Must Have Music: Hood Surgeon - Fast Money ft. King Tee (Prod. Dre)

I found this track back in my "Kazaa" days. Back when the only way to illegally download an album was to download each track, one by one. Pirating has come a long way. But anyways, "Fast Money" was a song that came up when I typed "Dr. Dre" into the search bar. Since then, I've cherished the Dre produced, King Tee featured gem and it is my pleasure to bring it to you. It's what I consider a 'rarity' since it's not really a popular single from that era and hardly ever gets play now a days. Still, the track exhibits that classic gangster rap vibe and demonstrates Dre's ability to produce countless masterpieces.

Download Fast Money

Must Have Music: Oh No - I Can't Help Myself & The Ride & Every Section

Some more MHM from my early days of venturing into the underground hip hop realm. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when I listen to some of the music I had in my iPod back in the day, but this guy is definitely not one of those occasions. Oh No is not just the rapper, but the beat smith behind his music; much like his older brother Madlib. These 3 tracks are my favorite off of his first album, The Disrupt (2004), which was recommended to me by my old buddies from the Burbank Penny Lane (RIP). These tracks are not only examples of his production talents, but also his exceptional ability to reach different themes and concepts lyrically. Love addiction, corruption, and just straight Emceeing (respectively).

Download I Can't Help Myself, Every Section, & The Ride

Must Have Music: Shyheim - On And On

With all this hype going on over The X Factor's Astro, I thought it was only fair to bring back a classic Lil G from the 90's . This youngin' went through all the ills that ghettos bring about and even served time in the penal system eventually. Not surprising, since he supposably spent his juvenile year's living with Wu-Tang's Raekwon. Life as a shorty shouldn't be so ruff...

Download On and On

Must Have Music: Masta Ace - Conflict (Original) ft. Guru (prod. Dj Premier)

"Possibly

Nigga, you might try stoppin' me

But Obviously

Boy, you ain't thinkin' properly

My philosophy

Is to keep this shit popin' B

Showin' you stupid fuckers, how true hip hop should be"

- R.I.P. Guru

'Nough Said...

Download Conflict ft. Guru

Even if you don't instantly like what you hear in these posts, make sure to download these songs. You will thank me later!

Must Have Music: Athletic Mic League - The Foundation

Athletic Mic League is a 7-man crew from Detroit that I was crazy about back in my middle school days. AML dropped their debut album, The Thrill Is Gone, back in 2001 and eventually died off later that decade after dropping a total of 4 albums. The only two artist that took off in their solo careers were Buff 1 and 14kt. The song I chose for MHM is actually a track that dropped back before they had dropped any studio albums and off one of their come-up projects titled, Thrill Of Victory, Agony of Defeat. This is a prime example of the days when the underground was dope and when talking shit about the music industry still wasn't cliche. Take a ride down one of my very own memory lanes with this one.

Download The Foundation

Must Have Music: MF Doom - Kon Karne & Potholderz

Doom has an acquired taste. Many dislike the sounds he puts out, but if you really sit back and give his music a chance (maybe even more than a few listens), then you might figure out what everyone was raving about back when he was relevant. He's one of those weirdo underground artists who produces abstract music who hipsters and potheads tend to love. Although strange and unlike the standard hip hop sound, the mask wearing "villain" is still dope enough to gain recognition from hip hop heads who give all sounds a chance. Both these tracks are off his second album, MM... Food (2007). Have fun trying to make sense out of his lyrics.

Download Kon Karne

Download Potholderz (ft. Count Bass D)

Must Have Music: Heltah Skeltah - Therapy

Boot Camp Click affiliates, Rock and Sean Price, graced us with this track back in 96. The song is basically Sean Price counseling Rock over a nice bag of sess. Beat is equally as dope as the concept and gives off the perfect vibe to just sit back, relax, and zone out to. Off of their debut release, Nocturnal (1996), which is a classic itself.

The actual CDQ version is a little different (Better)

Download Therapy

Bonus Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka

Must Have Music: Pete Rock - Queen (feat. A.G. & T-Max)

One of my top favorite producers dropping heat on the boards once again and accompanied by 1/5th of D.I.T.C. (and i must say AG is straight gangster). This track can be found on The Saturday Night Agenda (2003), which is a compilation put together by Soul Supreme.

Download Queen

Must Have Music: Kendrick Lamar - Opposites Attract (Tomorrow Without Her) (feat. Javonte)

I usually go with older and rare songs with these posts, but since I have been bumping Kendrick Lamar lately like no one's business, I thought I'd chose one of his songs thats on repeat for me. Kendrick doesn't "make black music and he doesn't make white music; he makes everyday life music". In this song, he takes the roll of the abusive boy friend who disrespects his girl friend and for some reason cannot fall for the girl who gives him everything. He then switches rolls and tells the story through the girls side who can't understand the nature of her asshole boyfriend. Hence the song title: Opposites Attract.

Download Opposites Attract (Tomorrow Without Her) (feat. Javonte)

Better yet, Download O(verly) D(edicated) (free album)

The West it making a comeback!

Must Have Music: Nas - Just A Moment Ft. Quan

Lets be real, all of Nas' work is "Must Have Music". But this track came up on shuffle earlier and I felt not everyone has heard it, so I decided to show it some light. Funny thing is, one of my roommates who's down with Taylor Swift and Katy Perry showed me this track.

This is off his double disc album, Street's Disciple (2004). As you can see in the album artwork, he is really "God's Son". Well maybe in the rap realm he is.

Download Just A Moment ft. Quan

Sucks that Quan never made it anywhere. Dudes got an ill voice.

Must Have Music: Mocky - Birds of a Feather (Remix) ft. GZA

This one is extremely rare. If you have it already it's because I gave it to you! Anyways, GZA rapping on some genre of music I don't even know how to classify is always refreshing. Wu-Tang Forever!

Download Birds of a Feather (Remix) ft. GZA

Must Have Music: DJ Jazzy Jeff - For Da Love Of Da Game & Run That Back

You know i gotta' hit you with that fresh prince of ball air flow. Two of my favorite tracks off Jazzy Jeff's only two studio albums; The Magnificent (2004) and Return of the Magnificent (2007). Although I've never heard any of these rappers spit on anything else but Jef'f's wheels of steel, i'll give them credit for making some hip hop classics.

Download For Da Love Of Da Game

Download Run That Back

PS: For Da Love Of Da Game knows exactly why i'm spittin' for... I LOVE HIP HOP!!!

Must Have Music: Eligh & Jo Wilkinson - Honor Me ft. Pigeon John

Very few artists can do what Eligh did here. Not only did he make an amazing song, but he made it with the help of his mother, Jo Wilkinson. Off their collaboration album, On Sacred Ground: Mother and Son (2009).

Download Honor Me ft. Pigeon John

Must Have Music: Wale - Ice and Rain

Never found out where this single landed. I'm guessing it was suppose to be for Attention Deficit (2009) but you know how labels can be. Always ruining music... The story for this song still gives me the chills.

Download Ice and Rain

Must Have Music: Canibus - Niggonometry

The beat alone makes this track "must have music." Something about a flute sample, it just always gets me. Nevertheless, Canibus is nice on the mic too and if you don't believe me, J. Cole will vouch for me. Off his Can-I-Bus (1998) album.

Download Niggonometry

Must Have Music: Black Eyed Peas

I know what you're thinking... But! as gay as you think Black Eyed Peas are, their first two albums (before Fergie joined the group and turned them into sell outs) are most definitely classics. Here's some tracks off of Behind the Front (1998), and Bridging the Gap (2000).


Download Communication

Download On My Own ft. Mos Def

Must Have Music: Akrobatik - Remind My Soul

I must have played this song over 500 times when I was younger. Consious lyrics over a great sample. Definitely got that MLK feel to it. This track is found on his debut album, Balance (2003).

Download Remind My Soul

Must Have Music: Kidz In The Hall - Life I Know

They Should've saved this song for their last album. Great Kidz In the Hall track with some random feature that might just have a sicker verse than Naledge. Off of their LRG sponsored mixtape, The Professional Leisure Tour (2009).

Download Life I Know