This article was created in response to TV station trends to document the best hip hop trax of all time. Over the years I have watched several shows and I have felt that most of them have been way off the mark. I think a more accurate description should probably be hip hop and rap records that have sold the most units and made the most money for the major record companies. The aim of the article is not necessarily for me to tell you what the best hip hop trax are but merely to expose some of the hidden gems that hip hop as a culture has to offer and that are never likely to be represented on the corporate stations.
Low Profile “Pay ya Dues”
Taken from the 1989 album and only LP “We’re in this together“. Rapper WC later went on to form “WC and the Maad Circle“ with Coolio before joining “Westside Connection” with Ice Cube and Mack 10. DJ Alladin went on to produce and work with rapper Ice T.
Third Bass “Brooklyn Queens”
Taken from the 1st of Third Bass‘s LPs entitled “The cactus album“. Rappers MC Search and Pete Nice along with DJ Daddy Rich released 2 albums on Def Jam records before splitting up in late 1992. Both “The cactus album” and “Derelicts of dialect” are both considered hip hop classics.
D Nice “Call me D-Nice”
This is one of the stand out tracks Taken from D-Nice‘s first LP also called “Call me D-Nice“. D-Nice was originally part of the hip hop crew Boogie Down Productions with KRS One and Scott-La-Rock.
X Clan “Heed the word of the brother”
Taken from X clan‘s fists LP “To the east blackwards” released in 1990. This is a stand out LP in general all the tracks are as good as this. Essential for any old school hip hop fans.
KMD “Who me”
Taken from KMD‘s first LP “Mr Hood” at the time I thought KMD were going to be as big as De-La-Soul but their second LP “Black Bastards” was shelved by their record company because of its controversial cover. The Second LP was finally released in 2001 when the rights expired by independent label Sub Verse music. Rapper Zev Lov X later went on to record under the name MF Doom.
CPO “ballad of a menace”
CPO (Capital Punishment Organisation) were a crew made up of rapper Lil Nation, DJ Train and producer Young D. They only recorded one LP “To hell and black” which also featured MC Ren from NWA. The LP was released on Eazy E‘s Ruthless records label in 1990.
Above the Law “Untouchable”
This is a remix of the track “Untouchable” by Above The Law from their first LP “Livin like hustlers” This version was on the 12″ single of “Untouchable” and is listed on the record as “What cha can prove“.
YZ “Thinkin of a master plan”
Taken from YZ‘s first LP “Sons of the farther” and also available on 12″ Single. Released in 1989.
Brand Nubian “Slow down”
Taken from Brand Nubian‘s first LP “All for one” released in 1991. Brand Nubian consisted of rappers Grand Puba, Lord Jamar and Sadax X with DJ Alamo. Over the years all members have recorded solo material but still perform as a group.
Main Source “Just hangin out”
Taken from Main Source‘s first and only LP with rapper Large professor “Breaking Atoms“. DJs Sir Scratch and K-Kut went on to record a second LP with rapper Mikey D entitled “F**K what you heard“. Large Professor has since recorded several solo albums.