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Category: Scenes Lists & Things

Scenes Lists & Things Spotlight Writing About Music

A Company Flow Fan’s DJ Bag in 1997

mreeves February 21, 2022 No Comments Company FlowHip-Hop 1997

As I spent the weekend revisiting Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus — an album I once had on constant rotation — I began to wonder…what other records did I spin as an amateur DJ in 1997?

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Featured Scenes Lists & Things

1996: The Year of the Sista

mreeves September 10, 2021 No Comments Hip-Hop 1996Lauryn HillLil Kim

In an essay originally written for Maura magazine, the 1996 renaissance of female rappers resonates as a time of missed opportunity.

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Scenes Lists & Things Sidebars

Ten Posse Tracks by Female Rappers

mreeves August 13, 2021 No Comments Superlists

Apani B – “Estragen” Bahamadia – “Three the Hard Way” Big Kap – “Da Ladies in the House” Brandy – “I Wanna Be Down (Remix)”…

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Scenes Lists & Things Sidebars

Top 10 Songs About H.E.R. (Hip-hop in its Essence is Real)

mreeves April 10, 2021 No Comments CommonSuperlists

Common, “I Used to Love H.E.R.” Teriyaki Boyz, “I Still Love H.E.R
.” The Roots, “Act Too (Love of My Life)” Erykah Badu, “Love of My…

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Scenes Lists & Things Sidebars

Early Rap Full-Lengths (1980-1982)

mreeves March 1, 2021 No Comments Superlists

Various – The Big Break Rapper Party (1980) Sugarhill Gang – Sugarhill Gang (1980) Kurtis Blow – Kurtis Blow (1980) Various – The Great Rap…

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Scenes Lists & Things Sidebars

Ten Great Rap Album Openers

mreeves February 1, 2021 1 Comment Superlists

Nas, “N.Y. State of Mind” (from Illmatic) Meek Mill, “Dreams and Nightmares” (from Dreams and Nightmares) Lil B, “B.O.R. (Birth of Rap)” (from 6 Kiss)…

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Scenes Lists & Things Sidebars

Top 10 Wu-Tang Albums: Second Wave (1997-2000)

mreeves February 1, 2021 No Comments SuperlistsWu-Tang Clan

Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele Ol’ Dirty Bastard, N***a Please Wu-Tang Clan, The W The RZA as Bobby Digital, In Stereo Method Man & Redman, Blackout!…

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Scenes Lists & Things

Anti-Crack Raps

mreeves June 7, 2020 No Comments Hip-Hop 1980s

This chapter from a 2014-2015 series on early rap music focuses on how artists responded to the crack plague of the mid-to-late 1980s. It’s an example of how the culture has always illustrated current events throughout its history.

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Scenes Lists & Things Spotlight

2020 Protest Raps: Music for the American Spring

mreeves June 6, 2020 No Comments Hip-Hop 2020

The start of June brought a new groundswell of songs generated by widespread protest against police brutality and racist violence. It fulfills a tradition that dates back to the earliest days of recorded rap: when a crisis hits the black community, the musicians shift to address it.

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Scenes Lists & Things

Rap Songs for Home

mreeves April 26, 2020 No Comments Playlists

As the coronavirus epidemic continues to roil the globe, home has taken on a new urgency. This playlist assembled around a word is fraught with meaning.

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