How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : En Vogue, Malaika, Rahsaan Patterson, B .E .F., 2Pac, The Pharcyde, Michael Jackson, The Deff Boyz, Jungle Brothers, Aretha Franklin, R. Kelly, Public Enemy
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 Nineties 90s.
1. What genre does “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd NOT belong to?
- A Jazz
- B Synthwave
- C Electropop
2. Which producers worked on “Blinding Lights”?
- A Max Martin and Oscar Holter
- B Dr. Dre and Timbaland
- C Pharrell and Diplo
3. Which song features lyric themes centered around nighttime yearning?
- A “Blinding Lights”
- B “Take My Breath”
- C “Can’t Feel My Face”
4. In what year was “Blinding Lights” released?
- A 2018
- B 2019
- C 2020
5. Which album includes “Blinding Lights”?
- A *Starboy*
- B *After Hours*
- C *Beauty Behind the Madness*
6. Which single followed “Heartless” from the same album?
- A “Blinding Lights”
- B “Save Your Tears”
- C “In Your Eyes”
7. Which engineers were responsible for mixing “Blinding Lights”?
- A Greg Wells and John Greenham
- B Serban Ghenea and John Hanes
- C Nigel Godrich and Mark Stent
8. What record did “Blinding Lights” set on the Billboard Hot 100 as of November 2021?
- A Most weeks at number one
- B Best-performing song of all time
- C Fastest rise to number one
9. What certification did “Blinding Lights” achieve in the US?
- A Silver
- B Gold
- C Diamond
10. Which song did The Weeknd release as a lead single from *Dawn FM*?
- A “Blinding Lights”
- B “Take My Breath”
- C “Heartless”
11. Why was the “Take My Breath” music video initially pulled from IMAX theaters?
- A Controversial lyrics
- B Intense strobe lighting
- C Delayed production
12. Which elements are featured in “Take My Breath”?
- A Classical strings and horns
- B Disco and funk influences
- C Grunge guitars and hip-hop beats
1. Which chart did En Vogue’s “Lies” top in the United States?
- A Billboard Hot 100
- B Billboard R&B singles chart
- C Dance Club Songs
2. What was significant about Malaika’s “Gotta Know (Your Name)” on the charts?
- A It topped the UK Singles Chart
- B It peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100
- C It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart
3. What role did Keith Crouch play in Rahsaan Patterson’s “Stop By”?
- A Producer
- B Lead vocalist
- C Backup singer
4. Which artist collaborated with B.E.F. on their cover of “Family Affair”?
- A Luther Vandross
- B Chaka Khan
- C Lalah Hathaway
5. What sample does 2Pac’s “How Do You Want It” feature?
- A Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”
- B Quincy Jones’ “Body Heat”
- C Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”
6. The Pharcyde’s “Passin’ Me By” includes a signature line about what?
- A Summer vacations
- B School days heartbreak
- C First love
7. In which minor key is Michael Jackson’s “Who Is It” set?
- A A minor
- B D minor
- C E minor
8. What is a notable feature of The Deff Boyz’s “Swing”?
- A A live gospel choir
- B Samples from Snap!’s “The Power”
- C Acoustic guitar solos
9. Which label released Jungle Brothers’ “Brain”?
- A V2/BMG
- B Interscope
- C Sony Music
10. What social theme does Aretha Franklin’s cover of “Everyday People” address?
- A Economic disparity
- B Social equality
- C Gender roles
11. With which movie’s soundtrack is R. Kelly’s “Gotham City” associated?
- A Batman & Robin
- B The Dark Knight
- C Batman Forever
12. What genre best categorizes Public Enemy’s “So Whatcha Gone Do Now?”
- A Jazz
- B Punk Rock
- C Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B
For TWELVE more Hip-Hop & Soul – Vintage 90s Music Videos – week 30/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . En Vogue – LiesFeatured on the 1990 album “Born to Sing“.
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2 . Malaika – Gotta Know [Your Name]Featured on the 1997 album “Sugar Time”.
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3 . Rahsaan Patterson – Stop ByFeatured on the 1997 album “Rahsaan Patterson”.
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4 . B .E .F. – Family Affair (w/ Lalah Hathaway)Featured on the 1982 album “Music Of Quality And Distinction Volume 2”.
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5 . 2Pac – How Do You Want It (w/ K-Ci & Jojo)Featured on the 1996 album “All Eyez on Me“.
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6 . The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me ByFeatured on the 1992 album “Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde”.
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7 . Michael Jackson – Who Is ItFeatured on the 1991 album “Dangerous“.
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8 . The Deff Boyz – Swing (w/ Tony Mac)
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9 . Jungle Brothers – BrainFeatured on the 1997 album “Raw Deluxe”.
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10 . Aretha Franklin – Everyday PeopleFeatured on the 1991 album “What You See Is What You Sweat”.
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11 . R. Kelly – Gotham CityFeatured on the 1997 album “R.“. |
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12 . Public Enemy – So Whatcha Gone Do Now?Featured on the 1994 album “Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. The song “Lies” by En Vogue reached number one on the US Billboard R&B singles chart. It also peaked at number thirty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100, showing its widespread popularity in the R&B genre.
2. “Gotta Know (Your Name)” by Malaika reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. This achievement marked the peak of her recording career, emphasizing its impact in dance circles.
3. Keith Crouch produced Rahsaan Patterson’s “Stop By,” contributing to its success on the Adult R&B chart. His production skills helped the song gain traction in both the US and UK charts.
4. Lalah Hathaway collaborated with B.E.F. on their cover of “Family Affair,” released in 1994. Her contribution is a notable reinterpretation of Sly & The Family Stone’s original track.
5. 2Pac’s “How Do You Want It” features a sample from Quincy Jones’ “Body Heat.” This track stood out as 2Pac’s final single released during his lifetime, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
6. The Pharcyde’s “Passin’ Me By” features lyrics about school days heartbreak. The song captures the disappointment of unrequited crushes, making it relatable to many listeners.
7. Michael Jackson’s “Who Is It” is set in D minor. The single explores the themes of emotional turmoil and infidelity, accompanied by Jackson’s iconic vocal performance.
8. The Deff Boyz’s “Swing” features samples from Snap!’s “The Power,” along with other notable tracks. This blending of familiar sounds helped it capture the dance energy of the early 1990s.
9. Jungle Brothers’ “Brain” was released under V2/BMG through Gee Street Records. The album “Raw Deluxe” marked this period for the group in 1997.
10. Aretha Franklin’s cover of “Everyday People” addresses social equality. The song emphasizes unity across different social groups, maintaining the message of Sly Stone’s original version.
11. R. Kelly’s “Gotham City” is associated with the *Batman & Robin* movie soundtrack. It later appeared on his double album *R.*, blending elements of R&B, soul, gospel, and pop.
12. Public Enemy’s “So Whatcha Gone Do Now?” falls into the Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B genre. It was part of their fifth studio album, *Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age*, released during a dynamic period for hip-hop in the 1990s.
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Jazz is not a part of “Blinding Lights”‘s genre mix, which includes synth-pop, electropop, new wave, and synthwave. The song draws heavily on retro influences but keeps jazz at bay.
2. “Blinding Lights” was produced by Max Martin, Oscar Holter, and The Weeknd. Their collaboration crafted a retro-modern sound that resonated globally.
3. “Blinding Lights” has lyrics focused on nighttime yearning and the need to reconnect with a significant other. This theme is woven throughout the track.
4. Released on November 29, 2019, “Blinding Lights” quickly became one of The Weeknd’s most iconic tracks, leading into a new decade with a modern 80s vibe.
5. “Blinding Lights” is part of The Weeknd’s fourth studio album, *After Hours*. This album marked a sonic shift for him into more synth-laden territories.
6. “Blinding Lights” was released following “Heartless” as the second single from *After Hours*. This order played a crucial role in the album’s promotion.
7. Mixing duties for “Blinding Lights” were handled by Serban Ghenea and John Hanes. Their technical finesse ensured the song’s polished finish.
8. As of November 2021, “Blinding Lights” was recognized as the best-performing song of all time on the Billboard Hot 100, a testament to its enduring popularity.
9. In the US, “Blinding Lights” achieved diamond certification. This status reflects its massive sales and streaming success over time.
10. “Take My Breath” is the lead single from The Weeknd’s fifth studio album, *Dawn FM*. This track continued his exploration of 80s-inspired sounds.
11. The music video for “Take My Breath” featured intense strobe lighting, which led to scrutiny over potential risks to viewers with epilepsy and its initial removal from IMAX theaters.
12. “Take My Breath” showcases disco, dance-pop, funk, and synthwave influences. These elements weave together for a captivating 1980s inspired soundscape.
For THE FULL HIP-HOP & SOUL COLLECTION click here
