WHEN HIP-HOP MEETS ROCK: 2PAC AND PHIL COLLINS

PHIL COLLINS – IN THE AIR TONIGHT (1991) (From the album Face Value)

2PAC – STARIN’ THROUGH MY REAR VIEW (1997 and 2003) (On both the Gang-Related and Tupac: Resurrection movie sdtrk)

PHAROAHE MONCH – WHEN THE GUN DRAWS

DEBARGE – STAY WITH ME

One of the best composed songs ever! DeBarge has been sampled by the likes of Biggie Smalls, Mariah Carey, 2Pac, and Warren G just to name a few.

BIGGIE SMALLS – ONE MORE CHANCE (1995) (Samples DeBarge’s “Stay With Me”)

MARIAH CAREY – I’LL BE LOVING YOU LONG TIME (2008) (Samples DeBarge’s “Stay With Me”)

2PAC – I AIN’T MAD AT CHA (1996) (Samples DeBarge’s “A Dream”)

WARREN G – I WANT IT ALL (1999) (Samples DeBarge’s “I Like It”)

KEYSHIA COLE FT. 2PAC – PLAYA CARDZ RIGHT

This song was originally featured on Pac’s Life ,which was released in 2006, and I’m so glad that Keyshia Cole recently brought it back to life. “Playa Cardz Right” is featured on Cole’s third album, A Different Me, which was released this year.

My favorite part is when Keyshia says “It takes a real man. Luther Vandross, Teddy…” This song is so smooth with Cole’s soulful voice and Tupac’s mellow voice intertwined. Fellas, listen to what ‘Pac is saying. Take your time. Finesse it. You just might wake up with your breakfast in bed.

Check out the video:

STEVIE WONDER – A PLACE IN THE SUN

I’ve loved this song ever since I heard it in the film, Rebound: The Legend of Earl ‘The Goat’ Manigault. This movie is an instant classic just like Stevie’s song. Check out clips of both below:

STEVIE WONDER – A PLACE IN THE SUN (1966)

REBOUND: THE LEGEND OF EARL ‘THE GOAT’ MANIGAULT (1996)

KOOL & THE GANG – SUMMER MADNESS

Here is a classic and soulful 1975 cut from the Jazz/R&B/Soul/Funk group straight out of New Jersey. Can’t put K&G in a box. They are responsible for cuts such as “Celebration,” “Get Down On It,” “Ladies Night,” and countless other hits.

SUMMER MADNESS (1975)

Famously sampled by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff.

WILL SMITH & DJ JAZZY JEFF – SUMMERTIME (1991)

RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN

Rufus, was a 70s band formed in Chi-Town, which helped launch the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They are known for such hits as “Tell Me Something Good” (penned by Stevie Wonder), “Sweet Thing”, and “Ain’t Nobody”. Band members included:

* Chaka Khan — vocals
* Andre Fischer — drums
* Dennis Belfield — bass
* Al Ciner — guitar
* Tony Maiden — guitar
* Kevin Murphy — keyboards
* Ron Stockert — keyboards
* David Wolinski “Hawk” — keyboards
* Bobby Watson — bass
* John “JR” Robinson — drums (from 1978)
* Moon Calhoun — drums, street player
* Nate Morgan — keyboards

RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN – “DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU FEEL”

My girl G put me onto this track below. Here is the remake by Carl Carlton

CARL CARLTON – “SMOKING ROOM” (REMAKE OF THE RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN HIT)

DONNY HATHAWAY: A SONG FOR YOU (1971)

One of the most incredible voices of ALL time. You can just feel his pain in this one. Rest in peace Donny.

MARVIN GAYE (4/2/1939 – 4/1/1984)

Although Marvin passed away a few months before I came into this world his music has influenced my life a great deal. Marvin embodied everything about soul music. He asked, “What’s Going On,” and spoke of “Inner City Blues”. “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” that at times he was a “Trouble Man”, but you “Gotta Give It Up” to a brother for having so much “Pride and Joy.” Marvin oozed sensuality. I could picture him whispering in a young lady’s ear,”You’re All I Need to Get By” and “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” I would, for “Your Precious Love”. Because “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”. Man, “That’s The Way Love Is” and should be, “I’ll Be Doggone”. If you think about it, “It Ain’t That Peculiar”. And I could see Marvin telling that young lady “Let’s Get It On” and come get some of this “Sexual Healing”. And she’s just so smitten that all she can say is “Mercy, Mercy Me”.

Happy birthday, Marvin, “You Are Everything”.

Albums that reached the Top 10 on U.S. pop albums chart/ UK pop albums chart.

* 1971: What’s Going On (U.S. #6)
* 1973: Let’s Get It On (U.S. #2)
* 1973: Diana & Marvin (w/Diana Ross) (UK #6)
* 1974: Marvin Gaye Live! (U.S. #8)
* 1976: I Want You (U.S. #4)
* 1977: Live at the London Palladium (U.S. #3)
* 1982: Midnight Love (U.S. #7; UK #10)
* 1994: The Very Best of Marvin Gaye (UK #3)
* 2000: Marvin Gaye Love Songs (UK #8)

“DISTANT LOVER” (SOUL TRAIN LIVE, 1980s)

“WHAT’S GOING ON” (LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM ‘SAVE THE CHILDREN’ FILM, 1973)

“INNER CITY BLUES (MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER)” (1971)

“SEXUAL HEALING” (1982)

SYL JOHNSON – "IS IT BECAUSE I’M BLACK?"

Listen closely…

Syl Johnson is a Blues and Soul singer responsible for such cuts as “Is It Because I’m Black?”, “Different Strokes” and “Come On Sock It To Me”. Different Strokes is a heavily sampled track in Hip-Hop, sampled by such artists as Wu-Tang Clan, Kool G Rap, Hammer, and the Geto Boys.

He is also the father of R&B songstress Syleena Johnson.