From the mid 90s through the early 2000s, the epicenter of Philly Hip-Hop culture could be found every Monday night at a small second floor nightclub directly off South Street. That club was Fluid, that night was The Remedy, hosted by Cosmo Baker & Rich Medina. This was more than just a weekly party though – this was the embodiment of a thriving community, where the Citizens of Illadelph would find common bonds and seek release and solace through the rhythmic pulse of beats and rhymes. We created our own space there, a world where we were the masters of our own dominion. And that world was shared equally for all. Threaded through the evolution of the music at the time, through the rise of independent movement, concurrent with the very beginning of the Neo-Soul scene, The Remedy became THE DESTINATION for music and culture lovers alike.
It would not be unlikely to have a packed house of locals and loyal partygoers mingling with luminaries from out of town, everyone from Andre 300 to Lauryn Hill to (NSYNC era) Justin Timberlake shaking it while world famous DJs – everyone from Kid Koala to Madlib, Questlove to DJ Craze, Bobbito to Goldie – would play the most underground and obscure tunes to a hungry and receptive crowd. And it was also not unlikely to have some immense talent jump up into the DJ booth and grab the mic, whether it was local talent from the Philly Neo Soul movement, or Slum Village, or Pharoahe Monch, or Bahamadia, or Kurupt.
On this particular night in 1998, it was DJ Jazzy Jeff on the ones and twos, and we brought up Philly’s own Black Thought to bless the mic, followed by Common who ripped it to pieces. The freestyle session continued with Dice Raw, Scratch, Maylay Sparks and Rehani… everyone in the pocket. Also you can hear Black Thought kick a bunch of the rhymes he’d later on go and use on the masterpiece album by The Roots “Things Fall Apart”.
And yes – we recorded it. PHOTO CREDIT: MPOZI TOLBERT #RIPMpozi
Sup friends – I’m back at it again with another episode of Cosmo Baker Presents with a whole lot of new heat this month. It’s the First Friday of the month and so you know that every First Friday you’re gonna get a brand new mix from this series. Makes sure you subscribe so that you get the notification and you’ll be able to get this mix first.
This month I’m dropping brand new heat from Stro Elliot, TEEKO, Alice Smith, Sault, Waajeed, Treasure Fingers, Róisín Murphy, Tyler, The Creator, Tall Black Guy, DJ Pump and much much more. Plus this episode we’re going to be taking a deeper look at the incredible and mysterious Jai Paul and his brother A.K. Paul, and their London based Paul Institute – an incubator with some amazing talent and putting out some of the best tunes of the times right now.
Tune In, check it out, subscribe and enjoy!
Cosmo Baker Presents – Episode 3.
Cosmo Baker “Introduction” Stro Elliot “The Egyptian Way” Jai Paul “100,00 (unfinished)” DJ Pump “TRILL PAPI” Big Boi “Higher Res feat. Jai Paul & Little Dragon” Nao “Trophy feat. A.K. Paul” Fabiana Palladino “Shimmer” aywy “Roses feat. Lonny X” Shygirl “UCKERS” Joshua Bation “Symphony” Maleke O’Ney & DJ Applejac “Richard Penniman” Gregor Salto Feat. Helena Mendes “Mas Que Nada (Paquito Moniz Edit)” DJ Vas “Express Madureira” Reel People “Can We Pretend feat. Tony Momrelle (Tall Black Guy Samba Remix)” TEEKO & B.LEWIS “BE GOOD” Kutcorners “Oohwee feat. Reggie B” YBN Cordae “RNP feat. Anderson Paak (Skratch Bastid & Nick Bike Remix)” Emiliana Torrini “Jungle Drum (Jai Paul Remix)” Saronde “Kilamu feat. Blinky Bill & Idd Aziz (Boys Ride Bikes Remix)” Ruthven “Hypothalamus” Róisín Murphy “Incapable” Tyler, The Creator “EARFQUAKE (Channel Tres Remix)” The Pendletons “Keep It Workin (Jacques Renault Remix)” Treasure Fingers “Mint Baby” Waajeed “Lotta Bounce” Mura Masa “Who Is It Gonna B feat. A.K. Paul” HIRA “Eve” A.K. Paul “Landcruisin’” Sault “Living In America” Alice Smith “Six” Orelha Negra “Throwback” Kase Avila “Alba August” Cosmo Baker “Interlude / Focus On The Paul Institute” Jai Paul “Do You Love Her Now” Cosmo Baker “Outro”
Thursday November 21 – MF DOOM Book Release – Philly, PA 
