#notoriousbig

OCTOBER 4TH - 5TH 1995 | URBAN AID 4 LIFE LAUNCHES:

When Eric Lynn Wright, known professionally as Eazy-E, passed away after being diagnosed with AIDS March of 1995, the butch/he-man world of hip-hop dismissed AIDS as an only “gay disease” and rap moguls started to consider raising money for AIDS research and education. An event called the Urban Aid 4 Lifebeat was started and filled the Madison Square Garden arena Thursday night (10/5/95) for five (5) hours of hip-hop and rhythm-and-blues.

Leading rappers from New York and New Jersey – the Wu-Tang Clan, Naughty by Nature, Run-D.M.C., the Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Fat Joe da Gangsta, Salt-n-Pepa – alongside male and female crooners including Jodeci, Mary J. Blige and Brandy.

Alongside the Notorious B.I.G. were Craig Mack (performing a major summer hit, “Flava in Ya Ear”), Junior M.A.F.I.A. and female crooners including Faith, Aaliyah and the three-woman group Total, who sang, “Can’t you see what you do to me?”

Tagged by @dreadfutures so let's do this thing! I basically toss together all the new music I find into a single playlist (or at least new to me), so I hit shuffle and here's what I got:

Kick in the Door - The Notorious B.I.G.

It's such a bonkers sample of "I Put a Spell on You" and it immediately throws you off-kilter. Then Biggie comes in and dances around the beat and it's just 🤌

JOYRIDE - Kesha

This song pulled off a magic trick. Like how do you turn a yoinky sploinky accordion tune into a club track? How??

Neva Play - Megan Thee Stallion feat. RM

Corinne (one of The Veilguard's directors) posted about this one on Threads, and I've been on a rap kick lately, so it was an immediate add to my rotation. Both Megan and RM really pop off on this track!

Napalm - Pendulum, Joey Valence and Brae

Music can be a complex web of influences, but you can almost draw a straight line from metal to modern-day electronic music, and this track basically bridges that gap.

Take a Rest - Cobra Man

u right cobra man, I really need a nap

Tagging 5 moots to share what they're listening to! (no pressure, lmk if u don't want me to tag you in anything)

Lil Wayne reveals his Top 5 list of best rappers of all time. (Ft. JAY-Z, Eminem, Notorious B.I.G, Missy Elliott & Drake)