How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Beyoncé, Solillaquists of Sound, 50 Cent, P. Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Timbaland, Rihanna, India Arie, Eminem, Sisqo, Chris Brown, 2Pac, R.L. Hugger
They are the performers of twelve vintage hip-hop, soul, etc. tracks that were ranked in various charts, this week (30/52) BUT … in the Noughties 2000s.
1. Which musical genre does not influence The Weeknd’s hit “Blinding Lights”?
- A Jazz
- B Synthwave
- C New wave
2. Who was not involved in writing “Blinding Lights”?
- A Max Martin
- B DaHeala
- C Quincy Jones
3. When was “Blinding Lights” released?
- A December 25, 2019
- B November 29, 2019
- C January 15, 2020
4. For which studio album by The Weeknd was “Blinding Lights” a single?
- A After Hours
- B Starboy
- C Dawn FM
5. In how many countries did “Blinding Lights” reach number one?
- A Over 40
- B Exactly 20
- C More than 50
6. What chart milestone did “Blinding Lights” achieve on the US Billboard Hot 100?
- A Number one for a month
- B Longest time in top ten
- C Fastest climb to number one
7. Which of these certifications was awarded to “Blinding Lights” in the US?
- A Silver
- B Gold
- C Diamond
8. Which lyrical theme is not a focus of “Blinding Lights”?
- A Yearning for a partner
- B Partying all night
- C Desire for reunion
9. Which artist contributed to both writing and producing “Blinding Lights”?
- A Oscar Holter
- B Belly
- C DaHeala
10. What style is prominent in “Blinding Lights” production?
- A 1960s rock
- B 1980s synthesizers
- C 1970s disco
11. Which album features “Take My Breath” by The Weeknd?
- A Dawn FM
- B Starboy
- C After Hours
12. Why was the “Take My Breath” music video pulled from IMAX theaters before debut?
- A Too long
- B Epilepsy concerns
- C Poor resolution
1. In which film did Beyoncé’s song “Work It Out” feature prominently?
- A Austin Powers in Goldmember
- B Dreamgirls
- C Obsessed
2. What is the notable visual style of Solillaquists of Sound’s “Marvel” music video?
- A Comic book aesthetic
- B Film noir
- C Steampunk
3. Which Barry White song is sampled in 50 Cent’s “21 Questions”?
- A You’re the First, the Last, My Everything
- B It’s Only Love Doing Its Thing
- C Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
4. What is a line from P. Diddy’s “I Need a Girl Part 2” sampled from?
- A Bad Boy for Life
- B Victory
- C Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down
5. What is the tempo of Busta Rhymes’ song “Get Out!!”?
- A 120 BPM
- B 91 BPM
- C 75 BPM
6. Who is targeted in Timbaland’s verse in “Give It To Me”?
- A Dr. Dre
- B Scott Storch
- C Jay-Z
7. Which vehicle is mentioned in Rihanna’s “Shut Up And Drive”?
- A ’57 Cadillac
- B Ford Mustang
- C Chevrolet Impala
8. What notable achievement did India Arie’s song “Video” accomplish at the Grammys?
- A Won Best New Artist
- B Nominated for four awards
- C Won Best R&B Album
9. Who directed the music video for Eminem’s “Without Me”?
- A Hype Williams
- B Joseph Kahn
- C Paul Hunter
10. Where was the music video for “Dance For Me” by Sisqo set?
- A Universal Studios Florida
- B Hollywood Boulevard
- C Times Square
11. Which rapper features on the remix of Chris Brown’s “Gimme That”?
- A Lil Wayne
- B Kanye West
- C Drake
12. What band is sampled in 2Pac’s “Until The End Of Time”?
- A Mr. Mister
- B U2
- C Journey
Tracklist
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1 . Beyoncé – Work It OutFeatured on the 2002 album “Austin Powers in Goldmember Soundtrack”.
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2 . Solillaquists of Sound – MarvelFeatured on the 2009 album “No More Heroes”.
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3 . 50 Cent – 21 Questions (w/ Nate Dogg)Featured on the 2003 album “Get Rich or Die Tryin’“.
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4 . P. Diddy – I Need a Girl Part 2Featured on the 2002 album “We Invented the Remix!”.
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5 . Busta Rhymes – Get OutFeatured on the 2006 album “Anarchy”.
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6 . Timbaland – Give It To Me (w/ Justin Timberlake & Nelly Furtado)Featured on the 2007 album “Shock Value”.
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7 . Rihanna – Shut Up And DriveFeatured on the 2007 album “Good Girl Gone Bad“.
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8 . India Arie – VideoFeatured on the 2001 album “Acoustic Soul”.
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9 . Eminem – Without MeFeatured on the 2002 album “The Show“.
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10 . Sisqo – Dance For MeFeatured on the 2001 album “Return of Dragon”.
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11 . Chris Brown – Gimme That (w/ Lil Wayne)Featured on the 2006 album “Chris Brown”. |
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12 . 2Pac, R.L. Hugger – Until The End Of TimeFeatured on the 2001 album “Until the End of Time”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Work It Out” was prominently featured in the film Austin Powers in Goldmember. Beyoncé played the character Foxxy Cleopatra, capturing the film’s funky 1960s aesthetic alongside her music.
2. The music video for “Marvel” by Solillaquists of Sound adopts a comic book aesthetic. This style complements the group’s visually dynamic and rhythmic delivery.
3. “21 Questions” by 50 Cent features a sample from Barry White’s “It’s Only Love Doing Its Thing.” This R&B influence softened the album’s otherwise hard-edge rap persona.
4. “I Need a Girl Part 2” includes a sample from P. Diddy’s own “Victory.” The continuation cleverly ties back to its predecessor, underscoring its thematic link.
5. Busta Rhymes’ track “Get Out!!” has a tempo of 91 BPM. It combines rapid-fire delivery with a slightly menacing energy over the beat.
6. Timbaland’s verse in “Give It To Me” is aimed at Scott Storch. The track’s satirical commentary engaged audiences and fueled industry attention.
7. Rihanna’s “Shut Up And Drive” alludes to a ’57 Cadillac among other auto references, blending nostalgia with the track’s modern beats.
8. India Arie’s “Video” was nominated for four Grammy Awards. The song’s celebration of self-worth resonated widely, earning critical acclaim.
9. Joseph Kahn directed the music video for Eminem’s “Without Me.” His dynamic visuals earned the video a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.
10. Sisqo’s “Dance For Me” video was set at Universal Studios Florida. This choice provided an engaging backdrop for the song’s lively narrative.
11. Lil Wayne is featured on the remix of Chris Brown’s “Gimme That.” His contribution added a unique flair to the single’s successful release.
12. 2Pac’s “Until The End Of Time” samples Mr. Mister’s “Broken Wings.” This blend of hip-hop and rock elements made for a compelling posthumous release.
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Jazz did not contribute to the genre mix of “Blinding Lights”. Instead, the track draws from synth-pop, electropop, new wave, and synthwave influences to create its retro vibe.
2. Quincy Jones did not contribute to “Blinding Lights”. The track involved The Weeknd, Max Martin, Oscar Holter, Belly, and DaHeala in its writing process.
3. “Blinding Lights” was launched on November 29, 2019. As the second single from the “After Hours” album, it achieved significant chart success immediately.
4. The single “Blinding Lights” belongs to “After Hours”, The Weeknd’s critically acclaimed fourth studio album that seasoned fans with a nostalgic sonic blend.
5. The track topped the charts in over 40 countries, demonstrating its wide-reaching appeal and its lasting international resonance.
6. “Blinding Lights” achieved a record-encompassing presence in the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten, marking it as an enduring hit with substantial pop culture relevance.
7. Receiving diamond certification from the RIAA showcases the commercial success of “Blinding Lights” in the United States, further amplified by its global acclaim.
8. Themes of partying all night are absent. Instead, the song emphasizes yearning and the emotional pull towards reuniting with a significant partner.
9. Oscar Holter was both writer and producer on “Blinding Lights”, integral to sculpting its melody and sound profile, as recognized by its enduring chart performance.
10. “Blinding Lights” prominently features a tapestry of 1980s-style synthesizers, which have resonated across generations, fueling its retro-inspired allure.
11. “Take My Breath” shines on “Dawn FM”, highlighting a thematic shift and evolving soundscape from The Weeknd’s prior works.
12. Due to the intense strobe lighting, the “Take My Breath” video was pulled from IMAX distribution to avoid triggering photosensitive epilepsy, underlining safety considerations.
For THE FULL HIP-HOP & SOUL COLLECTION click here
















