Hip-Hop 101: Five Albums, Five Artists, Five Songs

We recently asked Miles Marshall Lewis, your guide to Muslim hip-hop in Paris, for his hip-hop essentials — the songs, albums and artists he’d recommend to a “newbie to jumpstart his/her hip-hop appreciation”. Wether you’re just starting to explore the genre, or just looking for some playlist inspiration, put on your headphones, pump up the volume and head into the weekend with with some hip-hop classics…
 

 
Here, straight from the mind of Miles Marshall Lewis the Five/Five/Five Guide to hip-hop: Five Artists, Five Albums, Five Songs
 
ARTISTS
Jay-Z
The Notorious BIG
De La Soul
OutKast
Rakim
 
ALBUMS
Nas, Illmatic
A Tribe Called Quest, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
Dr. Dre, The Chronic
Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Wu-Tang Clan, Wu-Tang Forever
 
SONGS
“Old School,” 2Pac

 
“A Milli,” Lil Wayne

 
“It’s All About the Benjamins,” Puff Daddy & the Family

Puff Daddy – It's All About The Benjamins @ Yahoo! Video

 
“The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel,” Grandmaster Flash

“La Di Da Di,” Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew

 
Miles Marshall Lewis is a Bronx-born writer currently living in Paris with his wife and two sons. His is the author of ‘Scars of the Sould Are Why Kids Wear Bandages When The Don’t Have Bruises‘ and ‘There’s a Riot Goin’ On,’ part of the 33 1/3 series. He is also the founder and editor of the Bronx Biannual literary journal. You can read his musings on music, pop culture and more at furthermucker.com and twitter.com/furthamucka.