Final “Mona Mix” Track Listing
This is the final track listing for my hip-hop mix for Mona. I appreciate all your help! Now, I must say that I somewhat misrepresented it by saying I was looking for the best hip-hop out there. I got many good suggestions, but none of them made the final cut. For one, I know Mona better than you all (I hope!) and kind of crafted it to her tastes. Also, I was looking for more upbeat, danceable, quality-beat songs that are mostly positive. Much of the greatest hip-hop or rap is not accompanied with the greatest beats, but the wordplay makes the songs…thats why some of the best hip-hop or rap is not on here. She wanted more hip-hop than rap, and in my opinion that is differentiated by hip-hop being somewhat characterized by complex beats and samples, while rap is based mainly (but not always) on simple beats with complex rhymes. Alright, here are the songs, in order, with explanations…
1. Juicy-The Notorious B.I.G. Starting the joint off right with the greatest hip-hop song of all time. I could listen to this song on a uninterrupted loop for days.
2. Yesterday-Atmosphere Too little piano is used in hip-hop, and here Atmosphere weaves it in seamlessly with his wordplay. Also, the clever story he tells ends with a somewhat jolting suprise.
3. Touch the Sky-Kanye West feat. Lupe Fiasco One of the most uplifting instrumental samples ever. This song also introduced the hip-hop community to Lupe Fiasco.
4. Izzo (H.O.V.A)-Jay-Z A water-tight chorus rapped by the genius who correctly proclaimed “Never been a n**ga this good for this long”.
5. Ms. Jackson-Outkast A nice little radio-scorched joint from 2001. Instead of bitches and ho’s, we get the perspective of a father trying to show his ‘baby’s mama’s mama’ that he cares.
6. Bassment Party-The Cool Kids Bringin’ back the sounds of ’88, The Cool Kids spit a laid-back but fresh-to-death track about college house parties and ridin’ bikes.
7. American Boy-Estelle Feat. Kanye West Straight up, this song doesn’t belong on this list (even though it won a Grammy for ”Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.”) It is, however, my theme song here in Australia, and is essential on this mix.
8. Nappy Heads-Fugees One of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time gives perspectives on slavery and what it is to be black in America.
9. Gold Watch-Lupe Fiasco One of the smoothest vocal samples, along with one of the smoothest songs vocally-speaking, this song just drips out of your earbuds.
10. Encore-Jay-Z HOV once again proving his dominance. “Who you know fresher than Hov, riddle me that. The rest of y’all know where I’m lyrically at.”
11. La La (Mixtape Version)-Lil Wayne One of the strangest and most self-destructive rappers drops an infectious beat of children singing topped with an autobiographical rhyme. Nothing better than this song.
12. Work It Out-Jurassic 5 feat. Dave Matthews The underground hip-hop group with the Bboy style team up with Dave Matthews for a chill and uplifting track.
13. Kick-Push-Lupe Fiasco Lupe’s chart-exploding and name-establishing piece tells the story of a skateboarder, of all things. Accompanied by some of the sweetest strings you will ever hear.
14. Big Poppa-Notorious B.I.G. Is any party complete without this song? No one goes harder or chills out harder than Biggie. Words drip off his tongue in this signature track.
15. Soon the New Day-Talib Kweli feat. Norah Jones Is anyone more underrated than Kweli? Uses Norah’s silky vocals perfectly, and paints a picture of a nightclub pickup and the ensuing one-night stand.
16. All Falls Down-Kanye West ‘Ye establishing himself as the “thinking-man’s rapper”. Inspired by a Lauren Hill hook. “Couldn’t afford a car so she named her daughter Alexis.”
17. Tie My Hands-Lil Wayne feat. Robin Thicke New Orleans-native Weezy spits a track about Hurricane Katrina. Further proof of the powerful vehicle of social commentary that is Hip-Hop.
18. Sunshine-Lupe Fiasco Uplifting strings along with a story of a successful night club pick-up. Is there anything sweeter than this chorus? “You’re my sunshine, you’re my moonlight, you’re the starry skies above me won’t you please come down and hug me, think I found love in this club tonight.”
19. Lost+-Coldplay Feat. Jay-Z In my opinion, the best finale for a poppy hip-hop mix. The mixture of Colplay and Jay-Z is musical gold.
Give me feedback about how I am wrong or right!!!!
Mona said,
March 15, 2009 at 5:22 pm
THANK YOU!
for the time and effort u went thru even when u didnt have to
i trulyyyy hope it didnt get in the way of anything!
tomoro will be the day i get to listen to this
master piece of yours
kinda excited lol
Peter said,
March 15, 2009 at 5:25 pm
PSH, it was completely my pleasure, don’t feel guilty at all!!!
RaiulBaztepo said,
March 31, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Hello!
Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad english, I’v just started to learn this language
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo