29 years ago today – on November 7, 1995 – GZA dropped one of the best ever Wu-Tang Clan solo albums with Liquid Swords. Of course, there are a lot of highlights to name, whether that’s the “4th Chamber” posse cut with Ghostface Killah, RZA, and Killah Priest or the vivid “Cold World.” However, to celebrate the classic LP’s anniversary, we decided to highlight “Shadowboxin’” featuring Method Man, an essential Wu cut with a relatively unique sonic identity compared to their usual fare.
Thanks to RZA’s excellent flip of eerie tones, slick guitar licks, and simple drums on “Shadowboxin’,” this is one of the most hauntingly gentle, icy, and hypnotic songs not just on Liquid Swords, but also in GZA, Method Man, and the wider Wu-Tang Clan’s catalog. The Genius’ emphatic and raw middle verse pairs perfectly with “The Workload” MC’s more menacing and cold feature verses. It’s also very interesting to see just how well this beat fits into today’s hip-hop context, especially given the clash of more light melodic elements with the Wu grit that so many continue to try to emulate.
For these reasons and many more, it’s easy to see why Liquid Swords has endured in the hip-hop canon in the strong and gradually more reverent fashion that it has. If you’re looking to revisit this classic, then we’d recommend you spin GZA and Method Man’s “Shadowboxin’” if you aren’t playing the whole thing front to back. Find it on your preferred streaming service or check the music video out on YouTube below. Down there, you can also find some standout bars and the comments section for you to join in the festivities. For more throwback gems from the rap world, come back to HNHH.
GZA’s “Shadowboxin’” With Method Man: Stream & Watch The Music Video
Quotable Lyrics Protect your neck, my sword still remains imperial, Before I blast the mic, RZA scratch off the serial, We reign all year ’round from June to June, While n***as bite immediately, if not soon
Pusha T is not one to “reminisce”, but he is doing just that by celebrating the sixth anniversary of DAYTONA. The third solo album for the Virginia Beach, Virginia native, it was also the first of five projects to be executively produced by the one and only Kanye West. It was a legendary summer for hip-hop heads in 2018, as Ye went on to release ye, NASIR, KIDS SEE GHOSTS, as well as K.T.S.E. Out of all of those releases you could make the argument for DAYTONA being the strongest of the bunch. The record began with perhaps one of the best and most memorable intros “If You Know You Know.”
It is a masterclass in coke rap, with King Push talking about the treacherous life of a drug dealer. Then, you have one of the nastiest boom-bap beats and sample flips on “The Games We Play.” Even though Push’s rapping performances were stellar across the board, the production from Kanye really helps sell each track. The middle of the tracklist is fantastic too, but of course no one can forget “Infared.”
“The game’s f***ed up / N****s’ beats is bangin’, n****, ya hooks did it / The lyric pennin’ equal the Trumps winnin’ / The bigger question is how the Russians did it / It was written like Nas, but it came from Quentin.” These fighting words restarted the beef between him and Drake, prompting him to respond with “Duppy Freestyle.” Of course, it then led to “The Story of Adidon,” which revealed that Drizzy was hiding his now-known son, Adonis. DAYTONA is certainly “the gift that keeps on giving.”
What are your thoughts on Pusha T remembering DAYTONA on its six-year anniversary? Do you still have this project in rotation, why or why not? If so, which songs do you revisit the most? Is this Push’s best album to date? Do you need a new album from him this year? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Pusha T. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Four of hip-hops most iconic figures will be receiving high honors from a prestigious collective. According to AllHipHop, Lauryn Hill and trio De La Soul are being put into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. It will be specifically for their debut albums. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill(1998) and 3 Feet High and Rising(1989) are both iconic in the hip-hop community. On April 21, they will officially be in rare air.
In a statement from the CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., he expressed his excitement to induct this year’s bunch. “We’re proud to unveil the diverse mix of recordings entering the Grammy Hall of Fame in its 50th year. The music showcased here has played a pivotal role in shaping our cultural landscape, and it’s a true honor to recognize these albums and recordings, along with the profound influence each has had on music and beyond.”
Some of the other notable artists making their way into immortality include The Doobie Brothers, Guns N’ Roses, and more. This event recognizing all of these tremendous works will be at The Novo in downtown Los Angeles, California. Furthermore, this will be the 50th anniversary for the Hall of Fame, making it all that more special. Congratulations to Lauryn Hill and De La Soul for these incredible achievements.
What are your thoughts on Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation and De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising receiving spots the GRAMMY Hall of Fame? Are these top 10 all-time hip-hop records, why or why not? Which record do you go back to the most and why? What is the best song from each album? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Lauryn Hill, De La Soul, and the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the world of music.
Black Sheep is a hip-hop duo who were most popular in the ’90s. The duo consists of rapper Dres and producer and rapper Mista Lawnge. They were a part of the Native Tongues supergroup, which included Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and more.
Black Sheep’s biggest hit, “The Choice Is Yours (Revisited),” is a classic for listeners across generations. They most recently performed it at A GRAMMY Salute to Hip Hop, which aired December 10, 2023. The track comes from their debut album, A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing. This album included several successful singles, including “Flavor of the Month” and “Strobelite Honey.” Just earlier this year, Lola Brooke sampled the classic song for her track “Just Relax.” Here is a look at what Black Sheep has been up to over the years.
Black Sheep released albums in 1991 and 1994. However, they hit the dreaded “sophomore slump” with their second project, Non-Fiction, which was not critically or commercially successful. The duo disbanded shortly after this release.
Their next album, 8WM/Novakane, would not be released until 2006. Duo member Mister Lawnge made some appearances on the album, but Dres is considered the only member of Black Sheep. An instrumental version of their debut, A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing, was released in 2010. Tortured Soul , which was an album and mixtape released by Dres, released in 2018.
What Black Sheep Member Dres Been Up To
Dres of Black Sheep has remained active musically and socially. He released solo music and appeared on songs in 1999 and 2000. He also appeared on the lead single from the 2011 Slaughterhouse EP. Later, he formed a duo with A Tribe Called Quest member Jarobi called Evitan, which is Native spelled backward. The duo’s name pays homage to their supergroup, Native Tongues. They released a project in 2012 called Speed of Life, with their most recent output being a remix of a track called “Mad Men,” released in 2022. Dres continues to be a prominent figure in the music space, regularly posting on his social media accounts and appearing at various hip hop-centric events.
Further, Dres’ announcement from earlier this year has his day-one fans getting quite excited. “This particular project is a D&D project — Dilla & Dres. Through the blessing of Ma Dukes and my man Tony, I’ve been allowed to visit a sacred land,” he shared during the Induction Ceremony into Washington D. C.’s National Hip Hop Museum. The album has no release date at this time. Footage from the making of this album – among other moments – is included in his new documentary titled The Choice is Yours. It chronicles Dres’s life as a hip hop icon and is available to stream now on Paramount+.
What Former Black Sheep Member Mista Lawnge Has Been Up To
Mista Lawnge of Black Sheep has not been active musically for quite a while. During the sessions for 8WM/Novakane, Mista Lawnge was working on a secret album titled The Class of ‘89. The project seemed to stem from spite since Dres suggested Mista Lawnge work with other producers. This was not something he wanted to do. The fact Dres found out about it via their publicist only strained their relationship even more and ended it altogether. Mista Lawnge returned to the public spotlight in 2020 with a talk show on YouTube called Guess Who’s Talking. On it, he interviewed guests from a myriad of different avenues. However, only three episodes of the show are available on YouTube.
What The Duo Has Been Up To Together
Sources say Black Sheep were supposed to reunite for a tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut project in 2016. According to these sources, they announced the tour across their social media, but it never materialized into actually happening.
The tour would have reunited the members and lined up well with their fellow Native Tongues group members, A Tribe Called Quest, who dropped their final album that same year. Despite the duo’s disbanding, their coming together to perform at the Grammys Hip-Hop Tribute show – and Dres posting a picture of them together in April of this year – gives listeners hope that things may have changed.
Black Sheep has, unfortunately, had legal issues with streaming services. The duo sued Universal Media Group (UMG) earlier this year for “unlawfully lowering its artists’ royalty payments from Spotify as part of an ‘undisclosed, sweetheart deal’ for shares in the streaming service in 2008.” Unfortunately, their case was dismissed in November of this year for two reasons, one being uniquely frustrating – they took too long to do it.
Also, the judge ruled “Black Sheep could not support its remaining claims for underpaid royalties dating from 2021, finding in part that the contract gave the label ‘sole discretion’ over how to distribute its music.” It seems label troubles have been affecting artists throughout the years, no matter what generation they come from.
What’s your favorite memory of Black Sheep? Let us know in the comments section.
There is that running joke around J. Cole about going platinum with no features. But, it is incredibly impressive what he was able to pull off. To put it in some context, he is the first rapper since 1990 to accomplish this. He achieved that on March 31, 2015. The record we are referring to is his 2014 record, Forest Hills Drive. A wide range of critics, listeners, and Cole fans will tell you that this is his greatest body of work.
Honestly, when you take a look at the tracklist, it is kind of easy to see why. Of course, everyone knows “No Role Modelz.” But, you have deeper cuts like “G.O.M.D.,” “Love Yourz,” and “Apparently.” The tape is now nine years old, but it is aging beautifully. Speaking of which, another one of those tracks that is still perfect is “January 28.”
While one-liners certainly do not make or break how good a song is, there are so many great ones on here. Some of them are below, but you can find a bevy of them. One example is, “Flow bananas, here, peel this back.” But, it is not just those, the overall writing is terrific. What’s the price for a black man life? I check the toe tag, not one zero in sight.” On top of that, the beat is mellow, but also hard-hitting, and Cole’s flows slip and slide through it.
What were your initial thoughts on J. Cole’s, “January 28,” from 2014 Forest Hills Drive? Is this the best song on this project, why or why not? Where does this song rank all-time in Cole’s discography? Overall, is this album his best body work? We would like to hear what you have you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around J. Cole.
Quotable Lyrics:
Like show me New York’s ladder I climb it and set the bar so high that you gotta get Obama to force the air force to find it Never mind it, you’ll never reach that Cole is the hypnotist, control the game whenever he snap That’s every track, n****
This year marks the 20th anniversary of 50 Cent’s landmark debut album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin. Released on February 6, 2003, Get Rich Or Die Tryin is considered among the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. To celebrate the album’s anniversary, 50 has announced his massive “Final Lap” world tour with Busta Rhymes and Jeremih opening. He will headline amphitheaters and arenas across North America and Europe.
Get Rich Or Die Tryin is a classic album full of legendary songs that withstood the test of time. Here is a breakdown of how 50 Cent’s debut album Get Rich Or Die Tryin defined an era.
A Groundbreaking Debut
The story leading up to Get Rich Or Die Tryin and how it propelled 50 Cent to the top of the rap game is quite remarkable. In 2000, a gunman shot 50 Cent nine times, although he miraculously survived. Following his near-death experience, he got dropped ahead of his debut album by Columbia Records, the label he signed to in 1999. He shares a first-hand account of the attempt on his life on the iconic “Many Men (Wish Death).” After the shooting, 50 Cent regained his buzz by releasing a series of mixtapes with his G-Unit crew. These now-classic mixtapes, specifically Guess Who’s Back? and 50 Cent is the Future, helped 50 rebuild his reputation. They landed him a deal with Eminem and Dr. Dre.
50 Cent’s success story is so unbelievable that it made for a movie, also titled Get Rich Or Die Tryin, released in 2005. He also helped pioneer the trend of releasing a mixtape before the major label album — a blueprint that many rappers utilize to this day.
A Stacked Tracklist
Get Rich Or Die Tryin was released under Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope, and 50’s own G-Unit Records. It was 50 Cent’s earth-shattering debut and remains one of the biggest debut albums in hip hop. Major cosigns from Dr. Dre and Eminem immediately launched 50 Cent into success. The album was full of hits, ranging from street anthems like “If I Can’t” and “What Up Gangsta” to softer love songs like “21 Questions.” Itfeatured moments of pain like “Many Men” and the hardcore “Heat.” The inclusion of the Ja Rule diss record “Wanksta” as a bonus track, as well as the ruthless “Back Down” showed 50 Cent’s fearlessness. It is impossible to discuss Get Rich Or Die Tryin without mentioning “In Da Club,” an irresistible classic and one of Dr. Dre’s best beats.
The Emergence Of A Rap Superstar
On “In Da Club,” 50 Cent raps about putting “the rap game in a chokehold,” and he did just that with the Get Rich Or Die Tryin. He took hip-hop to new heights because he became a superstar with his debut. His unfaltering authenticity fueled the gritty street raps but his commercial records, like the aforementioned “In Da Club,” turned him into a household name. Around the same time, he declared victory in his beef with Ja Rule. 50 Cent forceful entrance into the music industry reinvigorated the New York sound and carried the evolution of gangsta rap into the mid-aughts. More importantly, Get Rich Or Die Tryin became the launching pad for 50 Cent’s entrepreneurial ventures, as he built G-Unit as a group and expanded the brand into a label, clothing company, and film company.
Get Rich Or Die Tryin’s Legacy
Get Rich Or Die Tryin is undoubtedly 50 Cent’s best work and is often regarded as such. Consisting of 50’s biggest hits, it marked a point in hip-hop history that further elevated street raps towards mainstream success. 50’s tough persona was not one-dimensional as showcased his vulnerability, sense of humor, and charisma. With the announcement of the album’s anniversary tour, it’s safe to say that Get Rich Or Die Tryin defined an era of hip hop.
