Since yesterday was my birthday, I decided to go back through my collection and re-discover some of the old school tracks that first got me interested in hip-hop. These aren't any genre-defining songs, or tunes that opened the door to mainstream acceptance of hip-hop. It's just some shit from back in the day. All links go to the video of said song.

Passing Me By - The Pharcyde
Ya Mama - - The Pharcyde

These are off one of the first "real" hip-hop albums I ever owned on CD, Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde. Every song on this album is an absolute classic. Passing Me By is generally though of as one of the greatest hip-hop tracks of all time, and has been sampled by numerous modern artists. The beat, the hook and the smooth flow make it one of, if not the most memorable songs from my younger teenage years. Ya Mama was one of the first songs to bring The Dozens into mainstream consciousness, and soon after this song became a hit, every white kid out there starting ragging on each other's mothers (if you don't remember what The Dozens were, just think of it as You Got Served, but without dancing). All the songs were witty and playful, sometimes dealing with serious subjects, but never in a serious nature. Murder, masturbation, and accidentally making out with a transvestite all flow together an create a 57 minute album that I've had to purchase more than a few times over the years. Unfortunately, due to drug use, the acquisition of a new producer
and the HORRIBLE decision to go R&B made the majority of their later releases virtually unlistenable. I did catch them in concert in 2003, and although the lineup wasn't the same as when they released Bizarre Ride, they still performed the majority of the songs from that album. They must have been aware that their newer stuff sucked too.

Mistadobalina - Del tha Funkee Homosapien

This little gem came off of the album I Wish My Brother George Was Here, and along with the song Boo-boo Heads really got me hooked on the whole West Coast sound. Del has always been one of my favorite rappers, and this is the album that solidified the Bay Area as a hip-hop powerhouse (at least for me). And speaking of Del...

You Never Know - Hieroglyphics

This album introduces some of the finest artists to come out of the Bay Area. Del, Casual, Pep Love, Souls of Mischief, Jaybiz, and Domino. It's 72 minutes of deliciously funky and bouncy beats, a showcasing of each artist's talent, some freestyles and some of the best collaborations you'll ever hear.

Paul Revere - The Beastie Boys

The greatest hip-hop overthrow of all time. Dorky white Jewish kids who used to play punk shows at CBGB decide to put on large sunglasses, ski goggles and enormous VW logo necklaces and rap about beer and titties. After hooking up with the producer of Slayer's Reign in Blood, they create music that consists of mangled AC/DC riffs, Kerry King solos, reversed
Aerosmith rhythms and the awesomeness of looped 303 beats (*kicksnare*kicksnare*kicksnare*kicksnare *kicksnare*kicksnare*kicksnare*kicksnare GIRLS!!!). And they got away with it. Put that over-sized boombox up to your ear and make frantic gestures with your arms as you sing along.

Wit' Dre Day - Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dog.

He was still Snoop Doggy Dog, their party spots always had people C-walking and drinking 40's out of fridges that were fully stocked with Olde English. Rollin' on dubs, 16 switches for all the bitches, blunts the size of your forearm. Rap videos that weren't just music, they were mini-movies. You had all the players getting together to party, a bit of the song at the party, an interlude between partying to clown on someone, more music back at the party and then the outro, with everyone leaving the party at six in the mornin'. Fuck yeah. During The Chronic years, 40's of Olde E were my drink of choice, and even the whitest kid at school knew how to crip walk.

Just A Friend - Biz Markie

"You... you got what I neee-eeed. But you say he's just a friend, and you
say he's just a friend... OOHHHH BAAYY-BEEE YOOOUUUUU!!!" Comedy. Fucking.
Gold.

Cop Killer - Body Count

The entire album was condemned by dozens of decency groups, censors, parents, teachers, police officers and civil rights activists. Every song was incredibly obscene and filled with violent lyrics dealing with subjects ranging from pimping to matricide and arson to drive-by shootings. You're damn right I had a copy! And after the song Cop Killer was pulled from the album, I spend years searching for one of the original copies (Finally found it in the used section, going for 35 bucks). Screw Limp Bizkit, THIS was the original hard rock/rap crossover album.

Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Say what you will about Will Smith, but who can deny that this was the ultimate summertime party song? It spawned a couple of nice techno remixes and was probably the last good thing Will Smith did before he became a full-time actor.

That wraps up my hip-hop nostalgia list. Anyone out there have a certain song from back in the day that they've never been able to fully get out of their head?

The editors of FTTW wish Seetwist a happy yesterday birthday

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