Category Archives: Uncategorized

Rappin’ 4-Tay – 4 Tha Hard Way (October 21,1997)

Posted on 02/10/2026 by deedub77

It’s fair to say that Todd “Too-Short” Shaw put the Bay Area on the hip-hop map. Armed with a monotone mouthpiece, rudimentary rap skills, pimp promo, and arguably the greatest adlib in the history of hip-hop (“beeaatch!”), The Oakland native … Continue reading →

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Salt-N-Pepa – Brand New (October 21, 1997)

Posted on 02/03/2026 by deedub77

The last time we checked in with Salt-N-Pepa here at TimeIsIllmatic was for their mammoth 1993 release, Very Necessary. Thanks largely to a platinum single (“Whatta Man”), a gold single (“Shoop”), and a third single that would earn the duo … Continue reading →

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The Firm – The Album (October 21, 1997)

Posted on 01/20/2026 by deedub77

In 1994, Nasty Nas hit the earth like a comet with his classic debut album, Illmatic, which I still consider the greatest hip-hop album of all time. The self-proclaimed half-man, half-amazing Queensbridge emcee impressed with insightful streetwise poetry over vintage … Continue reading →

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Gravediggaz – The Pick, The Sickle, And The Shovel (October 14, 1997)

Posted on 01/13/2026 by deedub77

Prince Paul may have got his start in the game as a DJ for hip-hop’s first unofficial band, Stetsasonic, but over time, he’s become one of hip-hop’s most underrated producers. Over the years, he has produced tracks for artists such … Continue reading →

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LL Cool J – Phenomenon (October 14, 1997)

Posted on 12/30/2025 by deedub77

Wow, I can’t believe how fast 2025 flew by! This is my last review of the year. I hope you enjoy the read, and I’ll catch up with you all in 2026. Happy New Year! In today’s mainstream lexicon, the … Continue reading →

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Jurassic 5 – Jurassic 5 EP (October 13, 1997)

Posted on 12/23/2025 by deedub77

As I’ve mentioned before (maybe too many times now), shortly after Biggie’s Life After Death was released, I was completely out of the secular hip-hop loop for the next four years. During my break, I missed a lot of music. … Continue reading →

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Common – One Day It Will All Make Sense (September 30, 1997)

Posted on 12/02/2025 by deedub77

From its inception in the seventies to the mid-nineties, the East Coast, and later, the West Coast, had a chokehold on hip-hop. Thanks to the commercial success of artists like The Geto Boys, OutKast, UGK, and (though I hate to … Continue reading →

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The X-Ecutioners – X-pressions (September 23, 1997)

Posted on 11/25/2025 by deedub77

Throughout history, several inventions were created by accident or a minor mishap. The pacemaker’s inception came when an engineer used the wrong resistor, creating a device that mimicked a heartbeat. While working with radar technology, Percy Spencer noticed a candy … Continue reading →

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Organized Konfusion – The Equinox (September 23, 1997)

Posted on 11/18/2025 by deedub77

The last time we heard from Organized Konfusion here at TimeIsIllmatic was during their cameo appearance on O.C.’s “War Games” earlier in 1997. Organized only contributed a refrain to the song, leaving me wanting to hear more from the Queens … Continue reading →

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EPMD – Back In Business (September 16, 1997)

Posted on 11/11/2025 by deedub77

I recently read a social media post that listed the best rap duos of all time. I typically scroll past this type of post because they’re subjective and usually put together by people who didn’t start listening to hip-hop until … Continue reading →

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