"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.
Underground Kingz is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. The album was released on August 7, 2007, by Jive Records. The album includes collaborations with Z-RO, T.I., Talib Kweli, Rick Ross, Jazze Pha, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Slim Thug, Dizzee Rascal, Too Short, Charlie Wilson, Middle Fingaz, OutKast, Three 6 Mafia, and many more. Production mainly came from Pimp C, N.O. Joe, Lil Jon, Jazze Pha, Swizz Beatz, DJ Paul & Juicy J, Scarface and Marley Marl.
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.
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.
"Runnin'" is a 1995 song by rappers 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Stretch, Dramacydal and Buju Banton. The song is significant, being one of very few compositions 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. created together, as later hostility arose between the two rappers, ending all possible collaborations and inciting the East-West Coast Rivalry. The song, originally slated to appear on Thug Life's 1994 debut album, Thug Life: Volume 1, and 2Pac's 1995 album, Me Against The World, was scrapped both times due to varying controversies. It was later featured on the 1995 One Million Strong compilation album. The song was released by Black Jam as an unofficial single in 1997 after the death of the two rappers. 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.
"Props Over Here" is the first single from The Beatnuts: Street Level, a 1994 album by East Coast hip hop group The Beatnuts. It was released by Relativity Records as a single with "Yeah You Get Props" as its b-side in 1994. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by JuJu, Psycho Les and Fashion. The lyrics are not as boastful as other Beatnuts songs, but are instead a hopeful demand to be considered good. "Props Over Here" contains a slow upbeat jazz-inspired instrumental that samples "Wee Tina" by Donald Byrd & Booker Little and "The Bridge" by MC Shan. Lenny Underwood plays keyboards on the song.
"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. It was released by Relativity Records in both 12 inch and CD format in 1997. The song is produced by The Beatnuts and features raps by Juju and Psycho Les, the first on-record performance by Cuban Link, and a notable early verse from Big Punisher. Lyrics from Psycho Les's verse were later sampled in "The Rep Grows Bigga" by Gang Starr and two Beatnuts songs: "No Escapin' This" and "Slam Pit". The track's beat samples "Break that Party and Opening" by Melvin Van Peebles, "Sign Song" by Buddy Baker, "Get out of My Life, Woman" by George Semper and "Hihache" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band.
"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 in 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.
"I Want It All" was 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 a song performed by American hip hop duo Young Gunz, members of Philadelphia hip hop group State Property, from the 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 Escobar. 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.
