Believe it or not, one of the things I miss most about living in Memphis and Cleveland, is the opportunity to watch VH1 Soul. Since, in recent years, I've pretty much given up on trying to listen to the radio, VH1 Soul is where I typically hear all of the latest R & B and Hip-Hop releases and checkout the accompanying videos.
Best of all, with VH1 Soul, I can get my urban music fix without having to listening to a bunch of ignorant talk and pseudo-intellectual babble in the process. Unfortunately, my cable provider here in Charlotte doesn't offer the channel (BIG SIGH). So one of the the activities I enjoyed the most over the holidays was sitting for hours on end in front of my parent's big screen TV and zoning out to the vidoes, musicial count-downs and documentaries on VH1 and VH1 Soul.
One of the shows I caught on VH1 (which we do get here in Charlotte) was a count-down of the top 100 greatest Hip Hop songs. Talk about an enjoyable trek back down memory lane. The show made me think about my own list of favorite old school Hip Hop artists. I thought about saving my list for a Thursday Thirteen post, but there were way too many to limit to thirteen. Besides, something tells me the Thursday Thirteen crowd isn't really into Hip Hop, old school, or otherwise (smile). So, in no real order, here it is--
1) A Tribe Called Quest
2) Da La Soul
3) 3rd Bass
4) Arrested Development
5) Digable Planets
6) Eric B. & Rakim
7) Queen Latifah
8) Mase
9) Dougie Fresh
10) Salt N Pepa
11) Big Daddy Kane
12) Heavy D. & The Boys
13) Public Enemy
14) MC Lyte
15) TLC
16) PM Dawn
17) Brand Nubian
18) Digital Underground
19) Bell, Bev, Devoe
20) Chubb Rock
21) Yo-Yo
22) Grand Master Flash & The Furios Five
23) Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
24) Lauryn Hill & The Fugees
25) Scarface and The Geto Boys
26) Tupac
27) Biggie
Do we share any favorites? What other old school hip hop artists would make your list?
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7 comments:
I'm all about Biggie through next week when "Notorious" opens in theaters. I'd add old school acts that still make music like LL Cool J, Ice Cube, and of course NaS and Buster Rhymes. But I can't believe that Whodini and Run DMC are not on your list!
Hey Keith,
I almost added LL and Ice Cube. But they are more in the "like" category as opposed to the "fav" category. NAS is cool, but I don't really consider him Old School. Oddly enough, I was never a big RUN DMC or Whodini fan. Actually, the latter group kinda got on my nerves (LOL). Thanks for adding your two cents though!
Based on this list, I'd let you dj a party for me. You can't go wrong w/the pioneers. Go Lori!
Thanks Radiogirl. Coming from you, that means a lot (smile).
We share quite a few faves, too numerous to name. Some others that would make my list are: The Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow and The Fat Boys.
By the way, in case you didn't know, the Thursday Thirteen site has been discontinued. I'm not sure why; I keep getting the "Address Not Found" message.
Not a fan of Whodini.... for shame... ;-) I actually fell in love with Hip Hop the first time I heard Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock". Run DMC being all over MTV sealed the deal.... sucka MCs should call me Sire!!!
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