Hip-Hop Hits Everyone Forgot About

Like any other genre, hip-hop is filled with songs so lost to time and record label rigamaroles that they only pop up in Remember When? blogs and on streaming services. From New York to the west coast, and from Uptown to Love & Hip-Hop, here are 20 hip-hop hits everyone forgot. Magoo, we miss you.

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Image via Getty/Johnny Nunez

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Many hip-hop hits naturally fall out of memory; there are simply too many songs to fit into its canon. Plus, a lot of music’s longevity is attributable to marketing or just plain luck. Teenage bops attached to dances tend to stick in the memory more than mean mugs and tough talk. A hot single succeeded by a weak-selling debut will kill momentum (and possibly your career). Some songs aren’t meant to last forever; you reminisce on them with a self-depreciating, “Well, this was good.” And there are a few that are just straight-up embarrassments: “No Pigeons” should’ve never happened.

Like any other genre, hip-hop is filled with songs so lost to time and record label rigamaroles that they only pop up in Remember When? blogs and not streaming services. While there are definitely more than 10 examples, these stick out because of the stark contrast between their past relevance and their current popularity.

The songs, and the artists who performed them, aren’t even treated as fun nostalgia—has anyone checked on what Magoo’s been up to these past few years? More importantly, has Timbaland checked on what Magoo’s been up to these past few years? Ja Rule and Smilez & Southstar used the same Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross sample for their big singles, but only one of them is remembered even well enough to be a punchline. Illegal might be in the conversation today had the duo changed their name—it’d be better for Google SEO. Then there are just some hits that, if talked about now, would immediately get laughed out of the paint on Twitter.

Both good and bad shit unfortunately (or thankfully) falls through the cracks. Let’s excavate and remember these songs for the culture. From New York to the west coast, and from Uptown to Love & Hip-Hop, here are 20 Hip-Hop Hits everyone forgot. Magoo, we miss you.

Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (1998)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 9 on Hot 100

Most millennials’ introduction to Peter Gunz was either through his misbehavior on Love & Hip-Hop or through his son Cory, whose appearance on Lil Wayne’s post-prison comeback single “6 Foot 7 Foot” still remains his biggest look. But out of the entire Gunz lineage, Peter’s the one who’s had a hit single. Riding the funky bass from Steely Dan’s “Black Cow,” “Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)” was a minimalistic ode to the Bronx that landed at No. 9 on the Hot 100. Of course, the Bronx has produced plenty more memorable anthems since that song’s release, but its impact shouldn’t be forgotten.

Smilez & Southstar, “Tell Me (What’s Goin’ On)” (2002

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Peak Chart Position: No. 10 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 28 on Hot 100

“Tell Me (What’s Goin’ On)” is one of those hits buried deep in the memory banks that’s immediately recognizable within its first few seconds. Over trumpets both sensual and anthemic, Smilez & Southstar romanticize a crumbling relationship. The rhymes are almost too plainspoken (imagine saying, “You were a classic like Nas and Illmatic” at your wedding vows), but it produces the sort of relatability that lends the song its charm. Ja Rule would use an identical Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye sample that same year to a more memorable effect on the Ashanti-featuring “Mesmerize.”

Sporty Thievz, “No Pigeons” (1999)

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Peak Chart Position:  No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 12 on Hot 100

TLC’s classic plea for a self-sufficient man got a bitter male rebuttal courtesy of this trio. “No Pigeons” would’ve assuredly been joke fodder in 2018, but the ’90s were a strange, Black Twitter-less time. Thus, Sporty Thievz scored a legit hit. Still, it’s a forgotten one, because of how it’s essentially a counterfeit “No Scrubs.”

K.P. & Envyi, “Swing My Way” (1998)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 3 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 6 on Hot 100

This Atlanta duo never released an album, but they did manage to squeeze “Swing My Way,” a lusty dispatch, into the Top 10. The hit had threads of the Miami bass sound found on Ghost Town DJ’s “My Boo,” which clearly had more staying power. In fact, “Swing My Way” is more notable for its supporting cast than its main star. A young Polow Da Don appeared in the video, Mixzo went on to produce for Maxwell and Juvenile, and Christopher Bridges, who penned the remix, would go on to become Ludacris.

Loon and Mario Winans, “Down for Me” (2003)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 19 on Hot Rap Songs

Turn-of-the-millennium Bad Boy gave us a few of the label’s most overlooked artists, including G-Dep, Shyne, and Loon. But Diddy’s label was still within their hitmaking prime, and the summery jam “Down for Me” was one of its products. Loon also memorably popped up on both parts of “I Need a Girl.”

Positive K, "I Got a Man" (1992)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 14 on Hot 100

In which our protagonist tries to woo a woman who has the audacity to have a boyfriend. “I Got a Man” has a structure too novel for it not to be a hit: Positive K trades verses with his interest (also voiced by him) over a funky groove. It’s the doomed infatuation of the Pharcyde combined with the battle of the sexes charm of LL Cool J’s “Doin’ It” (as well as K’s previous hit "I'm Not Havin' It,” an MC Lyte duet). And it still rings off in clubs to this day.

Illegal, “We Getz Busy” (1993)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 95 on Hot 100

When most people think about ’90 hitmakers with prepubescent voices, they immediately bring up Kriss Kross instead of Illegal. They’re linked not only because of that attribute, though; Illegal’s Hot 100 entry hit “We Getz Busy” directly disses the backwards-clothes-wearing duo. Unfortunately, the Philly duo’s animosity didn’t matter all that much in the bigger picture. Illegal didn’t last past 1995, while Kriss Kross would eat off “Jump” for years.

JT Money feat. Sole, "Who Dat" (1999)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 5 on Hot 100

Some hits are better left forgotten. On “Who Dat,” JT Money has a 2pac-ian way of stretching syllables that never sounds convincing. The hook—”Who dat tryin to get up in my crew?”—needed more than a little bit of more work, and Solé delivers most of her words off-beat. It’s a mess, but the song still ended up peaking at No. 5.

Paperboy, “Ditty” (1992)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 20 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 10 on Hot 100

Slightly anachronistic, Paperboy’s one hit cribbed the sparser, electronic-infused beats that surrounded west coast hip-hop’s birth. Paperboy was uncharismatic, but his flow acquitted itself well enough to move the song to the Hot 100. “Ditty” was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance, but it of course lost to Dr. Dre’s “Let Me Ride.” These days, of course, more people search for “Paperboi” than “Paperboy.”

Jibbs, “Chain Hang Low” (2006)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 6 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 7 on Hot 10

A relic of the ringtone rap era, Jibbs’ single condensed his love of jewelry into a jingle of a hook. “Chain Hang Low” may ultimately have more staying power than the children song it interpolates, but you’d be hard pressed to find someone enthusiastically dropping this at a party in 2018. The song made it to the Top 10, which is pretty impressive, especially given the fact that Jibbs was 16 at the time. Still, a career peak at 16 isn’t exactly something to brag about.

Sylk-E. Fyne ft. Chill, "Romeo and Juliet" (1998)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 6 on Hot 100

Sylk-E. Fyne's "Romeo and Juliet" is proof-positive that there's no such thing as a "test of time" to separate quality music from the stern judgement of objective history. With a slow, sensual four-on-the-floor groove, the song's lush, romantic mood is a warm blanket of devotion. It should be remembered as fondly as any number of Bad Boy or G-Funk classics; instead, it languishes in obscurity. Sylk-E. Fyne—a South Central Los Angeles rapper who would tour opening for Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony—would never have a moment like this again. (Although she did end up with a guest spot on a Snoop Dogg record, alongside Suga Free, that is essential.) The bio under the "Romeo and Juliet" YouTube video concludes with: "In 2010 Sylk E. Fyne resurfaced back into the rap game. She dropped 2 new songs on her official Myspace page."

Strik 9ine, "Dansin Wit Wolves (Where My Tribe At?)" (2001)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs

Proof of the absurdity of not just the pop charts but Americans society as a whole, Strik 9ine's fluke six-week run at the top of the Hot Rap Songs of 2001 chart is one of the strangest moments that apparently happened, but no one seems to remember.

Strik 9ine—his name is derived from "strychnine," a kind of poison—seems to be from Cleveland, judging by his lyrics and the complete lack of sensitivity towards Native Americans. (Presumably, this song was boosted by Cleveland Indians fans, whose noted respect for other cultures is celebrated by "Chief Wahoo," the caricature logo adorning their uniforms.) Every day, we unearth an old song that makes us think, "imagine if this came out in the Twitter era!" This video makes that question moot from now on.

No Good, "Ballin' Boy" (2002)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs

No Good's "Ballin Boy" is an example where a niche interest may have helped propel the song's notoriety. The song was covered by members of the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, and also earned a spot on NBA Live 2003. While it might remain in the memories of Miami fans and gamers for that reason, the wider culture seems to have forgotten about it entirely.

M.C. Brains, "Oochie Coochie" (1991)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 21 on Hot 100

Every year, music gets worse and worse—so the thinking goes. More ignorant, more inane, more meaningless. Back in the day, no one made music like this, right? Or at least it wasn't so popular.

Well, not really. MC Brains' "Oochie Coochie" may have been written out of history, but it was a massive smash pop song in 1991—after all, the charts weren't all packed with "The Choice Is Yours"'s and "OPP"'s. Despite the success of this single, MC Brains was dropped from his Motown label shortly after his album's release.

Mo Thugs Family, "Ghetto Cowboy" (1998)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 15 on Hot 100

One of the strangest things about the way the '90s are remembered is that people seem to forget exactly how massively popular Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony really were. Even spin-off group Mo Thugs—who released four studio albums between 1996 and 2003—managed to slide a single into the Top 40 with "Ghetto Cowboy" in 1998. Cowboys and other Western motifs were a big thing in hip-hop around this time.

Lil Zane ft. 112, "Callin' Me" (2000)

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Peak Chart Position: #1 on Hot Rap Songs, #21 on Hot 100

Just on the off-chance you've forgotten, there was a period where every rapper out sounded like 2Pac. It was unavoidable. They might not (OK, never did) incorporate the same level of insight or musical inspiration...but nonetheless, there was a period where emulating Pac had become the genre's fifth element. Despite its derivative nature, Lil Zane's faux-Caribbean single is a catchy little party jam that manages to sound fresh all the same by moving "Pac" to a pop late-90s melodic beach rap context. (It happened to everyone around then.)

Prince Markie Dee & The Soul Convention, "Typical Reasons (Swing My Way)" (1992)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 29 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, No. 64 on Hot 100

A member of The Fat Boys, Prince Markie Dee managed to parlay the post-Heavy D fascination with "overweight lovers" into a hit single before retreating behind the scenes in the mid-1990s. The song—written and produced with fellow Fat Boy Cory Rooney and Hasan Johnson—helped parlay Dee and Roonie into working behind the scenes as Soul Convention, producing and writing songs for Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Craig Mack, and Marc Anthony.

Nonchalant, "5 O'Clock" (1996)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 24 on Hot 100

Hard to believe that a song this dark and unapologetically boom-bap was such a huge song, but Nonchalant's "5 O'Clock" was a brooding Top 40 smash in 1996—the last year when hip-hop's dominant sound had such an ominous  tone. ("The Crossroads" was one of the year's biggest singles as well. The next year, Puffy's string of disco-rap singles changed the genre's face yet again.) Although plenty of mid-90s hip-hop is celebrated today, "5 O'Clock" seems largely—and unfairly—forgotten.

Tracey Lee, "The Theme (It's Party Time)" (1997)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 6 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 55 on Hot 100

Friends in high places can really help your rap career. Tracey Lee attended Howard University, where he majored in communications (he would later go on to get his J.D. degree from Southern University Law Center and become an attorney). It was there that he met Puff Daddy, Mark Pitts, and "D Dot" Angelettie, who of course would become a core member of Puffy's Hitmen. He told Billboard in 1997, "After those guys left school, I stayed down in D.C. I was lucky enough that when I came up to New York, everybody still remembered me." D Dot became his manager; "The Theme" was his biggest single, a part of a wave of Hitmen-produced "jiggy" records that washed up on hip-hop's shores in '97. His follow-up album, Many Facez, didn't quite make him a star, never mind the multi-faceted persona he was aiming for. Nonetheless, the song was a major hit. And he always had law school to fall back on.

Timbaland & Magoo, "Up Jumps Da Boogie" (1997)

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Peak Chart Position: No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs, No. 12 on Hot 100

Today, Timbaland's tenure with Magoo in the late '90s is largely remembered as a way for Timbaland to keep busy in between recording incredible R&B records and throwing classics at Jay Z and Missy Elliott. Certainly, Magoo seemed like a long shot to be considered a "star" in the music business. It's a tribute to Timbo's production skills, then, that "Up Jumps Da Boogie" was such a huge smash—even if it tends to be thrown to the wayside by DJs today, in favor of more acclaimed records with, well...just straight-up better rappers. 

And just a side note, but what was going on with Magoo's verse here? "Up in the cut like gay niggas in butt"? OK, man.

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