A selection of tracks worthy of twelve inch status on the grounds of how great they are. The fact that I don’t own proper instrumental versions of any of these kills me a little bit inside every day.
Mobb Deep – Apostle’s Warning
This is without a shadow of a doubt the finest performance that Prodigy ever recorded.
Black Sheep – Gotta Get Up
A highlight from an unfocused but unfairly maligned sophomore set.
Akinyele – Checkmate
Put “Exercise” on the b-side and you’d have one of the greatest singles of the decade.
The Beatnuts – Straight Jacket
Random running water sound effect? Check. Bizarre Ol’ Dirty Bastard hook? Check. Beatnuts forever, die-hard motherfuckers.
Diamond D – I Went For Mine
Even though they never really “added a flute,” this Jazzy Jay / D Squared combination is nothing short of Bronx rap perfection.
Lord Finesse – Hands In The Air, Mouth Shut
The best tape-only exclusive ever? Without a doubt.
Large Professor and Pete Rock – The Rap World
Somehow this soundtrack exclusive producer-on-the-mic combo never gets old. Must be the Average White Band sleigh bells.
Kool G Rap – “Executioner Style
Dr. Butcher is no joke when it comes to delivering that eerie backdrop to A-grade gun talk.
Showbiz & A.G. – Medicine
Worth it just to hear Showbiz almost rap again.
Brand Nubian – Straight Outta Now Rule
There were four classic tracks on the Brand Nu reunion album from 1998. This was one of them.
I’ve played this game plenty, great list
good selecta Robbie, however there’s one of these that was edited on a 12″ – large pro/pete rock, rap world – original + instru, on a japanese pressing, check it: http://www.discogs.com/Pete-Rock-Large-Professor-Rap-World/release/1974987
ait den, peace D
I have that clean versions EP, but neither that nor the Japanese bootleg have the instro (check the notes on the link you included).
i’m down and ‘i went for mine’,that’s my thought since i’ve heard it the 1st time in 1992..Dope Joint!
and i add Real Live “the gimmicks”(almost every track on that turnaround/long awaited drama it’s a single,i think).
Dog’s Gonna Getcha, hands down
How about Brand Nubian’s Step To The Rear? With instrumental and acapella to cut up Puba’s many quotables.
Cosign All these tracks especially Apostles Warning “My Empire strikes with the strength of poisonous snakes”.
well it gots original & instru on mine Rob, double A-side tho… nippon ish, dem play hard!
Co-sign all of these songs as well, especially the Lord Finesse track. The Brand Nubian song is nice too; not sure why they’re saying “everything we touch going platinum plus” on the hook though. Puba’s “I work hard like blue collars” is probably not true either.
The rap world pr lp has a 12″ high school high….its not a boot leg look it up on ebay you will find it.
That Akinyele doe…damn rite!
cool list.
yeah, that akinyele single would have been one of the greatest 93 12″es. further suggestions: “death wish” b/w “kool is back” and “prisoners of war” b/w “releasing hypnotical gases”.
btw, currently the lord finesse track has been released as a 12″, instrumental and acapella included (http://www.discogs.com/Lord-Finesse-Hands-In-The-Air-Mouth-Shut-Remastered/master/600579). if 2000 releases don’t really coun’t, “men at work” would have been one of the greatest 80s singles if it was released back then.
A Tribe Called Quest – Footprints
@Boothe: Agreed but it came out in 89.
Apostles Warning – you got me playing Hell on Earth all week now..deadly list Armed Rob.
There were more than 4 classics on that Brand Nubian album. The whole CD was flames!!!
I absolutely agree with Boothe’s comment on “Footprints.” I’ve turned someone onto rap with that track alone. True story.
Can’t say I was feelin this list. “Rap World” was always my shit though.
oh right… good catch Robbie. Forgot about the title of this thread lol
Black Sheep ft A.G. ‘E-F-F-E-C-T’
Dope joint!!!!