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Apr 05, 2013 The Hood Internet By Laura Studarus

Chicago-based hip-hop producers The Hood Internet jumped on the chance to participate in our ongoing mixtape project. Check out their mix below. Further below that, check out the tracklist and backstory behind each pick below.

The Hood Internet Mixtape for Under the Radar Magazine by Under_Radar_Mag on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

1. Madvillain: “Money Folder”

I love what Madlib and DOOM each do, but the two sound so good together. For me this was a big break from traditional song structure and really expanding what a hip hop album can sound like.

2. J Dilla: “Workinonit”

This is my favorite jam from Donuts. The fuzz guitar lines sound super badass on top of the drum sounds. From a background of gutiar playing it’s nice to see when someone adds that texture to great results (because adding distorted guitar to a beat can easily go the wrong way).

3. Jim Jones: “We Fly High”

Jimmy and Biggavelli’s most well-known collaboration. In the current era of the signature adlib, this one is a testament. No one can ever again say “ballin” without at least thinking about the inflection from this track.

4. Kanye West (ft. Dwele): “Flashing Lights”

Kanye has made so many great singles but Graduation has always been my favorite album-album. Granted this one was a big single and stands on its own majestically, but on the record it sets up “Everything I Am” very nicely. (I don’t think people really still care about album sequencing anymore, though. Do they?)

5. Freeway & Jake One: “She Makes Me Feel Alright”

Jake One flipped this Rick James sample in such a cool and unique way. It’s nice to hear something that you know was previously sampled (see: EPMD, Mac Dre) in a fresh way. Freeway and Jake One are a solid team.

6. Geto Boys: “Mind Playing Tricks On Me”

From the production to the way that the verses build a scene, this track is a great example of using hip hop to set a mood as much as tell a story.

7. Mary J Blige: “Real Love”

Such a jam. The “Top Billin” drums and the piano are the perfect backdrop for Mary’s voice.

8. A Tribe Called Quest: “Buggin’ Out”

The production on this whole record is so great and so consistent from beginning to end. Love the low bass intro and probably Phife Dawg’s best verse to kick things off.

9. Hot Boys: “I Need A Hot Girl”

Cash Money’s early years at the top had a number of great hits that are oft overlooked in the YMCMB age. This one has three out of four Hot Boys and a ridiculous Mannie Fresh production. Classic CMR.

10. Clipse: “When The Last Time”

The Neptunes had a run where it seemed like they produced every popular song out there, but their work with Clipse is my favorite. They brought in a lot of sounds that nobody was using in hip hop production at the time.

11. Edan: “Fumbling Over Words That Rhyme”

There are a lot of nostalgic hip hop songs out there and this one references a lot of early hip hop history. It does a really good job of bridging sounds from different eras.

12. Ice Cube: “Jackin’ For Beats”

Growing up when I did in the Midwest, if you were into hip hop you could choose East Coast or West Coast. I was into the West Coast and anything that sprung from NWA. I was also into anything that was heavy on sampling, and this one is about as sample heavy as you can get for that period.

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(www.thehoodinternet.com)