How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Normani, Flo Rida, Hardy Caprio, T.I., Jay-Z & Kanye West, Headie One, Drake, Young Thug, The Game, Fetty Wap, Travis Scott, Nelly
They are the performers of twelve hip-hop, soul, etc. tracks that were ranked in various charts, this week (34/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.
Tracklist
1 . Normani – Motivation |
‘And, baby, turn around, let me give you innovation’
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| Former Fifth Harmony member, Normani ‘s “Motivation” is a solo single co-written with Ariana Grande, Max Martin, Ilya Salmanzadeh, and Savan Kotecha. The song and its video, directed by Dave Meyers, pay tribute to late ’90s and early 2000s R&B hits, referencing through her impressive dance skills, icons like Beyoncé, J.Lo, Ciara, Britney Spears, and Ashanti. |
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2 . Flo Rida – Whistle |
| With its memorable whistle hook, Flo Rida ‘s “Whistle” is a catchy pop-rap track. In the video, directed by Marc Klasfeld and set on Acapulco’s beaches, Flo is mostly an observer, watching bikini-clad women, taking photos, rapping by the surf, and at a beach party filled with dancing, lights, and fire. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Wild Ones”. |
3 . Hardy Caprio – Best Life (w/ One Acen) |
| Sierra Leone-born and London-raised rapper, Hardy Caprio , and his partner One Acen are seen in the hills, riding quads, celebrating, and showcasing their success. |
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4 . T.I. – Got Your Back (w/ Keri Hilson) |
| In the video for “Got Your Back” by T.I. and Keri Hilson, often separated by a symbolic wall, an actor portrays a jailed man supported by a devoted woman at home, reflecting T.I.’s 2009 imprisonment on a weapons charge. Produced by DJ Toomp, the track itself celebrates loyal partners, with Hilson on the hook and T.I. acknowledging his fiancée, former Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, who makes a cameo at the video’s end. |
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Featured on the 2010 album “No Mercy”. |
5 . Jay-Z & Kanye West – No Church In The Wild (w/ Frank Ocean, The-Dream) |
‘Socrates asked whose bias do y’all seek?’
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| Directed by Romain Gavras in Prague, the “No Church in the Wild” video depicts a chaotic confrontation between young rebels and riot police, reflecting global protest sentiments and police brutality. Frank Ocean’s vocals complement Jay-Z and Kanye West’s verses that celebrate wealth, creating a stark contrast with the video’s intense imagery and violence. |
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Featured on the 2011 album “Watch the Throne”. |
6 . Headie One – Both |
| Both, from the ‘Music x Road’ mixtape, showcases the evolution of drill music. The song features a nostalgic sample from Ultra Naté’s 1997 hit “Free”, while Headie’s lyrics blend introspection, as in “see this life of sin, I’m just trying to make sure my heart stays pure.” |
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7 . Drake – Hotline Bling |
‘Girl, …you got me stressed out’
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| Hotline Bling by Canadian pop-rapper Drake reflects on past phone calls with a former lover. Directed by Director X and seemingly influenced by visual artist James Turrell, the song’s music video has become iconic for Drake’s unique and casual dance moves. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “Views“.Views+vinyl+album&tag=radiovideom05-20′ target=’_blank’ rel=’noopener’> |
8 . Young Thug – Hot [Remix] (w/ Gunna & Travis Scott ) |
| The music video of Atlanta rappers Young Thug and Gunna’s remix of their track “Hot,” featuring Travis Scott, depicts Young Thug as a fireman combating flames, while Gunna performs in a burning house. |
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Featured on the 2019 album “So Much Fun”. |
9 . The Game – Pot Of Gold (w/ Chris Brown) |
| Compton rapper, Game, and Chris Brown team up for the introspective single “Pot of Gold.” Game raps over a guitar-driven melody about his struggles, and Brown reflects on the pressures of the limelight, yearning for simpler times. |
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Featured on the 2011 album “The R.E.D. Album”. |
10 . Fetty Wap – Again |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Fetty Wap”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
11 . Travis Scott – Yosemite |
‘I went to school where they teach you finesse’
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| Directed by Nabil, the music video for “YOSEMITE” features Travis Scott and Gunna celebrating their achievements and luxurious lifestyles on an Astroworld-branded jet. Parallelly, a young boy, representing Scott’s younger self, embarks on a jungle quest, with tribal encounters and a cosmic cave, to find the Astroworld theme park. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Astroworld”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . Nelly – The Fix (w/ Jeremih) |
‘I know you like it like this When you get that itch’
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| Nelly’s “The Fix,” produced by DJ Mustard and Mike Free, features Jeremih and samples Marvin Gaye’s iconic “Sexual Healing.” In the music video, Nelly portrays “The Fixer,” a love guru, assisting his client, played by his real-life girlfriend, Shantel Jackson. |
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Dave Meyers and Daniel Russell directed the “Motivation” music video. Both are noted for visually striking works, adding star quality with Lori Harvey’s cameo.
2. The music video for Flo Rida’s track was shot in Acapulco, Mexico. It matches the song’s upbeat and carefree vibe with sunny visuals.
3. The single is credited as a Hardy Caprio release, featuring One Acen. It marks a continuation of their artistic collaboration in the 2017–2018 period.
4. T.I.’s seventh studio album campaign used “King Uncaged” as a working title. Eventually, the album emerged as the critically noted “No Mercy.”
5. Romain Gavras directed the visually intense video for “No Church in the Wild,” notable for its poignant riot scenes set in Prague.
6. Headie One’s single is set in C-sharp major. The track’s high tempo aligns with the UK drill stylings prevalent in the mixtape.
7. “Hotline Bling” by Drake incorporates a sample from Timmy Thomas’s “Why Can’t We Live Together,” adding vintage soul flair to its modern production.
8. The remix by Young Thug, Gunna, and Travis Scott features on the album “So Much Fun,” showcasing a collaborative rap energy.
9. The Game collaborated with Chris Brown on this track at Pacifique Studios. Known for its lush acoustics, the studio contributed to the polished sound.
10. During its debut week, “Again” joined “Trap Queen,” “679,” and “My Way” in the top ten Hot Rap Songs. A fete of dominating chart presence.
11. Initial mixes of “Yosemite” highlighted Nav’s voice at unusually low volumes, promptly corrected post-release, bringing his vocals to the fore.
12. Nelly’s track featuring Jeremih uses a sound bite from Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing,” paying homage through its rhythm and smooth hooks.
For THE FULL HIP-HOP & SOUL COLLECTION click here
NB . You may wonder what are these “Quotes” attached to certain photos above. Well! For a specific song, we select a still image from the video on one side and choose a lyric from the song on the other side. We ensure that the lyric has a connection to the image, although sometimes the connection may be far-fetched or based on a double entendre, creating a humorous or meme-like combination when the two are merged together. Et voilà!
Rap Quotes • And, baby, turn around, let me give you innovation (Normani) • Socrates asked whose bias do y’all seek? (Jay-Z & Kanye West) • Girl, …you got me stressed out (Drake) • I went to school where they teach you finesse (Travis Scott) • I know you like it like this When you get that itch (Nelly)
Musicwise : Hip Hop, Neo Soul, Pop, R&B, Rap, Slap House, Rap, Urban Contemporary, Afroswing, Grime
