Tuesday, September 22, 2009

VINYL RIP #9: Trife & D-Mob - <i>Gun Town's Finest</i> (1996)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TRIFE & D-MOB – GUN TOWN’S FINEST

Even in the era of teh internetz, relatively little is known of brotherly duo Trife & D-Mob, straight outta the Bronx and hanging with High Wire Records for a hot minute between 1995 and 1998.  Trife was first on the scene, dropping his debut EP “So What?” in 1995, whereas D-Mob was introduced on the duo’s debut – and only – album Gun Town’s Finest, released on vinyl in 1996 and CD in 1997.  Following the release of Gun Town’s Finest, D-Mob too went on to record an EP of his own – 1998’s “Hot Dayz”, yet that was pretty much the last of either brother’s hip-hop career.

Gun Town’s Finest is one of hip-hop’s great gems.  It’s woefully under-known, yet those lucky enough to have heard it generally laud it with universal critical acclaim.  It is a fine slice of mid-90’s New York hip-hop, and the duo in fact reminds me of a better, wittier (and older) Mobb Deep, riding over much more experimental production, courtesy of Tony Sturdivant (another relative unknown).  Whilst the lyrics are hard as hell, Trife & D-Mob ain’t afraid to crack a smile every so often, which is what sets them apart from some of their better-known contemporaries.

Criminally short, Gun Town’s Finest is a mere 9-track affair, plus one instrumental.  It’s not often that I fiend for more tracks on any given album, but every time I listen to this joint, I feel desperate for just one or two more tracks.

You know the drill by now – Gun Town’s Finest is out-of-print, so check it:

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TRIFE & D-MOB – GUN TOWN’S FINEST

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