The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place -lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good- so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email it to [email protected].
This Week's Rapper(s): Undergravity, currently the most anachronistic rap group in existence.
This Week's Prompt: Plumbing the 1990s for the six best Houston rap songs.
Ask A Rapper: Assignment is easy: You guys pick the best six Houston rap songs from the nineties. Ready? Annnnd go.
Undergravity: First of all, it's very difficult to pick six songs out of the best decade in Houston's rap scene. This list is in no particular order, but all songs were significant in our lives.
"3 N The Morning," Lil Keke ft DJ Screw
This was the first time a DJ Screw mixtape freestyle made it to the radio. On our fifth grade trip this is all we listened to.
"Diamonds & Wood," UGK
Even though they are from PA, this song had a Screwed sample way before it was the trend and it was on their best cd (in our opinion), Ridin' Dirty, which was on Jive Records so it was in regular rotation.
"Space Age Pimpin," 8ball & MJG
Memphis duo but their label was based out of Houston. This song was so smooth and laid back, just like Houston.
"Never Seen A Man Cry," Scarface
This song was just so real. We never seen people in our neighborhood cry, only when deaths occurred. It just hit home.
"Superstar," Fat Pat ft Mike D and Billy Cook
First of all, Fat Pat is the epitome of a 90s Houston rapper. Secondly, reliable sources say Pat and Mike D freestyled this song. And Billy cook SANG the SHIT out that hook
"Swangin' & Bangin," E.S.G.
When this song came out, H-town went crazy. E.S.G. was talkin' about everyday life on the south side of H-town. "I banged her last night, fried out jammin' my screw tape." After this song, you could see candy coated cars with 84s (rims) "swangin'" slow from left to right. If we locked these songs in a time capsule, they would represent Houston in the 90s very well.
Download Undergravity's Space Jams here.
