TBT this week takes us back to 2008 with our History of Hip-Hop mix. This interesting year of rap was peppered with a number of interesting tracks and trends. “Royal Flush” noted the beginning of the end of Outkast as a group project, even though the tune itself was so tough. Rick Ross really started to spread his wings as a super star with “The Boss”, which also featured T-Pain who was in the midst of a multi-year flex. Lil Wayne was securing his place as the “best rapper alive” with “A Milli”, arguably his most important tune ever. Acts like Pitbull, John Legend Common, Flo Rida and Snoop Dogg all started experimenting with dance-y tunes and faster tempos. Yes hip-hop was alive and well in 2008. Revisit this mix with the stream above and the free download below.

History of Hip-Hop 2008 (right-click, save as)
artwork by Rhek (Sharks & Hammers)

Tracklist:

Ron Browz – “Pop Champagne remix ft. Jim Jones”
Big Boi – “Royal Flush feat. Andre 3000 & Raekwon”
Termanology – “How We Rock feat. Bun B”
Jay-Z – “Dough Boy Fresh (Jockin’ Jay-Z) feat. Kanye West (The BladeRunners Edit)”
T.I. – “Swing Ya Rag feat. Swizz Beatz”
Rick Ross – “The Boss feat. T-Pain”
J Dilla – “No One Knows”
Pete Rock – “914 feat. Styles P. & Sheek Louch”
Camp Lo – “Lumdi”
Black Milk – “The Matrix feat. Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price & DJ Premier”
Santigold – “I’m A Lady feat. Amanda Blank (Excel Edit/Diplo Remix)”
Erykah Badu – “Soldier”
Young Jeezy – “Circulate”
Skillz – “Don’t Act Like You Don’t Know feat. Freeway”
Lloyd – “Girls Around The World feat. Lil Wayne”
Mark Ronson – “Just (DJ Premier’s Justremixitmix feat. Blaq Poet & Phantom Planet)”
G-Unit – “Rider Pt. 2 feat. Young Buck”
Ludacris – “One More Drink feat. T-Pain”
Maino – “Hi Hater”
Peedi Crakk – “More Towels”
Q-Tip – “Move”
People Under The Stairs – “Party Enemy #1″
Madlib – “Slapped Up (Snap N’ Clap)”
The Grouch – “The Bay To L.A. feat. Murs”
Dam Funk – “Hood Pass Intact”
The Roots – “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction) (Acapella)”
The Roots – “75 Bars” (Emynd VS Busy Signal Blend”
AZ – “Undeniable”
Kid Sister – “Family Reunion feat. David Banner”
Robin Thick – “Magic (DJ Rob Dinero Remix)”
Q-Tip – “ManWomanBoogie feat. Amanda Diva”
Kraak & Smaak – “Squeeze Me feat. Ben Westbeech (Original Mix)”
The Cool Kids – “What It is”
Busta Rhymes – “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em)”
Suga Free – “That’s What’s Up”
Kanye West – “Paranoid feat. Mr Hudson”
Jamie Foxx – “I Don’t Need It”
Mary J. Blige – “Just Fine (Swizz Beatz Remix feat. Lil’ Wayne)”
Flo Rida – “Elevator feat. Timbaland”
Snoop Dogg – “Sensual Seduction”
Common – “Universal Mind Control”
Pitbull – “Krazy feat. Lil’ Jon”
DJ Laz – “Move Shake Drop feat. Pitbull & Flo Rida”
John Legend – “Green Light feat. Andre 3000″
Lil Wayne – “A Milli”
Three 6 Mafia – “I Got feat. Pimp C”
Bun B – “Damn I’m Cold feat. Lil Wayne”
Scarface – “Forgot About Me feat. Lil’ Wayne & Bun B”
Z-Ro – “If That’s How You Feel feat. Lil’ Keke”
Jake One – “The Truth feat. Freeway & Brother Ali”
Big Noyd – “Things Done Changed feat. Kira”
Lil Wayne – “Got Money feat. T-Pain”
DJ Khaled – “Out Here Grindin feat. Akon, Ace Hood, Trick Daddy, Lil’ Boosie, Lil Wayne, Plies & Rick Ross”
Shawty Putt – “Dat Baby feat. Lil’ Jon & Too Short”
T.I. – “Swagga Like Us feat. Kanye West, Jay-Z & Lil Wayne”
Ganxsta Nip – “Down South”
Swizz Beatz – “Hard Knocks feat. Drag-On”
Madlib – “Rebirth Cycle (Super Soul)”
Raphael Saadiq – “Never Give You Up”