E-Jay is a good friend of mine that I have made plenty of mix tapes for. Now usually I make smooth R&B mixes for him because he's a big lover of the quiet storm but after a conversation we had concerning old school hip-hop I decided to surprise him with a old-timers hip-hop mix for his birthday.
1. Eric B. Is President - Eric B and RakimThe song that sold me on hip-hop. Prior to 1986, there were rap songs I liked but
Rakim's line "Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me." forever changed my feelings for the genre. The bass line, the cuts, and
Rakim's flow. Summer '86 didn't get any better than this. I actually walked past
Rakim a year ago in Manhattan and was so starstruck I couldn't even speak and I never get starstruck.
2. How Many Mc's... - Black MoonBuckshot has great flow and the beats are always heavy and dare I say, sexy. Black Moon's records always put you in a mood. The sound is laid-back but still strong. Though I don't partake in herb enhancement, it does make you feel like laying back and smoking.
3. My Philosophy - Boogie Down ProductionsKRS-One proves he can still get the job done after the death of Scott
LaRock.
Mimicing Malcom X's famous pose on the album cover was just one way of standing out but the complete album had a lot of heart and
KRS demonstrates why he's one of hip-hop culture's pioneers.
4. I Got It Made - Special EdSure Special Ed was cocky. But no one could deny he had charisma and flow. Plus I was so popular at school in NJ because I knew the Brooklyn landmarks in the video. My aunt lives in the neighborhood of the Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park, & the Brooklyn Library.
5. Paper Thin - MC LyteBefore Paper Thin there was "10% Dis" and "I Cram to Understand" but personally this is the song that made me "sweat" MC
Lyte. That sandy bob with the earrings, the attitude and sass. And let's not forget DJ K Rock doing "
Da Butt" dance in the video. I think me and all my little friends wanted him. "When you say you love me, it doesn't matter. It goes into my ear as just chit-chatter."
6. Children's Story - Slick Rick7. Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J8. You Gots To Chill - EPMDEverytime I hear this song, I think of the dancer in the background doing the "Steve Martin" dance.
EPMD had to grow on me. I wasn't a big fan at first but grew to really like Erick Sermon and his humor. Besides who can forget E as Zorro in the video. "I'm like Zorro, I'll mark E on your back."
LOL.
9. Five Minutes Of Funk - WhodiniNot only does it remind of
breakdancing but who could forget it was the theme of "Video Music Box" with Ralph
McDaniels. Plenty of us in the
tri-state area rushed home after school to see that
boombox rise up behind the NY skyline introducing us to a hour of videos.
10. Hip Hop Junkies - Nice-n-Smooth11. Rock Dis Funky Joint - Poor Righteous TeachersI don't know what it is about this song but when you hear it, you have to dance. No matter how old it gets I always have the same reaction.
12. My Mike Sounds Nice - Salt-n-Pepa Heavily uses that DC Go-Go sound that was
prevalent in many of Salt-N-
Pepa's earlier songs. Youthful and fun, way before they became mainstream. Just two girls having fun on wax.
13. Slow Down - Brand Nubian14. Just To Get A Rep - Gang StarrI don't know what it is about Guru's flow. Tough with alot of maturity. This is my all-time favorite Gang Starr song. And DJ Premier is hands down the ultimate! I love anything he touches.
15. Can I Kick It? - A Tribe Called Quest
