The good thing about actual singles was that it was possible to keep track of b-sides and such. These mp3 folders are far too confusing for old folks, so I’ve been told.
EPMD – “Brothers From Brentwood, L.I.”
Sermon’s rapping fell off seriously after the third album, but this beat and Greg Nice hook can’t be denied.
Boogie Down Productions – “Feel The Vibe, Feel The Beat”
Another Kenny Parker sure-shot, with KRS in fine voice.
Zhigge – “Riddles That Rap, Riddles That Rhyme”
Pause for having a member named Prancer. Sure, they were originally a dance crew, but still…
Shyheim The Rugged Child – “The B Side “Licka Shot””
RNS was no joke for the beats he gave Shyheim and the UMC’s.
The Legion feat. Droopy Dog – “Freestyle Demolition”
Everything about this is genius, especially the feedback from the mics at the start.
Black Sheep – “Still In The Ghetto”
Street Fighter rapps.
Grand Puba – “Mind Ya Business”
The Grand Man addresses the Brand Nubian fall-out. Their first album without him was so much stronger than his solo that it’s almost embaressing.
KMD – “Plumbskinzz”
Poor old Onyx The Birthstone Kid. Having already suffered the anguish of having Sticky Fingaz and his pals use his name and getting kicked out of KMD, he then had his verse removed from this companion piece to “Peachfuzz,” which flipped that Bobby Humphrey loop so much nicer than Rakim soon afterwards.
Pete Rock & CL Smooth – “It’s Not A Game”
A snare sharp enough to take your eye out.
Das-EFX – “Hard Like A Criminal”
For the brief period that I managed to endure the vocal gimmickry of this period, I rather enjoyed this piece of non-LP goodness.
Why, after all these years, is there no uncensored version of ‘Hard Lika Criminal’? Wtf?
That Shyheim joint is a classic. Id vote for Sha B’s Some Ol Sha-B shit for the B Side wins again…
Th Hit Squad B-sides were better than most of the album cuts. The only storytelling track on the Das Efx album was “looseys”
A few other B-sides come to mind:
Heavy D “you Can’t see What I can See” the B-side to Don’t Curse. Not a big Heavy D fan but that single was the perfect 1-2 punch.
Del “Eye Examination” (the b-side to Dr. Bombay) I think he had other early b-side exclusives too but this one sticks out.
“La Famillia” the b-side to Foxy & Jay-Z’s “I’ll Be single is an early dope Firm song that never made the group or Foxy’s album.
A number of solid but not amazing Gang Starr b-sides that eventually were released on their greatest hits album.
This is what life is all about! Bros from Brentwood could be the best B side ever, but Still in the Ghetto comes close. Credit is Due by Gang Starr, You can’t front by the great Diamond D, Go where I send thee by Master Ace are all brilliant too. I remember a couple of decades ago having great expectations for a second or third single from an album, as you were almost guaranteed to get an extra cut. Bollocks to those mp3s.
Uncensored version of “Hard Like A Criminal” is on the promo 12inch to my knowledge?!
I got the Hard Like a Criminal cd single, uncensored.
The Legion “Freestyle Demolition” all time favorite hardest of the hard and all the better for it, let them sleep on this no more. So good to see track recognized. Respect Rob.
You know that! shout Chris Ward for the ‘Go Where I Send Thee’ & ‘Credit Is Due’ choices.
the first wave of Hieroglyphics and Boot Camp Clik 12″s all had killer B-Sides
PUBLIC ENEMY best Rebel without a pause!!!
Aw man wrong decade. I’m zoning…
I always had to rewind that Das Efx joint on a Stretch Armstrong 89.9 mix Tape I had back in the day. Nice B side selection, Robbie.
“Go Where I Send Thee” is pretty phenomenal. Doesn’t get nearly enough love as it should.
Black Moon’s “Murder MC’s” anyone?
Hip hop vs rap is the first stand out b side that comes to mind related to the 90s
Rampage outta control featuring melle mel kool keith godfather don from the open season single 93
Word to Hip Hop Vs Rap!!!!!
Diamond D You Cant Front
All the joints from the Love Comes and Goes 12′ ep or whatever it was, shit was outstanding
Thanks P. Pork by the Pharcyde was a surprise to my ears, same for If the Papes come by ATCQ. How about remixes that have new lyrics – do these technically count as a new cut? Choice is yours and Born to Roll could be the best examples of these.
The Roots had some classic B-Sides during the Do You Want More?!!!??! era…same as Tribe Called Quest…”Scenario Remix” & We Got The Jazz (remix)!
Anotha Level – Doubt We Ever Quit
Casual – Rock On (Featuring Pep Love)
De La Soul – Who’s Skatin’ Promo
Digable Planets – Dedicated
The Pharcyde – Just Don’t Matter
Brothers From Brentwood is probably my favourite b side only track but The ? Remains comes a close second. Others are appropriately PE’s B Side Wins Again and children go where I send thee. I’m sure there’s a few de la ones as well as there 12s always had some extra shit on em.
“DWYCK” originally a b-sice and later put on “Hard To Earn” album is one of my favorites by Gang Starr
“Reality (Killin Every…) by Black Moon comes to mind
Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya?”
Yes…RNS had crazy beats,,,shyheim had crazy b sides that was is ill…good post we need a sequel..
I’ve been meaning to do an all vinyl 2 or 3 hour special like this on my radio show. One of my favorites… Kurious feat. Mike G of Jungle Brothers & Sadat X – Mansion And A Yacht (Prod. by The Groove Merchantz).
Btw, is this about b-side non-album joints? I only ask cuz some people are listing remixes. Even though shit like “Jazz (We’ve Got) (Remix)” and “Scenario (Remix)” were totally new joints, their still titled remixes. And how does someone pick Black Sheep “The Choice Is Yours (Revisted)”??? haha
Another favorite of mine… A Tribe Called Quest feat. Busta Rhymes – One, Two Shit
a tribe called quest: if the papes come (one, two shit honorable mention)
redman: i get down like that
public enemy: mao tse tung (shoulda been on that messy mess age lp)
paris: lights, camera revolution
ol’ dirty bastard: give it to ya raw
masta ace: go where i send thee
krs-one: hip hop vs rap
intelligent hoodlum: live & direct from the house of hits
ice cube: my skin is my sin
gang starr: the ? remainz (credit is due came close tho)
epmd: brothers from brentwood L.I. (defines the b-side)
dr. dre: puffin’ on blunts & drinkin’ tanqueray
diamond d: you can’t front
del the funky homosapien: eye examination (burnt & undisputed champs are great picks too)
de la soul: lovely how i let my mind float (that ego trippin pt2 single is de la’s best hands down)
das efx: hard like a criminal
boogie down productions: feel the vibe, feel the beat (krs just killed this, shoulda been on sex & violence)
black sheep: still in the ghetto
black moon: murder mc’s/reality (just put both)
beastie boys: dope little song
So many dope b-sides back in the day. Reality by Black Moon and The ? Remainz are two of my personal favorites.
Speaking of RNS, what the eff happened to that dude??? He had ill beats!!
Word to 357NYC for mentioning those Ed O.G b-sides! “As Long As You Know” with Scientifik and produced by the RZA is INSANELY overlooked. Classic shit!
And yeah, “If The Papes Come,” “1, 2 Shit,” “The ? Remainz,” “DWYCK,” “Credit Is Due,” “Who Shot Ya?,” “Eye Examination,” “Burnt,” “Undisputed Champs,” “Hip-Hop Vs Rap,” “Lovely How I Let My Mind Float,” “Puffin’ On Blunts…,” and “You Can’t Front”….all CLASSIC.
What about “Promo No. 2” by the JB’s and Tip? “Hemmin’ Headz” by Mic Geronimo?
Always dug the Artifacts’ Who I Am joint (b-side to Dynamite Soul)
OH SHIT!! I forgot one of my absolute all-time favorites: Mad Skillz – “Skillz In ’95”
Skillz In ’95…Large Pro bodied that track. Yall pretty much covered all the bases. Here’s a PE joint that slipped through the cracks: “Get The Fuck Outta Dodge.” Only thing about all of PE’s B-Sides, they always put them on the following albums. Still mad about that BS mix of B-Side Wins Again that ended up on Fear Of A Black Planet.
Shyheim “bring the drama” with GP Wu was a crazy b side. Props on the list and all the gems heads are dropping in the comments.
On Sunday March 1, I finally did a 2+ hour B-Side Non-Album Tracks special on my radio show…
Listen/DL: http://www.hulkshare.com/wicked22/the-wicked-takeover-on-mhz-03-01-2015
Alternate Listen/DL: http://www.audiomack.com/song/wicked22/the-wicked-takeover-on-mhz-03012015-90s-b-side-non-album-tracks-1
Playlist: http://i.imgur.com/W7G4Kio.jpg
jungle Brothers- Promo No. 2 / B-Side of What u waitin 4. First Single from Done by the forces of nature