Let' s see if anyone here also knows these. They'll all be favourites of mine from the $2 radio to current era.
1, Proper by Atze Ton.
Found this during the lockdown. Still getting rinsed to use the parlance of the young folk.
2, Love story (Digital Dog remix) Taylor Swift
This is in my "most played" playlist. Taylor Swift... why did I dismiss her initially?
3, Set It Off by Big Daddy Cane.
I use to play this in my Walkman as I walked to school circa '89, having recorded it of the radio.. BDK name checks Mr C in this. Mr C went on the form The Shaman and had chart success. But more importantly Mr C opened The End nightclub in London. The End was crazy massive fun Fun FUN! I shook booty to some super next level DJ's. Sinning big one Friday night with friends both known and unknow but all of one mind, I looked to see who was the closing DJ spinning 4-6am, noticing that something special was going down... Annie Nightingale was holding court, showing the pretenders to her thrown why she is the Queen. Annie Nightingale is music. I retired my all night, get up to get down, booty shaking until dawn, then off the the after party... because the wasted need to keep booty shaking. No one could out spin Annie. End on a high... . Annie
4, I can Smell You by Armand Van Helden
https://youtu.be/TBrbRVxdtVE
Annie was spinning this one her BBC Radio One show, broadcast between 2am and 4am. following the Essential Mix hosted by Pete Tong. When the all night session was a hometown affair around someone's kitchen table, The Essential Mix and Annie were broadcast just a the right time of the evening when the BS has been chatted away and the magic has arrived.
5, Turn Up The Bass by Aries and Nicky Blackmarket (feat The Ragga Twins)
https://youtu.be/M6SFAE5moAg
Legend has it as Drum and Bass (or Jungle as it was before it transmogrified) was born in the basement of Blackmarket Records, Nicky's record store. So I've read/heard/gleaned Nicky, Zinc, Goldie et al started experimenting with drum machines and the rest you know. I've been lucky enough... no that's a steaming pile, I've planned and executed arrangements to shake booty to Nicky Blackmarket. F***ing brilliant. In Fabric, and twice at the O2 arena when Ministry Of Sound landed there for their NYE Ball. Got up, got down, good times.
6, Liquid Slow, By Charlotte De Witte.
https://youtu.be/n3mK87piRRY
Stumbled across Charlotte earlier this year, and have been richly rewarded.
7, Love Story By Layo and Bushwacka.
https://youtu.be/tD3y8RoTjSY
Jo Whiley call this one right, Sampling Nina Simone's Rags and Old Iron. The more commonly known version is the re-release that has a vocal taken from a Kings Of Convenience track. This is far better. Layo and Bushwacka were known to "wreck up" The End. I witnessed. and took part.
8, Deadly Valentine by Charlotte Gainsbourg.
https://youtu.be/LkyIVKbCfG8
I found this on BBC 6 Music in 2018 I believe. I know her name and no more. This is the only song of hers I own. I hold this dear as 2018 was just rubbish for me except finding this. The video is beyond excellent, it's breath-taking. Without equal.
9, Eye For An Eye by Mobb Deep, Nas and Raekwon.
https://youtu.be/TLfAIL7VSyY
From the 90s, but new to me and in heavy rotation on my phone. This is an excellent example of the genre. All together now "Word yo, I wanna get this money and blow, take my time, blast a nine, if you front, you go"
10, (Slip and Slid) Suicide by Kosheen.
https://youtu.be/aPbA-GsTXp0
I think that this was released before their breakthrough song Hide U. Not heard from them in a while. This remains a fave.
11, Four To The Floor (Thin White Duke remix) by Starsailor.
https://youtu.be/X9wqR1XhQ3o
I've noticed that remixes are not to the liking of many, understandably as if a song is good why have unteen remixes... right. I always checkout the remixes. So are meh, some are little more that a different version, but sometimes the remix will make a great song even better by leaps and bounds.
12, Scarface by Geto Boys
.https://youtu.be/PJ5nNw4bo8M
From 1990, but still rolls over a lot of today's offerings. A narrative laced with poetic license delivered like a train coming at'cha.
13, In The Mood by The Andrews Sisters
https://youtu.be/gOuLfqLS5Mc
Never heard of the Andrews Sisters? Christina Aguilera's Candy Man was her paying homage to these ladies. Well done Christina.
14, Cocaine Word by Raekwon.
https://youtu.be/AojXYH3jKek
Don't be put off by the subject matter, this is another lockdown find. The vocal is delivered flawlessly, the backing track is hypnotic, the monologue at the end is anyone's guess by works. Raekwon knows his craft.
15, Promise This (Funk Agenda remix) by Cheryl Cole
https://youtu.be/ppGoRX_-nsI
Almost wouldn't recognise this as Promise This, as played on MTV and Radio. This takes it into the Badlands where others fear to tread. As a solo artist or with Girls Aloud. Cheryl keep doing what you are doing.
16, As High As Wu-Tang Get by The Wu..
https://youtu.be/Oxh7xOXt_wU
From there second album Wu Tang Forever. I absolutely rate most highly. the Wu are not just another bunch of rappers banging on about gats, hoe's and twisting up bomb hydro, getting hassle form the cops and all the other clichés offered up. Hmmm kinda true for lesser rappers, but not th Wu. They set and maintain the highest standards in music. I live in a affluent Tory voting (seriously, Labour and the Lib Dem have not come close in all my life here. 30 years.) town full of good honest and conservative minded folk of British stock.... There is a piece of street art on a bridge that reads "Vote Wu-Tang" with there trademark W. As High As... is a lesser known gem.
17, Badass Strippa by Jentina.
https://youtu.be/59v_fGClD9I
I love this song, Jentina dropping the knowledge that any next man best be slinging to stack dough, because she's leaving with a stack of £50's. Yes Jentina.
18, Pussyole by Dizzee Rascal.
https://youtu.be/DbLRd79IFb0
This was another lockdown find. At the time I had just terminated a relationship with someone I'd known for a very long time. Told me i'd done the right thing..
Stop running with that brother, you don't need him.
19, Compton by Jam Thieves.
https://youtu.be/zfv6aAstb7I
Sampling Biggies Warning, this is just a brilliant piece of music. Love that relentless rolling bassline only breaking to accommodate to would be assassins plotting to get BIG. Excellent.
20, Revolution In The Head by Girls Aloud.
https://youtu.be/N40sRXYCMUU
An album track from their Out Of Control album. Not well known, but one of their strongest song in my opinion. This performance is executed to a place after perfection. Pay attention to Nicola.
