1997-2002

Episode 172: A(n almost) Tribute to Things Fall Apart by The Roots

The 80z Babies pay tribute (mostly) to The Roots' classic fourth studio album entitled Things Fall Apart released February 23, 1999.
 
Timestamps:
(0:22) Why doesn't this album excite Yinka?(1:15) Why aren't Be and Stillmatic albums worthy of tributes?(4:27) A brief mention of Jay Z's Unplugged(6:03) Is Black Through transcendent on this album?(9:45) Where was Yinka?(11:10) Where was Outlaw?(13:30) Did Things Fall Apart become a part of Outlaw's identity?(14:25) Critical reception(16:45) Overarching lowlights(21:21) Common's a pervert(25:38) Overarching highlights(37:03) Track for track analysis(1:10:50) Yinka attempts to make it a classic(1:18:20) Closing thoughts

Episode 170: Top 5 - Hiphop Record Labels

The 80z Babies discuss the Top 5 hiphop record labels of all time.

Episode 169: A Tribute to Instant Vintage by Raphael Saadiq

The 80z Babies are joined by special guest Haas to discuss the debut solo album from the legendary Raphael Saadiq - Instant Vintage released June 11, 2002.
 
Timestamps:
(1:30) Where was Yinka?(3:38) Where was Jaz?(4:06) Where was Outlaw?(6:14) Is Saadiq being extra with "Instant Vintage" and "Gospel-Delic"? Is he a neo soul artist?(7:48) Critical reception(9:14) How weird is Saadiq? Does he still have his mystique?(11:37) Overarching highlights(15:47) We need more projects helmed by bassists(17:35) Overarching lowlights. Is the songwriting suspect?(25:06) Track for track analysis(25:21) Is "Doing What I Can" one of the strongest basslines and intros ever? Yinka's 'Highlight of Highlights'(28:44) The team pokes fun at the "Body Parts" lyrics(31:29) D'Angelo's participation wasn't always reliable(34:57) Jaz' 'Highlight of Highlights'(35:35) The tuba is such a striking choice for "Still Ray"(50:45) Lyrically, is Saadiq's "love" and "i miss you" bag better than his "sex" bag?(53:42) Is "Faithful" a fuck boy anthem?(55:53) Outlaw's 'Highlight of Highlights'(1:10:30) Closing thoughts
 

Episode 166: A(n almost) Tribute to Stillmatic by Nas

The 80z Babies cover the fifth studio album from Queensbridge legend Nas.
 
Timestamps:
(0:18) Is this album Tribute worthy?(1:18) Is this album inextricably linked to Blueprint?(2:03) Is this Nas' Makaveli? It's centered around a diss track, and addresses his haters(4:35) Critical Reception. The Source is the only major publication to give it a stellar rating(6:35) Outlaw is disappointed in Nas' catalog(9:26) Is Nas one of the most frustrating Hip Hop artists ever?(13:10) Where was Yinka?(18:45) Where was Outlaw?(20:35) When did 'ether' become a verb?(26:00) Outlaw calls bullshit on the 5 mic rating from The Source. Yinka recaps the How 97 vs Power 105 beef. Why was Nas flirting with Murder INC?(28:35) Outlaw and Yinka unpack their love/hate relationships with both Nas and Jay Z(31:01) Overarching highlights(34:32) Overarching lowlights(35:22) Is '2nd Childhood' Premier's worst beat?(37:43) Track for track analysis(39:15) Exploring Benzino's relationship with Nas(1:03:10) Outlaw makes it a classic

Episode 164: A Tribute to Velvet Rope by Janet Jackson

The 80z Babies are joined by Haas to discuss the 25 year anniversary of Velvet Rope by Janet Jackson.
Timestamps:
(0:47) Is this a "woman empowerment" album? What does a "woman empowerment" album feel like?
(5:04) Where was Jaz?
(11:09) Where was Yinka?
(16:15) Where was Outlaw?
(19:25) Critical reception
(34:33) Overarching highlights
(36:40) Is Velvet Rope the crown jewel of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' production catalog?
(43:06) Overarching lowlights
(47:14) Track for track analysis
(50:35) Did Janet make any money from Got 'Til It's Gone?
(1:20:47) Obligatory Madonna rant

Episode 160: A Tribute to The Fix by Scarface

The 80z Babies pay tribute to The Fix which is the seventh studio album from the legendary Scarface.
 
Time Stamps:
(0:38) We're finally doing a Scarface episode. Why the long wait?
(3:40) Where was Outlaw? Is Scarface big in Chocolate City DC?
(7:12) Where was Yinka? Is "My Block" Scarface's most representative song of what the artist is about?
(10:00) Critical reception. Was this album catered to an East Coast audience? How did his traditional fans receive the album? Did Scarface sellout with this record?
(13:15) Why was Scarface on Def Jam South?
(16:40) Overarching highlights
(20:57) Overarching lowlights. Is Scarface better in tandem? Is The Fix too accessible to New York listeners?
(26:40) Track for track analysis
(27:00) Is that Scarface singing on the intro!?!?!
(28:08) Does Scarface grow tiresome on "Safe", or is it one of the best songs on the album?
(32:38) Is "In Cold Blood" the start of the strongest run on the album?
(33:51) Talk to me, man. Is "Guess Who's Back" a perfect song? Is Beanie Sigel's verse a necessary inclusion on this song? Does Outlaw even like Beans?
(37:04) Is "My Block" universally relatable?
(40:04) Is "Keep Me Down" the thematic start to the album?
(42:47) Is Scarface too dramatic on "What Can I Do?" Should Pimp C be on this track?
(44:57) Does Nas outshine Scarface on "In Between Us"?
(48:15) Why does Outlaw hate "Someday"? Did Scarface phone it in on this song?
(51:00) Is Scarface just talking shit on "Sellout"? Is Outlaw a square? Does any other rapper keep track of their win/loss record in fights?
(53:42) Why did Scarface add the T-Mix production to "Heaven"?
(56:30) Is "I Ain't the One" WC's worst verse? Does Scarface's last verse do a good job wrapping up the album?
(59:45) Closing thoughts. Should we do more tributes for Scarface?

Episode 157: A Tribute to 60 Minutes of Funk Vol. 3 by Funkmaster Flex

The 80z Babies pay tribute to Funkmaster Flex's 60 Minutes of Funk Vol. 3.
 
Timestamps:
(0:30) Why this Funk Flex project?
(2:53) Where was Yinka?
(5:30) Where was Outlaw?
(10:53) Is Vol 3 Funk Flex's best mixtape?
(12:02) Critical Reception
(14:52) Overarching Lowlights
(18:44) Overarching Highlights
(20:27) Track for track analysis
(21:36) Do we need to have a discussion about Wylcef as an executive producer?
(24:20) Was Cam'ron great before Dipset?
(25:36) West Coast artist over East Coast beats vs East Coast over West Coast beats, who's better?
(26:27) Does any other verse embody KRS-One like this freestyle? Is it the only actual freestyle on the mixtape?
(29:42) Was Busta Rhymes a good executive producer? How did Rampage get on the 'Flava in ya Ear remix'?
(37:40) Did Smif n Wesson fall off when they changed to Cocoa Brovaz?
(38:38) Do we appreciate Mariah Carey's artistry enough? What was the inspiration for this hook?
(43:10) Is "Get Money" Biggie's best verse?
(54:27) Who is DJ Pooh? Who is Kam? Was Kam responsible for the W?
(1:03:15) Is Shaq the best ballplayer/rapper of all time?
(1:05:10) What artists did this mixtape introduce you to? How did it inform what kind of rapper you wanted to be?
(1:06:30) Is 1998 peak KRS-One as an emcee?
(1:08:35) Why wasn't Eminem on this project?
(1:09:08) Closing thoughts

Episode 156: A Tribute to Da Real World by Missy Elliott

The 80z Babies pay tribute to "Da Real World", the sophomore album by legendary VA emcee/producer Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott released June 22nd, 1999.
 
Timestamps:
(0:30) Why this Missy Elliott album?
(1:38) How were you introduced to new artists?
(3:00) Thoughts on Timbaland & Magoo debut album
(5:15) Where was Yinka?
(9:43) Where was Outlaw?
(11:11) Critical Reception? Was the 'battle of the sexes' theme overdone?
(12:23) Outlaw puts his foot in his mouth
(15:11) Which is Missy's best album from the first three?
(21:52) Does Missy get enough credit as a producer?
(22:43) Overarching lowlights
(24:45) Overarching highlights
(28:22) Track for track analysis
(30:45) Was Eminem the first incel rapper?
(35:18) Could Eminem and Timbaland done a project together?
(35:37) "All N My Grill"
(37:10) Is "Dangerous Mouths" Missy's best verse on the album?
(38:54) Why wasn't the "Hot Boyz remix" on the album? Why aren't the Hot Boyz on either version? Was the battle of the sexes theme played out in the 90s?
(41:28) Did we need "You Don't Know" given that the "The Boy Is Mine" was released the prior year? The song highlights a double standard between the sexes. What was it that Missy was actually trying to say regarding the sexes? Her themes felt inconsistent
(45:22) Timbaland created his own vibe with Caribbean artists
(46:08) Was Lil Kim's inclusion on the record necessary? Has her featured appearance aged well?
(53:13) "She's a Bitch"
(56:55) Did Beyonce outperform Missy Elliott on "Crazy Feelings"?
(58:35) Outlaw attempts to briefly Make It a Classic
(1:01:30) Yinka attempts to briefly Make It a Classic
(1:02:52) Closing thoughts
 
Socials:
80z Babies: @the80zbabies
Yinka Diz: @YinkaDiz
Outlaw: @outlawbebe

Episode 155: Make it a Classic - Ghetto Fabolous

Fan Sourced:  As requested, the 80z Babies tackle the debut album from Brooklyn emcee Fabolous entitled Ghetto Fabolous, released September 11, 2001.  
Timestamps:
(0:42) Why this Fabolous album to Make a Classic?
(1:35) Remembering the William Holla family
(3:09) Does Fabolous have a classic album in his catalog? Is he a better mixtape artist?
(4:45) Where was Yinka?
(5:10) DJ Clue introduces Fabolous Sport. Origins of the name 'Fabolous'
(7:37) Remembering 106th & Park's Freestyle Fridays
(10:53) Where was Outlaw? His thoughts on DJ Clue
(11:58) DJ Clue vs Funkmaster Flex
(13:53) Superwoman remix with Lil' Mo
(15:00) Ghetto Fabolous vs Blueprint
(17:15) Who started the trend of the throwback jerseys and fitted hats?
(21:52) Critical Reception
(22:18) Did we anticipate Fabolous albums?
(24:09) Overarching Highlights
(24:40) Did Fabolous force his rhymes? Were the MA$E comparisons fair? What was Fabolous' image?
(28:28) Overarching Lowlights
(29:49) Does an album need to have themes to be great? Does Fabolous have any substance?
(32:25) Track for track analysis
(34:47) Remembering the Harlem Shake (Holla back, young'n)
(37:10) Outlaws recalls how he first learned to Shake
(42:45) Who is Fabolous? Does anybody actually know anything about him?
(47:00) Is Timbaland given his proper flowers? Timbaland vs Pharrell
(50:33) Fabolous vs Ludacris? Can you take either seriously? Did Fabolous ever see himself as having a rap career? Would Fabolous have been more successful today?
(53:15) East coast artists on West coast beats vs West coast artists on East coast beats
(58:54) Is Fabolous believable as a 'bad guy'?
(1:03:11) Yinka attempts to Make it a Classic
(1:14:55) Closing thoughts
 
Socials:
80z Babies: @the80zbabies
Yinka Diz: @YinkaDiz
Outlaw: @outlawbebe

Episode 152: A Tribute to Train of Thought by Reflection Eternal

The 80z Babies pay tribute to Train of Thought by Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi Tek) released October 17, 2000 on Rawkus Records.
 
Timestamps:
(1:15) Initial thoughts on the album. Does it even warrant discussion?
(2:43) Where was Yinka?
(3:15) Where was Outlaw?
(4:30) Was Yinka ever a fan of Talib Kweli? Why does this album not matter?
(7:26) Why does this album matter?
(9:21) How does Outlaw really feel about Talib Kweli? Is he a top Hip Hop talent?
(12:20) What kind of rapper was Outlaw when he was younger? What kind of rapper is/was Talib Kweli? What kind of rapper was Yinka when he was younger?
(15:42) Was Talib Kweli ever a star?
(17:15) Critical reception
(19:13) Overarching highlights
(22:10) What is conscious Hip Hop?
(23:57) Overarching lowlights. Does Talib Kweli understand time signature?
(26:18) Track for track analysis.
(1:04:10) Closing thoughts.
 
Socials:
80z Babies: @the80zbabies
Yinka Diz: @YinkaDiz
Outlaw: @outlawbebe

Episode 148: A Tribute to Like Water For Chocolate by Common

The 80z Babies continue their Soulquarian run of albums with a tribute discussion of Common's Like Water for Chocolate released March 28, 2000.
 
80z Babies: @the80zbabies
Yinka Diz: @YinkaDiz
Outlaw: @outlawbebe

Episode 147: Speak On It! - jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy

The 80z Babies discuss the 2022 documentary film about the life of Kanye West entitled jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy directed by Coodie & Chike.
 
80z Babies: @the80zbabies
Yinka Diz: @YinkaDiz
Outlaw: @outlawbebe