Flashback: "Move" - Oh No feat. J Dilla & Roc C

#DillaDay

Flashback: McNasty Filth - Jaylib

J Dilla + Madlib = Jaylib

The simplest formula in the hip-hop world. A few months ago, I was asked if I knew who Frank-N-Dank was, I said no and got the O_o response.

Well, in my quest to discovering who they were, I also found out about Jaylib. Not that I hadn't heard about the Caltroit union (#word to Black Milk), but I had never HEARD them. Coincidentally, the first song I came across was this Jaylib joint featuring Frank-N-Dank off Jaylib's 2003 album, Champion Sound (talk about killing two birds wth one stone).

If you hate stripper girls and aluminum poles may not be the video for you, if you appreciate a damn good hip-hop track take a gander.

Flashback "McNasty Filth" - Jaylib feat. Frank-N-Dank

Flashback: Murder She Wrote - Chaka Demus and Pliers

It's nearly 3 a.m. and while I'm sitting here writing this song popped into my head. There is nothing deep I need to say, no background, but this is a classic reggae joint that I think everyone knows (of) and has danced to. Murder she wrote ...

Flashback: Black Coffee - Heavy D & The Boyz

Black Coffee, no sugar ... no cream.

Heavy D & The Boyz had hits and Black Coffee definitely is my favorite joint by them. I really remember being in kindergarten singing this song on the way to school in the morning (one of very few child approved joints I could listen to). Clearly since the mid-90's rappers have been looking for 100% genuine girls ... no sugar, no cream. I don't think too many have tasted Black Coffee just yet, seeing as they still talk about it.

Flashback: BabyMamaDrama - Dave Hollister

I know Mother's Day was only two days ago and this may not be the most appropriate song to go along with the recent Hallmark holiday, but I know for some parenting pairs this is reality. I have always liked Dave Hollister and I do kind of think he (along with the likes of Donnell Jones and Carl Thomas) were not seen as strong forces in the R&B world. Today's Flashback is his 1999 single "Babymamadrama" off his album 'Ghetto Hymns'. Love to the baby mamas and daddys everywhere.

Flashback: "Mass Appeal" - Gang Starr

It was announced today that Guru, one-half of the legendary hip-hop duo Gang Starr, lost his battle with cancer Monday. Today's Flashback video is the first song I ever heard by them, "Mass Appeal."

Flashback: Player's Anthem - Junior M.A.F.I.A.

I looked outside and saw people hanging out on my block and for some reason this song popped in my head. Junior M.A.F.I.A. had a short run, true, but they still go down in the Hip-hop history books because of their affiliation with Notorious B.I.G. and jump starting Lil' Kim's career. Today's Flashback joint is Junior M.A.F.I.A. (complete with Biggie) performing their first single "Player's Anthem" at the Apollo in 1995.

Ready to Die - Notorious B.I.G.

Today marks the 13th anniversary of the death of one of hip-hop's most notorious MC's, Christopher Wallace aka Biggie Smalls aka Notorious B.I.G.

We all know B.I.G.'s story and the kind of mark he left on the industry with frenemy Tupac Shakur.

What I have always found interesting about Biggie is the fact that I have more fingers on my hand than he does albums, yet he is always put in the same lane as Tupac and somewhat worshipped by many.

Why?

He never won a Grammy and only managed to crank out TWO studio albums while alive and did not have 10 years worth of unfinished material, so what makes him so appealing?

For me, his honesty. This may sound completely stupid, but I feel like everything he was saying in his lines was the truth, no sugar coating it (not saying 'Pac lied, I can feel the heat from some of you already). 'Ready to Die' was one of those albums that you could either relate to because you knew someone like him or you could paint a vivid picture of what was going on with each track. I still wonder if Biggie knew the effect that he would have on life, after death.

Damn right I like the life I live, 'cuz it went from negative to positive...

R.I.P: Christopher Wallace 1972 - 1997

Flashback: Come Close - Common

This song came on my iTunes and I remembered just how sweet and touching the video was. Common and Mary J. Blige are two of my favorite artists and no matter how simplistic the song is, it's so dope to me. This video also reminds me a lot of Spring/Summer and with the pleasant weather we've been getting here in March, I figure this would be the perfect video to kickoff the upcoming season and pull people out of the winter funk. Flashback to: "Come Close" - Common feat. Mary J. Blige.

Flashback: What They Really Want - DMX

Every Tuesday when I was a kid, I could be found in Target, Best Buy, F.Y.E., Justin's Music ... any place that sold CDs. When I was 10 I bought my first explicit content album, with my own money, by myself and it was DMX's '...And Then There Was X." I loved this album (still do) and it stayed in my CD player, until Mom found it and it was all over, lol. I personally think DMX is an underrated rapper, he may be slightly bipolar, but his wordplay and the griminess of his lines can't help but captivate you. This song has some of the realest lines in it, if you take the time to listen. Flashback to: "What They Really Want" - DMX feat. Sisqó

Flashback: Climax - Slum Village

Basic blog lead: I love Slum Village.

Yesterday (aka my birthday so all belated birthday wishes are still being accepted) I saw the video for Slum Village's "Climax" for the first time. This song was on their second album 'Fantastic, Vol. 2.' The video has cameos from quite a few different people including Quest Love, Saafir and Gary Coleman, kind of showing Slum's influence. This song always reminds me of summer and with this horrible winter weather, everyone needs a little bit of sunshine. Flashback: "Climax" - Slum Village.

Flashback: 808 - Blaque

The early 00's saw a lot of groups, some worked out while others didn't. One of my favorite groups was Blaque, the protégés of the late Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. It did seem that they were going to be one to last with their self-titled debut album breaking into the top ten on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and being extras in the teen cult classic "Bring it On." Several rumors have come out about the group including the possibility of a reality TV show, but that never got off the ground. Two members didn't go quietly, Shamari (the lead singer) began doing background vocals and is credited on Nelly and Paul Wall's "Grillz" and Natina (the rapper) began to pursue a solo career of her own before getting engaged to Kurupt and (according to Wikipedia) going into ministry (IDK about that last part). Anyway, for today's Flashback I chose their song "808" probably their highest grossing record to date. Check for the Left Eye cameos.

Flashback : 808 - Blaque.


BLAQUE - 808

♥Priscilla a.k.a Pila♥ | MySpace Video

Flashback: You Owe Me - Nas

2000.

What is there possibly left to say about this year? This year was to the decade what spandex was to the 80's, hot at the moment but you later realize its faults. This song has been in my head for quite some time and today's flashback is "You Owe Me" by Nas and Ginuwine. Everything about this from the beat to the lyrics scream early 00's. The song was on Nas' 'Nastradamus album' and a pretty cool summer song (then). I know Ginuwine was recently in Detroit looking for backup singers (I believe it was backup singers) and we all know that Kelis is asking for an arm and three legs from Nas for child support, I wonder if she plays this song every first of the month?

Flashback: Angel - Amanda Perez

Early 2000s was an interesting time for music, fashion, technology, everything. During the peak of TRL and 106th and Park, generic boy and girl bands seemed to take over. In the midst of all that, Amanda Perez released her album and most well-known single to date "Angel" I loved this song so much back then and I actually still do. Taken it back to velour outfits, Flashback to: "Angel" - Amanda Perez.

Flashback: Boom - Royce Da 5'9"

I've concluded I am addicted to music and that my addiction changes. For some reason last night I downloaded Royce Da 5'9"s: The Bar Exam, The Bar Exam 2, M.I.C. and Build & Destroy.Royce Da 5'9" is one of those rappers I've come to love and appreciate a lot more this year after seeing him perform with the rest of Slaughterhouse at Rock The Bells. His next mixtape, The Bar Exam 3, is slated for release sometime next year ( I believe in March, but don't quote me on that). I figured what more perfect flashback than "Boom." This song is from his 2002 Rock City album and was produced by DJ Premier. It was the first song I heard by him, so flashback to "Boom."

Flashback: T-Pain

I remember while everyone else had just caught on to T-Pain's "I'm Sprung" I was moving on to his newest single making buzz on the southern stations, "I'm 'n Luv (wit' a Stripper)." I thought the song was funny, but I wasn't really feeling it until the remix dropped with Twista, Paul Wall, Pimp C, MJG, Too $hort (and in the video version) R. Kelly. So I decided to make it today's "Flashback Video" back when Auto-tune wasn't annoying and T-Pain wasn't getting paid out the wazoo.
Flashback to: "I'm 'n Luv (wit a Stripper) (Remix)"

I'm n luv wit a stripper (remix)(MCROB)
by robertjgunn

All Eyez On Me - Tupac

This week in Hip-Hop History, the hip-hop world and urban America sat silent as we learned that Tupac Amaru Shakur was shot and killed leaving a fight in Las Vegas. There are many speculations about who killed Tupac and why. Many urban legends say that it was an inside job by owner of Death Row Records (Tupac's label) Suge Knight (especially after the death of Bad Boy Records' and well-known rival (former ally) Notorious B.I.G. 6 months later).
Shakur was an actor, poet, and rapper having won many awards for his albums and gone platinum several times (even after his death).

Tupac stepped onto the 90s rap scene as a part of Digital Underground before releasing his first solo project 2pacalypse Now in 1991 on Jive/Interscope Records. From then on he went to release a total of three solo albums on Jive before getting arrested and serving time for violating probation (Tupac had several legal problems including being accused of rape, a wrongful death suit, and attacking an employee).

After his release, he then made the West Coast switch to Death Row Records owned and operated by Suge Knight with clients that included Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. His first album on Death Row, All Eyez on Me, went platinum (multiple times over) and began to shine a light on him and his affiliates.

Within a year of being signed to Death Row, Shakur was gunned down by an unidentified shooter after leaving a fight in Las Vegas and posing for this picture a few minutes earlier:



Tupac influenced a generation, he was more than a "thug" and convict, he did a lot for his community and left an everlasting mark on the hip-hop industry.

2pac - Keep Ya Head Up
by EazieLover

Flashback: Back Like That - Ghostface Killah feat. Ne-Yo

I love this song, It may be a guy talking to his now ex-girl, but the message is dope. Ghostface Killah is an often slept on rapper (in my opinion anyway) and this song is off his fifth album 'Fishscale'( which was as slept on as he is) . "Back Like That" was his second single, features Ne-yo, sampled Jay-Z's "Song Cry" and had K. West on the offcial remix. Flasback to: "Back Like That" - Ghostface Killah

Ghostface Killah feat. Ne-Yo - Back Like
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School Days - Chuck Berry

It's back to school time as everyone knows, summer is almost over and it'll be time to hit the books (unless you're like me and you have been taking classes throughout the summer). Well it's one commercial I SWEAR Mr. Alan's (it's an outlet store here in Michigan best known for it's '$25 or 2 for $50' deals) shows EVERY year during Back to School time. Thing is the commercial was shot in 1998, so over 11 year ago, and is extremely outdated. Also, it just so happens to star my older cousin Isaac and his friend Darryll, and every year during this time I ask him to say THE line:: Want to Get the Girl? See the Man (he never says it BTW). Anyway I haven't seen it yet, but I thought it was perfecto for this season. Remember: This Mr. Alan's commercial?

Musical Massacre - Eric B. & Rakim

I'm trying something new here and that is, at least once a week I will present you with something, an event, person, album, that took place during that week's dates in hip-hop history. The first one I'm doing took place July 25, 1988 and it was the release of THE most influential rap duo, Eric B. & Rakim's 'Follow The Leader.' The album was the follow up to their debut turned classic album 'Paid in Full.' 'Follow The Leader' included some of the most influential rap tracks including the albums lead single 'Follow the Leader', "Microphone Fiend" and "Lyrics of Fury."
The duo blew up during hip hop's Golden Age with their single "Eric B. is President," which also started some kind of tiff between them and Marley Marl who claims he produced the record but was never given attribution. The duo split in the early 90's after they each wanted to pursue solo albums, however Eric B. did not want to be relieved from their contract because his biggest worry was Rakim wouldn't remain as part of the duo. But Eric B. & Rakim split on ok terms, no harsh words were exchanged and according to them majority of the strain was coming from the labels.
This Week in Hip-Hop history: Eric B. & Rakim - "Follow The Leader" Classic.

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