Mixtape Elements

The Beginning: Vinyl
His love for music started way before the Fatback Band, Curtis Mayfield, The O’Jays, The Isley Brothers, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, etc was all that was played in his home during the early 70s ( everybody mom’s was cleaning up on Saturday morning before Soul Train came on )..His unique listening to music has helped a lot of mixtape djs with their ideas even today..

Which comes from his collecting of mix tapes since the late 70s until even today. Who do you know have early Doo Wop, Ron G, Kay Slay, Juice, Dexterity, Clue, Iroc, Double R, Kool Mike Ski, Luv Bug Starski, Brucie B, Starchild, Chubby Chubb, Jazzy Joyce, Showtime, Chill Will FTE & others all on tape ???? The live party tapes ( Harlem World, Red Zone, Empire Roller Rink ) was thrown out by accident..lol..But he made up with the radio mixtapes..

The name Tapemasta started from listening to early Doo Wop tapes stating that he was the Bouncemaster of the mix tape game, so he flipped it & started calling himself Tapemasta ( Not Tapemaster, who was a person supposedly taping djs at certain parties back in the days )..This made an impact with his collection of mixtapes..Ask Tapemasters Inc how they got the name ( He still got the DMX mixtape )…

Basically, the collection started by listening to Red Alert, Awesome 2, Hank Love & Half Pint, Chuck Chillout, Marley Marl, Supreme Team, Awesome Two & others on the radio..When one radio station went to commercial, he went to the other radio station & keep recording until the tape stops ( which usually was 90 or 120 minute tapes )..Then early Sunday morning be outside playing all the hot stuff on the Monster Radio on the block…There’s a lot of the radio tapes in the collection also…

Next move: Mix tapes
He used be in Harlem every Friday night waiting for Jamel ( The flava man ) to bring the hot joints to the corner on 125th - Back then his Grandfather used to live on 116th ( Lenox & 7th av ) so he knew when all the stuff that was going to drop the day before because everybody was running around with these hot tapes in Harlem ( everybody was on 145th in front of Willie's Burger playing the hot joints )…

So when he got to Bklyn, it was a wrap !!! Stereo Plaza/Palace ( Steve, Jeff, Wanye & Tyrone ) was the spot to get all the mix tapes. Harlem & South Bronx was the home for this mix tape store back in the late 80's early 90's ( shout out to Rock n Will on the 7th av )..Next stop was the lady called Sandy ( South BX, 149th & 3rd av ) & Keith ( Ness Sportswear )..Sandy changed the mix tape game because dj's didn't want to give her masters..Keith had the Queens dj’s bringing him black Maxell tapes..( only the ol’ heads going to understand that saying )

So now you know that's how he got hooked on this thing called Mix Tapes..So basically, He was in all boro's collecting tapes from dj's like Luv Bug Starski, Hollywood, Kid Capri, Grand Master Vic, Dr. Rock & The Force MCs, DJ Priiest ( Original Spinderella ), Early Dirty Harry tapes ( on 60 minute tapes ), Kay Slay, Chill Will FTE, Clue, Boo Tha Barber, Rello & Jadel , Doggtime, Ike Love, D Lyfe & others..
Believe it, the collection is bigger than ever before..He can boast about having over 3000 mix tapes & that's not even counting the mix cds which came later on. A certain person ( Justo of Mixtape Awards ) wanted to take some of his collection ( the tape covers ) & put it on the big plaques for the current winners of the mix tape awards.
That would have been a good thing for the djs worldwide because then people would have known what they dropped for the entire year or their careers..So came with the idea about reviewing mix cds..but he would only do hot joints & not the corny ones- to him that was a waste of time & energy….Remember the saying about selling you the cover & the cd is free..That’s Tapemasta & King Apex concept…

There's a lot of hot djs ( Mixtape, Club, Mixshow ) in the world today, believe me they're not just in NYC either - so he felt it was his luv for Hip Hop to let people know about this thing called Mix Tapes..
Now practically, everybody is jumping on the bandwagon of the mix tapes/cd phenomenon..Soon the MP3 is going to take over now..thanks to Itunes..

He has been associated with Mixtape Awards ( Honorary Board Member ), Million DJ March, Mixtape Elements ( Mixtape Reviews ), The Foundation Magazine ( Mixtape Reviews ), LXG ( A group of Djs, Graphic Designers, Mix Tape Critics ), Entourage DJ’s ( G Spot & The Fam ), www.Rapmullet.com ( Pushin Tapes ), www.Tapekingz.com ( Mix Tape Reviews ), The Connex List Magazine ( Mixtape Madness ), Scratch Academy, a DJ academy that was founded by late pioneer DJ, Jam Master Jay (of Run DMC notoriety), Nasty Nes & The Rapattacklives ( Reviews with King Apex ), Mixtape Madness ( The first web-site to review mix tapes with King Apex ), The Technition Magazine ( The first magazine to bring mix tape reviews to the Record Labels - Scrap Dirty, send me my check now - lol – Ask Clinton Sparks how he got into the mixtape game ), Grind Mode Entertainment ( Kenyetta, I still luv ya ), Media ( Mix Tape Reviews ) & other Web Sites/Magazines….Google the name & see what pops up next…

PS: He's been in the mixtape game for over twenty years behind the scene-whether reviewing or just collecting tapes, cds or downloads - which he's still doing today. He's now putting together a book on mix tapes & also the catalog for everybody to see the collection worldwide ( yeah, he knows it’s been years – but it’s a lot of stuff )…..
See some samples of the old tapes below...You got to “luv” the dated mixtapes with no covers or playlist though..
For any info requested you can contact Tapemasta at: Tapemasta2@yahoo.com or http://www.myspace.com/tapemasta...


1200 Assassin – Ol School R & B, Summer 1994, RTD
Action PAC – Coolout V6, Reminisce, R & B/Hip Hop Swing V1
Afrika Bambaataa – Zulu Nation @ Printing HS ( Busy Bee, DJ AJ, Jazzy 5 MC’s, Mr Magic & others ) , Live @ Harlem World ( Cold Crush vs Fantastic 5, DST
Al Nitty – Old School R & B
Arson – S O B 6/96, Slow Jams 10/96, MHA, Mo’s Ho’s & 3, Slow Ya Row V3, Hardcore V6, R & B V7
Bam Bam – Hip Hop Reggae V9 5/96
Backtrack – Doggystyle V1
Batts – Old School
Big Bill Adventure – Summer Of 96, 1/97, 6/97
Billy Bill – Blend Kingdom I & II, Back In Ak !!
Biz Markie – Biz’s Theory Of Old School R & B V1, Live At The Q Club 5/94
Brucie B – Ol School R & B, hip hop tape, Final Four ( Brucie B, Kid Capri, S & S & Red Alert ) 5/95, Live, 9/7, Live At The Club With Triple C, 8/6, Live, Ol Skool Hip Hop, Rooftop 1986 feat Sweet T, Biz & Kane, Spring I & II, R & B Flava 10/95, Live At Mo Better 6/96
Buckwild – 2/94, Tape #10, X-Mas
C Rock – R & B Blends Mix 1
Camillo – R & B 96
Capone – Party Time, Blends V3 7/96, BlendsV10
Clue – 8/15, Bad Boy Mixtape, Summer Shoot Out, Hip Hop Reggae V2, Springtyme Stickup V2, Tape 4 5 6, Spring V2 6/96, Springtyme Stick Up V3 5/95, Summer Jam ( MC Drama ), Halloween Hold Up, Birthday, Double Flava, Hip Hop 96, Winter 1 – Somethin From The Radio, Hip Hop Reggae V13 9/94, Back To School, R & B For The Ladies
Chill Will – Old School R & B/Reggae V1 3/96, V7, Masterpiece V2, Masterpiece V3, Masterpiece 8 ½ 6/95, Tape V3
Chubby Chubb – LAD, Going Way Back, School’s In Session 95, Eat That Shit Up
Classic Battle Tape 1983 feat Force MD’s Vs Master Don
Cool Kev – R & B V8, Coolout V1, Everything V6
Craig G – Sneekin’ Up On That Ass V1 & V2, Fu*c Tape V7, Slow Jams V8 ( Do U Remember ), Hot Like Fire R & B Feat Precise & P Nice, R & B For The Ladies V2
Crash Crew Live
Cutmaster C – Fool’s Paradise, Wanted Alive 1,000.00 Reward
D Demo – Reggae Blast V1, 1/6 ( 60 minute tape )
DS-1 – It’s Not A Game
Dave O – R & B 4 Da Head Rollers V2 & V3, S.A.M V2 12/95, Blends V4
Dee Wiz – Funky Fresh Park Jams Hosted by Luv Bug Starski
Doggtime – 40’s, Feel Me Flow, It’s Still Butta Baby, It’s So Hot, 8/17, 21, Everybody Knows 4/96
Doo Wop – NT, Live At Club Mecca, Bad Boy Tape V2, Ol Skool 1/4/91, With S & S Live 3/30/91, Summer 94, Coolout, Summer Jams 96, X-Mas Jams 93, X-Mas, Spring V2, Fall Flava, Summer Jam, Virginia, 95 Live, Summer Jam, Ol Skool 6/14, Coolout 94,
Ol Skool 5/1, Wopduizm2
Dirty Harry – Dirty Luv Hosted by Angie Martinez
Dr Duss & Jazzy G – GR V2, GR V4
Double R – Tape V9, Tape V10, Tape V11, Tape 12, Tape V13, Tape V14, Tape V15, Tape V16, Tape 17, Tape V19, Tape V21
E Bros – Summer V3 5/95, Flava In Your Ear 3/95, 8/94, Ol Skool V3 9/10, Ol Skool V7, Mixes #3, Greatest Mixes 3/95, Ol Skool V2 7/15, 11/20, 10/10, 8/18/93, Ol Skool V1 6/8
E Kim – R & B V2, R & B V4 6/95, H2TC V1 5/96, R & B Madness, Ol Skool II, ST V5
Elpee – The Bomb 11/5, Tape 10
Enuff – Ol School Hip Hop, R N B Classics, Party Groove, Hip Hop Tape
Envy – Trick Or Treat, R & B V18
EV & Stretch Armstrong – Strictly Hip Hop
Extreme – Unbelievable IV 12/95, New Flava Reggae
Famous – NY’s Illest B Beats, R & B 4, Blends
Father Ramzee – FC
Fashion – Mix V4
Feed Back – V25, V1
Funkmaster Flex – Live with Biz ( Live @ Tavern On The Green ) 6/15/94, Live At Planet Rock V1 & V2, Live At The Tunnel with The Dream Team
G Force – Tape V19 Hip Hop Reggae
G Smooth – 10/96, Phat 2 The Max V6 & V7, Tape V1
Grand Master Vic – Old School R & B Blends 7/16/96, Old School R & B Mid 80’s 9/18/95, 4/25/96, 10/05/95, 12/16/96, 9/26/96, 8/8/96, 10/12/96, 8/22/97, 9/84, 6/7/95, 6/97, 10/14/95, 3/13/95
Harlem World 1981 -1982
Hectic – Tape 1
Hec Lover – Old School Flava Tape 8
Hollywood Prod – Polytrickin’, 10.1, 5/97 Blends, Keep It Movin’, 9/94, Tape 3, Coolout 93, SNS, Hip Hop
Iroc – Hip Hop 8/1, Mixes 6, Mixes 2, 560 ( Fat Joe )
J Love – Legends V2 ( Slick Rick )
JOJ – Hip Hop
Jazzy Joyce – Ol School V2, Summer Jams 6/95
Jay Faire – Jiggy Blends V6, Waikiki, Blends 5
Juice – Ol Flava V1, Ol Flava V2, Tape 16, Tape 23, Tape 22, Tape V31, Tape V32
KB Smooth – Tape #2
KDL – Tape V16, Tape V20, Tape 23
Kay Slay – Player Hater Elimators “ Street Sweepers “, Hip Hop Tape With Capone
Kid Capri – Starchild 5/19, Slow Jams 9/11, James Brown, 8/89, Old School V1, V3, 52 Beats, 9/4, Slow Jams 12/21, 5/9, Q Club 3/6, 10/90
Kid Nice – Spanish Mixes V3, Mixes V9 ( Back To School Jam ), SS
Kool Kid – No Static 11/95, Checkmate, Tape V3, Hip Hop, AATB, Straight Monopoly V2, PU Date
Kool Mike Ski – Old School V2, Bump & Grind II, Birthday Flava 1995, Coolout V5 10/95, Heatwave 95
Kool Kirk – Hip Hop V2 11/96, Ol School Flava V2, SM2, 4/94
LA Luv – 10/18/95, R & B V4, King Of NY, Live At The Key V4, 4th Anniversary, Slow Jams V6
Lazy K – Nonsenze V3 ( Take It Personal ), Lazy Style Old School, Nonsense Party Time #3 V24, NYC 2 NJ
Lord Dakim – New Taste V9 (Hip Hop & R N B Blends)
Luv Bug Starski – Rap 9.1, Flava V1, Slow Jams ( Sports Bar ), X-Mas Flava, Ski Trip Tape 1 ( Live ), Ol Skool R & B V2 5/95, R & B 11/1, Brucie B & Ron G ( Live ), Ol Gold Classics, Oldies But Goodies V2
Mack D – R & B V2, Summertime V2
Mike Nice – KS, Stick & Move V1, 8/14, Coolout V1
Mistic – Blends Summer 1996
Mister Cee – That Mr Cee Freestyle Shit, That r n b Shit V1, V2, V3, Wendy Williams Birthday ( Luv Bug On The Mic ), Best Of Method Man, R & B Buttas V2, Old School Hip Hop ( 120 minutes of Music )
Mista Rello & Jadel – Timeless V2 feat Doggtime & Dirty Harry
Nyce & Nasty – Put It On
P Nice – 6/96, SMS, AATB, 2/94
RC – Flavor Shit V3Rampage – Tape 9 8/94, Massacre, The Shinning
Rated R – Risin’ To The Top, Disconnected V2
Red Handed – Surprise 4/15
Reminisce – Tape I & II
Rhythm – Birthday, 10/94
Rich E Rich – The Battle
Ron G – Mixes V1, V2, V3, V 4, V5, V6, V7, V8, V10, V 11, V12, V14, BTTS V1 & V2, R & B V3, V5, Beat Kingdom, Old School, Old School V1, It’s On V2, Real Deal, Triple C 5/96, Fantasy, Virgina, Waterbed Forever, Worldwide, Off The Hook, Pententiary
S & S – Niggaz Ain’t Nice, Bad Boy V4
SML – R & B V7, Coolout V4, Live At The Lab 10/95
Scian Smooth – Best Of Brand Nubian
Scipio – Thugs Connect, Talk Show SHH, Secret Love
Showtime – 1/94, Old School V4, Old School Hip Hop & R N B, Summer 1996, R & B 24/7 6/95, OS I Slow Jams Classics, Ol Skool VIII
Silva Sir-Fa – Tape 13
Sound Factory – Old School V3
Smooth D – The Return
Supreme ( Far Rockaway ) – Slow V7, Slow R & B, R & B 13, Pepperseed Reggae, Blends 7/95, R & B 10/94, Hip Hop VI ( rated X ), Blends 10/94, Hip Hop V7 Blends 9/95, Hip Hop 1996 3/96, Slow Jams V4 9/95, Blazed Out, Quiet Zone V8
Super Sam – BTS 9/94, Mixes V4, Mix 5
Super V – Old School Blends ( Hip Hop & R N B ), Straight Up & Down w/ Quicksilva
Tec 1 – House V1, Coolout V1, Mixes V9 ( Summer Blow Up 95 )
TDK – Mortal Kombat V3, Slow Jammin’, It’s The New Flava For The Fall 94, Power Play V2 ( R Kelly ), Partytime, Rated X
Tariq – Hip Hop
Technican – Slow School V1, 10/25, Turn It Up
Triple C – Old School R & B
Ty Boogie – Street Mixes
Unknown & Rugged Rob - Party