Minnesota's Greatest Hip-Hop and R&B Hits
Mint Condition members Ricky Kinchen, Jeffrey Allen, Stokley Williams, Lawrence Waddell, and Homer O'Dell photographed by Daniel Corrigan in 2005, for this article in City Pages.
In addition to Minnesota's Fifty Greatest Hits in today's City Pages, here are eight more Twin Cities funk/R&B classics not recorded by Prince:
Minnesoda
"When's My Season"
from Minnesoda, Capitol Records, 1972
The Jets
"Crush On You"
from The Jets, MCA, 1986
Mint Condition
"Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)"
from Meant to Be Mint, Prospective Records, 1991
The Sensational Joint Chiefs
"Little Sunflower"
from Lost Stepchild, Groove Garden/Firetrunk, 1998
Vanguard
"Good God"
from Play, TVP Records, 1998
Next
"Wifey"
from Welcome II Nextasy, Arista, 2000
Willie Walker & the Butanes
"I Feel It"
from Right Where I Belong, One On One Records, 2004
Mint Condition
"Luxury Brown"
from Livin' the Luxury Brown, Image/Cagedbird Records, 2005
Minnesota Hip-Hop Mix
1988 I.R.M. Crew promotional poster courtesy of Charles Lockhart
Including the 13 listed in today's Minnesota's Fifty Greatest Hits, here are 35 recommended tracks for a Minnesota rap mix. Post your own choices at this thread on D.U. Nation, or at this article reaction thread, or email your favorites to me at pscholtes [at] citypages [dot] com and I'll post them here.
The Twin City Rappers
"The Twin City Rapp"
Twin Town Records, 1985
The I.R.M. Crew
"Baseball"
Cchill/K-tel, 1987
Soul Purpose
"Soul Purpose"
Wide Angle Urban, 1989
Somethin Smooth
"U Ain't Fat"
from Constipated Notions, Dynamic Records, 1993
Phull Surkle and Casino Royale
"I'm Just a B-Boy"
unreleased track recorded in Studio K at Radio K, 1995
Abstract Pack
"Busy Like We"
from Bousta Set It (For the Record), self-released, 1998
Dead End
"My Deeds Is Done"
G.B. Records CD single, 1998
Atmosphere (featuring Eyedea)
"The Abusing of the Rib"
from Stuck on AM 2: Live Performances on 770 Radio K, No Alternative/770 Radio K, 1999
Unicus and Muad'Dib
"Phone Sex"
Interlock Volume 1, Interlock, 1999
Lil Buddy
"What's the Happs"
from We Rocked the World!, Red White Blue, 1999
The Sure Shot Brothers
"D.W.B."
from Mental Madness Presents the Sure Shot Brothers, Mental Madness, 2000
Raw Villa
"Money First"
from Rebellion EP, Black Corners, 2000
Micranots
"Pitch Black Ark"
from Obelisk Movements, Sub Verse, 2000
Unknown Prophets (featuring Slug)
"Never"
from World Premier, self-released, 2000
Musab
"Guard Your Harem"
from Actin' Rich 12-inch, Rhymesayers, 2000
Kanser
"Heard It From Here"
from Inner City Outer Space, Interlock, 2000
Hot Skeems
"Lost In the Land of the Lakes"
from Twin Town Music Yearbook Vol. 3, 1999-2000, City Pages, 2000
Cenospecies
"Hip Hop"
from Indefinition, Peak Records, 2001
Young & Da Restless
"Imma Speak Now"
from The Motion Picture, Stray Records, 2001
S.U.S.P.E.C.T.S.
"Sunset @ Lowry Park"
from Delusions of Grandeur, Souls of Life, 2001
The C.O.R.E.
"New Thoughts"
3rd Eye Entertainment, 2001
Heiruspecs
"Meters"
from Small Steps, Interlock, 2002
The Many Faces of Oliver Hart (featuring Carnage)
"Prelude to Coaches"/"Coaches"
from How Eye One the Write Too Think, Rhymesayers, 2002
Kardel
"She's Just My Friend"
from Daily Journal, self-released, 2002
Brother Ali
"Forest Whitiker"
from Shadows on the Sun, Rhymesayers, 2003
Los Nativos
"Con Tivos"
from Dia De Los Muertos, Rhymesayers, 2003
Nena Brown
"I Hustle"
from The Beginning of the End, Heat Rocc, 2004
Contac (featuring Diamonique)
"Jangalang Jangalang"
from Eeyeaya, Lazyeye Entertainment/Wild Side Records, 2004
P.O.S.
"Music For Shoplifting"
from Ipecac Neat, Doomtree/Rhymesayers, 2004
Eyedea and Abilities
"Exhausted Love"
from E&A, Epitaph/Rhymesayers, 2004
Set the Smith
"They Don't Know"
from The Example Part One, Chill Records, 2004
EPL & Snakebird (featuring Big Quarters)
"Nightstick"
from Songs, Big Quarters, 2004
Mad Son (featuring Big Jess)
"Keep On"
from Peace Amongst the Madness, N.E. Time Entertainment, 2004
Kill the Vultures
"The Vultures"
From Kill the Vultures, JIB, 2005
Medida
"People"
Now That's What I Call Copyright Infringement! Volume One, self-released, 2005
About the cover model: April Lindner plays in the local band Bounce, who perform at the Breakaway Bar and Grill in Robbinsdale on Friday. They are apparently auditioning drummers, and here's a list of songs prospective percussionists should learn: "Brick House," "Beautiful People," "Hot in Herre," "Just a Girl," and "I'm With You."
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