HHC Digital 004 Out Now!

"Click here to download HHC Digital 004, which goes all out on the DMC tip as we celebrate 25 years of the world’s premier mixing competition with contributions from DJ Craze, Q-Bert, A-Trak, Scratch Perverts, Roc Raida, Cutmaster Swift and more.

Keeping up the DMC angle, we also present the greatest archived DMC photos you’ll ever see, including James Brown live in London in ‘88 and behind-the-scenes footage of the legendary Royal Albert Hall stage set-up. Oh, and we also grabbed DMC champ DJ Switch to put together a 30 minute mix of the best new rap songs released this month."

Also be sure to check out my review of Micall Parknsun's latest album in there.

Hip Hop Connection Online

Hip Hop Connection's online outlet is now in full effect with a whole host of non-magazine articles and interviews. They've got interviews with Brad Strut, Ramson Badbonez and Khujo Goodie (of Willie Isz). They've got ?uestlove speaking on Karriem Wiggins and Immortal Technique giving Drake careers advice and also something about the heavily-lauded-by-MCs-you-love Blaq Poet and DJ Premier. Well, what are you waiting for?

http://www.hhcdigital.net/ for more!

HHC Digital 003 - Out Tomorrow!

HHC Digital 003 will be out tomorrow. It'll feature stuff about Hip Hop I think. No really: Detroit, Black Milk and co, Kyza, Mash Out Posse, Tanya Morgan, 20 free mp3s from the likes of The Freestyle Master, Kyza, M.O.P. and Brad Strut and a review of Eminem’s latest album done by 5 UK artists - sounds like Hip Hop to me! Join me in downloading and perusing.

If you're reading this and it's Wednesday - click this link to read!

Cee Banger in HHC Digital 002 - Out Now!

Check out my two bits of scrawling for Hip Hop Connection this month. This mags' been there for me right from the beginning of my Hip Hop fandom and none of the others could match up - it's been a bit of a aspiration realised having my words in there. As you can see I reviewed album of the month 'Feeding Time At The Zoo' from YNR Productions and wrote an introduction to the excellent Homecut - click on the pics to see them with print (just about) large enough to read. Or, go to the HHC Digital website and download the whole thing!

HHC Digital 002 - Out Today!

Head over to the Hip Hop Connection place at 5pm today for the publication of their second digital issue. It's going to feature Raekwon (as you can see),Ghostface, Speech Debelle, P.O.S., General Steele, Superstar Quamallah, Paul White, DJ Vadim, Asher Roth, YNR and Dr Butcher. Oh, and an piece on Homecut written by a blogger you know well.

It's also coming with either 35 or 40 free mp3s from all the artists featured in the mag as well as a mix by The Last Skeptik (but not DJ Skeptik mind!).

Certified Banger in HHC and Rago Magazine

So the new Hip Hop Connection is well and truly online and I got my first mention in there - maybe digital is the way forward, some kind soul also put a link to here from their website too - lovely, thanks guys! The PDF format is awesome due to the fact they've made it readable without scrolling (all you other PDFers take note - screen shaped PDFs are the future!) and the content is as nice as ever, if a little slimmed down.

Whilst I'm bigging myself up you might as well check out the interview Tricksta did with me - yes, he asked the questions and I answered them this time! Excuse the jpg on that page, that's totally my fault!

HHC Re-up! Wednesday 15th Arpil

The re-up gang over at Hip Hop Connection are preparing themselves to go fully digital on Wednesday 15th April. In this time of new life and treats it's pretty fitting too. Issue 001 is set to feature cover star DOOM, Willie Isz, Charles Hamilton, Ghost, Dante Ross, MoBonix, Speech Debelle, Lil Wayne, The Cool Kids' jeans, Delegates Of Culture, Wordsmith (not sure which one), Thunderheist, Mr Lif and Toddla T - as usual, a nice variety of folk for you to read about.

All the usual columns and album reviews will be available alongside the above features as a free digital download as of Wednesday. To get a taster of many of these articles you should direct your browser over to http://www.hhcdigital.net/ because they've but up some titbits for you to read already!

Hip Hop Connection Ressurection

April 14th - a perfect day for the world's longest running Hip Hop magazine to be born again. Two days after Easter Sunday you'll be able to log on to check out all your Hip Hop news, hit the print button if you've got cash to burn.

Here's the first view of Hip Hop Connection's new online endeavours. You can catch it at http://www.hhcdigital.net/.

Hip Hop Connection To Go Digital

Sad news from Disorda at Suspect Packages today:

"Gotta tip our caps to Hip Hop Connection magazine today, it looks like the news has finally leaked out that they will no longer be in print. Sadly another slice of Hip-Hop has been taken from us, they fully repped the culture for 20 years and for me personally who remembers buying the very first issue it's a sad loss. Big ups to the Andy Cowan and the whole team past and present for keeping it on the shelves for so long when others failed. The good news is that they will still live on in other forms: from April 7th it will become the world's first dedicated digital Hip-Hop magazine, available for download from www.hhcdigital.net."

Whilst the whole online thing will be cool, it doesn't beat a load of pieces of coloured paper stapled together that can go with you anywhere. It's a great loss as it is THE BEST Hip Hop magazine on the market.

'Hip-Hop Connection Presents Recognition...' - Various Artists (compilation review)

Reviewing a CD without listening to it isn’t standard procedure (for me anyway). But when it’s a compilation CD supposedly containing genre-defining tracks it’s a credit to the compilers that listening isn’t necessary. And what more would you expect from the worlds original rap magazine?

‘Hip-Hop Connection Presents Recognition 20 Years Of Fire-Starting UK Rap Anthems’ is 20 tracks of…well; the title is pretty self explanatory. In roughly chronological order, HHC curates the annals of the art form done Blighty’s way and succeeds in drawing together some of the most influential specimens. (Click here for tracklisting)

As I hinted before, anyone interested in the UK Rap scene will have heard the majority of what’s on offer here, meaning this serves perfectly as an introduction or education to the un-schooled. It also provides perfectly for that car journey when you forgot to burn off your favourite UK tracks onto a compilation CD.

There are one or two surprises; Blak Twang’s ‘08 album cut, ‘How Long’ fills the gap between ‘91’s ‘Son of Noise’ and ‘01’s ‘The Unknown’ by Mark B & Blade - a gap that Twang’s ‘Red Letters’ would have filled perfectly. Or with a little re-sequencing ‘So Rotton’ would have been more than fitting. The last tracks, although good, are probably not the best representatives of the evident creativity of UK Hip Hop’s last couple of years.

If I didn’t have this I’d probably get it, A) for lending to ignorant friends and B) for an effortless stroll through some of the masterpieces of my collection. It’ll be released on 8th of October on the Hip Hop Village label and there’s no doubt everywhere will be stocking this.

Myspace is still good for one thing and that's the music. This is the first time I've noticed them actually paying artists to provide free downloads and here's to hoping they continue along these lines. (Click the banner for the link)

Freshly Mixed is a good site for downloading mixes by your favourite DJ's and artists. For example, here's one with Prof Green and Ghetto. (Click the pink tape for a link)

On that tip, The Beats, the label that is home to The Streets, The Mitchell Brothers, Professor Green and Example is closing down. Check the news over at the HHC blog. You can download their last mixtape 'Absolutely Dame Judi Dench' here or you can buy a copy from the HHC website.

The Top 100 Rap Singles

Just to clog up Hype Machine for a hot minute and to collate the top 100 (as voted by the readers of Hip Hop Connection 5 years ago) I've put this post together! Thanks for all the comments so far, there are some good ideas for tracks that should be here.

*Wu-Tang link because track not in zipped file*

Tracks 100-91 zshare link

100. Big Daddy Kane - Wrath of Kane – 1988
99. Public Enemy - Dont Believe the Hype– 1988
98. Mos Def - Universal Magnetic – 1997
97. De La Soul - The Magic Number – 1989
96. Just-Ice - Cold Gettin' Dumb – 1987
95. Dilated Peoples - The Platform– 2000
94. Public Enemy - Bring the Noise – 1988
93. Lords of the Underground - Cheif Rocka– 1994
92. Naughty By Nature - Hip Hop Hooray– 1993
91. Wu-Tang Clan - Triumph– 1997

Tracks 90-81 zshare link

90. Mantronix - Bassline - 1986
89. BDP - My Philosophy - 1988
88. Blak Twang – Red Letter Day – 1998
87. A Tribe Called Quest - Description Of A Fool - 1991
86. EPMD - Headbanger - 1989
85. LL Cool J - Rock the Bells- 1985
84. KRS-One Sound Of Da Police- 1993
83. Hijack - Style Warriors Revenge -
82. Biz Markie - Nobody beats the Biz- 1988
81. Brand Nubian - Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down- 1992
80. EPMD – You Got’s to Chill (zshare)– 1988
79. Run DMC – Runs House (zshare)– 1985
78. Eminem – Guilty Conscience (zshare) – 1999
77. Slick Rick – La-Di-Da-Di (zshare)– 1985
76. Gang Starr – F ull Clip (zshare)– 1999
75. Boogie Down Productions – Poetry (zshare)– 1987
74. A Tribe Called Quest – Bonita Applebum (zshare)– 1990
73. Pharcyde – Ya Mama (zshare) – 1992
72. Sugar Bear – Don’t Scandalise Mine (zshare) – 1988
71. Dr. Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg – Deep Cover (zshare) – 1992
70. Jeru the Damaja – Come Clean (zshare)– 1994
69. Kurtis Blow – The Breaks (zshare) – 1979
68. Man Parrish - Hip Hop Be Bop (zshare) – 1982
67. T La Rock – Breaking Bells (zshare)– 1986
66. Nas – Represent (zshare) - 1994
65. Dr Dre – Still DRE (zshare) – 2000
64. LL Cool J – Going back to Cali (zshare)– 1988
63. Audio Two – Top Billin’ (zshare)– 1988
62. Beastie Boys – Hold it now, Hit it (zshare) - 1986
61. Mobb Deep – Shook Ones pt. II (zshare)– 1995
60. Rammellzee vs. K-Rob – Beat Bop – 1983
59. Marley Marl – Marley Marl Scratch ft. MC Shan (zshare) – 1985
58. JVC Force - Strong Island (zshare) – 1988
57. LL Cool J - I’m Bad (zshare) – 1987
56. Gang Starr – DWYCK ft. Nice & Smooth (zshare) – 1992
55. De La Soul – Buddy (zshare) – 1990
54. Gang Starr – You know my Steez (zshare) – 1997
53. De La Soul – Eye Know (zshare) – 1989
52. Jurassic 5 – Concrete Schoolyard (zshare) – 1997
51. Craig Mack – Flava In Your Ear (zshare) – 1994
50. Nasty Nas - Halftime (zshare) – 1994 – ‘Illmatic’ (buy here)
49. Cypress Hill - How I Could Just Kill a Man (zshare) – 1991
48. Dilated Peoples - Work the Angles (zshare) – 1998
47. Cypress Hill - Hand on the Pump (zshare) – 1991
46. Run DMC - Walk this Way (zshare) – 1986
45. Eric B & Rakim - Microphone Fiend (zshare) – 1988
44. 2Pac - California Love (zshare) – 1996
43. Hardnoise – Untitled (zshare) – 1990
42. Cypress Hill – Insane in the Brain (zshare) – 1993
41. The Crooklyn Dodgers – Crooklyn (zshare) - 1994

40. Big Daddy Kane – Ain’t no Half Steppin’ (zshare) – 1988
39. Gang Starr – Mass Appeal (zshare) – 1994
38. Eminem – Stan (zshare) – 2000
37. NWA – Express yourself (zshare) – 1989
36. Public Enemy - Public Enemy #1 (zshare) – 1987
35. Ultramagnetic MC’s – Watch Me Now (zshare) – 1988
34. Ice Cube – It was a good day (zshare) – 1993
33. Public Enemy – Welcome to the Terrordome (zshare) – 1990
32. De La Soul – Plug Tunin’ (zshare) – 1988
31. NWA – F*** the Police (zshare) – 1989
30. Run DMC – Sucker MC’s (zshare) – 1983
29. Onyx – Slam (zshare) – 1993
28. A Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation (zshare) – 1993
27. A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario (zshare) – 1991
26. De La Soul – Me, Myself and I (zshare) – 1989
25. Souls of Mischief - 93 til Infinity (zshare) – 1993
24. Big Daddy Kane – Raw (zshare) – 1988
23. Eric B & Rakim – I know you got Soul (zshare) – 1987
22. Xzibit – Paparazzi (zshare) – 1996
21. Mos Def – Ms. Fat Booty (zshare) – 1999
20. Eric B & Rakim – Paid in Full (zshare) – 1987
19. LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out (zshare) - 1990
18. Slick Rick – Children’s Story (zshare) – 1988
17. Eric B & Rakim – Eric B is President (zshare) – 1986
16. A Tribe Called Quest – Can I kick it? (zshare) – 1990
15. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – Whitelines (Don’t do it) (zshare) – 1983
14. Eric B & Rakim – Follow the Leader (zshare) – 1988
13. Wu-Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck (zshare) – 1994
12. Boogie Down Productions – South Bronx (zshare) – 1986
11. O.C. – Time’s up (zshare) – 1994

Tracks 10-1 zshare link

10. Pharoahe Monch – Simon Says – 1999
9. House of Pain – Jump around – 1992
8. Sugarhill Gang – Rappers Delight – 1979
7. Wu-Tang Clan – CREAM – 1994
6. Dr. Dre – Ain’t Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang – 1992
5. Public Enemy – Fight the Power – 1990
4. NWA – Straight Outta Compton – 1988
3. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message – 1982
2. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (TROY) – 1992
1. Public Enemy – Rebel without a Pause – 1987

Dear SB

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it very much! Not that I need to defend the worlds original rap magazine but just so you know...

"...the top 100 was compiled from Hip Hop Connection readers votes, those of Hip-Hop Connection's writing staff and a quick poll of a few valued professionals. One crucial point though...is that all entries from 2001 onwards were disqualified. Why? Because a single's real test is whether it can transcend the place and time it was released in and enjoy a life of it's own. All our top 100 clearly have."

If it was my list maybe Snoop, Biggie and Jay-Z would have been there. Keep your peelers open for posts in the future that include omissions (?!).

If you have an opinion on this please post a comment and let's get a discussion going. I'd like to do a post with all the tracks that you readers wanted to see in the top 100 so let me know!

HHC Top 100 rap singles 10-1

#5&1 - Public Enemy

Download the top 10 here, all in one handy suitcase sized .rar file.

This is it; the grand finale. The Top 10 is here and some of you could probably guess its contents. Some of you will probably wonder why some tracks made it to the top, I believe they all can be justified; in this post I am going to write why I think each track deserves to be here.

10. Pharoahe Monch – Simon Says – 1999 – Internal Affairs (buy album here or tell me somewhere else where it's actually available and cheap!)
This track is here simply because there never was and never will be another track like it. Monch smashes this club hit that appeals to all kinds of hip hop fan and is guaranteed to make you hit the dance floor (even though you’ll never understand afterwards how it’s possible to dance to this).

9. House of Pain – Jump around – 1992 – House of Pain (buy album here)
It’s here because HoP managed to make a hard track with pop sensibilities, an amazing crossover tune with mass appeal. Not many acts manage to do it with credibility, even if you think you shouldn’t really like this you obviously do and I bet y’all do jump around when it comes on in a club.

8. Sugarhill Gang – Rappers Delight – 1979 – Rappers Delights (buy album here)
Erm…this doesn’t deserve to be here. Psyche! It’s the blueprint: samples (although they are replayed by session musicians), crowd involving party lyrics, boasting lyrics and story telling lyrics all in one hefty track. Where would we be now without this? Forget the controversy surrounding who released the first rap track and who actually wrote these rhymes and honour the Sugarhill.

7. Wu-Tang Clan – CREAM – 1994 – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (buy album here)
This is the anthem for all Hip Hoppers who are trying to make money and definitely the best and most well known acronym in the game and that is why it’s here. Oh and the amazing RZA track (his best?) and carefully thought out lyrics serve to flesh out the concept to perfection.

6. Dr. Dre – Ain’t Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang – 1992 – The Chronic (buy album here)
Why is this here?
a) It introduced Snoop to the world: good move Dre.
b) It’s all you need for cruising in the summertime.
c) This was innovative, Dre totally changed up the sound of Hip Hop all on his ownsome.
d) This is pure freshness…still, 15 years on.

5. Public Enemy – Fight the Power – 1990 – Fear of A Black Planet (buy album here)
The average Telegraph reader would maintain that rap music is mindless and repetitive. Are they right? Of course they’re not! Chuck D presents the idea that ordinary people are involved in politics as much as the politicians are, his methods maybe a little unorthodox (no lobbying, voting or letter writing; just fighting!) but his sentiment is important nevertheless. The subject here is still relevant even if the sound is dated. This track represents Hip Hops intelligence.

4. NWA – Straight Outta Compton – 1988 – Straight Outta Compton (buy album here)
So far we’ve had the underground breakthrough club hit, the party track, the original track, the money song, the summertime cruising song, the politically charged protest track and here we have the angry track in all its teen angst glory. This track needs to be here just for that reason.

3. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message – 1982
If I continue the theme of the comment on the last track then this is the track that has a message, it’s the reality rap, it tells it how it is, it is life in the Bronx documented on wax. This opened up a million and one opportunities for rappers to really open up and tell us how they were living. This tune was the nod of the head that gave the go ahead for MC’s to rap about anything they wanted to rap about.

2. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (TROY) – 1992 – Mecca and The Soul Brother (buy album here)
Yup, this track is an entirely different sort of track to all the others in the top 10. This is the reminiscing track about and dedicated to a single person (T-Roy). This track could have been sad and melancholy due to its subject matter. Instead the bouncy horn driven beat really is a befitting tribute to T-Roy (he was a dancer) because if this came on in a club you wouldn’t stop dancing to shed a tear, you’d carry on dancing wouldn’t you?

1. Public Enemy – Rebel without a Pause – 1987 – It Takes a Nation of Millions… (buy album here)
Go to your itunes and type 1987 in the search box. Listen to all the other tracks from ’87. Ask yourself this: Does ‘Rebel without a Pause’ sound like them? Then answer thus: No. You could also check every single rap track ever made and ask the same question and still come up with the same negative answer. If this is the best rap single ever to be released we would have to conclude that a good rap track should be sonically original and interesting, that the MC has to mean the lyrics he is spitting and that it should really break the mould as a whole. Personally that sounds like a perfect recipe guideline for how it should be done, all that needs to be added is the personality and vision of the chef.

Obviously just one track does not sum up rap music but after a quick scan of the top 10 and I think you’d all agree that the tracks encapsulate and portray the varied sounds and topics of rap music.

So there we have it; a full 100 rap tracks that you really need to own or to at least have heard. Hit me up with comments such as 'What no Jay-Z?' or 'What no Biggie?'.

‘What next for Certified Banger?’ I hear you (by you I really mean me) ask. Well I’ve got a few ideas lined up and I’m gonna tell you them now but they’re copy written so don’t copy me.

Certified Bangers up and coming features:

‘Singled Out’ – the post where I go downstairs and pick either a tape, CD or vinyl single that I bought over the last 12 years, post the mp3 and write about the track and why I bought it. (Warning: This is gonna be warts and all so beware of ensuing embarrassing tracks)

‘Word Up!’ – the post where I choose a bit of Hippedy Hop slang, give it’s meaning(s) and give you a tune that includes the word in context.

‘Back in the Day’ – I’ve really enjoyed listening to all of these older tracks in the top 100 so I figured I’d post a track a week that was released within the first 5 years of Hip Hop’s birth (which for arguments sake we’ll say is 1979 when a Hip Hop track was first recorded and released)

HHC Top 100 rap singles 20-11

#20, 17 & 14 - Eric B & Rakim

Onwards and upwards: (Please use the zshare links, not the fileden ones because of this.)

20. Eric B & Rakim – Paid in Full (zshare) – 1987 – Paid in Full (buy album here)
The first rhyme I ever learned – I didn’t have to try. The words of Rakim’s rap seem to naturally flow; it’s almost as if all these words exist just to be in this exact order. This is probably one of my favourite rhymes ever along with the part of Rappers Delight that begins “Well I was coming home late one dark afternoon”.

19. LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out (zshare) - 1990 – Mama Said Knock You Out (buy album here)
“Don’t call it a comeback! I’ve been here for years.” LL used to rhyme hard, now he rhymes for the girls in the clubs – Shame. (Generalisation I know)

18. Slick Rick – Children’s Story (zshare) – 1988 – The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (buy album here)
The be-patched one does what he does best with this track, he tells a story in his lazy London/New York accent. This track, which bore some resemblance to a later misdemeanour and arrest (he shot his cousin), was self produced.

17. Eric B & Rakim – Eric B is President (zshare) – 1986 – Paid in Full

16. A Tribe Called Quest – Can I kick it? (zshare) – 1990 – People’s Instinctive Travels… (buy album here)
I’ve recently been thinking of making a range of products with rap lyrics on them. The inspiration for this was ATCQ, can you imagine a doormat that quotes “Wipe your feet really good on the rhythm rug”? It would be my pride and joy.

15. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – Whitelines (Don’t do it) (zshare) – 1983
1983! Mental. I can’t believe that this is that old. So many people review old albums and the same old quote comes out: ‘it hasn’t aged’. Often writing that is a blatant lie; I read a recent review of ‘It takes a nation…’ which included those overused words, that album has aged! However, I feel it is justifiable to say that ‘Whitelines’ hasn’t aged, it’s still relevant and it’s still unequalled sonically.

14. Eric B & Rakim – Follow the Leader (zshare) – 1988 – Follow the Leader (buy album here)
The fattest bassline to ever grace a classic hip hop track? You decide. On its own it would be menacing but coupled with the jaunty brass stabs it makes perfect music to saunter down the street to. Be careful what your face looks though; those lyrics will provoke a scowl that frighten the average old lady.

13. Wu-Tang Clan – Protect Ya Kneck (zshare) – 1994 – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (buy album here)
I love that guy who rings up the radio station, he has the coolest ever way of saying ‘because’. This is another Wu track that displays how their unique lyrical stylings fit the gritty beat in a way that other MC’s could only dream of.

12. Boogie Down Productions – South Bronx (zshare) – 1986 – Criminal Minded (buy album here)
Fresh for 86, suckers. For ’07? Not so fresh but good nonetheless.

11. O.C. – Time’s up (zshare) – 1994 – Word…Life (buy album here)
This was one that I hadn’t ever heard until I decided to compile this top 100. I can’t be bothered to go and check but I’m pretty sure this is the hypnotic, heavy beat they use in the battles in 8 Mile.

HHC Top 100 rap singles 30-21

#27&28 - A Tribe Called Quest

I’m back, hope you’re hungry. This is probably one of the best run of 10 songs in this countdown so far. I suppose it is expected as now we are nearing the top of the charts. 30 songs to go and I bet most heads could predict which tracks are contained in the higher end of the rundown. The thing I want to know is; what do you think the top 3 will be? Leave me a comment with your predictions.

30. Run DMC – Sucker MC’s (zshare) – 1983 – Run DMC (buy album here)
Personally I welcome the presence of instrumentation and melody in Hip Hop but I would never discredit the minimalist production styles of the 80’s. For younger Hip Hop fans Run DMC aren’t always easy to listen to, let’s face it in this day in age they are dated. Your lil’ sis could do these beats on a casio keyboard, anyone and their dads turntable can do baby scratches and the lyrics are not complex. Having said that, this song has something, that important je ne sais quoi and it is a classic.

29. Onyx – Slam (zshare) – 1993 – Bacdafucup (buy album here)
Woah, 10 years later and my, haven’t things changed? This song displays an entirely different vocal style to that of Run DMC; it’s altogether rugged and raw and downright hard to decipher. The beat is sample-tastic and very 90’s in a ‘mean muggin’ in the club’ kind of way.

28. A Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation (zshare) – 1993 – Midnight Marauders (buy album here)
Hang on, 1993 also? Yes, and as far removed from Onyx as could be possible. It is sample driven but an entirely different vibe lounges around this track with it’s feet up. The tribe come totally horizontal here with some rhymes about getting girls. This is why all those other bloggers have ATCQ so high in their top albums lists.

27. A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario (zshare) – 1991 – The Low End Theory (buy album here)
Even the Tribe could produce something on its way towards the banging end of the 90’s Hip Hop spectrum. 2 minutes and 40 seconds in and, who’s that? Busta Rhymes! And he’s bringing it raw - pure rawness, rawity, rawkussnes and rawful. Bussa Buss entirely switches the Tribe vibe up and kills this track. This is why it’s hot.

26. De La Soul – Me, Myself and I (zshare) – 1989 – 3 Feet High and Rising (buy album here)
The more I immerse myself in this top 100, the more I realise that De La were visionaries. 3 Feet…really paved the way out of the 80’s for Hip Hop. If I weren’t only 3 when this came out I’m sure I would have appreciated its freshness and its change of direction even more than I do now.

25. Souls of Mischief - 93 til Infinity (zshare) – Ummm, 1993! – 93 til Infinity (buy album here)
Say wha’? It’s 1993 again, what a year and again another vibe. SoM bring us some sort of a sweltering, in the park tinged track. Basically, if you have a skateboard (you know one of those fat 80’s ones?) get it outta the cupboard and go and rip up a drained pool whilst playing this on your big shiny ghetto blaster or your prototype walkman.

24. Big Daddy Kane – Raw (zshare) – 1988
Sorry about the quality of this and that it has Kool G Rap on it. Ah no, that’s nothing to apologise for. If you were on the receiving of these rhymes, man, you’d be crushed.

23. Eric B & Rakim – I know you got Soul (zshare) – 1987 – Paid in Full (buy album here)
Rakim is the epitome of cool, which US rapper wouldn’t cite him as an influence or idol? The answer: One who models himself entirely upon Rakim. Respect Rakim.

22. Xzibit – Paparazzi (zshare) – 1996 – At the Speed of Life (buy album here)
To quote HHC (circa March 2002) ‘[Xzibit] will never be a part of the paid up superstar fraternity’ – Ha! How times have changed, how wrong they were. I believe I recently read that Xzibit was one of the many sellouts in the game and to me that equals ‘paid up’! I like Xzibit, I like his tunes and this is one of the best; the beat is so melancholy whilst X to the Z is agitated, furious and hungry.

21. Mos Def – Ms. Fat Booty (zshare) – 1999 – Black on Both Sides (buy album here)
If I were to compose one of those question tree things (like they put in tweenage girls magazines) to discern what type of Hip Hop fan the reader was I would definitely have a question that read: Are all 90’s Rawkus releases the definition of real Hip Hop. If the person answered ‘Yes’ they would get this answer in a pink box: ‘True Head: You love Hip Hop more than life itself. You are satisfied only by the best. Don’t listen to the backpack taunts, you know you’re better than the name caller. If the person answered ‘No’ then they would get this in a brown box: ‘Pop Tart: Go and listen to your thousands of bland mixtapes of dross from Dipset, 50 and that weird guy who raps about aliens and abortions. You obviously are happy having your head in the sand.’

Here endeth this post. Your favourite rap single not in here yet? Maybe it’s in the top 20, maybe it’s not – wait and see!

HHC Top 100 rap singles 40-31

#37 & 31 - NWA

*Please, please, please use the zshare links or else I won't be able to post properly once my bandwidth is used up on fileden.*

The tunes are getting bigger now yet there are probably still a few that you don’t have. I’ve been wondering what purpose this top 100 has been serving for people. Has it been a trip down memory lane? Has it been an opportunity for you to fill in gaps in your collection? Has it been an educational experience? Drop me a comment so I can understand more about my visitors. Today’s selection is particularly good:

40. Big Daddy Kane – Ain’t no Half Steppin’ (zshare) – 1988 – Long Live the Kane (buy album here)
In 88 this must have sounded a couple of years ahead of the game. A very laid back track with numerous samples, the strangest one being the serial killer with a knife sound effect.

39. Gang Starr – Mass Appeal (zshare) – 1994 – Full Clip (buy album here)
DJ Premier is one of those producers who will never be accused of whackness. He’s consistent on the whole and even when he makes a weak track the strength of his back catalogue holds him up. Him and Guru were a perfect pair, this track embodies the character of their music.

38. Eminem – Stan (zshare) – 2000 – The Marshall Mathers LP (buy album here or borrow it from your sister)
This is the track that sadly, you are most likely to have heard. Yes it is great, flipping Dido and kick starting her career was a great move and served its purpose well. I grudgingly accept that in fact, this does deserve to be here.

37. NWA – Express yourself (zshare) – 1989 – Straight Outta Compton (buy album here)
Ahhh, the first NWA track I heard and nothing but positive vibes from the boys. The critics of the time obviously overlooked this when they labelled NWA as troublesome, angry, vile and unsuitable.

36. Public Enemy - Public Enemy #1 (zshare) – 1987 – Yo! Bum rush the Show (buy album here)
A brilliant intro here, mimicked by Karl Hinds on ‘You don’ Know’ and the forerunner of tracks like ‘Super Sharp Darts’. Chuck’s distant vocals hit hard as usual.

35. Ultramagnetic MC’s – Watch Me Now (zshare) – 1988 – Critical Beatdown (buy album here)
‘Watch me now’ seems to sum up everything that Hip Hop had become in the late eighties. Funk samples and breaks, fast tempos and boastful rhymes.

34. Ice Cube – It was a good day (zshare) – 1993 – The Predator (buy album here)
This is another tune for a sunny day, perfectly mellow and uplifting, suited for a BBQ in the yard.

33. Public Enemy – Welcome to the Terrordome (zshare) – 1990 – Fear of a Black Planet (buy album here)
Wooooooo! This is music to go wild to! Contains the immortal line ‘Hear the drummer get wicked’.

32. De La Soul – Plug Tunin’ (zshare) – 1988 – Three Feet High and Rising (buy album here)
Why wasn’t this on the greatest hits? Weird.

31. NWA – F*** the Police (zshare) – 1989 – Straight Outta Compton (buy album here)
Ooof. Now that’s why those critics, politicians and anyone with white skin were scared of NWA, now that’s attitude.

Right, I'm off camping now so pray the sun shines for me.

HHC Top 100 rap singles 50-41

# 49, 47 & 42 - Cypress Hill

Now I’d just like to remind you that this list hasn’t been compiled by me. It was made as a result of a poll that the world’s original rap magazine Hip Hop Connection carried out amongst it’s readers. As it happens, a lot of these tracks would be chosen by me if I had the patience to create such a list of my own. I made it my mission to collect all the tunes together and to bring them to the bloggers of the world. Numbers 50 - 41:

50. Nasty Nas - Halftime (zshare) – 1994 – ‘Illmatic’ (buy here)
If only Nas hadn’t departed from this sound, Hip Hop would possibly be alive and kicking.

49. Cypress Hill - How I Could Just Kill a Man (zshare) – 1991 – ‘Cypress Hill’ (buy here)
The first of three tracks in this post means no-one can accuse Cypress Hill of being inconsistent, well, not during the early 90’s anyway, the early 00’s tell a different story.

48. Dilated Peoples - Work the Angles (zshare) – 1998 – ‘The Platform’ (buy here)
Another inclusion of Dilated is welcome here by me, a great track but I’m still not sure how it gets this high in the top 100 of all time.

47. Cypress Hill - Hand on the Pump (zshare) – 1991 – ‘Cypress Hill’ (buy here or up there)
Cypress show off their ability to create unique blunted funky tracks that involve copious amounts of weed and guns.

46. Run DMC - Walk this Way (zshare) – 1986 – ‘Raising Hell’ (buy here)
Pretty much the forerunner of nu-metal (the sort that have ‘rappers’ and guitar riffs). A classic in many circles particularly Dad circles (also affiliated to air guitar circles), rap circles and student night DJ circles.

45. Eric B & Rakim - Microphone Fiend (zshare) – 1988 – ‘Follow the Leader’ (buy here)

44. 2Pac - California Love (zshare) – 1996 – ‘All Eyez on Me’ (buy here)
Big ‘cruising with windows down in the summer’ tune here courtesy of Dre, Pac and Roger Troutman on the vocoder/talk box. You know what to do; go cruise with your windows down.

43. Hardnoise – Untitled (zshare) – 1990
UK, once again, sounding suspiciously late 80’s American.

42. Cypress Hill – Insane in the Brain (zshare) – 1993 – ‘Black Sunday’ (buy here)
Cer-lassic! A point of much reference in pop culture this track has somehow managed to sneak from hyped up stoner track to one of those songs that everybody just knows.

41. The Crooklyn Dodgers – Crooklyn (zshare) - 1994

Buckshot, Special Ed and Masta Ace come together exclusively for this track produced by Q-Tip. If you like ATCQ or Jurassic 5 then this should really tickle your fancy.

40 tracks left. I'm going away next week so wont get to post for that time, I'll try to do one more installment before I leave y'all.

HHC Top 100 rap singles 60-51

#53&55 - De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising

I know you’re all salivating at the mouth (and all manner of other body parts) for this next selection of rap tunes, well here it is in all its uncut glory: numbers 60 – 51.

60. Rammellzee vs. K-Rob – Beat Bop – 1983
Thanks to Aaron @ Canned Thinking for this one - the last track I needed. I can’t believe I haven’t heard it before because it is amazing! (Only available on fileden!)

59. Marley Marl – Marley Marl Scratch ft. MC Shan (zshare) – 1985
A classic DJ/MC set up, yes, it did used to be that way around. DJ’s were more important back then.

58. JVC Force - Strong Island (zshare) – 1988 *fixed link*
An instantly recognisable intro heralds ‘Justified by Virtue of Creativity For All Reasons Concerning Entertainment’s biggest hit. Pick up any Hip Hop compilation and chances are this is on there - good work boys.

57. LL Cool J - I’m Bad (zshare) – 1987 – ‘Bigger and Deffer’ (buy here)

56. Gang Starr – DWYCK ft. Nice & Smooth (zshare) – 1992 – ‘Hard to earn’ (buy here)

55. De La Soul – Buddy (zshare) – 1990 - ‘Three Feet High and Rising’ (buy here)
Big fat posse cut here – Jungle Bro’s, ATCQ & De La (that’s 6 MCs), if positive Hip Hop from the 90’s is your thing (and it should be) then this is essential.

54. Gang Starr – You know my Steez (zshare) – 1997 – ‘The Moment of Truth’ (buy here)

53. De La Soul – Eye Know (zshare) – 1989 – ‘Three Feet High and Rising’ (buy here)
How big was ‘Three Feet…’? It must have been huge at the time, I really wish I hadn’t been 5 at the time but at least time goes forwards and not backwards; now we can all still enjoy these tracks that still sound fresh.

52. Jurassic 5 – Concrete Schoolyard (zshare) – 1997 – ‘Jurassic 5 LP’ (buy here)
One of my favourite tunes of all time, from the “We were just sitting out on the step you know” to the “I represent the real from the beginning to the end of it” it’s just a straight up classic. Seeing them doing this live was a dream come true.

51. Craig Mack – Flava In Your Ear (zshare) – 1994 – ‘Project: Funk the World’ (buy here)
If you can understand what Craigy boy is saying here then you must be a skilled multi-linguist. It doesn’t matter though ‘cause the beat is cool enough and his cadence matches it well.

Half way house homeslice! I’m audi.

p.s. As a big fan of Harry Potter I urge you to watch the new film, read the new book and go here to find out all about Wizard Rock. There are some great tracks there and 'Where's your hood at?' is an amazing title for a song by a Dementor!

HHC Top 100 rap singles 70-61 *updated*

#69. Kurtis Blow - The Breaks

Only the zshare links work on this post now, I know it takes a few more clicks but for free classic rap it's worth it isn't it?

The first three instalments have made a minor ripple in the blogging pond and I’m feeling quite pleased to know that people are appreciating this…but come on party people, drop a comment; it’s not hard to do – if someone gives you something you say thank you, right? Correct etiquette. Miniature rant over…let’s get on with it.

70. Jeru the Damaja – Come Clean (zshare)– 1994 – ‘The Sun Rises in the East’ (Buy here)
Another nod inducing mid 90’s affair here but with a peculiar spacious percussive beat. Contains slightly curious lyrics: “I blow up spots like the World Trade Centre”. Can anyone explain that to me please? I may just be being really ignorant.

69. Kurtis Blow – The Breaks (zshare) – 1979 – ‘The Breaks’ (Buy the 'Best of' here)
Classic Hip Hop party track with all the essential crowd involving elements such as saying ho and waving hands. Kurtis outlines a few cringe inducing situations and exitedly informs us that those are ‘The Breaks’, knowledge is born.

68. Man Parrish - Hip Hop Be Bop (zshare) – 1982 – ‘Hip Hop Be Bop (Don’t Stop)’ (Buy here)
This IS electro. A rambling but steadily changing collection of synthy basses and blips accompanied by the obligatory cowbells and claps make this somewhat akin to a delicious 3 course meal.

67. T La Rock – Breaking Bells (zshare)– 1986
Samples James Brown and contains rhymes about being superior; yup, it’s Hip Hop alright.

66. Nas – Represent (zshare) - 1994 – ‘Illmatic’ (Buy here)
Hands up who loves mid 90’s Hippedy Hop…mine were up but are down again so I can continue typing. I’m getting tired of writing about nodding my head, and those who have read all of this series will be tired of reading about it but I’m not tired of actually nodding my head. Everyone knows this is classic fare from a certified classic album so if you don’t have it, buy it! (And get me a copy too, track 1 is scratched on mine!)

65. Dr Dre – Still DRE (zshare) – 2000 – ‘2001’ (Buy here)
2000 seemed the perfect year for Dre to change the game again, it must of seemed that way to him too ‘cause that’s exactly what he did. Remember any other Hip Hop that came out that year? Or did it fall under the shadow of the good doctor?

64. LL Cool J – Going back to Cali (zshare)– 1988 – ‘Walking with a Panther’ (Buy here)

63. Audio Two – Top Billin’ (zshare)– 1988 – 'What More Can I Say' (Buy here)
Out of all the Hip Hop tracks I’ve ever heard I think this must be the most sampled/bitten/quoted by other rappers. Classic snippets include: “Down the road, to the bank”, “[insert name] is Chillin’…”, “Stop schemin’ and lookin’ hard”, “That’s how it is, you can ask…”, “What more can I say” etcetera. Even if you’ve never heard this song it will sound familiar to you if you’ve listened to a handful of rap albums.

62. Beastie Boys – Hold it now, Hit it (zshare)– 1986 – 'Licensed to Ill' (Buy here)
Have an Old Skool party with this track, in fact, have an Old Skool party with the whole album. And click on the Beastie Boys tag for my other posts on them!

61. Mobb Deep – Shook Ones pt. II (zshare)– 1995 – 'The Infamous' (Buy here)
The street anthem that everyone and their goldfish know thanks to Eminem and 8 Mile.

New readers: You may have guessed that there are a few more instalments before this, check them out here, here and here – or click on the HHC Top 100 rap singles label to see them all in sequence. See you next time when we reach the half way point.