Alright. Okay. Alright. Okay.

[raybear]

Last night I went to Funky Buddha with foxycoxy for Itchie Fingers's birthday. I don't really go to FB because I feel uncomfortable with 1) the intense orientalism of the decor and 2) their drinks being hella expensive. But sometimes you make exceptions, because I knew it would be good to chat with Coxy, because Itch is a friend-of-friends and I wouldn't mind if he became my friend, and because I knew the music would be amazing. And sure enough, he and Aquil did not let us down. Getting in without paying a cover didn't hurt either.

I haven't been in a space playing all hip-hop in such a long time, I was like, oh yeah, why don't I do this more? But my favorite part of parties and clubs and events is that moment when a classic (or underplayed) gem comes on and it unites the room, everyone perks up and nods their head or dances and sings along. You know what I'm talking about. When I was standing at the bar, singing along to Pharcyde's Passing Me By with a stranger, I thought "I want to make a 2-disc mix of all these songs!" I told Coxy I would make it for her as part of her indoctrination to hip-hop.

So this morning, I'm up early, and I'm culling songs. But I want help. Normally I'm controlling about my mixes, but I think this would be served better as a collective effort. I know I will forget songs, and because the nature of this mix is such that I might choose stuff that would get me (and thebrownhornet) super-excited, but won't quite elicit the phenomenon in the club that I'm talking about. So help me, livejournalers who listen to hip-hop! Here's what I have so far. Songs with asteriks are "maybe" votes, so if you think they might be too obscure, let me know. And tell me what songs I'm forgetting! They don't have to be 'old', my choices are heavy in the late 80s to late 90s, and I don't want this to be a mix about 'who can name the oldest, most influential joint in hip hop" game -- I want songs that create collective love, but also don't want it to be too pop-y.

Ok, so far I have:

Passing Me By - The Pharcyde
Ready Or Not - The Fugees
Quiet Storm (remix) - Mobb Deep feat. Lil'
If I Ruled the World - Nas with Lauryn Hill
Juicy - Notorious B.I.G.
Flava In Ya Ear (remix) - Craig Mack
A Roller Skating Jam Named ''Saturdays'' - De La Soul
SpottieOttieDopaliscious - Outkast
Daytona 500 - Ghostface Killah *
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik - Outkast
Take It Personal - Gang Starr *
I Used To Love Her - Common Sense
All That I Got Is You - Ghostface Killah
You Can Do It - Ice Cube [I should probably do "It Was a Good Day" instead?] *
Sock It 2 Me (Featuring Da Brat) - Missy Elliott [Or should I do "The Rain"] *
Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.
Stress - Organized Konfusion *
Verbal Intercouse - Raekwon
I Ain't No Joke - Rakim
Elevators (Me And You) - Outkast
The Next Movement - The Roots
Can I Kick It? - A Tribe Called Quest
Gin And Juice - Snoop Doggy Dogg
Roughneck - MC Lyte [or should I do "Lyte as a Rock" or "Paper Thin"?]
Crush on You - Lil Kim [though I'm considering "Drugs" instead, if only because that Sylvester sample is hot and gets used later on by Dr. Dre and Erykah Badu]
My Philosophy - BDP
My Mind Playin' Tricks on Me - Geto Boys

(This isn't an intentional order, btw. I'm just in the gathering songs phase. Also, this might be a 3-disc set.)

Damn, I just realized I have no songs from The Chronic as mp3s. I might need to go peruse my vinyl collection for more inspiration.

Tell me your thoughts.

Comments

[blasfemmey.livejournal.com]

there needs to be some quest in there....

i would recommend:
bonita applebaum- tribe called quest
vivrant thing- tribe called quest
rebirth of slick- digable planets
93 til infinity- souls of mischief
this or that- black sheep

this is not really hip hop, unless you get the remix with Dr. Dre, but I would love to see "no more lies" by michele' on a mix.

i know i could come up with more. whatchoo think?

remember 3rd bass? i know they had a bad ass song, but i cannot remember the name of it right now.

oh leaders of the new school! they are good, too!

how are you by the way?

[raybear.livejournal.com]

i have "Can I kick it?" on the list already -- i was debating between that and Scenario, but Bonita Applebaum is a good one too. maybe I'll put both Bonita and Kick It. I'll probably have 2 outkast songs too.

black sheep!!! yes. all your suggestions are good, thank you. if you have more, feel free to come back! even if i they don't make the cut, i will enjoy revisiting. maybe i'll make a "lost tracks" version of the mix and put No More Lies on it for you!

oh, and btw, my writer's residency is now going to be the first half of august, which means i'll be free when you're in town for the femme conference and we can DEFINITELY hang out.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

also, was that 3rd Bass song "Gas Face"? i mean, i know that's a song of theirs, but i'm not sure if that was the single.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

wait no, it was "Pop Goes the Weasel"!!!!

[live-laugh-love.livejournal.com]

Is the 3rd Bass song "Gas Face"? I love that song.

[dommeyourass.livejournal.com]

yes! digable planets

[blasfemmey.livejournal.com]

i am thinking it was gasface, but i cannot remember. i can only see the video in my head. you do not know how much i enjoy jogging my memory for songs of my youth.

i hope you do ATLiens by outkast, or rosa parks.

we need to just sit in a room and go through this! we could go on for hours, im sure!

oh, see, now i wanna come in aug. i was looking at going to mass in sept instead of chicago, but at some point im gonna make it there, and you are gonna make time to kick it with me. got it?

[raybear.livejournal.com]

yes, yes. we can sit and listen to records and laugh and sing and dance all day!!

[blasfemmey.livejournal.com]

krs one-sound of da police (an all time fave)
fu schnickens- whats up doc (can we rock), ring the alarm or breakdown (!!!)
pete rock & cl smooth - they reminisce over you
gang starr - mass appeal
ice cube- wicked (!!)
the doc- funky enough
dj quik- tonight is the night



please tell me to stop, i am fixating.

the lack of female presence on my list, or for the time period is a little disheartening.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

yeah, i was thinking that when i choosing MC Lyte songs. the only consolation is that if i was doing an r&b version of this mix, that would probably be all women! except for Mint Condition's Pretty Brown Eyes.

your list might start to become your own personal history box set. that would be awesome. i've always wanted to do a 5-disc History of Raybear! i think everyone should and we would hand them out to people when you start to become friends.

[tracijean.livejournal.com]

"Walk This Way" - Run DMC & Aerosmith - always gives me immediate bonerz when I hear it
(Same deal with lots of Run DMC actually. My first fav. rap group! I love "It's Tricky" too)

I think "The Rain" is #1 Missy, personally. And "Work It," though it's not as CLASSIC (yet)

"Fight the Power" by Public Enemy still makes me wanna jump around

Um, "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J? Ha. So fun to listen to though. So is "Big Ol' Butt." And "I Need Love." And ALL OF THEM OKAY! I'll cop right now to big love for my LL greatest hits cd.

"It Takes Two" - Rob Base? I'm getting so cheesy here. These were all my intro-to-hip-hop jamz though.

DIRTY SOUTH CLASSIC
Goodie Mob's "Dirty South"

[tracijean.livejournal.com]

that song is so much better DIRTY VERSION, good god

[riverafire.livejournal.com]

where is Latifah? I vote for "Come Into My House". Otoh, "Ladies First" always make me wanna dance too. If you are only doing one Lyte track, then let it be "Paper Thin." I also think The Coup should be represented here."Dig It" is the jam and it is smart as hell too.
& I second the emotion that if you are going to put Cube on, make it, "It Was A Good Day."
Oh, and The Beastie Boys! "Shadrach", "Paul Revere" or "Intergalactic"? PR is so fun to sing along to.
It is still early here. I could come up with more if I had some coffee. I hope this becomes a 3 disc set. & I hope you share the final compilation with your flist!
eta: Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick! Actually, If you have an mp3 of "The Show" or "La Di Da Di" I will pay you cash money for that. I have not heard that track in years and it was my first rap fave.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

oh damn, Ladies First! yes.

i will do my best to track down those other tracks and e-mail them to you. no cash money necessary, but when we finally meet up in l.a., you can pay for the chocolate lava souffle cake we're going to share at alcove!

[blasfemmey.livejournal.com]

i vote for paul revere....i wish i was a latifah or lyte fan, but im not.

[live-laugh-love.livejournal.com]

Dear Yvette
The Rain
Work It - not so classic, but classic Missy, IMO
Fly Girl - for the life of me I don't remember who did this but it was a staple at pretty much every dance I went to in HS
Triple Trouble - one of my ALL TIME favorite Beastie songs
That's It That's All - ditto above

I've already ganked this list and am itchin to get home and download. You'd best post the final track listing!!!!!

[live-laugh-love.livejournal.com]

Can't do nuttin for ya man - that's another classic.

[gaymertheflamer.livejournal.com]

dude! i got a dollar if you burn me a copy!

damn! talk about flashback friday!

LL Cool J

[blondestallion.livejournal.com]

Around the Way Girl

not sure it will make it to your mix, but i love, love, love this one.

Re: LL Cool J

[ex-fish.livejournal.com]

I second Around the Way Girl. Seriously.

[blasfemmey.livejournal.com]

ray--if i come to chicago, can we have a flash back party that involves hotdogs and a roller rink?

[live-laugh-love.livejournal.com]

you should make feathered hair and combs in the back pocket mandatory.

[vfc.livejournal.com]

I want a copy of whatever the final result is.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

also, who's been all up in this post is a freestyle fan, so when she does come to visit, i will introduce you two.

[katemosey.livejournal.com]

"Respiration" -- Mos Def

"This Means You" -- Talib Kweli

"Pacifics" -- Digable Planets

"I know you got soul" -- Eric B. and Rakim

[raybear.livejournal.com]

yeah, i might have to put both I Know You Got Soul AND I Ain't No Joke on the mix!

[esquire.livejournal.com]

Mona Lisa - Slick Rick
Project Chick - Cash Money Millionaires
Fantastic Voyage - Coolio
Handle your Business - Xzibit

Something by Tupac... maybe Picture me Rollin?

And I want a copy of this mix!!

[cruelnails.livejournal.com]

All these great songs and no "apache" (or did I miss it)? Michael Viner gets no love?? :)

Also...
Silent Treatment - The Roots
Flowing on the D Line - Digital Underground
Re: Definition - Black Star
Chief Rocka - Lords of the Underground
Vapors - Biz Markie
Let Me Clear my Throat - DJ Kool
Welcome to the Ghetto - Spice 1
I Got a Man - Positive K
Nothing But Love - Heavy D & the Boys
Mistadobalina - Del Tha Funkee Homosapien

[raybear.livejournal.com]

Let me Clear My Throat!!!! Damn.
Yes.
Thanks.

[ex-fish.livejournal.com]

I need a copy real bad. I remember when you made me a mix tape that included "Got Yo' Self A Gun" and I still miss it to this day. In exchange, I'll send you a fruit basket.

[thebrownhornet.livejournal.com]

"Cold Rock A Party" (Remix) - MC Lyte with Missy
"Uptown Anthem" - Naughty By Nature
"Ditty" - Paperboy
"Your Mom's In My Business" - K-Solo
"Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" - De La Soul
"Ain't No Future In Your Frontin'" - MC Breed
"Come Clean" - Jeru Da Damaja
"High Rollers" - Ice-T
"Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" - Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz
"Funky Beat" - Whodini
"Ain't No Half-Steppin'" - Big Daddy Kane
"You Gots To Chill" - EPMD
"Going Back To Cali" - LL Cool J
"I Got It Made" - Special Ed

I can give some input in July while we chow on BBQ. Can't wait!

[foxycoxy.livejournal.com]

this is exciting. It appears as if it may be a 5-disc set. perfect for a b-day coming up and accompaniment to a drive down south! oh wait. not all hip hop lovers will be in the car.

i like obscure.. so don't be afraid. Album songs that don't make the top hits are good in my book.

[foxycoxy.livejournal.com]

PS. I listen to Kwalib and Kanye somewhat and Kool and the Gang. Afrika Bombadha I have too.