When Hip Hop was Hip Hop !!

The Latch-Key Child is the first album by the child rap prodigy, A+, released in 1996. A+'s lyrical talent and conscious and aware subject matter on this album was such that it has been compared to artists twice his age at the time. This is one of my favorite records off of the album with Q-Tip from Tribe Called Quest on the hook. A slept on record indeed. Download link: Me & My Microphone

I remember when I heard this I was like woooww!! that dude Sauce Money went in. Circla 2004/2005 if my memory serve me correct. Method Man did his thing as well. Download link : http://www.mediafire.com/?hagu3t2rf4b521k

I am not the biggest Memphis Bleek fan but this record is hot currently it's not found on any of his albums. It's off of a mixtape I received from Rocafella's street team when I went down to Miami, Florida that is. They were promoting for his 2003 album "M.A.D.E." Just blaze is on the beat doing his thing. I'm surprised it wasn't on the album. Sorry there isn't an upload for the song on Youtube, It's one of those rare songs. Download link : Remeber the Roc

This is a street classic, one of the best songs off of Cam's second album "S.D.E." (Sports, Drug, Entertainment) in my opinion. "You can't get paid and the earth this big..." classic line Download link : Losin' Weight

Off of the "18th Letter" album, Rakim's debut solo album. The Saga Begins is produced by Pete Rock. I was excited to here a Rakim album when it was released in 1997. He is a living legend.

"What U See Is What U Get" is the first single from Xzibit's second album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz. The video is as hot as the song. This was one of Xzibit's biggest songs. He's one of those underrated mc's in the west coast.

From the soundtracks of Spike Lee's movies "Crooklyn and Clockers." (which are great movies in my opinion) The first group was composed of Buckshot, Masta Ace and Special Ed. Their one and only record was "Crooklyn," produced by Q-Tip. The second group was composed of Chubb Rock, Jeru the Damaja and O.C. Their one and only record was "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers," produced by DJ Premier, and featured in the 1995 film Clockers. Both records are a classic but I love this version so much more. O.C and Jeru had some quotables on this record. Download link : Return of The Crooklyn Dodgers

When I first this record on Jay-Z "Street's Is Watching" Soundtrack I was mad hyped yo. Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule together again on a track (just to remind ya'll all 3 artists did a record together in the past with Mic Geronimo on "Time to Build" early in their careers, check my Mic Geronimo blog!!!!) They were the original Murder Inc. Irv Gotti came up with the idea to put the two juggernauts Jay-Z and DMX together with a up and coming Ja Rule to make history but unfortunately ego's clashed and the project was scrapped...sad right?? Download link: Murdergram and here is Ja Rule briefly discussing the issue.

J-Live first appeared on the underground hip-hop scene in 1995, The attention he got from this record "Braggin' Writes" got him printed in the "Unsigned Hype" section of The Source. This record was playing all over college radio's and underground radio back in the day. Download link: Braggin Writes

Off of Organized Konfusion's (consisting of Prince Po and Pharoahe Monch) 1994 second album; Stress: The Extinction Agenda. This is a concept track which sees the group describing the travels of a stray bullet in first-person narrative. Many argue that Nas copied the concept with the song "I Gave You Power" on his 1996 classic "It Was Written." Personally I Think Nas's version was way more descriptive. But this is still a great record.

I just felt like taking it down to the ATL for minute with Outkast's debut album "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" which came out in 1994. To be honest I fronted on their earlier material but I quickly realized that these dudes are true to the hip hop culture. I definitely respect what they have done in the past few years. Their influential in deed.

This is a classic record right here, released around 1998. I first heard this is an underground radio station and I thought to myself that I have to have this song in my collection. Download link: Calm Down

From Brownsville, Brooklyn M.O.P. debuted in 1993 with the single "How About Some Hardcore?", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film House Party 3. The single gained an underground buzz which led to the release of the 1994 album "To The Death" There one of my favorite groups. I love the energy they always bring to the table.

Ah man watching this video brings back memories, D&D All Stars consisted of some of artists that recorded at the legendary D&D studios located in NYC. Some of the artists came together to record the 1995 "D & D Project." Just about every east coast artist from the early 90's to the early 2000's recorded there from the likes of Jay-Z, Nas, M.O.P. and KRS-One just to name a few. Now DJ Premier owns it and renamed the studio HeadQCourterz

The remix to AZ's 1995 debut "Doe or Die," AZ enlisted Raekwon to represent with him. This was a mixtape classic. AZ is definitely one of the most underrated MC's I first heard this record on one of DJ Clue's mixtape back in 1998. I can't recall which one but anyway off the strength of this song I bought the album "Pieces of a Man" which was releashed later that year. The album was highly praised for its complex and insightful lyricism. Download link : Doe or Die (remix)

Discovered by KRS-One, the duo released their debut album, Station Identification, in 1995. Another underground classic. Til this day I play this song, The beat is still ill and the lyrics are on point.

Once affiliated with the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, Killah Priest released his classic 1998 album "Heavy Mental" A notable track on the CD is B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth), which had already appeared on GZA's 1995 Liquid Swords album) check it out if you haven't heard before, that song is deep. Anyway He also released "Cross My Heart" ft.The GZA and Inspectah Deck another favorite of mines.

Debuted with the 1996 album, "Episodes of a Hustla," Infamous Mobb Deep affiliate Rapper/Big Noyd dropped what many consider an underground classic. Prior to the album he was featured on Mobb deep's 1993 "Juvenile Hell" and 1995 "The Infamous" Album. Recognize & Realize pt 2 is one of those rare records, I still have the record on cassette tape!! Download link : Recognize & Realize (Part II)

Coming out of the Bronx, Show and A.G. are members of the Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) along with Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and the late Big L. The Track "Next Level" is from "Goodfellas" the second album which was produced by DJ Premier and later featured on the movie 8 Mile. Here is The L.O.X. freestyling over the "Next Level" instrumental, this is from DJ Clue's - 1998 Best of Freestyles pt.1 Mixtape Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?opczrjc1zdhlfgh

"We represent the Hip Hop and not the rap yall" This should be this blogs anthem. Anyway here is a cool record from Da Bush Babees, a group of underground hip-hop artists loosely affiliated with the Native Tongues. "Ambushed" is the first album the group which came out in 1994 and features the single "We Run Things"

An unreleased eminem track from "The Slim Shady LP" era. One of the illest mc's to ever touch the mic. Download link: Till hell freezes over (unreleased)

Nothing else to say but CLASSIC!!!!

The Leader of The D.I.T.C.(Digging in the Crates)Crew and mentor to the late Big L. Lord Finesse debuted in 1989 with DJ Mike Smooth and released the album "Funky Technician." The album featured production from future star beat-makers DJ Premier, Diamond D and Showbiz. Finesse returned as a solo artist in late 1991 with his second effort, Return of the Funky Man which is also the title of song that's being featured. F.Y.I. Finesse made a production appearance on The Notorious B.I.G.'s classic debut Ready to Die, on the track Suicidal Thoughts in 1995.

A rare interview with Lord Finesse on YO MTV Raps circa 1992 (Notice a young Big L chilling in the background)

This is one my favorite records for one, the beat is a banger and second for the simple fact it's showing East/West coast love with Lost Boyz ft. Tha Dogg Pound and again Canibus did his thing. This is the remix so you wont find this song on the 1995 "Legal Drug Money" album

The posse-cut "Beasts From The East", featuring Lost Boyz, A+, Redman and Canibus is crazy. The year was 1997 and Canibus was the talk of the industry. I first heard this on a mix-tape and felt this was one of the hottest posse-cuts I heard in along time. " A MC so ill I got AIDS scared to catch me" that was a hot line from Canibus. Download link : Beast From The East

Straight from Brooklyn N.Y. His first album, "The Sun Rises in the East", was released in 1994 and produced entirely by DJ Premier. (Are ya'll seeing a pattern now?) The album is a underground classic til this day. It is considerably significant in hip hop, as it contributed to the revival of the East Coast hip hop scene with the single "Come Clean" which had a lot of heads nodding to the beat. This record is also off of "The Sun Rises in the East." This was an cool record on his perspective on those not so wonderful women, we all know at least one or two of them. I liked the vibe this track brought to the table so I wasn't surprised when one of Hip Hop's biggest superstars paid homage. I guess you can call it that and made his 2002 version...

Considered by many as The Godfather of Hip Hop, Kool G. paved the way for a lot of MCs who we would not have heard of otherwise. Kool G Rap excelled at the street narrative, a style that would come to define later Queens MCs like Nas (who was hugely influenced by G Rap on his early records) and Mobb Deep. He has also been cited as a major influence to some of hip-hop's most critically acclaimed figures such as Eminem, Nas, Jay Z, and Big Pun.

Like Common said, "They call me Chi-Town's Nas." I respect his art and style because he never followed trends and compromised what he stood for through out the years and he stayed true to himself, something that can't be said for a lot of artists nowadays. This record is off of Common's 1994 album "Resurrection" Critics believe that "Resurrection" belongs amongst Illmatic, by Nas, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), by Wu-Tang Clan, and Ready to Die, by the Notorious B.I.G."

Cool interview from Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick The Ruler!!

I first heard both records on one of DJ Clue's "Hev. E. Components" series either part 1 or 2 back in 2001. Nas definitely helped 50 cent along the way early in his 50's career. They need to put together their differences mainly on 50's part and get in the studio together and make some new songs. Download link : http://www.mediafire.com/?qdc9gfnp40txqtq Here is the other record that was also on the Clue tape, this song is featuring Nature and 50 cent. Download link : Who U Rep With

This is off of third album, Onyx released in 1998, "Shut EM Down." The song is featuring a then unknown 50 cent and X-1 R.I.P.(Sticky Fingas brother)

A hip hop group from Oakland, California, that is also part of the hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. 93 'til Infinity is often heralded as the best album to come out of the West. I loved the production on this album as well thanks in part to rapper/producer Domino and Del the Funky Homosapien. It brought that funk and jazz sound to the music. Til this day I listen to the album.