Purpose of the Remembering Tony D Blog

Peace, this blog is a work-in-progress, if the audio streams are down check back in 24 hours as we are working on securing a reliable host. This blog is a labor of love that has been created by Shawn “Lov” Livernoche and fam. The purpose of the blog is to share and preserve the works of my friend and collaborator Tony D, particularly his more “under-the-radar” musical contributions. Also, I would like to pay homage to and celebrate other published collaborations with Tony D and other artists and labels post PRT era (1993 and beyond) including but not limited to Strong Peeps, Scott Lark, DJ Fatha Ramzee, Kaaos (WB's), Rahzii High Powa, Hit Squad, Isis, Pace Won, Outsidaz, Self (Custodian of Records), Don Blaq, Big Ooh, DJ PLEXX, Grand Central Records, Low-Key, and many other Trenton natives.

Tony D was a true Hip-Hop Legend and his entire body of work deserves to be celebrated. I have many radio interviews on cassette, WPRB episodes from the early 90's, videos of our own Hip-Hop adventures, mp3 files of his lesser known 12 inches with a variety of Trenton artists and pictures. Because uploading and converting everything myself is a daunting task it will take me some time. I wish to do all I can to promote and celebrate our friend Tony's legacy with class and with respect. Until then, put on some Tony D music and remember a Rap Triple OG who left us too soon. Please make donations- info at the top of the page. Thanks to Massive for his commitment to building a website Tony D would smile at. Any contributions to this page or comments are appreciated.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Tony D YouTube Playlist

Okay, here it is ladies and gentlemen... A playlist compiled of Tony D productions! If you have links to any Tony D related videos on YouTube then let it be known so this can stay up as to date and relevant as possible to legacy that is Tony D. You can use the player to go through the videos use the direct link HERE.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Tony D interview at Music Selections

Dj MP45: First of all, thanks for letting us have this interview. We should start from the beginning: what was your first exposure to hip-hop? I read that you started as a DJ, so which were the songs you were playing at that time?

Tony D: Grandmaster Flash and the Sugarhill stuff but Run DMC and the Def Jam early 12’s really were my favs.

Dj MP45: How did you switch from DJing to production and which equipment were you using when you started?

Tony D: The Mantronik album cover with Roland 909 made me go buy one. So back then I had that and a 4 track cassette. ..

Dj MP45: Did you do a lot of crate digging in the past and do you still do it these days?

Tony D: Of course, but the record stores have dried up so it’s more of a challenge. I find myself digging in my own stash more than going out and break-hunting I have gathered so many old records that I still have fresh stock to go through…digger for life.

Dj MP45: Which are your top 5 non-hip hop records?

Tony D: I like the funky people James Brown LP’s, Monk Higgins, Andy Bey, Children of all ages: dope LP!

Dj MP45: Who are other producers that inspired your work and why?

Tony D: Marley Marl, he was the first to samples drums... Pete Rock, trademark sound with horns and he pioneered the raw remix... But Paul C was the best on the SP1200 which I still use today, plus he was ahead of time.

Dj MP45: Which songs do you wish you had produced yourself?

Tony D: Give The Drummer Some by Ultramagnetic Mc’s, T.R.O.Y. by Pete Rock and C.L Smooth and DWYCK by Gangstarr

Dj MP45: You produced a lot of politically-charged acts such as Poor Righteous Teachers: were you comfortable with their message or was it just music to you?

Tony D: Sometimes I felt a little odd hearing all the anti-devil stuff but I was pretty much accepted into the hip-hop urban community because I been down since day 1.

Dj MP45: One of my favorite songs you produced is the Blvd Mosse “Move to something funky”: I tried to find more info on this group, but I couldn’t find any: how did you start working with them and do you have any interesting anecdotes about that time?

Tony D: Actually with the explosion of random hip hop, BLVD MOSSE unreleased is in demand as I have other material from them as well as other artists from Trenton that never came out. I met them in North Trenton. They were from that area where I was already scouting acts.

Dj MP45: Let’s move to the present: what do you think about the state of hip hop at the moment and do you think there are producers who can still carry that flag?

Tony D: It goes up and down. Sometimes I think Hip-Hop’s dead then Kanye or Lupe Fiasco comes out with something dope... But overall, Crunk, Bling, and Gangsta Rap have put a dent in the culture of Hip-Hop.

Dj MP45: Many thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, it is very much appreciated , I know readers of our blog will be happy to find out that a fellow Italian gave such a great contribution to hip hop.

Tony D: Thanks paisons... Peace.


Source: Music-Selections.com

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Shawn Lov - Waiting For A Ghost

It was so important that Tony D helped out with this record. As you can see in the tracklist and on the cover, this album was centered around showcasing Trenton talent and the classic Trenton sound. The song "Can't Complain" was originally Tony's song which also featured Kaaos- the album version is a newer Prowla remix. "True Music" (featuring Big Ooh, Isis and Pace Won) was a Tony D production- that's like 20 years since his first record and he was still straight murder on the beats.




Tony D tracks from 'Waiting For a Ghost':


Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Tony D interview on WFMU


Coffee Break For Heroes & Villains with Noah Zark on WFMU
Guests: Tony D, Shawn Lov, & DJ Iron Mike (August 24, 2005)
91.1 FM broadcasting in Jersey City, NJ, and the NYC area
90.1 FM in the Hudson Valley & Lower Catskills, NY,
Western New Jersey, & Eastern Pennsylvania

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

The WB's: Live From Anthrax Capital

We had a lot of fun making this CD-- At the time I think Kaaos and I were barely working-- I was fresh out of college- I couldnt find a teaching job, Kaaos was working part time, so we would spend hours at Tony's place hanging out, writing and recording. Mainly the album is just the expression of three white dudes who have different ways of fitting in making Hip-Hop... the chemistry on the album sort of reveal Kaaos and I to be Tony's fans as well as collaborators. Tony produced and directed most of the songs, performed verses, chorus's and scratches throughout--He made a very small release of the project himself on Cha Ching Records- Since I am unsure if it is still available for purchase I will only upload 2 songs for preview.



WB's: Live From Anthrax Capital tracklist:
  1. Intro
  2. Momma Said So
  3. American Heroes
  4. Your Love is Worth Waiting For
  5. R.E.A.L.I.T.Y.
  6. The Only Boys
  7. Boom Bipp
  8. Play Me Like That (Feat. Razii High Powa)
  9. Whoah Whoah Whoah
  10. Top- Seeded


The Only Boys

Boom Bipp

Friday, January 1, 1999

Strong Peeps - Livin It / Vs.-4-Vs.

Tony D Produced the "Livin' It" maxi-single 12" Vinyl with the anthem song performed and recorded by Strong Peeps (MoFlex) on Open Mind Records in 1999- After the cassette had circulated through many hands of record company execs and radio DJ's throughout Philly, Jersey and NYC, suddenly a version of the same beat with a very similar title appeared on the Kool G Rap single: "My Life" at the same time the "Livin' It" single was in heavy rotation. Could this have been a case of jacking like what happened with Naughty and Heavy D?




Livin It

Vs-4-Vs

Tuesday, November 3, 1998

Shawn Lov - The G.O.D.

The “G.O.D. LP” and ‘That’s What’s Up’ Vinyl released under Cha Ching Records (Tony’s Label) in 1998 were decidedly less successful projects than Tony’s earlier work- Still, the internet popularity of songs such as “The Lov Doctor,” “Wack Emcees Get Murdered Day,” “I’m Pathetic,” and many other songs featured on “The G.O.D.” was the exposure that led me to sign a deal with Australian label Nuffsaid Records in 2003. Since then I have experienced modest success with the releases “The Blackout of 1977 (2004)” and “Waiting For A Ghost (2007)” on which Tony contributed beats and verses. If it were not for Tony D’s 2-year push- I may never have made the connections necessary or created the buzz I needed to maintain my humble, if not consistent presence as a working artist in Underground Hip-Hop. Tony played a much bigger role in my career than I in his.

In 1997 I went from being a lifetime fan of Tony D (WPRB, YZ, PRT, All the Trenton classics) to a collaborator. Although I heard of Tony from the local rappers and R&B artists who worked with him as well as my father Ed Livernoche who also owned a studio in the Trenton area, I never met him in person until 1996. I met Tony when I was a waiter at Applebees and he came in with his girlfriend- and from rapping for him during the lunch rush (almost losing my job) I managed to convince him to help me out shopping a demo- which later turned into the album “The G.O.D.” From there we became friends and worked on a lot more material over the years—but by the time Tony and I hooked up, (97’) both the local and global climate for Hip-Hop had made a lot of changes neither of us were really too happy about... We went in our own direction. I am very proud of all the work we have done together and so was Tony D. His production on everything from The G.O.D. album, as well as the more recent WB LP can be listed among some of his best work as a beatsmith- and his verses scorched the mic at Skylab, Studio 4, and later in his home studio. There are some funny/interesting stories that go along with the recording of this LP... I will tell some when I have more time.

Thursday, June 6, 1996