To return to my musical writings, and in tribute to Hanif Abdurraqib who created a weekly playlist of his favourite songs for months, I have decided to record the songs that stood out, resonated, or had prevalent meaning (in short, “loved”) in my life from each week. Let’s get into it.

“304’s” – Edo.G

“304’s” is Edo.G laying it down over an incredibly spacey beat that has him reflecting on his escapades with women. 1996 was supposed to be his solo breakthrough but his intended studio album was shelved. One can only wonder how a full-length album of tracks like this would have sounded at the time. Super track. That little key hit that also comes every few bars is divine.

“Be Thankful for What You Got (Parts 1 & 2)” by William DeVaughn

I have known about William DeVaughn’s self-confidence anthem “Be Thankful” for a long time but it resonated with me extra strong this week. I have been without a car now for two years and the fact that DeVaughn’s entire philosophy for optimism is to ignore not having a car hit me. It had been the first track in my rotation for most of my 6am 20-minute walks to the train station for work. “You can still stand tall!”

“R U Still Down (Original)” – 2Pac

I finished the 2Pac documentary series Dear Mama last week and my lasting impression were the interview clips which featured the late Shock G. Man. Talk about someone who never lost a bit of love for someone that he helped bring into the game and could describe in beautiful eloquence the impact 2Pac had on him. It led to me having a Digital Underground resurgence last week but I was interested in 2Pac–Shock G collaborations this week which led me to one of the only tracks they made together which was not released. As soon as the whirring sounds, off-kilter drums and keys hit in the intro, the presence of Shock G was all over it. I think some of 2Pac’s best moments (“I Get Around”, “So Many Tears”, “Trapped”) were over Shock G productions. This track would have been another one added to it if it had ever been released; unfortunately, it was released in remixed form as the title track for 2Pac’s first posthumous album. I was in awe when this track first played as I had never heard it before.

“Underground” – UGK

UGK had stars align when they brought their heavy Southern stylings to the closest jazz rap instrumental they ever used. The piano and synth backing is superb. Bun B’s opening verse has some great lines (“Some say I ain’t trill no more!”), the chorus is fun, and then Pimp C comes with his standard confident braggadocio. I love most of the tracks off Super Tight but “Underground” stands out so much that it remains my favourite.

“Your Life’s a Cartoon” – Digital Underground

One of the lasting tracks from my Digital Underground phase of last week. Again, another track that I had never heard before until recently. It was the b-side to Digital Underground’s debut single, “Underwater Rimes”, and not included on their monumental Sex Packets album. Shock G is the only rapper on the track; his whispered doubles give the presence of something greater. It was also amusing to hear what is the debut of the voice that would become Humpty Hump albeit in a completely unrelated sense; here Shock G does a mocking voice for the pitiful character in the song (“I’m finna go across the street!”). It has a heavy East Coast style and sounds unlike anything else that was to come on Sex Packets. I miss Shock G.