Hip-Hop Classic #36: The Fugees - Ready Or Not (Chosen by Kieran Yates)

All words by Kieran Yates: I first heard it when I was in primary school, and I couldn't believe that a female vocalist could sound so soft and so sexy and so hard at the same time. That opening, brooding warning, of Lauryn saying 'Ready or Not' still makes the hair on my neck stand up.

Click to read more ...

Hip-Hop Classic #35: D.I.T.C - Get Yours (Showbiz Remix) (Chosen by DJ Cable)

'Get Yours' is the third single from D.I.T.C's self-titled debut album, which was released in 2000 on Tommy Boy Records. The group consisted of Lord Finesse, Show, A.G, Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and the late Big L.

Click to read more ...

Hip-Hop Classic #34: DJ Skitz - Fingerprints of the Gods (Feat. Roots Manuva, Life, Si-Phillie & Skeleton) (Chosen by Ayah Marar)

All words by Ayah Marar: I have been a massive fan of Hip-Hop for more than 15 years now, and I was going through all the huge American classics and thinking how hard it was going to be to settle on one, so I decided to look closer to home.

Click to read more ...

Hip-Hop Classic #33: Ol' Dirty Bastard - Brooklyn Zoo (Chosen by Sebastian Smith)

'Brooklyn Zoo' is the lead single from Ol' Dirty Bastard's debut album, Return to the 36 Chambers, which was released in 1995 on Elektra Records. The track was produced by True Master and ODB himself, and interpolates 'Protect Ya Neck' by Wu-Tang Clan.

Click to read more ...

Hip-Hop Classic #32: Group Home - Tha Realness (Chosen by Ben Westbeech)

'Tha Realness' is a track taken from Group Home's (GangStarr affiliates) critically acclaimed debut album, Livin' Proof, which was released in 1995 on PayDay Records. The track was produced by DJ Premier and sampled 'Valley of the Shadows' by Bob James and Mobb Deep's 'Shook Ones (Part II)'.

Click to read more ...

Hip-Hop Classic #31: The Pharcyde - Drop (Chosen by DJ MK)

'Drop' is the lead single from The Pharcyde's sophmore album, Labcabincalifornia, which was released in 1995 on Delicious Vinyl. The track is once again produced by the late J Dilla and contains a sample of 'The New Style' by Beastie Boys, off their 1986 release 'Licensed To Ill' - Jay Dee uses the titular "mmm..... drop" line delivered during a drop to create the songs hook.

Click to read more ...

Hip-Hop Classic #30: Jay-Z - Can I Live (Chosen by DJ Semtex)

'Can I Live' is a track taken from Jay-Z's debut album, Reasonable Doubt, which was released in 1996 on Roc-A-Fella Records. The track is produced by Irv Gotti and samples the classic 'Look Of Love' by Isaac Hayes.

Click to read more ...

Hip-Hop Classic #29: A Tribe Called Quest - Stressed Out (Raphael Saadiq Remix) (Chosen by Roy Thomas)

'Stressed Out' is the second single from A Tribe Called Quest's fourth studio album, Beats Rhymes & Life, which was released in 1996 on Jive Records. The Raphael Saadiq remix featured on the B-Side of the single's release and was also re-released in 2006 on 'The Lost Tribes' compilation, which was released exclusively in Japan.

Click to read more ...

Hip-Hop Classic #28: Run DMC vs Jason Nevins - It's Like That (Chosen by Antonio Lulíc)

All words by Antonio Lulíc: It was the start of summer in 1997; I was fourteen years old, and was only just getting over the Oasis and Blur phase of my musical upbringing. I wasn't particularly bothered about playing music; I hadn't yet badgered my parents enough to get a drum kit, and I'd only ever been irritated by my sister's guitar.

Click to read more ...

Hip-Hop Classic #27: The Pharcyde - Runnin' (Chosen by Andy Sheldrake)

'Runnin' is the lead single from The Pharcyde's sophmore album, Labcabincalifornia, which was released in 1995 on Delicious Vinyl. The song was produced by J Dilla and samples 'Saudade Vem Correndo' by popular Jazz artist Stan Getz, and also samples part of the hook from Run DMC's 'Rock Box'.

Click to read more ...