How to Give Long Island Its Props in Hip-Hop

If you’re a New York City kid who loves hip-hop but hates Long Island, this listening guide will give you the tools you need to understand how L.I. influenced hip-hop down to its roots.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• An open mind
• A means of accessing new music

How to Give Long Island Its Props in Hip-Hop

1. Rakim (Wyandanch, Long Island, NY): This hip-hop legend’s style is timeless and has influenced so many of the artists we hear today. Of course, his masterpiece was the album "Paid in Full." Supported on that album by producers Eric B and Marley Marl, Rakim changed the game in the late '80s, and continues to make his presence felt today.
   
   Songs to listen to: "Paid in Full," "I Got Soul," "Don’t Sweat the Technique," "I Know You Got Soul" and "Addictive (Truth Hurst featuring Rakim)"
2. De La Soul (Amityville, Long Island, NY): The trio consists of Posdnous, Trugoy the Dove, and Mase—Plug 1, Plug 2, and Plug 3, respectively. Notorious for shouting out Long Island, the group has been around since the late '80s when they dropped the album "3 Feet High and Rising." They are probably best known for their hit "Me Myself and I," but have released countless singles and several albums since those days. The "Stakes is High," and the trilogy "Art Official Intelligence" show the team at different stages in their evolution over the years.
   
   Songs to listen to: "Me Myself and I," "Buddy," a Roller Skating Jam Named “Saturdays,” "Breakadawn," "The Bizness," "Long Island."
3. EPMD (Brentwood, Long Island, NY): Eric and Parish Making Dollars. Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith got together in the late '80s, and released their first album, "Strictly Business." While "Strictly Business," with such tracks as "You Gots to Chill," may not have had the commercial appeal of some other hip-hop albums of this period, it definitely made an impact. Later cuts such as "Crossover" (’92) and Erick Sermon’s "Music" (’00) are indicative of EPMD’s ability to remain relevant in changing times.
   
   Songs to listen to: "You Gots To Chill," "Strictly Business," "Crossover."
4. Public Enemy (Roosevelt, Long Island, NY): The group, made up of Chuck D, the activist, and Flava Flav, his clock-wearing sidekick, made issues facing the black community a priority in the '80s. "Don’t Believe the Hype" and "Fight the Power" were two among many hard-hitting hits that were influential in hip-hop history. We only wish this story didn’t end with "Flavor of Love"...seriously.
   
   Songs to listen to: "Fight the Power," "Don’t Believe the Hype."
5. Leaders of the New School (Uniondale, Long Island, NY): LONS is a crew of four that made a splash with their appearance on A Tribe Called Quest’s "Scenario," a hit still getting play today. They followed up with a debut album featuring "Case of the PTA," but are probably best-known as the group in which rapper Busta Rhymes got his start.
   
   Songs to listen to: "Scenario," "Case of the PTA," anything by Busta Rhymes.
6. The list is short, but so sweet. Just listen to all of this beautiful music and let your hatred of Long Island go.