- Stretch's Live Squad original first album (recorded in 91-92)
Discogs pages of the Promo, of the CD/DVD 2001 edition
Original Promo Cassette (recently leaked)
1. -- Hit Skit Intro --
2. Shit List
3. -- Block Hot Skit --
4. Heartless (Original Mix) ** ***
5. -- Pop Da Wino Skit #1 --
6. Fake Gangster (Origina Mix) ** ***
7. -- Diss Skit --
8. Pump For A Livin **
9. -- Job Skit --
10. Game of Survival
11. -- Money Skit --
12. Movin' Keez Wit Ease
13. -- Snitches Skit -- *
14. Snitches Lay In Ditches (Bitch Ass Niggas) *
15. -- Funeral Skit --
16. Murderah
15. -- Funeral Skit --
16. Murderah
17. -- Pop Da Wino Skit #2 --
18. Big Time feat. 2Pac ****
19. -- Can't Take It Skit --
18. Big Time feat. 2Pac ****
19. -- Can't Take It Skit --
20. Trouble On My Mind
21. -- Stressed Out Skit --
22. Fuck It
23. -- Blowin' Skit --
24. Blow 'Em Out Da Frame **
21. -- Robbery Plot Skit --
22. Da Gatta Way
* not released in 2001 edition.
** uncomplete versions (~1'30) in 2001 Grand Imperial edition.
*** alternate mixes in 2001 Grand Imperial edition.
****
"Big Time" is replaced in the 2001 edition by the later track "Daddy
Big Timerz" that is like a follow up and was probably a song from their
unreleased second album (cf. Diary of a Poor Man). We can hear the beginning of the next skit in some leaked versions of "Big Time".
There could be also an earlier version of the tape (according
to a tracklist given by Banned of Bomb1st forum), that could have an unkown track
"Noy Ya Head" instead of "Heartless", and slightly alternate versions
of "Big Time" and "Fuck It". Banned also affirms that A-side is made of 1991 material and B-side of 1992 material.
Beginnings
Live Squad is the brothers Stretch & Majesty, and DJ K-Low. They are from the Queens.
They released their first two songs in a 1988 EP rare compilation BQ in Full Effect with Aaron Dee, C-Nice and a then unknown Percee P with his group Top Priority. In 1989, less known, it seems that Stretch produced the whole album of the conscious group The W.I.S.E. Guyz, eF uoU eN Kay E.
They released their first two songs in a 1988 EP rare compilation BQ in Full Effect with Aaron Dee, C-Nice and a then unknown Percee P with his group Top Priority. In 1989, less known, it seems that Stretch produced the whole album of the conscious group The W.I.S.E. Guyz, eF uoU eN Kay E.
They met Shock G in 1990, what leads Stretch to be featured in Digital Underground's 2nd album Sound of the P and in 2Pac's 2Pacalypse Now in 1991. At that time, Live Squad started to record their first album signed with Tommy Boy, with the help of their friend Ed Lover. In 92, they released their first single Heartless/Murderah and they shot a short hardcore movie to promote the album.
cover of the single
Stretch also heavily participated to the recording of 2Pac's second album (then called Troublesome 21). But with Ice T's "Cop Killer" controversy and also after the L.A. riots, music labels were afraid of releasing hardcore albums. Interscope asked 2Pac to remake his album to be less violent (that became Strictly 4 My Niggaz). Live Squad released the second single for the album "Pump For A Livin/Game of Survival" in 1993, but Tommy Boy simply cancealed the album... (so hard to imagine a clean version of the album...)
The idea of making a combo movie + soundtrack will be re-used by another artists, starting by 2Pac himself. Like if Stretch had given him the idea for his Thug Life project (cf. Honor Among Thugz). But 2Pac was also struggling to release his album with his justice troubles. Finally, it is Snoop Doggy Dogg and Death Row who first released this type of project in 1994 : Murder Was The Case.
Grand Imperial 2001 edition
In 2001, Majesty with his independant label Grand Imperial decided to realease most part of the album. But, probably still angry against 2Pac/Stretch diss, he didn't include "Big Time" feat. 2Pac. He includes "Movie Commercial" (a promo freestyle from that time) and "How We Roll" as bonus tracks.