Mixtape
The Rogue's Gallery
By Diony C.
•February 17, 2026
A mixtape born in the streets of New York, mixed by DJ Clear, featuring some of the hungriest underground voices of the early 2010s. This is where it started for us.
Before mixtapekings.com became what it is today, there was a project that set the tone for everything. The Rogue's Gallery was our first real statement. A compilation of underground New York talent, mixed by DJ Clear, produced by Beat Sensei N-DRiN, and executive produced by Diony C. and Olivar D. It wasn't about following a formula. It was about putting artists on who deserved to be heard.
This tape came together in 2012, when the underground scene in New York was overflowing with talent but short on platforms. We wanted to change that. We pulled together emcees from across the boroughs, each one bringing a different energy, a different story, a different reason to press play.
DJ Clear laced the entire mix, stitching 23 tracks into one continuous experience. From Chief Justice spreading his wings to illa Ghee doing what he does best, from Sacario repping uptown to Elz ByFar carrying the weight on production from N-DRiN, every track had a purpose. The interludes hit like scenes from a street film. The freestyles were raw. The features were genuine collaborations, not industry favors.
Stream the Full Mixtape
23 tracks. Raw New York underground hip-hop. One continuous mix. No skips.
Executive Producer: Diony C.
Co-Executive Producer: Olivar D.
Artwork: Arteknyc.com
Released: December 2012
What Made This Tape Different
The Rogue's Gallery wasn't a collection of loosies thrown together. It was sequenced like an album, mixed like a DJ set, and curated like a gallery show. Every artist was handpicked. Every track earned its slot. DJ Clear didn't just blend songs together. He built a world you could walk through.
The name itself told you what this was about. These weren't artists waiting for permission. They were rogues. They took shots that the mainstream wouldn't. They said things the radio couldn't play. And that's exactly why this tape connected. It sounded like New York when you stepped outside and actually listened.
Featured Artists
Qui
No Intermission Freestyle
Apple Music
Full Tracklist
Where Are They Now?
The underground doesn't always get the spotlight it deserves, but it doesn't stop moving either. illa Ghee is still active in Brooklyn, a certified gold recording artist who's worked with Mobb Deep, Method Man, Pete Rock, and The Alchemist. His verse on "Hold U Down" from The Alchemist's 1st Infantry is still talked about. He's on Instagram keeping the content flowing with his "New York Minute" series.
DJ Clear never stopped spinning. Born and raised in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, he went from house parties to legendary NYC venues like The Tunnel, Limelight, and Latin Quarters. He's worked with MTV, HBO, The Grammys, the UFC, and artists from Wu-Tang Clan to Pitbull. In 2018, he launched his own imprint, Deep Fried Recordings. He's still very much in the game.
Sacario, also known as Jamar Austin from Harlem and Washington Heights, went on to write for major artists. He penned "If I Could Go" for Angie Martinez and earned four RIAA Platinum and Gold plaques. His writing contributions have moved over 7 million albums worldwide. From the mixtape circuit to the credits of Billboard-charting records.
Elz ByFar continued releasing music on streaming platforms, including tracks like "Medulla," "Simmer," and "O.M.W." Artists like Chief Justice, Qui, Pretty Geeky, Ava Denera, and Story represent a moment in New York's underground that deserves to be remembered. Not everyone from that era stayed visible, but every one of them left something on this tape that still hits.
That's what The Rogue's Gallery was. A snapshot of a scene. A time capsule of voices that might not have gotten a major deal, but absolutely had something to say. We built mixtapekings.com on that foundation.
Partners & Credits
