I’m mostly talking about artists and producers who molded the next generation. Not just through influence, but by hands on guidance/mentorship, and providing opportunities that opened doors.
After moving to Tampa, I’ve heard a lot of people talk about Tom G as a local standout.
Apparently he performed at the BET Awards some years back or something like that
*These are in no particular order*
1.) Public Service Announcement - Jay-Z
2.) The Next Episode - Dr. Dre
3.) My Adidas - Run-D.M.C.
4.) Da Rockwilder - Method Man & Redman
5.) Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac) - OutKast
6.) Gimme Some More - Busta Rhymes
7.) Moves - Big Sean
8.) No More Fun and Games - The Game
9.) Champion - Kanye West
10.) Rewind - Nas
11.) The Infamous Date Rape - A Tribe Called Quest
12.) Suicidal Thoughts - The Notorious B.I.G.
13.) What Up Gangsta - 50 Cent
14.) Humble - Kendrick Lamar
15.) The Games We Play - Pusha T
I’d edit The Game’s “Doctor’s Advocate”.
I’d cut “Bang” and “Around the World” and replace them with one of the “One Blood” remixes. Specifically the West Coast version.
If I remember right, there was a version of the album that had one of those remixes as a bonus track, but I’d make it part of the official lineup instead of an add‑on.
I’m talking about the joints that feel timeless.
For me, the best example is “Feel It in the Air” by Beanie Sigel. It dropped in 2005, right in the midst of the mid 2000s trend of snap music, synth beats, and all that other gimmicky shit.
A lot of those records didn’t age great, but this one stood the test of time in my opinion.
*These are in no particular order*
1.) The Wayans Bros
2.) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
3.) Hammerman
4.) In Living Color
5.) Static Shock
6.) Power
7.) The Boondocks
8.) Aqua Teen Hunger Force
9.) Living Single
10.) Kenan & Kel
11.) Martin
12.) All That
13.) Samurai Jack
14.) Eve
15.) Romeo!
16.) Smart Guy
17.) The Super Mario Bros. Super Show
18.) Samurai Champloo
19.) Dave
20.) In The House
I never heard the phrase “it’ll all make sense one day” until I listened to Common’s discography in my 20s. Now granted I know his album is called “One Day It’ll All Make Sense,” but still the message is the same.
That shit is so real. I used to stress over so much stuff as a kid that doesn’t even register now. Popularity, chasing the baddest women, material shit, all that.
Reaching mid to late 30s made me realize how unimportant all that stress really was. Every situation I used to lose sleep over eventually panned out. At some point it all just clicked. Everything really did make sense one day.
*These are in no particular order*
1.) Rakim
2.) Jay-Z
3.) OutKast
4.) Nas
5.) Lil Wayne
6.) Wu-Tang
7.) Kanye West
8.) Three 6 Mafia
9.) Future
10.) Tupac
11.) NWA
12.) The Notorious B.I.G.
13.) Young Thug
14.) Migos
15.) Kendrick Lamar
16.) 50 Cent
17.) A Tribe Called Quest
18.) Eminem
19.) LL Cool J
20.) Snoop Dogg
21.) Beastie Boys
22.) Eazy-E
23.) KRS One
24.) Run D.M.C
25.) Drake
There are several that stand out to me, like when Prodigy said: “Baby mama let's roll, here we go, Cheerios/Serial killer with the flow and the blow and the dro'/And the gun go ring, hit 'em all in a row”.
Then there's Fatlip’s “Now there she goes again, the dopest Ethiopian/And now the world around me begins moving in slow motion when–“
But if I had to choose just one, it would definitely be Biggie’s: “Who the fuck is this? Paging me at 5:46/In the morning”
Most people know Joe Budden for his podcast, and a lot of folks clown him as a one hit wonder. But anyone who actually listened to his work knows that the man could rap very well, and he created some beautiful introspective music.
I say all this because I was trying to put my younger cousin on game, and he had no idea Joe Budden was a rapper before he became known for the podcast.
Had to show him that Joey was fire.
Shit the Mood Muzik era alone was better than a lot of folks shit at the time.
And what’s the story behind it?
For me, it’s a toss‑up between my autographed Slaughterhouse sweater and my signed vinyls. I have one from Big K.R.I.T. and another from Havoc.
And what does it bring out of you emotionally?
The wild part is he delivers these bars with so much confidence that people just go with it.
So with that said, here are four punchlines he’s said in the last few years:
“I’m about to step it up
I’m a stepper that lets his weapon spray
And did you notice/I ain’t homophobic
Cause my stick/got a dick
But only hit men so my weapon gay”
“I ball, but I ain’t trying to drive a Kia
So I’m running after the green like vegans with diarrhea”
“Me losing to a lame rapping
It’s like you wipe your butt hole and your nose with the same napkin
The shits not (snot) happening”
“Me losing when it’s game time
Impossible, dickhead
Like trying to cum and piss at the same time”
Do y’all know anyone who’s said worse?
Imagine rap had a trade deadline. Atlanta and New York have to exchange one artist each, and the value has to match.
What’s the most even value trade in your eyes?
Imagine rap had a trade deadline. Atlanta and New York have to exchange one artist each, and the value has to match.
What’s the most even value swap in your eyes?
Some fans go super hard defending their favorites and sometimes it’s for good reasons. But there’s a rather thin line between defending someone’s artistic choices and just making excuses for mid output.
When is it fair to say “okay, they’re just not executing well”?
Where do y’all draw the line?
Every once in a while an artist drops a track over a beat that’s incredibly smooth & over the years a few of them have really stuck with me.
Song Cry by Jay‑Z was one of the first joints that had me in awe.
Help by Lloyd Banks & Keri Hilson is another one I replayed heavily.
Devil in a New Dress by Kanye is a fuckin vibe
King Nas by Lupe Fiasco is phenomenal
But lately?
“Reconsider” by Joyner Lucas been my SHIT
That beat is ridiculously smooth! As a matter of fact, the whole track is great! Dude dropped some amazing bars on there
One of my favorite artist/producer collaborations in Hip‑Hop is Kanye West and Nas.
It began when Kanye produced “Poppa Was a Playa” from The Lost Tapes and from there, every time they worked, things just got better.
“We Major” on Late Registration.
“Still Dreaming” and “Let There Be Light” on Hip‑Hop Is Dead.
Their Nike collab “Classic (Better Than I’ve Ever Been)”
When they featured on French Montana’s “Figure It Out”
And even though I genuinely dislike most of Nasir, I’ll admit “Everything” and “Adam & Eve” are amazing tracks.
I’d love to see them link up again and create another body of work.
The kind where the lyrics play out like a movie in your head
I don’t know what it is, but I fuck with “State of the Union” by Jim Jones and Rick Ross heavily.
It’s crazy because I don’t care for either of them like that…but that song is fire.