Like most cats that engaged in their adolescence in the 90s, I still bump a lot of old hip-hop. In the manner that Indians still listen to 80s pop and classic rock like it were fresh, I love the 90s and early 00s hip-hop. Recently, Ta-Nehisi Coates and David Sasaki both dug through the archives and gave their favorites from this era, thus kicking me to finally finish something I’ve been thinking about for awhile. This podcast comprises some of my most favorite upbeat and grimy East Coast (with a splash of Southern) hip-hop tracks from the 90s. Funny enough, a handful of these songs were radio hits from artists I don’t really listen to (Keith Murray, Craig Mack, Lozt Boyz), but these classic singles captured a time and place so well for me when I was a teenager. (Unfortunately, I left out The Roots, Blackstar, Dead Prez, and more Wu-Tang for no specific reason, but they just didn’t work on this one).

As Coates says, getting into your favorites can spark a controversy. But I believe that’s the sort of discussion that is beautiful because people are so different. The greatest musical artists are ones that generate an argument over which of their works is the best. The Bends or Kid A? Illmatic or It Was Written? Atliens or Aquemini? Also, art is subjective and I’m not sure why I don’t like Common, but his flow lacks vitality to me. Gotta love opinions. Enjoy and feel free to comment.

Big L - Put It On

Gangstarr - Full Clip

Notorious B.I.G. - Unbelievable

Nas - Halftime

Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. II

Goodie Mob (feat. Outkast) - Black Ice

Outkast - Da Art of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1)

A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour

Lost Boyz - Music Makes Me High

Craig Mack - Flava in Ya Ear

GZA - Liquid Swords.

Keith Murray - The Most Beautifullest Thing in this World
(To listen in itunes, click and save as here)

 

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Categories: Visine for the ears