It’s been a minute since Diplo dropped a purely hip-hop mix, but now, the Mad Decent head honcho has delivered two hours of the best “old skool” classics that should surely bring on some nostalgia. Instead of trying to track down some of his famous friends, the superstar decided to premiere the mix during a special solo episode of ‘Diplo & Friends’ on BBC Radio 1.
Diplo gives us a nice blend of all the best in hip-hop from the likes of Notorious B.I.G., 2pac, Nas, J Dilla, The Fugees and many more. It’s also worth noting that he did not forget to add some A Tribe Called Quest after the passing of the legendary Phife Dawg, as he dropped their 1993 single “Electric Relaxation”. For him to be able to bring in so many classics in just two hours shows Diplo’s talent as a DJ as well as his knowledge of hip-hop music. He may be popular right now as a result of his dance music productions, but it was hip-hop, and specifically old school hip-hop, where it all started for Diplo.
Diplo ‘Old Skool’ Hip-Hop Mix Tracklist
Madvillain – All Caps [Stones Throw] J Dilla – Body Movin’ (feat. J-Rocc & Karriem Riggins) [BBE] Fugees – Fu-Gee-La [Sony] The Notorious B.I.G. – Unbelievable [Bad Boy] Nas – Nas Is Like [COLUMBIA] Group Home – Supa Star [Payday] D.I.T.C. – Day One [Tommy Boy Records] Group Home – East NY Theory [Tape Kingz] Mental Giants – AK’s Groove [JAZZ CHILD] Cage – Radiohead [Fondle ‘Em] Mos Def – Universal Magnetic
Sacred Hoop – Bathtub Gin [The Hoop] D.I.T.C. – Internationally Known [D.I.T.C. Records] Mood – Karma [Blunt Recordings] Jigmastas – Beyond Real [Tommy Boy] Group Home – Livin’ Proof [Payday] Royal Flush – World Wide [Blunt Recordings] Mary J. Blige – Real Love (feat. The Notorious B.I.G.) [Uptown] Bigg Premiere – Everybody Bounce
Ice Cube – Check Yo Self [Priority] Method Man – Da Rockwilder [Def Jam] Chill Rob G – Court Is Now In Session [Wild Pitch Records] Digable Planets – Where I’m From [Pendulum] C. L. Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y) [Golden Age Hip Hop] Souls of Mischief – 93 ‘Til Infinity [Jive] EPMD – You Gots 2 Chill [Priority] Handsome Boy Modeling School – Holy Calamity (Bear Witness II) [Tommy Boy Records] Beastie Boys – Shake Your Rump [Capitol Records] Wu-Tang Clan – Sucker MC’s [Profile Records] Pimp C – Knocking Doors Down (Dave Luxe Old Schoolish Fix) (feat. Lil’ KeKe) [Free Download] Ahmad – Back In The Day [Giant] Teenage Nightclub – Fallin’ [Immortal] Camp Lo – Luchini AKA (This Is It) [Profile Records] Public Enemy – Shut Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)
AZ – Sugar Hill [EMI] André 3000 – Prototype [LaFace Records] Tyler, the Creator – She (feat. Frank Ocean) [XL] MF DOOM – Rock Co [AOI] Leikeli47 – Heard Em Say
iLoveMakonnen – Tuesday (feat. Drake) [OVO] Mr. Carmack – Rappers Rapping Rap
Quasimoto – Astronaut [Antidote] J Dilla – Won’t Do [BBE Records] Madvillain – All Caps [Stones Throw] J Dilla – Body Movin’ (feat. J-Rocc & Karriem Riggins) [BBE] Big L – Put It On [Sony] Fugees – Fu-Gee-La [Sony] East Flatbush Project – Unknown
The Notorious B.I.G. – Unbelievable [Bad Boy] Nas – Nas Is Like [COLUMBIA] Crooklyn Dodgers ’95 – Crooklyn [MCA] A Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation [JIVE] 2Pac – Do For Love (feat. Eric Williams) [JIVE] Jurassic 5 – Golden Ghostwriter
Group Home – Supa Star [Payday] D.I.T.C. – Day One [Tommy Boy Records] Street Smartz – Metal Thangz (feat. O.C.) [Tru Criminal Records] Royce da 5′9″ – Boom [Game Recordings] Peanut Butter Wolf – My World Premiere [Stones Throw] Group Home – East NY Theory [Tape Kingz] Mental Giants – AK’s Groove [JAZZ CHILD] Kool G Rap – Fast Life [Cold Chillin’] Cage – Radiohead [Fondle ‘Em] Mos Def – Universal Magnetic
The High & Mighty – B-Boy Document [Rawkus] Dizzee Rascal – Girls (feat. Marga Man)
Sacred Hoop – Bathtub Gin [The Hoop] D.I.T.C. – Internationally Known [D.I.T.C. Records] Mood – Karma [Blunt Recordings] Jigmastas – Beyond Real [Tommy Boy] Group Home – Livin’ Proof [Payday] Royal Flush – World Wide [Blunt Recordings] Mary J. Blige – Real Love (feat. The Notorious B.I.G.) [Uptown] Bigg Premiere – Everybody Bounce
EPMD – Crossover [Def Jam] Ice Cube – Check Yo Self [Priority] Cypress Hill – Hand On The Pump [Ruffhouse] Method Man – Da Rockwilder [Def Jam] Chill Rob G – Court Is Now In Session [Wild Pitch Records] Digable Planets – Where I’m From [Pendulum] C. L. Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y) [Golden Age Hip Hop] Souls of Mischief – 93 ‘Til Infinity [Jive] EPMD – You Gots 2 Chill [Priority] Handsome Boy Modeling School – Holy Calamity (feat. DJ Shadow & DJ Quest) [Tommy Boy] Handsome Boy Modeling School – Holy Calamity (Bear Witness II) [Tommy Boy Records] Beastie Boys – Shake Your Rump [Capitol Records] De La Soul – Ghetto Thang [Conscious] Freestyle Fellowship – Hot Potato [Project Blowed] Wu-Tang Clan – Sucker MC’s [Profile Records] Pimp C – Knocking Doors Down (Dave Luxe Old Schoolish Fix) (feat. Lil’ KeKe) [Free Download] Ahmad – Back In The Day [Giant] Teenage Nightclub – Fallin’ [Immortal] Camp Lo – Luchini AKA (This Is It) [Profile Records] Missy Elliott – Sock It 2 Me (Kaytranada Remix) [FREE DOWNLOAD] Public Enemy – Shut Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)
AZ – Sugar Hill [EMI] Mos Def – Travellin’ Man (Scenic Route Remix)
André 3000 – Prototype [LaFace Records] DJ Shadow – Six Days [MCA] Tyler, the Creator – She (feat. Frank Ocean) [XL] MF DOOM – Rock Co [AOI] Leikeli47 – Heard Em Say
iLoveMakonnen – Tuesday (feat. Drake) [OVO] Mr. Carmack – Rappers Rapping Rap
Quasimoto – Astronaut [Antidote] Ish Butterfly – Swing
J Dilla – Won’t Do [BBE Records]