Blurb from Wax Poetics:
In celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th year, we’ve teamed up with London based ‘Classic Material’ to present a chronologically themed series of mixtapes celebrating the history of recorded Rap music, mixed by Chris Read. This seventh bonus mix delves into Mid 90s R&B, specifically the pairing of R&B vocals with classic Hip Hop production, ’Hip Hop Soul’ if you prefer, the natural evolution from New Jack Swing, covered in ones of the previous mixes in this series. The mix features production from many of those frequently associated with the sound, The Untouchables, Sean Combes et al, alongside names from the Hip Hop underground who dabbled in R&B: DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee, The Beatnuts, Salaam Remi and others. 16 Bar rap verses abound – AZ, KRS One, Grand Puba, Notorious BIG, Nas and many lesser known all appear. Also featured only on this mix is the pairing of R&B Acapellas with Hip Hop production from the era. Artwork pays homage to the classic Bad Boy Records company sleeve.
1. Next feat Big Pun – I Still Love You (Remix) [Loop]
2. Chris Read – Theme #3 (Scratchapella)
3. D’Angelo feat AZ – Lady (DJ Premier Just Tha Beat Mix)
4. Das EFX – Can’t Have Nuttin [Loop]
5. Intro – Funny How Times Flies
6. Da Youngsta’s – Mad Props (Instrumental)
7. Raphael Saadiq – Ask of You (Acapella)
8. Mic Geronimo – Masta IC (Instrumental)
9. G Simone feat KRS One – Music for the 90s (Acapella)
10. Mary J Blige feat Grand Puba – What’s the 411?
11. Monica – Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days) (Acapella)
12. Common Sense – Resurrection (Instrumental)
13. Faith Evans – You Used to Love Me
14. Miss Jones – Don’t Front (8th Street Mob Mix)
15. New Edition – Hit Me Off
16. GZA – Shadowboxin’ (Instrumental)
17. D’Angelo feat Method Man & Redman – Left & Right (Acapella)
18. Raw Stylus – Believe in Me (E Smoove’s Flava Mix)
19. Intro feat Myko Myers & The Bodysnatchas – Let Me Be The One (Untouchables Remix)
20. Boyz II Men feat Mad Drama – Thank You (Untouchables Remix)
21. KRS One – Step Into a World (Rapture’s Delight) (Instrumental)
22. Corey feat Sadat X – Everything But Love
23. Whitehead Bros – Forget I Was a G (Easy Mo Bee’s Remix)
24. Craig Mack – Flava In Ya Ear (Instrumental)
25. SWV feat Jay-Z – You’re the One (DJ Clark Kent Remix)
26. Jomanda – I Like It (Beatnuts Vibes Mix)
27. Allure feat Nas – Head Over Heels (Trackmasters Remix)
28. Allure feat Nas – Head Over Heels (Acapella)
29. Felonie – Before I Let You Go (Seven Inches Of Music Instrumental)
30. Intro – Love Thang (Untouchables Mix)
31. Mary J Blige feat Notorious BIG – Real Love (Hip Hop Mix)
32. Mary J Blige – Real Love (Acapella)
33. Apache – Gangsta Bitch (Instrumental)
34. Here and Now – Are You Ready (Tray’s Hard Full Mix)
35. Joe feat Darkman – I’m In Luv (Ghetto Lab Mix)
36. 7669 – Joy (Vocal DN)
37. Zhane – Hey Mr D.J
38. Cheryl Pepsii Riley – Guess I’m In Love (The Crooklyn Mix)
39. Funky Poets – Born in the Ghetto (Salaam Remi’s Mix)
40. Neneh Cherry feat Notorious BIG – Buddy X (Falcon & Fabien Remix)