West Hempstead H.S. Beats (1990s)
Beats By Bogie (Pre 88-Keys Era)
Back when I was teenage I had my (then makeshift) “studio” set up in the basement of my parents’ house. I called it Port Authority Studios only because I liked the way that looked & sounded. I started buying equipment such as a Fostex 4-track cassette recorder, a 16-channel Mackie mixing board, Technic turntable, etc. after I was GIVEN the Akai MPC 3000, which I’ve named “Raw Dawg” (I borrowed that sir name from the living legend Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest), by dear ol’ friend Prince Be of P.M. Dawn.
Since day one, I got on my beat game heavy. Not saying I was making “club bangers” straight out the gate (far from it actually) but remember that Kanye line from “Spaceships” I’ve quoted in my previous blog post: “5 beats a day…”? Well that, my friends, was indeed me. I used to average about 5 beats a day back then.
To my recollection, I’d say the ratio was broken down pretty much like this: 5 beats per day = 1 solid beat, 2 decent beats & 2 weak-*ss beats.
Now I didn’t have a ton of placements back in the day, actually none at all during the early to mid ’90s, but my beats back then took me a long way & was the start of my (un)professional career. It eventually landed me in the studio with The Artifacts, Shawn J-Period, Hard 2 Obtain, KMD, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, meeting D’Angelo, Mos Def, Da Beatminerz, Erykah Badu amongst countless of others both known & not so known (like myself *sigh*).
These Helped Make Me Money
Well, it just hit me the other day, when I glanced over at a pile of 3.5″ floppy diskettes (so girly) that I have all of these beats just lying around literally collecting dust. So I figured, “Hey, I might as well put these out for sh*ts n’ giggles.” I’m hoping people wouldn’t be foolish enough to think these are the kinds of beats I currently make or would think that I consider these beats dope by any means. It’s just me opening my time capsule here in your presence.
Most, if not all, of these beats I haven’t heard since I was a teenager. A lot of DISKS wouldn’t even load up… Even after I tried the “Nintendo fix”. I’ll have to say that some of the samples I chose were pretty fresh though; I still have all of the records I’ve owned since I started collecting around 14 years of age so I plan on revisiting some of these records (if I could locate the actual songs) & re-approach with my current ears.
So friends, enjoy a good laugh & hear what I’ve been holding onto these past 15+ years. I will try & add to these every 2 weeks or so. Keep checking back in with me or, to make life that much easier for you (you lazy bums you), just click here on: Follow 88-Keys On SoundCloud.
Peace!
Shouts:
- Prince Be for moving way faster than your attorney was & literally changing my life with your gracious gift: “Raw Dawg” (The second half of that entire sentence deserves a *pause*).
- Krista, thanks for taking these flicks & yes… I will now clean our master bathroom as per our agreement. (How do I get myself INTO these messes?!?!??) *slaps forehead*
- Philip & Regina Njapa. Thanks mom & dad for putting up the “boom-boom-boom” for as many years as you had. I love you both. Also, I will be stopping by soon with Kris’ & the girls. I’ll use picking up some more of my ‘diskettes’ as an excuse to come by. (As if I need an excuse to visit my folks.)
- Nat Sabio my old best friend who used to come thru almost everyday while I made beats. We would just bullsh*t around but you kind of became my driving force/”A&R” rep’. Miss you dude. Stop ice froggin’ (as Consequence would have said) & come thru to vibe out on some new sh*t with me!!! Just like old times dude. Hey, we could even talk about cats around the way or go on ‘missions’ with Dez & ‘Touch if you want… The Four Horsemen.
- West Hempstead, Long Island, NY… I love you. Always! Exit 18 STAND UP!
thatz whatz up pimpin
Gooood drums damn it you were really good early man. I wish I was doin this in HS but its cool… my time, she will come (…pun partially intended).
Wow…. The DREADLOCK BOGIE days! I miss those days!
Oh this was way before the ‘locks Angie, though I miss both of those time periods in my life sometimes.
I’ve been rocking with 88′ for a minute. Praises due for Death of Adam. You killed the hangover tour when I was at the baltimore show. Check my stuff out please! Peace.
Thanks Chism. I try to entertain with a message… & a dope beat! Thanks for noticing.
88-Keys
“Currently working on my first beat tape in 3 years.”
http://polo67life.com/eat-good
I remember the way you walk being an absolute expression of the music that exudes through your being just to be topped of with that fabulous smile of yours, baby brother. You will always be my Boggie.
Awww thanks Kandice. I don’t know how I missed your comment when you initially posted it. Sorry for the late reply.