In which I have hope for mainstream Hip Hop

I had decided to do this post before I heard this track but when I heard it yesterday it really summed up my thinking:

Kero One - Check The Blueprints

To sum his song up he's urging the Hip Hop community, particularly the artists, to look at how Hip Hop should be. He sees importance in analysing what made Hip Hop great in the 80's and 90's, taking those findings and applying it to making new music. Obviously this could lead to music sounding the same and being stuck in the past but what I hope to prove in ten tracks is that this might not be the case but that it actually might be the way forward. Many of these tracks are examples of how cats from back in the day have had to step up to the plate again to show the world how it should be done. I hope artists take note.

Guilty Simpson - Man's World (Produced by J Dilla)

J Dilla was a producer who really took inspiration from the culture of sampling in the 90's.

Q-Tip - Work It Out.mp3

Everyones favourite Tribin' ear cleaner is back and I'd be happy hearing this on the radio.

WC - Voodoo ft. The Game

That West Coast sound still does it for me.

Termanology - So Amazing (Produced by DJ Premier)

Sounding like Premo always does is not actually a bad thing and Termanology entertains.

DJ Jazzy Jeff - The Garden ft. Big Daddy Kane

Two Old School cats bring the freshness.

Mr. J. Medeiros - Silent Earth

This sounds 90's-ish due to it's feel good vibes and sampling.

Marco Polo - Nostalgia ft. Masta Ace

(Old guy + New guy) x 90's influences = good Hip Hop

KRS-One & Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives

Old guy + Old guy - rivalry = good Hip Hop

Chamillionaire - Hip-Hop Police ft. Slick Rick

When I played this to my brother, he asked "Is this Chamillionaire?", I said "Yes, how can you tell?", he replied "Becasue it sounds like 50 Cent but without the mumbling" - or something like that. Slick Rick is funny. This is probably the most out of place choice here but I do like it.

One more to finish off with:

Jeru the Damaja - One Day

This is a nice short imaginary story personifying Hip Hop and telling of the day when it was kidnapped by the likes of Puff Daddy (or whatever ridiculous moniker he' going under today). Don't worry though, they get Hip Hop back safe and sound.

Download all the tracks here in a zippedy doo dah file.

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!