The Whole Delivery

On Large Professor’s beat, it was his debut single of his career for the 92 movie Zebrahead. And fittingly enough, it was wisely placed in the middle of Illmatic. And it worked out perfectly with the flow in arguably the best crafted song of his first album in terms of harmony with Large Professor production. “These are the lyrics of a man, you can’t near it understand/Cause in the streets, I’m well known like the number man/“ It’s of course “Halftime”, Track 5 on Illmatic.

Yes ladies and gentlemen. It is the 10 year anniversary of a song that truly did change the world at the time. Back in 2007 at the time, a 16-year old named DeAndre Way from Atlanta came on the screen and, with his own beat made on Fruit Loops Studio, produced a tone that would later pave the way to international success and recognition for him. Way would go by the name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, and the rest is history. "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)" was the dance craze that took over 2007 and has etched itself as one of the most memorable dance song hits of modern times. Of course as we all know, Soulja Boy failed to replicate the highs of his first single at such a precocious age, but has continued to put out some decent tunes from here and there on the hip-hop level. And even though he spends his time more as a Love and Hip-Hop reality star, at just 26, there is still time for Soulja to still regain some prominent shine. So, in a special edition of The Flashback Frida...

Years before "The Voice", "Happy" and "Despicable Me" fame, but in the middle of becoming his own standout from Chad Hugo, Pharrell was firmly in the center of the hip-hop game with his own quality. Take it back a decade ago with his forever kindred spirit friend Gwen Stefani providing the simple, appropriate torn in chorus. It's of course "Can I Have It Like That" from a decade ago at this time. More from The Whole Delivery. Stay tuned. 

Right in time for Mother's Day, and with Afeni Shakur gone up above with her son this week, a fitting Flashback Friday is in store for 2Pac's "Dear Mama" from 1995. Truly fitting and deserving of this honor. More to come at The Whole Delivery, stay tuned. 

Take it back to 15 Spring seasons ago, back in 2001, where So So Def's ATL group was in its prime. After "Let's Get Married," Jermaine Dupri's 4-man unit equaled its friendly rivals 112 at the time with top single after top single in the black music world.  With Nelly emerging at the same time, it was the right combination for a hit that still goes strong in 2016. So, your first Flashback Friday of the day, it's Jagged Edge feat Nelly with "Where The Party At?" More from The Whole Delivery in a bit, stay tuned. 

A song fitting for this April Fool's Day that is specifically on a Friday, since it rarely happens, is this legendary horrible classic that will remain with us forever. 5 years ago, one Rebecca Black both blessed and cursed us all with a song now approaching 100 million Youtube views. Our Fridays have never been the same since "Friday" dropped. And it is, fittingly, your April Fools Flashback Friday choice, since its foolishness represents this whole day. The Whole Delivery, delivered for you. 

In honor of his last All-Star Weekend and game as a player, take it back to Kobe's first All-Star Weekend and game back in 1998 in Manhattan, and the time he thought that he would be a legend both in basketball AND music. It's the only public music performance for him (and Tyra Banks), and how laugh out loud funny and bad it still is 'til today. Again, from 1998, it's Kobe, with Tyra, with "K.O.B.E." More to come from The Whole Delivery. Stay tuned.

Instead of how bad the new song she has out is, flashback to when Missy was at her true peak with flow and Timbaland beat selection. It's the classic from 14 years ago after the success of the "Miss E...SO Addictive" album.... From "Under Construction," it's lead single "Work It" from 2002 by one Missy Elliott. More to come at The Whole Delivery today, stay tuned. 

The Flashback Fridays for 2016 really gets into high gear on the third Friday of the new year. It's the debut single a decade ago that put Ne-Yo on the journey from talented behind the scenes songwriter to platinum star artist. With the fine production effort of the Neff-U, Rob Feemstar, giving the instrumental, it's the artist Shaffer Smith with Peddi Crakk with "Stay." More to come from The Whole Delivery, stay tuned. 

Based off her rousing performance in the fine live remake of The Wiz on NBC, TWD celebrates its first Flashback Friday selection of December 2015 with one Mary J.Blige. The wicked witch was superb in her role Thursday evening, and provided all the elements that showed why Ms. 411 is always as real as they come. Taking it back to her 2001 "revival," it's the smooth joint that lead to a Jadakiss and Fabolous remix and another in the sound production archives of Dr. Dre. It's "Family Affair," as the Flashback Fridays return. And there will be another Flashback Friday selection coming soon. 

Before major label troubles that showcased how she was certainly the opposite of a soft, cookie cutter pop princess some wanted to carve her into, Jojo really appeared to be someone who would have the status that Taylor Swift occupies now. Back in 2004, "Leave (Get Out)" was a powerful enough beginning for her, with this video retired on MTV's TRL thanks to the quality production of Danish R&B/soul producers Soulshock & Karlin. It reached #12 on the Billboard 100 and was a force across the world, especially Down Under in Australia and New Zealand. Though Jojo now hates how this song and the rest of her first album sounded, she's still appreciates it enough due to it being her start in the game. And though she has never built on that early promise thanks to the aforementioned label struggles, along with the occasional difficulties for many childhood stars to keep their illumination going into their young adulthood, Jojo is certainly not giving up hope ...

After today's first Flashback Friday selection , we keep it 2000 related with the legend Janet Jackson's effort from the Nutty Professor 2 soundtrack. It's the enjoyable and fun "Doesn't Really Matter."  This really was a quality music video.  More to come at TWD. 

One of the truly great songs of not only a magical and timeless 2000, but really ever, with a video that perfectly matches it. It's Common serenading his then wifey at the time in Erykah Badu with the special song that is "The Light," from 15 years ago. It's the first of several flashbacks today on Flashback Friday. More to come in a bit. 

Now because of "The Minions" in Despicable Me 2, this song got a hilarious second wave. But what makes this hit from 20 years ago even more funny is the fact that honestly, no one from this 4 person group is known by anyone individually. Like, none of them have their own Wikipedia page. Yet, they have sold so many records just on this main hit, especially over in Asia. And the even funnier thing was, "I Swear" wasn't even their song. It was a cover of a popular country music song from a John Montgomery that dropped a year before in 1994. The Flashback Friday of this week, it's the still largely mysterious group that is All 4-One with, one of the all time weirdest videos and most endearing songs ever, in "I Swear."

And just like his former flame , this clown came out in 2005 before he became a clown, and was just destined to be massive. He did become massive, not as we all know, in both the good and really bad ways that still persist today. With Juelz Santana and Scott Storch producing (talk about two careers that have hit a downward spiral), it's Chris Brown with his classic debut, "Run It." More to come from The Whole Delivery later today. 

10 summers ago, T-Pain came out in the game with Akon backing him with this 2005 late summer classic, and the rest is history. It's T-Pain's "I'm Sprung", as the Flashback Fridays return to entertain you on your late summer journey. The Flashback Fridays will continue later on, as will the rest of The Whole Delivery. 

After Meek Nil's awful (first) diss back at Aubrey, here is a "diss" that was already made actually less atrocious with how embarrassing Tweet Mill's was. It's Common's largely forgettable 2011 song that had the middle of the first and second verse aimed at Drake during their Serena Williams love triangle. "All that La La, you ain't no motherf--king Frank Sinatra." More to come from The Whole Delivery today.  

It's been 10 years in the game for Virginia's top two R&B duo. First it was Trey Songz, who came to the game in a different state than the psuedo-R.Kelly state he currently is now. From a decade ago in May 2005, it's his refreshing, earnest and deep to the soul debut single/song that made you think he wouldn't go all the way in on his freak, sex song routes he's fully gone in on now. And asking the question, "All I got is a dolla and a dream, will you roll with me?" is a powerful one that tests one's real love from day one. From 2005, it's Trey Songz's first release with Twista right there, it's "Just Gotta Make It." More to come at The Whole Delivery on TWD Fridays.

It's been a rocky road of late for Avril Lavigne, where public disputes with her love life, ups and downs with her music career, and now battling lyme disease have been the story for the still young Canadian rocker. But the 30-year-old still has so many fans with her "regular girl" style and persona, and it is why she has been an unquestioned major success. So take it back to where it all started for her. It's 2002 around this time, and it is "Complicated," the breakthrough single for Lavigne to prominence. Enjoy your first Flashback of the day. More to come at TWD, stay tune. 

Just because it's the first day of May for 2015, it's only fitting that this is the Flashback Friday main choice this week, just on the line, "It's Gonna Be May," I mean, "It's Gonna Be Me." Before Timberlake dropped the group for his own selfish ambitious being the sometimes douche he can be, they still were the most accomplished boy band ever for a reason, and it's quality like this. "It's Gonna Be May", or I mean, "It's Gonna Be Me" from JC Chavez & company from 15 years ago in the year 2000, part of that massive "No Strings Attached" second album.. More to come from The Whole Delivery, in Las Vegas, later.