Kanye and Jay-Z Before "Raise The Throne" : Hopsin, The Game with Keyshia Cole, Trick Daddy

"NEVER LET ME DOWN"   KANYE WEST featuring JAY-Z

On many critic's list of the Top CD's of 2012, appears Raise The Throne, the dual effort of Kanye West and Jay-Z.   But well before the new CD, they teamed up on Kanye's debut "College Dropout" for an inspirational jam that also included John Legend and Tracy Spencer on vocals.  "Never Let Me Down" attacks racism, raises spiritual questions, and promotes family and staying true to who you are.   Easily one of the top rap songs of the last decade, no violence, just a motivational message of hope.  Remarkably Kanye released five singles on this CD:  Slow Jamz, All Falls Down, Through The Wire, Jesus Walks, and The New Workout Plan....but  I think he left off one of his best!

"ILL MIND OF HOPSIN 5"  HOPSIN

Blown away listening to Hopsin's flow even from the hysterical opening line:  "Man I hate rap, but if the shoe fits wear it".   Put on some early Eminem such as "Brain Damage or "Role Model" and you can see so many similarities with the intelligent rhymes, attitude, and even the unique rapping style they both use.   Marcus Hopsin has been a YouTube sensation with his "Ill Mind of Hopsin" songs.   This is version #5 and at this time has over 15,000,000 views!  Great theme of how some youth today place style over knowledge, as Hopsin states "brainwashed by a fake life".  Key lyric:  "but you still out there in the streets thinking you're as hot as can be, without the knowledge to lead, so you just follow like sheep".  Soon, he'll be a household name like that white rapper out of Detroit, what's his name?  Special Thank You to Sarah for introducing me to this song, it comes dedicated to Sarah by her mom!

"GAME'S PAIN"  THE GAME with KEYSHIA COLE

West Coast rapper, The Game, has always recognized the old school rappers who paved the way for his career.  He takes it to the ultimate level with "Game's Pain", probably the greatest name-dropping song of all-time.  Over 20 rappers are mentioned by name or alluded to in the lyrics including LL Cool J, Biggie, Nas, Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane (who both appear in the video).   Keyshia Cole sings the hook and drives around in a souped up lowrider in the video.  One of the most popular videos of 2008, it went straight to #1 on BET.   Fun Fact about Game (he's dropped "The"), this song comes from his LAX C.D. and by only 13 CDs, he beat out Slipknot for #1 in August 2008, the smallest difference ever between the top two selling discs.

 
"TAKE IT TO DA HOUSE"  TRICK DADDY

Memories of the early 90's at the Orange Bowl in Miami, the crowd going wild over a Miami Hurricanes touchdown.  The stadium speakers were blasting "Take It To Da House" by Miami's own, Trick Daddy and The Slip-N-Slide Express.   A party anthem that samples KC & The Sunshine Band's "Boogie Shoes" and James Brown's "The Boss".   Trina adds a killer verse midway.  You know the party has officially started when you hear the horn section and those words, "Callin my peoples all across the world, This song goes out to all the boys and girls".