DIGGIN' IN THE CRATES: HALL AND OATES - I CAN'T GO FOR THAT (NO CAN DO) (1981)

There is some great instrumentation in this song. It's an '80s classic.

Daryl Hall and John Oates, the pop music duo, reportedly met in an elevator while trying to flee the crossfire of rival gangs while students at Temple University. The duo, which created music that They termed "rock and soul" (a mixture of rock and roll with R&B)is known for such hits as "Rich Girl", "Kiss on My List", "Private Eyes", "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)", "Maneater", and "Out of Touch". They achieved fame in the 1970s and 1980s and have been sampled by a number of artists, such as Method Man, De La Soul, and Michael Jackson who apparently used the baseline in "I Can't Go For That" for his song "Billie Jean". The story goes that MJ approached Daryl Hall when they were recording the song "We Are the World" and asked if it was okay that he had used the groove of his song. At which time, Hall said he had no problem with it.

HALL AND OATES - I CAN'T GO FOR THAT (NO CAN DO) (1981)




MICHAEL JACKSON - BILLIE JEAN (1983)



USA FOR AFRICA - WE ARE THE WORLD (1985)

D-NICE PRESENTS TRUE HIP-HOP STORIES: MONIE LOVE

D-Nice Presents True Hip-Hop Stories: Monie Love from D-Nice on Vimeo.

MONIE LOVE - IT'S A SHAME (1990) (Samples The Spinners' "It's A Shame")



THE SPINNERS - IT'S A SHAME (1970) (Released the same year that Monie Love was born)

ILLMATIC!

In the spring of 1994, April 19th to be the exact, hip-hop ushered in a new king to join the ranks of those like Afrika Bambaaataa, Rakim, KRS One, Big Daddy Kane, Run DMC, and so forth. It was on this date that Queensbridge emcee Nas (aka Nasty Nas) dropped his seminal masterpiece Illmatic.

All ten tracks on Illmatic are bangers: laced with classic lyrics over flawless production from such greats as DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, and Q-Tip. On "It Aint Hard To Tell", which samples Michael Jackson's "Human Nature", Nas spits:

It ain't hard to tell, I excel, then prevail
The mic is contact that I attract clientele
My mic check is life or death, breathin' a sniper's breath
I exhale the yellow smoke of Buddha through righteous steps
Deep like The Shinin', sparkle like a diamond
Sneak a uzi on the island in my army jacket linin'
Hit the Earth like a comet, invasion
Nas is like the Afrocentric Asian, half-man, half-amazin'
Cause in my physical, I can express through song
Delete stress like Motrin, then extend strong
I drank Moet with Medusa, give her shotguns in hell
From the spliff that I lift and inhale, it ain't hard to tell

NAS - IT AIN'T HARD TO TELL (1994)



MICHAEL JACKSON - HUMAN NATURE (1982)

DEBARGE - STAY WITH ME

One of the best composed songs ever! DeBarge has been sampled by the likes of Biggie Smalls, Mariah Carey, 2Pac, and Warren G just to name a few.





BIGGIE SMALLS - ONE MORE CHANCE (1995) (Samples DeBarge's "Stay With Me")





MARIAH CAREY - I'LL BE LOVING YOU LONG TIME (2008) (Samples DeBarge's "Stay With Me")





2PAC - I AIN'T MAD AT CHA (1996) (Samples DeBarge's "A Dream")





WARREN G - I WANT IT ALL (1999) (Samples DeBarge's "I Like It")

KEYSHIA COLE FT. 2PAC - PLAYA CARDZ RIGHT

This song was originally featured on Pac's Life ,which was released in 2006, and I'm so glad that Keyshia Cole recently brought it back to life. "Playa Cardz Right" is featured on Cole's third album, A Different Me, which was released this year.

My favorite part is when Keyshia says "It takes a real man. Luther Vandross, Teddy..." This song is so smooth with Cole's soulful voice and Tupac's mellow voice intertwined. Fellas, listen to what 'Pac is saying. Take your time. Finesse it. You just might wake up with your breakfast in bed.

Check out the video: