Monday, October 29, 2018

Unsung Production Heroes: PF Cuttin



What's crackin' folks?!  In the game, we big up our emcees, sometimes our DJs, and often times our more well known producers.  People, you don't need me to tell you that without a producer, you have no song.  A producer is more than a "beatmaker".  He/she is the visionary behind the structure of the song altogether.  The architect if you will.  It's that person's whole telescopic focus that bring the artist with the beat arrangement, mixing, and more.  While heavy mainstream/commercial hip-hop listeners are more familiar with your Kanye's, Dre's, Pharrell's, Mike WILL Made It's and others, more hardcore listeners are more familiar with the likes of Alchemist, Bangladesh, Just Blaze, Daringer, Boi-1nda, and Apollo Brown as the composers of their personal soundtracks.  With this post, we will give big ups to a producer that has been among the most respected producers in hip-hop over the span of two decades.  The resident New Yorker was half of the duo Blahzay Blahzay, who brought you the anthemic "Danger" and the thunderous album that followed, Blah Blah Blah.  From there, he has done work for the likes of the late Sean price, Masta Killa, Thirstin Howl III, and others, not to mention being a known name in the mixtape circuit.  Without any further ado, let's get into some different projects this legend has gotten his hands dirty with.




Blahzay Blahzay
Blah, Blah, Blah

Let's start with this heater of a debut album from DJ/producer PF Cuttin and emcee Outloud.  Known for the classic "Danger" and its hot follow-up "Pain I Feel", this album was tried and true NYC at its finest.  Practically wall to wall banger material, this was among the first times we had experienced the grittiness Cuttin can provide, not to mention his tables ability was pronounced here as well.  From the cautionary "Don't Let This Rap Shit Fool You" to "Medina's In The House", it was a rugged affair, and was among the most slept-on projects during that time period.



Thirstin Howl III
"Dreams Of Fuckin' A Cartoon Bitch", "PF Cuttin Is The Wax Ripper"
Serial Skiller

Cuttin's production and cutting skills were on display with this classic single from Puerto Rock emcee Thirstin Howl III.  Taking an homage of Biggie's "Dreams", he graphically envisions his somewhat warped fantasies of cartoon icons such as Wonder Woman, Velma from Scooby Doo, and Jasmine from Aladdin.  The piano loop mixed with the scratches make this song a head nodder.  Another cut he does from the album is "PF Cuttin The Wax Ripper", in which he just what he indicates on the song, rip the shit outta his wax.  Cuttin indeed.



O.C. & PF Cuttin
O.P.M.

Cuttin recently collaborated with veteran D.I.T.C. alum O.C. for a knocking project entitled O.P.M.  Basically put, Omar Credle puts that work in over some pretty dope production from the established DJ/producer.  O.C. has done some stellar work lately since his days of his phenomenal and influential debut, Word...Life and his incredible follow-up, Jewelz.  Most notably, his collab with Apollo Brown for Trophies.  With this project, this sounds like vintage NYC with this project, and this sounds like this is a union that needs to happen more than once.



Masta Killa
"It' Is What It Is" feat. Raekwon and Ghostface Killah
Made In Brooklyn

On Masta Killa's sophomore album, Made In Brooklyn, PF does his thing on the cut "It Is What It Is" with his Wu brothers, Rae and Ghost.  With PF providing an impactful horn loop over thumping percussion, these three legends rip the mic apart and show why the Wu are among the greatest factions of all-time.  Cuttin's unapologetic, raw NY sound was the mustard (or ketchup) on the hot dog.  Dopeness.



Masta Killa
"Things Just Ain't The Same"
Selling My Soul

Another flames collab between PF and Masta Killa was on MK's third album, Selling My Soul.  With production that sounds somewhat vintage Wu-esque, MK gracefully glides through this standout cut from an overall impressive release from this poetic vet.  Cuttin provided the emcee with a track that truthfully could've been placed among his best work, especially on his simply fantastic debut, No Said Date.




Masta Killa
"The Return Of The Masta Kill" feat. Young Dudas and Cappadonna, "Therapy" feat. Method Man & Redman
Loyalty Is Royalty

That raw, dingy NYC sound returned for MK's next album, Loyalty Is Royalty, where PF blessed the god with two tracks from the album.  The first was "The Return of The Masta Kill", in which Young Dudas and the always lyrically staggering Wu brother Cappadonna handle their biz over an instant head nodder.  For "Therapy", he gets assistance from Wu brother Method Man and honorary brother Redman for one of PF's more gutter productions.  Over pronounced percussion and a piano loop, these three sound like the nineties never left and it feels so great.



Sean Price
"Fei Long", "4 No Reason", "Niggerific", others
Songs In The Key Of Price

God bless the late, great Sean Price.  The Brownsvillain was among the most elite in all of hip-hop, regardless of whether you were commercial or underground.  P had bars for years, and PF Cuttin pulled most of them out of him effortlessly.  PF was the executive producer and produced most or all of his final mixtape Songs In The Key Of Price.  Frequent collaborator with Price, Cuttin provided some of P's best background music for him to rip apart.  Take your pick of heat on this blistering release.



Sean Price & PF Cuttin
Donkey Sean Jr.

In 2003, PF Cuttin and Sean P released the acclaimed mixtape, Donkey Sean Jr., and trust and believe it was FILLED with burners and lyrical blackouts from "The brokest rapper you know".  Many still put this particular effort among the upper echelon of Price projects and PF Cuttin simply showed out behind the boards, as well as behind the wheels.  Complete with freestyles and original cuts, DSJ is one more piece of work he can lay claim to as being among his truly best work with the late great emcee.



Sean Price
"Mad Mann"
Monkey Barz

P's first solo full-length album was the sizzling Monkey Barz.  This was a complete underground smash and officially put P among the top tier of emcees, with cuts like "Boom Bye Yea", "Peep My Words", and "Heartburn".  PF's contribution was the rugged "Mad Man", where P's shit talking is a high precedent, while being exceptionally lyrical at the same time.  Highlighted by the cuts of Cuttin, this cut burns just as hot as anything eklse on the album.



Sean Price
"Jesus Price Intro"
Jesus Price Supastar

It's been said Sean's second solo album, Jesus Price Supastar, is his magnum opus.  The album almost completely done by 9th Wonder and Khrysis, but it also saw him dig even more into our asses lyrically, which was hard to do presumably because of how hard he went on Monkey Barz.  However, the momentum started with the flames intro to the album, which was crafted by PF Cuttin.  The cut set the tone for the craziness this album would provide, while P was proudly proclaiming "This is my album".  



Illa Ghee & PF Cuttin
Illamatic

Former Mobb Deep affiliate Illa Ghee started being a frequent collaborator with Sean Price, and before long was highly associated with him.  PF got up with Ghee to release his mixtape, Illamatic, and Ghee showed all his stripes.  With PF behind the wheels and cutting up tracks as he saw fit, this mixtape isn't one to sleep on, as we experience two very talented figures at their craft go to work.  This one is strictly for those speakers that can handle it.



With PF Cuttin, these and so many other projects show why PF needs to be considered among the true journeymen of hip-hop for all of his contributions.  This East NY native hasn't stopped delivering that sonic crack to his following while obtaining more followers with each project.  Since his days of Blahzay Blahzay, he's been putting it down.  Here's to more efforts from PFC.  For more efforts from him, peep his websites:

http://pfcuttin.com/bio/

https://pfcuttin.bandcamp.com/

No comments:

Post a Comment