Picture this...

Now when I bought a tape (yes I said tape) I always checked out the cover first. To me, it had to represent what the album was about (for the most part). Hip-hop cover art was fashioned the way rock-n-roll albums were. Especially the music of the 60's. When the 80's came around and hip-hop was infiltrating the hood we needed something to look at to relate. Now these are my favorite 5 because they totally represented what time it was, who the group was metaphorically or in reality (you be the judge).

Eric B. & Rakim- "Paid In Full"

This album cover said it all. Get money. Flat out. I hate to admit it because people might disagree with me, but this album made me want to commit criminal things, lol. I can't lie, I saw this record, listened to it and said to myself "I want to wear those clothes. I want jewelry like that, and I want that money!" Later on I did get my Gucci shirt with all the tiny G's on it.

Boogie Down Productions- "Criminal Minded"

Need I say anything? From the title track, 9mm Goes Bang, and the classic The Bridge Is Over. This is THEE most classic hip-hop album of all time. At least in my book. Scott La Rock was murdered shortly after this album and KRS went on to have huge success and become a revolutionary speaker for hip-hop. Legendary as a lyricist, never respected commercially. I think he is okay with that though...

Public Enemy- "It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back"

Revolutionary rhymes. Powerful presentation. This album signified injustice. Political, non-conforming music that angered every white household. I loved it. They weren't speaking to me, they were speaking to the white people in power who for years followed traditions. Traditions that I never understood. Power to the people.

Big Daddy Kane- "Long Live The Kane"Completely out to reign as the lyricist king. Always an influence to me in my writing, this cover was dope. No gangster image just Kane being Kane. The smooth player with the women and taking his seat on the throne. Another classic hip-hop album of all time. "Raw" and "Set It Off" were my favorites while a lot of people would say "Ain't No Half Steppin" which is #3 off this album to me.

The Pharcyde- "Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde"

Completely wild and zany. This album cover was dope. You can make up your own mind where they are headed but the artwork was incredible. Once you opened this up and listened to it- the cover made complete sense. Classic 1st album.

Some people would add so many other covers to this list, (LL Cool J's "RADIO" or N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton") etc. Let me know what your favorites are.

Rock it out...

So even though hip-hop consumed me I still had to listen to what my pops was playing on the way to school or in the house. On Sundays especially. Growing up, almost every Sunday my Dad made breakfast for the fam and turned on WRIF or WLLZ. This is where my classic rock taste comes into play. Now he was the first one to introduce me to the Beatles who are definitely my all time favorite, but there were other bands in there that drove me nuts. The Police, Boston, Led Zeppelin, Foreigner, The Who. My mother on the other hand even though she liked rock as well, she grew up on The Supremes, The Marvelettes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and all the great Motown acts. I definitely had a musical household.

Some of my favorite songs aren't hip-hop at all but have influenced me in my writing or in my production. Here are a few that I love to play really loud!

Boston "More Than A Feeling" (Used as my show intro in 2001)

The Cars "Moving In Stereo" (Completely influenced 24 Hours)

Foreigner "Cold As Ice" (My Dad played this song every day on the way to kindergarten)

The Police "Message In A Bottle"

Then there are the songs that I grew up listening to that you just couldn't deny. They were kind of in a class by themselves. I never really put them in a genre, just real funked out to me.

Steely Dan "Peg"

Hall & Oates "I Can't Go For That"

George Clinton "Atomic Dog"

As I got older I definitely listened to all types of music, even classical. But I have always stayed away from country. Just doesn't do it for me. Not in any way shape or fashion. Sorry. As I write I'll plug you into some of my all time favorites. Give them a listen and you never know, you might have never gave them a chance before.

Next up album covers...

Moving up...

In the mid-80's as hip-hop was growing, so was the Detroit rap scene. There were a lot of artists in Detroit, but only a few that really shined or influenced me. Detroit radio was full of INXS & Madonna, and Wham! but my childhood nights were spent listening to Jeff Mills b/k/a "The Wizard" on WJLB and what can definitely be described as the BEST mixshow in Detroit's history.

As Detroit's rap scene grew I wanted to be a part of it. In the summer time during the late 80's I stayed up all night long glued to WGPR 107.5. DJ Billy T hosted a show from midnight 'til 2 a.m. called "Rap Tracks". During his show he would showcase new Detroit artists in a "Pump It or Dump It" fashion. I would call in every chance. For the most part, the phone lines barely were busy. Out of this show came some of Detroit's hip-hop classics. I would call in so much that eventually I became sort of the go to guy for criticism. I rarely "dumped" anyone. If I did, more than likely it was because the track was low quality. Once in awhile I would call Billy T up and suggest he play something new. I was always up on the latest and had a pretty good ear for hits. I once called Billy T up and begged him to start playing a new song called "The Man We All Know And Love". He did and showcased it in his national "Pump It or Dump It" segment. People who called in "dumped" it. That same summer as part of the Salt N' Pepa/Kid N' Play Tour this same artist came out as a special guest and dropped his pants only to reveal his polka dot boxers. The crowd went NUTS! Needless to say I'm talking about Kwame'. After that appearance he went on to have 2 successful albums and is now a much sought after producer. I actually requested a beat CD for my album and he met me at the Interscope offices. I got a chance to tell him that story and he thanked me. Detroit loved Kwame' after that summer. I like to think I had a hand in his Detroit buzz a little bit...

4 Detroit classics that influenced me early on and helped mold and shape the Detroit scene. I first heard these on "Rap Tracks" and still listen to them to this day. "Mersiless Amir- A Day Without A Rhyme, Prince Vince & The Hip Hop Force- The Force Is With You, E.Z. B. & DJ Los- Untouchable".

In 2002 I had the pleasure of having Awesome Dre open up for me at the "Roses & Razorblades" record release party. He took the stage for 10 minutes, but I was so grateful because this one song made me completely believe that Detroit would become a staple in the hip-hop scene. I have a lot of respect for him and every emcee in Detroit should as well. He laid the groundwork and was the first artist from Detroit to sign to Priority Records who later would do business with future stars such as Jay-Z.

A Detroit classic that still sounds as good as the day it came out in my books is his song "You Can't Hold Me Back".

Of course Detroit would go on to create classic joints by Kaos & Maestro, Esham, Champtown, A.W.O.L., etc. Brewing underneath it all was an underground scene that would later surface onto the big screen. We all know how that turned out.

Peace...
Hush