2. House of Flying Daggers – Raekwon – this Wu-Tang heavy-hitter struck gold with his latest album, “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II,” released on the same date as Jay-Z’s “Blueprint 3.” Much to everyone’s surprise, Raekwon started out-selling Jay-Z in online sales and downloads, plus this album brought Raekwon many accolades, which he lacked from a flurry of bad albums, released after the first “Only Built. . .” album. This song begins with Inspectah Deck, known for starting off a Wu song right. This track sort of brings that old Wu feeling back.
3. Medicine Ball – Eminem – After being on a hiatus for a few years, Eminem returned in 2009 with his album, “Relapse.” Though considered a miss by most critics and listeners, I was a fan. This song is an example of Em going to the extreme, however. In this song, I would say he even goes overboard, by heartlessly joking on the late Christopher Reeves. Love Em or Hate Em, he sure knows how to stir a big bowl of controversy.
4. Drop the World – Lil Wayne ft. Eminem – After so much success at his heels, Lil Wayne has been talking about putting out a rock album for a couple years. This is the first single from off that effort. While it still sounds very much grounded in the hip-hop world, there is an element of guitar and rebellious angst. And who better with which to team up than King Angst, Eminem. I dig the song, though, because I do feel, at times, like doing what they speak of in the hook.
5. I Wanna Rock – Snoop Dogg – Snoop outdoes himself with this hot single from his latest album. It’s a tribute to the Rob Base classic, “It Takes Two.” Snoop just smoothes it out with his West Coast vibe. The beat is hot. I definitely wanna rock right now.
6. I Wanna Rock Too – Skillz – The VA underground legend adds his own wit and lyricism to Snoop’s hit record. Just another testament to why his name is Skillz.
7. It’s That Wu-Sh*t – Method Man, Raekwon & Ghostface Killah – This album is barely a month old. Three of Wu Tang’s big wigs united recently to give hip-hop their version of the 3 Tenors. LOL! The world needs to always be reminded it’s about the Wu.
BONUS TRACKS
(These are tracks that I may have overlooked when initially combing through songs for this anthology. They span the decades.)
8. Paid In Full (7 Minutes of Madness – The Coldcut Remix) – Eric B. & Rakim – I would’ve kicked myself if I didn’t include this in the anthology. This song and this group are legendary! Rakim revolutionized rhyming with his complex rhyme scheme. Before him, rappers were only rhyming at the ends of their lines. He brought about the idea of rhyming inside of lines, and it just sounded so sweet, back in the late 80s. This is one of the only songs—other than “Electric Relaxation”—that I have memorized.
9. Blue Cheese – The UMCs – To be honest, I’m not an expert on the UMCs. I used to love this song, and it is considered a classic. They were one of the firsts to represent Staten Island, before the Wu-Tang, circa 1991.
10. Ya Gotz To Chill – EPMD –Just like Eric B. & Rakim, I would’ve been remiss, if I failed to put an EPMD track in this anthology. This head-nodding classic was made “re-famous” in the Ice Cube film, “Barbershop.” However, EPMD was a hard-hitting duo who came out swinging in the late 80s, only to break-up in the mid-90s. The hip-hop community was heartbroken, but they left the world with many hits, including this one.
11. The Gas Face – 3rd Bass – This duo scored a hit with this diss-laden track, where they get to let off some steam at different world figures and pop culture icons of the time. The “gas face” became a bit of a dance craze, without the dance. Hip hop heads will still bring it up on occasions, as a joke. You have to see the music video to get an idea of what a “gas face” looks like. LOL! This song also caused a bit of a beef between 3rd Bass and Vanilla Ice AND MC Hammer.
12. I’ll Take Her – Ill Al Skratch ft. Brian McKnight – This is a hip-hop/R&B collaboration classic! Ill Al Skratch were short-lived rap group in the 90s—a 2-hit wonder (possibly 1-hit, depending on who you talk to), but this single was their major homerun. R&B crooner, Brian McKnight’s vocals are the main attraction.
13. Sittin’ on Chrome – Masta Ace, Inc. – Back in the mid-to-late 90s, Masta Ace hit it big with this bass-heavy summer jam. I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of this song. I love love love this track. Another song designed strictly for riding around in your vehicle.
14. Sobb Story – Leaders of the New School – Back in the early 90s, this trio popped up on the scene, young and energetic. The obvious stand-out though was the very young, Busta Rhymes, who is still putting out hits to this day. This song is a fun story-telling track of people and their sob stories.
15. Jump – Kris Kross – I couldn’t leave out the contributions of kids to hip-hop. “Jump” is definitely a classic hit from this little Atlanta duo, founded by Jermaine Dupri. If you haven’t heard this song, you definitely lived under a rock.
16. Get Money (Remix) – Jr. Mafia ft. Notorious B.I.G. – The remix is just as hot as the original, in my opinion. I love them both, and now you have them both. Just a great dance/club song that encourages us all to acquire financial gain.
17. Five Minutes of Funk – Whodini – This legendary hip-hop group put out this early classic in 1984. It’s pure hip-hop that evokes the b-boy/b-girl inside.
18. Burn Hollywood Burn –Public Enemy ft. Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane – It gives me great pleasure to end this anthology with my favorite group of all-time, and their single that touched on an issue very close to me—the images of Blacks in Hollywood. A very poignant track with powerful lyrics. Really stirred my mind back in the day.
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