We have O-Gee and the Re-Do parties this weekend, so we are in an even more school state of mind than usual around here. Check out one of the smoothest R&B/Soul cuts ever. Yes, ever!

Wanna fight about it?

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I am not sure how we’ve gone this long without featuring Luchini (which happens to be the unofficial official anthem of O-Gee) on Throwback Tuesday. If Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede (collectively known as Camp Lo) never do another constructive thing in their lives, they will at least have produced one of the biggest and most enduring anthems in hip-hop.

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They still perform around the world and according to this interview are working on an album with Pete Rock!

Pete Rock and Camp Lo!!?! It’s enough to make this hip-hop heart flutter.

Do you want to know why Dr Dre’s album is the most eagerly anticipated thing in hip hop right now? It’s because he can take an innocent sample like this, that was just minding its own business in the light jazz/blaxploitation section, and turn it into an nightclub anthem of filth flran filth.

This is the version I play when i dj. It highlights the excellent Nate Dogg verse and cuts out the rest.

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As I was searching through my playlist preparing for OGEE this past Saturday (which was absolutely BONKERS) I came across one of my favorite rapper/producer duo CL Smooth & Pete Rock.

After reminiscing (no pun intended) over how much the 90′s hip hop shaped my musical preferences thus far I only see it fitting to drop one of their best tracks “Straighten it Out” for Throwback Tuesdays.

Enjoy!

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What do we know about Da Bush Babees? We know they are three guys from NYC (by way of JA and Trinidad) who ran with the Native Tongues crew. We know you can probably hear their tracks early in the evening at O-gee. What you may not know is Jermaine Dupri did some of the production work on and executive produced their first album (it stunk). The original of Love Song, the first single off the second album Gravity, showcased the vocals of then unknown Mos Def on the hook and was produced by De La Soul’s Posdnuos. The remix though has Mr. Dupri. I was, for some reason, always partial to this version (I mean what do you expect I was rocking khakis and polos not Tims and Hoodies).

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For good measure here is the original. Consider this Two-for-Tuesday.

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P.S. – The pic is the actual promotional cd single distributed by the So So Def street team. Yeeaaaaa I own this shiieeeit. For you real young kids they actually used to make plastic things that music came on i.e. tapes, cds, etc.

This lead single from Bobby Brown’s 1988 album is a classic, and thanks to the circular nature of music, it sounds oddly current amongst today’s music. Big synths, big drums and big attitude.

This was the first song I can remember that had an artist both singing and rapping. I’m sure there were others before it, (remember New Jack Swing was in full… um… swing by this time) but this was the first time I’d heard it.

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If the excitment over 2009′s less than stellar Blackout! 2 album confused you, then you either don’t know or don’t remember how good the original Blackout! from 1999 was. Allow us to refresh your memory with one of the better known songs on the album, and guaranteed party starter even today, Da Rockwilder. Just Nuts!

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Na na na na na na na naaaaaaaa!

The (really) hot weather is finally with us, and as if by magic, the ol’ iPod seems to be picking a soundtrack to match. When this 1993 hit by Domino came on, I leapt for joy in the middle of the street… or at least I would have if it hadn’t been so damn hot.

From his eponymous 1993 album, and the song that guarantees he is a shoo-in for The Hip-Hop One Hit Wonder Hall of fame: Getto Jam.

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P.S Proper spelling is not required in the hip-hop hall of fame. Soulja boy can rest easy.

Before he got his SAG card, Common was a pretty good rapper. And judging from the reviews of his latest effort (49% on Rotten Tomatoes… ouch), perhaps he needs reminding of sef.

See what I did there? See, see?

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Queen Pen had one great album then disappeared. Ok, she had one ok album, with a number good songs then poof, she was gone. OK, ok, she had a boring album with one great song, and then she disappeared- but boy what a song!
Party ain’t a party just puts me in the mood for summer parties, especially the turn-it-up-to-eleven feature by Freaky Tah.

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Bonus:

The original sample for this is On your face by Earth Wind and Fire- the greatest funk band ever! That’s right, the greatest ever… You wanna fight?

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Fun trivia about this song: according to Wikipedia, this was Def Jam’s first number 1 single. Who knew? But that is not why I love it. I love it because of its deep paranoia and its bitter, bitter monologue towards the end. This is how he dismisses his cheating girl:

You gotta get on outta here with that alley-cat-coat-wearing,
punch-bucket-shoe-wearing crumbcake I saw you with. Cause you
dismissed!
That’s right, Silly rabbit, tricks are made for kids, don’t you know
that.
You without me is like corn flakes without the milk!
This is my
world. You’re just a squirrel trying to get a nut!
Now get on outta
here. Scat!
Don’t touch that coat…

Classic!

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Released in 1990, still good 20 years later. Large Professor goes in larrrge.

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