How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Salt-N-Pepa, Kathy Sledge, The Isley Brothers, Bassomatic, Jeru The Damaja, Mary J. Blige, Buckshot Lefonque, P.M. Dawn, Gerald Levert, Funkdoobiest, Dru Hill, Boyz II Men
They are the performers of twelve vintage hip-hop, soul, etc. tracks that were ranked in various charts, this week (49/52) BUT … in the Nineties 90s.
1. Which notorious track by Salt-N-Pepa cleverly samples Pink Floyd?
- A “The Wall Song”
- B “Brick in the Hood”
- C “Gitty Up”
2. Which Sister Sledge member ventured solo with the song “Another Day”?
- A Kathy Sledge
- B Joni Sledge
- C Debbie Sledge
3. Which Isley Brothers track features a real-life duet by Ronald Isley and his then-wife?
- A “Shout”
- B “For the Love of You”
- C “Floatin’ On Your Love”
4. Who provided the vocals for Bassomatic’s “Ease On By”?
- A Neneh Cherry
- B Sharon Musgrave
- C Madonna
5. Which producer influenced the sound of “Ya Playin’ Yaself” by Jeru the Damaja?
- A DJ Premier
- B Dr. Dre
- C Timbaland
6. Which Mary’s song pleasantly surprises with a famous Elton John piano riff?
- A “No More Drama”
- B “Deep Inside”
- C “Be Without You”
7. Who spearheaded Buckshot LeFonque, the ensemble behind “Another Day”?
- A Wynton Marsalis
- B Quincy Jones
- C Branford Marsalis
8. To whom is P.M. Dawn’s “I Had No Right” speculated to be addressed?
- A His daughter
- B A fellow musician
- C His son
9. Which group did Gerald Levert join after his successful solo track released in 1998?
- A LeVert
- B The O’Jays
- C LSG
10. Which group collaborated with B-Real for the track “Wopbabalubop”?
- A The Pharcyde
- B Funkdoobiest
- C De La Soul
11. What’s the unmistakable theme of Dru Hill’s “5 Steps”?
- A Life in the fast lane
- B Romance
- C Grief and loss
12. Which artist penned “A Song for Mama,” the Boyz II Men ballad?
- A Babyface
- B Stevie Wonder
- C Burt Bacharach
For TWELVE more Hip-Hop & Soul – Vintage 90s Music Videos – week 49/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Salt-N-Pepa – Gitty UpFeatured on the 1997 album “Brand New”.
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2 . Kathy Sledge – Another DayFeatured on the 1995 album “Another Day”.
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3 . The Isley Brothers – Floatin’ On Your Love (w/ Ronald Isley, Angela Winbush)Featured on the 1996 album “Mission To Please”.
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4 . Bassomatic – Ease On ByFeatured on the 1990 album “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Bass”.
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5 . Jeru The Damaja – Ya Playin’ YaselfFeatured on the 1996 album “Wrath of the Math”.
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6 . Mary J. Blige – Deep InsideFeatured on the 1999 album “Mary“.
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7 . Buckshot Lefonque – Another DayFeatured on the 1997 album “Music Evolution”.
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8 . P.M. Dawn – I Had No RightFeatured on the 1998 album “Dearest Christian”.
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9 . Gerald Levert – Thinkin’ Bout ItFeatured on the 1998 album “Love & Consequences”.
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10 . Funkdoobiest – Wopbabalubop (w/ Cypress Hill)Featured on the 1993 album “Which Doobie U B?”.
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11 . Dru Hill – 5 StepsFeatured on the 1997 album “Dru Hill”. |
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12 . Boyz II Men – A Song For MamaFeatured on the 1997 album “Evolution”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Salt-N-Pepa’s “Gitty Up” cleverly samples Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2,” adding a unique hip-hop twist. The song’s release included a popular remix.
2. Kathy Sledge, known for her work with Sister Sledge, pursued a solo career with “Another Day.” Her voice remains iconic from leading hits like “We Are Family.”
3. The Isley Brothers’ “Floatin’ On Your Love” features a duet between Ronald Isley and Angela Winbush, showcasing their vocal chemistry during their marriage.
4. “Ease On By” by Bassomatic features Sharon Musgrave on vocals. Her performance complements the track’s funky bassline and ambient production.
5. DJ Premier produced Jeru the Damaja’s “Ya Playin’ Yaself.” The track critiques the glorification of criminal lifestyles, consistent with the album’s themes.
6. Mary’s “Deep Inside” samples Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets,” blending R&B with a classic piano riff. The song charted modestly in 1999.
7. Jazz musician Branford Marsalis led Buckshot LeFonque, a project blending genres including jazz, which produced the reflective track “Another Day.”
8. P.M. Dawn’s “I Had No Right” is rumored to be a message to Prince Be’s son, Christian, addressing themes of responsibility and reflection.
9. After releasing a successful solo track in 1998, Gerald Levert was known for his role in LSG, a supergroup, beside his solo achievements.
10. Funkdoobiest collaborated with B-Real on “Wopbabalubop,” a track reflecting the interconnected nature of the 1990s West Coast hip hop scene.
11. Dru Hill’s “5 Steps” explores the theme of grief, with poignant lyrics about confronting the loss of a loved one. Its gospel undertones enhance its impact.
12. “A Song for Mama,” penned by Babyface, became a hit for Boyz II Men and featured as the theme for the film Soul Food, celebrating maternal love.
For THE FULL HIP-HOP & SOUL COLLECTION click here
















