Album Details

Stones Throw 101

RELEASE
November 16, 2004
LABEL
Stones Throw
GENRES
Rap, Turntablism, Underground Rap, Alternative Rap

Album Review

Most underground hip-hop fans won't need a primer on Stones Throw, easily the best independent rap label of the late '90s and 2000s, and the home of Peanut Butter Wolf, Wildchild, and a host of Madlib projects (Madvillain, Quasimoto, Lootpack, Yesterday's New Quintet). Nevertheless, for its 101st release the label organized a two-disc package including a DVD with all of the label's videos and a CD with a Peanut Butter Wolf mix album of Stones Throw classics and unreleased tracks. Actually, the set works better as a fan-only release (of which the label has many) than an introduction, including more obscurities than truly excellent nuggets. Everyone exposed to this package, though, will discover exactly what makes the label special: an unerring ability to inflict the most bizarre material on unsuspecting listeners lured in by the label's world-class beat-making. The mix disc from Stones Throw boss PBW shows his affinity for resurrecting forgotten music from many varying generations and styles -- from acid rock (the Stark Reality) to funk (L.A. Carnival) to new wave (Gary Wilson) to golden age rap (Dooley-O). As good as the music is, the DVD portion is capable of luring in more buyers than the CD; anyone who follows the continuing development of innovative music videos should consider owning these. Madvillain's "All Caps," a Marvel comic come to life, is the most stunning, although Quasimoto's "Come On Feet" is fascinating as well (imagine if Tool were ever hired to make a video for Sesame Street), and, for label fans only, "Whenimondamic" has Lootpack ranging around the California desert reprising The X-Files (making a freak like OutKast's Andre 3000 seem like Father MC in comparison).
John Bush, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Rhinestone Cowboy & All Caps [DVD Video]
  2. McNasty Filth [DVD Video]
  3. Slim's Return [DVD Video]
  4. Come On Feet/Good Morning Sunshine [DVD Video]
  5. Whenimondamic [DVD Video]
  6. Wonder Years [DVD Video]
  7. Getcho Soul Togetha [DVD Video]
  8. Money [DVD Video]
  9. Linda Wants to Be Alone [DVD Video]
  10. One in a Day [DVD Video]
  11. Take It Back Home [DVD Video]
  12. Red Light, Green Light [DVD Video]
  13. A.V.E.R.A.G.E. [DVD Video]
  14. On MuchMusic TV [DVD Video]
  15. Live Debut at the Jazz Cafe, London [DVD Video]
  16. Interview, 1999 [DVD Video]
  17. Tracking Down the Lost Funk Band [DVD Video]
  18. The All Caps Blueprint [DVD Video]
  19. Behind the Scenes for Come On Feet [DVD Video]
  20. Headbangers Ball Video [DVD Video]
  21. Live TV Performance, Boston, 1968 [DVD Video]
  22. My World Premiere [Practice]
  23. In Rhymes We Trust/Dinosaur Brain Beat [Instrumental]
  24. Falling
  25. Be With
  26. Accordion
  27. Little Girl
  28. Right Now Real/6 Variations of In the Rain
  29. Chippin
  30. Green Tree
  31. Dreams/Comrades
  32. Champion Sound
  33. A Ghetto Rhyme Story
  34. Raw Shit/#111
  35. Kiana
  36. I Can't Help Myself
  37. Bang Ya Head [Instrumental]
  38. Good Morning Sunshine
  39. Blaze Up [#]
  40. Figaro/Beat #222
  41. Interlude
  42. Play This One
  43. What About You
  44. Bunky's Pick
  45. Six Pack of Time/Runnin' Wild
  46. Sunrise
  47. Listen to This
  48. I'm Here
  49. The Mission/Beat #333
  50. She Makes Think of Endicott
  51. Eye [Koushik Remix]
  52. Fraudulent
  53. Episode 2
  54. Gangsta Groove
  55. Unassisted
  56. Talk About a Girl
  57. Ladies Can I Have Your Attention
  58. B-Boy Theme
  59. Headbanger's Ball
  60. Showbiz
  61. Space Slut
  62. In Your Area
  63. Parallel Worlds