Camron’s ‘S.D.E.’ album turned into one of New York City’s most powerful crews. Dipset created a sound that transcended the borders of east coast rap with a style that fueled urban culture for the better half of the 2000s. Killa Cam’s unapologetic uptown crew, Jim Jones, Freaky Zeeky and Juelz Santana, evolved to be leaders in their own rights commanding offshoot rap groups while still reppin’ the eagle and still screaming Harlem.

To celebrate the legacy of the Diplomats, we put together a comprehensive mix spanning years of bandana wearing and flag waving. While there is no possible way to include every significant offering of their vast catalogue, we believe we compiled some of Dipset’s best music in this 100+ minute homage.

Enjoy

DIPSET DIPSET DIPSET DIPSET

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Tracklist

1 – Harlem Radio
2 – Dipset Butcher’s Blade Intro
3 – The Diplomats – I Really Mean It
4 – Juelz Santana – Okay Okay
5 – Jim Jones feat. Camron – Certified Gangsters
6 – Juelz Santana – Clockwork
7 – Camron – Wet Wipes
8 – Jim Jones feat. Max B – G’z Up
9 - ”Know a lot of beats, but I say no names” pt.1
10 – The Diplomats – Dipset Anthem
11 – Camron – Back By Popular Demand
12 – 40 Cal – Paid In Full
13 – Juelz Santana – Broken Language
14 – Vado – Large on the Streets
15 – Camron Juan Epstein interlude

16 – Camron feat. Juelz Santana & Jim Jones – Come Home With Me
17 – The Diplomats – I am Ready
18 – Camron – Killa Cam
19 – Jay Bezel Freestyle
20 – Freaky Zeeky Phone Call
21- Camron feat. Kanye West – Down and Out
22 – Byrd Gang – Purple City Byrd Gang
23 – Camron Press Conference interlude
24 – Camron feat. Jim Jones – Hate me Now
25 – Camron – Get’em Girls
26 – Camron – Show You How to Do This
27 – Juelz Santana – S.A.N.T.A.N.A
28 – The Diplomats – Bout it Bout it
29 – Camron Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito WKCR Freestyle
30 – Camron – Oh Boy
31 – The Diplomats – Crunk Musik
32 – Juelz Santana – Dipset (Santana’s Town)
33 – Camron feat. Jim Jones & Juelz Santana – More Gangsta Music
34 – The Diplomats – Salute
35 – Juelz Santana – Oh Yes
36 – Camron Feat. Jay Z – Welcome to New York City
37 – “Know a lot of beats, but I say no names” pt.2
38 – Jim Jones – Fly High
39 – JR Writer – Get’em
40 – Hell Rell Freestyle
41 – Juelz Santana – Mic Check
42 – Jim Jones – Baby Girl
43 – You Maaaaad interlude
44 – Camron feat Juelz Santana - Hey Ma
45 – Camron – That’s Me

I directed a piece for Boylston Trading Co called ‘Action on Fashion’ that will premier next week.

Funny stuff.

Check it out HERE

Frankmatic radio is back!!

Frank The Butcher and Paul Mighty are back and brought along a gang of heaters with them. New music from Common, Maffew Ragazino, MOP, Action Bronson, The Roots, Quelle Chris, Gangrene, Kid Daytona and more.

GOOD MUSIC IS FRANKMATIC!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Track list:

Gangrene f. Prodigy – Dump Truck
Black Star – Fix up
Scram Jones – Wild side
LEP Bogus Boys f. Lupe Fiasco – Zombie Land
Action Bronson f. Mayhem Lauren, Maffew Ragazino and AG The Coroner
(Classic Joint) Pharaoh Monch f. MOP – Show No Mercy (Original sample intro)
MOP – No Mercy
Maffew Ragazino – Slangston Hughes
Roc Marciano – Emeralds
Common – Sweet
Push T f. Ab Liva and Odd Future – Ohh
Mobb Deep – Waterboarding
The Kid Daytona f. Action Bronson – Ivory Coast Crime Scene
Termanology f.Easy Money – Compared to you
Fat Joe – My Lord
Vado – NY Ride
Rick Ross – I Love My Bitches
Willie The Kid – Waste Not
Quelle Chris f. Danny Brown & Roc Maricano
The Roots – Make My f. Big K.R.I.T. & Dice Raw

I grew up 50 miles west of metro Boston in a city called Worcester, MA. Just to clarify, Worcester is not a suburb of Boston in the literal proximity sense, or in the “green grass & white picket fence” sense of the word. My hometown was the stereotypical urban experience that would either sharpen your sword and harden your armor – or break you down if it got the best of you.

Elementary school is when I began to take notice to what the older guys in my neighborhood were wearing. They became the bar and were clearly influenced by hip-hop culture, which was the native language of my 4-block radius. Inner city Boston was notoriously known for their loyalty to the trefoil and that radiated up the Mass Pike through friends, family or visits to the nearest “big” city.

The swoosh’s stronghold wasn’t fully developed yet and it was a common occurrence when an older brother or cousin would try to deter you (sometimes with threats and intimidation) away from anything that didn’t bear 3 diagonal stripes secured to its sides. My first memories of A-Dogs (a Boston term for adidas way back) were the obvious Superstar popularity of the early and mid-80s. As much as I appreciated the shell toe it really didn’t move me – I wore them but was one step outside of the age group that really wore them.

Like any northeastern city, there was a hustling and drug dealing culture that fueled the neighborhood’s fashion sense. Dealers were decked in the latest and greatest regardless of the price tag. The one shoe that was introduced to me as a direct result of this illegal fashion show was the adidas Forum, a basketball shoe that was applied to a street life uniform even when worn hanging out at the schoolyard courts.

One day, around 1990-91 (estimated – hard to know at this point) I noticed some hustlers wearing what seemed to be high Forums that were a tonal navy blue with a “crest” embroidery on the ankle and tongue. A small detail that might have went otherwise unnoticed by most people – but to me they epitomized hood luxury at an unheard of hundred some odd dollars at retail. I was instantly infatuated with the shoe, mostly for what this shoe represented – elevated status.

READ REST HERE

adidas Originals Forum “Crest” HI are avialble 12/3 on BoylstonTradingCo.com

RSVP: www.superfunboston.eventbrite.com