REWIND THAT: Big Daddy Kane - "Show N Prove"

Let me start by saying Decoded was a fantastic read. You're doing yourself a grave disservice if you haven't read it by now, Jay-Z fan or not.  Aside from being insightful and, for me, inspirational and empowering, the book also turned me on to some old rarities like the video (up top) for Big Daddy Kane's early 90s record "Show N Prove".  It features raw, low-budget footage of some heavy-weight Brooklynites catching wreck in the park; definitely one of the more organic captures in Hip Hop music videos.  Anyway, as the story goes, Shyheim, the then 16 year old rapper featured on the song and in the video, was originally intended for Jay's classic Reasonable Doubt record, "Coming Of Age."  Check the excerpt and a recent interview with a now much older Shyheim after the jump.

MUSIC MONDAY JAM: Quadron - "Pressure" [LIVE]

In a world of racial and cultural divide, one thing is for sure: Soul music knows no boundaries.  The genre that was once of the African American experience has been adopted by countless artists from around the world bold enough to claim it as their own.  In fact, I'm convinced that Europeans have been churning out some of the finest soul music as of late, so it may not be so off-putting to come across a Danish duo like Quadron with so much soul and conviction.  Case in point: in the clip above, Quadron vocalist Coco performs a heavenly rendition of the Motown-infused "Pressure" while accompanied by Rebekah Raff on harp.  Somehow, Quadron's self-titled debut was missed by critics and snubbed from countless year-end lists.  To those who fell behind with the masses last year, here's your late pass.