Top 5 Side 1’s, Track 1’s (Part II)

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It’s hard to say anything meaningful about this album/song/artist that hasn’t already been said. But here is my take….I consider the whole album one piece, since I rarely listen to this album not in its entirely. Would you stop reading Ulysses after the first chapter? So does this still qualify as a track1? Where does “Only Shallow” begin and “Soon” end?

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Side 1, track 1 of the Kat Moda EP. Possibly the most played techno track in history, and in a genre that has the attention span of a fly, this one stayed iconic for years. I’ll admit, the hook is a bit dated now, but if you want a history lesson…this is the sound of raw roots techno.

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Raw, pure unadulterated anger set the tone for the rest of the album. It’s hard to argue the influence NIN and this album had on commercial music in the 90s, and it began with this track.

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An indie rock anti-anthem if there ever was one. Daydream Nation, the penultimate album by the groundbreaking Sonic Youth, blasts out of the gate with gale force power and never lets up. This song never gets old and could possibly be one of the greatest rock songs of the post-punk era.

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I had to come back and rediscover this album, and despite all the remixes of this track, the original can’t be outdone. There are some live versions that are just sick though. Like this.

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Although a “Wild Style” sample is the true “track 1″ on Illmatic, this phenomenal track leads off what many consider the greatest hip-hop album of all time. DJ Premier’s dark piano loop and simple jazz samples paired with his trademark scratching set the tone for the album to come. Nas boastfully announces that he is “bringing rappers to a new plateau” and does not disappoint. No matter where the song is played, “N. Y. State of Mind” transports the listener the the grimy back alleys of Queensbridge.

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Rakim’s furious flow seems to erupts as soon as you put on Paid in Full. Over Eric B.’s jazzy beat, Rakim introduces his revolutionary style of MCing by telling listeners and wack rappers that he ain’t no joke. Gone are the days of carefree rap, Rakim “holds the microphone like a grudge” as he pours seemingly limitless dope rhymes onto this track and doesn’t let up for the entire album.

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As soon as you hear the traditional nursery rhyme “Itsy Bitsy Spider” twisted into a sing-song tale of crack and guns you know your in for an experience. Scarface’s first song lets everyone know who is in charge for the next 45 minutes as he yells “Mr. Scarface is back in the motherf*ckin’ house once again!”. Although Scarface’s debut album is extremely cohesive and stellar throughout, “Mr. Scarface” is truly a stand out track and a perfect opener. (We give you the Chopped & Screwed version just to mix things up).

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Although Nas’ sophomore album is plagued by inconsistency, It Was Written’s first track is breathtaking. “The Message” is a mind blowing song that contains Nas’ trademark street wordplay for its first verse and then switches it up and tells a harrowing story of betrayal by a close friend. The Trackmasters’ production sampling the main riff from Sting’s “Shape of My Heart” creates a mellow, serious vibe that perfectly suits Nas’ calm but intense style.

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Can’t knock Jay’s album or its incredibly smooth opener. With Mary J. Blige singing the hook and a bouncy, danceable beat from “Knobody,” Reasonable Doubt strays from the dirty, street raps of peers and introduces Hova’s suave, gentleman thug persona. “Can’t Knock the Hustle” and Reasonable Doubt prove you can have a soft side while still dropping hip hop classics.