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“I Miss the Hip Hop Shop” was released June 15, 2004, on Iron Fist Records and credited to Proof aka Derty Harry. The title refers to the Detroit store where he hosted open mic battles in the 1990s.
The story
The Hip Hop Shop, opened by designer Maurice Malone on West Seven Mile Road, ran Saturday afternoon open mic contests managed and hosted by Proof. Those battles drew Detroit rappers including Eminem and later inspired the battle scenes in “8 Mile”. The mixtape also took aim at Ja Rule, who had dissed Proof on his own freestyles, most directly on “Ja in a Bra’”.
Sound and production
The 19-track, roughly 58-minute set draws on producers including J Dilla, DJ Premier, Mr. Porter, DJ Houseshoes, Amp Fiddler, Karriem Riggins, Witt & Pep and Essman. Guests include Journalist & MU, T-Flame, Fatt Father, 1st Born, Famous, Killa Khann and Dogmatic. The printed tracklist reversed tracks 8 and 9.
Legacy
RapReviews gave the mixtape 7 out of 10. It remains a document of Proof’s roots in Detroit’s underground, arriving a year before “Searching for Jerry Garcia” brought him onto the Billboard 200.
Tracklist & credits
- 1Intro1:05
- 2E And 1 Equel NoneProd. Kareem Riggins2:53
- 3YzarkProd. Essman3:52
- 4Derty HarryProd. Cyzer Soset3:38
- 5People Hi For ChangeProd. Amp Fiddler, Greg C. Brown2:04
- 6Neil ArmstrongProd. Cyzer Soset4:22
- 7BrokenProd. Houseshoes4:24
- 8Runnin' Yo! MouthProd. Stacey3:30
- 9Shake Dat DonkeyProd. Cyzer Soset3:57
- 10Skit Dolo Speaks 2 "How A True Freak Suppose To Get Fucked And Bust Up"1:16
- 11Know Ya! NameProd. Davina2:45
- 12Play With MysefProd. DJ Premier2:37
- 13You Know How 2Prod. D9 Porter3:28
- 14It Ain't About ThaProd. Sicknotes2:43
- 15Cross Tha' LineProd. Reef3:00
- 16Bring It 2 MeProd. Jaydee3:10
- 17Ja In A Bra'Prod. Sicknotes3:39
- 18Nowhere FastProd. Sicknotes3:21
- 19Love LettersProd. DJ DDT-Da Busta2:56
Tracklist and producer credits: Discogs. Gear credits: Breakbeat Archive, sourced on each credit.
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