Their early success with singles like “Rumors” and “Situation #9″ gave them the power to sign and make hits with a slew of Bay Area acts, including Tony! Toni! Toné! (Foster & McElroy produced their entire debut album in 1988), Samuelle (they wrote his #1 R&B hit “So You Like What You See”), and, most famously, multi-platinum phenomenon En Vogue.

As usual, Foster & McElroy won with En Vogue by injecting unexpected influences into their music, mixing the image and harmonies of ’60s girl groups like The Supremes with modern hip-hop. Their 1990 platinum debut Born To Sing produced the #2 pop hit “Hold On,” which made brilliant use of James Brown’s “The Payback,” one of hip-hop’s go-to breakbeats at the time. En Vogue’s triple-platinum sophomore album, Funky Divas, made them certified crossover stars, producing three top ten pop singles and garnering five Grammy nominations (not to mention the honor of performing the Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper theme song, which was also produced by Foster & McElroy). Spend some time appreciating the catalog of these R&B icons with Uggh…Nice Watch’s compilation of 30 Foster & McElroy gems…

THE FOSTER & MCELROY COLLECTION
(PRESENTED BY UGGH…NICE WATCH)
1. Sorcery “The Test” (1984)
2. Club Nouveau “Why You Treat Me So Bad” (1986)
3. Tony! Toni! Toné! “Skin Tight” (1990)
4. Samuelle “So You Like What You See” (1990)
5. En Vogue “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) (1992)
6. The Nation Funktasia “Fuzzy Shunshine” (1991)
7. Premiere “Somethin’ About You” (1996)
8. F-Mob f/ Richie Rich “We Came To Move Ya” (1994)
9. Gabrielle “If I Could” (1996)
10. Timex Social Club “Rumors” (1986)
11. Alexander O’Neal “Midnight Run” (1990)
12. Foster McElroy f/ Vogue “Waiting On You” (1989)
13. Kathy Mathis “Got To Give It Up (1988)
14. Robert Brookins “Don’t Tease Me” (1988)
15. Con Funk Shun “Jo Jo” (1986)
16. En Vogue “Don’t Go” (1990)
17. Michael Cooper “To Prove My Love” (1987)
18. Lia “Tell Me It’s Not Too Late” (1988)
19. Channel 2 “Never Gonna Let You Go” (1988)
20. Terry Ellis f/ Ricky Valentino LaTontaine “I Don’t Mind” (1995)
21. Swing Out Sister “Heaven Only Knows” (1996)
22. Club Nouveau “Situation #9″ (1986)
23. En Vogue “Give It Up, Turn It Loose” (1992)
24. Regina Belle “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” (1995)
25. To Be Continued “One On One” (1993)
26. Asante “What’s The Plan” (1995)
27. Force M.D.’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends” (1990)
28. Club Nouveau “Lean On Me” (1987)
29. En Vogue “Hold On” (1990)
30. Dawnn Lewis & Holly Robinson Peete with En Vogue “Hangin’ With My Man (Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper Theme)” (1992)

DOWNLOAD: GAMEFRONT / ZIPPYSHARE / FREAKSHARE
STREAM: MIXCLOUD

ALL SONGS WERE PRODUCED, WRITTEN, REMIXED, ARRANGED AND/OR PERFORMED BY DENZIL FOSTER & THOMAS MCELROY

THE TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2012:
1. Santigold Master of My Make-Believe
2. Schoolboy Q Habits & Contradictions
3. Sleigh Bells Reign Of Terror
4. Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city
5. Brandy Two Eleven
6. Future Pluto
7. Jessie Ware Devotion
8. Rick Ross Rich Forever
9. Iggy Azalea Trapgold
10. Miguel Kaleidoscope Dream
11. Wiz Khalifa Taylor Allderdice
12. Tame Impala Lonerism
13. Solange True
14. Beach House Bloom
15. Roc Marciano Reloaded
16. WZRD WZRD
17. Frank Ocean channel ORANGE
18. Ka Grief Pedigree
19. Action Bronson & Party Supplies Blue Chips
20. Purity Ring Shrines
21. Mac Miller Macadellic
22. Heems Nehru Jackets
23. Ab-Soul Control System
24. Nas Life Is Good
25. Grimes Visions

THE TOP 25 SONGS OF 2012:
1. GOOD Music “Mercy”
(Produced by Lifted, Mike Dean, Mike WiLL Made It, Hudson Mohawke)
2. Future “Turn On The Lights”
(Produced by Mike WiLL Made It)
3. Miguel “Do You…”
(Produced by Jerry Wonda, Miguel & Arden “Keyz” Altino)
4. Nicki Minaj f/ 2 Chainz “Beez in the Trap”
(Produced by Kenoe)
5. Elle Varner “Refill”
(Produced by Pop)
6. Schoolboy Q f/ ASAP Rocky “Hand On The Wheel”
(Produced by Best Kept Secret)
7. Solange “Losing You”
(Produced by Dev Hynes)
8. French Montana f/ Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne “Pop That”
(Produced by Lee Beats of The Amazinz)
9. Frank Ocean “Pyramids”
(Produced by Frank Ocean, Malay & Om’Mas Keith)
10. Kendrick Lamar “Swimming Pools (Drank)”
(Produced by T-Minus)
11. Sky Ferreira “Everything Is Embarrassing”
(Produced by Dev Hynes & Ariel Rechtshaid)
12. Chief Keef f/ Lil Reese “I Don’t Like”
(Produced by Young Chop)
13. Usher “Climax”
(Produced by Diplo)
14. El-P “The Full Retard”
(Produced by El-P)
15. Rihanna f/ Future “Loveeeeeee Song”
(Produced by Mex Manny, Luney Tunez & Future)
16. Best Coast “Up All Night”
(Produced by Jon Brion)
17. 2 Chainz f/ Drake “No Lie”
(Produced by Mike WiLL Made It & Marz)
18. M.I.A. “Bad Girls”
(Produced by Danja)
19. Miguel “Adorn”
(Produced by Miguel)
20. Nicki Minaj f/ Chris Brown “Right By Your Side”
(Produced by Pop, Oak, Flip & JProof)
21. Twin Shadow “Five Seconds”
(Produced by Twin Shadow)
22. Nas “Bye Baby”
(Produced by Salaam Remi & Noah “40″ Shebib)
23. Bruno Mars “Locked Out of Heaven”
(Produced by The Smeezingtons, Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker & Emile Haynie)
24. Rick Ross f/ Drake & French Montana “Stay Schemin’”
(Produced by The Beat Bully)
25. Jai Paul “Jasmine”
(Produced by Jai Paul)

UGGH…NICE WATCH IN 2012:
The DJ Paul & Juicy J Collection
The Perry Collection
The Nile Rodgers Collection

PREVIOUSLY: BFRED’S TOP 25 ALBUMS & SONGS OF 2011

After getting his first taste of the industry in 1983 as a DJ, keyboard player, and producer for electro rap group CD III, Howie stuck close to fellow Flatbush natives UTFO and Full Force. The crew were were suddenly thrust into the spotlight when “Roxanne, Roxanne” inspired the “answer record” meme of 1984, and Howie became the DJ sidekick/producer to Full Force’s new female rapper, The Real Roxanne.

Howie developed a fruitful relationship with Roxanne and UTFO’s label, a burgeoning independent called Select Records. Thanks to his work with Select throughout the late ’80s, including classics for his cousin Chubb Rock and Flatbush teen Special Ed, Howie ushered Brooklyn hip-hop out of the old school drum machine era and into the new world of multi-layered funk and jazz samples that would epitomize hip-hop’s golden era.

He realigned himself with Uptown Records in the early ’90s, where he achieved massive crossover success with R&B group Color Me Badd and signed another Flatbush teen, Little Shawn. His clout faded in the mid-’90s, but Howie’s indelible influence on hip-hop had already been made. Experience his underrated catalog with this compilation of 30 Howie Tee bangers…

THE HOWIE TEE COLLECTION
(PRESENTED BY UGGH…NICE WATCH)

DOWNLOAD: GAMEFRONT / ZIPPYSHARE / RAPIDSHARE
STREAM: MIXCLOUD

1. Chubb Rock “Treat ‘Em Right” (1990)
2. Whistle “(Nothing Serious) Just Buggin’” (1985)
3. Color Me Badd “All 4 Love” (1991)
4. Vicious “The Glock” (1994)
5. Madonna “Human Nature (Howie Tee Remix)” (1995)
6. E.S.P. “Wild Thing” (1988)
7. Special Ed “I Got It Made” (1989)
8. Chubb Rock with Howie Tee “Ya Bad Chubbs” (1989)
9. Izzy-Ice & DJ Majesty “Soul Man” (1988)
10. Heavy D & The Boyz “Let the People Sing” (1991)
11. Full Force “Alice, I Want You Just for Me!” (1985)
12. Lonnie Gordon “Beyond Your Wildest Dreams (Buckwild Mix)” (1990)
13. Groove B Chill “Hip Hop Music” (1990)
14. The Real Roxanne w/ Hitman Howie Tee “Bang Zoom! (Let’s Go-Go)” (1986)
15. Little Shawn “Hickeys On Your Chest” (1992)
16. Father MC “Father’s Day” (1990)
17. Tara Kemp “Anything You Ask” (1992)
18. Little Indian f/ The Foreigner “One Little Indian” (1995)
19. Chubb Rock with Hitman Howie Tee “DJ Innovator” (1988)
20. Another Bad Creation “Spydermann” (1991)
21. CD III “Get Tough” (1983)
22. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam “This Is Cult Jam” (1985)
23. Crash Crew “2-4-6-8 / Here We Are” (1985)
24. MC Miker G “Don’t Let Music Stop” (1987)
25. Seeborn & Puma “They Call Me Puma” (1987)
26. Heavy D & The Boyz “I Can Make You Go Oooh” (1991)
27. Patra f/ Yo-Yo “Romantic Call” (1993)
28. Al B. Sure f/ Grege “Papes In The End” (1992)
29. Special Ed “I’m The Magnificent” (1989)
30. Chubb Rock “Just the Two of Us” (1991)

ALL SONGS WERE PRODUCED, WRITTEN, REMIXED, ARRANGED AND/OR PERFORMED BY HITMAN HOWIE TEE

As producers, they took Southern club music from the celebratory spasms of Miami and New Orleans to a dark place, both thematically and sonically. Starting in 1991, their underground mixtapes, both solo and together as Triple Six Mafia, expanded on the ominous promise of “Triggerman,” creating a local sound that M-Town could call its own. By throwing gangster rap and horrorcore influences into the mix, they were instrumental in creating the first hardcore Southern rap sound east of the Mississippi.

They rose to national prominence in the wake of No Limit’s success, signing a distribution deal with Relativity Records for their label Hypnotize Minds. I’ll never forget listening to 1997′s Chapter 2: World Domination for the first time in the dorm room of a high school friend from Memphis, and being blown away by how weird it sounded to my East Coast ears.

In the 2000s, their music got bigger, goofier. They won an Oscar by producing a bad song for a good movie about a pimp. They had a pretty entertaining reality show on MTV. But through it all, they deserve credit for staying true to their core sound in a way that few successful hip-hop producers have. They’ve rarely produced for artists outside their circle, they’ve never signed an R&B artist, and they’ve never really strayed from the gritty gangster rap that they came up on.

Simply put, DJ Paul & Juicy J planted an important sonic seed that spread out everywhere across the South. Without them, there would be no Drumma Boy, there would be no Shawty Redd, there would be no Lex Luger. DJ Toomp and Lil Jon might still be making Miami-style bass records if the Triple Six had never come along. I combed through the archives to assemble this compilation of my favorite works by Paul and the Juice Man. Enjoy…

THE DJ PAUL & JUICY J COLLECTION
(PRESENTED BY UGGH…NICE WATCH)
1. DJ Paul & Juicy J “Intro” (1993)
2. Triple Six Mafia “Playa Hataz” (1995)
3. Kingpin Skinny Pimp “One Life 2 Live” (1996)
4. Gangsta Blac f/ Cool B “Life’s A Bitch” (1996)
5. Cutthroat f/ Project Pat “Bout My Money” (2009)
6. Three 6 Mafia f/ UGK & Project Pat “Sippin’ On Some Syrup” (2000)
7. Lord Infamous “Pass That Junt” (1994)
8. T-Rock “So Hi” (2003)
9. The Kaze “Pure Anna” (1998)
10. Three 6 Mafia “Late Nite Tip” (1996)
11. Young Buck f/ T.I. & Ludacris “Stomp” (2004)
12. Gangsta Boo “Kill, Kill, Kill, Murder, Murder, Murder” (1998)
13. Koopsta Knicca “Stash Pot” (1994)
14. Three Six Mafia “Da Summa (Remix)” (1995)
15. I-20 f/ Three 6 Mafia “Hennesy & Hydro” (2004)
16. Three 6 Mafia f/ Young Buck, 8Ball & MJG “Stay High” (2005)
17. Indo G f/ Gangsta Boo “Remember Me Ballin” (1998)
18. Project Pat f/ La Chat & Three 6 Mafia “Chickenhead” (2001)
19. Frayser Boy “I Had To Get’m” (2003)
20. Lord Infamous “Where’s Da Bud” (1994)
21. Lil Wyte “Got’m Lookin’” (2007)
22. Project Pat “Nine To Yo Dome” (1994)
23. Lil Fly f/ DJ Paul” Break Da Law ’93″ (1993)
24. Three 6 Mafia f/ Kingpin Skinny Pimp “Live by Yo Rep” (1995)
25. K-Rock, Tha Kaze & Three 6 Mafia “Smoked Out, Loced Out” (1998)
26. Triple Six Mafia “Funky Town” (1994)
27. Project Pat “North, North” (2001)
28. Juicy J “A Zip And A Double Cup” (2011)
29. UGK f/ Three 6 Mafia “International Players Anthem” (2007)
30. Three 6 Mafia “Tear Da Club Up” (1995)
[DOWNLOAD: MEDIAFIRE / RAPIDSHARE]

ALL SONGS WERE PRODUCED, WRITTEN, ARRANGED AND/OR PERFORMED BY DJ PAUL & JUICY J

Although he’s one of the most influential figures in modern Korean music, Perry Borja is not Korean. A native of Modesto, California who was raised by Chammorro immigrants, Perry was exposed to the burgeoning West Coast hip-hop scene in the ’80s before relocating to his family’s native country Guam as a teenager. It was there that he began making music with high school friend Noh Seung-hwan (a.k.a. Sean), who would serve as Perry’s introduction to the Korean music scene after his group Jinusean became the marquee act for veteran Yang Hyun Suk’s new label YG Entertainment.

In the early ’90s, the notoriously traditional Korean music scene started opening up to modern Western music, thanks to pop groups like Seo Taji & Boys (of which Yang Hyun Suk was a member) incorporating elements of hip-hop, alternative rock, R&B, and house into their songs. When Yang started his new label YG, hip-hop became the focus, and Perry became his go-to hitmaker, cranking out 12 stellar albums in 5 years for a variety of artists (including his own solo album). It’s remarkable to hear how effectively he injected the aesthetic of hardcore American hip-hop into YG’s early music, which quickly established the label as one of the “big three” Korean record companies.

Over the last decade, Perry’s output has gradually decreased, as he has evolved into more of a mentor to the new generation of YG hitmakers. But he should be honored by all for pushing the boundaries of Asian pop and helping hip-hop find a home in modern Korean music. Enjoy my compilation of Perry’s best…

THE PERRY COLLECTION (PRESENTED BY UGGH…NICE WATCH)
1. Y.G. Family “우리는 Y.G Family (We Are Y.G. Family)” (1999)
2. 1TYM f/ Swi.T “Ready Or Not Yo!” (2000)
3. Yang Hyun Suk “약한자가 패배하는 세상 (A World Where The Weak Is Defeated)” (1998)
4. Honey f/ Da Pho “높이 더 높이 (Higher & Higher)” (1995)
5. Jinusean f/ Prodigy & Perry “Holdin’ Down” (2001)
6. Wheesung “Dilemma” (2003)
7. Se7en “I Just Wanna Be…” (2003)
8. Perry f/ Teddy & Masta Wu “Bounce” (2001)
9. Yang Hyun Suk f/ Perry “한번만이라도 (Just Once)” (1998)
10. Swi.T “I’ll Be There (2 Step Remix)” (2002)
11. Taebin f/ Perry “Don’t Stop” (2004)
12. Lexy f/ Big Mama “내게서 벗어나 (Away From Me)” (2003)
13. 1TYM “21세기란게 뭐야 (What’s The 21st Century?)” (2000)
14. Perry f/ Masta Wu “Turn It Out” (2001)
15. Se7en “Baby U” (2006)
16. Big Bang “우린 빅뱅 (We’re Big Bang)” (2008)
17. Y.G. Family “Why Be Normal?” (2002)
18. Jinusean f/ Perry & Legacy “Jinusean Bomb” (1997)
19. Zodiak “R-U-Ready?” (1996)
20. Yang Hyun Suk f/ Perry “악마의 연기 (Smoke of the Devil)” (1998)
21. 1TYM f/ Perry & Lexy “OK” (2003)
22. Gummy f/ G-Dragon “Work It Now” (2008)
23. Perry f/ Swi.T “Don’t Leave Me” (2001)
24. Se7en f/ Tae Yang “허락해줘 (Let Me In)” (2006)
25. Big Bang “Everything” (2008)
26. Lexy “Real Love” (2003)
27. Wheesung “She’s Beautiful” (2004)
28. 1TYM “Good Love” (1998)
29. Jinusean “How Deep Is Your Love” (1999)
30. Perry f/ Sean, Masta Wu & G-Dragon “Storm” (2001)
[DOWNLOAD: MEDIAFIRE / RAPIDSHARE]

ALL SONGS WERE WRITTEN, PRODUCED, ARRANGED AND/OR PERFORMED BY PERRY THOMAS BORJA.

Best known as the co-founder of Chic, Rodgers, alongside his partner Bernard Edwards, made some of the most brilliant music of the late disco era. Nile played guitar, and Bernard played bass. Together, they injected new levels of musicality into a genre that was fast becoming cliché, creating in Chic a disco band that thought like a jazz fusion band. They had seven straight chart-topping singles, produced albums for Diana Ross, Sister Sledge and Johnny Mathis, and provided the musical backbone for hip-hop’s first hit record, “Rapper’s Delight.”

After Disco Demolition Night famously kicked off a nationwide backlash, times were tough for disco’s posterboys. A few years later, David Bowie recruited Nile Rogers to produce his “pop” album Let’s Dance, in a clear attempt to capture the NYC cool of Chic’s hits “Good Times” and “Le Freak.” Suddenly, Nile was once again an in-demand producer for white New Wave acts looking to inject some funky dance flavor into their sound. He produced huge hits for INXS and Duran Duran, and the album that made Madonna a true pop icon, Like A Virgin.

Nile continued to explore new musical frontiers, moving into scoring films and video games (his first gig was creating the music for Eddie Murphy’s Coming To America, including the infamous “Soul Glo” commercial). In the ’90s, his records got a new life after the Trackmasters and the Hitmen raided his catalogue for samples, providing the soundtrack for the jiggy rap era’s biggest hits, including “Mo Money Mo Problems,” “Gettin’ Jiggy With It,” “Been Around The World,” and “Cold Rock a Party.” Check out my compilation of 30 songs created by this diverse musical genius…

THE NILE RODGERS COLLECTION
(PRESENTED BY UGGH…NICE WATCH)
1. Sister Sledge “He’s The Greatest Dancer” (1979)
2. Diana Ross “Upside Down” (1980)
3. Madonna “Dress You Up” (1984)
4. Chic “Le Freak” (1978)
5. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983)
6. INXS “Original Sin” (1983)
7. Duran Duran “The Wild Boys” (1984)
8. Chic “Rebels Are We” (1980)
9. Kim Carnes “Invitation To Dance” (1985)
10. Grace Jones “Party Girl” (1986)
11. Norma Jean Wright “Hold Me Lonely Boy” (1979)
12. Ashford & Simpson “Don’t Cost You Nothing” (1977)
13. Chic “Savoir Faire” (1978)
14. Sheila & B. Devotion “Spacer” (1979)
15. Madonna “Material Girl” (1984)
16. The Vaughan Brothers “Baboom/Mama Said” (1990)
17. Carly Simon “Why” (1982)
18. Al Jarreau “Tell Me What I Gotta Do” (1986)
19. Chic “Soup For One (12″ Mix)” (1982)
20. Thompson Twins “Lay Your Hands On Me” (1986)
21. The B-52′s “Cosmic Thing” (1989)
22. David Bowie “Modern Love” (1983)
23. Spoons “The Rhythm” (1983)
24. Chic “Everybody Dance” (1977)
25. Outloud “Good Together” (1987)
26. Christopher Max “Soul Glo” (1988)
27. Johnny Mathis “Judy” (1981)
28. Beavis And Butt-Head “Come To Butt-Head” (1993)
29. Diana Ross “I’m Coming Out” (1980)
30. Chic “Good Times” (1979)
[DOWNLOAD: MEDIAFIRE / RAPIDSHARE / ZIPPYSHARE / GAMEFRONT]

ALL SONGS WERE WRITTEN, PRODUCED, ARRANGED AND/OR PERFORMED BY NILE RODGERS

THE TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2011:
1. Drake Take Care
2. The Weeknd House of Balloons
3. Frank Ocean nostalgia, ULTRA.
4. Jay-Z & Kanye West Watch The Throne
5. Toro Y Moi Underneath The Pine
6. Das Racist Relax
7. Wiz Khalifa Cabin Fever
8. J. Cole Cole World: The Sideline Story
9. Wiz Khalifa Rolling Papers
10. Cults Cults
11. 2 Chainz TRU REALigion
12. Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire Lost In Translation
13. Chris Brown F.A.M.E.
14. Mac Miller Blue Slide Park
15. Danny Brown XXX
16. Juicy J & Lex Luger Rubbaband Business 2
17. Washed Out Within and Without
18. A$AP Rocky Live.Love.A$AP
19. Young Jeezy TM103: Hustlerz Ambition
20. Yelawolf Radioactive
21. 50 Cent The Big 10
22. James Blake James Blake
23. Big Sean Finally Famous
24. Lykke Li Wounded Rhymes
25. Kendrick Lamar Section.80

THE TOP 25 SONGS OF 2011:
1. Kanye West & Jay-Z “Niggas In Paris”
(Produced by Hit-Boy & Kanye West)
2. DJ Khaled f/ Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne “I’m On One”
(Produced by T-Minus, Nikhil S. & Noah “40″ Shebib)
3. Tyler, the Creator “Yonkers”
(Produced by Tyler, the Creator)
4. Chris Brown f/ Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne “Look At Me Now”
(Produced by Diplo, Afrojack & Free School)
5. J. Cole f/ Missy Elliott “Nobody’s Perfect”
(Produced by J. Cole)
6. Frank Ocean “Thinking About You”
(Produced by Shea Taylor)
7. Wiz Khalifa “The Race”
(Produced by I.D. Labs)
8. Meek Mill f/ Rick Ross “Ima Boss”
(Produced by Jahlil Beats)
9. Drake “Marvin’s Room”
(Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib)
10. M83 “Midnight City”
(Produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen & Anthony Gonzalez)
11. Ace Hood f/ Rick Ross & Lil Wayne “Hustle Hard (Remix)”
(Produced by Lex Luger)
12. SBTRKT f/ Drake & Little Dragon “Wildfire (Remix)”
(Produced by SBTRKT)
13. Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire “Huzzah”
(Produced by Necro)
14. Rihanna “We Found Love”
(Produced by Calvin Harris)
15. Allen Stone “Unaware”
(Produced by Lior Goldenberg)
16. Kreayshawn “Gucci Gucci”
(Produced by DJ Two Stacks & Adeptus)
17. Mac Miller “Donald Trump”
(Produced by Sap Da Beat Man)
18. Drake f/ Lil Wayne “The Motto”
(Produced by T-Minus)
19. Frank Ocean “Swim Good”
(Produced by Midi Mafia)
20. Future “Tony Montana”
(Produced by Speaker Knockerz)
21. Lil Wayne f/ Rick Ross “John”
(Produced by Rob Holladay & Polow Da Don)
22. T.I. “I’m Flexin’”
(Produced by Big K.R.I.T.)
23. Rick Ross f/ Drake “Made Men”
(Produced by 2 Tall Beats)
24. Beyoncé “I Miss You”
(Produced by Shea Taylor & Beyoncé Knowles)
25. Meek Mil f/ Rick Ross “Tupac Back”
(Produced by Mike Will)

Now let me see about actually finishing some Uggh…Collections in 2012…

Before Jodeci’s breakthrough in 1991, DeVante did some co-production work at Uptown Records, including the radio version of Al B. Sure’s “Missunderstanding” that became a #1 R&B hit. He continued to make big moves as a songwriter, using the talkbox-heavy “Jodeci Sound” to create hits for everyone from a 50-year-old Al Green to a 16-year-old Usher. In the mid-’90s he developed his own training camp of artists and producers called the Swing Mob, which famously introduced names like Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Ginuwine, Tweet, Static Major, Darryl Pearson, and Stevie J to the industry. He executive produced the #1 Dangerous Minds soundtrack, and before long he was being managed by Suge Knight, spending a lot of time with 2Pac, and crafting Jodeci’s ambitious third album.

In the next few years, everything fell apart—Death Row died with 2Pac, K-Ci & JoJo went solo, and the Swing Mob artists started signing with other labels. By the late ’90s, DeVante had been completely eclipsed by his former protégé, Timbaland, as mainstream R&B’s biggest innovator. His career fell into a 15 year black hole, marking a tragic end for one of music’s brightest stars. Spark one and zone out to my compilation of 30 DeVante classics…

THE DEVANTE SWING COLLECTION
DOWNLOAD: [ mediafire | megaupload | usershare ]
1. H-Town “Part Time Lover” (1994)
2. Jodeci “Room 454: DeVante’s Inhermission” (1995)
3. Changing Faces “Keep It Right There” (1994)
4. Ginuwine “I Want You” (1996)
5. 2Pac “No More Pain” (1996)
6. Jodeci “Feenin’” (1993)
7. Usher “Can U Get Wit It” (1994)
8. Renee Anderson “Gonna Be Your Night” (1997)
9. Danny Boy f/ Ginuwine “Slip ‘N’ Slide” (1995)
10. Jodeci “Love U 4 Life” (1995)
11. Jeff Redd “Giving My Love To You” (1990)
12. Al B. Sure “Missunderstanding” (1990)
13. Michael Cooper “Do You” (1992)
14. Sista “Sweat You Down” (1994)
15. Jodeci “What About Us” (1993)
16. DeVante f/ Static Major “Gin & Juice” (1995)
17. Horace Brown “You Need A Man” (1996)
18. CeCe Peniston “I See Love” (1993)
19. Jodeci “Come & Talk To Me” (1991)
20. Christopher Williams “All I See” (1992)
21. Montell Jordan “What’s On Tonight” (1996)
22. Tony Thompson “Slave” (1995)
23. Jodeci f/ Raekwon & Ghostface Killah “Freek’n You (Remix)” (1995)
24. B Rezell “Blowed Away” (1994)
25. Al Green “Could This Be Love” (1995)
26. Jodeci “Cry for You” (1993)
27. Mary J. Blige f/ K-Ci “I Don’t Want To Do Anything” (1992)
28. Mya “Smilin’” (2007)
29. Jodeci “Good Luv” (1995)
30. Da Bassment “Love You Down” (1996)
ALL SONGS WERE PRODUCED, WRITTEN AND/OR PERFORMED BY DEVANTE SWING

* While Teddy Riley and Guy were clearly a huge influence on early Jodeci, it’s interesting to see the influence that Jodeci (and DeVante’s sound in general) had on Teddy Riley’s next group, Blackstreet, when they debuted in 1994. In many ways, this is a great snapshot of R&B’s New Jack Swing generation passing the torch.

THE TOP 25 SONGS
1. Rick Ross f/ Styles P “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)” (Produced by Lex Luger)
2. Wiz Khalifa “Mezmorized” (Produced by Cardo)
3. Kanye West f/ Pusha T “Runaway” (Produced by Kanye West, Mike Caren, No I.D. & Mike Dean)
4. Wiz Khalifa “Black and Yellow” (Produced by Stargate)
5. Waka Flocka Flame “Hard In Da Paint” (Produced By Lex Luger)
6. Drake “Over” (Produced by Boi-1da & Al Khaaliq)
7. Crystal Castles “Celestica” (Produced by Ethan Kath)
8. Soulja Boy “Pretty Boy Swag” (Produced By G5 Kids)
9. Nicki Minaj “Right Thru Me” (Produced by Drew Money)
10. Drake “9 AM In Dallas Freestyle” (Produced by Boi-1da)
11. Justin Bieber f/ Kanye West & Raekwon “Runaway Love (Remix)” (Produced by Kanye West)
12. Lil Wayne f/ Cory Gunz “6 Foot 7 Foot” (Produced by Bangladesh)
13. The Diplomats “Salute” (Produced by Araabmuzik)
14. Monica “Love All Over Me” (Produced by Jermaine Dupri & Bryan-Michael Cox)
15. Young Jeezy f/ Plies “Lose My Mind” (Produced by Drumma Boy)
16. Lil B “Wonton Soup” (Produced by Lil Keis)
17. Lloyd Banks f/ Kanye, Fabolous & Swizz Beatz “Start It Up” (Produced by Cardiak)
18. Yo Gotti “Look In The Mirror” (Produced by Shawty Redd)
19. Waka Flocka Flame f/ Diddy, Rick Ross & Gucci Mane “O Let’s Do It (Remix)” (Produced by L-Don Beatz)
20. Dirty Money f/ Swizz Beatz “Ass On The Floor” (Produced by Swizz Beatz)
21. 8 Ball & MJG f/ Slim Thug “Life Goes On” (Produced by Drumma Boy)
22. Caribou “Odessa” (Produced by Dan Snaith)
23. Lil Wayne f/ Nicki Minaj “Knockout” (Produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
24. Vado “Large On The Streets” (Produced by V. Don)
25. Antoine Dodson “Bed Intruder” (Produced by The Gregory Brothers)

RELATED: BFRED’S TOP 25 ALBUMS & SONGS OF 2009

THE E-A-SKI & CMT COLLECTION:
1. TRU “Watch Your Ass” (1995)
2. Kam “Pull Ya Hoe Card” (1995)
3. Mr. Mike f/ Christion “Where Ya Love At?” (1996)
4. Spice-1 “Trigga Gots No Heart” (1993)
5. E-A-Ski “Straight Business” (1992)
6. Champ MC “Keep Shit On The Real” (1994)
7. WC f/ Nate Dogg “Paper Trippin’” (2001)
8. E-A-Ski f/ Dr. Dre “Dr. Dre & Mr. Ski (Split Personality)” (1996)
9. Rally Ral “Something Kind of Funky” (1993)
10. Jayo Felony “Nitty Gritty” (1998)
11. Big Rich “That’s The Business” (2006)
12. Spice-1 “187 Pure” (1992)
13. Das Efx “Baknaffek (E-A-Ski & CMT Remix)” (1993)
14. Crime Boss f/ The Fedz “Get Mine” (1997)
15. Ice Cube “Penitentiary” (1998)
16. Dual Committee “Your Friends” (2000)
17. Master P f/ Sonya C “211″ (1994)
18. E-A-Ski f/ Ice-T “Player Haters” (1998)
19. B-Legit f/ Levitti “Where Is This Going” (2007)
20. Kam “Who Ridin’” (1995)
21. The Team f/ Keak Da Sneak “Moe Doe” (2004)
22. TRU “Neighborhood Dopeman” (1993)
23. The Luniz f/ Teddy “Playa Hata” (1995)
24. Mr. Mike “Game Affiliation” (1996)
25. DenGee f/ Silk-E “Da Hustle” (2000)
26. Bullys Wit Fullys f/ Clyde Carson “So Hood” (2006)
27. E-40 f/ Clipse “Quarterbackin’” (2003)
28. Spice-1 “Dumpin’ Em’ In Ditches” (1993)
29. E-A-Ski “Blast If I Have To” (1995)
30. TRU “Christmas In Da Ghetto” (1992)
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ALL SONGS WERE PRODUCED, WRITTEN AND/OR PERFORMED BY E-A-SKI & CMT.