'88 was great but '89 is mine (2011)

Martin van Zeelandt / TCD
2 minutes ago
3 min read

In 1989, I was 6. I heard of Rap and Hip Hop, but obviously the songs that appeared in the Dutch top 40 charts. The more obscure and rougher anthems did not appear on the charts. Pop music dominated everything in the 80s, and truth be told: as a kid you never listen to the lyrics, so I wouldn't have a clue what they were singing about. Only when I grew older did I understand the importance of Rap and Hip Hop. And of course how cool it is, as a genre.

In 1989, the world of Hip Hop and Rap was different. Even House sounded different. I grew up listening to Pop music, and when Rap/Hip Hop did enter my life, I was hooked on it. I do believe it was around 1992 or 1993, and it was because my dad bought an album called 'Turn Up The Bass - Rap Volume 3'. And I freaking loved that CD. And much later, when his job took him all over the world (but especially the USA), he brought back some wicked albums. The ones you would not see in Europe. So it has always been in my life, since 1992.

DJ Food made this mix 14 years ago, and it has had a lot of listens and comments. And I only discovered it a few days ago. I jumped on it, and wasn't disappointed. Again, in 1989 I was only 6, and not really into this music, but I caught up later in life. And I still love it. It was indeed a great year, and it spawned a lot of excellent tunes. And I bet you my life you will love them too.

Tone Loc - On Fire (Remix)
Gang Starr - Words I Manifest
Chill Rob G - Court's In Session
Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies
Jungle Brothers - Jbeez Comin' Through
Beastie Boys - Shadrach
Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump
EPMD - Big Payback
Ultramagnetics MCs - A Chorus Line
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
De La Soul - Say No Go (Say No Dope Mix)
Most Wanted - Calm Down
Hijack - Badman Is Robbin'
Ice T - Lethal Weapon
Twin Hype - Do It For The Crowd
Jungle Brothers - Tribe Vibes
Jungle Brothers - Beyond This World
Cookie Crew - Born This Way
Jungle Brothers - Good News Coming
The D.O.C. - Portrait Of A Masterpiece
Hijack - Doomsday Of Rap (Ice T Remix)
De La Soul - Magic Number (123 Mix)
Doug Lazy - Let It Roll
Double Trouble & Rebel MC - Just Keep Rockin'

This brings back memories. A lot of these records you don't hear on the radio. Maybe the radio DJs are too afraid to play good music? Or do I listen to the wrong radio stations?

Obviously you love the music, and people are very passionate about its history, and it has given the world so many amazing rappers. And let's dive straight into that comment: I am not a fan of the Beastie Boys. All the other artists in this mix I do like, but the Beastie Boys' voices just annoy me. They might have moved a generation, but not me. I always find their voices unbearable, like they are constantly screaming, and that makes me very uncomfortable. I cannot listen to a BB song and enjoy it. Sorry.

What I can enjoy, is music from De La Soul. ''Say No Go'' and ''Magic Number''. They are wicked anthems. Their voices do seem to work for me, their message appealing, but combine it with a wicked track, it just comes together nicely. De La Soul are the true winners to me. And 1989 was a wicked year for the world: we got these two awesome records. Imagine living in a world without 'Say No Go''. You can't.

Besides the Beastie Boys songs, which I cannot approve of, it is a highly enjoyable mix. DJ Food made it worth our time. It has got some little mixing errors, but nothing to write home about. The only thing you should write home about, is the fact that 1989 is 36 years ago. And that's freakishly too long ago. It only feels like yesterday, right?

And a mix would not be a finished product if it doesn't have the biggest hit of the 80s: ''Fight The Power''...

Bring back Rap and Hip Hop from 1989. Much better than the current generation's music. Can't beat the classics, the oldschool!