Records are the bane of my existance, as they’re an absolute bitch to transport when you move, are highly susceptible to flood damage and take up far too much space around the house. The one thing they do have going for them, however, is the b-side.
http://www.acclaimmag.com/music/country-old-rap-men-mourning-death-b-side/
I agree. B sides are sorely missed nowadays. Has there been a poll for the greatest B side of a single? If not we need one to be commissioned.
Greatest hip hop B side…A Chorus Line.
Actually that reminds me of my fondest B side discovery back in the day….the “hidden” TR Love verse in the instrumental version of Feelin’ It on the B side of the Watch Me Now 12.
If we’re talkin’ B-sides in general, Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s La-Di-Da-Di gets the crown. If we’re talkin’ B-sides that aren’t available on any albums, Nice And Smooth’s No Bones In Ice cream is a good one…
B-side….I didn’t know you could even buy singles anymore.
@haha: You can’t, hence the article.
funny, cause I find myself having to explain to folk in this age what the concept of a B-Side is and give them context to it’s technical significance. I work with youth on DJing and i make it mandatory for them to learn vinyl culture, especially within hip-hop.
@Robbie whilst I acknowledge your choice of ‘Rebel’ as one of the best cases in point, the irony that your particular choice is in fact an ‘F’ side was not missed on me.
Also I notice for the first time that the instrumental is credited to 2 of the 4 writers that the vocal receive? Is there a reason or just incidental?
My choice of B-side gold (with Rebel)
? Remains – Gangstarr
The Promo – JB’s
The Wrath of Kane – BDK
Sub to La Di Da Di – ‘Nuthin’
@AI ‘Chorus Line’.
Greatest B-side = DWYCK.
Dope write up. Personal favorite b side was Reality by Black Moon. The only thing that made that joint better was the fact the a side was also a cookie.
B sides are what the djs play first. I swear there is a b side with ” the pssy for free” over “the bridge is over” beat , cant find it, ultra rare.
Big shout out to LL Cool J – Jack The Ripper b-side to ‘Going Back To Cali’ single one of the greatest b-sides.
Gang Starr – Credit Is Due from the ‘Love Sick’ 12″ single.
T La Rock – Scratch Monopoly from the ‘This Beat Kicks’ single.
Master Ace – Go Where I send Thee from the ‘Movin’ On’ single.
Intelligent Hoodlum – Live and Direct From The House Of Hits with Craig G from the ‘Back To Reality’ single.
Collosal B-Side : “Together Forever” Run DMC
Underrated Gem: “Somethin’ Funky” Big Daddy Kane
BDP – Feel the Vibe, Feel the Beat. Also, wasn’t Hip-Hop vs. Rap by BDP a B-Side?
@ oskamadison. You said that Ladi Dadi is the GOAT b-side then you said the GOAT b-side thats not on an album is No Bones In Ice Cream.
But Ladi Dadi was never on an album, so the correct answer is Ladi Dadi as the all time Greatest B-Side that was never on an album.
Some others…
Ghostface Killah – Daytona 500
Wu-Tang Clan – Method Man
De La Soul – The Bizness
Mobb Deep – Give Up The Goods (Just Step)
Big Daddy Kane – Warm It Up Kane
Raekwon – Incarcerated Scarfaces
DMX – Ruff Ryders’ Anthem
Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit
Big Daddy Kane – Show & Prove
Capone N Noreaga – Bang Bang
Capone N Noreaga – Calm Down
The Notorious BIG – Ten Crack Commandments
Public Enemy – Bring The Noise
Tend to agree la di da di For the all time best one.
Someone mentioned Krs hip hop not rap. .. Always thought that was a great non album one too.
@Robbie. .. totally relate to the bane of my life comment. … They make moving house torture!
most of the independent record labels put out that hard b side, even the bootlegs and promo copy had that hard b side. look at disco breaks, b sides had that edgey raw sound.the b sides go way back to the 45s. the b side is like track #4 on any album, track $4 is always the banger on the album
do not disagree with any choices listed here but a lot are getting into ‘double A side’ territory rather than the underground B-side this post relates too (IMO)
@kapikap track 4 ‘used’ to be the pre album released single not it’s b-side, although there is no law written to this effect but more just a healthy sequencing rule.
@SeanG
I thought The Show & La-Di-Da-Di were on the same side until I checked my vinyl. But La-Di-Da-Di is actually a B-Side record.
Here are some of my examples of what the double A side is:
Eric B Is President/My Melody
Big Poppa/Who Shot Ya?
Just To Get A Rep/Who’s Gonna Take The Weight?
Jenifa (Taught Me)/Potholes In My Lawn
@GNG La-Di-Da-Di sure was a b-side
Big Poppa/Who Shot Ya? does not count as a double A side (IMO) as ‘Poppa’ was a single release (previous album cut), “Who Shot Ya” was new material. i.e an almost hidden gem in the sense of the B-side.
Warm It Up Kane, double A side release with Smooth Operator – as are a few others on your list. To some degree these are defined by the fact they are pre-album released singles, or also post album cuts released as double a sides. – not really ‘new’ material dropped on a single.
In the same way, La-Di-Da-Di and My Melody are classic b-side gems because neither were a fore running single to an ‘imminent’ album release but stand alone single releases, in the spirit of what Robbie is aiming at here. (IMO)
“Jack The Ripper” “Tougher than Leather” and “Children Go where I Send Thee” a few mentioned before, all qualify for the same reason.
Of your original list, and without checking each and every one of them, I think only “Bring the Noise” stands up to that principle.
Other B sides:
Take the Bait- Craig G
Ready to Penetrate-Sugar Bear
Played Like a Piano- King Tee, feat, Ice Cube and Breeze
Wrath of Kane- Big Daddy Kane (from “I’ll Take You There” 12″)
Illegal Search (Keep Searchin’ Mix)- LL Cool J
@SeanG
My understanding was that the list was to include great B side singles. Not so much if one was an album (main) cut and the B Side was unreleased, or if they both appeared on the album or not.
With the example of DMX “How’s It Gon’ Down”, which was the A side, it was outshined by the B side (“Ruff Ryders’ Anthem”). So I was listing B-sides that IMO outshined, or were at least on par with the A side single. With Big Daddy Kane, even though “Smooth Operator” was the main single, the B side “Warm It Up Kane” was the more “hardcore” of the two.
And with double A sides, again I was listing records that are both good but actually appear on the A side of the record, unreleased or not.
Your Arms Are Too Short to Box With God- Lakim Shabazz
You Can’t See What I Can See- Heavy D
@Andrew nice choices
@GNG point taken.
If any readers used to listen Mike Allen on Londons Capital Radio back in the 80’s, I remember the week when he first aired BDP’s Bridge is Over 12″ – by starting the Friday night show with the b side ‘A word from our sponsor’.
This thread just reminded me. Love that track.
Fat joe “Firewater”
Black Moon “Murder Mcs”
Krs “Word Perfect” (was actually 3 cuts on single)
Doug E Fresh “Freaks”
Artifacts:
Dynamite Soul 12″
w/Dynamite Soul (Lip Service Remix) and Who I am (Non-album track).
@5 Grand
Point taken…
since we’re on the subject of b-sides here’s a couple from de la- lovely how i let my mind float/ego trippin’ (pt 3) and tribe- if the papes come. and maybe the best b-side ever from epmd- brothers from brentwood l.i.
@bob k.- hip hop vs rap was from krs-one’s solo single sound of da police after bdp’s dissolution in 1993.
gotta admit this post makes me feel old considering how i used to fiend looking for b-sides on any cassingle i ever saw back in the early-mid 90’s.
@ihatework ‘if the papes come’ great call
Another De La choice ‘Brainwashed Follower’.
@SeanG – yeah used to listen to Mike’s show as a kid all the time, your memory is good cos I cant remember that particular BDP play. Wish I still had all my old tapes.
From a few years before, Great Peso & Papa Austin – Wrong Girls To Play With DUB was always played more than the vocal over here in UK obviously dub version was featured on Electro 8. Should have been on ‘A Salute to Dub mixes’ really from a few months back.
Bass Machine – T La Rock
Pump that Bass – Original Concept
You Know How to Reach Us – KOP
Latoya – BW That Girl is a Slut – Just Ice
6’n’tha Mornin – Ice T
You’re a Customer – EPMD
Bring the Beat Back – Steady B
The P is Free – BDP
“Actually that reminds me of my fondest B side discovery back in the day….the “hidden” TR Love verse in the instrumental version of Feelin’ It on the B side of the Watch Me Now 12.
Comment by Al 11.05.15″
For REAL!! My fave discovery back in the day too. Feelin It is my fave Ultra joint… After a few years of playing the 12” I left it playing while I went to the toilet, so I’m on the throne rappin Kool Keith’s lyrics over the instro, then I hear TR start rhyming outta nowhere!!!! Mind blown!!!
EPMD Brothers From Brentwood
Wrath Of Kane
Warm It Up Kane
De La Soul Afro Connection At The High Five
Craig G Take The Bait
metal thangz
@ROBBIE – in the month of the 30th Anniversary of Radio, surely “Rock the Bells, Original” has to feature on the 80’s list?
@SeanG: But then ‘Jack The Ripper’ will have to be cut…tough call.