Urban Thought Collective

They say you only get one chance to make a first impression. When it comes to music, that first impression can be a kiss of death or a kiss from Paula Patton. So, I decided to look at some debut performances from a few of our favorite artists this week. All artists change, to some degree, over time. As you will soon see, there are also those artists that change a whole lot over time. At any rate, it’s always cool to go back and see how it all started. Enjoy the vids. Holla.

COMMON SENSE | “SOUL BY THE POUND”

“While you’ll be draggin’ last, I’ll be kicking like Bruce Lee Roy. Sho nuff!” OK, this isn’t Common’s debut video, but it’s my favorite track off of his first album. Looking back, Common was definitely on a different aesthetic back in ‘92. Dude was like a hip hop Tarantino. Damn near every line had a pop culture reference and he had mad energy to burn didn’t he? It’s all to the good, cause this joint is dope.

XHIBIT | “PAPPRAZZI”

Hmmm… so you went from recording “Paparazzi” to spitting lines like “If I catch you touching mine, you get a flatline. Dead on the floor.” Interesting how his steelo switched up a bit once Dre came calling. I’m not hating, but it is funny watching this video, knowing how things turned out. I guess he couldn’t envision “Pimp My Ride” back in ‘96. Regardless, it’s still a dope track.

WEEZY WITH BG FEATURING CASH MONEY | “BLING BLING”

“They be like no-na-no-na-no-no-no he didn’t.” Yes, actually he did. It’s hard to believe that Weezy’s been in the game for almost a decade, but he is indeed a veteran. Of course, back then he was Lil’ Weezy and not Weezy F. Baby [please say the baby]. His current steelo is a little different, but I knew dude had something special in him. I remember telling my boy Smooth, that Weezy was gonna be a star. His reply was, “Uhhh, I don’t know about all that.” Well what you gotta say now, punk? I know what I’m talking about…when I’m talking…

FATHER MC | “I’LL DO 4U”

If you look past the rapping Chris Rock impersonator and listen closely to the hook, you will hear a familiar voice. Is that? Could it be? Yep, it’s a young Mary J. Blige doing what Mary J does. However, the end of the song is funny, because Mary doesn’t rip it like you know she wanted to. She holds back a little bit. If this song were recorded now, Mary would blow the wire mesh off the microphone.

NAS WITH MC SERCH FEAT. RED HOT LOVER TONE & CHUBB ROCK | “BACK 2 THE GRILL”

“Serial killer who works by the phone book.” Nas on a MC Serch track? It may seem funny now, but a lot of people forget that Serch executive produced “Illmatic.” After I heard this song, I couldn’t wait for Nas’ album to come out. When I heard “Halftime” I was like uhhhhhhh….nice video. But “Ain’t Hard to Tell” came out soon after, and it was all good again. Well, until that whole “Nastradamus” period, which sucked a** through a straw. But, he has rebounded nicely the last few years.

Diallo Tyson is a filmmaker, comedian and old school music junkie. When he’s not busy, he is a rapper with the group “Two Pimps and a Dream.” Step into a groovin’ time machine every week on UTC.