Hip-Hop Classic #6: Snoop Dogg - Who Am I? (What's My Name) (Chosen by Mark Surridge)

'Who Am I? (What's My Name) is the debut solo single from Snoop Dogg's classic debut album, Doggystyle, which was released in 1993 on Death Row/Interscope. The song was a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #8 in 1994, but the album debuted at number number-one on the Billboard 200, selling 802,858 copies in its first week alone (becoming fastest-selling album ever until The Marshall Mathers LP).

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Hip-Hop Classic #6: Lords Of The Underground - Tic Toc (Chosen by Yasmin)

'Tic Toc' is the lead single from Lords Of The Underground's sophmore album, Keepers Of Funk, which was released in 1994 on Pendulum Records. Although the album wasn't as successful as their debut release, Here Come The Lords, it still gained some success by making it to #57 on the Billboard 200, #16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and going down as a classic in most Hip-Hop lovers' eyes

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Hip-Hop Classic #5: LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out (Chosen by Clement Marfo)

'Mama Said Knock You Out' is the hit single and title track from LL Cool J's fourth studio album, which was released in 1990 on Def Jam/Columbia Records. Before this single/album was released, many people felt that LL was falling off, but his Grandmother still believed in his talent and told him to go 'knock out' all the critics - that's exactly what he did.

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Hip-Hop Classic #4: Big Pun - Twinz (Deep Cover '98) (Feat. Fat Joe) (Chosen by Mistajam)

'Twinz' is an iconic Hip-Hop track taken from Big Pun's classic album, Capital Punishment, which was released in 1998 on Terror Squad/Loud Records, and saw him become the first solo Latino rapper to go Platinum. The album was executive produced by Pun, Fat Joe and Matt Life, with guest appearances coming from Black Thought, Wyclef Jean, Prodigy, Inspectah Deck, Busta Rhymes, the whole Terror Squad family and many more.

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Hip-Hop Classic #3: Gang Starr - Rite Where You Stand (Feat. Jadakiss) (Chosen by Ed Sheeran)

'Rite Where U Stand' is the massive second single from Gang Starr's sixth (and last) studio album, The Ownerz, which was released in 2003 on Virgin/EMI Records. The album came at a time where they had become the last of the '80s Hip-Hop acts to show that they could still offer something fresh and relevant in a 21st century world of Rap. The Ownerz provides Gang Starr fans with all of the pure elements they have come to expect; flint-hard DJ Premier produced beats and aggressive, but thoughtful lyrics from Guru. This track inparticular, which samples 'Gonna Keep Tryin' Till I Win Your Love' by The Temptations, optimises everything that the duo stand for - as Preemo explains: "we utilize hip-hop like we own it and we don't misuse the art form". The biggest compliment I can pay Gang Starr is that their appeal grew with each successive release, which helped The Ownerz to rank alongside their earlier masterpieces. Timeless music.

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Hip-Hop Classic #2: Mos Def - Auditorium (Feat. Slick Rick) (Chosen by DJ Baller B)

'Auditorium' is my favourite track from Mos Def's 2009 release, The Ecstatic, which was his fourth studio album and the first album from the rapper in three years (following True Magic, which was pretty woeful). The album features samples from a wide range of musical styles, including Soul, Afrobeat, Jazz/Funk and Latin, and has been noted by critics for its 'out of the crate' samples.

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Hip-Hop Classic #1: Da Bush Babees - The Love Song (Feat. Mos Def) (Chosen by Thomas Coxhead)

'The Love Song' is the lead single and my favourite track from Da Bush Babees critically acclaimed sophmore album, Gravity, which was released in 1996 on Warner Bros. They are a group of underground Hip-Hop artists that were loosely affiliated with the Native Tongues - the members of the group are Babe-B-Face Kaos, Mister Man and Y-Tee.

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