1. Flava in Your Ear (Remix) – Craig Mack – I had to go back a few years, from where the last disc left off, because there were a couple songs that I’d forgotten to include in the last disc. This classic is the best remix, in my humble opinion, ever! It features Biggie Smalls, Rampage, LL Cool J, and Busta Rhymes. It is pure FIRE!
2. Vocab (Refugees Hip Hop Remix) – The Fugees – Too many people don’t realize that the Fugees actually had an album out before they scored with their CLASSIC 2nd album, “The Score.” This was a chill little track that I was a big fan of back in 1994.
3. Runnin’ - Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac – This posthumous pairing of the 2 earthly rivals was something I believe people needed to hear. This song was released in 1998 after both had been killed in 2 separate incidents only months apart, from 1996 – 1997. A sad reminder of 2 lives gone too soon.
4. Respiration – Black Star featuring Common – Black Star is comprised of Mos Def and Talib Kweli who are now solo artists, but still very close compadres. Mos has gone on to become a very prolific and skilled actor. Chicago’s own poet/MC, Common, could’ve very well been considered a 3rd member of Black Star. This song is probably the most lyrically poetic hip-hop song that I’ve ever heard. It’s beautiful urban poetry. I’m a HUGE fan!
5. Back That Azz Up – Juvenile – By 1998, this is what hip hop had come to. LOL! Juvenile was another New Orleans rapper who emerged from the underground with an already huge following. This song catapulted him to commercial success, because it was an instant hit for the clubs. I begrudglingly nodded my head to it, while brooding about the state of my hip-hop music. LOL!
6. Get At Me Dog – DMX – Nowadays is known moreso for his troubles than his music, but in 1998, this guy exploded on the scene!!! This song was pure testosterone and energy. I loved it! Before the world knew it, I was proclaiming that he was going to be the next big thing. He was the first rapper to ever put out 2 albums in 1 year.
7. Hate Me Now – Nas ft. Puff Daddy – This signifies the time when Nas was considered “falling off.” He’d started to become too “pop,” and strayed far away from his Illmatic days. This song was from Nas’s 3rd album, It Was Written. . ., which many hip-hop heads consider when Nas was at his lowest. The original video for this song sparked controversy, because there was originally an image of Puff Daddy hanging on the cross. The whole video’s theme is crucifixion, which naturally caused an uproar.
8. My Name Is – Eminem – And then there was Eminem. . . THE END. LOL! When I first heard this song, I was in my car, stuck in traffic on I-66 near Falls Church, headed into DC. I thought the song was CRAZY. Quirky and hilarious! I loved it. I was soon shocked to find out that the artist was White. That sparked an immense curiosity. . . and I’ve been a fan since! Eminem shook up the world! Dr. Dre’s biggest find since Snoop Dogg.
9. Thelonius – Slum Village ft. Common –This song has no real significance in the hip-hop world at large. However, it is one of my all-time FAVORITE tracks ever. When I first heard of Slum Village, I thought they were some new gangsta rappers, because of their name, but when I first heard their album, “Fantastic, Vol. 2,” I was fascinated. These Detroit rappers’ style is like they are making it up as they go. It’s mischievous, witty, creative and free. On this track, the super-producer, J. Dilla/Jay-Dee steps from behind the beat machines and actually rhymes, bringing up the rear. He slays his verse with masterful, tongue-twisting wordplay. I would often rewind his verse over and over again. These guys knew how to play with a beat, almost in jazz-like fashion. Unfortunately, after this album, J. Dilla left the group to pursue a solo career and continue as a super-producer. His beats are untouchable. Not much longer after leaving the group, Dilla, who suffered with lupus, succumbed to the disease in 2006. The death shocked the hip-hop world. Still to this day, people have to stop and pay respect to Dilla for his contributions. And as if that wasn’t a big enough blow, fellow Slum Village member, Baatin, passed in July 2009. Two members, 3T and Elzhi—who joined after J. Dilla left--still carry the torch today. “Thelonius” is a great tribute to what used to be though.
10. Stan – Eminem – This song is just genius! One of the best written rap songs ever. Eminem paints a clear story of a celebrity stalker, bouncing back and forth, in and out of character. An eerie story told by a troubled genius. The Dido sample is just the icing on the cake.
11. Take a Walk – Masta Ace – Ace is a legend, by all means. He first surfaced in the early 90s with the legendary juice crew, on the Marley Marl produced track, “The Symphony,” a definite hip-hop classic. Over the years, Ace continues to put out albums underground, and his consistency and skill never dulls. He is sharp lyrically, and one of the most underrated rappers alive. This song is off one of the best albums of all time, “Disposable Arts.” Ace paints a picture with this song, like only Ace can.
12. Saturday (Oooh! Oooh!) – Ludacris – Ludacris is one of the best—if not THE best—rapper to come out of the South. His lyrics are lively and witty, as is his personality and most of his songs. He’s a bucket o’ fun, as is exemplified in this song.
13. Takeover – Jay-Z – By the time this song came out, the buzz about the Jay-Z/Nas beef was already hitting the airwaves. Two of NYC’s top MCs were embroiled in a rap battle that walked a thin line between business and personal. Jay-Z comes out swinging at Nas on this track, as well as another Queens artist, Prodigy (of Mobb Deep). Jay refers in the song to “you know who did you know what with you know who.” This refers to an actual incident where Nas’s “baby mama” (not Kelis) performed sexual acts on Jay-Z, back in the 90s. This should’ve brought Nas to his knees. . .
14. Ether – Nas - . . . but it didn’t. “Ether” was Nas’s rebuttal to “Takeover,” and by all accounts, THIS song made Nas the ultimate winner in the Jay/Nas beef. If anything, the hip-hop world owes Jay thanks for putting fire back in Nas’s dwindling flame. His attacks on Nas awoke the dragon! This album, “Stillmatic,” is definitely Nas’s 2nd best album of all time.
15. Hot In Herre – Nelly – It was not until this single dropped that I was anywhere near willing to pay any respects to Nelly, who pioneered the St. Louis hip-hop scene. When he first dropped in 2000, I was nowhere near a fan. I did not like Nelly, at all. This single broke me down though. It’s a great party song—a classic party song, if you ask me. They could play this song at an outdoor dance, in Alaska, in January, and people would have to strip down. The song makes you believe you’re burning up!
16. Work It – Missy Elliott – Missy in her infinite creativity made a hit record by taking the hook for her song and reversing it. It was so weird, yet so genius. . . and it made a big hit for her. Still to this day, I have no idea what she’s really saying, but will still try to sing it like I know what she is saying.
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