How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Stormzy, D-Block Europe, DRAM, YNW Melly, DaBaby, Digdat, Stay Flee Get Lizzy, Kojo Funds, Lil Wayne, Rak-Su, Ne-Yo, The Weeknd
They are the performers of twelve hip-hop, soul, etc. tracks that were ranked in various charts, this week (40/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.
1. Which British artist’s track “Gang Signs & Prayer” features production by XTC?
- A Dave
- B Stormzy
- C Skepta
2. Who directed the music video for “Playing For Keeps” featuring D-Block Europe and Dave?
- A Rapman
- B Spike Lee
- C F. Gary Gray
3. DRAM’s track, featuring Lil Yachty, was Grammy-nominated for which category?
- A Best New Artist
- B Best Rap Album
- C Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
4. “223’s” by YNW Melly involves which unusual incident?
- A Fleeing police due to a broken tail light
- B Losing a pet snake on tour
- C Winning a marathon race
5. DaBaby’s track from “Kirk” samples a song by which 90s boy band?
- A Backstreet Boys
- B NSYNC
- C Boyz II Men
6. Which artists feature on the charting version of DigDat’s “Airforce”?
- A AJ Tracey and Skepta
- B K Trap and Krept & Konan
- C J Hus and Stormzy
7. Who are the vocal contributors on the single featuring Popcaan, Fredo, and Tory Lanez?
- A Drake
- B Tory Lanez, Fredo, Popcaan
- C Sean Paul
8. “Golden Boy” by Kojo Funds features which British rapper?
- A Giggs
- B Wiley
- C Kano
9. On which album does Lil Wayne’s track with Kendrick Lamar appear?
- A Carter IV
- B Tha Carter V
- C No Ceilings
10. What single by Rak-Su samples Adina Howard’s “Freak Like Me”?
- A “Freak Like Us”
- B “I Want You to Freak”
- C “Freakin’ You”
11. Which pop artist co-wrote a track with Ne-Yo, featured on his album “R.E.D.”?
- A Sia
- B Taylor Swift
- C Lady Gaga
12. “Earned It” by The Weeknd is associated with which film’s soundtrack?
- A Fifty Shades of Grey
- B Twilight
- C The Great Gatsby
Tracklist
1 . Stormzy – Shut Up |
‘I was out hungry, so damn hungry’
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| Originally a video filmed by a fan in a South London car park, Stormzy’s “Shut Up” showcases his clever wordplay and catchy clapbacks. The song highlights Stormzy’s effortless rap skills. Supported by his squad, he delivers a bold freestyle, set to XTC’s classic grime beat “Functions On The Low,” challenging his competitors. |
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Featured on the 2017 album “Gang Signs & Prayer”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
2 . D-Block Europe – Playing For Keeps (w/ Dave) |
| D-Block Europe’s track “Playing For Keeps” features Dave. The nearly ten-minute music video filmed by UK director Rapman showcases acting from Dave, Young Adz, and Dirtbike LB, with notable appearances from boxer Lawrence Okolie, comedian Michael Dappah, “Top Boy” actor Michael Ward, and self-proclaimed gangster Dave Courtney. |
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3 . DRAM – Broccoli (w/ Lil Yachty) |
‘In the middle of the party, bitch, get off me (goddamn)’
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Featured on the 2016 album “Big Baby DRAM”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
4 . YNW Melly – 223’s (w/ 9lokknine) |
| After becoming a TikTok sensation, YNW Melly’s “223s” gets its own music video directed by DrewFilmedit and featuring 9lokkNine and actors Claire Montgomery, Noah Ross, and Karen E. Wright. |
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Featured on the 2019 album “Melly vs. Melvin”. |
5 . DaBaby – Intro |
| In “Intro,” produced by DJ Kid, DaBaby reflects on his rapid rise to fame and, juxtaposing his success with his grief, pays tribute to his late father and grandmother. The music video, directed by Reel Goats and shot in Hawaii, captures DaBaby’s moments with his friends and family. |
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Featured on the 2019 album “Kirk”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
6 . DigDat – Airforce |
| The music video for “Air Force” by drill artist DigDat is directed by Kaylum Dennis. |
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7 . Stay Flee Get Lizzy – 2 Cups (w/ Popcaan, Fredo & Tory Lanez) |
‘I like how you’re tanned, you look best when you’re fried’
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| Stay Flee Get Lizzy’s “2 Cups” is a dancehall anthem, set to a rhythmic sample of the 2002 “Diwali Riddim” album and featuring Tory Lanez’s vocal versatility, Popcaan’s authentic dancehall roots, and Fredo’s touch of UK trap. |
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8 . Kojo Funds – Png (w/ Giggs) |
| East London artist Kojo Funds teams up with South London stalwart Giggs for the slow tempo song “PNG.” Directed by Myles Whittingham, the music video takes place in an abandoned warehouse. |
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9 . Lil Wayne – Mona Lisa (w/ Kendrick Lamar) |
| Collaborating with producer Angel Aponte, Infamous began crafting the beat for “Mona Lisa” in 2014, during a delay in Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter V” release due to a lawsuit. The track features Wayne and Kendrick Lamar addressing trust issues and deceitful women, likening them to DaVinci’s Mona Lisa. The music visual is animated by Tim Fox. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Tha Carter V”. |
10 . Rak-Su – I Want You To Freak |
‘Keep doing what you’re doing, don’t stop’
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11 . Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You [Until You Learn To Love Yourself] |
‘A heart of numbness gets brought to life’
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| Starting as a pure R&B ballad, Ne-Yo’s “Let Me Love You” evolves into an engaging dance track. While the song conveys a somewhat patronizing message of “helping” and “understanding.” The music video is directed by Christopher Simms. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “R.E.D.”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . The Weeknd – Earned It [Fifty Shades Of Grey] |
‘You make it look like it’s magic (Oh, yeah)’
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| The Weeknd’s “Earned It,” made for the “Fifty Shades of Grey” soundtrack, exudes sensuality and mirrors the film’s erotic tone. Set in the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles, the music video, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson (who also helmed the film), further elevates the sultry vibe with a group of alluring dancers, provocative choreography and the presence of Dakota Johnson, the film’s lead, in a shibari scene. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Fifty Shades of Grey : soundtrack”. |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Stormzy’s “Gang Signs & Prayer” features production from XTC. The track initially gained popularity as a freestyle before becoming a staple in Stormzy’s debut album.
2. The music video for “Playing For Keeps” was directed by Rapman. It gained attention not just for its music but also for featuring several high-profile cameo appearances.
3. DRAM’s track featuring Lil Yachty was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The song reflects on themes of leisure and carefreeness, punctuated by its catchy hook.
4. In “223’s,” there’s an incident where YNW Melly fled from police due to a broken tail light. This colorful anecdote broadened the song’s narrative intrigue.
5. DaBaby’s track from “Kirk” samples NSYNC’s rendition of “O Holy Night.” This intriguing blend of styles lent the song a unique retrospective quality.
6. The charting version of DigDat’s “Airforce” features K Trap and Krept & Konan. The collaboration highlighted the interconnectedness of UK rap artists.
7. The single features Tory Lanez, Fredo, and Popcaan. Each contributed their unique vocal styles, creating a dynamic and multifaceted sound.
8. British rapper Giggs features on “Golden Boy.” His presence alongside Kojo Funds brought a distinctive edge to the afro-swing style of the album.
9. The track by Lil Wayne with Kendrick Lamar appears on “Tha Carter V.” It’s notable for its storytelling and collaboration between two major hip-hop artists.
10. “I Want You to Freak” by Rak-Su samples Adina Howard’s “Freak Like Me.” The song was performed during their time on The X Factor, boosting its popularity.
11. Pop artist Sia co-wrote a track with Ne-Yo on his “R.E.D.” album. This collaboration infused the song with a blend of emotive lyricism and catchy hooks.
12. “Earned It” by The Weeknd is associated with the “Fifty Shades of Grey” soundtrack. Its moody and sensual tones complemented the film’s overarching narrative.
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 was out hungry, so damn hungry (Stormzy) • In the middle of the party, bitch, get off me (goddamn) (DRAM) • I like how you’re tanned, you look best when you’re fried (Stay Flee Get Lizzy) • Keep doing what you’re doing, don’t stop (Rak-Su) • A heart of numbness gets brought to life (Ne-Yo) • You make it look like it’s magic (Oh, yeah) (The Weeknd)
Music-wise : Dancehall, Grime, Hip Hop, Drill, Pop, R&B, Rap, Reggae Fusion, Urban Contemporary, Trap
