Ron G – Harlem World 155th Street

This week I bring you Ron G’s Harlem World 155th Street, a dope 90 minute mixtape full of upbeat bangers. Ron G came up into the game under DJ Red Alert’s guidance and quickly earned himself the moniker The Youngest in Charge due to his confidence on the decks and under 21 status. His strongest contribution to the culture was the creation of the blend – better known as the remix. Using multiple turntables and cassette decks, Ron G dubbed accapellas with dope instrumental breaks and hot beats. Combining an R’n’B singer with a thugged out beat, or a gritty lyricist with a funky club beat was Ron G’s trademark. His notoriety within Hip Hop circles was obvious when Nas rapped “Ron G’s in the cassette deck / Rockin the shit G!” on Illmatic’s One Time For Your Mind. His skill at finding the right beats to get the party jumping meant that a lot of rap music’s biggest names wanted to link up with Ron to record an exclusive freestyle over one of his beats. Ron G also kept his ears to the street and tried his best to get the latest unsigned hype to spit some bars for each of his tapes. Read more about Ron G’s legacy in this dope interview by Nah Mean.

I have a tendency to listen to Harlem World 155th Street on the regular for three reasons:

– Cam’ron’s confident nonchalance when rhyming. This tape was recorded when Cam was at his personal best being both hungry to battle but also suave enough to crossover into mainstream appeal. Cam’s single Who’s Nice? and his duet with Mase (previously known as Murda Mase of the Children of the Corn click) on Horse & Carriage are testament to the skills.

– Jive Allstars Apache inspired No Stoppin. Although the Jive Allstars didn’t really make it in the long run, Jane Blaze, Kasino and the Mic Vandalz rip this club banger hard.

– Black Rob’s I want you back remix featuring Michael Jackson. Just like Rob says “Puff done remix one hell of a track!” This street take on one of MJ’s infamous singles is straight fire.

Also keep your ears open for Ron G’s exclusive remixes of Puff daddy’s Been around the world and Notorious BIG’s Nasty Boy which you won’t hear anywhere else.

Side A

Who’s nice? – Cam’ron
Bloody Money Part 2 – Noriega / Nas / Nature
Ooh la la (Ron G Remix) – Demond
Love the way (Charlie Thompson Mix) – Elements of Life
Unpunkinwitable – Sonja Blade
State to State – Noid / Common / Dug Infinite
Clubbin (remix) – Ice Cube / DMX
Jam on it – Cardan / Jermaine Dupri
Freestyle (BK Version) – Franchise
Turn it up (remix) (Night Rider Version) – Busta Rhymes
Nasty Boy – Notorious BIG / Puff Daddy
Hotel Motel – AKIL / Honey
Freestyle – Mr AG

Side B

Jive Allstars – Mic Vandels / Jane Blaze / Kasino / Arron Hall
Been around the world (remix) – Puff Daddy / Mase
Freestyle – Sonja Blade
Everybody wanna rat – The Lox
One Love – Cormega
Horse and Carriage – Camron / Mase
I want you back (remix) – Black Rob / Michael Jackson
Work – Gangstarr
A million and one questions (remix) – Jay-Z
What time is it – Sauce Money / Waize / Big Jaz
I like it like that – Tracy Lee (Hot)
Dolla Bills – Money Boss Playas
Money – Charli Baltimore
What – Rah-Sun