TEN HIP-HOP CLASSICS FROM THE 914

BY AJ WOODSON

Back in the day it was strongly believed you had to be from one of the 5 boros to truly represent in hip-hop. Slowly but shortly, many other regions held it down like Strong Island, Philly and Jersey just to name a few. Then regions like the west coast and the dirty south ran away with rap music and never came back.

But the area code to truly make noise and get the respect of the world outside of the boros was 914, just miles past the North East Bronx. Yes I’m talking about Westchester County containing Hip-Hop Meccas that each have contributed to the history of New York hip-hop. Yonkers known as Y-O, was the stomping ground of DMX and The LOX (which even though she not included on the list, also gave birth to queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige), Money Earnin’ Mount Vernon that gave birth to Heavy D & The Boyz and Pete Rock & CL Smooth and New Rochelle aka Now Rule (separated from NYC by the barely mile-wide strip of Pelham Manor) gave us Brand Nubian and the Masters of Ceremony.

While everyone has their own opinion on what the greatest songs in hip-hop are. I scanned through the internet real quick to see what some consider the authority in music, like The Source Magazine, Ego Trip and Rolling Stone, had to say about the greatest hip-hop joints. Even on a ‘My Favorite 100’ list, emcee Talib Kweli did for Rolling Stones proved one thing, some of the greatest hip-hop records came out of 914, including some real hip-hop classics.

While I know and expect everyone will have their own opinion and we not only invite it, we encourage you to say ya peace in the comment section. Here it is bam in ya face… without further ado, you know how we do, we present, Black Westchester’s Top 10 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Comin’ from The 914.

They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) – Pete Rock & CL Smooth (1992)

– 151 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs According to The Source

– 100 Best Rap Singles in The Source

– #12 Rolling Stones 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Of All Time

– Talib Kweli ‘My Favorite 100 Hip-Hop Songs’ (Rolling Stones Magazine)

– Mecca and The Soul Brother (Album) 100 Best Rap Albums in issue 100 of the Source in 1998

– Mecca and The Soul Brother (Album) Rolling Stone Essential Hip-Hop/ R&B Recordings Of The 90’s

Can’t touch Pete on the beat! Over a mean saxophone and bass sample of Tom Scott’s cover of “Today” by Jefferson Airplane, CL Smooth unravels fond memories of his own childhood creating a timeless track, that was has become one of the greatest hits in the 90’s, inspired by the death of friend Trouble T-Roy.

Ruff Ryders Anthem – DMX (1988)

– 151 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs According to The Source

– Talib Kweli ‘My Favorite 100 Hip-Hop Songs’ (Rolling Stones Magazine)

To this day when you hear DMX bark, “Stop, drop, shut ’em down open up shop Oh, no That’s how Ruff Ryders roll” without being able to control it, the head starts nodding and ya begin to make that ugly face, shouting along as you rock to not only one of hip-hop greatest joints but one of the craziest anthems and posse cuts.

Money, Power, Respect – Lox ft. Lil Kim & DMX

It’s the key to life.

Money, power, and respect.

Whatchu’ need in life.

Money, power, and respect.

When you eatin’ right.

Money, power, and respect.

Help you sleep at night.

You’ll see the light.

It’s the key to life.

– #9 Ego Trips Book Of Rap List – Hip-Hops Greatest Hits By Year (1997)

Speaking of dope posse cuts…. Anything with the Lox and DMX could be on the list!

Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down – Brand Nubian

– #8 Ego Trips Book Of Rap List – Hip-Hops Greatest Hits By Year (1992)

Lord Jamar & Sadat X showed the world, some of whom had written them off, that they could still catch wreck without Puba.

Mr. Big Stuff – Heavy D & The Boyz

– #37 Ego Trips Book Of Rap List – Hip-Hops Greatest Hits By Year (1986)

– 100 Best Rap Singles in The Source

– Livin Large – 100 Best Rap Albums in issue 100 of the Source in 1998

The joint that sampled Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff” put the Heavster in the rap map forever. It may be the same track sampled used on “Boyz-N-The-Hood” by Eazy-E but it will always be the anthem that set it off for the Overweight Lover Heavy D who put Money-Earnin’ Mount Vernon on the Rap Map!

Sexy – Masters of Ceremony

– #36 Ego Trips Book Of Rap List – Hip-Hops Greatest Hits By Year (1987)

Before Puba joined two other solo emcees in the area, formed Brand Nubian and brought us that classic, All For One, The Grand Man, with his cousin Dr. Who (AKA TLD) and Don Barron put it down for the 914.

This dope dancehall-ready track samples the Isley Brothers who are driven crazy by some sexy lady, and while it primarily courts “the Egyptian queen that’s seen on the Nile / with the brown complexion and a magical smile” (to put it in Dr. Who’s refined manner), Puba can’t help getting into an argument with the girl’s friend and ending up dissing her as well.

Slow Down – Brand Nubian (1991)

– #6 Ego Trips Book Of Rap List – Hip-Hops Greatest Hits By Year (1991)

– 151 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs According to The Source

– 100 Best Rap Singles in The Source

– All For One (Album) received 5 mics in The Source

– All For One (Album) 100 Best Rap Albums in issue 100 of the Source in 1998

– All For One (Album) Rolling Stone Essential Hip-Hop/R&B Recordings Of The 90’s

Over a funky sample of Edie Brickell & New Bohemians’s “What I Am”, (listed as one of Complex magazine Top 100 Hip-Hop beats of all time), Grand Puba, Sadat X and Lord Jamar lyrically lay out a cautionary tale of fast living in the height of the crack era. Off ‘All For One’ the only BN Album to consist of all three righteous rappin emcees, which goes down on one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all times.

Its All About The Benjamins remix – Puff Daddy & Family (1997)

– 151 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs According to The Source

– #1 Ego Trips Book Of Rap List – Hip-Hops Greatest Hits By Year (1997)

– No Way Out (Album) Rolling Stone Essential Hip-Hop/R&B Recordings Of The 90’s

While you will never hear me reference Sean Combs on any greatest emcees list, he know how to make a hit. Later responding to the fact Jadakiss penned his bars on this track, he rapped, “dont worry if I write rhymes, I write checks…” With the help of Biggie, Lil Kim and Yonkers finest, The Lox, this also goes down as one of the greatest posse cuts from the man who invented the remix.

The Overweight Lovers In The House – Heavy D & The Boyz

– #28 Ego Trips Book Of Rap List – Hip-Hops Greatest Hits By Year (1987) Over the JB’s Pass The Pea, Hev proved no one had more bounce to the ounce!

All For One – Brand Nubian

Now they say sinning is for sinners so I guess I’m not a sinner. Beginning’s for beginners so I guess I’m no beginner…

– #9 Ego Trips Book Of Rap List – Hip-Hops Greatest Hits By Year (1991)

– Talib Kweli ‘My Favorite 100 Hip-Hop Songs’ (Rolling Stones Magazine)

Again the entire album is a classic, but the title track best displays the lyrical prowess of each of the trio!

With no less then three, yes I said three James brown Samples from the Godfather of Souls tracks, Can Mind, All For One and of course one of the most sampled JB joints, Funky President.

This is an exerpt of my new book titled, “We Got Our Own Thang: A Look At Hip-Hop From The 914” coming out in mid to late October 2023 in celebration of the 50 year anniversary of Hip-Hop. The book give you a look of how important Westchester County is and was to Hip-Hop. This book is in no way meant to be a definitive catalog of all the contributions or the complete history of Westchester County Hip-Hip, I do however attempt to cram in as many of the players in 914 Hip-Hop as I can, the recording artists (The Emcees, the DJs, the producers) that you all know and some you may have never heard of. It includes the early legends in Hip-Hop that inspired all of those who ended up doing it professionally. Some of the early graf writers like REM 311, the breakers, and the B-Boys, the big sound system crews like The Legendary Collins Brothers, and early emcees that came before us, and those who were instrumental in fashion, and many who paved the way, etc. This book will show that as long as there has been Hip-Hip, its has a rich history in Westchester County as well. But we never tried to be like the 5 boroughs, because in the immortal words of the late great Dwight Myers “We Got Our Own Thang!” Look out, the pre-orders for the book will start soon, make sure you reserve your autographed copy as we celebrate Hip-Hop From The 914!!!