"It Ain't Hard to Tell" is the second single and last track from American rapper Nas' debut album, Illmatic. Although the track was technically the second single on the album, it was the first single to be released after the album was pressed in 1994. The first single, "Halftime," was released two years prior to Illmatic's debut.
Roots Of Evil is the second solo album by Mafioso rap artist Kool G Rap, released in 1998 by Kool G's record label, Illstreet. It boasts two singles, "Foul Cats" and "Can't Stop the Shine," and reached #43 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album contains the first recorded appearance of Papoose.
"Can't Wait" is the second single released from Redman's second album, Dare Iz a Darkside. It is produced by Erick Sermon and Redman, and contains samples from "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls, "Caribbean Nights" by Bob James and "Just Rhymin' With Biz" by Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie.
The Giancana Story is the third solo album by American rapper Kool G Rap, released by Koch Records on November 26, 2002. Its producers included Bink, Buckwild, Jaz-O, Knobody, Rockwilder and V.I.C., while AZ, Capone-N-Noreaga, Havoc, Joell Ortiz and Prodigy were amongst the guest vocalists.
″Cradle to the Grave″ is a song by American hip hop recording artist 2Pac and his group, Thug Life, released on November 4, 1994 as a single from their one and only album, Thug Life, Volume I (1994). It is one of the few songs from the album that made it to the charts, peaking at number 25 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles and number 91 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts respectively.
"Runnin'" is a 1995 song written and performed by rappers 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Stretch, Dramacydal and reggae superstar Buju Banton. Recorded in 1993, the song holds significance as one of the few songs 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. recorded together prior to hostility arising between the two rappers. The song, originally slated to appear on 2Pac's 1993-1994 shelved solo album that later turned to be Me Against The World, then on Thug Life's 1994 debut album, Thug Life, Volume I, was scrapped both times due to varying controversies. It was later featured on the 1995 One Million Strong compilation album. It charted at #81, #57 and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks & Hot Rap Singles charts, respectively.
"Animal Rap" is the lead single by hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks from their third album Visions of Gandhi (2003). The first vinyl pressing was released in 2002 and the CD pressing was released in 2003. The single was the group's first release on Babygrande Records. There are two versions of the song; "Animal Rap " and "Animal Rap "—both referencing the rivalry between the boxers. The former features an intense orchestral sample, matched with Mike Tyson interview clips, and the latter features a melancholy guitar loop, matched with a light, sung vocal sample.
"Do You Believe?" is the second single from Stone Crazy, a 1997 album by East Coast hip hop group the Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records as a single with "Give Me Tha Ass" as its b-side in 1997. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju and Psycho Les. Juju begins the song with a verse about his "ghetto mentality," while Psycho Les raps a verse about partying and making music. Juju's verse was later sampled in the song "Dos Factotum" by Louis Logic, while Psycho Les' verse was sampled in "Bottom Feeders" by Smut Peddlers. The song's mournful beat contains a samples "Fueron Tres Anos" by Chilean band Los Ángeles Negros.
"Off the Books" is the third single from Stone Crazy, a 1997 album by East Coast hip hop group the Beatnuts.
"Simple Murder" is a 2003 single by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. Prior to its inclusion on DJ Rhettmatic's album Exclusive Collection, Up Above Records released it as a 12 inch. Its b-side is a remix produced by Key-Kool of The Visionaries. The original version of "Simple Murder" is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju and Psycho Les. The song's lyrics are both braggadocios and hedonistic as they praise money, "bitches" and drugs in three consecutive lines. The song's beat is characterized by a repetitive funk loop sampled from "It's Not What You Fall For, It's What You Stand For" by Laura Lee.
"Your Life's on the Line" is a song by rapper 50 Cent, from his shelved debut studio album Power of the Dollar (2000). The song was released as the third and final single from the album on October 12, 1999, and peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. It contains a diss towards rapper Ja Rule and his record label Murder Inc. The song contains interpolation from Onyx's song "Nigga Bridges" and a line that is similar to dialogue from a scene in the movie 48 Hrs.
"I Want It All" is the lead single released from Warren G's third album of the same name. The song, which featured Mack 10, was Warren's sixth and final top-40 single and was also his fourth and final single to reach at least gold status, being certified gold by the RIAA on November 17, 1999. "I Want It All" was also his second single to reach #1 on the Rap charts, the first being "Regulate". A remix was also released that featured rappers, Drag-On and Memphis Bleek. This song contains a sample of "I Like It" by DeBarge.
"Can't Stop, Won't Stop" is the debut single by American hip hop duo Young Gunz, members of Philadelphia hip hop group State Property, from the 2003 album The Chain Gang Vol. 2. A remix version appeared on the Young Gunz' debut album Tough Luv featuring Chingy. It became a major hit and the highest charting State Property song to come out of the group, peaking at #14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was nominated at the Grammys for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2004.
"Ill Street Blues" is the first single from American hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's 1992 album Live and Let Die. Released with "Fuck U Man" as a B-side, it was later also featured on the compilation albums Killer Kuts (1994), The Best of Cold Chillin' (2000) and Greatest Hits (2002).
"On the Run" is the second single from American hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's 1992 album Live and Let Die. Released with "Straight Jacket" as a B-side, it was later also featured on the compilation albums Killer Kuts (1994) and The Best of Cold Chillin' (2000).
"It's a Shame" is the debut solo single from American hip hop artist Kool G Rap, from his 1995 album 4,5,6.
"Fast Life" is the second single from American hip hop artist Kool G Rap's 1995 album 4,5,6, featuring Nas. Released with the song "4,5,6" as a B-side, it later also featured on the compilation album Greatest Hits (2002).
"Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" is the first single from American hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's 1996 album Rated XXX.
"Talk Like Sex" is a song by American hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, originally recorded for their 1990 album Wanted: Dead or Alive and later released as the second single from 1996's Rated XXX. It was also featured on the compilation albums The Best of Cold Chillin' (2000), Greatest Hits (2002) and Street Stories: The Best of Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (2013).
"Foul Cats" is the first single from American hip hop artist Kool G Rap's 1998 album Roots of Evil.
