A few Hip-Hop classics from a few people...
Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 10:18AM 
'I Ain't Mad At Cha' is a track taken from 2Pac's fourth studio album, All Eyez On Me, which was released in 1996 on Death Row Records. Although the album was released exactly 7 months before his death, the single was released shortly after his death. The track was produced by Dat Nigga Daz (Daz Dillinger) and samples the song 'A Dream' by DeBarge.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 9:18AM 
'Heaven & Hell' is the lead single from Raekwon's debut solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, which was released in 1995 on Loud Records. The track features Rae's fellow Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah and backing vocals from Wu-Tang affiliate singer Blue Raspberry - it is also produced by the legendary RZA and contains a sample from 'Could I Be Falling In Love?' by Syl Johnson.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 11:04AM 
'Role Model' is the second single from Eminem's sophmore album, The Slim Shady LP, which was released in 1999 on Aftermath Entertainment/Web Records. The track is produced by Dr. Dre & Mel-Man, and Eminem claims it is essentially about suicide, which is believed to be him mocking his own experiences in 1996. Throughout the song he also mocks unsuitable role models, who people will mimic regardless of the things they do.
Dr. Dre, Eminem, Hip-Hop, Lucas Brooks, Rap Monday, November 28, 2011 at 9:15AM 
'Thelonius' is a track taken from Common's fourth studio album, Like Water For Chocolate, which was released in 2000 on MCA Records. The track features Detroit Hip-Hop group Slum Village and is produced by the late great SV member J Dilla (?uestlove isn't credited, but he produced the opening melody), who was the executive producer of the album along with ?uestlove & James Poyser (Soulquarians) - not many people know this, but Dilla lifted a sample from Vulcan Mind Probe by the incredible George Duke for this song.
Common, Hip-Hop, J Dilla, Kola Bello, Slum Village Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 11:29AM 
'Flava In Ya Ear' is the lead single from Craig Mack's debut album, Project Funk da World, which was released in 1994 on Bad Boy Records. This remix of the single was the breakout appearance for The Notorious B.I.G., as well as one of the first solo appearances by Busta Rhymes after leaving Leaders Of The New School. The album was the second release on Bad Boy Records, following Biggie's all-time classic 'Ready To Die' by one week - propelled by the success of this (original) Platinum-selling single, 'Project Funk Da World' reached Gold status in 1995.
Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 9:30AM 
'Notorious KIM' is the title track from Lil' Kim's sophmore album, The Notorious K.I.M., which was released in 2000 on Atlantic. The song is produced by Rockwilder and sits at #8 on the tracklist, in between the two singles from the album, 'How Many Licks' & 'No Matter What They Say'. The album debuted at the top of the U.S. Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album Chart, and at #4 on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 230,000 copies - more than half as much as her debut effort, Hard Core, and ultimately spending 25 weeks in the chart.
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 10:56AM 
All words by Mystro: 'A Gangsta's Fairytale' is taken from Ice Cube's debut solo album, Amerikkka's Most Wanted, which was released in 1990 on Priority and was his first release after departing from the legendary N.W.A. I'll admit because I was so young I never fully understood everything he was saying but I knew it was some real street narration, using nursery rhymes and cartoon characters I was very familiar with - that alone had me in awe.
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 9:27AM 
'It's My Turn' is the lead single from Stezo's debut album, Crazy Noise, which was released in 1989 on Sleeping Bag Records. He started out as a back up dancer for EPMD on their Strictly Business Tour back in 88 - this was one of the biggest tours in Hip-Hop history and he actually got kicked off of it due to beefing with Parrish Smith, but that isn't what made him famous within the Hip-Hop community.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 9:58AM 
'99 Problems' is the third single from Jay-Z's eighth studio album, The Black Album, which was released in 2003 on Roc-A-Fella Records. The track is produced by Rick Rubin, which was his first Hip-Hop production in years - Rubin provided a guitar riff and stripped back beat that were once his trademark sound. During the creation of the song he used some classic 80s samples, including 'The Big Beat' by Billy Squier, 'Long Red' by Mountain and 'Get Me Back On Time' by Wilson Pickett. The single, which is a true story about Jay dealing with a racist cop wanting to illegally search his car, reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart, selling 463,000 copies in its first week. An incredible piece of music from the greatest rapper to ever live.
Harry Styles, Hip-Hop, Jay-Z Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 10:36AM 
'Electric Relaxation' is the second single from A Tribe Called Quest's third studio album, Midnight Marauders, which was released in 1993 on Jive Records. The track contains a sample of 'Mystic Brew' by Ronnie Foster, and the beat is most notable for being a three bar loop, which is very uncommon in Hip-Hop - along with 'Lyrics To Go', this was one of the first instances of such production.
A Tribe Called Quest, Hip-Hop, Twin B 
