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Custom Artist for Hire

Jonathan (Ricca Razor Sharp) creates and performs custom spoken word or rap songs for clients looking to add a unique and exciting flair to their event. Ranging from inspiring spoken word compositions at corporate galas to fun tribute raps at birthday, wedding or retirement parties, Jonathan’s pieces are a great way to break the ice, and make your event stand out. Jonathan speaks with the client, gathering information on the event or subject in question, as well as the ‘vibe’ of the event. He then creates a unique and topical piece, incorporating this subject matter.

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Legendary Solo Artist

Rapping since the 1990s, Ricca Razor Sharp’s catalogue of great tunes, freestyle prowess and resume of 100s of shows have earned him a reputation as a crowd pleaser.

Ricca’s dynamic live show mixes good time party songs, thought provoking spoken word pieces and topical off-the-head freestyles, all to the delight of the audience. Accompanied by a dynamic visual component, Ricca is a true professional, and a hit with a diverse array of music fans.

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Bowness Kardashian

Ricca Razor Sharp presents ‘Bowness Kardashian’ a full length album with an accompanying 63 minute music video. The album ranges from party tracks to more contemplative material, and features production from members of the Audible Intelligence hip-hop collective!

The film was conceived, produced and edited by Jonathan Stoddart AKA Ricca Razor Sharp.

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Lesson Seven: Internet Killed the Record Store Star

»Posted by on May 10, 2020 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

Lesson Seven: Internet Killed the Record Store Star

This is the sixth chapter in an online home school curriculum designed to teach 20th Century Western History through the lens of Rock & Roll. For overview and other chapters, visit the main page.

If rock & roll (and related genres) was a major factor in the culture of the latter half of the 20th century, it would be technology that would take centre stage in the new millennium. No aspect of life would be untouched by evolving tech in the first two decades of the 21st century, and music was no exception. 

Internet Killed the Record Store Star

From the dawn of recorded music until the 90s, the music business experienced nearly continuous growth. But when a college student named Shawn Fanning figured out a way to trade music online, anonymously, easily and for FREE, it sent shockwaves through the recording industry. The industry reacted by taking legal action against ‘Napster’, but the proverbial genie was out of the bottle. Never again would trading money for a physical copy of an album be the dominant driver of the music business. Eventually subscription streaming services would emerge as the go to model, monetizing the new file sharing capabilities. A new generation of music fan would never understand the necessity of visiting the mall in order to hear a new release from their favourite artist. 

Direct Connect

Before the internet era it was record companies, radio programmers and MTV who controlled the industry. In order to be heard by a large number of fans, new artists would have to convince executives to ‘break them’ to the public. A relatively small number of gatekeepers essentially decided which artists and what sounds would become popular. 

The new technology of the 21st century flipped this model on its head. Home studio software made it possible for independent bands to record themselves, removing expensive studios from the equation. File sharing made it possible to spread music instantaneously, without the involvement of physical distribution networks. Blogs ushered in a new wave of independent music journalists, creating an ever diversified landscape of press who were keen to magnify a wide range of sounds. Social media gave artists an opportunity to connect directly with their fans. 

Today major labels, mainstream press, radio conglomerates and giant management companies still play an important role in defining the pop landscape, but it has become ever-more achievable to find a fanbase through independent means. 

Many artists have utilized this model, from major acts to local favourites with a few hundred followers. No longer is ‘success’ in the music industry an all or nothing proposition. The days of living in poverty until suddenly being transformed into an international superstar by a man in a limousine are passe. 

Hip hop has been a beneficiary of this model. Artists independently release a steady stream of material, making full use of social media and cross promoting their music through frequent collaborations with other artists. Rock & roll bands have been slow to adapt, and as a result have seen a major decline in popularity. Rock & roll is alive and well in live concert settings, but as a commercial force has fallen behind other genres, particularly amongst the youth. 

A famous example of this is the case of Chicago rap-star ‘Chance the Rapper’, who famously cultivated a massive fan base without any help from a major label. 

The Fan is the Star

Part of the historical function of rock & roll was as a driver of culture. People who felt voiceless turned to bands to magnify their message. Simply wearing a band’s t-shirt was a way to identify yourself with their message and culture. Today social media fills that void. We are all the stars of our own little media show, directly communicating our personas and viewpoints in real time. Music remains an important part of our lives, but as a means of self-expression it has arguably became less vital. Festivals such as Coachella are as much about fashion, food and selfies as music. 

Musicians understand this, and have utilized social media to grow communities of fans. Artists such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga and the Insane Clown Posse have cultivated fan groups called ‘Beyhive’ ‘Little Monsters’ and ‘Juggalos’. This sense of community makes their fans not simply passive observers of art, but an active part of it, providing a sense of co-ownership and amplifying their connection to the music. 

The Great Expanse

Under the label system artists were often pressured to fit their sound and image into specified genres for the sake of marketing campaigns.  In today’s world, where artists self-record and self-promote, the possibilities are endless. Rock songs with rappers, rap songs featuring country singers, country disco tracks, traditional Indigenous chants atop hiphop breakbeats. 

The it girl of the 90s turned glam and married a country star. The number one song of 2019 was a country rap song that became popular on a new platform called TikTok, then got an extra boost of popularity when a 90s one hit wonder country star participated in a remix. One of the world’s most famous rap stars befriended Donald Trump and reinvented himself as a church leader. 

Whatever the future holds for music, be sure that it will remain an essential part of our lives. The genres, the marketing and the technology will change, but human beings will continue to utilize it to fire up dance parties, energize us through workouts and help us heal broken hearts. 

Thank you for participating in my seven part journey through the history of rock & roll! It’s been my pleasure sharing my viewpoints with you! Please make sure to check out my music on Spotify or Apple Music, and to subscribe to my podcast, ‘Foothills Famous’. 

Jonathan Stoddart, AKA Ricca Razor Sharp, is a hip hop artist, a freelance copywriter and the host & producer of the ‘Foothills Famous’ podcast.

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Lesson Six: Here We are Now, Entertain Us

»Posted by on May 3, 2020 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

Lesson Six: Here We are Now, Entertain Us

This is the sixth chapter in an online home school curriculum designed to teach 20th Century Western History through the lens of Rock & Roll. For overview and other chapters, visit the main page.

As the 90s kicked off, the time was right for more musical revolution. The slick 80s world of fun jams, hairspray and beautiful people was a sitting target. As cynicism and realism took root in mainstream culture, various music genres responded in their own unique way. 

And Now for an Alternative…

As the 90s began the predominant rock & roll sound was still ‘Hair Metal’. These bands sold an image based on excess, sex and make up. But a new war was brewing in the Middle East, the HIV threat made free love a perilous proposition and a generation of so called slackers were fixing for something edgier.

Enter Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder and the summer of 92. Is ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by Nirvana an overrated song? Perhaps, but there’s no way to exaggerate the impact that song and video had upon pop culture. It didn’t sound like anything else at the time. It didn’t look like anything else either. Quicker than you could walk LA’s Sunset Strip hairspray was out, messy hair was in. Leather and power ballads were replaced by flannel and aggressive nihilism. Hollywood was no longer the centre of the rock & roll universe, that designation belonged to Seattle, a rainy town previously known mainly for coffee. 

So called ‘alternative music’ had bubbled beneath the surface for most of the 80s, but with the release of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album the press, MTV and a large swath of the population became obsessed with it, almost overnight. Poison, Motley Crue and Skid Row were out of a job, replaced in pop culture by anything dubbed ‘Grunge’. 

Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Hole, Stone Temple Pilots and Smashing Pumpkins may not share a sound, a vibe or even an attitude, but as far as anyone was concerned they were ‘the Seattle Sound’ (even if some of those bands weren’t from Seattle). 

Before long a group of kids from Australia named Silver-chair would be releasing a ‘grunge album’ while a sugar-coated teenage pop star from Canada named Alanis would be taking over the world with an album full of angry songs inspired by a bad relationship that may or may not have involved a certain uncle from Full House. 

As ‘alternative music’ ruled the charts a popular question became ‘alternative to what?’. Nirvana lead-singer Kurt Cobain was hailed as a conquering hero, taking rock & roll back for the freaks and weirdos. He was anointed king, a role he was never comfortable with. It could have been a contributing factor in his 1994 suicide. 

Gangster Rap 

Rap music had been the sound of the New York streets until it was taken mainstream by the likes of MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice and others. Many feared that it would wind up as just another musical movement co-opted by an industry obsessed with mass marketing. 

Enter the West Coast. The Los Angeles of the early 1990s was a land of gang wars, police brutality and simmering tension. NWA, Ice-T and others brought that reality to records with gritty and obscene songs that shocked and outraged mainstream society. 

But it would be the duo of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg that would crack the perfect formula: presenting tales of gangsta life atop feel good funky beats. Combining brutal realism with sing-songy choruses Snoop Dogg became a real life comic book character. On the news channel he was facing an actual murder case. Flip to the music channel and he’s magically transforming between man and dog, attending parties with half naked woman in the magical land of Compton.  

In 1991 a group of LA police officers were video taped swarming and beating a black motorist named Rodney King. Rappers were quick to note that this video provided evidence of the situation they had been talking about for years. After a 1992 trial found the officers not guilty of police brutality, the anger simmering on the streets of LA exploded. Days of rioting followed, putting the eyes of the world on Los Angeles and shining a spotlight on the rappers who had been chronicling the situation on record. The events only further catapulted hip hop music into the mainstream. 

As Snoop, Cypress Hill and Tupac brought LA to the forefront of the hip hop world, NYC mounted a comeback with new artists such as Nas, Wu Tang Clan and Notorious BIG, creating some level of tension between the cities. 

Nobody really knows why Tupac Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas in September of 1996, or why his former friend the BIG was killed in LA in March of the following year. The only thing for sure is that their contributions helped elevate the popularity of hip hop music. Several decades later it remains at the top of the charts. 

Country Goes Mainstream

As the image of rock and roll became grittier and hip hop became steeped in troubling reality, country music took a giant leap in the opposite direction. 

Described as ‘three chords and the truth’, country music had always been considered the antithesis of rock & roll excess. Sure, there had been spectacle, with rhinestone cowboys and Grand Ole Opry showcases, but country was, at its heart, no-frills music for no-nonsense folks. The 1990s, however, saw the genre explode into popularity and embrace show-business like never before. 

Garth Brooks stadium concerts rivalled anything being produced in the world of rock & roll. Billy Ray Cyrus helped catapult line dancing into mainstream consciousness. Shania Twain’s rock hard abs proved that country could be as sexy as any other genre. Country albums flew off the shelves! 

Pop Makes a Comeback

When 80s pop was annihilated by grunge and gangsta rap it became tempting to think that music had changed forever. Just a few short years later, however, it became apparent that what was old had become new again. The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC proved that the boy band was not dead, while the feisty and infectious ‘girl power’ vibes of the Spice Girls became an international sensation. By decade’s end a trio of former Mousekateers named Britney, Christina and Justin had proven that pop wasn’t dead, it had just taken a couple of years off. 

Questions for Consideration

The 1990s saw a new wave of superstars who died before their time. Kurt Cobain, Biggie Smalls and Tupac, who had each became major stars in their lifetimes, became even more popular in death. What is the role of martyrdom in music? In life? Do we tend to make legends out of those who are no longer around? Do you personally become emotionally affected by the death of someone you’ve never met? 

Nirvana, Pearl Jam and others were labelled ‘alternative’, because of the change they brought to the musical landscape. Within a few years there were countless bands mimicking their sound and style. Can something be popular, widespread AND alternative? What does ‘alternative’ mean? 

 

Jonathan Stoddart, AKA Ricca Razor Sharp, is a hip hop artist, a freelance copywriter and the host & producer of the ‘Foothills Famous’ podcast.

 

 

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Lesson Five: Video Killed the Radio Star

»Posted by on Apr 26, 2020 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

Lesson Five: Video Killed the Radio Star

This is the fifth chapter in an online home school curriculum designed to teach 20th Century Western History through the lens of Rock & Roll. For overview and other chapters, visit the main page.

Decades are difficult things to explain, and any attempt to do so that spans less than 50,000 words should be considered a generalization at best. With that being said, let’s take a go at it! 

After the social struggles and political conflicts that characterized the 60s and 70s, the 1980s sold the dream of fun, money and patriotism. When US President Ronald Reagan promised to boost the economy and help people forget their troubles most Americans responded favourably. What followed was brighter clothing, bigger movies and more credit cards! 

Music was no exception to this trend, as 80s artists emphasized fun and superficiality. On Aug 1, 1981 a new American TV network debuted called MTV. The network, which took advantage of the rising cable TV trend to reach a national audience, relied almost solely upon music videos for content. Prior to this, music videos had primarily been afterthoughts. Serving as promotional clips for a new album, videos mainly aired as part of variety programming, or were packaged together for weekly local-market shows. MTV (and the Canadian video channel Much Music, which followed in 1984) blew the music video sky-high. Almost immediately they became the predominant way in which artists and labels marketed new music. Fans celebrated the addition of a visual element to the music-consumption experience, while critics complained of dumbed down music, shrinking attention spans and loose morality. Nothing would ever be the same. 

The Video Vanguard 

In its early days, MTV stuck to a strictly ‘rock’ format (or, according to its critics, a strictly white format). Videos mostly consisted of basic cinematography and toothless performances. When artists and labels began to realize the power of MTV, however, they began pouring creativity and money into music videos. A number of groundbreaking artists began to truly harness the star making potential of the medium. 

Michael Jackson had been a household name since he was a child in the 60s. His fame exploded into a whole new stratosphere with the release of his 1982 album ‘Thriller’. The nearly 14-minute zombie-themed mini-movie for the title track elevated the artform, outshining many full-length movies. Not only did the gloved one shatter the MTV colour barrier, but with a a combination of well-crafted music, incredible dancing and irresistible videos, he became the biggest music star on the planet. 

Madonna had been but another performer drowning in a sea of post-disco singers until she learned to harness the power of the music video in her quest for domination. The singer/dancer utilized a mixture of feel-good pop music and provocative videos to become one of the decade’s most enduring stars. Madonna pushed the envelope by combining sexually liberal themes and imagery with religious iconography. The old adage ‘controversy sells’ certainly applied. 

Perhaps no 1980s upstart received more critical praise than multi-instrumentalist and fashion icon Prince. With a stunningly consistent quality of music and a look all his own, Prince wasn’t content with mere music videos. The Minnesota native went so far as to star in his own semi-autobiographical movie, ‘Purple Rain’. 

Heavy Metal Party

The 1980s were also somewhat of a heyday for heavy metal. While much of early metal was sludgy and focussed on dark themes, MTV helped make 80s metal (or ‘hair metal’) a boy-girl party beamed straight from Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip. Videos from bands like Motley Crue, Poison, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Whitesnake featured guys with big hair, girls with small outfits and lots of fireworks. A far cry from Black Sabbath’s tales of industrial doom, the 80s metal seen on MTV offered ‘Nothin’ But a Good Time’. 

Hair metal was not without its critics, though, who tended to fall into two camps: 

1. Metal fans concerned that their favourite genre was being stripped of its original aesthetic.

2. An unlikely coalition of Christians and feminists who felt that metal’s hyper-sexualized imagery objectified women.

For MTV fans, however, it was the perfect soundtrack for the feel-good 80s. 

The Emerging Underground

While it’s tempting to look at the 80s as one big, bright party, things were happening just below the surface that would set the stage for the decade to follow. 

As Def Leppard and friends brought the glam to MTV, Metallica and other metal bands appealed to hardcore fans with a new level of thrash. While MC Hammer danced for mass audiences, Ice T and others elevated the level of gritty realism in hip hop. As Duran Duran blurred the line between pop star and model, bands like R.E.M. and Sonic Youth blazed a trail for ‘College Rock’. The fruits of their labor wouldn’t be fully realized until the 90s.

Questions for Consideration

Critics blamed music videos for the shrinking attention span supposedly observed in 80s youth. While previous television shows were at least 30 minutes in length, music videos were short 3-4 minute affairs typified by glamorous imagery, half-baked storylines and quick cuts. In the decades since the 80s the emergence of technology such as smart phones has continued to shape the way we think and interact. What some people perceive as a negative (inability to concentrate) others see as a positive (ability to multi-task). What role do you think technology plays in the way our brains function?

Image has always been a part of the music industry, but the emergence of the music video elevated this relationship. For the first time an artist’s look was arguably as important as their sound. Was this a positive development? What possible positive and negative consequences could be associated with this?

Jonathan Stoddart, AKA Ricca Razor Sharp, is a hip hop artist, a freelance copywriter and the host & producer of the ‘Foothills Famous’ podcast.
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Lesson Four: 1977: The Metal, Punk, Disco & Hip-Hop

»Posted by on Apr 19, 2020 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

Lesson Four: 1977: The Metal, Punk, Disco & Hip-Hop

This is the fourth chapter in an online home school curriculum designed to teach 20th Century Western History through the lens of Rock & Roll. For overview and other chapters, visit the main page.

During rock & roll’s early days in the 1950s, Baby Boomers were a major target market. By the 60s they were the primary listeners and creators. In the 1970s, however, the phenomenon which started a major cultural revolution was beginning to be hit with a few revolutions of its own. By the latter part of the decade there was a generation of young artists and fans that may not have even been alive when Elvis shook his hips on the Ed Sullivan show. A genre which had arose from a wide range of American roots music had now splintered, giving birth to the likes of heavy metal, punk rock, disco and hip-hop. Let’s look at these changes through the lens of one particularly momentous year: 1977. 

Heavy Metal Powerhouses

Heavy metal enthusiasts don’t always agree on exactly how their genre developed, but any telling of the rise of heavy metal will mention pioneers ‘Black Sabbath’ who emerged in the late 60s.

According to Wikipedia ‘With roots in blues rock, psychedelic rock and acid rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness.’

Unlike the other genres mentioned below, heavy metal was already well established by 1977. Bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest continued advancing the music, and the culture that went along with it. Notable 1977 release came from bands such as Kiss, AC/DC and Motorhead. 

Kiss’ live album ‘Alive 2’ was released in 77, and featured this performance of ‘Shout It Out Loud’

 

Punk Rock Revolution

The 1960s saw the emergence of garage rock: a style that often featured ‘basic chord structures’ and ‘an unsophisticated and aggressive delivery’. By the late 70s, this had evolved into a full blown ‘punk rock’ movement. 

Punk rock was many things, a musical style, an attitude, a sense of fashion. It rejected the righteous optimism that characterized the 60s hippy movement and was openly hostile towards commercialism and mainstream success. Anti-authoritarian ideology was a key component. 

By 1977 punk rock was getting headlines, particularly in the two major cities where its rise unfolded: New York and London, England. In NY, artists like the Ramones, Television and Patti Smith provided a new, stripped down snark. Meanwhile, in the UK, the likes of the Clash and the Sex Pistols were shocking the public on a regular basis. 

In late 76 the Sex Pistols had sent jolly old England to the brink of fuming rage with an obscenity laced prime time interview on the BBC. In 77 they upped the ante, releasing the song ‘God Save the Queen’, an attack on perhaps the nation’s most cherished institution. 

The Clash’s song ‘1977’ epitomizes the genre’s ‘tear it down and start again’ attitude toward rock and roll. Listen as singer Joe Strummer sneers ’No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones in 1977.’ 

 

Peak Disco

Like most aspects of life, rock & roll eventually developed a sense of tribalism. The hippy movement was supposed to represent peace, love and protest. Punk rock was a backlash to materialism and self righteousness. Disco, by contrast, seemed to exist for the sole purpose of having a good time. As a result it had many detractors. 

Like rock & roll before it, disco music had a wide range of roots. New York City and Philadelphia saw dancers partying until the wee hours. For the first time live DJs became as important as the artists themselves, and the most popular ones mixed together danceable tracks from various genres in an effort to keep dance floors packed. The scene was said to be hedonistic, and featured liberal attitudes towards drugs and sexuality. 

What began as an organic underground movement inevitably went mainstream. 1977 saw two pivotal moments in the history of disco: the opening of the famous ‘Studio 54’ nightclub in New York City, and the release of the massively successful disco-themed movie ’Saturday Night Fever’, starring John Travolta.

What goes up, however, must come down. As a growing number of gimmicky disco songs began dominating commercial radio, hard rock enthusiasts unleashed a backlash. The ‘disco sucks’ movement culminated in a baseball stadium riot in 1979, which came to be known as the ‘Disco Demolition Derby’ (seriously, look it up). 

At the time, disco was often criticized for being sugary, hollow, materialistic and devoid of meaning. Modern day reflections have altered this viewpoint. Not only has disco music been influential musically, but it was also a genre that brought together people from various races, while also being inclusive of LGBT party goers. 

1977s ‘Saturday Night Fever’ featured a soundtrack that was even more successful than the movie itself. Although enthusiasts celebrate the contributions of Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor, perhaps the genre’s most iconic song is the Bee-Gees ‘Stayin Alive’, from that soundtrack. 

 

Hip Hop’s Incubation Period

While new genres like disco and punk thrived in the borough of Manhattan, a short subway ride away in the Bronx, hip-hop continued its incubation period. 

Although the genre exists as a result of a slow and complicated evolution, most people cite DJ Kool Herc’s party in 1972 as being hip-hop’s genesis moment. The DJ noticed that dancers saved their best moves for ‘the break’, the section of a song where the vocals gave way to a funky musical breakdown, often heavy on drums. Unfortunately, ‘the break’ was often all too brief. Herc came to realize that by using a mixer to toggle back and forth between two copies of the same record he could extend the break indefinitely. Breakdancing was born. 

Competition was fierce between DJs. In an attempt to gain a reputation and a following DJs would compete based on their sound systems, record collections and mixing abilities. To add to the spectacle, disc jockeys would often have friends chant braggadocios and rhythmic claims into the microphone, on beat. It wouldn’t be until 1979’s ’Rapper’s Delight’, hip-hop’s first commercially released song, that these ‘rappers’ would begin to overshadow the DJs themselves. 

Even though 1977 occurred during the period prior to hip-hop’s commercial ascension, it did mark an event that was later seen as pivotal to the evolution of the genre. In July of that year much of New York City suffered an electrical blackout. During this power outage widespread looting led to the theft of many consumer goods, including turntables and other DJ equipment. Suddenly there were a large number of new DJs in town, helping to popularize the genre. Hip-hop has never looked back. 

DJ Kool Herc discusses the innovative ‘Merry-Go-Round’ technique. 

 

The Death of Elvis

Although 77 was a year of new beginnings, it also marked a significant ending. August saw the death of Elvis Presley, one of the genre’s earliest and most enduring figureheads. Only 42 years old, Elvis was already a symbol of a bygone era. Overweight and ravaged by drug abuse, Elvis died at his famous ‘Graceland’ mansion, becoming a cautionary tale that warned of the dangers of excess. Despite his inglorious ending, Elvis’ early performances will forever be linked to the boundless enthusiasm that fuelled rock & roll’s rise. 

The Legacy of 1977

It seems almost unfathomable that the now global forces of hip-hop, punk rock and disco were exploding into relevance, all at once, and all within a $20 taxi ride of one another. Relatively new at the time, these three genres, along with heavy metal, have shaped the course of rock & roll history ever since. 

Questions for Consideration

The dawn of rock & roll in the 1950s represented a cultural and musical revolution. To fans at the time nothing seemed more pivotal. Yet two short decades later, early rock & roll was seen as passe, as new revolutions defied the established culture. Is it possible for anything to be ‘revolutionary’ forever?  Today’s young people have already abandoned Facebook in favour of newer social media platforms. No matter how good something is, will it inevitably be ‘uncool’ eventually?

Many of the cultural and musical innovations taking place in 1977 centred around the city of New York. In today’s digital era, when artists from around the globe can circulate their creations and ideas to an instant worldwide audience, does geography matter? Will there ever be another ‘regional sound’? 

 

Jonathan Stoddart, AKA Ricca Razor Sharp, is a hip hop artist, a freelance copywriter and the host & producer of the ‘Foothills Famous’ podcast.

 

For those who would enjoy a deeper dive on the subjects covered in this lesson, the BBC offers this excellent documentary: 

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Lesson 3: Peace, Love & Generational Divide

»Posted by on Apr 12, 2020 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

Lesson 3: Peace, Love & Generational Divide

This is the third chapter in an online home school curriculum designed to teach 20th Century Western History through the lens of Rock & Roll. For overview and other chapters, visit the main page.

Peace, Love and Generational Divide: The Rise and Fall of the 1960s Hippie Era

As the 1960s progressed, it became apparent that the Western World had entered a time of change. Many of the Baby Boomers we discussed in earlier chapters were off to college and becoming more concerned with social issues. The movement for African American civil rights was gaining attention, with leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gaining national prominence. Feminism and women’s rights picked up momentum. Many young people became vocally opposed to the United States war in Vietnam. All of these movements caused huge controversy, and all were reflected in the youth culture and music of the time. Young people imagined an idealized society that broke free of the problems they associated with their parents’ generation. It would take volumes of books to accurately depict these goings on (and indeed such books exist), but since the scope of this course is brief overview, let’s proceed with a ridiculously brief recap. 

Hippies, Woodstock and Psychedelic Rock

Today, with social media, we can easily tell who agrees with our point of view on cultural issues, who sees life the way we do. Before such tools existed, people tended to look for other cues on who might be a kindred spirit, such as appearance or musical preference. 

Young people in the 60s grew their hair long, dressed more liberally and challenged traditional sexual ideas. Sometimes they lived together in communes, living arrangements that were designed as an alternative to mainstream society. In short, many of the Baby Boomers were certain that they were in the process of inventing a revolutionary new point of view that would fix many of the world’s problems. 

Part of the ‘hippy’ lifestyle involved the music of the day. So called ‘psychedelic rock’ provided a more freewheeling experience than the music of the past (the experience was often combined with psychedelic drugs). 

Perhaps the peak of this movement occurred in the summer of 1969 with the famous Woodstock Festival. The three day concert was stack filled with the who’s-who of the era’s popular musicians, and was held in a farmer’s field in upstate New York. Over 400,000 people attended, and many more tried, unable to reach their destination due to massive traffic jams. The concert was dubbed ‘3 Days of Peace and Music’ and for those in attendance it represented somewhat of a utopian alternative to mainstream society. For the media it served as an example of the scale of the youth movement. 

Artists included Joan Baez, Santana, the Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, the Who, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jimi Hendrix and many more.  

Jimi Hendrix’ electric guitar version of the American national anthem at Woodstock is one of the most iconic moments in the history of rock & roll. 

 

Females who played a major role in 60s music included Janis Joplin, Mama Cass and Jefferson Airplane front woman Grace Slick. Check out Jefferson Airplane’s performance of ‘Somebody to Love’ at Woodstock. 

 

Motown: America’s First Major Black Owned Record Label

So called ‘race music’ was always central to rock & roll, but black artists often worked within the framework of white-owned companies. In 1959 African-American Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records in Detroit. The label’s mix of soul and pop made it a powerhouse in the 1960s music scene, and helped further the racial integration of American music. In the label’s early years Gordy insisted his artists largely avoid politics and stick to universal themes such as love and heartache. Nonetheless, as the civil rights movement progressed, Motown’s success served as a powerful reminder of the potential of a culturally and economically integrated country. Artists such as the Miracles, the Four Tops, the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye made Motown one of the predominant record labels of the era. Perhaps none of the artists better optimize Motown’s 60s success than Diana Ross and the Supremes. ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ is a relatable song about a relationship where one partner fails to return the other’s love, while also refusing to end the relationship. It’s just one of their major hits. For those wishing to do a deeper dive on the era’s premiere soul music, a good place to start is with collections of hits from the Motown label, as well as their contemporaries, Memphis’ ‘Stax Records’. 

 

Swingin’ London

It wasn’t only the US leading the way in the 60s counter-culture revolution. As we mentioned in lesson 2, British bands had great success in the 60s. As the decade continued fashion, music and art combined with new attitudes about freedom and sexual liberation to make the period one of great change in the UK. Perhaps a symbol of this is the miniskirt, an item of clothing that previous generations would not have dared wear. This particular period and place has been lovingly spoofed in the famous Austin Powers comedy franchise. 

 

Altamont, Manson and the Downfall of ‘Hippy Idealism’

Although this is a vast over-simplification, it’s fair to say that many young people of the era believed that they had found a better way of life. They rejected materialism. They embraced new attitudes and ways of life. They openly protested the Vietnam War. They had simply found a better system! As the 60s ended, however, cracks begin to emerge. 

In 1969 a concert was held in California called ‘Altamont Speedway Free Festival’. It featured the Rolling Stones, and it ended with riots and death, a sharp contrast to the ‘Peace and Freedom’ vibe associated with Woodstock just a few months earlier. 

Also in 1969 a group of young people living in a so called hippie commune committed a series of gruesome murders, at the direction of their ‘leader’, a madman named Charles Manson. The hippie lifestyle was believed by many to be a positive alternative to the mainstream culture, which was seen as sick and violent. Critics of the hippies pointed to this as proof that their system was flawed. 

Furthermore the drugs and hedonism associated with the era had their own consequences. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison of the Doors would be just a few of the era’s rock stars who would die at a tragically young age. 

In truth, many of the ideas born in the 1960s persist to this day. Nothing ever really ‘ends’, it simply evolves. Yet, as the 60s drew to a close and protests became more bloody, the hopefulness that epitomized the decade became a bit more complicated. 

My love of 60s music inspired me to create a song and video about it, which you may wish to check out before proceeding to the questions.

 

Questions for Consideration

1.How do we make friends in the modern era? Where do we meet people? How do we learn about their values? Is musical taste a big part of it? What about fashion? How has technology changed the way we interact? How might Woodstock have been different if those present had cell phones and social media? 

2.In the 1960s young people challenged the values and lifestyles of previous generations, causing great debate, disagreement and generational divide. The youth were seen as rebellious, and posing a threat to the status quo. Today, these same ‘progressive’ Baby Boomers are often challenged by today’s youth, who accuse them of being closed minded, creating another era of social disagreement.  What do you think happened? Did the Baby Boomers change with age? Did another generation come along that simply wanted MORE change? Are such conflicts inevitable? In another 40-50 years will the youth of the 2060s accuse the older generation (today’s youth) of being stuck in their ways? Can generational divide actually be a good thing? What can younger people learn from older people? What can older people learn from young people? 

Jonathan Stoddart, AKA Ricca Razor Sharp, is a hip hop artist, a freelance copywriter and the host & producer of the ‘Foothills Famous’ podcast.
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Lesson 2: The Brill Building, the Beatles & the British Invasion

»Posted by on Apr 5, 2020 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

Lesson 2: The Brill Building, the Beatles & the British Invasion

This is the second chapter in an online home school curriculum designed to teach 20th Century Western History through the lens of Rock & Roll. For overview and other chapters, visit the main page.

The Brill Building Sound

The music industry has always represented a strange mix of art and business. At various times the power has shifted one way or the other. Prior to the emergence of rock & roll, much of the ‘big band’ business had been conducted in an area of New York City known as Tin Pan Alley. As rock & roll gained popularity, a lot of business was still conducted in this area, particularly in a building known as the ‘Brill Building’. 

Songwriters would go to work in the morning and report to their cubicles, each of which included a piano. Their job would be to write the next hit song, which would be assigned to various singers. The recording, publishing, legalities and promotion would often take place within the building. Under this system the singers themselves were considered replaceable, and held very little power.  

By today’s standards the songs seem innocent and sweet, but dealt with themes that are still relevant today, including the universal desire to be loved. In today’s world, breaking up is still hard to do, and it’s still possible to be overtaken by tears if your crush leaves the party with somebody else. 

Neil Sedaka was one of the few Brill Building songwriters who actually recorded his own songs. This one’s a classic.

This Brill Building song by the Shirelles deals with an adult topic. A pop song today would likely deal with this theme explicitly, although the social norms of the day dictated that they address it in a more subtle way. 

When you listen to music, do you listen to the lyrics? 

The Beatles

American teenagers were not the only ones who enjoyed the new rock & roll sound. Across the pond in Britain young people were soaking up the sounds of American music, and forming their own bands. 

The history of the United States and Britain is a complicated one. European settlers, many British, had founded the colonies that eventually formed the United States. America became its own independent country after overthrowing British rule in the War of Independence in the late 1700s. Although much had taken place since then, including the two empires fighting on the same side in the world wars, it was the power of rock & roll that really bridged the gap between American and British youth cultures in the 1960s. 

The most famous of the British bands are the Beatles, four young men from Liverpool, England who formed in 1960. Their early original songs centred around themes such as love, holding hands and letting your significant other drive your car. 

In February of 1964 the band made their first trip to the United States. They were expected to make a big splash, but nobody was prepared for the hoopla that ensued. An estimated 3,000 screaming fans greeted them at the airport in New York City.  On Sunday, Feb 9, the group performed live on the Ed Sullivan Show, a night that is considered one of the most memorable in rock history. 

The Beatles poppy sound, floppy haircuts and playful nature made them instant favourites of the American press. Just three months earlier US President John F Kennedy had been murdered, a traumatic event for the nation. Some have suggested that a desire to embrace something fun and playful in such a troubled period of time contributed to the Beatles early American popularity.

For the most part, the Beatles wrote their own songs, which inspired many other bands to do the same. This represented a shift from the ‘Brill Building’ way of doing things, swinging some of the power back toward the performers. 

During their ten years as a band the Beatles wrote an incredible number of memorable and beloved songs. Their early material could be described as sweet and catchy, while their later songs were increasingly experimental. 

Their massive catalogue of hits, together with the drama surrounding their evolution, personal relationships, love lives, drug use, social comments, conspiracy theories and ultimate break up make the Beatles a source of fascination to this day. 

Beatle John Lennon was murdered by a crazed fan in 1980, while George Harrison died of cancer in 2001. Paul McCartney remains an active musician, while drummer Ringo Starr pops up from time to time as well. 

Witness the Beatles famous Ed Sullivan performance below. 

The British Invasion

While the Beatles may have been the most famous British band of the era, they were far from the only one to gain popularity in the US. In fact, so many British bands had American hits during the 1960s that they were collectively referred to as ‘The British Invasion’. 

Herman’s Hermits, the Animals, the Yardbirds, the Zombies and the Kinks are just some of the UK bands to have hits at the time (much to the dismay of some American bands). 

The other top UK band from this time period were the Rolling Stones (who continue to perform to this day). The Stones owe much of their musical and stage styles to African American blues music. Lead singer Mick Jagger was a showman. The word ’swag’ might not have been as frequently used back then as it is today, but he had an abundance of it.  Enjoy these clips of the Stones performing various hits on the Ed Sullivan show. 

Questions for Consideration

Brill Building songs were commonly written by hired staff and performed by hired singers. The Beatles, and other bands, wrote most of their own songs. Do you consider a song more ‘authentic’ if it’s written by the same person or people who perform it? Or is a great song a great song regardless of who wrote it? Are your favourite songs today written by the performing artist? Do you care? 

It’s been suggested by some historians that one of the reasons for the Beatles early US popularity was their happy-go-lucky nature, and the relief it brought to a nation mourning the death of its president. Do you think that make sense? When you are feeling down, do you prefer sad music to help you process those feelings? Or happy music to lift your spirits? Does mood affect your musical preferences at all? 

The Beatles were often referred to as the ‘Fab Four’, and their four members were seen as representing various personality types. A popular question at the time was ‘Which Beatle are you most like?’ John Lennon was cast as the wisecracking intellectual, Paul McCartney was the cute one, George Harrison the shy, quiet one and Ringo was the likeable goofball. Which of these personality types remind you of yourself? Are you a combination? 

The Beatles of the late 60s were different than the Beatles of the early 60s. Their look evolved, as did their sound and attitude. Are you a different person than you were a few years ago? Will you be different in the future? Is it more important to evolve as a person, or to define yourself and stick with it?

Content goes hereJonathan Stoddart, AKA Ricca Razor Sharp, is a hip hop artist, a freelance copywriter and the host & producer of the ‘Foothills Famous’ podcast.
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Lesson 1: Roots, Boomers and Swingin’ Hips

»Posted by on Mar 29, 2020 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

Lesson 1: Roots, Boomers and Swingin’ Hips

 This is the first chapter in an online home school curriculum designed to teach 20th Century Western History through the lens of Rock & Roll. For overview and other chapters, visit the main page.

Rock & Roll Roots and Origins 

Like most developments in culture, technology and art, rock n roll did not simply appear out of nowhere. The United States, particularly the American south, had a rich tradition of musical innovation dating back to the early 1900s and beyond. Various forms of music arose organically, including Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Country and Folk. Each of these musical genres enjoyed popularity, as did Rhythm and Blues, which was called ‘Race Music’ at the time, as it was predominantly an African American style of music. Eventually these forms of music began to borrow from one another, creating endless musical possibilities. From this, rock and roll emerged. 

One early song that leaned in a ‘rock n roll’ direction was 1938’s ‘Roll Em Pete’ by Big Joe Turner. Check it out! 

 

Are you a musician or a major fan? Dig into the pre-rock and roll genres listed  in the paragraphs above. At first listen it doesn’t necessarily resemble today’s music, but valuable lessons in innovation and musicianship await those who study it more closely. 

Boomers, Urbanization & Technology

As is often the case in history, several factors aligned to have unexpected long term results. World War 2 ended in 1945, which meant that a lot of young soldiers returned home to America, many of whom married and started families. Their children represented a new generation, and were referred to as ‘Baby Boomers’ 

Generally speaking, this period saw more people moving toward cities, which resulted in a greater number of white and black people living in closer geographical proximity. As a result, musical and cultural influences began to spread. 

Prior to WW2 one of the most popular forms of musical entertainment were ‘Big Bands’, which consisted of large groups of musicians playing a variety of instruments, including brass. During the war many musicians were fighting overseas, so the musicians who remained at home formed themselves into smaller groups. When the war was over, the trend stuck. After all, why split a pay check amongst 15 people, when you can split it amongst four or five? 

The Concept of the Teenager

Ever since there have been human beings, there have, of course, been people between the ages of 13 and 19. But the concept of ‘the teenager’ as a demographic group, or even a term, did not become popular until after WW2. Traditionally young people wanted to move into adulthood as soon as possible and graduated from being ‘children’ to ‘working adults’ almost overnight. As the economy picked up, families could afford to support their children for longer periods of time. The job market was diversifying beyond traditional labor intensive jobs, and a greater emphasis was being placed upon getting a high school education. These factors resulted in larger numbers of young people with free time on their hand, and an interest in culture and socialization. Meanwhile, a rise in the popularity of record players meant that the recording industry was picking up steam. When radio stations began playing rock and roll music for these newly named ‘teenagers’, the scene was set for the rock and roll revolution. 

Early Rock Heroes

There are so many examples of early rock and roll stars that I won’t even attempt to list them, although I encourage everyone to dig into it on their own. 

Chuck Berry’s was a rock n roll artist who gained a major following. Check him out here performing his song ‘Maybellene’ for a foreign audience. Note the guitar solo at 2:18. 

 

Another big early hit was ‘Rock Around the Clock’ by Bill Haley & His Comets. It marked the first time many people had heard music so uptempo. Although it seems relatively tame by today’s standards, it caused riots at the time! 

 

Another popular form of music was ‘Doo Wop’. Much (and sometimes all) of the elements in a doo wop song came from vocals, as opposed to instrumentation. This meant that any group of people could get together and form a band, even those lacking the money to purchase instruments. Some of the vocals revolved around making sounds, such as ‘doo wop’, which is where the genre got the name. Check out this performance of ‘In the Still of the Night’ by Fred Parris and the Satins.

One event that shook rock n roll fans was the death of stars Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and ‘The Big Bopper’ in 1959. While on tour, their small private plane crashed. Their untimely death only increased their legendary status, eventually being immortalized in ‘The Day the Music Dies’, a song written about the accident. Sadly, they would be far from the last rock stars to die an early death. 

At this point, rock & roll was largely (although not entirely) a male dominated art form. In future chapters we will see this change, so please stay tuned. 

Television and Elvis

In the 1950s television was also gaining popularity, with more and more households owning a TV set. In these segregated times, the idea of black and white audiences sharing music and culture was still a new, and often times controversial, subject. When Elvis Presley, a poor young white man from Mississippi arrived on the scene, he quickly gained popularity. His combination of musical ability, good looks and charm earned him an intense fan base, and the nickname ‘The King of Rock and Roll’. Many critics argued, however, that the title would be better suited to one of the African American artists who had been involved in the early development of the genre. 

Nonetheless, Elvis became insanely popular, with young fans often going crazy during his appearances. Endless books, movies and articles have been created on the topic of Elvis, but a good starting point are his appearances on the popular ‘Ed Sullivan Show’. 

In 1956 he performed ‘Hound Dog’, giving a fiery performance. Rock & Roll was a new form, but it already had intense critics, who argued that it would promote bad morals to young folks. In this performance, from 1956, Elvis’ wild hip gyrations caused a major stir.

 

 

When Elvis was invited back in 1957, the producers of the show didn’t want another ‘hip shaking controversy’, so the decision was made to frame Elvis from the waist up!

 

 

Questions for Consideration

1. Television allowed early rock and roll artists to connect with their fans in a way that hadn’t previously been possible.  Not only could they be heard, but they could also be seen. What technology exists today that wasn’t available in the 1950s, and how has it allowed artists to connect with their fans? What type of interactions are now possible? How has this changed music or art? 

2. What do you think it meant to be a ‘teenager’ in the 1950s? How is it different than what it means to be a teenager today? 

3. It was said that Elvis created something new, but in reality, he was building upon something that already existed. Name something that excites you today. It could be a band, a song, a movie, a game, an app, or anything. How has this thing built upon something that existed in the past? What was an ‘earlier version’ of this? 

4. As we discussed, the ending of World War 2 meant a lot of changes in society, some of which would have been difficult to predict. It put in place the conditions that allowed rock & roll to become popular. Today we are going through another unpredictable era, with the COVID-19 quarantine. When this time period passes, what lasting changes might we see in the way we do things? In 50 years, when historians look back at COVID19, and the time period that followed it, what innovations, either technologically, artistically or culturally, might they say resulted from this unexpected event?

Jonathan Stoddart, AKA Ricca Razor Sharp, is a hip hop artist, a freelance copywriter and the host & producer of the ‘Foothills Famous’ podcast.
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Six Tips for Working from Home

»Posted by on Mar 15, 2020 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

Six Tips for Working from Home

The Coronavirus outbreak has a lot of people taking extraordinary measures, not the least of which being working remotely from a home office. I began working from home in 2008, and have, more or less, ever since. People often tell me that they don’t think they would be able to do it, but I’ve quite enjoyed it. The following tips are some tips I’ve thrown together, designed to help you stay productive – and sane!

 

Have a Schedule. Relax It, But Definitely Have One!

The first rule of working from home is that you are still working. Drill that into your head. If you’re in the middle of doing some work, and you impulsively jump up to start sweeping the floor or washing dishes, you are not being a good house cleaner, you’re being a shitty employee.

Some remote workers remain tied to a time schedule. If that’s you, then I guess you don’t have the flexibility to make your own hours, so deciding upon a schedule is easy. Alternately, if you’re like me and your work is ‘task based’, it’s up to you to manage those hours. I will often break every few hours to do housework or go for a walk or watch a TV show. But when I’m working, I’m working. So remember, you’re not ‘sort of working’, you’re working!

 

Have ‘The Talk’

Now that YOU understand that you’re still working, it’s important that your housemates understand that as well. You wouldn’t ask your significant other to run errands in the middle of their office hours, so the same respect should be shown for home office hours.

Of course, if you’re making your own schedule, you are free to break at mid day to relax, do chores or run errands, but the time will have to be made up for in the evening. The important thing is to PLAN for your breaks, so that you can manage them. Don’t do a ton of crap willy-nilly. It’s not Saturday!

 

Designate a Specified Room

Having a specified room that you can go to is a key way to remain focussed. I am lucky enough to have an office in my house. Some people may have to set up makeshift rooms, but what they lack in comfort, they make up in symbolic importance.

Having said that, I work at my desk, I work on the couch, in summer I’ll work on my front deck. Sometimes I’ll even take my laptop to the library or to a park and work from a picnic table. But when I really have to think or hunker down I hit the office and close the door.

 

Be Professional. Do What You Must to Make It ‘Feel Like Work’

Some people that work from home still dress business casual. If that helps you get in the zone, go for it! Me? I’m t-shirts, hoodies and sweat pants (or no pants!)

But if you’re taking business calls, please respect your clients and co-workers by doing so from a quiet space. If you’re going to be video chatting, put on a nice shirt. Don’t have pets crawling on you. Be professional. It shows the people you’re talking to that you’re still taking this seriously.

 

Know When to Turn Off

Part of the challenge with working from home is that it never feels like you’re at work. The other challenge is that it never feels like you’re NOT at work. Everybody’s responsibilities differ, but for your own sanity you must set boundaries. Checking your phone every 30 seconds during all hours of the day and night should not be expected in any but the most extreme emergency circumstances.

 

Exercise and Socialize

One great thing about working from home is that nobody will look at you strange when you stop to stretch for 90 seconds. You have more time to prepare healthy lunches. You can plan mid-day breaks to go for a walk.

A downside is that many of us rely on our co-workers for socialization. I don’t know what the coming months will bring, but it promises to be a period of relative isolation. Find activities you can do with other people (like walks in the park) and do them! If it’s not possible to see other people, then share phone calls or video chats with loved ones. Working from home can be dangerous, especially for people who live alone. Back when I was single there were days where I would wake up in the morning and go to bed at night without ever having seen another person or even said a word out loud. Started to drive me bonkers.
I don’t know what level of socialization will be practical, or even legal, in the near future, but it’s important that everybody takes steps to maintain their mental well-being.

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11 Thoughts About COVID-19: March 13, 2020

»Posted by on Mar 13, 2020 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

11 Thoughts About COVID-19: March 13, 2020

It appears as though we are staring down the barrel of a situation that is unprecedented in my lifetime. COVID-19, and all of its implications are at the forefront of people’s minds right now, and as of my writing, March 13, 2020, there are far more questions than answers. This is not a me thing, it’s an us thing, but I am one of us, and as such I wish to share some thoughts. The following are just that, thoughts, not answers. Chances are you’ve had some of the same thoughts yourselves.

 

How Serious Is This? Will Somebody I Know Die?

Until recent days I have been somewhat guilty of taking this virus as a bit of a joke. I’m sorry, I’m just naturally skeptical of societal hype. There is still a part of me that thinks that this is an overreaction on some scale, but I’m also coming to terms with the seriousness of it all day by day. Those of us who follow the news are always exposed to terrible events: people dying, wars. Like most of us I am concerned about the fate of fellow man on an ongoing basis, but there is a distance. Now I look at this pandemic and do the math. I know a lot of people. Is it possible that I’m going to attend a funeral because of this? Will we even be allowed to gather for funerals? I have asthma. Could I die? I generally see death as part of life, but that’s because I don’t generally assume I’m gonna die anytime soon. Times like this cause people to examine their own mortality.

 

What Do I Need to Do?

I think that I generally wash my hands as often and as thoroughly as the next person, maybe more so. I don’t lick any doorknobs. But I’m also not an obsessive. I try not to spit when I talk if I can help it, but I do have a filthy laptop. I think I sit somewhere between a hobo and Michael Jackson on the germaphobe scale. I’m also highly social. Who am I in the grand scale of all this? Identity crisis!

 

Man v Man, Man v Nature, Man v Wife

I am a social liberties person. An independent. But this is an ‘us’ thing. I am on board with washing the shit out of my hands. I get everything that’s going on. Where’s the line here? Is it somewhere north of ‘don’t sneeze into open air’, but somewhere south of following each other around with a taser and a magnifying glass and shocking everyone who opens a door without using their sleeve into compliance? Also, what about my wife? She tends to err on the side of caution. Me? I kinda want to go to public gatherings of 249 people just to demonstrate that life goes on. But we live together. My problem is her problem. Then again, she works in a large facility, while I work in the basement. Should I institute a point scoring system?

 

What Can We Expect in the Coming Months?

Kind of feels like 2020 might just be the year that got cancelled. What a buzzkill. Are we gonna shut down EVERYTHING? If restaurants and bars are closed are we at least gonna be able to visit each other at our private homes? Can I ride my bike around the river pathways? I’m down to live simple for a while, but please don’t tell me we’re going to be legally forbidden to leave the house! Can I at least play cribbage, drink beer and grill BBQ in the yard? Speaking of which…

 

Am I a Selfish Asshole?

To repeat an off cited platitude that has itself gone viral in the past several days: The health and safety of the public is the number one concern of this institution/restaurant/government/facility/blogger/rapper. Also, though, I’m kinda pissed that there are no sports on TV. Not pissed in the ‘how dare they do this?’ type of way, but more in the ‘well this certainly sucks!’ type of way. This is the best time of year for sports. Am I a jerk for even thinking about that? Also, there are a lot of funny memes on all this. I’m sorry, I have to laugh once in a while.

 

We’re All Gonna Get It, Right?

In the past week we’ve watched this go from ‘Holy crap, somebody in BC has it’, to ‘estimates say 30-70% of the general population will eventually get it.’ The new mantra is ‘flatten the curve’, the logic seemingly being that there’s no way to stop this thing from infecting a great, great many of us, but for logistics and health care reasons let’s try and stop it from infecting a great, great many of us all at the same time. I get that and everything, but still, ‘get on board and we can manage this thing’ is a little less inspiring then ‘get on board and we can stop this thing.’

 

Tin Foil Hat

I get that this is serious, and I get that the precautions are necessary. I have no reason to suggest it’s a ‘conspiracy’. Having said that, myself and others like me share a default mental state that government progression naturally skews toward a liberty-free form of totalitarianism that must be kept in check by an ever vigilant public on an ongoing basis. For those of us who think like that it’s hard to watch countries be closed and public gatherings be banned without getting a bit squirmy. I’m sorry, it’s just the way I think.

 

The New Normal?

Have you ever seen anything happen just once? Me neither. Is nature gonna serve us this crap sandwich every few years? Is ‘social distancing’ gonna have to be a stupid, shitty phrase I get used to? Are do-gooders gonna pass by people who gather in groups in the future and look down upon them the way they currently do at lawn waterers and drivers of big trucks? Are festivals the new Humvees? Is this the tipping point that explodes the popularity of virtual reality and sentences us to the hell on earth scenario made popular by the Matrix? A more depressing thought I cannot ponder.

 

The Economy?

So gas is worthless, stock markets are crashing and the Stampede is gonna probably be cancelled. We should be fine, right? My Mom, who’s advice I value as much as any other person on this planet, once told me that if your problems are financial, they’re not REAL problems. To paraphrase, “Fuck it, it’s only money!”

 

Will Some Good Come of This?

People are gonna use this time to listen to vinyl and play board games and tell their loved ones they love them while preparing elaborate cheese and cracker trays and watching Netflix, right? People are gonna paint great paintings and record great albums and finally take that YouTube course they’ve been meaning to take, learning a valuable new skill, right? We’ll stop bitching at each other about petty crap, right? Teach your kids to play soccer or tie a fancy knot! Learn to play guitar! Practice meditation! We got this, right?

 

Victory Smells Like Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

My brother Joel and I were talking the other day. We’re both big baseball nuts. Baseball season ain’t starting any time soon. We’re may be looking at total societal shutdown. But it WILL pass. When it finally becomes safe to gather in public again, I hope there’s still time to salvage a condensed baseball season. I am picturing every baseball stadium in North America packed to the rafters as the umpire yells ‘Play Ball’ on opening day, an already special occasion that will be magnified ten-fold by the return to normalcy it will represent.

 

Jonathan Stoddart is a writer and rapper who goes by the moniker ‘Ricca Razor Sharp’. If you’d like to listen to a selection if his songs that have nothing to do with stupid Covid-19 or any of the other stupid 18 Covids, you can do so here:
Riccapedia Greatest Hits

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Ricca Razor Sharp’s All Time Favourite Hip Hop Songs Countdown

»Posted by on Dec 23, 2019 in From the Mind of Ricca Razor Sharp | 0 comments

Ricca Razor Sharp’s All Time Favourite Hip Hop Songs Countdown

You may not be surprised to learn that I love hip-hop music! It’s one of the main reasons I decided to become a hip-hop legend! 🙂 Throughout 2019 I compiled a list of my favourite 52 rap tracks of all time! Why 52? So that I could announce a new one every week of the year. In case you didn’t keep up, here they are, all in one place!
As you will note, I am heavy on the 90s tracks, but the 80s are represented, as well as the new millennium. My list, of course, would not be exactly the same as your list, but please remember that the list is not called ‘The Best Hip Hop Songs of All Time’, but ‘Ricca Razor Sharp’s All Time Favourite…” so there’s really no way I could be wrong. Would love to hear your comments on where you agree or disagree with the list.
To help you enjoy my favourite 52 hip-hop tracks, I’ve created a playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music (click to listen). The lists are more or less complete, but you will note there are a few instances where the songs from my list were unavailable.
When compiling the list, I had only one rule: there could only be one song from any artist (although some people managed to make the list several times, as a result of featuring in other people’s tracks). Without further ado, the 52 hip hop songs that most tickle my fancy…

52. Beatnuts-Watch Out Now

Song number 52 is from the Beatnuts, and is included entirely on the strength of the flute line. Was so good J.Lo stole it. Those of you who were at the Ship and Anchor on New Years Eve 2018 may remember this as the song Blades of Steel were jamming on when we first took the stage.

 

51. Slick Rick-Children’s Story

Back in the day, there were only a handful of MCs in the public eye, and you could immediately tell each one based on their voice and vocal delivery. This one has the triple threat of Slick Rick’s smooth voice, some great storytelling, and a killer beat. So killer, in fact, that Montel Jordan would take a piece of that action years later. 

50. Dream Warriors-My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style

My 50th favourite hip-hop song of all time is CanCon: ‘My Definition of a Bombastic Jazz Style’ by Dream Warriors. The song features an awesome sample from Quincy Jones ‘Soul Bossa Nova’, famous for being the theme song to the Canadian game show ‘Definition’. The swinging loop is also familiar to fans of the Austin Powers movies. This song is a good one to add to any party playlist.

49. Goodie Mobb-Cell Therapy

This swell rhyme and repetitively awesome beat is from the group that Cee Lo was in before he was judging network talent comps and the like. Addictive piano line, anti-authoritarian rap! Hooray! 

48. Snap-The Power

It’s getting, it’s getting, it’s getting kinda heavy. You may think this song lumps in more with the dance music of the early 90s, but to me, it’s just a bumping beat with a hard hitting rap and a smooth hook. Also, Google the song to read more about it’s convoluted history of stolen beats and borrowed rhymes. 

47. Kanye West-Bound 2

Well, you love him, you hate him, you love him again. Gotta say I’m not always feeling his antics, nor half of his songs, but overall it wouldn’t be right to leave him off the list. Born when I was 16 days old, great at rap, and married to a total hottie, Kanye’s life basically mirrors my own. Coulda been any number of songs really, but this one really grew on me. 

 

46. Pharcyde- Passin Me By

A song of unrequited love. Featuring a stylish video, a smooth sample from Quincy Jones’ ‘Summer in the City’ and some great vocal stylings, this is definitely one of the most choice grooves of all time. 

45. Warren G & Nate Dog-Regulate

Favorite all time hip-hop track #45 is one that will be familiar to all fans of the old school: ‘Regulators’ by Warren G and Nate Dogg. This was a really fun song for Blades of Steel to cover, with Smoking’ Jay singing the hook from the Michael McDonald song that it sampled. This song brought out the mellow side of G-funk and is truly a classic. 

44. Naughty By Nature-Uptown Anthem

Any number of NBN tracks could have made the list, but I went with this one from the movie ‘Juice’ on account of its nice beat and uptempo rap. Truly one of the great rap groups of the 90s!

43. Brockhampton-Boogie

The vast majority of my picks on the hip-hop favourite track countdown are from the 90s, but it’s only fair to show some love to some current material. Number 43 is a track is called ‘Boogie’ by Brockhampton, and it is definitely a high energy banger. The horn and siren combo are huge and the gang vocals are through the roof. 

 

 

42. Ice Cube-Bird in the Hand

Had a hard job figuring out which Ice Cube song I was gonna include in the countdown, but my number 42 all time hip-hop song is ‘Bird in the Hand’. The lyrics are classic Cube as far as I’m concerned, and the beat is one of my favourites.

 

41. Black Sheep-Gimme the Finga

In retrospect, it would be easy to conclude that it was the smooth blend of slick rhymes and penis jokes that caused a generation of young men to love the Black Sheep album ‘A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’ but when you go back and listen to it, the array of absolutely ridiculously funky beats was a factor as well. Coulda picked almost any track from that album, but we’ll go with this one. “Everyday is Saturday my friend. Go to sleep, wake up, yo, it’s Saturday again!” Gimme the Finga. I know ya wanna! 

Note that this song was not available on Apple Music, so that list features their track ‘Flavour of the Month’ instead. 

40. Snow-Informer

Some may take issue with my number 40 all time fave hip hop track, and may even claim never to have liked this song, but I stand behind my pick: Informer, by Snow. When this song hit Rap City and Extendamix, it blew the roof off. Many attempts were made to decipher the lyrics, with marginal success at best. A true Canadian classic. 

39. Ole’ Dirty Bastard-Shimmy Shimmy Ya

ODB’s first album ‘Return to the 36 Chambers’ is as brilliant as it is ridiculous. It’s full of howls and growls and taunts and grunts, but there is a true craft to it. The raps are banging off walls, and the beats are some of RZA’s finest. I chose ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’ as my favourite hip hop track number 39, but really it could have been any song on the album. 

38. The Clips-Got Caught Dealin’

A lesser known track today, ‘Got Caught Dealin Pt 2’ by the Clipse. There are several versions of this track floating around, but one in particular has a beat that I love. 

This song cannot be found on Apple or Spotify, so I have inserted ‘When the Last Time’ instead. 

37. Mista Grimm-Indo Smoke

A one off from Mr. Grimm, featuring Warren G and perhaps my favourite Nate Dogg hook. A seriously groovin and infectious beat that ranks among the greatest of the G-funk head nodders. Fun for smokers and non-smokers alike. 

This song is also notoriously hard to track down, so I have replaced it on the playlists with a Ricca Razor Sharp song, because hustlers gotta hustle. 

36. Nice and Smooth-Hip Hop Junkies

My 36th favourite hip hop track of all time comes courtesy of the underrated duo of Nice and Smooth, who, in my opinion, brought us two of the catchiest hip hop tunes of the golden era: this one ‘Hip Hop Junkies’ as well as ‘Funky for You’. 

This track takes the brilliant ‘Ba Ba’ sample, courtesy of David Cassidy and the Partridge Family, and combines it with a crisp drum beat, a fresh rhyme and a poorly sung yet infectious chorus. It truly is nice and smooth. 

35. Wu Tang Clan-Gravel Pit

Obviously there are any number of Wu Tang songs I could have chosen for inclusion in the top hip hop songs list, but I’m going with ‘Gravel Pit’ at number 35, on account of that funky beat and the chorus vocal. Second choice would have been ‘Uzi’ on account of that breakbeat and funky horn. 

 

34. Kendrick Lamar-Humble

Anyone paying attention to the list knows that 90s hip hop is my jam, but there are exceptions. Kendrick Lamar is probably today’s most respected MC and this song has a great beat, memorable lines and an interesting take, which brings it in at 34. 

33. Missy Elliot-Work It

The team of classic era Missy Elliot and Timbaland created some of my fave tracks of all time. Always loved Missy’s oddball lyrics and mix of humility and confidence, and Tim’s production set the bar. The list could have featured any number of songs by the two, but fave hip hop track number 33 is ‘Work It’ with its weird instrumentation and backwards hook. 

32. GZA-Liquid Swords

Although the general idea is to have only one track per artist on my hip hop top 52 countdown, I have decided to treat Wu members as individual entities. Number 32 on the countdown is ‘Liquid Swords’ by GZA. Everything about this song is spot on for me. The several seconds of swirling intro that perfectly sets the stage for the energizing beat to emerge. The GZA rhymes. The hook. There is something almost reggae-like about this beat for me and when I hear it loud it stands among my favourite hip hop head-nodders. 

31. Lords of the Underground-Funky Child

More than lyrics, more than anything, I just need a banging beat. Number 31 has a relentless, straight-forward and pristine horn sample and a classic drum loop. The verses are old school east coast lyrical pump up material, and the chorus horn is cool as well. Funky Child is classic 90s! 

30. Snoop Doggy Dogg-Murder Was the Case

Favorite hip hop song of all time number 30 is ‘Murder Was the Case by Snoop Dogg. Fans of Death Row will remember that there was actually two versions of this song, one from Doggy Style, and the other, a touch sparser, from the soundtrack to Murder Was the Case. After some deliberation, I chose the former. There is a lot of good bouncy g-funk, but something about this was more urgent. The high pitched synth line is classic Dre, and the female ‘murdeeeeeeeer’ is eery. A true classic. 

29. Geto Boys-My Mind’s Playin’ Tricks on Me

A tale or paranoia that was an early example of gangsta rap with a slightly more nuanced approach to violence, this track features a great sample from Isaac Hayes’ ‘Hung Up On My Baby’. 

28. Boss-Deeper

Much like porno and four-wheeling, rap music is best when it gets a little dirty. I’m not necessarily talking about explicit lyrics, although Boss is not afraid of those, but this Def Jef beat, and the general tone of ‘Deeper’ is of the nasty, mean-mugging variety. A paranoid cerebral rap (hey, two weeks in a row!) coupled with a washed out sick beat makes ‘Deeper’ by one-hit-wonder Boss my 28th favourite hip hop track of all time. 

27. Jay Z-Where I’m From

Jay Z has always been one of the best lyricists in hip-hop, and if anybody has the chance to read his book ‘DeCoded’, it’s a great breakdown of just how many layers of meaning hip hop lyrics can have. Some people dislike his newer ‘look how many fancy paintings I have on my wall’ raps, but to me, that’s just truly ‘keeping it real’. This old school track, and the awesome beat that goes with it, is my favourite, however.

26. Canibus-2nd Round Knockout 

Some MCs connect by being catchy and likeable (Coolio, Missy Elliot, Snoop). Others by having a hard hitting message (Ice Cube, Chuck D, Tupac). Others rely on pure technical skill. Turning a phrase, breath control, packing multi syllable rhymes into a verse. Canibus never made it as a star, but for a couple years there, he was the man when it came to hot verses. 

He may not have had many smash hits, and his career certainly won’t rival that of his target in this song, LL Cool J, but damn if he didn’t have aggressive and tightly worded rhymes. Probably one of the greatest diss tracks of all time. With all respect to LL, I still have to list ‘Second Round Knockout’ by Canibus as favourite hip hop song number 26. 

25. Puff Daddy feat. Notorious B.I.G. & Busta Rhymes-Victory

Here’s something that 20 year old me couldn’t have anticipated saying: Puff Daddy’s ‘No Way Out’ album has aged well. Count me amongst the annoying haters who went around proclaiming that Puff Daddy was going to ruin hip hop music. It was a pivotal album, and much of what came after it lacked some of the qualities of what came before it (IMO), but evolution must happen. This particular song, with a great beat, a quality feature from Biggie and a hectic hook from Busta Rhymes is favourite hip hop song number 25.

24. Danny Brown-Monopoly

For just the fifth time in 29 weeks, I’m bringing the countdown into the 21st century. Favorite hip hop song number 24 is ‘Monopoly’ by Danny Brown. It’s hard to know what’s more stank, this filthy beat or Danny Brown’s NSFW zingers. Basically, I’m down with any new school artist that I can identify by voice and delivery alone, and he fits the bill. Nasty! 

 

 

 

23. Fu-Schnickens-La Schmoove

In about 1992 my brother and I began the practice of recording music videos from Much Music onto VCR tape, usually from ‘Rap City’. One of our earliest tapes featured materials from an episode on fast talking hip hop group the ‘Fu-Schnickens’. It wasn’t long before my brother and I had a dubbed copy of their album. I couldn’t tell half of what they were saying, but nonetheless I would phonetically write it out and attempt to rap along. Their vibe was fun, their beats were bumping and their vocals were unbelievable. 

22. Outkast-Ain’t No Thang

Absolutely one of the greatest hip  hop groups of all time, Outkast are innovative and futuristic, while still funky and rooted in everything that makes me love old school hip hop. Lyrics, flow, beats, fashion, there is nothing they are not dominant in. Earlier this year Alyssa and I visited Atlanta, and while I’m sad to say we didn’t run into Outkast anywhere (I was looking!), I can see where they get their big city meets laid back vibe. There are dozens of Outkast songs that could have made the list, but I’ll go with this one on account of it’s catchy hook and great beat. Number 22 is  ‘Ain’t No Thang’.

21. Das Efx-They Want Efx (Remix)

Not sure that Das Efx ‘Dead Serious’ gets the credit it deserves for being one of the fun, innovative and memorable hip hop albums of the early 90s heyday. All the bum stiggedy lyrics and head nodding beats. About the only thing that 15 year old Jonathan Stoddart did NOT like about this album was the version of They Want Efx that was ever so slightly less funky than the music video version.

The really awesome version of this song is not to be found 🙁 Please settle for the merely fairly awesome version. 

20. Maestro Fresh Wes-Let Ya Backbone Slide

As we crack the top 20 in my hip hop countdown, let’s take a look at the man I believe is the Canadian GOAT: Maestro Fresh Wes. ‘Let Your Backbone Slide’ (and it’s equally awesome counterpart ‘Drop the Needle’) has everything that makes golden era hip hop great: a strong hard beat, a catchy chorus, hard hitting well formed rhymes, several excellent uses of the old ‘drop the beat to accentuate the rhyme’ technique and awesome dancers in the video. The heavy use of the ‘maestro persona/outfit’ and the Fresh Prince-esque sets used in the video would be considered cheesy today, but that’s what I love about early hip hop: people were serious about their rhymes and less so about their persona. A formula that is too often flipped these days. 

Unfortunately this album is on Spotify, but not on Apple, so a later Maestro song is inserted on that list. 

19. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince-Summertime

Whether it’s the super chilling beat, (a souped of version of Kool and the Gang’s ‘Summer Madness’), Will Smith’s laid back rhyme or simply the positive subject matter, I can’t not be in a good mood when I hear my 19th favourite hip hop song of all time: ‘Summertime’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Perfect for BBQs, river floats or days on the beach.

18. Funkdoobiest-Bow Wow Wow

In the early 90s there was a surge of well deserved respect paid to funk pioneer George Clinton, on account of his influence over the emerging hip hop class of the day. His song ‘Atomic Dog’ was popular, as was a breaking artist named Snoop Doggy Dogg. Another great hit from that era: ‘Bow Wow Wow’ by Funkdoobiest. People were bow wow wowin’ and yippee yo yeahin’ all over the place that year. It was a good time to be a dog. In 1993 a sixteen year old Jonathan Stoddart didn’t even need a drink to freak out freak out when this upbeat banger came on. Rapper Son Doobie heavily relied on metaphors; everything was ‘like’ this or ‘just like’ that, all delivered in a unique and fun to imitate voice. Every song Muggs produced was like double sugar Kool-Aid to me at that time, and this song is no exception.

Another track that was unavailable on streaming services. 🙁 

17. Del the Funky Homosapien-Mistadobalina

Legend has it that in the early 90s, if you listened carefully, you could hear a large choir of rowdies singing three part harmonies in the night, their voices echoing along the shores of Clarks Harbour, NS. One group chanted the hypnotically repetitive ‘Mistadobalina Mista Bob Dobalina’ with the accurate timing of a Rolex watch. The second sang ‘Gloryhallastoopid Mista Bob Dobalina’ with great gusto. But it was the third section, hidden behind a wall of fog, frantically barking ‘Ooooh Ooooh Mr Dobalina’ at the moon, that truly scared the seniors. What ever became of those kids? Regardless, this forgotten gem from Del the Funky Homosapien ranks 17 in my list of all time hip hop favourites. 

16. Big Daddy Kane-Nuff Respect

Big Daddy Kane is a rapper’s rapper, universally respected by fans of old school hiphop. Kane is quick-tongued and full of swagger, simultaneously rugged and smooth. Among his many great tracks is ‘Nuff Respect’, a frantic song from the Juice soundtrack with a killer beat.

The classic version of this song I know and love was unavailable on streaming services, so I included a remix I had never heard before, which was not half bad!

15. MC Hammer-You Can’t Touch This

I am not here to try and convince you fine people that ‘You Can’t Touch This’ is the fifteenth greatest example of what a hip hop song can be. But that’s not what this list is. It’s ‘Ricca’s Favorite Hip Hop Songs’. I bought this cassette in 1990 at the mall in Bedford, NS. I interpreted the lyrics with approximately 75% accuracy, and then proceeded to memorize and recite the resulting mix of words and gibberish. It sparked a hot debate about whether Hammer toured around the world from London to Bombay, or London to ‘the Bay’. From there, it’s was a short line to brightly coloured shirts and VCR tapes full of Rap City videos. It’s also worth noting that prior to this song’s existence, nobody in my sphere was really talking about Rick James. If you’re too young to remember, suffice to say, Hammer caused a major splash! For these reasons and more, ‘You Can’t Touch This’ comes in hot at number fifteen. 

14. UMCs-One to Grow On

Probably one of the lesser known of my favourite hip hop songs is this UMC classic from 1991, my fourteenth fave ‘One to Grow On’. With a solid drum beat and a steady piano line, the stage is set for the irresistible horn sample from Blue Mitchell’s ‘Good Humor Man’. Fun raps and a great beat make this song is a definite head-nodder for me, and one that definitely earned its place on my classic Rap City VCR tapes.

13. KRS One-My Philosophy

There are many opinions as to who is the greatest MC of all time, and, in truth, the question can never be definitively answered. But for my money, it’s The Teacher, KRS ONE. KRS is exciting when he blasts ragamuf styles such as on ‘Sound of Da Police’, he’s amusing with sing song choruses such as on ‘The Bridge is Over’, but perhaps nowhere is he more engaging then when he departs on lengthy stream of consciousness, conversational style raps, such as he does on my thirteenth favourite hip hop song ‘My Philosophy’.
The Blastmaster KRS unleashes three verses, by my count measuring 34, 40 and 36 bars, respectively, because, why not? Within he discusses such things as vegetarianism, the appropriate length of a song, and just who might be just the guy to lead a crew right up to your face and diss you. (Spoiler alert: it’s him). 

12. Leaders of the New School-International Zone Coaster

Songs can be great for different reasons. They can be profound, inspiring, intricate, complex or thought provoking. Sometimes, however, they’re just bouncy and fun. ‘International Zone Coaster’ by Busta Rhymes original crew ‘Leaders of the New School’ is just such a song. It’s about skipping school and having a party, but it’s impossible to not nod your head too.  It was an early indicator of just how hypnotic and cool Busta Rhymes could be.

Unfortunately, the awesome beat version of this song can’t be found, so the playlists feature the less awesome version. 

11. Eric B & Rakim-Know the Ledge

How did the super old rap style evolve into the classic style of the late 80s and 90s? A complicated question, but the easiest answer is Rakim. If you should find yourself browsing lists of the greatest MCs of all time, and find that Rakim is not at or near the top, consider it #fakenews. I was gonna choose ‘Paid in Full’ for its funky groove, or ‘Don’t Sweat the Technique’ for it’s smooth jazz, but I went with the sinister and frantic ‘Know the Ledge’ from the Juice soundtrack as my 11th favourite all time. 

10. Dizzee Rascal- Fix Up, Look Sharp

Unlike any other song on this list, ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’ features an off the wall banging British vocal that keeps pace with a bumping sample from Billy Squier’s ‘The Big Beat’. Never before had I been so inexplicably impressed with somebody rhyming probably with probably five times. When I heard this song I remember thinking what a cool twist it is for a rapper to have a distinct regional dialect. Then I remembered that I was from Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia and I started inserting more slang into my own songs. Number ten is Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’

9. Cypress Hill- Real Estate

Cypress Hill are one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time! B-Real with the nasal tone, Sen Dog with the throaty backups and Muggs knocking every beat out of the park. My favourite album is the first, and with all respect to Latin Lingo, Phunky Feel One and others, my number 9 favourite hip hop song of all time is ‘Real Estate’ with that awesome horn, cool baseline and bumping beat! True classic!  

 

8. Dr. Dre-Let Me Ride

Number 8 favourite hip hop song all time! Some of the lyrical topics from Dr. Dre’s 1992 masterpiece ‘The Chronic’ have not aged particularly well in the past several decades (indiscriminate gunplay, general misogyny). The production values, on the other hand, hold up incredibly well, besting nearly anything on the market today. Also aging nicely? The people involved: Dr. Dre (Respected business icon!) and Snoop Dogg (Martha Stewart collaborator, American sweetheart!) Nearly any song on the album would do, but I go with ‘Let Me Ride’ for its laid back gangsta flow and excellent repurposing of a classic chorus. This song’s stank bass and high pitched G-funk synth represent everything that was awesome about the era. 

7. Busta Rhymes-Fire It Up

Busta Rhymes is one of the greatest MCs of all time! I said it! An MC should be inventive and entertaining and occasionally off the wall, and Busta is all of those things. His early videos were next level and his songs were fresh and addictive. I could have chosen many Busta songs to be on this list, but I’ll go with ‘Fire It Up’ as my 7th favourite hip hop song of all time on account of the crazy hype ‘Knight Rider’ beat and the explosive chorus. 

6. Beastie Boys-So Whatcha Want

Nobody bridged the gap between the emergent hip hop and alternative cultures of the early 90s like the Beastie Boys. This video, like the song itself, is simple, but awesome, nasty but catchy. The wailing guitar during the breaks is among my favourite musical moments of the 90s. At this point in the countdown we are getting into artists for whom I could pick any number of songs, but it’s So What Cha Want coming in at number 6.

5. Nas-NY State of Mind

If this list were entitled ‘Most Perfect Hip Hop Songs of All Time’ then ‘NY State of Mind’ by Nas may well sit at the top. As it is, it’s ‘Ricca Razor Sharp’s Favorite Hip Hop Songs’, and it comes in at number five. The smooth but driving flow. The literary techniques. The vivid picture painting. And, of course, DJ Premiere’s sinister and pristine beat. Everything a 90s hip hop song could and should be. 

4. Public Enemy feat. Anthrax-Bring tha Noise

I cannot definitively tell you that Public Enemy’s ‘Bring the Noise’ (feat. Anthrax) is the greatest Public Enemy song. As a matter of fact, some will say it’s not even the greatest version of that song. (EDM fans might contend it the third). Regardless, it was exactly the thing to move a 14 year old Jonathan Stoddart towards more hard driving hip hop, and a major Public Enemy phase followed for me. Fight the Power, Shut Em Down, She Watch Channel Zero: all would have made great picks, but decisions had to be made, and Bring the Noise is my all time favourite hip hop song number four. 

3. House of Pain-Jump Around

What is a song? Is it all the places we expect to hear it and the occasions we associate it with? Is it the historical context of it and how it fits in with whatever happened before and after? Or is it simply the beats, chords and lyrics, as they exist the day the artist wrote and recorded it? 

I don’t select Jump Around as my third favourite all time hip hop song because it’s the cliche song to play while you’re waiting for the puck to drop at an NHL game or during an NFL coach’s challenge. I select it because of the reaction that I had the first time I heard DJ Muggs perfect combination of screeching horn and chugging whatever that is underneath. Is it deep? No, but inside us all there is an Irishman who just wants to get drunk on St. Paddy’s Day. 

I will probably get questioned for placing this song so high up the list, but in truth it could have been higher. You can call it a passing novelty song, I call it the perfect hip hop party track. Just as it was the day I first heard it. 

2. A Tribe Called Quest feat. Leaders of the New School-Scenario

This track features a nice little teaser intro, a fantastically simple gang vocal hook that anyone can learn in 5 seconds (used sparingly, once at the beginning, once at the end), a hardcore drum track and 4 minutes of intense rapping. You didn’t think the whole countdown would come and go without a track from A Tribe Called Quest did you? On top of that, this was the song that introduced most of the world to Bust a Rhymes. Scenario, my second favourite hiphop song of all time. 

1.LL Cool J-Mama Said Knock You Out

Don’t call it a comeback! Ladies Love Cool James and I love this track. Of course there is no real number one hip hop song, just an awesome collection of worthy candidates, but somebody had to come out on top, and for me it’s Mama Said Knock You Out. 

The banging drum beat. The background chanting. The 4 X 16 bars of hardcore raps! My go to karaoke song! A violent song that somehow makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. 

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