Artist: Street Smartz Song: Problemz Year: 1996 Album: Problemz b/w Metal Thangz 12-inch Single
Fuc That, Stand Out! Since my last Street Smartz post has proven to be so popular, here's another one. I don't blame any of you for searching out his music because F.T. has captured the mid-1990's vibe perfectly.
Artist: Jorge Dalto Song: I've Got You On My Mind Year: 1976 Album: Chevere
Artist: Mobb Deep Song: Trife Life Year: 1995 Album: The Infamous
When a Hiphop artist's second album fails to live up to the expectations set by their first album, people talk about the sophomore curse. If this curse exists, then my favourite exceptions are: A Tribe Called Quest "The Low End Theory", Gang Starr "Step In The Arena", Common "Resurrection", Public Enemy "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" and Mobb Deep "The Infamous". When Mobb Deep released this record, I think everybody knew it was a classic immediately.
Artist: Norman Connors Song: You Are My Starship Year: 1976 Album: You Are My Starship
Norman Connors put out some good jazz in the early 1970's. He also made a great commercialized tune here. Mobb Deep used the sample at 0:00 for their introduction. The sample used for the rest of their song occurs at 1:58. Most of the time, the bassline is audible and high end is filtered out, but during the chorus and for brief moments in the verses, they let the saxophone be heard. One more thing, if you listen to the rest of the Norman Connors album, you'll come across the sample for Das Efx "Real Hip-Hop".
