Remember when us Hip Hop fans were just as antsy to check out to the movie’s soundtrack as we were the movie. I recall being prompted by The Show and Rhyme & Reason, among others, to catch the next thing smoking to Sam Goody to cop them both.
In 1995, The Show was released. Def Jam had the task of overseeing the project. It was star-studded. 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G, Method Man, Redman, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, among others, were contributors.
[Tune In To HipHop-Album-Debate, “The Podcast” Every Tuesday and Friday!]
2Pac’s “My Block” was one of my favorite joints from the soundtrack. Pac would make reference to the Easy Mo Bee-produced track on “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.”
“They wonder how I live with 5 shots,” Pac raps. “N****z is hard to kill on ‘My Block’.”
Although Method Man was a part of Wu Tang, he showed off the magic he and Redman could create as a duo on “How High” — the soundtrack’s second single. Of course, that was one of many the two would collaborate on.
The Show reached the number 4 spot on the Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
The soundtrack to Rhyme & Reason dropped two years later. Priority Records was at the helm of this one. Just like The Show, it was star studded.
With gang culture having a major impact on LA’s Hip Hop scene, it prevented many artists from working together. Thankfully, Mack 10 and Tha Dogg Pound didn’t let that stand in the way of their collaboration, “Nothin’ But The Cavi Hit.”
“Nothin’ But the Cavi Hit reached the number 38 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
By the late ’90s, Master P and his No Limit soldiers had the rap game in a choke hold. So, it only made sense for P to contribute, which he did with “Is There a Heaven 4 a Gangsta,” the second single.
Rhyme & Reason reached the number 16 spot on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
With everything being easily accessible courtesy of the internet, rap documentaries doesn’t have the effect they once had. However, docs like The Show and Rhyme & Reason — as well as their soundtracks — will remain dear to our hearts.
‘The Show’ or ‘Rhyme & Reason’?
The Show – 50%
Rhyme & Reason – 50%