Dead Prez - Hip Hop

Paul McClean (ATL Producer, old man)

This is not only a total and utter banger, with that bassline and sharp as a tack beats, but also a searing attack on the genre itself. Dead Prez was conscious hip-hop of a different kind. Conscious of the music industry's ability to chew up and spit out young MCs. Conscious too of the audience's increasing gullability, being satisfied by a glitzy video with some booty and a flash of a gang sign. Asking whether you want "a Lexus or justice, a dream or some subtsance, a beamer a necklace or freedom?" is a powerful attack on the culture being appropriated and neutered by corporate america and sold back as a materialistic pipe-dream for a few. Its a battle for the soul of hip-hop against those fake, fake records and we are on their side, arent we?

A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It?

Amy McGarrigle - ATL Content Assitant

It tends to be the more, shall we say positive end of hip hop that has always been more my thing...and this sure aint 'gangsta rap'! This classic involves most of my favourite things about hip hop; hooked around a few perfect samples (including 'Walk On The Wild Side' by Lou Reed), outrageously affirming and a involuntarily need to move. It certainly isn't the most challenging of tracks, with no in depth social commentary or gritty reality, but simply a great song and an incredible hook.