I’m always blindsided but lengthy milestones. That’s part of getting older, though. I remember like it was yesterday, being a young cat at summer Caribbean street festivals copping mixtapes (like actual tapes) from local and out of town vendors. One day I came across a cassette from a name I’d heard before, Tony Touch. The tape in question was the first instalment of the illustrious Power Cypher series, better known as the 50 MC’s. I spent that evening blown out, wearing down my rewind button, trying to memorize quotes. Apparently, that was 20 years ago – ouch!
The tapes featured three volumes, and a who’s who of golden era New York City artists, most in their 90’s prime, dropping freestyles – at various levels of off the top-ness. The sheer coordination of all 150 original freestyles, is a work of art. With the added touch (no pun intended) of actual turntablism, these tapes stand as a time capsule that represents a particular segment of not just my life, but that of many heads that grew up within the bubble of 90’s hip-hop. It’s a humbling listen. Next to 5 Fingaz Of Death, it stands collectively as my fave mixtape of all-time.
Now, a seemingly distant twenty years later, Tony is planning to celebrate the milestone with live dates and parties throughout the summer. In the meantime, we’ve compiled all three instalments here for you to jam – complete with the tracklisting. Random thought if there were to be a 2016 instalment of 50 MCs, who do you think could make the cut? Hit us on Twitter and let us know.
Part 1
Tony Touch Intro
Hurricane G Freestyle
Imam Thug Freestyle
Tragedy Khadafi Freestyle
Noreaga Freestyle
Canibus Freestyle
Mr. Cheeks Freestyle
Big Daddy Kane Freestyle
O.C. Freestyle
Fat Joe Freestyle
Lord Finesse Freestyle
Big L Freestyle
AG Freestyle
Diamond D Freestyle
DJ Ax-Mil Freestyle
Prince Power Freestyle
Tame One Freestyle
El Da Sensei Freestyle
Killah Priest Freestyle
Masta Killa Freestyle
Timbo King Freestyle
Prospect Freestyle
Big Punisher Freestyle
Mad Lion Freestyle
Yankee Freestyle
Rey Pirin Freestyle
Doo Wop Freestyle
Don Black Freestyle
Uneek Freestyle
Angie Martinez Freestyle
Ed Lover Freestyle
PMD Freestyle
Blast Freestyle
Poogie Freestyle
L Da Pro Freestyle
Nocturnal Freestyle
S.R. Freestyle
Shortie No Mass Freestyle
Shyheim Freestyle
Ski Freestyle
Sadat X Freestyle
Pete Rock Freestyle
Redman Freestyle
Keith Murray Freestyle
Kenny Rugged Freestyle
Tony Ruffin Freestyle
D.V. Alias Khrist Freestyle
Trigger Tha Gambler Freestyle
Dread Shaka Freestyle
Afu-Ra Freestyle
Cuban Link Freestyle
Triple Seis Freestyle
Black Thought Freestyle
Rahzel Freestyle
Bahamadia Freestyle
Charlie Brown Freestyle
Tee Black Freestyle
Chocolate Tye Freestyle
Billy Flames Freestyle
Krumb Snatcha Freestyle
EZD Freestyle
Taino Freestyle
Nitty Gritty Freestyle
Yogi Freestyle
Chaddio Freestyle
Budda Junkie Freestyle
Buckshot Freestyle
Part 2
Tony Touch Freestyle
Heather B Freestyle
Rampage Freestyle
Lord Have Mercy Freestyle
Spliff Star Freestyle
Busta Rhymes Freestyle
Smooth B Freestyle
K.R.S. One Freestyle
Nine Freestyle
Roc Freestyle
Starang Freestyle
Lil Roc Freestyle
Tek Freestyle
Top Dog Freestyle
Ruc Freestyle
Supreme Freestyle
Louieville Sluggah Freestyle
Illanoiz Freestyle
Steele Freestyle
Son Doobie Freestyle
Drayz Freestyle
Skoob Freestyle
Freddie Foxxx Freestyle
Inspecta Deck Freestyle
Killa Sin Freestyle
C5 Freestyle
Maestro Manny Freestyle
Hakim Freestyle
Tuffy Freestyle
Coins Freestyle
Dreddy Kruger Freestyle
Prodigal Sun Freestyle
Hell Raiza Freestyle
60 Second Assassin Freestyle
Smoothe Tha Hustla Freestyle
Guru Freestyle
Cappacino Freestyle
Rhyme Wrecca Freestyle
Ray Roll Freestyle
Son-C Freestyle
Clay Raider Freestyle
Fredro Freestyle
Sticky Fingaz Freestyle
Dye Hard Freestyle
Brother J Freestyle
True Master Freestyle
MC Search Freestyle
Kid Creole Freestyle
Blitz Freestyle
Dinco D Freestyle
Big Jaz Freestyle
J-Ro Freestyle
Grandmaster Caz Freestyle
Jeru The Damaja Freestyle
J-Megga Freestyle
Greg Valentine Freestyle
Lil Dap Freestyle
Black Starr Freestyle
Part 3
Tony Touch Intro
Tony Touch Freestyle
Rah Digga Freestyle
AZ, Halfamill Freestyle
Billy Danze,Little Fame, Teflon Freestyle
Pain In The Ass Interlude
Eminem Freestyle
Mos Def, Talib Kweli Freestyle
Milk D, MC Lyte Freestyle
Cormega Freestyle
Prodigy Freestyle
Chezina Freestyle
Sauce Money Freestyle
Large Professor Freestyle
Icon-N-Destruct Freestyle
Special Ed, Sheilds, 40 Freestyle
Run (Rev. Run) Freestyle
Richie Rich Freestyle
Kid Capri Interlude
Q-Tip Freestyle
Superb, Raekwon, Banky, Thad Freestyle
Lord Jamal Freestyle
Grand Puba Freestyle
B-Real Freestyle
B-Ricks Freestyle
Raze Freestyle
Xzibit, Tash Freestyle
Wyclef Freestyle
Jayo Felony Freestyle
Ed O.G. Freestyle
Dead Prez Freestyle
Black Rob, Phenom, G Dep Freestyle
Pirate, Born, Fever Freestyle
Fierce Freestyle
Madd Rapper Freestyle
LA The Darkman Freestyle
Thirstin Howl III Freestyle
Les Freestyle
Juju Freestyle
Craig Mack Freestyle
Positive K Freestyle
Pos D Nus Freestyle
Common Freestyle
Willie Stubz Freestyle
Kurupt, Baby Girl Freestyle
Sore Losers Freestyle
Safir, Ras Kass Freestyle
Royce 5’9 Freestyle
Council Freestyle
Defari Freestyle
Mr. Reck, Blahzay Blahzay Freestyle
Tony Touch Outro
