Last month, my brother challenged us, as we celebrate 50 years of hip-hop, to provide a playlist that highlights our favorite aspects about hip-hop music. And it had to 50 songs deep! So here’s mine.
When you ask me about my favorite part about hip hop music, it is those moments when you find yourself rapping along or ad-libbing to a song, and notice everybody around you doing the same. It’s the flood of giddiness, and memory flashbacks. It’s that moment you and the ones around you recognize that you’re riding the same wave. I’ve always found those moments exhilarating. And hip-hop music has, over 50 years, greatly facilitated experiencing those highs. This playlist of mine will take you there. And I’m looking forward to see what my other guys come up with when it’s their turn.
(For the artwork, we had to use the wonderful Art Simpson collage of hip-hop luminaries! He also makes dope T-Shirts!)
Take a look at the tracklist...
02. Outkast ::: ATLiens
03. Method Man & Redman ::: Da Rockwilder
04. Foxy Brown ::: Oh Yeah (feat. Spragga Benz)
05. Busta Rhymes ::: Everybody Rise
06. Gang Starr ::: Work
07. Nas ::: Life’s a Bitch (feat. AZ & Olu Dara)
08. 2Pac ::: Shorty Wanna Be A Thug
09. DMX ::: No Sunshine
10. Jay-Z ::: Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
11. DMX ::: Here We Go Again
12. Lil Wayne ::: Hustler Musik
13. T.I. ::: Be Easy
14. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony ::: 1st of Tha Month
15. The Notorious B.I.G. ::: Juicy
16. Lost Boyz ::: Me and My Crazy World
17. Juvenile ::: Back That Azz Up (feat. Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne)
18. The Game ::: Hate It Or Love It (feat. 50 Cent)
19. Method Man ::: Bring the Pain
20. 2Pac ::: Can’t C Me
21. M.O.P. ::: Ante Up Remix (feat. Busta Rhymes, Teflon & Remy Ma)
22. Jay-Z ::: U Don’t Know
23. M.O.P. ::: Cold As Ice
24. 50 Cent ::: Don’t Push Me (feat. Lloyd Banks & Eminem)
25. Mase ::: 24 Hrs. to Live (feat. The Lox, Black Rob & DMX)
26. The Notorious B.I.G. ::: I Love the Dough (feat. Jay-Z & Angela Winbush)
27. Ruff Ryders ::: My Name Is Kiss (feat. Jadakiss)
28. Jay-Z ::: A Week Ago (feat. Too $hort)
29. Mase ::: Lookin’ at Me (feat. Puff Daddy)
30. The Notorious B.I.G. ::: What’s Beef
31. Beanie Sigel ::: Feel It in the Air (feat. Melissa)
32. DMX ::: Let Me Fly
33. Jadakiss ::: We Gonna Make It (feat. Styles P)
34. DMX ::: How’s It Goin’ Down
35. Method Man ::: I’ll Be There For You / You’re All I Need To Get By (feat. Mary J. Blige) [Puff Daddy Mix]
36. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony ::: If I Could Teach the World
37. Styles ::: We Thugs (My Niggas) (feat. Jadakiss & Sheek Louch)
38. Nipsey Hussle ::: All Get Right (feat. J. Stone)
39. Snoop Dogg ::: Lay Low (feat. Master P, Nate Dogg, Butch Cassidy & Tha Eastsidaz)
40. Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg ::: Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang
41. Dr. Dre ::: The Next Episode (feat. Snoop Dogg)
42. 2Pac ::: Me Against the World (feat. Dramacydal)
43. Nipsey Hussle ::: Ocean Views
44. J. Cole ::: Forbidden Fruit (feaet. Kendrick Lamar)
45. Kendrick Lamar ::: A.D.H.D
46. T.I. ::: Front Back (feat. UGK)
47. Bad Azz ::: Wrong Idea
48. Kendrick Lamar ::: King Kunta
49. Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y ::: The Planes
50. T.I. ::: Bankhead (feat. P$C & Young Dro)
51. Kanye West ::: Family Business
Enjoy and come back soon...
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