The Greatest Philly Rap Records of All Time

Yo – Check out my Spotify Playlist: The Greatest Philly Rap Records Of All Time: Eagles Edition. In celebration of The Eagles winning the Super Bowl, baby!!

Featuring classic songs from artists like Schoolly D, State Property, Meek Mill, Tuff Crew, Young Gunz, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Eve, The Roots, Freeway, Beanie Sigel, Cool C, Bahamadia, Lil Uzi Vert, Steady B, Three Times Dope, Kwamé, Da Youngsta’s, Major Figgas, R.A.M. Squad, Philly’s Most Wanted, Jewel T, The Goats, C.E.B., Tracey Lee, The High & Mighty, Cassidy, Dice Raw, MC Breeze

My Favorite Rap Albums From 2000 Until Now

WHAT ARE MY FAVORITE RAP ALBUMS SINCE 2000? Glad you asked… This is kind of like a Top Ten, with the honorable mentions at the bottom, and although they’re not in any particular order I’ll tell you why I chose these first ten for my favorites. Bear in mind these are my personal opinions as someone who’s has been listening to rap music their entire life, who understands music pretty well, and who has been an active DJ during this entire era. Also understand that the art of the album is dying so a big consideration to me was looking at these albums for what they were – complete works. There were a lot of other records out there that really could have qualified  but maybe they were too long, meandering along with 22+ songs and shit. Or maybe they were so special guest feature ridden that they felt more like compilations than specific visions of an artist. Also, time changes, sounds change, music changes and tastes changes. A lot of stuff that I swore I would consider classics back in the day just didn’t stand the test of time when I revisited them. So all in all, the records below are the ones that I feel are the high-watermark of rap music in the last 13 years. Again, this is just my opinion, and I am sure that I must have forgotten and would love to add, but this list is something that I am going stick to.

Peep Cosmo Baker’s Favorite Rap Albums Of The 21st Century (and get INVOLVED!)

Too Much Posse

Back in the day I used to bust out all these random mixes just for the hell of it, mostly for the purpose of listening to a set of songs while I’m walking around Manhattan or driving between here and there. That’s how the first Love Break mix came about, which I was persuaded to release as actual product because of the tremendous response to it. However for the most part these joints were just on some headphone shit for me, and after a while I usually totally forget that these weird mixes even existed. And then I totally remember that I did these mixes cause I’ll be in a place like Seattle and someone will be like “Yo remember this random posse cut” and I’ll be like “Oh yeah cause I once did a mix that’s over 2 and a half hours of some of my favorite posse cuts.” Mad conceptual, son.

So yeah, I am totally rediscovering all these old mixes I made back in the day so I am gonna start to release them as I can. Here’s one that I like a lot, all classic rap posse cuts. Back in the day there was always the posse cut on the album, and it was frequently my favorite song on the record, with every emcee trying to outdo the other dudes. They should bring back posse cuts. And the DJ track too – that would be hella tite.

PS: RIP to Chris Lighty (featured on Black Sheep’s “Pass The 40”)

COSMO BAKER “TOO MUCH POSSE”  (Direct download courtesy of FiftyOneFiftyOne)

1: Ice Cube “Colorblind” feat. Deadly Threat, J-Dee, Kam, King Tee, WC & Coolio
2: Jadakiss “Why” Remix feat. Styles P., Common, Nas & Anthony Hamilton
3: Jungle Brothers “How You Want It (We Got It)” feat. A Tribe Called Quest & De La Soul
4: LL Cool J “I Shot Ya” Remix feat. Fat Joe, Foxy Brown, Keith Murray & Prodigy
5: Luniz “I Got 5 On It” Bay Ballas Remix feat. Dru Down, E-40, Humpty Hump. Shock G, Richie Rich & Spice 1
6: Bās Blasta “The Rhythm” feat. Fat Joe, Godfather Don, Juju & Lord Finesse
7: Real Live “Real Live Shit” Remix feat. Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, Killa Sin, Larry-O & Lord Tariq
8: Craig Mack “Flavor In Your Ear” Remix feat. Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Notorious B.I.G. & Rampage
9: Nice & Smooth “Down The Line” feat. Asu, Bās Blasta, Guru, Melo T. & Preacher Earl
10: Black Sheep “Pass The 40” feat. Mista Lawnge, Chi Ali, Chris Lighty, Dave Gossett & J. Jones
11: D&D All-Stars “1 2 Pass It” DJ Mighty Mi Remix feat. Mad Lion, Doug E. Fresh, KRS-One, Fat Joe, Smif-Wessun & Jeru The Damaja
12: Eightball “Pure Uncut” feat. Master P., Silkk The Shocker, Mystikal & Psycho Drama
13: Noreaga “Banned From TV” feat. Big Pun, Cam’ron, Nature & The Lox
14: Red Hot Lover Lover Tone “For My Ni**az” Remix feat. Notorious B.I.G., Prince Poetry & M.O.P.
15: Big L “Da Graveyard” feat. Grand Daddy I.U., Jay-Z, Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut & Party Arty
16: LL Cool J “4321” feat. Method Man, Redman, Canibus, Master P & DMX
17: Pudgee Da Phat Bastard “Think Big” feat. Notorious B.I.G. & Lord Tariq
18: Kool G Rap & DJ Polo “Money In The Bank” feat. Ant Live, Freddie Foxxx & Large Professor
19: Marley Marl “The Symphony” feat. Craig G., Masta Ace, Kool G Rap & Big Daddy Kane
20: Above The Law “The Last Song” feat. Eazy-E, Dr. Dre & MC Ren
21: Showbiz & A.G. “Represent” feat. Big L, Deshawn & Lord Finesse
22: EPMD “The Head Banger” feat. K-Solo & Redman
23: Marley Marl “The Symphony Pt. 2” feat. Craig G., Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, Little Daddy Shane & Big Daddy Kane
24: Cool Breeze “Watch For The Hook” feat. Outkast & Goodie Mob
25: Heavy D & The Boyz “A Buncha Ni**as” feat. 3rd Eye, Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, Rob-O & Guru
26: The Flavor Unit MCs “Roll With Tha Flava” feat. Treach, Chip Fu, D-Nice, Dres, Freddie Foxxx, Heavy D & Queen Latifah
27: Del Tha Funkee Homosapien “Burnt” feat. Souls Of Mischief & Casual
28: Big Daddy Kane “Pimping Ain’t Easy” feat. Ant Live, Scoob Lover & Nice & Smooth
27: De La Soul “Buddy” Remix feat. A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah & Monie Love
29: MC Serch “Back To The Grill” Remix feat. Red Hot Lover Tone, Chubb Rock & Nas
30: A Tribe Called Quest “Scenario” feat. Leaders Of The New School
31: A Tribe Called Quest “Scenario” Remix feat. Kid Hood & Leaders Of The New School
32: Heavy D & The Boyz “Don’t Curse” feat. Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Pete Rock, C.L. Smooth & Q-Tip
33: Main Source “Live At The Barbeque” feat. Akinyele, Joe Fatal & Nas
34: The West Coast Rap Allstars “We’re All In The Same Gang” feat. Above The Law, Body & Soul, Def Jef, Digital Underground, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice-T, J.J. Fad, King Tee, MC Hammer, MC Ren, Michel’le, Oaktown’s 3-5-7, Tone Loc & Young MC
35: The Stop The Violence Movement “Self Destruction” feat. KRS-One, Public Enemy, D-Nice, Daddy-O, Doug E. Fresh, Kool Moe Dee, MC Delight, Just Ice, MC Delight, Ms. Melodie & Wise

Rap Music Fucking Rules

I figured today was a good day to post some rap music videos. Just some good shit that I love. Shout out to Grand Puba who for so long was considered one of the top top top MCs at his time. It would be the type of thing where a guest Puba verse sold you on a record. Also shout out to the people in charge of art direction for 2000 which was pretty bad (“See, we’re gonna have you lean on a Lambo – that’s so 2000!”) At least the people in charge of Akinyele’s art for his album were kind of on point, even if it’s unbelievably crass… But yeah, rap music fucking rules, straight up.. Go Birds.

POST SCRIPT – I’ve fallen into the habit recently of posting some phenomenal YouTube clips on my personal Facebook page. There’s some fucking awesome shit up on there, so check it out.

POST POST SCRIPT – Stay tuned to this site this week for a lot of good shit going down.

POST POST POST SCRIPT – Let’s go Birds.