How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Brandy, En Vogue, P.M. Dawn, Diana Ross, Xscape, Brian McKnight, Ne-Yo, Cypress Hill, Brownstone, Janet Jackson, Monie Love, Vanessa Williams
They are the performers of twelve vintage hip-hop, soul, etc. tracks that were ranked in various charts, this week (40/52) BUT … in the Nineties 90s.
1. What unique visual element is featured in the music video for Brandy’s “Top of the World”?
- A Brandy skateboarding
- B Brandy levitating
- C Brandy riding a bicycle
2. Which En Vogue member provides the bridge vocals for the song “Runaway Love”?
- A Cindy Herron
- B Terry Ellis
- C Dawn Robinson
3. Which Deep Purple song is sampled in P.M. Dawn’s track from *Jesus Wept*?
- A “Smoke on the Water”
- B “Hush”
- C “Black Night”
4. What was unique about the initial reception of Diana Ross’s “Chain Reaction” in the US?
- A It reached number one immediately
- B It initially peaked at 95
- C It was never released in the US
5. Which certification did “Feels So Good” by Xscape receive in the United States?
- A Platinum
- B Silver
- C Gold
6. What notable shift did Brian McKnight’s single “You Should Be Mine (Don’t Waste Your Time)” represent?
- A A shift toward rock music
- B A shift toward hip hop soul
- C A shift toward country music
7. In which city was Ne-Yo’s “One in a Million” recorded?
- A Los Angeles
- B New York
- C Miami
8. Which artist featured collaboratively on the lead single from Cypress Hill’s *IV*?
- A Barron Ricks
- B Snoop Dogg
- C Dr. Dre
9. The track “Kiss and Tell” was unique because it featured which new Brownstone member?
- A Kina Cosper
- B Monica Doby
- C Terry Ellis
10. “Got ‘Til It’s Gone” notably samples which Joni Mitchell song?
- A “A Case of You”
- B “Big Yellow Taxi”
- C “River”
11. What notable achievement did “It’s a Shame (My Sister)” reach in the US dance chart?
- A Number one
- B Number two
- C Number five
12. Who performed the pop version of “Colors of the Wind” for the film *Pocahontas*?
- A Whitney Houston
- B Vanessa Williams
- C Mariah Carey
For TWELVE more Hip-Hop & Soul – Vintage 90s Music Videos – week 40/52 – click here
Tracklist
![]() |
1 . Brandy – Top Of The World (w/ Mase)Featured on the 1998 album “Never Say Never“.
|
![]() |
2 . En Vogue – Runaway LoveFeatured on the 1993 album “Runaway Love”.
|
![]() |
3 . P.M. Dawn – Downtown VenusFeatured on the 1995 album “Jesus Wept”.
|
![]() |
4 . Diana Ross – Chain ReactionFeatured on the 1985 album “Eaten Alive”.
|
![]() |
5 . Xscape – Feels So GoodFeatured on the 1995 album “Off the Hook”.
|
![]() |
6 . Brian McKnight – You Should Be Mine [Don’t Waste Your Time] (w/ Mase)Featured on the 1997 album “Anytime”.
|
![]() |
7 . Ne-Yo – One In A MillionFeatured on the 2010 album “Libra Scale”.
|
![]() |
8 . Cypress Hill – Tequila Sunrise (w/ Barron Ricks)Featured on the 1998 album “Cypress Hill IV”.
|
![]() |
9 . Brownstone – Kiss And TellFeatured on the 1997 album “Still Climbing”.
|
![]() |
10 . Janet Jackson – Got ‘Til It’s Gone (w/ Q-Tip, Joni Mitchell)Featured on the 1997 album “The Velvet Rope”.
|
![]() |
11 . Monie Love – It’s a Shame |
![]() |
12 . Vanessa Williams – Colors Of The WindFeatured on the 1995 album “Pocahontas : Soundtrack”.
|
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Brandy’s music video showcases her unique ability to defy gravity, featuring scenes of her levitating and performing gymnastic movements. It’s set in a bustling city environment.
2. Dawn Robinson provided the bridge vocals for En Vogue’s “Runaway Love.” Her distinctive voice added a memorable layer to the track.
3. P.M. Dawn’s single from *Jesus Wept* incorporates a sample from Deep Purple’s cover of “Hush.” The song blends rock with pop and R&B elements.
4. Diana Ross’s “Chain Reaction” had a modest start, initially peaking at number 95 in the USA. A remix later improved its chart position.
5. Xscape’s “Feels So Good” was certified Gold in the United States, reflecting sales of 500,000 units. The single appeared on several charts globally.
6. Brian McKnight’s single was a move toward hip hop soul, integrating new stylistic elements into the artist’s R&B roots. Mase featured prominently.
7. Ne-Yo’s “One in a Million” was crafted at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles. It became a recognized hit with multiple certifications internationally.
8. The lead single from Cypress Hill’s *IV* features Barron Ricks. This collaboration highlighted the album’s diverse production and sound.
9. “Kiss and Tell” marked Kina Cosper’s debut in Brownstone after Monica Doby’s departure, adding a fresh dynamic to the group’s line-up.
10. Janet Jackson’s “Got ‘Til It’s Gone” cleverly samples Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” The track marked an eclectic blend of genres.
11. Monie Love’s “It’s a Shame (My Sister)” reached number two on the American dance chart. This track became her biggest US hit.
12. Vanessa Williams performed the pop version of “Colors of the Wind,” lending her voice to the *Pocahontas* soundtrack and winning critical acclaim.
For THE FULL HIP-HOP & SOUL COLLECTION click here
















