Hip-Hop & Soul N°374 – Vintage 90s Music Videos

How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.

The subjects du jour are : Timbaland, General Public, Mantronix, D-Influence, Fatman, Asian Dub Foundation, Angelique Kidjo, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Roni Size, Afrika Bambaataa, 2Pac, Noel McKoy

They are the performers of twelve vintage hip-hop, soul, etc. tracks that were ranked in various charts, this week (26/52) BUT … in the Nineties 90s.

QUIZ QUESTIONS

1. Which prominent detail first appeared in Jay-Z’s lyrics in “Tim’s Bio: From The Motion Picture – Life From Da Bassment”?

  • A Reference to his childhood
  • B Mention of Beyoncé
  • C His New York upbringing

2. General Public’s “I’ll Take You There” is a cover of which original recording artist?

  • A Marvin Gaye
  • B The Staple Singers
  • C Aretha Franklin

3. What change in lineup occurred in Mantronix before recording “The Incredible Sound Machine”?

  • A Addition of Kurtis Mantronik
  • B Replacing D.J.D with Jade Trini
  • C Departure of Angie Stone

4. Which type of musical style is NOT associated with D-Influence’s “Midnight”?

  • A Funk
  • B Techno
  • C R&B

5. On which groove is Fatman’s “Release Me” based?

  • A A loop from “Fire Eater” by Rusty Bryant
  • B Original jazz composition
  • C Funk sample from James Brown

6. What lyrical subject is central to Asian Dub Foundation’s song on the 1997 album “R.A.F.I.”?

  • A Urban poverty
  • B Interracial harmony
  • C Youth rebellion

7. Which chart achievement is associated with Angélique Kidjo’s “Wombo Lombo”?

  • A Top 10 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100
  • B Number 16 on Billboard Dance charts
  • C Number 1 in Benin

8. Who is part of the production team for Chaka Demus & Pliers’ track on “Tease Me”?

  • A Timbaland
  • B Sly & Robbie
  • C Dr. Dre

9. Which sample is NOT featured in the Roni Size & Reprazent song from “New Forms”?

  • A “Scorpio” by Dennis Coffey
  • B “Boo” by Moloko
  • C “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder

10. In which year was “Agharta – The City of Shamballa” released?

  • A 1995
  • B 1998
  • C 2000

11. What recognition did “Dear Mama” by 2Pac receive in 2010?

  • A Grammy Award
  • B Induction into the National Recording Registry
  • C ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award

12. What particularly characterizes Noel McKoy’s “Brighter Day (with JTQ)”?

  • A Heavy metal riffs
  • B Gospel-influenced soul vocals
  • C Minimalist electronic beats

WATCH IN FULL
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For TWELVE more Hip-Hop & Soul – Vintage 90s Music Videos – week 26/52 – click here

AUDIO ONLY

Tracklist

1 . Timbaland – Lobster & Scrimp (w/ Jay-Z)

Featured on the 1998 album “Tim’s Bio: Life from da Bassment”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Instagram

2 . General Public – I’ll Take You There

Lyrics >> More by the same : Wikipedia

3 . Mantronix – Step To Me [Do Me]

More by the same : Instagram

4 . D-Influence – Midnight

Featured on the 1995 album “Prayer 4 Unity”.

More by the same : Instagram

5 . Fatman – Release Me (w/ Stella Mae)

More by the same : Instagram

6 . Asian Dub Foundation – Black White

Featured on the 1998 album “Rafi’s Revenge”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

7 . Angelique Kidjo – Wombo Lombo

Featured on the 1996 album “Fifa”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

8 . Chaka Demus & Pliers – I Wanna Be Your Man

Featured on the 1993 album “Tease Me”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Wikipedia

9 . Roni Size – Share The Fall

Featured on the 1997 album “New Forms“.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

10 . Afrika Bambaataa – Agharta ~ The City Of Shamballa

More by the same : Wikipedia

11 . 2Pac – Dear Mama

Featured on the 1995 album “Me Against the World“.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

12 . Noel McKoy – Brighter Day (w/ JTQ)

Featured on the 1995 album “Brighter Day”.

More by the same : Instagram

And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:

1. Jay-Z’s first lyrics mentioning Beyoncé appear on Timbaland’s track. Their eventual relationship became iconic in music history, but it all began with this sly reference.

2. General Public’s “I’ll Take You There” covers The Staple Singers. It marks a nostalgic reunion for the band amidst their ongoing exploration of collaborations.

3. Mantronix added Jade Trini, replacing D.J.D in their lineup. The shift occurred just before they recorded “The Incredible Sound Machine.”

4. “Midnight” by D-Influence isn’t linked with techno. Instead, it fuses R&B with soul and funk, distinctively marking the 90s musical landscape.

5. “Release Me” features a loop from “Fire Eater” by Rusty Bryant. This sampled groove underpins the house track’s lively dancefloor vibe.

6. Interracial harmony is at the lyrical heart of Asian Dub Foundation’s song. Their music addresses social issues with pointed, direct relevance.

7. “Wombo Lombo” by Angélique Kidjo achieved number 16 on the Billboard Dance charts. This showcases her international dance music appeal.

8. Chaka Demus & Pliers’ track features production by Sly & Robbie. Their renowned expertise significantly shaped the reggae duo’s sound.

9. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder does not appear in the Roni Size & Reprazent song. Instead, it samples various other rhythmic tracks for its unique sound.

10. “Agharta – The City of Shamballa” was released in 1998. This collaboration involved Westbam, Afrika Bambaataa, and I.F.O., reflecting a fusion of talents.

11. “Dear Mama” gained National Recording Registry induction in 2010. The cultural and historical value of 2Pac’s touching tribute to his mother was recognized.

12. Noel McKoy’s “Brighter Day” includes gospel-influenced soul vocals. It provides an uplifting feel with JTQ’s signature jazz instrumentation.

For THE FULL HIP-HOP & SOUL COLLECTION click here

(*) According to our own statistics, updated on February 15, 2026