The History of Power Play Studios

This one takes place where Rakim recorded the whole Paid in Full LP, where Nas did the first of It Ain’t Hard to Tell’s many versions… Fat Joe, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Run-DMC, BDP, Biggie, and Jay-Z also laid classic verses here.
This studio was called Power Play until it was sold in 98. In Ya Ear is the new moniker, Joell Ortiz, Cory Gunz and Cormega are some of the regular customers… Rob and Ax, the new bosses, shares thoughts on the vast legacy of this joint.
Greatest moments include the (long) making of The Big Picture, Big L’s posthumous album, by his friend and mentor Lord Finesse.
Baddest moments ? Power Play was sold for a reason : the old owner was fed up with rappers and labels not paying their studio time. That’s why he kept each and every reel until somebody paid the bills. That’s why Rob and Ax ended up with dozens of masters from Finesse, EPMD, Rakim, etc.
I’m sure you’ve started guessing : the treasure was sitting here, and… something bad happened. In a New York Minute.