top
10
dj irie NOMINATED FOR BEST CLUB DJ
Club Records of All Time As told to Randy Roper
10
9 8
7
Jim Jones – “We Fly High (Ballin’)” I always gotta give it up to an artist or a group that can not only make a great club record, but have it transcend into the sports world as well. It’s pretty amazing when you see the whole New York Giants “ballin’.” There’s sports commentators now using that term because of the record, so you know you’ve got a monster on your hands when it gets to that level. But I’ve gotta give it up to Jim and them for having a record that really just transcended into something bigger than just a radio or club record. Run DMC – “Tricky” Back to the old school. When they came out wit’ that, it had so much energy. The shit was poppin’ everywhere. That record is a staple in my set. Every time I drop that record it’s an incredible reaction. Jay Z – “Give It To Me” That was one of the few records that got an instant reaction. It’s not many times I play a record for the first time that’s not on the radio, it’s no video out for it, not on any mixtapes and it gets that type of reaction. I got the record from Dame [Dash] and all them that Saturday night, and I went to the club and I played it. I must have played that record seven or eight times. They couldn’t get enough of it. And that’s the first time anyone in that club had ever heard the record. It’s a very, very special thing when you can play a record in the club for the very, very first time and get people just go crazy about it. That’s why I gotta give it up to Jay. DMX – “Party Up” Still today, this shit is so bananas. This record still gets a reaction. That’s one of the few Hip Hop records that transcended into the sports world as well. At any kind of sports engagement, that record still is on today in a major way.
6
Sugar Hill Gang – “Rapper’s Delight” The significant thing about that record was that it was one of the first rap records that everyone could sing along to. It was the blueprint of what rap was going to be and what Hip Hop was going to be. Anyone who was exposed to Hip Hop from an early age or back in the day, nine times out of ten, this was the record that got them crunk.
5
Dre Dre featuring Snoop – “Nothin’ But a G Thang” No matter where you go, the second you hear this beat, the dance floor is gonna be packed. That’s the classic West Coast groove that disrupted the nation. Everybody knew that joint, no matter what region. Drop “Nothin But a G-Thang” and it opens up the door to a West Coast set.
Notorious B.I.G. – “Hypnotize” Hell yeah. Shit, what more explanation do you need? It’s Biggie bitches! At the time he was puttin’ out all kinds of records, talkin’ bout all kinds of things from the “Ten Crack Commandments” to “Dreams,” all great records which people would bump around their cars on it. This was that record like, “Hey, you know what, I can own the clubs too. I can own the clubs and make everybody dance all night as well.” And that was that record that made that statement. Rob Bass & DJ E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two” I’m going old school a little bit. Pretty much whatever age group or wherever you from, if you’ve been in the club, that’s just a club anthem. You put that record on pretty much anywhere, anytime and you’re going to get a reaction. You’re going to get someone who can relate to that song and it’s just a classic. Terror Squad – “Lean Back” A lot of dance records have come out in history, but there’s never been a Hip Hop record about a dance that really crossed over with pretty much everybody. What 50 did with “In Da Club,” in terms of just getting people to sing along wit the record, is what Terror Squad did wit’ “Lean Back,” getting everyone to do the dance. From high school kids, to people older, sophisticated folks, everyone knew about this dance. “Lean Back” was that record that everyone, no matter what language you spoke, where you’re from, you knew how to do that dance.
50 Cent – “In Da Club” The reason why that record is so incredible is that’s one of the first records on some real Hip Hop shit that I would play, not only for the high school parties or younger audiences; I would do Heat games and older sophisticated crowds. I wasn’t playing any Hip Hop at all, but if it was one Hip Hop song they wanted to hear it was 50 Cent “In Da Club.” I mean, even the real old white people were singin’, “It’s your birthday.” It turned into this whole birthday song. If someone is celebrating their birthday, they wanna hear “In Da Club.” I’d definitely say by far that’s the number one club bangin’ record.
4 3 2
1
OZONE MAG // 89