How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Khalid, Labrinth, Unknown T, Kanye West, Drake, Lil Baby & Gunna , Stormzy, French Montana, Jay1, Flo Rida, Chris Brown, Chip & Not3s
They are the performers of twelve hip-hop, soul, etc. tracks that were ranked in various charts, this week (39/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.
1. What peak position did Khalid’s “Better” achieve on the US Billboard Hot 100?
- A Number one
- B Number five
- C Number eight
2. Which artist featured on Labrinth’s hit single released in October 2011?
- A Tinie Tempah
- B Ed Sheeran
- C Emeli Sandé
3. What was notable about Unknown T’s “Homerton B” in the context of UK drill music?
- A First UK drill song to chart
- B First to win a Brit Award
- C First to be certified Silver
4. During the creation of “Clique,” which artist’s verse was never used in the final track?
- A Pusha T
- B Nicki Minaj
- C The Game
5. What dance trend did Drake’s track from *Scorpion* inspire?
- A The Harlem Shake
- B #InMyFeelingsChallenge
- C The Floss
6. What is the significant RIAA certification milestone achieved by Lil Baby and Gunna’s “Drip Too Hard”?
- A Gold
- B Platinum
- C Diamond
7. Which British producer is credited with producing Stormzy’s track released in September 2019?
- A EY
- B Steel Banglez
- C Fraser T Smith
8. “No Stylist” by French Montana features which Canadian superstar?
- A Drake
- B The Weeknd
- C Justin Bieber
9. What genre beat does the UK rapper’s 2019 standalone single incorporate?
- A Jungle
- B Drill
- C Grime
10. Which Dutch DJ’s track is sampled in Flo Rida’s “I Cry”?
- A Hardwell
- B Bingo Players
- C Tiësto
11. Which notable French band style is echoed in Chris Brown’s disco-funk track “Zero”?
- A Daft Punk
- B Air
- C Justice
12. What is the title of the track featuring Chip and Not3s, released in September 2018?
- A “Cherry I’m Cool”
- B “CRB Check”
- C “Ink My Skin”
Tracklist
1 . Khalid – Better |
‘I’m not really drunk, I never get that fucked up’
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| With its mid-tempo beat reminiscent of ’90s Miami bass, “Better” showcases Khalid’s smooth vocals. In the accompanying music video, directed by Andrew Donoho, Khalid dances in a vacant lot in downtown L.A., while vintage BMWs, particularly the exclusive E36 M3 model, whirl and zoom around him. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Suncity”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
2 . Labrinth – Earthquake (w/ Tinie Tempah) |
| Blending rap, R&B, and dance with a robotic beat, 22-year-old British artist Labrinth’s track “Earthquake” features rapper Tinie Tempah. The music video is directed by US-based Syndrome Studios. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Electronic Earth”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
3 . Unknown T – Homerton B |
| East London artist, Unknown T’s debut single “Homerton B” introduces with its catchy chorus and rhythmic lyrics, a lighter side to drill music and its menacing undertones. The music video is directed by Jay Papworth. |
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4 . Kanye West – Clique (w/ Big Sean & Jay-Z) |
‘Your money too short, you can’t be talkin’ to me’
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| The Hit-Boy-produced track “Clique” features Kanye West along with rap moguls Jay-Z and Big Sean. Against a slow, eerie beat, the trio delivers lyrics celebrating their tight-knit, influential circle in the rap industry, with West alluding to his soon to be wife to Kim Kardashian’s notorious past. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Cruel Summer”. |
5 . Drake – In My Feelings |
‘Clap that ass, you’re the only one I love’
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| The track “In My Feelings” by Drake features rap duo City Girls and samples Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” and Magnolia Shorty. The accompanying music video, directed by Karena Evans and shot in New Orleans, spans 8 minutes showcasing Drake, with a Southern accent, attempting to woo Keke, played by La La Anthony, until her mother, portrayed by Phylicia Rashad, intervenes. As the beat kicks in, viewers are taken on a New Orleans tour with cameos by Shiggy and Big Freedia alongside appearances by Yung Miami of City Girls and rapper Capito. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Scorpion”. |
6 . Lil Baby & Gunna – Drip Too Hard |
‘Do this all the time, this ain’t no surprise’
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| Popularizing the slang “drip,” representing their era’s version of “swag,” Atlanta rappers Lil Baby and Gunna join forces on “Drip Too Hard,” boasting their wealth, lavish attire and jewelry through a trap beat. The song’s video, directed by Spike Jordan, portrays them as fashion designers dressing (and undressing) models for a desert-set fashion show. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Drip Harder”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
7 . Stormzy – Wiley Flow |
| Stormzy’s “Wiley Flow” is a tribute, over producer EY’s pulsating beat, to grime pioneer Wiley, leaving listeners pondering if it’s a diss or appreciation. The accompanying (and confrontational) music video is directed by KC Locke/ |
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Featured on the 2019 album “Heavy Is the Head”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
8 . French Montana – No Stylist (w/ Drake) |
‘ I told her, “Don’t wear no 350s ’round me”‘
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| In “No Stylist,” French Montana, alongside Drake, digs into the fusion of rap and fashion, with Montana’s verses flaunting luxury brands over a beat by London on da Track. The video, shot in the Bronx and directed by Glenn Michael and Christo, is a glamorous runway show featuring a star-studded cast including A$AP Rocky, Young Thug, Dapper Dan, Cam’ron, Luka Sabbat, and Slick Rick, and his vintage ride. |
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Featured on the 2019 album “Montana”. |
9 . Jay1 – 4am In Coventry |
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10 . Flo Rida – I Cry |
‘Eyes shut, still got me swimming like a diver’
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| Flo Rida’s “I Cry” offers a personal and emotional reflection on his challenging upbringing amidst financial hardship, and life’s journey and struggles. The instrumental used by Rida comes from “Cry (Just a Little)” by Dutch DJ duo Bingo Players (Maarten Hoogstraten and Paul Bäumer) along British vocalist Kelli-Leigh who herself interpolated Brenda Russell’s 1988 single “Piano in the Dark.” The accompanying music video is directed by Marc Klasfeld. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Wild Ones”. |
11 . Chris Brown – Zero |
‘You think I’m thinkin’ ’bout your ass? (Woo)’
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| Chris Brown’s “Zero” blends R&B, funk, pop, and electro a la Daft Punk. The narrative revolves around a girl who leaves a relationship, only to attempt a return after her ex has moved on and cured his sense of betrayal and disappointment with a new partner (or his budddies). The music video is directed by Brown himself. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Royalty”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . Chip & Not3s – CRB Check |
‘There ain’t no condom to put on my heart’
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| London rappers Chip and Not3s collaborate on “CRB Check,” a song about audacious girls that unveils a more relaxed and melodic side of Chip. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Ten10”. |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Better” peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Khalid’s first solo top 10 in the US. It also topped the Hot R&B Songs chart.
2. Labrinth’s hit song featured Tinie Tempah, and was a significant chart success in the UK and internationally.
3. “Homerton B” by Unknown T was the first UK drill track to be certified Silver, showcasing the genre’s rising popularity.
4. Pusha T recorded a verse for “Clique,” but it was ultimately omitted from the final track, finding a place in another project.
5. Drake’s track inspired the viral #InMyFeelingsChallenge, enhancing the song’s popularity and chart performance.
6. “Drip Too Hard” by Lil Baby and Gunna was certified Diamond, making it a milestone achievement for both artists.
7. EY is credited with producing Stormzy’s track, contributing to its unique sound on the “Heavy Is The Head” album.
8. Drake features on “No Stylist,” adding to the collaboration’s commercial success and certifications.
9. The UK rapper’s 2019 single features a drill influence, reflecting his personal stories and experiences.
10. Flo Rida’s “I Cry” samples “Cry (Just a Little)” by Bingo Players, linking back to classic hits.
11. Chris Brown’s “Zero” echoes the style of Daft Punk, with its funky bass lines and vocoder effects.
12. The track “CRB Check” by Chip and Not3s showcases their collaborative efforts on the album “TEN10.”
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 • I’m not really drunk, I never get that fucked up (Khalid) • Your money too short, you can’t be talkin’ to me (Kanye West) • Clap that ass, you’re the only one I love (Drake) • Do this all the time, this ain’t no surprise (Lil Baby & Gunna ) • I told her, “Don’t wear no 350s ’round me” (French Montana) • Eyes shut, still got me swimming like a diver (Flo Rida) • You think I’m thinkin’ ’bout your ass? (Woo) (Chris Brown) • There ain’t no condom to put on my heart (Chip & Not3s)
Musicwise : Afroswing, Grime, Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, Trap
