Six years ago, with the help of 8 other folks on Philaflava.com, we put together a list of our Top 100 Obscure Tracks. The list went viral and the blogosphere was laced with 100 mp3s that spread like wildfire across all blogs, message boards and websites alike. I love obscure shit. Who doesn’t like to be different, especially when it comes to music?
Everybody would always play the same radio singles, but you’d look for that one album cut nobody was checking for. Maybe it was that a b-side or that cassette single only remix. I love guest features. I’m a sucker for a good 90s collabo. The beauty of the music is not only enjoying it, but discovering it as well. Having it all to yourself, while you feel the rest of the world is on some other shit. It’s that feeling that I always yearned for when it comes to my hip-hop. It’s also the main reason I preferred The Source’s Fat Tape section over anything else in that mag. Though, many of the tracks listed in Fat Tape went on to become singles themselves.
The T.R.O.Y. squad has always been adamant about focusing on a specific era in hip-hop, most of us would consider it the “2nd” Golden Age we’ve had. I personally love ’92-95. To me, those were the prime years. It’s hard to match the production, get away with the sampling and really, come with the same energy today.
When I’m bored with music I always find myself going back to those 4 years. They never let me down and despite some of the music aging poorly or now that I’m older, I realize many of these lyrics were downright embarrassing, there is still something very cool about this era. So with that said, I have put together a list of my 250 favorite obscure tracks from 1992-1995. 1996 had tons of great shit too, but to me, it was the beginning of that whole indie movement and it would take this list from 250 to 500 rather easily. One thing I’ve realized while compiling this list is that I am enamored with D.I.T.C. production, with the exception of Primo, Pete Rock, Diamond D and The Beatnuts, Buckwild completely owned shit in the 90s. I still don’t understand how he isn’t higher on most peoples list. The man always been incredible.
I used the word obscure loosely here, because we all know its subjective. B-sides, remixes, posse cuts, guest features and random album cuts make up my list. I’ll do my best to work on getting up some of those mp3s, though I am sure many of you probably already have them. Let me know what some of your favorite “obscure” cuts are from the golden age, I’m sure I am forgetting some. — Philaflava
Philaflava’s 250 Favorite Obscure Songs (’92-95)
250. Sha’Dasious – Da Whole Shabang feat. Ram Squad, 50 Grand, Tasc-4rce
249. Preacher Earl & The Ministry – Return Of The Body Snatcha
248. Souls of Mischief – That’s When Ya Lost (Remix)
247. Pete Nice & Daddy Rich – The Sleeper
246. Kirk – Uptown Style feat. Ski
245. Down South – Lost In Brooklyn
244. MC Eiht – All For The Money (1/2 Oz. Remix)
243. Special Ed – Rukus
242. Lin Que – Let It Fall
241. Supernatural – Buddah Blessed It
240. Double X Posse – He Asked For It
239. 3rd Eye – Troopers Reprezent feat. Lord Finesse, Nine, Top Quality & Zone7
238. Threat – 4-Deep
237. MC Hammer – Sleepin’ On A Master Plan feat. Kurupt & Daz
236. Dana Barros – Check It (Remixes)
235. C.E.B. – Seems You Forgot
234. UMC’s – Ill Demonic Clique
233. 8-Off – Alize For Dolo
232. Mesanjarz Of Funk – Flip Da Script feat. Lord Finesse & L-Boogie
231. Lords of The Underground – What I’m After (Remix) feat. Keith Murray
230. Funkdoobiest – Dedicated (Funkmaster Flex Remix)
229. Erick Sermon – Payback II feat. Joe Sinistr
228. Dreadknotz – Causin’ A Menace
227. Milk – Spam (Remix) feat. Ad-Rock
226. The Pharcyde – I’m That Type of Nigga (Straight Up Faded Mix)
225. 3rd Rail – Uptown
224. Ruggedness Madd Drama – Checkin Down The Menu
223. Extra Prolific – Go Back To School
222. DFC – Caps Get Peeled feat. MC Eiht
221. Finsta Bundy – Feel The High
220. Dark Sun Riders feat. Brother J – Dark Sun Riders (Ultra Jazz Remix)
219. MC Lyte – Ruffneck (Beatnuts Remix)
218. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Death Becomes You feat. YG’z
217. Cypress Hill – Killa Hill Niggas feat. RZA & U-God
216. Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard – Doin’ MC’s Sum’n Terrible feat. F.M. & Snagglepuss
215. Funkmaster Flex – Let’s Be Specific feat. Freddie Foxx, Havoc, Raekwon, Cool Whip & Tragedy
214. Blood of Abraham – Niggaz and Jewz feat. Eazy-E & Will.I.Am
213. Private Investigators – Who Am I? (God)
212. Too $hort – Get In Where You Fit In, Part II feat. The Dangerous Crew
211. Too $hort – Get In Where You Fit In (Remix) feat. Father Dom
210. Saafir – Light Sleeper (JZ Mix)
209. Mac Mall – Pimp Or Die feat. Ray Luv & Young Lay
208. Large Professor – Hard
207. Nubian Crackers – Do You Wanna Hear It feat. The Artifacts
206. Top Quality – Magnum Opus
205. The Artifacts – Collaboration Of Mics feat. Lord Finesse & Lord Jamar
204. Ground Floor – Dig On That feat. Lord Finesse
203. The B.U.M.S. – West Coast Smack
202. Ill Al Skratch – Creep With Me feat. Mike Real
201. Positive K – Night Shift/Pimp Mix feat. Big Daddy Kane
200. Mannish – Expect That (Bird Mix/B-Zar Mix)
199. Cella Dwellas – Line 4 Line
198. Mobb Deep – Cop Hell (DJ Premier Remix)
197. Aceyalone – Headache & Woes
196. Akinyele – Checkmate
195. Brand Nubian – Steal Ya ‘Ho (Remix Vocal)
194. Fesu – War With No Mercy
193. Sham & The Professor – So-Low-Ist (Remix)
192. Too $hort – We Do This feat. MC Breed, 2Pac & Father Dom
191. Pudgee Tha Phat Man – 9 MCs feat. B.I.G., Grand Puba, Grand Daddy I.U., Macwell, Positive K, Raggedy Man & Snagglepuss
190. Trendz of Culture – Who Got My Back (Remix) feat Method Man & Treach
189. Yaggfu Front – Slappin’ Suckas Silly (Diamond D Remix) feat. Diamond D
188. Eightball & MJG – Break ‘Em Off (Da Beatminerz Remix)
187. Mad Flavaz – Mad Flavaz feat. Erick Sermon
186. Now Born Click – Now Born Soldiers/Remix
185. Shyheim – Lickashot
184. The Artifacts – Heavy Ammunition
183. E-40 – Dusted ‘n’ Disgusted feat. 2pac, Mac Mall & Spice 1
182. King-Tee – At Your Own Risk (Marley Marl Budha Mix)
181. Buckshot LeFonque – Breakfast At Denny’s
180. Show & A.G. – Got The Flava feat. Ghetto Dwellas, Wally World & Method Man
179. Hard 2 Obtain – Local Hero
178. Funkmaster Flex – Six Million Ways To Die feat. Nine & Tragedy
177. Anotha Level – What’s That Cha Say
176. PMD – Shade Business (Beatnuts Remix)
175. Big Daddy Kane – Lyrical Gymnastics
174. Grand Puba – I Like It (Remix) feat. Sadat X
176. House of Pain – Legend (Remix)
175. Ill Biskits – God Bless Your Life
174. Naughty By Nature – It’s On (Beatnuts Remix)
173. Poison Clan – Put Shit Pass No Ho
172. The Roots – Proceed II (Butcher Mix)
171. Young Lay – Got 2 Survive feat. Mac Mall, Ray Luv & 2Pac
170. The Beatnuts – Straight Jacket
169. Souls of Mischief – Where The Fuck You At?
168. Sadat X – Escape From New York feat. Pete Rock & Deda
167. GZA – Cold World (RZA Mix) feat. Inspecah Deck, Streetlife & D’Angelo
166. YZ – (So Far) The Ghetto’s Been Good To Me
165. The Artifacts – Who Am I
164. The Legion – Jingle Jungle (Krill Mix) feat. Dres
163. Show & A.G. – Now You Know (Buckwild Remix)
162. The Notorious B.I.G., Coolio, Doodlebug Big Mike, Buckshot, Redman, Ill Al Skratch, Rock (Heltah Skeltah), Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Busta Rhymes, Menace Clan, Jamal) – The Points (Easy Mo Bee Remix)
161. 100 x – Beyond The Door/Remix
160. Original Flavor – All That (Remix)
159. Pete Rock & Deda – Press Rewind
158. The B.U.M.S. – Rain (Fredwreck Remix) feat. Saafir
157. Smoothe Da Hustler – Dollar Bill feat. D.V. Alias Khrist
156. Ill Al Skratch – Don’t Shut Down On A Player
155. Da Lench Mob – Ain’t Got No Class (Beatnuts Remix) feat. B-Real
154. O.C. – Constables
153. Redman – A Million And 1 Buddah Spots
152. Beastie Boys – Sure Shot (Large Professor Remix)
151. Pete Nice & Daddy Rich – Kick The Bobo (Beatnuts Remix)
150. Key Kool & Rhettmattic – 5=MC 5 feat. LMNO, Ras Kass, Mean Green & Voodu
149. Ultramagnetic MC’s – Saga of Dandy, The Devil & Day/Remix
148. Mobb Deep – Peer Pressure (Large Professor Remix)
147. LL Cool J – Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag (Easy Mo Bee Remix)
146. De La Soul – Lovely How I Let My Mind Float feat. Biz Markie
145. Lord Finesse – Brainstorm/P.S.K. (No Gimmicks Remix) feat. KRS-One & O.C.
144. Society – Yes ‘N’ Deed
143. Mystidious Misfitss – I Be (Buckwild Remix)
142. Mysterme – Unsolved Mysterme
141. Above The Law – Game Wreck-Oniz-Iz Game feat. Eazy-E
140. KMD – What A Niggy Know (Remix) feat. MF Grimm
139. The Coup – Santa Rita Weekend feat. Spice 1 & E-40
138. Big L – Street Struck
137. Casual – Later On (Casual’s Low Down Remix)
136. Gang Starr – F.A.L.A. feat. Big Shug
135. Tasc 4orce – Takin’ No Shorts No More
134. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Searching (Remix)
133. The Roots – Proceed V (Da Beatminerz Remix)
132. DJ Quik – Get At Me
131. Yaggfu Front – Left Field/Remix
130. Mic Geronimo – Hemmin’ Heads
129. Freddie Foxxx – So Tough (Remixes)
128. PHD – Set It feat. Havoc, Reecey & Kamikaze
127. Ultramagnetic MC’s – See The Man On The Street
126. Kool G. Rap – Fast Life (Buckwild Remix) feat. Nas
125. Mobb Deep – Up North Trip
124. Nice & Smooth – Dr. Feel Good feat. Nine, M.O.P. & Ill Al Skratch
123. Da King & I – Flip Da Script (DJ Premier Remix)
122. Onyx – Evil Streets (Remix) feat. Method Man
121. Da Youngsta’s ILLY Funkstaz – I’ll Make U Famous/Remix
120. Goodie M.o.B. – Thought Process feat. Andre 3000
119. Nine – Me, Myself, and My Microphone
118. Tragedy – Mad Brothers Know His Name
117. King-Tee – Got It Bad Yall (Remix) feat. Tha Alkaholiks
116. Bahamadia – Total Wreck
115. Black Moon – Reality (Killing Every…)
114. Poor Righteous Teachers – Nobody Move/Remix
113. Organized Konfusion – Thirteen
112. Tha Alkaholiks – No Hand Out feat. feat. Snagglepuss, Phil Da Agony & Xzibit
111. Heltah Skeltah – Blah feat. Originoo Gunn Clappaz
110. Onyx – Purse Snatchaz Part 2 feat. Smoothe Da Hustler & Trigga Tha Gambler
109. Main Source – Set It Off feat. Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, Lotto & Shaqueen
108. The Artifacts – Dynamite Soul II (Lip Service Remix) feat. Mad Skillz
107. Shyheim – Pass It Off (Underground Remix) feat. GP Wu & Big Daddy Kane
106. Bush Babees – We Run Things
105. Leaders of The New School – Classic Material (Diamond D Remix)
104. The Roots – Silent Treatment (Da Beatminerz Remix)
103. Keith Murray – East Left
102. Brand Nubian – Step Into Da Cipher feat. Serge, Mastro Manny & Snagglepuss
101. Masta Ace – The B Side feat. Paula Perry & Lord Digga
100. J-Live – Braggin’ Writes
99. Mic Geronimo – Three Stories High feat. Royal Flush
98. Too $hort – In The Trunk (Glove Compartment DJ Premier Remix)
97. Ultramagnetic MC’s – Yo Black (Buckwild Remix)
96. Casual – Me-O-Mi-O (Domino Remix)
95. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – In The Flesh feat. Rob-O & Deda
94. Gravediggaz – Defective Trip (Trippin)
93. Fat Joe – Watch The Sound (Beatnuts Remix) feat. Grand Puba & Diamond D
92. Rakim – Heat It Up
91. Tasc 4orce – Takin’ No Shorts No More
90. Strictly Roots – Begs No Friends (Remix) feat. Fat Joe & Grand Puba
89. Tha Alkaholiks – Daaam! (Buckwild Remix)
88. Shabazz The Disciple – Death Be The Penalty/Remix
87. De La Soul – Sh.Fe.Mc’s feat. A Tribe Called Quest
86. Heavy D – A Buncha Niggas feat. Gang Starr, 3rd Eye, The Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes & Rob-O
85. Cash Money Click – My 4 Click feat. Mic Geronimo
84. N-Tense – Raise The Levels of The Boom
83. Trendz of Culture – Off And On (Lord Finesse Remix)
82. The Beatnuts – No Equal (Remix)
81. Boogiemonsters – Recognized Thresholds of Negative Stress/Remix
80. Cypress Hill – Throw Your Hands In The Air (Remix) feat. Erick Sermon, Redman & MC Eiht
79. Pete Rock & Deda – Can’t Wait
78. Joe Sinistr – Under The Sun
77. Chi Ali – Let The Horns Blow feat. Dres, Phife Dawg, Trugoy & Al Tariq
76. Blood of Abraham – Stabbed By The Steeple
75. O.C. – Word…Life (Remix)
74. Mic Geronimo – Time To Build feat. DMX, Ja Rule & Jay-Z
73. Brand Nubian – Love Me Or Leave Me Alone (Remix)
72. De La Soul – Ego Trippin’ Part III
71. Digable Planets – Where I’m From (Remix)
70. Quinton – I’m Not An Emcee
69. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Get On The Mic (Remix)
68. Erick Sermon – The Ill Shit feat. Kam & Ice Cube
67. Black Sheep – Similak Child (Homogenized Remix)
66. Das EFX – Hard Like A Criminal
65. House of Pain – Word Is Bond (Remix) feat. Diamond D
64. Spice 1 – Jealous Got Me Strapped feat. 2Pac
63. Big L – Da Graveyard feat. Lord Finesse, Ghetto Dwellas, Grand Daddy I.U., & Jay-Z
62. Ras Kass – Etc. (Extended Mix)
61. Sunz of Man – Five Arch Angels
60. Private Investigators – Mash Up The Mic (Remix)
59. The Notorious B.I.G. – Come On (Original Mix) feat. Sadat X
58. King Just – Warrior’s Drum
57. Lord Finesse – Shorties Kaught In The System/Remix
56. Organized Konfusion – Bring It On (Buckwild Remix)
55. Smif-N-Wessun – Cession At Da Doghille feat. Heltah Skeltah, O.G.C. & Buckshot
54. E. Bros – Funky Piano
53. Now Born Click – Mad Sick
52. The Beatnuts – Hellraiser/Remix
51. MC Serch – Back To The Grill (Remix) feat. Red Hot Lover Tone, Chubb Rock, Nas & O.C.
50. Beastie Boys – Get It Together (Buckwild Remix) feat. Q-Tip
49. Heavy D – Yes Y’all
48. Troubleneck Brothers – Back To The Hip Hop
47. Black Moon – Murder MC’s
46. The Artifacts – It’s Getting Hot (K-Def Remix)
45. Brand Nubian – Punks Jump To Get Beat Down (Remix) feat. Diamond D
44. The Alkaholiks – All The Way Live feat. Q-Tip & King Tee
43. Urban Thermo Dynamics – My Kung Fu
42. KRS-One – Higher Level
41. InI & Pete Rock – To Each His Own feat. Q-Tip & Large Professor
40. Aceyalone – Mic Check (Kemo Mix)
39. World Renown – How Nice I Am
38. The Roots – Proceed III feat. Bahamadia
37. Das EFX – Microphone Master (Dome Cracker Mix)
36. Dr. Dre – Puffin’ On Blunts And Drinkin’ Tanqueray feat. Lady of Rage, Daz & Kurupt
35. Red Hot Lover Tone – 4 My Peeps (Buckwild Remix) feat. Organized Konfusion, M.O.P. & B.I.G.
34. The Beatnuts – Are You Ready feat. Grand Puba
33. Funkdoobiest – Rock On (Buckwild Remix)
32. Casual – I Didn’t Mean To/Remix
31. Funkmaster Flex – Nuthin But Flavor feat. Charlie Brown, ‘Ol Dirty Bastard & Biz Markie
30. Young Lay – All About My Fetti feat. Mac Mall & Ray Luv
29. Kool G. Rap – Take ‘Em To War feat. MF Grimm & B1
28. Nas – The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)
27. Gang Starr – Gotta Get Over (Extra P Remix)
26. Common – Resurrection (Extra P/Large Professor Remix)
25. Lord Finesse – Actual Facts feat. Sadat X, Large Professor & Grand Puba
24. O.C. – O-Zone
23. The Notorious B.I.G. – Machine Gun Funk (DJ Premier Remix)
22. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien – The Undisputed Champs feat. Pep Love, Jay Biz & Q-Tip
21. Eightball & MJG – Friend or Foe feat. E-40, Mac Mall & Big Mike
20. King-Tee – Freestyle Ghetto feat. Xzibit, MC Breeze & The Alkaholiks
19. Eddie F. – Let’s Get It On feat. Heavy D, Grand Puba, 2Pac & Notorious B.I.G.
18. Ahmad, Ras Kass & Saafir – Comewiddit (Joe Quixx Remix)
17. Kurious – Mansion And A Yacht feat. Sadat X & Mike G
16. Tragedy – Street Life (Return Of The Life Mix)
15. Nas – One Love (One L Main Mix) feat. Sadat X
14. Redman – Funkaroma
13. Bas Blasta – The Rhythm feat. Lord Finesse, Fat Joe, JuJu, & Godfather Don
12. Common – Soul By The Pound (Thump Long Mix)
11. Gang Starr – ALONGWAYTOGO
10. M.O.P. – Rugged Neva Smoove (Premier Remix)
09. KRS-One – Hip-Hop vs. Rap
08. Kool G. Rap – Fast Life (Norfside Remix) feat. Nas
07. Brand Nubian – Allah U Akbar/Remix
06. Souls of Mischief – ’93 Til Infinity (Remix)
05. Ras Kass – Remain Anonymous
04. MC Eiht – Nuthin’ But The Gangsta feat. Spice 1 & Redman
03. Organized Konfusion – Stress (Remix) feat. Large Professor
02. Diamond D – You Can’t Front feat. Sadat X & Lord Finesse
01. Ultramagnetic MCs – Raise It Up/Remix feat. Godfather Don
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