I remember one Saturday afternoon about 6 or 7 years ago when I made my way into a Border's bookstore. As I was perusing in the music section, my eyes locked in on a CD cover that read: "Cosmic Grooves:Your Astrological Profile and the Songs that Define You." I began to look at the different musical selections based the 12 zodiac signs and I said to myself: "There's something missing here." Not to in any way lessen or criticize the idea, but my first thought is that there needed to be a much broader cultural context available. Again, I asked myself:
Who was the creator of this series trying to appeal to? MY friends? YOUR Friends? I was puzzled!!! It just seemed to me that there were a WHOLE LOT of people getting left out of the realm of consideration..
The feeling that immediately came over me was like hearing a song that someone has done and feeling like you have something valuable to add in terms of an alternate version. Or, maybe you want to call the artist up and ask "hey, can I do a remix on this?"
Now, I happen to be a self-proclaimed "hip-hop head", and I always wanted to make playlists inspired by the general themes of the twelve zodiac signs that were hip-hop oriented. For those that appreciate Astrology and hip-hop and their contributions the way I do, here we go:
Aries
1. Follow the Leader - Eric B & Rakim
2. I'm Still # 1- Boogie Down Productions
3. Ladies First- Queen Latifah
4. Play to Win- Gangstarr
5. 2nd Round K.O. - Canibus
6. Mama Said Knock You Out- LL Cool J
7. The World is Yours- Nas
8. Take Over- Jay- Z
9. No Fear - O.G.C.
10- Protect ya Neck- Wu Tang Clan
Taurus
1. C.R.E.AM.- Wu Tang Clan
2. I Love The Dough- Biggie feat. Jay- Z
3. All About The Cash- Gangstarr
4. Slow Down- Brand Nubian
5. Take it EZ- Common
6. Dead Presidents- Jay- Z
7. Mostly the Voice- Gangstarr
8. Take Your Time- Pete Rock feat. Loose Ends
9. The Cash- Cocoa Brovas
10. One To Grow On - UMC's
Gemini
1. A Million and One Questions- Jay Z
2. The Questions- Common feat. Mos Def
3. Super Lyrical- Big Pun feat. Black Thought
4. Special Delivery Remix- G-Dep feat. Ghostface, Keith Murray & Craig Mack
5. The Message- Nas
6. The ? Remains- Gangstarr
7. Ebonics- Big L
8. I Gotta Story To Tell- Biggie
9. The Versatility Joint- Kev Brown
10. 100 Bars- Canibus
Cancer
1. T.R.O.Y. - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
2. Reminisce- Mary J. Blige
3. Can We Go Back- Hi -Tek feat. Talib Kweli
4. Emotional- Carl Thomas
5. The Food- Common feat. Kanye West
6. Nothing Like Home- Mobb Deep feat. Littles
7. Back in The Day- Ahmad
8. Mood Swing- Asheru
9. In a Sentimental Mood- Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
10. Nostalgia- Marco Polo feat. Masta Ace
Leo
1. The Sun God- Hi- Tek feat. Common
2. Exhibit C- Jay Electronica
3. Shine On Me- Pete Rock & CL Smooth
4. Royalty- Gangstarr
5. Down With The King Remix- Run D.M.C. feat Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
6. Queen Bi*%h- Lil' Kim
7. Braggin' Writes- J- Live
8. In The Sun- Large Professor feat. Q-Tip
9. Jazzy Belle- Outkast
10. Gold Digger- EPMD
Virgo
1. Virgo- Nas feat. Ludacris & Doug E. Fresh
2. So Fresh & So Clean- Outkast
3. The Purist- Polyrhythm Addicts feat. Large Professor
4. Flawless- Phife
5. The Upgrade- J- Live feat. Oddisee and Pos from De La Soul
6. Be Healthy- Dead Prez
7. Funky Technician- Lord Finesse
8. New Year's Resolution- Lootpack
9. One Time 4 Ya Mind- Nas
10. You must Learn- Boogie Down Productions
Libra
1. You're A Customer -EPMD
2. Full Cooperation- DEF Squad
3. Affirmative Action-- The Firm
4. The Most Beautifullest Think In This World- Keith Murray
5. Appreciate- Pete Rock feat. C.L. Smooth
6. You Gotta Love It- Nas
7. Look of Love- Slum Village
8. Harmonize- Nice & Smooth
9. Smooth Operator- Big Daddy Kane
10. Mainstream- Outkast
Scorpio
1. Last Dayz- Onyx
2. Resurrection- Common
3. The Re-birth of Slick- Digable Planets
4. I Gave You Power- Nas
5. Hell- Pharoahe Monch feat. Canibus
6. Best Kept Secret- Diamond D
7. Revenge- Grap Luva feat. Pete Rock
8. Mystery Man- Last Emperor
9. Let's Talk About Sex- Salt & Pepa
10. Quiet Storm Remix- Mobb Deep feat Lil' Kim
Sagittarius
1. Award Tour- Tribe Called Quest
2. Worldwide- Jazzy Jeff feat. Pauly Yamz & Baby Blak
3. World Famous- M.O.P.
4. December 4th- Jay-Z
5. Travelocity- Masta Ace feat. Punch & Words
6. State To State- NO ID feat. Common
7. I Get Around- Digital Underground
8. Traveling Music- J- Live
9.Truth- Dwele
10.You Can't Stop The Prophet Remix- Jeru Tha Damaja
Capricorn
1. Work- Gangstarr
2. Success- Fat Joe
3. The Bizness- De La Soul feat. Common
4. Strictly Business- EPMD
5. Handle Your Bizness- M.O.P.
6.Eric B. is President- Eric B & Rakim
7. I get The Job Done- Big Daddy Kane
8.Let's Be Realistic- ED OG
9.Determination- Black Star
10. The Official- Dilla & Madlib
Aquarius
1. What They Do- The Roots
2. No Comparison- Buckshot & 9th Wonder
3. One in A Million- Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
4. Aquemini- Outkast
5. Astronomy (8th Light)- Black Star
6. The Originators- Beatnuts feat. Large Professor
7. Electric Relaxation - A Tribe Called Quest
8. Next Movement- The Roots
9. Da Original- Jeru Tha Damaja
10. This is Me- Common
Pisces
1. Visualize- Mr. Complex
2. Purple Haze- Jimi Hendrix
3. Made You Look- Nas
4. Angels- Wax Poetic feat. Norah Jones
5. Hellucination- Smif-N- Wessun
6. Don't See Us- The Roots
7. Feel Me Flow- Naughty By Nature
8. In My Own World (Check The Method)- Common
9. How High- Redman & Method Man
10. Watch Me- Little Brother
There you have it !! Please let me know what you think.
With love and respect for Astrology and Hip-Hop,
Jason
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