The Whole Delivery

20 Year Anniversary of this emotion, lachrymose classic getting the deserved shine it requires. The underrated legend, before some weird last few years of wanting to be a "Bump-n-Grind" guy, has always had magical ability to produce a masterpieces like this. And the music video only made it even more bust of waterworks. The August 16 Flashback Friday. 

Hands down one of the greatest songs ever, genre for genre. And this is honestly their best song and music video for me, even over “All My Life.” The brilliance that Joel Hailey, Cedric Halley did on their own words and beat, along with Rory Bennett, just was perfect. Only Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle” prevented it from being #1 during this time 20 years ago. So with all that said, from their second album after the Jodeci days, it’s the still underrated, legendary duo that is K-Ci & JoJo with “Tell Me It’s Real.”

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.

It’s the special silver anniversary of one of music all-time debuts, from a Queensbridge savant that didn’t just include him, but also put some of QB’s finest collection of talent together ever in AZ & L.E.S, along with the rest of the city in Pete Rock, Large Professor & AZ producing. And after “The Genesis” intro with AZ & Fab 5 Freedy, sir Nasir Jones set the tone for this timeless classic celebrated on this Good Friday with a “New York State of Mind.”

Personally speaking, my #1 track of the 14 from this classic album. No matter the definite drama on if she did write all the lines, from singing throughout and her spittin' on verse 2, this was Lauryn Hill at her PEAK all throughout. And while "Doo Wop" took all the glory and "Ex-Factor" is in current day stories, this fully showed the quality she brought in 98. Every line, both sung or rapped, was tremendous in this one co-produced by Johari Newton. So, it's "Everything in Everything", as the celebration of Lauryn's 20-year classic continues.

While everyone over the years gave most of the attention to "Doo Wop (That Thing)", Ex-Factor still was its own sensational track to the point that Cardi and Aubrey either sample it or used the bridge this year of course for "Be Careful" and "Nice For What." Anyway, here is the celebration of "Ex-Factor", the first Flashback Friday choice of this celebration of this timeless album.

It's the 20 yr anniversary of this smooth hit that still stands the test time. Well, tomorrow (June 9) will be that anniversary. So without further adieu, enjoy this classic track with Wonda and Wyclef producing for their Fugees teammate, with Mya and ODB providing the classic hit. It's of course "Ghetto Superstar", your Flashback Friday choice for this week. Enjoy. 

It's now time for the 20 year anniversary that is the iconic classic He Got Game, and of course, it's time for the main song/soundtrack that defines it completely. Of course it's Chuck D and Flava Flav, with the underrated Sterling Stills on the title song of the movie's soundtrack. Produced Keith Shocklee, Hank Shocklee and D.R. Period, it's really one of the memorable beats ever for a record. Not overcomplicated, but effectually poignant to combine with Chuck's usual blunt, in depth lines. So, it's the 20th anniversary of Spike Lee's memorable Coney Island basketball tale, and the anniversary for its title song. Enjoy:

The other anthem fitting for this 4/20 day, it's of course the 16 year spring classic from Styles P, with Saint Denson & Swizz Beatz sampling Freda Payne's "I Get High (On Your Memory)".

It's happy 4/20 day, and because of that, it's only fitting on this Flashback Friday to play the two songs that fittingly go with the vibe the best.  It's of course the legendary track from Afroman, it's "Because I Got High."

In wake of her Netflix special documenting her life getting major attention, take it back to where it all started for a then 14-year-old Lolita Shante Gooden. It was the first lyrical, high profile beef in the rap game, with Marley Marl set to get back at UTFO for cancelling on them in Queensbridge. It's today's first choice for Flashback Fridays, it's Roxanne Shante with "Roxanne's Revenge." This is The Whole Delivery. 

It's the return of the Flashback Fridays, and it's a look back 30 years ago at this time (when I was definitely in the crib, literally). Before Montell Jordan took the "Friday night" theme song title (and long before Rebecca Black was even a human being), it was this sir whose song definitely was the #1 Friday day theme.  He's up above now, but Johnny Kemp definitely will always be remembered as the New Jack Swing Era. It's "Just Got Paid", this week's Flashback Friday choice. This is The Whole Delivery

In wake of Black Thought once again producing one of the best a cappella freestyles ever in music at HOT 97 on Wednesday, take it back 15 years ago to this still smooth effort from his crew and fellow Philly standout Musiq Soulchild. It's "Break You Off" , the first Flashback Friday selection this week. The Whole Delivery.

Besides the two main singles from "Songs in A Minor" debut, this for me is still the best overall track from her. With her and Dirty Harry doing the great crafting of words and beat, this one from a decade ago at this time is still so superb. And it definitely took away from how stale some of her tracks have been since then. So, your first Flashback Friday choice from this week, it's Alicia Keys with "No One" from 2007, from her third album "As I Am."   More from The Whole Delivery, stay tuned. 

This week's first Flashback Friday choice this week is a look back 15 summers ago to the top song that summer. In fact, it truly was the summer of Nelly that year. Both "Dilemma" and "Hot In Here" represented a 14, FOURTEEN, straight week reign at the top of the Billboard charts overall. And it is still Kelly Rowland's biggest single ever. In the end, "Dilemma" spent 10 weeks as #1 and was the biggest hit of 2002, along with Ashanti's "Foolish." Patti LaBelle's own classic "Love, Need and Want You" of course was the sample for this Ryan Browser produced sample. So, your first Flashback Friday choice this week, it's Nelly and Kelly with the 2002 memorable hit, "Dilemma." This is The Whole Delivery.

Sunday will be the 25th anniversary of the Teddy Riley produced "Right Here" for SWV, and the debut single for the classic early 90s R&B group. Now though the remix, sampling Michael Jackson timeless "Human Nature" hit produced by Quincy Jones, was the better song and had much bigger success, this was the introduction of SWV to the world. The rest is history. So, you're second Flashback Friday selection, it's the 25th anniversary of SWV's "Right Here." This is The Whole Delivery. 

15 summers ago, Pusha T and Malice debuted with Pharrell and Chad Hugo making the memorable beat that some of you all banged on cafeteria tables with. And with Virginia obviously in the news over the last week for other insane reasons, this one is a good one always for the state. It's of course "Gridin," the first single for this brotherly duo no longer doing tracks together. Your first Friday Flashback for this week. This is The Whole Delivery.  

From 10 summers ago, this Fort Myers, Florida native made his music debut with this quality summer song. But of course, it was the bigger Florida native, Sir Tallahassee T-Pain, who shined more on this "Drumma boy" produced track with a summer harmony similar to his own debut, "I'm Sprung", in 2005. Piles actually did put together some rhymes, although they were the elementary, "having the same rhyme pattern for almost an entire verse" type of rhymes. But anyway, it's the second Flashback Friday choice this week, it's Plies feat T-Pain with "Shawty." This is The Whole Delivery 

Though his career is currently sort of a real mess at the moment, no question that this Baltimore native had some real high points. And though "Let Me Love You" and his first single "Just A Friend" charted much higher than this one, no question in my mind this was his actual best track. All of the views it has on Youtube show why, even if the music video could have always been done much better. But anyway, here is the Stargate superbly produced track from 10 summers ago, "How Do I Breathe," your first Flashback Friday choice this week. This is The Whole Delivery.

As the unfortunate passing of Chester Bennington still hits for many all over, this week's Flashback Fridays is a look back on Linkin Park's peak from their start. It's of course their major hit on their debut album, Hybrid Theory, "In the End." The Whole Delivery will continue. Stay tuned.