How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Zhané, Sinclair, Young MC, Silk, Keith Sweat, Gang Starr, Black Box, Ultra Naté, Joey B. Ellis & Tynetta Hare, Janet Jackson, Bone Thugs, Stevie B
They are the performers of twelve vintage hip-hop, soul, etc. tracks that were ranked in various charts, this week (08/52) BUT … in the Nineties 90s.
1. What is the musical genre adaptation in Black Box’s cover of “Native New Yorker”?
- A Synthpop
- B House Music
- C Jazz Fusion
2. Who produced Ultra Naté’s “Is It Love?” from her debut album?
- A The Basement Boys
- B Nile Rodgers
- C Mark Ronson
3. What thematic departure is noted on the Rocky V soundtrack featuring “Go For It (Heart and Fire)”?
- A Classical arrangements
- B Hip hop and new jack swing
- C Country music
4. What does Janet Jackson’s “Any Time, Any Place” predominantly focus on?
- A Heartbreak
- B Social issues
- C Sexual liberation
5. What sample is NOT used in Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s “Days of Our Livez”?
- A Tender Love
- B Eye of the Tiger
- C My Thang
6. What significant achievement did “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)” attain for Stevie B?
- A First album release
- B Billboard Hot 100 number one
- C Grammy win
7. What chart position did Bryan Ferry’s “Kiss and Tell” achieve in the US?
- A 15
- B 31
- C 45
8. How did “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” make Billboard chart history for Hall & Oates?
- A First to top both Hot 100 and Hot Black Singles
- B First release with a music video
- C First Grammy Award
9. What musical key is Brandi Wells’ “Watch Out” composed in?
- A C Major
- B D Major
- C F♯/G♭ Major
10. How did “Together We Are Beautiful” by Fern Kinney originally appear?
- A As an album opener
- B On a soundtrack
- C Initially as a B-side
11. What chart position did Pepsi & Shirlie’s “Heartache” peak at in the UK?
- A 1
- B 2
- C 5
12. What is the main theme addressed in Kool & the Gang’s “Jones vs. Jones”?
- A Marriage
- B Divorce
- C Friendship
For TWENTY FOUR more Hip-Hop & Soul – Vintage 90s Music Videos – week 08/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
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1 . Zhané – Low Down Dirty ShameFeatured on the 1994 album “A Low Down Dirty Shame : Soundtrack “.
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2 . Sinclair – [I Wanna Know] WhyFeatured on the 1994 album “I Want You Back”.
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3 . Young MC – Principal’s OfficeFeatured on the 1989 album “Stone Cold Rhymin'”.
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4 . Silk – Freak MeFeatured on the 1992 album “Lose Control”.
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5 . Keith Sweat – Get Up On It (w/ Kut Klose)Featured on the 1994 album “Get Up on It”.
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6 . Gang Starr – Take A RestFeatured on the 1991 album “Step in the Arena”.
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7 . Black Box – Native New Yorker
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8 . Ultra Naté – Is It Love?Featured on the 1991 album “Blue Notes in the Basement”.
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9 . Joey B. Ellis & Tynetta Hare – Go For It [Heart And Fire]
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10 . Janet Jackson – Any Time Any PlaceFeatured on the 1993 album “Janet“.
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11 . Bone Thugs – Days of our livesFeatured on the 1996 album “Set It Off: Music From the New Line Cinema Motion Picture “. |
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12 . Stevie B – Because I Love You [The Postman Song]Featured on the 1990 album “Love & Emotion”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Black Box’s cover of “Native New Yorker” features a house music arrangement. This adaptation blends electronic beats with the original’s iconic disco melody, showcasing the group’s skill in popularizing house music during their peak years.
2. Ultra Naté’s “Is It Love?” was produced by The Basement Boys, a renowned Baltimore-based production team. Their work on the track highlighted her soulful vocals over a classic house beat, helping launch her career in dance music.
3. The Rocky V soundtrack, featuring “Go For It (Heart and Fire)”, marked a thematic shift to hip hop and new jack swing. This was a departure from the traditional rock or orchestrated compositions of previous Rocky films.
4. Janet Jackson’s “Any Time, Any Place” focuses on sexual liberation and public displays of affection. It became a major hit, emphasizing themes of personal freedom with its sultry, smooth R&B sound.
5. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s “Days of Our Livez” samples “Tender Love” by Force MDs, but not “Eye of the Tiger”. The track was a commercial success and appeared on both their compilation and greatest hits albums.
6. “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)” was Stevie B’s biggest hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It marked a transition from his freestyle roots to mainstream pop success.
7. Bryan Ferry’s “Kiss and Tell” reached number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100. This made it his highest-charting solo single in the United States, further showcasing his sophisticated pop style.
8. Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” made history by being the first single to reach number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Black Singles chart, cementing their crossover appeal.
9. “Watch Out” by Brandi Wells is composed in the key of F♯/G♭ Major. Released as her debut single, it embodies the energetic disco style of the early 1980s, highlighting her powerful vocals.
10. Fern Kinney’s “Together We Are Beautiful” was originally released as a B-side. DJs played it instead of the A-side, leading to its commercial success, including topping the UK Singles Chart for one week.
11. Pepsi & Shirlie’s “Heartache” peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. This debut single succeeded against fierce competition, including a hit from their former group member George Michael.
12. “Jones vs. Jones” by Kool & the Gang addresses the theme of divorce. Despite not being one of their most famous hits, it charted steady during its release period, contributing to their varied discography.
For THE FULL HIP-HOP & SOUL COLLECTION click here
