Thursday Throwbacks: Wu Tang Clan "C.R.E.A.M."

One of the best tracks of all time.  No other words are necessary. 

Thursday Throwbacks: T.I. - "24's"

Since I was already in a T.I. state of mind, I thought I'd throw up one of his older classic joints for the Thursday Throwback post.  Although rims aren't as big of a deal as they used to be back when this came out, the song itself holds up pretty well.  This was the anthem for anyone that had some hot rims on their ride back in the day, although most of us were lucky if we could afford some 18's or 20's, yet alone some 24's.

Day-Day: "Just got some 20's on there.  Them 20's.  I just got them."
Craig: "Them ain't 20's but it's off the hook."
Day-Day: "Them are 20's, man.  Naw, they 10's.  I bought em from somebody...but they nice though."

Thursday Throwbacks: MC Lyte - "Poor Georgie" (PLUS JEEZY'S "SHAKE LIFE)

I decided to go with MC Lyte's Poor Georgie" for this week's throwback because of a new Young Jeezy track called "Shake Life" that I've been hearing on Sirius a lot lately.  It's definitely a hot joint and finally something decent from his new Thug Motivation 103 album which keeps getting delayed because all of the songs he was releasing from it were garbage.

Anyway, I recognized the beat immediately since it's just a slightly harder version of MC Lyte's "Poor Georgie".  The original sample is actually from Toto's "Georgy Porgy" which is a funky old school joint.  Here it is for your listening pleasure.
 

Thursday Throwbacks: Kris Kross - "Warm It Up"

"Warm it up Chris! I'm about to! Warm it up Chris! Cause that's what I was born to do!" Ahhhh! That's my shit! I get fired up every time I hear this and it instantly takes me back to the good old days. This has been my theme song since 8th grade and I've stuck to it ever since. How often do you get a dope track that uses your name in the hook?!?! You pretty much have to make that your theme song. I thought it was fitting to throw this one up todau since it's my BDay. Cause that's what I was born to do!

While we're here, I might as well hit you off with "Jump". Another classic!

Thursday Throwbacks: Onyx "Slam"

"Slam" is one of my favorite 90's joints and still gets me hyped to this day.  Just straight fight music.  I think this was one of the first rap songs that metal and rock dudes actually liked and could mosh to in the pit.  It actually had a huge influence on the Rap/Rock fusion style that soon followed too.  Public Enemy and Anthrax might have done the first real mashup with their remix version of "Bring The Noise" but the Onyx and Biohazard version of "Slam" wasn't far behind.  This shit was so nasty and it caught a lot of people off guard.  It brought together two completely different types of music fans and basically helped create an entirely new genre. 


Bonus Joint:  Onyx "Slam Harder"

Thursday Throwbacks: Black Moon - "I Got Cha Open" (HD VERSION)

I've been slacking on my Thursday Throwbacks posts so I thought I would hit you off with an updated version of a classic video.  Somehow, Black Moon was able to create an "HD" version of the video for "I Got Cha Open".  So sick.  Now you get to see the 90's dopeness in true color and clarity.  I really wish Hip Hop could go back to this look of baggies, Timbs, hockey jerseys and big puffy jackets instead of the current skinny jean bullshit.  That was my shit! 

Thursday Throwbacks: Bone Thugs & Harmoney - "For The Love of Money", "No Surrender" & "Thuggish Ruggish Bone"

Yeah man!  That's my shit.  Remember when Bone Thugs was not only relevant but also one of the most popular groups in Hip Hop?  I can't believe how much they've fallen off since then but it is what is.  Not everyone was made to have a long career in the Hip Hop game.  It's just surprising they haven't had a minor hit here and there since their style of rapping and singing is popular these days with artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj.

Obviously songs like "1st of the Month" and "Crossroads" off of the E. 1999 Eternal album are what brought them to the mainstream but I'm a huge fan of the Creepin on ah Come Up album that includes "For the Love of Money", "No Surrender" and "Thuggish Ruggish Bone". It was only 8 songs long but every single one was unreal. So sick. 

Thursday Throwbacks: Gang Starr - "Full Clip"

I've been slippin' on my consistency with the Thursday Throwbacks post so I thought it was about time I stepped up and served you with something nice.  I just recently started using Spotify (which is sick by the way) and decided to go through Gang Starr's entire catalog and "Full Clip" caught my attention for some reason.  I can't believe this song is already over 12 years old!  This could be dropped today and no one would no the difference. 

I used to love this track back in the day and the shit still holds up, just like any Gang Starr or DJ Premier produced track.  All they did was make classic material.  So sick.

Thursday Throwbacks: The Beatnuts - "Watch Out Now"

I featured The Beatnuts with their classic "Off the Books" on a Thursday Throwbacks post almost two years ago.  I thought it was about time I featured them again since they are probably one of the most underrated rappers and producers in the industry.  They aren't exactly the most lyrical but they make some dope party joints and their beats have always been top notch and ridiculously unique because of their usage of insanely rare and random samples.

"Watch Out Now" is right up there with "Off The Books" as one of their best hits and it's probably the most recognizable, along with being the most commercially successful.  The beat was jacked by the Trackmasters for J. Lo's hit song "Jenny from the Block".  They were not compensated originally but have since received royalties.  The messed up part is that millions of people out there that think that J. Lo's version was an original beat and have no idea that The Beatnuts created it first.  I used to get so pissed because J. Lo ruined one of my favorite club tracks of all time to the point where I couldn't even listen to it without thinking of her awful version.  Luckily enough time has passed where I have gotten it out of my head. 

The original sample is actually from a song called "Hi-Jack" by Enoch Light which was a decent hit in the 70's:

Thursday Throwbacks: Westside Connection - "Gangsta Nation"

I came across "Gangsta Nation" the other day for the first time in awhile so I thought I would throw it up.  This is still a hot joint.  "Consider this an invitation...to my gangsta nation!"

Thursday Throwbacks: Wu Tang Clan - "Triumph"

Although there might be a few other Wu Tang tracks that I would put ahead of "Triumph" for their "Best Of" list, it would be hard to find a better all around video.  The special effects were pretty crazy for the time and it's one of the few songs that they were able to get the whole crew to spit on.  It's definitely a classic. 

This shit still bangs hard to this day too.  The Wu's lyrical artistry was ridiculous.  There is no way a group like this could get radio play these days.  They are too intelligent for these new school dummies.  WTF has happened to Hip Hop, man?  This makes the new shit of today sound like nursery rhymes.  It's getting pathetic. 

Tokyo All Stars | YAK FILMS | New Jack Swing Brothers JAPAN (COOL 90's VIBE)

I first caught a few videos from Yak Films a couple of months ago and I've been addicted ever since.  They upload new videos pretty regularly and they are all pretty solid.  I've posted quite a few already and will continue to do so as they come in. 

This new one above featuring the Tokyo All Stars is pretty sick.  The dancing is solid but it's even better because of the 90's vibe.  These dudes are rockin' high top fades like Kid N' Play and have the style to match.  They even rocked some baggy Hammer pants!  Unreal.  I really hope this style comes back to the US sometime soon.  That would make my f'n day.  Japan always seems to be ahead of the curve in fashion and style these days so I could easily see that happening.  If it does, I'll break out my UNLV Starter jacket and hat to match and be pimpin' like it's 1990 all over again...

Thursday Throwbacks: Eric B. & Rakim - "Don't Sweat The Technique"

I was in the mood for a little Rakim for my Thursday Throwbacks post so I thought I would hit you off with "Don't Sweat the Technique". I could probably throw Eric B. & Rakim tracks up for about 3 straight months because they have so many classics. A few of their beats are a little dated but Rakim's rhymes and flows were a million miles ahead of anyone else at that time and it's still better than 95% of the rappers out right now. Dude was and still is one of the best rappers of all time. So sick.

Thursday Throwbacks: Poor Righteous Teachers - "Word Iz Life"

I still don't understand how "Word Iz Life" isn't more well known. When I ask people about it or just Poor Righteous Teachers in general, I usually get a blank stare back. Poor Righteous Teachers were definitely more of an underground group but they did have some commercial success with this one and "Rock Dis Funky Joint" among others. It just drives me nuts when dope songs like this don't catch on but at the same time, I can keep it to myself as my own little hidden gem that most people don't know about which can be cool sometimes.

I would send you a link to download on iTunes but they don't even have the album!  Damn.  At least check out "Rock Dis Funky Joint".  That's an old school classic.


Rock Dis Funky Joint - Profilin' - the Hits

Thursday Throwbacks on a Friday: Mad Lion "Take It Easy"

I forgot to post a Thursday Throwback yesterday so I figured I would make up for that by ending the week with an often forgotten classic. Mad Lion's "Take It Easy" still goes hard. That beat is tough and the sample for the hook is catchy as shit. Combine that with Mad Lion's ruff rude bwoy style and you have a nasty mix of Hip Hop and Reggae.

I wish Reggae/Dancehall artists would flow over Hip Hop beats more often.  Not the club shit but the hard joints like this one.  There's just something about it that draws you in and sounds dope as shit. Here are a few other joints from Mad Lion including "Shoot to Kill" and "Own Destiny" from the New Jersey Drive Vol. 2 Soundtrack.

Thursday Throwbacks: Slick Rick - "Children's Story"

Aww shit! Another one of my all time classic Hip Hop tracks. Slick Rick's "Children's Story" never gets old or sounds dated for some reason. It's kind of incredible, actually. Even though you know it's an old school song, there is just something about it that keeps you from ever getting sick of it. It's also been remixed and sampled dozens of times so it's like it has a life of it's own. It just keeps mutating and shit. I've also never heard this version for some reason with all of the extra sound effects, cuts and scratches. I kind of like it because it gives the song a new life, as if it needed one. FRESH!!!

Here is the best usage of the "Children's Story" beat that I've ever heard.  I used to mix this in with the original all the time and the place would go nuts. It's a remix of Capelton's "Tour". So sick!

Thursday Throwbacks: Raekwon - "Incarcerated Scarfaces"

DAMN! I haven't seen the video for "Incarcerated Scarfaces" in the longest f'n time. This shit takes me back. We used to bump the shit out of this back in high school along with pretty much any other Wu Tang album we had on hand. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. Real shit.

Thursday Throwbacks: Snoop Dogg ft. The Dogg Pound & The Dramatics - "Doggy Dogg World"

Since I already posted some Snoop related shit, I thought I would hit you off with a classic from the Doggystyle album. "Doggy Dogg World" is probably the most underrated singles from the album since it was also the the last but I still think it's one of the best tracks on the album.  You've gotta love that old school Funk and R&B sound along with an appearance from the fabulous Dramatics.

"Doggy Dogg World" samples Richard "Dimples" Fields' "If It Ain't One Thing It's Another" from 1982. I've never heard it before but it's a smooth ass joint.

Thursday Throwbacks: Lords of the Underground - "Chief Rocka"

Do I even need to say anything about this one?  "Chief Rocka" is just a 90's classic and possibly the best fast rhyming song of all time.  It's a perfect representation of Rap music at that time.  It might be a little dated but I still think it sounds pretty good today.  These dudes would run circles around any of these punks rappin' these days.

At one time I could actually sing along to every word but I'm a little rusty in my old age.  I actually get tired just thinking about trying to keep up. They just don't make them like this anymore:

[Verse One: Mr. Funke]
Boom shaka laka yo here comes the Chief Rocka
Rock it down, so jump up off the tip you're not my nucca
For sharper type to battle make the people say ooh ahh
Think I won't curse, I'll break down and say puta
?Hey, madrigon, sesa me bichafi mi chocha?
Say what I want because, I'm that type of guy
Now fam-a-lam, I'll be damned, slam jams the weak
Could it be the skunk weed that makes us oh so funky?
Now hold it let me choose, couldn't be the booze
No it's the shoes (the shoes?) It's gotta be the shoes!
Cause girlies, they clock, they stand around and jock
so I say boom shaka lak, grab the microphone then rock
To tell you the truth, when on the mic
I'll say anything that sounds good
Like jump and a grump and sound over some uhhh!?
The Cat in the Hat and the mouse ran up the stairs
"That doesn't make no sense!" C'mon who cares?
See even without the gift there's yours so don't be tryin to knock me
I say what I want to say, as long it sounds funk
Some MC's wanted to buy me, so they try to take stands
But they don't understand, I'm the motherfuckin man
I amaze and astound, rhythm up and down
Smack a group of them around, let them know who wears the crown
Who's-the-tip-of-the-top, the-cream-of-the-crop, the-best-under-the-sun?
I'm the Lord Chief Rocka, number one, Mr. Funke, uhh

Thursday Throwbacks: KRS-One "Step Into A World (Rapture's Delight)"

Yes yes y'all, ya don't stop, KRS-One, rock on!
Yes yes y'all, ya don't stop, KRS-One, rock on!

I'm bout to hit you wit that tradional style of cold rockin
Givin options for head knockin non stoppin
Tip-toppin lyrics we droppin but styles can be forgotten
so we bring back the raw hip-hoppin...

That's that shit right there!  I freakin' love this song.  This was my joint back in 1997.  I'd always throw it on to get hyped up for a game or just wake up from a shitty mood.  Even though the hook is kind of laid back and it utilizes a sample/interpretation of Blondie's pop hit "Rapture", it's straight fight music once that beat kicks in. 

It's one of those songs that everyone seems to forget about but they will go nuts once they actually hear it.  I used to throw this on every few months while DJ'n at the club just to keep everyone on their toes and it would always get the place going crazy.  It might have started a fight or two but it was worth it for the energy it brought to the room.

In case you don't remember Blondie's "Rapture" or are too young to have ever heard it, check out the video below.  Although Debbie Harry's rapping is painful, in a weird way it kind of helped Rap music as a whole.  This was one of the first real mainstream songs to introduce rapping to the masses so it should get at least some street cred for that.  If for nothing else, it's worth watching for the goofy looking Flava Flav wannabe dancing like a fool...