Artist: De La Soul
Title: De La Soul Is Dead - LP
Label: Tommy Boy - 1991
Producer: Prince Paul, De La Soul
Although this LP and its first single "Ring Ring Ring" were fairly successful, this jam packed album got slept on by many people. Just like the Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique and Run-DMC's Tougher than Leather, De La threw a change up rather than a fast ball. Even though De La Soul Is Dead contained many witty skits, the group obviously matured from their first album 3 Feet High and Rising. Topic matters ranged from the gripping, complex father-daughter molestation story of "Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa" to the self-explanatory "My Brother's A Basehead" to "Pease Porridge," a joint aimed at people who took De La for soft hippies. Other fellow Native Tonguers Jungle Brothers, Q-Tip, Black, Sheep, and even Russell Simmons cameod, proving that contrary to the album title, De La Soul was very much still live. Call it a rebirth.

Artist: Biz Markie
Title: Goin' Off - LP
Label: Cold Chillin' - 1988
Producer: Marley Marl
The comedic prince of hip hop, Biz Markie, made many catch "The Vapors" back in '88 with this LP filled with amusing themes and off the wall stories. The breakthrough hit single "The Vapors" used a James Brown "Papa Don't Take No Mess" loop as the foundation for Biz to kick stories of how he and his crew — TJ Swan, Big Daddy Kane, and DJ Cool V — were constantly being dissed before they blew up in hip hop. The hilarious, tasteless classic "Pickin' Boogers" speaks for itself. "Make the Music With Your Mouth Biz" showcases Biz' beatbox skills. But the true gem of Goin' Off is "Nobody Beats the Biz," a hype, melodic club jam that utilizes an incredible Steve Miller sample from "Fly Like An Eagle." Many DJs today still list "Vapors" and "Nobody Beats the Biz" as sure shots at a party, and for good reason. This album is a classic.

Artist: Queen Latifah
Title: All Hail the Queen - LP
Label: Tommy Boy - 1989
Producer: various
It goes without saying that La's debut album made a significant impact on the male dominated world of hip hop, a world that usually stereotypes female MCs as sexual objects or inferior counterparts. Following the lead of other females like MC Lyte, the consistent quality of All Hail helped redefine what a talented female rapper could accomplish. Utilizing some of rap's premier producers, including Mark the 45 King of "900 Number" fame and Prince Paul, Latifah displayed much versatility throughout songs like the Sly and the Family Stone sampled "Dance With Me," the sensuous house track "Come Into My House," and the anthem duet of sisterhood "Ladies First" featuring Monie Love, and the deadly duet with Daddy O "We Are the Pros." This is plain and simple a pioneering effort from the Queen.

Artist: Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud
Title: Do the James - 12"
Label: Polydor - 1987
Producer: Super Lover Cee, Casanova Rud
A tribute, if you will, to James Brown, Super Lover Cee and DJ Casanova Rud dedicate this song to the Godfather of Soul and the ladies. With verses like "Me, the Lover, not rocking? / Picture that like a photographer / My rhythm talk is pumping, my beat is your choreographer / Bad on the mic, soft and warm, but not a sucker / Spill out your heart baby, I'm your quicker picker upper," Super Lover Cee was quite a bit ahead of his time. Casanova Rud accentuates Cee's rhymes with some scratches of James Brown's voice. The 12-inch also includes a dub version and a dope instrumental.

Artist: Newcleus
Title: Jam On It - 12"
Label: Sunnyview - 1984
Producer: Joe Webb, Frank Fair
This is one record that should make any B-boy's all time favorite list. The first single in Newcleus' "Jam" trilogy, which also included "Jam On Revenge" and "Let's Jam," "Jam On It" is by far the best. Cosmo D. and the Jam On Crew kick dope rhymes over up-tempo TR-808 beats and a fat keyboard bassline. It is also notable for being one of the first hip hop records to crack the Top Five on Billboard's R&B singles chart. A wicky, wicky, wicky, wicky.

Artist: Mantronix
Title: Needle to the Groove - 12"
Label: Sleeping Bag - 1985
Producer: Mantronix
A couple of years before groups such as EPMD and Nice & Smooth made their debut, the hypest act on Sleeping Bag was Jamaican born Curtis Mantronik, aka Mantronix. This superfly duo of DJ and producer extraordinaire Mantronix and MC Tee were known for putting out some of the ultimate B-boy beats and rhymes. Nothing about "Needle to the Groove" isn't hot, down to the graffiti style record cover. By 1990 unfortunately, Sleeping Bag records had closed its doors, Tee wasn't with Mantronix any longer, and Mantronix stopped making hip hop to remix and produce dance records.

Artist: Dismasters
Title: Small Time Hustler - 12"
Label: Urban Rock - 1987
Producer: Chuck Chillout, Eric Isles
"Small Time Hustler" is a good example of New York based, independent label hip hop in the 1980s. Released on the now defunct Urban Rock records, the Dismasters came out during a time when major labels didn't have a clue as to what to sign nor how to promote it. This record was the first to utilize the classic break from "Hustler's Convention," as reflected by its title. The original lyrics are about people who front big time but are really petty hustlers. The Dismasters later went on to major label status at Atlantic records for a twelve-inch deal with "Black and Proud," but they have since disappeared from the scene.

Artist: Divine Sounds
Title: Changes (We Go Through) / Do or Die Bed-Sty - 12"
Label: Specific - 1984
Producer: Clark Jay, Jerry Bloodrock
From the group who brought you "What People Do for Money," "Changes" was a follow-up single. "Changes" picks up where "What People Do for Money" left off, dealing with subjects such as unemployment and paternity suits. However, the serious joint is on the B-side: "Do or Die Bed-Sty." Recorded as a throwaway bonus beat to fill the 12-inch, Divine Sounds went to town on this cut throwing freestyle rhymes back and forth.

Artist: West Street Mob
Title: Break Dance - Electric Boogie - 12"
Label: Sugar Hill - 1983
Producer: Joey Robinson Jr., Lealand Robinson
Another dope track from the incredible Sugar Hill records catalog, the West Street Mob wasn't really a group at all. Actually, the "group" was Joey Robinson Jr. and whoever else happened to be present in the studio at the time. "Break Dance - Electric Boogie" features Joey cutting up the old school classic "Apache" by the Incredible Bongo Band, adding scratches, and vocoder treated vocals to the mix. One other noteworthy thing about this record is that it was engineered and mixed by a very young Shameek Gonsalves, aka King Shameek of Twin Hype fame.

Artist: Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth
Title: Funky Technician - LP
Label: Wild Pitch - 1990
Producer: DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz, Mike Smooth
Lord Finesse bombed shit like a terrorist on this record. With his trademark vocal style as described by his name — a smooth as silk delivery combined with streetwise lyrics — Finesse flipped no-nonsense rhymes over innovative beats. Long before Das EFX went gold with "They Want EFX," Finesse ripped the same loop for his Diamond D produced title cut "Funky Technician." Other highlights include the Premier produced "Strictly for the Ladies" where Finesse flows pimp style and "Back to Back Rhyming" featuring Bronx's Andre the Giant (AG). With Lord Finesse flaunting his superior skills and the production reading as a who' who of New York beat masters, Funky Technician is a sure shot.

Artist: Biz Markie featuring TJ Swan
Title: Nobody Beats the Biz - 12"
Label: Prism - 1987
Producer: Marley Marl
One of Kid Capri's "10 records Guaranteed to Rock a Party," this song starts with a sample of Roxanne Shanté's "Def Fresh Crew" where she introduces Biz as the beat box on her cut. The beat is heavy on the high hat and works with a Steve Miller Band "Fly Like an Eagle" sample. TJ Swan sings the chorus "Nobody beats the Biz," a take on a major electronics chain store's "nobody beats the Wiz" commercial. Biz adds some lines like "Reagan is the president, but I voted for Shirley Chisholm" and beatboxes, completing this now classic jam.

Artist: Public Enemy
Title: Public Enemy #1 - 12"
Label: Def Jam - 1987
Producer: Bill Stephney, Hank Shocklee, Carl Ryder
In the beginning, before the political messages and complex production and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Public Enemy began with this record. Over a sample of the JB's classic "Blow Your Head," Chuck D displays his lyrical prowess with lines like, "For all you suckers, liars, your cheap amplifiers / Your crossed up wires are always starting fires / For all you grown up criers, now here's a pair of pliers / Get a job like your mother, I heard she fixes old dryers." On the B-side, "Son of Public Enemy," is a dub version of "#1" that features more Flavor Flav antics and some effect rack tricks. This piece of vinyl was once a must have for all trick DJs for the "one, one, one, hoo-ha" vocal break in the beginning of the record, but with today's influx of break records, the "one " break is easily found. However, early PE singles are difficult to find and are quite collectable.



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