Chris Rock on the music business

[henryrobinett]

Sales is not any index I use. Sales is a commercial music index. Often the more something SELLS the crappier it is. "Disco Duck sold an afwul lot of records. YMCA still does well. That's a fun song, but it ain't Beethovens Ninth.

You can't take ONE great song or a phemon like the Beatles and compare that with average Rap artist today. That's not fair.

In literature you can cull through 300 years of great writing. To compare "the classics" with writers of 2007 is unfair.

Each generation have their art. Rock 'n Roll , and I include rap/hip hop in this) is about rebellion. It's not about art. Eagles is old fart shit. Sorry. I'm speaking as an old fart.

[emdub123]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

Sorry, but I think that is total bullshit. It's like telling a woman who is being raped that she's just attached to her ego. Let it go. Be one with the universe and don't be selfish.

You're obviously entitled to your opinion, but your metaphor misses the mark. No one is getting "raped" in even the most metaphorical sense. I know what you're trying to say, but jeez...

My point was just that there are things outside of our control. The perceived value of music in our society is one of them. We can accept this or we can stress over it, but really, we can't change society we can only change ourselves, right?

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

There's is the concept of self worth. There is the concept of self integrity and not allowing yourself to be stepped on and taken advantage of by criminals and people who desire to devalue your worth by saying that what you do should be free. Well I should be allowed to put a price tag on what I produce. Everyone should have that right. Music is a business to me. It's how I make my living.

I say Yes to self-worth, Yes to self-integrity and not allowing yourself to be stepped on and taken advantage of. Agreed. But the problem is that some very successful people that call themselves "musicians" are deriving their self-worth and self-integrity from something other than the music that bears their name. Going back to the original post:

"Chris Rock: Music kind of sucks. Nobody's into being a musician. Everybody's getting their mogul on. You've been so infiltrated by this corporate mentality that all the time you'd spend getting great songs together, you're busy doing nine other things that have nothing to do with art. You know how shitty Stevie Wonder's songs would have been if he had to run a f*ckin' clothing company and a cologne line?"

When I first started working in the computer industry in the mid 90s there was a joke about the computer industry in the 80s. #1: "Dude, you can't sell that computer for that price, you'll lose money!" #2: "Yeah, I know, but we'll sell 10x more and we'll make it up on volume!"

People will play for nothing and give away their music in the hopes that they'll get "signed". In my opinion, "getting signed" is just like the guy who tried to "make it up on volume". In the end, they're both going to leave you broke. The guy who keeps his day job, plays on the weekends and orders his cds from DiscMakers is going to make way more money with way less hassle.

The real boogeyman in the world of music, in my estimation, is the "rock star" dream. If nobody wanted to be a rock star, nobody would pay-to-play. Nobody would tour around the country in an econoline van, making what averages out to be something less than minimum wage. Sure, it's fun, but if you didn't think you were going to be a rock star, would you still do it?

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

So if John owns a fast food place when would it be OK for everyone to decide food should be free and he should just give it away? An how's John to live?

Well, using the food metaphor, I would say that the situation is that John is charging $5 for his burgers and the other restaurants all over town are giving them away. The other owners just do it for fun and run restaurants as a hobby, while John tries to do it professionally. John loves running a restaurant, but these other owners are really just trying to get themselves on the cover of "Food and Wine", they don't really care about cooking like he does. Would you tell John to find another way to satisfy his desire to cook? Can you blame people for wanting free burgers? Can you blame people for wanting to be on the cover of "Food and Wine"?

[henryrobinett]

I have to run, I wasn't about to read all of you r post. Later today! But forst I wanted to say that I winced when I wrote "bullshit." I didn't want or mean to offend.

But you CAN change society! We are society. You change yourself and that's striking a blow to society. You can disagree and that's strikiing a blow. The ABOSLUTE WORST THING YOU CAN DO is to lay down and take it. I've had to fight society all my life. It's what I was born with. I had to. I disagree with many things in society. I'm not getting apathetic. I'm not dying over it. I'm invieghing against it.

I'll read the rest later! Sorry.

[memedesigner]

El-P's I'll Sleep When You're Dead is pretty neat - and brand new - hip-hop, nothing tired to it. There are very good new folk bands around. Last weekend I was at Amy X Neuburgs gig: very modern, edgy, fun, skillful music.

Without the net I wouldnt have found any of the above, I think this is the best possible time ever to find really good stuff that fits ones taste.

[initialsBB]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

Based on your numbers argument that means we should have 3 to 5 times less great music today but there would still be 20 bands or so (based on my GINORMOUS list ) that would have the staying power of say Zeppelin or The Eagles or John Lennon.

Britney Spears? Justin Timberlake? Creed? Nickelback?

Your list spans the 60s & 70s so I think it would only be fair to make another list that spans the 80s and 90s and in my opinion it would be just as long if not longer. The '00s are kind of hard to judge because we're too close to them but I have my own ideas. It's kind of pointless for me to list them though without turning this into a big argument over the merits of each individual artist or comparing everything back to the Beatles & Zeppelin.

The grandchildren of the kids who are wearing Led Zeppelin hoodies will be wearing Metallica hoodies or something like that. And at least Metallica wrote their own songs

[kats]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

Really?

You can say that and it's all fair because it's just opinions but do you honestly believe in your hart of harts that Toxic is as timeless as Strawberry Fields?

Also, maybe the only way you can quantify such things is by sales right? In 100 years when the idea of "new" has worn off all these artists completely, which do you think will end up selling more, Zeppelin or Creed?

Again, it's not nostalgia on my part, the fact that these artists are selling as much merch and CD's today as they are and still have a large chunk of the radio airwaves speaks volumes. I saw a kid in the grocery store last night with a Zeppelin hoody on. I have never once seen a Nickelback pullover and I can almost guarantee you in 20 years I will not see one on a 15 year old pimple faced kid in a check out line.

For the record, I don't have much against Creed, Nickelback or Britney, I like Toxic a lot actually. I just don't think it is timeless music. Where is 'N Sync today? That's where Britney will be tomorrow, neither has staying power.

The 60's and 70's artists are proving day in and day out they have staying power… because they keep hanging around. So does Glen Miller, String of Pearls is TIMELESS, 80 years later we still recognize the melody. It just happens to be that the 60's and 70's have hundreds of "String of Pearls" types of timeless songs.

And I don't think they were better because they had more potential or sheer numbers. I think they were better because they were in an environment that fostered music and creativity over greed and money. Artists today have every bit of ability and potential, they just don't have the right environment to grow in.

They have staying power and there was cetainly GREAT music - but it is built on the principles and foundations laid by their parents generation who were running the corporate world at the time.

IE NOT the baby boomer generation, but rather their parents generation otherwise known as "The Greatest" generation. The BB generation will go down as one of the most useless generations in N. American history. Their offspring as the most disfunctional...

And before you talk about all the great movements in the 60s' - JFK, MLK and the driving force behind anything good that came out of those days were not because of the baby boomers.

Unfortunately it's going to take quite a few generations to pay back the lifestyle and rebuild the social institutions that the BB's squandered in persuit of a lifstyle they thought was owed to them.

And now they want to live forever That's going to cost us another few trillion...

[herecomesyourman]

There are two distinctly different industries.

THE RECORD INDUSTRY: Which contains major labels, Clear Channel Broadcasting, large corporate recording studios, and most larger publishing companies. The record industry is continually losing money due to the fact that it didn't join forces with Napster when it had the chance. Thereby letting other companies control distrobution outlets for what has to be considered the new primary meduim for selling recordings: MP3/MP4.

And then the other shoe drops...:

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY: Which is every facet, from independant releases, some even so indie the bands just put them out themselves without a label...XM / Sirius Digital radio...A&R placement companies, gear pimps...mid level studios, proffessional home studios, Gear designers, smaller publishing companies, and larger publishing companies that are leaving the arms of the major labels through buyouts.

Now aside from the obvious thing I want to say about how Britney Spears has NEVER been interesting or even good. (That's my opinion, so it's not a good focal point to the arguement I'm going to leave you all to ponder)

We're in an interesting place. More records (FULL ALBUMS) were sold than ever this year. But the pie was broken up differently than major labels would have liked. Nearly 650 Million albums were sold...and digital sales went up 49% in one year...and this was in the face of RAP / Hip Hop being down 36% in 2006-2007.

Only 228 million of these sales were physical. (CD's)

There are tons of reasons I can give you that I've researched as much as humanly possible, which indicate that the majors have dug themselves holes time and again...there's great books I can reccomend which really enlightened me to want to look at all this much more closely.

But another big problem that Chris Rock openly addresses here is that the artists themselves aren't interested in making great music anymore.

That USED to be the job of mainstreem high profile artists. To cut incredible music. Now it's much more about being a brand led marketing tool...or a "Face" you can attach to various products.

There's a reason unfiltered music from non major label sources is selling so well in larger pools of smaller numbers combined. Those artists aren't at a level corporately where music literally becomes the LAST thing they need to worry about on a day to day basis.

So they make incredible music, and try to build fan bases...and guess what, when it's good, it's good...you don't need millions in advertising to sell 10-50K of a great record, as long as you're willing to tour hard for it.

I hate it when people say there's no money in all of this...why would there be so many good builders constantly selling cheaper and BETTER tools to engineers and producers if people weren't working? Yeah, it's always been hard to make a living, but there's more indie artists than ever who are hungry for the right reasons...and even if they never conquer the world, that doesn't mean they aren't successful. Or that there's no potential. You could easily never have to work for anyone but yourself your whole life just focusing on good smaller artists. And those artists in turn can at least pay their bills if they focus on music, and getting their music out to the public. The celebrity / reality TV focused stuff is mindnumbing, stupid, and it only makes ends for those fortunate enough to already own large stakes in whatever distrobution centers are controlling the property at hand.

[paultools]

Originally Posted by biggator6

Ayn Rand's "the fountainhead" should be required reading for everyone before they graduate or drop out of high school. She wrote about the celebration of mediocrity and what it would do to society... in the early 1940s!! The stuff she covers in that book is EERILY familiar today (but substitute newspapers for television, etc)

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by initialsBB

Your list spans the 60s & 70s so I think it would only be fair to make another list that spans the 80s and 90s and in my opinion it would be just as long if not longer.

Actually it really only spans the LATE 60's, like 68 to the end of the 70's. That is not a whole list of all of the 60's, and to be fair, it was really off the top of my head. The more I thought about it there were probably another 50 or so bands I missed.

I was really up on bands up to the mid 90's, there was a time when I could name just about every musical act that had a chart hit from the late 60's to like 89.

I really doubt there is any other 12 year period that has this many artists who's songs, love'm or hate'm are still around today..... And let's not forget there were a ton of late 60's and 70's songs that were huge covers in the 80's and 90's. To me that is still music created in that same 12 year window.

The '00s are kind of hard to judge because we're too close to them but I have my own ideas. It's kind of pointless for me to list them though without turning this into a big argument over the merits of each individual artist or comparing everything back to the Beatles & Zeppelin.

That's cool man... just in case I have not said it enough, my WHOLE point is not to say the Beatles are better than the White Strips, I like both bands. My point is that CULTURALLY the Beatles had a much bigger impact.

Again, that isn't because the Beatles are BETTER (I do admit I like them better but I don't think they were "better" because that is an indefinable term). The reason the bands from the 70's had a larger impact on society was because they fed off of each other, society and artists.

In today's musical environment there is very little excitement about music, we all know it's true. The artist does not feed off the fan feeding off the artist. It's just not like that now.

The grandchildren of the kids who are wearing Led Zeppelin hoodies will be wearing Metallica hoodies or something like that. And at least Metallica wrote their own songs

First, I hate when people say that about Zep but it's all good. Many of their songs were derivative works but so were the works of Mozart, I don't hear people complaining much about him.



Second, I see the 80's as a crossover period. There were still MANY quality acts up to the mid 90's but they were just not as many as there were in the 70's.

I LOVE Metallica (saw Cliff from the 4th row 2 weeks before he died). I think Metallica IS a band that will have staying power. I do see 14 year olds wearing Metallica shirts all the time. Let us not forget that Metallica is a 25 year old band, they didn't start 12 years ago which is the scope of my reasoning.

I am talking about TODAY'S music.

I could imagine seeing a kid in 20 years wearing a Tool logo on his hoodie but I don't think that will be the case for the Fall Out Boys. And Tool is also almost a 20 year old band.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by kats

They have staying power and there was cetainly GREAT music - but it is built on the principles and foundations laid by their parents generation who were running the corporate world at the time.

IE NOT the baby boomer generation, but rather their parents generation otherwise known as "The Greatest" generation. The BB generation will go down as one of the most useless generations in N. American history. Their offspring as the most disfunctional...

And before you talk about all the great movements in the 60s' - JFK, MLK and the driving force behind anything good that came out of those days were not because of the baby boomers.

Unfortunately it's going to take quite a few generations to pay back the lifestyle and rebuild the social institutions that the BB's squandered in persuit of a lifstyle they thought was owed to them.

And now they want to live forever That's going to cost us another few trillion...

Now THAT I completely 100% agree with.

[emdub123]

Originally Posted by herecomesyourman

There's a reason unfiltered music from non major label sources is selling so well in larger pools of smaller numbers combined. Those artists aren't at a level corporately where music literally becomes the LAST thing they need to worry about on a day to day basis.

So they make incredible music, and try to build fan bases...and guess what, when it's good, it's good...you don't need millions in advertising to sell 10-50K of a great record, as long as you're willing to tour hard for it.

I think this is what it's coming to for most artists. Not much in it for major labels. At $10/CD, you're looking at $100,000-250,000 for a successful record. How long does it take to sell that quantity? How many people split that revenue? What are the costs along the way?

So, let's make up some numbers. Say it's an average band of four people, taking a year to reach these sales numbers. Let's say they spent $20,000 on recording and manufacturing. That means that the individual band members would make $25,000-58,000 on the record, plus the publishing, touring income and merchandising. Minus lots of miscellaneous expenses. Not a bad income at all, wouldn't you say? Not MTV Cribs, but still pretty good.

So, if the old system meant that a small group of people made millions and a whole bunch of people ended up with nothing (I'm thinking the Albini editorial), and the new system means that practically nobody makes millions but a whole bunch of people make a decent living, what's wrong with that?
Looking at it from this perspective, I'm having a hard time seeing how my interests would have been better served in the "old" system than the "new" system???

[emdub123]

Originally Posted by kats

The BB generation will go down as one of the most useless generations in N. American history. Their offspring as the most disfunctional...

The self-congratulatory nostalgia that baby-boomers bathe themselves in irritates me as much as the next guy, but come on... "useless"?

Offspring is the most disfunctional? Wait till I tell my therapist what you said!

[herecomesyourman]

Exactly.

I honestly think things are better this way for any number of reasons that don't have to do with money too...

It ensures more quality music from artists. Due to sheer volume of great recordings made cheaper and cheaper, and because only the proliffic and driven can survive in this new climate.

And because it allows us to get away from advertising agencies, and images, and delve further into making fantastic sounds without fear of not being radio friendly for every single track on every record.

[initialsBB]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

I really doubt there is any other 12 year period that has this many artists who's songs, love'm or hate'm are still around today.....

See, I just don't think that's a great measure though. In the 70s the oldies radio that existed probably played 50s and early 60s music, then on into the 80s and 90s, we got "classic rock" radio & stuff like that. Now oldies stations play less and less say Leiber and Stoller stuff and more stuff from the 70s. This is simply a function of demographics and economics. There is a little bit of 80s new wave or 90s alternative nostalgia on some radio stations but it's still pretty small because there's a much smaller audience for it. Once the boomers are gone you're not going to see Mercedes commercials with Janis Joplin or Zeppelin songs anymore. So I think this "staying power" is somewhat illusory.

Originally Posted by not_so_new

That's cool man... just in case I have not said it enough, my WHOLE point is not to say the Beatles are better than the White Strips, I like both bands. My point is that CULTURALLY the Beatles had a much bigger impact.

I agree that bands in those days seemed to have a bigger cultural impact. I think this was largely do to the influence and relevance of radio and the lack of other entertainment options for teenagers. It was just the beginning of TV shows and movies that were targeted specifically to teenagers. But again, demographics played a huge part in this. A huge generation all came of age at once at a time when the concept of the "teenager" was just coming into existence. Then take a look at Gen Y who rival the size of the boomers and you'll see why Britney and the rest of them were so huge at a time when these kids were in their pre-teens.

Oh, and the Beatles were obviously better than the White Stripes.

Originally Posted by not_so_new

First, I hate when people say that about Zep but it's all good.

I was only kidding of course. But it is sort of amusing to think about what would happen if a young band came out today, covered another artist's song and gave themselves songwriting credit with no recognition of the original artist. Think of what Gearslutz would say about that! There would be hell to pay!

[kats]

Originally Posted by emdub123

The self-congratulatory nostalgia that baby-boomers bathe themselves in irritates me as much as the next guy, but come on... "useless"?

Offspring is the most disfunctional? Wait till I tell my therapist what you said!

What makes me laugh the hardest now are the plethora of commercials with "Born To be Wild" as the soundtrack

The latest one with their icon Dennis Hopper is a killer - he says:

"It's not where your dreams take you, it's where you take your dreams"

What the fvck is that?

I think it's code for "Don't leave a cent behind"

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by initialsBB

See, I just don't think that's a great measure though. In the 70s the oldies radio that existed probably played 50s and early 60s music, then on into the 80s and 90s, we got "classic rock" radio & stuff like that. Now oldies stations play less and less say Leiber and Stoller stuff and more stuff from the 70s. This is simply a function of demographics and economics. There is a little bit of 80s new wave or 90s alternative nostalgia on some radio stations but it's still pretty small because there's a much smaller audience for it. Once the boomers are gone you're not going to see Mercedes commercials with Janis Joplin or Zeppelin songs anymore. So I think this "staying power" is somewhat illusory.

I suppose. I guess we agree to disagree here.

My counter to your points above would be that while many people can't play "name that tune" with Glen Miller's "In The Mood" or "Take The 'A' Train" from Duke Ellington people still know the melody. They may hate it (shame actually) but they KNOW it. Yes more people from my father's generation (the Greatest Generation for sure) know these songs but they are just too good and too catchy to forget about.

Songs from the 60's and 70's have the same thing going for them there is just MORE of it.

I agree that bands in those days seemed to have a bigger cultural impact. I think this was largely do to the influence and relevance of radio and the lack of other entertainment options for teenagers. It was just the beginning of TV shows and movies that were targeted specifically to teenagers. But again, demographics played a huge part in this. A huge generation all came of age at once at a time when the concept of the "teenager" was just coming into existence. Then take a look at Gen Y who rival the size of the boomers and you'll see why Britney and the rest of them were so huge at a time when these kids were in their pre-teens.

You know, I think THAT is my point right there.

Yes Britney was THAT popular because of the teenagers / kids, same exact thing with the the Beatles.

The HUGE difference is that Britney (and all the others) are something you grow out of, the Beatles are something you grow up with. I am almost 40, I have been listening to the Beatles since I was 5, probably earlier. I will be listening to them until I die or go deaf. Everytime I listen I get something new from the expereince, lyrics, music, production, something.

Can the same be said for Britney's fans?

I don't know, I am not a huge fan but from what I have heard her stuff is not life changing, it's not something to touch your soul, it's not intriguing enough to follow for a lifetime. It's something that you listen to as a kid and grow out of as an adult for most people (some people just never grow up at all but that is a different story)…. at least that's how I see it from the outside.

Oh, and the Beatles were obviously better than the White Stripes.

I am with ya… I still like the Strips though….

I was only kidding of course. But it is sort of amusing to think about what would happen if a young band came out today, covered another artist's song and gave themselves songwriting credit with no recognition of the original artist. Think of what Gearslutz would say about that! There would be hell to pay!

Good point, good point…

[Silas Holmes]

Here is a list of 90's Hip-Hop Music. I believe that every track is as good as any 70's Rock track.
(And I love 70's Rock, maybe more than Hip-Hop.)


1998
Action Satisfaction
Macfadden, L., Potsic, M., Givens, D., Henderson, C., Stewart, C., & Stuart, M.; REC: Jurassic 5
1994
Afro Puffs
Lady Of Rage, The, & Dat Nigga Daz; REC: The Lady Of Rage
1990
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube, Sadler, E., & Shocklee, K.; REC: Ice Cube
1998
Aquemini
Benjamin, A., & Patton, A. A.; REC: OutKast
1999
As The World Turns
Eminem, Bass, M., & Bass, J.; REC: Eminem
1993
Award Tour
Tribe Called Quest, A; REC: A Tribe Called Quest
1992
Baby Got Back
Sir Mix-A-Lot; REC: Sir Mix-A-Lot
1998
Back That Azz Up
Juvenile, & Carter, D. P.; REC: Juvenile
1998
Bananas (Who You Gonna Call?)
Queen Latifah, Crapps, G., Peaks, A., & Siskind, M.; REC: Queen Latifah
1998
Beautiful Skin
Cee-Lo, Khujo, T-Mo, K-Oz, & Love, C.; REC: Goodie Mob
1996
Been There, Done That
Dr. Dre, Anderson, S., & Anderson, J.; REC: Dr. Dre
1996
Big Momma Thang
Lil' Kim, Bartos, A., Harvey, F., Jones, K., Lloyd, J., & Sylvester, J.; REC: Lil' Kim & Jay-Z
1999
Big Pimpin'
Jay-Z, Timbaland, Butler, C., Freeman, B., & Joshua, K.; REC: Jay-Z
1994
Big Poppa
Notorious B. I. G., The, & The Isley Brothers; REC: The Notorious B. I. G.
1994
Black Ego
Digable Planets; REC: Digable Planets
1998
Black Ice
Benjamin, A., Patton, A. A., K-Oz, & Sheats, D.; REC: Goodie Mob
1999
Bling Bling
B. G., Baby Mannie Fresh, Juvenile, & Lil' Wayne; REC: B. G.
1996
Blue Flowers
Kool Keith, & Nakamura, D.; REC: Dr. Octagon
1990
Bonita Applebum
Tribe Called Quest, A; REC: A Tribe Called Quest
1994
Borough Check
Digable Planets, & Elam, K.; REC: Digable Planets
1992
Brenda's Got A Baby
2Pac; REC: 2Pac
1994
Bring The Pain
Method Man, & RZA; REC: Method Man
1994
Brooklyn Took It
Jeru The Damaja, & DJ Premier; REC: Jeru The Damaja
1995
Brooklyn Zoo
Ol' Dirty Bastard, & Harris, D.; REC: Ol' Dirty Bastard
1996
Brooklyn's Finest
Jay-Z, The Notorious B. I. G., Bonner, L., Franklin, R., Jones, M., Middlebrooks, R., Morrison, W., Noland, A., Pierce, M., & Webster, G.; REC: Jay-Z & The Notorious B. I. G.
1997
Brown Skin Lady
Mos Def, & Talib Kweli; REC: Mos Def & Talib Kweli
1999
Busa Rhyme
Elliott, M., Timbaland, Eminem, & Parisi, R.; REC: Missy Elliott & Eminem
1993
C.R.E.A.M.
Wu-Tang Clan; REC: Wu-Tang Clan
1996
California Love
2Pac, Cunningham, W., Dr. Dre, Durham, N., Cocker, J., & Troutman, R.; REC: 2Pac & Dr. Dre; Ya Baby!!! String Quartet
1996
Can't Knock The Hustle
Jay-Z, Foster, J., & Miller, M.; REC: Jay-Z
1991
Can't Truss It
Ridenhour, C., Depper, C., Robertz, S., & Mandrill, G.; REC: Public Enemy
1995
Cell Therapy
Cee-Lo, Khujo, T-Mo, K-Oz, & Organized Noize; REC: Goodie Mob
1995
Changes
2Pac, Evan, D., & Hornsby, B.; REC: 2Pac
1991
Check The Rhime
Tribe Called Quest, A, Ball, R., Duncan, M., Ferrone, S., Gorrie, A., McIntyre, O., & Stuart, J.; REC: A Tribe Called Quest
1997
Clean Up Man
B. G., & Kidd; REC: B. G.
1999
Clear Tha Set
Li'l Wayne; REC: Hot Boy$
1994
Come Baby Come
K7, & Gardner, J.; REC: K7
1994
Come Clean
Jeru The Damaja, Jones, K., Manne, S., Martin, C. E., Parker, C., Scruggs, F., & Taylor, T.; REC: Jeru The Damaja
1998
Coming From
DMX, & Fields, A.; REC: DMX & Mary J. Blige
1998
Concrete Schoolyard
Macfadden, L., & Potsic, M.; REC: Jurassic 5
1991
Convolutions
Freestyle Fellowship; REC: Freestyle Fellowship
1995
Criminology
Raekwon, RZA, Adams, P., Bascombe, S., Burgess, L., Coles, D., & Patterson, R.; REC: Raekwon
1998
Crook County
Twista, Stokes, L., Mayz, & Newsense; REC: Twista
1992
Crossover
E Double E, & Pee MD; REC: EPMD
1995
Crossroads (aka Tha Crossroads; aka Tha Crossroad)
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Isley, M., Middleton, T., & Cowan, T.; REC: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
1999
Cum On Everybody
Eminem, Bass, M., & Bass, J.; REC: Eminem
1996
Da Dip
Freak Nasty; REC: Freak Nasty
1993
Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'
Wu-Tang Clan; REC: Wu-Tang Clan
1990
Dance To My Ministry
Dechalus, L., Dixon, M., & Murphy, D.; REC: Brand Nubian
1995
Datskat
Questlove (?uestlove); REC: The Roots
1992
Day Of Sooperman Lover, A
Redman, Starks, J., Watson, J., Wesley, F., & Brown, J.; REC: Redman
1997
Dead Presidents
Jay-Z, Jones, N., Phillips, P., Smith, L., & Willis, D.; REC: Jay-Z
1996
Dead Wrong
Notorious B. I. G., & Harvey, O.; REC: Notorious B. I. G. & Eminem
1995
Dear Mama
2Pac, Sample, J., & Pizarro, T.; REC: 2Pac
1992
Deep Cover
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, & Wolfe, C.; REC: Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg
1997
Definition
Mos Def, & Talib Kweli; REC: Mos Def & Talib Kweli
1998
Don't Let It Go To Your Head
Dechalus, L., Dixon, W., Gamble, K., & Huff, L.; REC: Brand Nubian
1991
Don't Let Your Mouth Write A Check That Your Ass Can't Cash
Bolton, G., & Wright, M.; REC: Stetsasonic
1998
Doo Wop (That Thing)
Hill, Lauryn; REC: Lauryn Hill
1990
Doowutchyalike
Shock-G; REC: Digital Underground
1991
Dr. Bombay
Ice Cube, Ali, J., Clinton, G., & Johnson, R.; REC: Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
1990
Drop The Bomb
Dechalus, L., & Murphy, D.; REC: Brand Nubian
1996
Earth People
Kool Keith, & Nakamura, D.; REC: Dr. Octagon
1998
Ebonics
Big L, & Turner, R.; REC: Big L
1996
Elevators (Me And You)
Benjamin, A., Patton, A. A., & Organized Noize; REC: OutKast
1996
Emotions
Twista; REC: Twista
1990
Endangered Species (Tales From the Darkside)
Ice Cube, Chuck D, Sadler, E., & Sir Jinx; REC: Ice Cube
1998
Everything Is Everything
Hill, L., & Newton, J.; REC: Lauryn Hill
1993
Everything's Everything
Freestyle Fellowship, Earthquake Brothers, & McCann, L.; REC: Freestyle Fellowship
1999
Evolution Of Man, The
Binary Star; REC: Binary Star
1991
Excursions
Q-Tip; REC: A Tribe Called Quest
1990
Expression
James, Candi; REC: Salt-N-Pepa
1994
Fa All Y'All
Da Brat, & Dupri, J.; REC: Da Brat
1997
Fire In Which You Burn
Bigg Jus, & El Producto; REC: Company Flow
1994
Flava In Ya Ear
Mack, Craig; REC: Craig Mack
1991
Follow Me Not
Robinson, L. C., Rodwell, R., Allert, F., & Gooden, A.; REC: Dream Warriors
1991
For No Reason
Freestyle Fellowship; REC: Freestyle Fellowship
1999
Forgot About Dre
Dr. Dre, Eminem, & Bradford, M.; REC: Dr. Dre & Eminem
1995
Fourth Chamber (4th Chamber)
Genius/GZA, & RZA; REC: Genius/GZA
1991
**** Compton
Tim Dog; REC: Tim Dog
1993
**** Wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebratin')
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, & Wolfe, C.; REC: Dr. Dre
1996
Fu-Gee-La
Hill, L., Jean, N., Bell, T., Hart, W., & Michel, S.; REC: The Fugees
1994
Funkdafied
Da Brat, Dupri, J., Isley Brothers, & Jasper, C.; REC: Da Brat
1990
Funkin' Lesson
Hunter, Jason; REC: X-Clan
1997
G. O. D. (Gaining One's Definition)
Common, Burton, T., Newbill, C., & Wilson, E.; REC: Common
1995
Gangsta's Paradise
Coolio, Sanders, L., Rasheed, D., & Wonder, S.; REC: Coolio
1998
Get At Me Dog
DMX, Blackman, D., Fields, A., & Taylor, S.; REC: DMX
1996
Get Crunk
Lil Jon, Neal, W., & Norris, S.; REC: Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz
1997
Get High Tonight
Busta Rhymes, & Spivey, G.; REC: Busta Rhymes
1999
Get Out Tha Way
Hot Boy$; REC: Hot Boy$
1996
Gette'm Crunk
Three 6 Mafia; REC: Three 6 Mafia
1996
Ghetto Love
Da Brat, Chuck D, Shocklee, H., El DeBarge, & Wright, B.; REC: Da Brat
1993
Gin And Juice
Snoop Dogg, Casey, H. W., Dr. Dre, & Finch, R.; REC: Snoop Dogg
1999
Glen Close
Binary Star; REC: Binary Star
1997
Gone Till November
Jean, Wyclef; REC: Wyclef Jean
1999
Got Your Money
Ol' Dirty Bastard, Williams, P., & Hugo, C.; REC: Ol' Dirty Bastard & Kelis
1999
Gotta Man
Eve, & Dean, K.; REC: Eve
1999
Guilty Conscience
Eminem, & Dr. Dre; REC: Eminem
1998
Ha
Juvenile; REC: Juvenile
1991
Hand On The Pump

B Real, DJ Muggs, & Bouldin, B.; REC: Cypress Hill
1998
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Jay-Z, Charmin, M., James, M., & Strouse, C.; REC: Jay-Z
1998
He Got Game
Ridenhour, C., LuQuantum Leap, & Stephen Stills; REC: Public Enemy
1996
Hell On Earth
Prodigy, & Havoc; REC: Mobb Deep
1993
Hellterskkkelter
Esham; REC: Esham
1995
Hey Lover
LL Cool J, & Temperton, R.; REC: LL Cool J & Boyz II Men
1999
Hip Hop
Mos Def, & Kirkland, J.; REC: Mos Def
1993
Hip Hop Hooray
Brown, V., Criss, A., & Gist, K.; REC: Naughty By Nature
1997
Hit A Mutha****a
Three 6 Mafia; REC: Three 6 Mafia
1995
Hit 'Em Up
2Pac, Golde, F., Hitchings, D., & Lambert, D.; REC: 2Pac
1999
Holla Holla
Ja Rule, Green, T. J., & Gotti, I; REC: Ja Rule
1996
How Do U Want It?
2Pac, & Jackson, J. J.; REC: 2Pac; Ya Baby!!! String Quartet
1991
How I Could Just Kill A Man
B Real, DJ Muggs, & Sen Dog; REC: Cypress Hill
1990
Humpty Dance, The
Shock-G; REC: Digital Underground
1996
Hypnotize
Notorious B. I. G., The, P. Diddy, Alpert, R. Angelettie, D., Armer, A., & Lawrence, R.; REC: The Notorious B. I. G.
1993
I Ain't Goin' Out Like That
B Real, DJ Muggs, & Sen Dog; REC: Cypress Hill
1996
I Ain't Mad At Cha
2Pac, Arnaud, D., Jordan, E., & Stewart, D.; REC: 2Pac
1993
I Ain't New Ta This
Ice-T, & DJ Aladdin; REC: Ice-T
1995
I Feel For You
AZ; REC: AZ
1998
I Got A Secret (aka I Got A Seecret)
Redman, & Size, R.; REC: Redman
1999
I Need A Hot Girl
Hot Boy$, & Big Tymers; REC: Hot Boy$ & Big Tymers
1995
I Shot Ya
LL Cool J, Brown, J., Collins, L., & Olivier, J. C.; REC: LL Cool J & Foxy Brown
1994
I Used to Love H. E. R.
Common; REC: Common
1996
If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)
Nas, Barnes, S., Olivier, J. C., & Walker, K. (Kurtis Blow); REC: Nas
1998
If You Think I'm Jiggy
LOX, Stewart, R., Appice, C., & Blackmon, D.; REC: LOX
1996
I'll Be
Foxy Brown, Barnes, S., & Oliver, J. C.; REC: Foxy Brown & Jay-Z
1990
I'll Do 4 U
Father MC, Foster, D., Lynn, C., & Paich, D.; REC: Father MC
1992
Ill Street Blues
Kool G Rap, & Wheaton, A.; REC: Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
1998
I'm Black And I'm Proud
Dechalus, L., Dixon, W., Jones, K., Murphy, D., & Brown, J.; REC: Brand Nubian
1998
Images Of .44 Casings
Dalek; REC: Dalek
1993
Inner City Boundaries
Freestyle Fellowship, Daddy O, & Willis, R.; REC: Freestyle Fellowship
1993
Insane In The Brain
B Real, DJ Muggs, & Sen Dog; REC: Cypress Hill
1998
Intergalactic
Beastie Boys, & Caldato, Jr., M.; REC: Beastie Boys
1992
It Was A Good Day
Ice Cube, Goodman, A., Goodman, S., Isley, R., Isley, R., Isley, E., Isley, O., & Ray, H.; REC: Ice Cube; H2O
1999
It's Bigger Than
Alford, L., Gavin, C., & West, K.; REC: Dead Prez
1999
It's So Hard
Big Punisher, Frierson, R., & Garfield, J.; REC: Big Punisher
1998
Joints And Jam
Pineda, A., Adams, W., Gomez, J., Phillinganes, G., Poli, P., Smith, T., & Gibb, B.; REC: Black Eyed Peas
1994
Juicy
Notorious B. I. G., The, P. Diddy, Mtume, J., & Olivier, J. C.; REC: The Notorious B. I. G.
1992
Jump Around
Schrody, E., & Muggerud, L.; REC: House Of Pain
1998
Just Give It To Me Raw
Busta Rhymes, & Dean, K.; REC: Busta Rhymes
1991
Just Hangin' Out
Large Professor, K-Cut, & Sir Scratch; REC: Main Source
1997
Just Like Me
Lil' Kim, Seal, & Dupri, J.; REC: Usher & Lil' Kim
1991
Just To Get A Rep
Guru, & DJ Premier; REC: Gang Starr
1993
Keep Ya Head Up
2Pac, Anderson, D., & Troutman, R.; REC: 2Pac
1991
Kiss You Back
Shock-G, & Clinton, G.; REC: Digital Underground
1991
Kung Fu
Biz Markie; REC: Biz Markie
1992
Language Of Violence
Franti, Michael; REC: The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
1997
Last Good Sleep
Bigg Jus, & El Producto; REC: Company Flow
1999
Left Field
Madchild, Prevail, Del, & Unicorn; REC: Swollen Members
1999
Lessons Of Today
Rah Digga, James, M. H., & Owen, D.; REC: Rah Digga
1996
Let Me Clear My Throat
DJ Kool; REC: DJ Kool
1990
Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em
Eric B. & Rakim; REC: Eric B. & Rakim
1990
Let's Talk About Sex
Fingerprints; REC: Salt-N-Pepa
1994
Life's A Bitch
Nas, Cruz, A., Dara, O., Scott, O., & Wilson, R.; REC: Nas & AZ
1995
Liquid Swords
Genius/GZA, RZA, Brigati, E., & Cavaliere, F.; REC: Genius/GZA
1992
Live And Let Die
Kool G Rap, & Wheaton, A.; REC: Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
1991
Live At The Barbeque
Large Professor, K-Cut, & Sir Scratch; REC: Main Source
1991
Looking At The Front Door
Large Professor, K-Cut, & Sir Scratch; REC: Main Source
1999
Love Is Blind
Eve, Dean, K., Fields, A., & Jeffers, E.; REC: Eve
1990
Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J; & Williams, M.; REC: LL Cool J
1995
Me Against The World
2Pac, Rudolph, R., Ware, L., Bacharach, B., David, H., & Riperton, M.; REC: 2Pac
1993
Method Man
Wu-Tang Clan; REC: Wu-Tang Clan
1991
Mind Playing Tricks On Me
Scarface, Willie D, & King, D; REC: Geto Boys
1991
Mistadobalina
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Ice Cube, Bobbit, C., Wesely, F., & Brown, J.; REC: Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
1996
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems
Notorious B. I. G., The, P. Diddy, Betha, M., Edwards, B. H., Jordan, S., & Rodgers, N.; REC: The Notorious B. I. G., Mase, & P. Diddy
1999
More Than U Know
Prince Paul, De La Soul, Derner, L., Roberts, H., Stonewall, F., & Stone, H.; REC: Prince Paul & De La Soul
1991
Mr. Scarface Is Back
Scarface, & Bido, J.; REC: Scarface
1992
Mr. Wendal
Speech; REC: Arrested Development
1993
Murder Was The Case
Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, & Dat Nigga Daz; REC: Snoop Dogg
1990
Music Ain't Loud Enuff
DJ Kool; REC: DJ Kool
1995
MVP
Big L, Hall, R., Jordan, E., & DeBarge, M. D.; REC: Big L
1991
My Definition Of A Boombastic (Jazz Style)
Robinson, L. C., Rodwell, R., & Jones, Q.; REC: Dream Warriors
1999
My Name Is
Eminem, & Dr. Dre; REC: Eminem
1993
My Skin Is My Sin
Ice Cube; REC: Ice Cube
1994
N. Y. State Of Mind
Nas, & Martin, C. F.; REC: Nas
1996
Never Leave Me Alone
Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, MacDonald, R., & Slater, W.; REC: Nate Dogg
1991
New Jack Hustler
Ice-T; REC: Ice-T
1999
New York Giants
Big Punisher, Dudley, A., Grinnage, J., McLaren, M., Murry, E., & Richardson, M.; REC: Big Punisher
1999
Next Movement, The
Questlove (?uestlove), Black Thought, Ahmir, Gray, K., & Hubbard, L.; REC: The Roots
1990
Nine-Eleven Is A Joke (911 Is A Joke)
Shocklee, K., Sadler, E., & Drayton, W.; REC: Public Enemy
1993
Ninety-nine Problems (99 Problems)
Ice-T, & DJ Aladdin; REC: Ice-T
1999
Ninety-seven Bonnie & Clyde (97 Bonnie & Clyde)
Eminem, Bass, M., & Bass, J.; REC: Eminem
1996
No Diggity
Dr. Dre, Riley, T., Hannibal, C., Stewart, W., & Walters, L.; REC: Blackstreet & Dr. Dre
1993
No Time To Play
Guru; REC: Guru
1996
Not Tonight
Lil' Kim, & Dupri, J.; REC: Lil' Kim

[Silas Holmes]

1992
Nuthin' But A "G" Thang
Dr. Dre, & Snoop Dogg; REC: Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg
1990
O. P. P.
Brown, V., Criss, A., & Gist, K.; REC: Naughty By Nature
1999
Official
Monch, P., & Stone, L.; REC: Pharoahe Monch
1994
One Love
Nas, Davis, J., & Heath, J.; REC: Nas
1994
One More Chance
Notorious B. I. G., The, P. Diddy, & Thompson, C.; REC: The Notorious B. I. G. & Faith Evans
1996
Paparazzi
Xzibit, & Banks, E.; REC: Xzibit
1993
Papa'z Song
2Pac, Evans, D., Jennings, W., & Sample, J.; REC: 2Pac
1999
Party Up (Up In Here)
DMX, & Dean, K.; REC: DMX
1997
Pass Da Blunt
Elliott, M., Timbaland, Bennett, H., Brown, J., Ferguson, L., Lyn, R., Mittoo, J., Sibbles, L., & Simpson, F.: REC: Missy Elliott & Timbaland
1992
Passing Me By
Hardson, T., Martinez, J., Robinson, R., Stewart, D., & Wilcox, E.; REC: The Pharcyde
1991
Peaceful Journey
Heavy D & The Boyz, & DJ Eddie F.; REC: Heavy D & The Boyz
1992
People Everyday
Speech; REC: Arrested Development
1992
Place Where We Dwell, The
Guru, & DJ Premier; REC: Gang Starr
1994
Player's Ball
Benjamin, A., Patton, A. A., & Organized Noize; REC: OutKast
1996
Po Pimp
Twista, Round, A., Round, D., & Smith, D.; REC: Do Or Die
1998
Police State
Alford, L., Gavin, G., Mair, A., & Williams, V.; REC: Dead Prez
1998
Positivity
Pineda, A., Adams, W., Gomez, J., Feyen, K., Fratantuno, M., & Lapin, B.; REC: Black Eyed Peas
1998
Pussy Pop
Xzibit, Brooks, E., Diggs, & Savage; REC Xzibit, Method Man, & Jayo Felony
1997
Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
Busta Rhymes, Munroe, R., & Durant, D.; REC: Busta Rhymes
1996
Queen Bitch
Lil' Kim, Broady, C., & Myrick, N.; REC: Lil' Kim
1997
Rain, The (Supa Dupa Fly)
Elliott, M., Timbaland, Bryant, D., Miller, B., & Peebles, A.; REC: Missy Elliot
1990
Raise The Flag
Hunter, Jason; REC: X-Clan
1999
Rap Is Still Outta Control
E Double E, & Pee MD; REC: EPMD & Busta Rhymes
1995
Raw Hide
Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA, & Grice, G.; REC: Ol' Dirty Bastard & Method Man
1996
Ready Or Not
Hill, L., Jean, W., Marie, T., McGrier, A., Michel, S., & Remi, S.; REC: The Fugees
1994
Ready To Die
Notorious B. I. G., The; REC: The Notorious B. I. G.
1991
Reality Used To Be A Friend Of Mine
Cordes, Attrell; REC: P. M. Dawn
1993
Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
Digable Planets; REC: Digable Planets
1996
Regrets
Jay-Z, & Di Pasquale, F.; REC: Jay-Z
1994
Regulate
Nate Dogg & Warren G; REC: Warren G
1994
Release Yo' Delf
Method Man, RZA, Fekaris, D., & Perren, F.; REC: Method Man
1997
Retrospect For Life
Common, Poyser, J., Wilson, E., Wright, S., & Wonder, S.; REC: Common
1997
Reunited
Wu-Tang Clan; REC: Wu-Tang Clan
1991
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
Trugoy The Dove, Pasemaster Mase, Posdnuos, Prince Paul, & Skinner, G.; REC: De La Soul
1999
Rollin' Wit You
Ol' Dirty Bastard; REC: Ol' Dirty Bastard
1998
Rosa Parks
Benjamin, A., & Patton, A. A.; REC: OutKast
1992
Rump Shaker
Riley, T., Williams, P., Davidson, A., Hollins, A., Riley, M., & Wynn, D.; REC: Wreckx-N-Effect
1994
Sabotage
Beastie Boys; REC: Beastie Boys
1991
Scenario
Tribe Called Quest, A, Busta Rhymes, Higgins, B., & Jackson, J.; REC: A Tribe Called Quest
1997
Second Round K. O.
Canibus, Duplessis, J., & Jean, W.; REC: Canibus
1991
Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
Cordes, A., & Kemp, G.; REC: P. M. Dawn
1995
Shadowboxin'
Genius/GZA, & RZA; REC: Genius/GZA
1992
Shamrocks And Shenanigans
Schrody, E., O'Connor, D. B., & Dimant, L.; REC: House Of Pain
1999
She's A Bitch
Elliott, M., & Timbaland, REC: Missy Elliot & Timbaland
1995
Shimmy Shimmy Ya
Ol' Dirty Bastard, & Diggs, R.; REC: Ol' Dirty Bastard
1995
Shook Ones, Pt. 2
Prodigy, & Havoc; REC: Mobb Deep
1993
Shoop
Denton, S., James, C., Martin, K., Roberts, O., & Turner, I.; REC: Salt-N-Pepa
1999
Simon Says
Monch, Pharoahe; REC: Pharoahe Monch
1991
Sister Sister
Heavy D & The Boyz, & Williams, M.; REC: Heavy D & The Boyz
1998
Slippin'
DMX, Gomez, M., & Washington, Jr., G.; REC: DMX
1995
So Many Tears
2Pac, Baker, E., Jacobs, G., Walker, R., & Wonder, S.; REC: 2Pac
1993
So On And So On
Cordes, A., & Batiste, D.; REC: P. M. Dawn
1992
Soul Flower
Hardson, T., Kincaid, J., Levy, A., Robinson, R., Stewart, D., & Wilcox, E.; REC: The Pharcyde
1993
Sound Of Da Police
KRS-One; REC: KRS-One
1994
Southernplayalist-icadillacmuzik
Benjamin, A., Patton, A. A., & Organized Noize; REC: OutKast
1991
Speaking Of A Girl Named Suzy
Bolton, G., Wright, M., Nunn, B., Roman, L. & Simmons, B.; REC: Stetasonic
1998
Still Not A Player
Big Punisher, & Foster, J.; REC: Big Punisher
1996
Still Shining
Busta Rhymes, & Yancy, J.; REC: Busta Rhymes
1996
Stomp
Three 6 Mafia; REC: Three 6 Mafia
1992
Straighten It Out
Rock, P., & Smooth, C. L.; REC: Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
1996
Street Dreams
Nas, Barnes, S., Lennox, A., & Stewart, D.; REC: Nas
1990
Streets Of New York
Kool G Rap, Large Professor, & Anton; REC: Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
1999
Strength
Madchild, & Prevail; REC: Swollen Members
1995
Survival Of The Fittest
Prodigy, & Havoc; REC: Mobb Deep
1998
Swollen Tongue Burns
Dalek; REC: Dalek
1992
Take It Personal
Guru, & DJ Premier; REC: Gang Starr
1992
Television, The Drug Of The Nation
Franti, Michael; REC: The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
1992
Tennessee
Speech, & DJ Headliner; REC: Arrested Development
1997
They Don't Wanna **** Wit Me
Elliott, M., & Timbaland, REC: Missy Elliot & Timbaland
1991
They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
Rock, P., & Smooth, C. L.; REC: Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
1994
This DJ
Warren G; REC: Warren G
1995
This Is How We Do It
Jordan, M., & Pierce, O.; REC: Montell Jordan
1995
Thought Process
Cee-Lo, Khujo, T-Mo, K-Oz, & Organized Noize; REC: Goodie Mob
1997
Thug Luv
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DJ U-Neek, & 2Pac: REC: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony & 2Pac
1994
Thuggish Ruggish Bone
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, & DJ U-Neek; REC: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
1998
To Zion
Hill, Lauryn; REC: Lauryn Hill & Carlos Santana
1995
Too Hot
Coolio, Brown, G., & Dobbs, B.; REC: Coolio
1994
Tootsee Roll
Da S.W.A.T. Team; REC: 69 Boyz
1997
Triumph
Wu-Tang Clan; REC: Wu-Tang Clan
1998
Twinz (Deep Cover)
Big Punisher, Snoop Dogg, Rios, C., Wolfe, C., & Young, A.; REC: Big Punisher
1993
U.N.I.T.Y.
Queen Latifah, & Sample, J.; REC: Queen Latifah
1999
Unify
Slick Rick, Snoop Dogg, Love, D., & Toombs, R.; REC: Slick Rick
1995
Verbal Intercourse
Raekwon, & RZA; REC: Raekwon
1991
Verses From The Abstract
Q-Tip; REC: A Tribe Called Quest
1991
Wash Your Face In My Sink
Robinson, L. C., Rodwell, R., & Gooden, A.; REC: Dream Warriors
1992
Watch Yo Nuggets
Redman, Shider, G., Spradley, D., & Clinton, G.; REC: Redman
1990
Welcome To The Terrordome
Ridenhour, C., Shocklee, H., & Sadler, E.; REC: Public Enemy
1999
What U Got
Prince Paul, Beach, J., Lambert, A., & Smith, P.; REC: Prince Paul & Breezly Brewin
1997
What You Want
Mase, P Diddy, Myrick, N., & Spivey, K.; REC: Mase
1998
What's It Gonna Be?
Busta Rhymes, Allamby, D., & Roberson, A.; REC: Busta Rhymes
1999
What's My Name?
DMX, Gotti, I., & Hinson, E.; REC: DMX
1992
What's On Your Mind
Eric B.; REC: Eric B. & Rakim
1992
What's The 411?
Dixon, M., & Dofat, T.; REC: Mary J. Blige
1998
What's The Deal/Half-A-Mil (Interlude)
AZ, Barnes, S. J., Crawford, D., Olivier, J. C., Russell, R., & Woods, T.; REC: AZ
1993
Whatta Man
Azor, Hurby "Luv Bug"; REC: Salt-N-Pepa & En Vogue; The Eurobeats
1993
Where I'm From
Digable Planets; REC: Digable Planets
1993
Who Am I? (What's My Name?)
Snoop Dogg, Clinton, G., Shider, G., & Spradley, D.; REC: Snoop Dogg
1996
Who U Wit?
Lil Jon, Lewis, P., Neal, W., & Norris, S.; REC: Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz
1993
Whoomp! (There It Is)
Bonsanto, M., Gibson, S., Glenn, C., Ninzatti, L., & & Pulga, S.; REC: Tag Team
1990
Who's The Mack?
Ice Cube, & The JB's; REC: Ice Cube
1996
Woo Hah! Got You All In Check
Busta Rhymes, & Smith, R.; REC: Busta Rhymes
1996
World Is A Ghetto
Scarface, Allen, S., Brown, H., Dickerson, B., Miller, D., Oskar, L., & Scott, T.; REC: Geto Boys
1993
Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta **** Wit
Wu-Tang Clan; REC: Wu-Tang Clan
1992
Ya Mama
Hardson, T., Martinez, J., Robinson, R., Stewart, D., & Wilcox, E.; REC: The Pharcyde
1999
You Don't Want To **** With Me
Ol' Dirty Bastard; REC: Ol' Dirty Bastard
1999
You Got Me
Questlove (?uestlove), Black Thought, Scott, J., Storch, S., & The Roots; REC: The Roots & Erykah Badu
1999
You Won't See Me Tonight
Nas, Elliott, M., & Timbaland; REC: Nas

[emdub123]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

I really doubt there is any other 12 year period that has this many artists who's songs, love'm or hate'm are still around today..... And let's not forget there were a ton of late 60's and 70's songs that were huge covers in the 80's and 90's. To me that is still music created in that same 12 year window.

So, let's just say that we grant you this point. It was the best 12 year period ever. What then? What does it mean? Would that give you license to make qualitative judgements about other people's formative years? That their memories and the soundtrack that accompanies them will be somehow less important than your own?

If a particular period of time itself doesn't hold any nostalgic value (like if you weren't born yet, for example), then it's just another old song, right? What meaning does the Rat Pack have for you? Benny Goodman? Couldn't someone come along and say, NOW THAT WAS MUSIC!!! Couldn't someone come along and demonstrate the superiority of the Jazz music produced between 1940 and 1960 over the Rock music of 1968-1980? Couldn't a case be made for the possibility that Kind of Blue was more of an achievement than Sgt Pepper was?

If so, what then? Would that make the long-term cultural significance of the 50s greater than the 60s? Doesn't the relative importance of one period of time compared to another depend on one's perspective and the context of the comparison?

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by Silas Holmes

Here is a list of 90's Hip-Hop Music. I believe that every track is as good as any 70's Rock track.
(And I love 70's Rock, maybe more than Hip-Hop.)

"As good as" is all subjective. You think these songs are as good as Kashmir or Slow Ride, that's completely cool and I respect that. I don't think they are as good but that's not the point.

How many folks know songs from each list? My mother HATES "Iron Man" but she knows the song. Do you really think she knows "Survival Of The Fittest" or "So On And So On"?

LOL

Because let me tell ya, she doesn't.

Music from the 70's was pervasive, it was not an exclusive club, a fragmented subset of artists like it is today. "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," like it or hate it (I happen to love it) is probably more well known by a larger audience than any of the songs on your list…. and that is just ONE example of ONE song from the 70's, there are 1000's.

And for the record, I am in NO WAY saying that Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is BETTER than any song on your list, THAT is subjective.

Also, I didn't list songs, I listed BANDS. Many of the bands I listed, most actually, had more than one song that we still know today.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by emdub123

So, let's just say that we grant you this point. It was the best 12 year period ever. What then? What does it mean? Would that give you license to make qualitative judgements about other people's formative years? That their memories and the soundtrack that accompanies them will be somehow less important than your own?

If a particular period of time itself doesn't hold any nostalgic value (like if you weren't born yet, for example), then it's just another old song, right? What meaning does the Rat Pack have for you? Benny Goodman? Couldn't someone come along and say, NOW THAT WAS MUSIC!!! Couldn't someone come along and demonstrate the superiority of the Jazz music produced between 1940 and 1960 over the Rock music of 1968-1980? Couldn't a case be made for the possibility that Kind of Blue was more of an achievement than Sgt Pepper was?

If so, what then? Would that make the long-term cultural significance of the 50s greater than the 60s? Doesn't the relative importance of one period of time compared to another depend on one's perspective and the context of the comparison?

It's all good man, I am not fighting with you or anyone....

My only point to this whole mess is that I believe, and I have a few numbers in my corner, that these 12 years were the best times to be a music lover, to be a musician or to participate in the music business.

That's it.

Nothing more.

I am not saying the music was better, I am not saying the experience was better, I am not saying anyone else's experience could not catch it.

I am saying that the music fed the fans, which fed the industry, which fed the musicians who fed the fans. There was more interest to personally make better music because there was more interest IN music. Music wasn't an image (at least not like it is today), music wasn't a way to sell artist endorsements. Music was MUSIC, when that stopped happening, when music became more than about music the music suffered.

Before the 60's people didn't have access to technology that let them listen to as much music. After the 70's music became fashion, looks, clothing and MONEY first. These things where always there but before the 80's music was usually MUSIC first. Today that idea has been watered down a bit hasn't it?

These 12 years, from the late 60's to the end of he 70's, were the first time recorded music was as widely available and in as great a variety and the last time music was about music. That meant the music was controlled more by the people who loved it the most… you guessed it, the fans and the musicians. I just think that is a very special and good thing.

[Silas Holmes]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

Also, I didn't list songs, I listed BANDS. Many of the bands I listed, most actually, had more than one song that we still know today.

I know the difference between BANDS and SONGS. This was not intended to be a battle of numbers.

[herecomesyourman]

The other flaw of the old system is that people paid for the labels mistakes for far too long.

The labels would automatically charge 10% of earnings off of an artists contracted percentage to cover "Vinyl Breakage" whether it was a vinyl, CD, or cassette sold in a record store.

All CD sales were based off of the production cost of CD's Vs Cassettes when they were first introduced.

So a contract that gives you ten points or 10% on every song's mechanicals would backcharge you for "CD production costs" as if it was still 1987 or so leaving you with 7.5-8.5 cents or 7.5-8.5% on every dollar each song makes...THEN you of course would have to deduct Vinyl Breakage again...leaving you with 6.75-7.65 cents or 6.75-7.65% on ever dollar per CD sold.

(****This of course goes up to a total of ten songs...you won't recieve additional mechanicals for songs after number 10 in most contracts!!!!)

Then you have to pay out your producer royalties if the contract doesn't cover them from the label's end...and THEN you have to divvy up what's left between your band members.

I'd much rather sell something on my own, and keep the money after production costs without getting into debt to make the LP.

[bangbang]

where to start...yes, diversified businesses for musicians are more popular than ever. but jay-z, e-40 with his burger franchises, the are the minority. i remember years ago on BET lil troy was talking about his new clothing line...haven't heard of him since. then the other end, people ike irv gotti. is he a producer? he's definitely a businessman, but his talent seems to be making money, i don't see him as the next phil spector, ric ocasek, or...anyone. the third side of the coin is people like slick rick, who has real estate and probabl does not need to crank out that next record for that next advance. one of the guys from black sheep (i think it was BS) hasn't had to work since the 90s because of real estate investments. smart move.

[A-List]

this thread is hilarious.
There is incredible music from every decade for the past 80 or so years. The sound of now seems very relevant to the times to me. like it or not. If the kind of music from a particular era tells about what it is like during that time, todays music is very telling.

[warhead]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

selling a thousand CD's a year means that I can quit my dayjob!

At $15 each with zero production costs you would split $15,000, you can live on $7500 a year? I need to know your secret!!!

War

[Shadowdog]

[QUOTE=not_so_new;1619962]
Music from the 70's was pervasive, it was not an exclusive club, a fragmented subset of artists like it is today. "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," like it or hate it (I happen to love it) is probably more well known by a larger audience than any of the songs on your list…. and that is just ONE example of ONE song from the 70's, there are 1000's.
QUOTE]

I am curious about the song "Wreck" by Edmund Fitzgerald. I would like to hear it and see if I recognize it, but I can't find it??

[initialsBB]

LOL. To be honest I only knew The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald from a joke on Seinfeld. I just listened to a clip on iTunes though and that is some truly dreadful shit. But Gordon Lightfoot is precisely the kind of 70s dreck that my parents listened to when I was a kid. I can guarantee that neither of my parents have ever heard Iron Man.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by Shadowdog

I am curious about the song "Wreck" by Edmund Fitzgerald. I would like to hear it and see if I recognize it, but I can't find it??

iTunes my man, iTunes.

[not_so_new]

So.. in an interesting coincidence today just happens to be the anniversary of the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. In Detroit today they are chiming the same bell 30 some odd years later.

"In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early."

But I know, this song is "drek" for sure....



LOL

Rock on boys rock on.