Sad news emerged last week as punk svengali Malcolm McLaren passed away due to mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.

Best known for managing the Sex Pistols he was also quick to recognize the many parallels between punk and hip-hop, despite the stylistic differences of the two genres. And in many respects McLaren introduced the UK to hip-hop via the much sampled Duck Rock album which he produced alongside post-punk guru Trevor Horn in 1982.

DJ Premier displays his typical musical erudition with this tribute mix which you can stream here or download from Premos’ blog.

Filed under: DJ/Turntablism, Dead Rappers, Electronic, Free Downloads, Rap by D.K.
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It’s 13 years to the day since the passing of Biggie Smalls. On the 26th of March it will be 15 years since Eazy E died of AIDS and the 11th of April is the Day Proof (D12) was shot dead. With this in mind, recent Mercury Prize winner Wayne Lotek has put together this dope tribute mix for all the fallen soldiers. And it’s free to download here.

Featuring the recently deceased Apache, MC Breed, Proof, Poetic/Grym Reaper(Gravediggaz), Eazy E, Big Pun, Ol Dirty Bastard, Big L, 2Pac and of course The Notorious B.I.G. Obviously there’s too many dead rappers to feature on one mixtape, but maybe he’ll do a volume 2 if this get’s enough downloads. Who would you put on?

Biggie Smalls R.I.P

Filed under: Dead Rappers, Free Downloads by P.A.
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