REGGIE NOBLE MEETS STRETCH AND BOBBITO, 1996

So for a brief moment, when we were newly on Hot 97, we were given the opportunity to do special programming. We conceived a show called "The B-Side," in which we would spend an hour in prime time with an important artist and preview their album that was about to drop. It was like a live mixtape. We did three: A Tribe Called Quest Beats Rhymes and Life, Jeru Wrath of the Math, and Redman Muddy Waters. Funny thing is, even though I’ve had files of all three shows, I never listened to them since they aired, so when a listener on Twitter posted a clip of the Funk Doc rhyming on our show, I didn’t recognize it, which was weird to me because it was so dope. So I dug through the files, and discovered it was indeed the B-Side we did with him.

Say what you want about us being on Hot 97, but this is pure, unadulterated radio gold. While previewing Muddy Waters, we ended up having these long winding convos about nothing with Redman, and it was just so unforced and fun. Oddly, I don’t think we would have ever spoken as much as we did if this had been on WKCR or even on our Sunday night at Hot, because on those programs, our goal was ultimately to get cats to drop dope rhymes. I kind of can’t believe how drawn out the talk is on this, but it’s great. At one point, Busta calls up and we put him live on the air while he’s driving around. Bob says, “Clear the phlegm beasts,” which makes Busta laugh because it’s something that Busta said repeatedly when he first came to 89TEC9 in December of 1990. Also, Bob and I are in full-on inside baseball mode, but I think Red is so high, he probably perceives it as completely sensible. So he keeps up with us, and is clearly enjoying himself, as well as the animal, flatulence and sex sound effects (Jesus!). The vibe in the station was most likely quite different from his usual visits to Hot.

The best part, if there is one, is when shit starts to get extra funky in the studio in the second part of the show. We were just talking over the Erick Sermon-produced Keith Murray instrumental “Hot to Def” with the buttery Ohio Players “Pride and Vanity” sample, where Bob casually spits out a rhyme from Redman’s Montbellier Park freestyle, which seems to automatically trigger Redman’s urge to rhyme. He dives into lyrics from “Rock Da Spot,” and ends with “grabbin’ my weiner,” which leads to a discussion of the meaning of “jewels,” as in “family jewels” for those of you not familiar with the nearly two decade hip-hop custom of grabbing your junk on stage or while rhyming. You see why this is so amazing, considering it’s on prime time? More talk ensues, and then Reggie just starts rhyming again without being cued, off the top, and hilariously. I change the beat to a “Mister Magic” loop, and he just switches up his whole style, tone and flow to adapt to the beat. Brilliant.

There’s so much more that I don’t need to describe. Just trust me--this is worth listening to in its entirety and keeping for posterity.

I only have one ask of you--please don’t upload this to Youtube or anywhere else. It’s extra special to us that this isn’t online anywhere. Hopefully it stays like that.