4: This track is embedded in my brain because it’s the song that was playing when Hot Sauce put the basketball in his shirt and spun it around in one of the most memorable moments and moves in AND1 history. “On, Onsite” by Kurupt, AND1 Mixtape vol. But it’s the pure chaotic energy of the hook that catches the ear.ġ2. 5: This is a very Philly connection with Naam Brigade and the budding star emcee Freeway, who goes off on his verse. “Early in the Game” by Naam Brigade feat. It’s one of the definitive AND1 tracks.ġ3. It closed out the volume and just sounds like streetball with Dyme’s aggressive delivery and the chime ringing off after each snare. 1: While this song may not be the strongest from volume 1, it’s just so synonymous with the AND1 Mixtape. “It’s Not a Game” by Dyme, AND1 Mixtape vol. Listen to this track enough and a magical backpack appears on your shoulders.ġ4. A lyrical barrage where Sadat X also holds his own. 1: This is vintage Rawkus Records and Common greatness. It’s also a reminder that Xzibit was one of the most ferocious emcees in his pre- Pimp My Ride days.ġ5. 1: This is a stellar and underrated posse cut from some underground legends. “Handle Your Time” by Prince Paul, Sadat X and Xzibit, AND1 Mixtape vol. Related Story The 20 greatest hip-hop tours of all time Read nowġ6. This track opens it up and it’s a fly posse cut that sets the mood for the new era of AND1. 4: Volume 4 was AND1’s mainstream arrival with high-quality works that looked more like a TV show than the low-budget look we were used to. I might have ranked this higher if I didn’t know the name of the song.ġ7. There isn’t much sex talk but there’s lots of Ras Kass double-timing over scratches and boom baps. 2 : This unfortunately-named song isn’t quite what you expect. “Oral Sex” by Ras Kass, AND1 Mixtape vol. Aside from that, it’s interesting to look back on how the mixtapes really personified the underground rap scene at the time.ġ8. 1: Genius is one of the dopest lyricists in rap and this banger backed by RZA helps make that case. “Breaker, Breaker” by Genius, AND1 Mixtape vol. Rap, one of the most ferocious lyricists of all time, this track is also notable for being the backdrop for some early Hot Sauce clips, so bonus points for that.ġ9. 4: You can’t go wrong with Method Man and this is just vintage early 2000s rhymes including a timely “Livin’ La Vida Loca” reference for good measure.Ģ0. It has a grimy, slow-paced drum and Kurupt and The Alkaholiks are aggressive with their delivery, but it’s still extremely playful. 5: This song just has the spirit of AND1 all up in it. 5: The Last Emperor is a dope emcee in his own right but this track is all about DJ Jazzy Jeff, whose scratches and production give us that grimy wintertime feel that somehow blends with the outdoor basketball clips.Ģ2. This joint also makes you wish we’d gotten more music from The Deadly Snakes.Ģ3. 2: This semi-obscure rap crew made up of emcees makes a welcome addition to the AND1 catalog. “S.N.A.K.E.S.” by The Deadly Snakes, AND1 Mixtape vol. It’s great as a stand-alone song, though.Ģ4. 2: This song was a bit slower than the normal AND1 Mixtape track and it came after two monster cuts by EPMD (ranked higher on this list) that makes this feel like an even slower-tempo track. “Do You Remember?” by The Last Emperor, AND1 Mixtape vol. Related Story The Greatest Mixtape Ever | Videos | Watch ESPN Read nowĢ5. Peep the ranking below and don’t pull a muscle trying to practice between-the-legs dribbles in the mirror. From Outkast to Mos Def to Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes, this list includes a who’s who of culture-shaping emcees. I went through all five volumes and picked the top 25 songs from the entire AND1 collection. If you’ve forgotten how dope these songs were, don’t worry. Each volume featured a handful of album cuts, B-sides and bonus tracks from the hottest artists of the late 1990s and early 2000s. First released in the late 1990s, the electric videos brought streetball to the mainstream, but let’s not forget: The mixtapes were also about music. Back then, the AND1 Mixtapes were the only place most of us could see legendary hoopers tear up the streetball circuit and marvel at their unique set of skills. 30 for 30’s latest documentary, The Greatest Mixtape Ever, took me to a nostalgic place that felt like a lifetime ago - before hoochie daddy shorts and TikTok videos took over the internet - to a time when baggy pants reigned supreme and the only way to catch a viral video was to hit up the bootleggers for a VHS tape.
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