Radio Free Allston

Back in the mid-late 90's there was low-wattage pirate radio station set up in Allston/Boston called "Radio Free Allston." Good people who were trying to do something pretty cool. We had a show on that station for a year or two called (embarrassingly) "Hip-Hop 617." I distinctly remember that we were paranoid that the cops would somehow find out, so we refused to use the name Main Ingredient Productions on-air. Hilarious. At any rate, I'm sure the 3 people who could actually catch a signal thought the show was pretty good ... we certainly had plenty of hot records to play, even if our DJ skills were a bit suspect.

Main Ingredient Productions (& the skullies)

Before we incorporated in January 1999 as MetroConcepts, we did business under the name Main Ingredient Productions, which I think accurately reflected that at the time we were more of an event company than a marketing company. I swear the best shwag item we ever did were the Main Ingredient skullies you see below. We gave out a ton of these to emcees, and would see them popping up in magazine photo shoots years later.

Here is O'Neal with J-Live in New York

Here is Tim & O'Neal with High & Mighty in Providence

Virtuoso performing at The Western Front

Akrobatik - Remind My Soul (Live) - MP3

I consider Akrbatik's Balance album to be one of the best indie hip-hop albums ever --- solid from beginning to end. We were really proud to be part of that project (even did the cover art). "Remind My Soul" was the standout single from this record (did that cover too) --- sonically and topically just a really powerful song.

Here is a live MP3 version of "Remind My Soul," recorded at the 2004 Superbowl MC Battle.