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:

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 🎵 the main reason why I ain't friendly 🎵

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

      Delete
  2. 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. 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.

      Delete
  3. 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

    ReplyDelete
  4. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  6. That Let The Truth Be Told album was dope

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That and the album before it are his best IMHO.

      Delete
  7. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin’ Something

    ReplyDelete
  8. I added another 5 faves to my list.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 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

    ReplyDelete
  10. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  11. 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Soundtracks are definitely welcome.

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  13. 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

    ReplyDelete
  14. 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

    ReplyDelete
  15. 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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

      Delete
  16. Some more. The first two in particular.

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

    ReplyDelete