[Hip-Hop Classics] Timeless HIPHOP / Golden Oldies

They Reminisce Over YouPete Rock & CL Smooth

Pete Rock & CL Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) (Official Video)

One of the greatest classics and a defining hip-hop masterpiece of the ’90s.

The sampling sense is absolutely top-notch! The soothing sax tone in this track was lifted from Tom Scott’s “Today,” then chopped and crafted through the AKAI MPC in his studio.

There’s hardly any trace of the original left.

On top of that, he layered his breakbeats and rap.

Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)Wu Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off) (Official Video)

The powerhouse of underground hip-hop, Wu-Tang Clan, reportedly took their group name from a kung fu movie title, and they’ve always drawn attention with their uniquely unconventional activities.

One particularly memorable example is that they created their own original video game.

Has any other hip-hop group ever done something like that, before or since, besides Wu-Tang Clan? Of course, they’re also highly acclaimed musically.

Their sound centers on gritty, dope tracks that are far from pop, characterized by a style that embodies the stoicism of hip-hop.

Murder On My MindYNW Melly

YNW Melly – Murder On My Mind [Official Video]

This is a song released in 2018 by YNW Melly, a young Florida-born rapper born in 1999, memorable for the way his gold teeth shine when he opens his mouth.

Sadly, in February 2019 he was arrested as a suspect in a murder case.

While the truth is unknown, the song also drew attention because its content is said to resemble that incident.

RansomLil Tecca

Lil Tecca – Ransom (Official Music Video)

In an era where music naturally spreads across the internet, he’s a young rapper who shot from obscurity straight to the majors.

He was 16 in 2019, and listeners with a keen ear might already know him well.

Knowing his background, this track becomes especially intriguing—a single song that showcases a unique sensibility and a sense of a new era unbound by anything.

Sucker MC’sRun-D.M.C.

RUN DMC – Sucker MC’s (Official Video)

A quintessential hip-hop classic by RUN-DMC, pioneers in fusing rap and rock.

Although it was the B-side to “It’s Like That,” released in 1983, it’s a track that has been passed down through the hip-hop scene, and it’s said that every DJ owns this record—a true masterpiece among masterpieces.

If you find it at a record shop, don’t hesitate to grab it!

Check Yo Self feat. Das EFXIce Cube

Ice Cube – Check Yo Self (Remix) (Official Music Video)

A cautionary message song by Ice Cube, renowned as a leading figure of 1990s gangsta rap, distilled from his own experiences.

Riding over a tense beat, the lyrics preach the importance of self-reflection, challenging listeners to face the realities of the streets with resolve.

Released in July 1993 as a single from the album The Predator, its collaboration with Das EFX has bolstered its reputation as a masterpiece that transcended the East–West divide.

The track was also featured on the soundtrack of the film Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and used in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

It’s a moving song that offers a chance to reassess oneself when standing at a crossroads in life.

This Is AmericaChildish Gambino

Childish Gambino – This Is America (Official Video)

This music video, also known for being directed by Japan-born Hiro Murai, accompanies a track by Childish Gambino, who is also active as an actor.

It’s clear that the song carries a social critique with the theme: “This is what it’s like to live in America as a minority.” I’ll leave the detailed analysis to music blogs—please be sure to watch the video.