Hip Hop Stars, Before They Blew Up

Friday Five

"The Notorious B.I.G. - Freestyle Live at Mister Cee's"

Biggie Smalls is the illest. Biggie was one of the most versatile rappers to exist. When he was street, he was convincing, when he was larger-than-life, he was mesmerizing. In this, an intro from a Biggie-themed Mister Cee mixtape (he's the guy that introduced BIG to Puffy), Biggie plays the role of hungry hip-hop head. Though not often highlighted when discussing Chris Wallace, the black Frank White was an avid hip-hop nerd. This raw and powerful track, barely clocking in over two minutes, shows the genius MC Biggie was way before Puff stole that "Juicy" beat from Pete Rock and blew up. RIP.

"Kanye West - Out The Game"

Before The College Dropout, Kanye dropped a series of mixtapes getting his buzz up before his debut and consequent meteoric rise. The tapes featured a combination of his own early tracks along with remixes and beat placements he'd had up to that point. This gem takes a sample from Al Green and turns it into a witty and lighthearted conversation about commitment. Kanye brings along Consequence, GLC, and John Legend (who does a good Al Green impersonation on the track) for support.

"Talib Kweli - 2000 Seasons"

In the years leading up to 2000, Talib Kweli as part of a select vanguard that was poised to bring the "real" back to rap. The notion was as naive as it was sweet. This song, the b-side to Kweli and Hi-Tek's debut 12", might be as real as Kweli has gotten yet. Over a lusciously brief piano loop, Kweli mixes battle skills with conscious and still flows the tightest. The book the song is named after is a great read as well.

"Eminem - Murda, Murda"

After an underwhelming response to Infinite, a frustrated Marshall Mathers self-released The Slim Shady EP in 1997. It would turn out to be a pivotal moment for the white Detroit rapper by the name of Eminem. Dr. Dre heard it and the rest is history. This song samples "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" and features one of the most skilled, ridiculous, and vulnerable performances Eminem has ever delivered. He now makes stadium anthems, but he didn't sound bad when he was stealing beanie babies.

"Jay-Z - In My Lifetime (Original)"

There is no bigger MC alive today than Jay-Z. Others may be more popular momentarily, some may match his selling power, and there are a handful of rappers who can keep up with him lyrically, but no one can do all of that the way Jigga does. But in 1995, the would-be mogul was a street hustler legitimizing himself through music. His first single boasted this cut, produced by Ski Beatz, where Jay begins his lauded lineage of vivid street imagery.