Tuesday, 14 July 2026

21 Years Later

Z-Ro - Mo City Don (Freestyle) (video)
(From Let The Truth Be Told album; 2005/YouTube; 2026)


It's never too late for a proper video to one of the greatest songs in Texas Rap history. A song with no actual chorus which is #actually one long chorus innit. Just press stop or rewind at the 4:30 mark because no discerning Rap connoisseur needs to be reminded of what comes next. True story: when I first copped the Let The Truth Be Told I was so stuck on this song I didn't even listen to the rest of the album until days later. And so here's a generic list post of 30 first songs on albums which were so good they had me in a headlock for days.

Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther Theme (1963)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Foxy Lady (1967)
Isaac Hayes - Walk On By (1968)
Curtis Mayfield - (Don't worry) If There's A Hell Below.. (1970)
Baby Huey & The Babysitters - Listen To Me (1971)
Lalo Schifrin - Theme From Enter The Dragon (1973)
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak (1976)
The Damned - Neat Neat Neat (1977)
Ramones - I Just Wanna Have Something To Do (1978)
Madness - One Step Beyond (1979)
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Til You Get Enough (1979)
Motörhead -
Ace Of Spades (1980)
Prince - Let's Go Crazy (1984)
Run-D.M.C - Peter Piper (1986)
Beastie Boys - Rhymin' & Stealin (1986)
Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader (1988)
Danzig - Twist Of Cain (1988)
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton (1989)
Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo - Road To The Riches (1989)
Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance (1989)
Freddie Foxxx - The Master (1989)
Faith No More - From Out Of Nowhere (1989)
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)
Soundgarden - Rusty Cage (1991)
The Diplomats - Un Kasa (2003)
Andre Nickatina - Conversation With A Devil (2003)
Mac Dre - Feelin' Myself (2004)
Z-Ro - Mo City Don (Freestyle) (2005)
Young Bleed - Stamp On It (2011)

You can play this game with me if you want, but there's one rule: all first songs on albums which are preceeded by a skit or an intro are officially excluded.

26 comments:

Ray Garraty said...

and that is why Z-Ro tops Pimp C, Bun B and the rest of them

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

🎵 the main reason why I ain't friendly 🎵

Yohan said...

Yeah alright, some basic as fuck but undeniable additions below.

2Pac - Ambitionz As A Ridah
Above The Law - Murder Rap
Andre Nickatina - Ayo For Yayo
EPMD - Strictly Business
Ezale - Hang Wit Them
GloRilla - Yeah Glo!
Just-Ice - Cold Gettin' Dumb
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Streets of New York
Lil' Wayne - Tha Mobb
Mozzy - Bladadah
Rio da Yung OG - Legendary
The Jacka - Never Blink
Too $hort - Gettin' It
Warren G - Regulate
Wu-Tang Clan - Bring Da Ruckus

Kelvin Mack10zie said...


Some chef's kiss choices there.

But It's Conversation With A Devil not Ayo For Yayo on that album. Definitely one of the best first songs on a 2000s Rap album.

step one said...

The no skits/intros thing deads most of the big 90s LPs from being included by these A1s are worth a mention

I Ain't No Joke
You're Gonna Get Yours
Poetry
My Philosophy
All For One

Yohan said...

Yeah was cheating a bit with Ayo For Yayo but it was the opening track on this compilation and hoped I could sneak it by: https://www.discogs.com/release/1248753-Andre-Nickatina-Nick-Peace-Hells-Kitchen?srsltid=AfmBOoriD9ky3lo3EGHzVrxhqhzlQHsBivD0nB02NgHjrdCZJ3J86hnF

Ayo For Yayo might be my favourite Nickatina but it's so close to picking a favourite child I'd rather not pick one.

Spartan said...

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop
The Clash - London Calling
Blondie - Dreaming
Run-DMC - Hard Times
Stevie Wonder - Part Time Lover
Metallica - Battery
Fuzzbox - Love Is the Slug
Beastie Boys - Rhymin' & Stealin'
Prince - Sign o' the Times
Public Enemy - You're Gonna Get Yours
Guns 'N' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Nice and Smooth - Early to Rise
Danzig - Long Way Back from Hell

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

I'm Bad for another 5 star general 80s pick.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Welcome To The Jungle was definitely one for me. Then I finally got past it and It's So Easy had me in an even tighter headlock.

Anonymous said...

That Let The Truth Be Told album was dope

Jmil843 said...

Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin’ Something

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

That and the album before it are his best IMHO.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

I added another 5 faves to my list.

Ben said...

If we’re being real Buns solo career is mid AF lol.

admiral said...

Some more choonz:

Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again
Gangstarr - You Know My Steez
Ghostface - Iron Maiden
Krown Rulers - Paper Chase
Kurupt - I Call Shots
Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan
Doors - Break on Through
Naughty By Nature - Yoke the Joker
Spice 1 - I'm The F***in Murderer

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Paper Chase is such a 👌 pick

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Some honourable mentions:

Whodini - 5 Minutes Of Funk
Mystikal - Y'All Ain't Ready Yet
DB Tha General - Intro

The latter might be titled Intro, but it's a proper track innit!

admiral said...

Non-song intros should be outlawed...

Not sure if we are really counting movie soundtracks, but:

Dead Presidents OST - If You Want Me To Stay (Sly and the Family Stone)
Streets of Fire OST - Nowhere Fast (an absolute anthem)
Saturday Night Fever OST - Stayin' Alive
Top Gun OST - Danger Zone

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Soundtracks are definitely welcome.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Also, Rusty Cage contains the greatest beat-switch ever in a rock song.

Spartan said...

If soundtracks are allowed, then here are some of my picks:

Isaac Hayes - Theme from "Shaft"
James Brown - The Payback
John Carpenter - Assault On Precinct 13 (Main Title)
John Williams - Star Wars 'Main Title'
Barry De Vorzon - Theme from "The Warriors"
Francis Monkman – The Long Good Friday (Main Title)
Tangerine Dream - Beach Theme
Blondie - Call Me
Goblin - Tenebrae
John Carpenter & Alan Howarth - Halloween III: Season of the Witch (Main Title)
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
Brad Fiedel - The Terminator (Main Theme)
INXS & Jimmy Barnes - Good Times
Naughty By Nature - Uptown Anthem
Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg - Deep Cover
(Nasty) Nas - Halftime
SWV - Anything (All Star Remix)
Mobb Deep featuring Big Noyd & Rakim - Hoodlum
Clint Mansell - Summer Overture
50 Cent - Hustler's Ambition
Disasterpeace - Body Drop

step one said...

Uptown Anthem
N!gga Got No Heart
How To Survive In South Central

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Henry Mancini - Pink Panther Theme
Curtis Mayfield - Doo Doo Wap Is Strong In Here
Iggy Pop - Repo Man
Lalo Schifrin - Theme From Enter The Dragon

Bobby Dee said...

Stooges - 1969
Stooges - Search and Destroy
Buzzcocks - Orgasm Addict
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
Mc5 - Ramblin Rose
Main Source - Snake Eyes
Sex Pistols - Holidays in the Sun
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On and I Want You
Eddie Kendricks - If You Let Me
Curtis Mayfield - Might Mighty

and a couple of Metal shoutouts as I am sitting here listening to Candlemass in my metal bar.

Celtic Frost - Into The Crypts Of Rays
Exodus - Bonded By Blood

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

I'd go for Down On The Street as the ultimate Stooges pick. Really doe, you can't go wrong with any of those 3.

On the metal tip:
Slayer - Angel Of Death
Suicidal Tendencies - You Can't Bring Me Down

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Some more. The first two in particular.

Freddie Foxxx - The Master
Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
Camp Lo - Krystal Karrington
Steely Dan - Black Cow