Hip Hop World Cup

Welcome to Hip Hop World Cup REPLAY – your chance to revisit classic matches between golden-age rap albums from the Hip Hop World Cup vault!We go back to 1995 for this East v West coast clash as Brooklyn’s Smif-N-Wessun take on Compton’s own DJ Quik! The gritty, grimy Beatminerz production on Smif-N-Wessun’s iconic LP Dah Shinin’ is a world away from the polished funk beats of DJ Quik’s third album Safe + Sound, but that contrast made for an irresistible clash that Danny, James and Steve got their rap-loving teeth into.Enjoy this trip down memory lane as we chew over two of 1995’s best hip-hop albums. Let us know who you had winning, whether this was a fair decision or if we need to apologise.All the full episodes from the first series are available on your podcast player of choice.Thanks for backing Hip Hop World Cup – see you next time.JOIN OUR PATREON! Sign up to our Champions Tier on Patreon and access exclusive bonus content: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCup⁠⁠ ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠⁠ Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.SOCIAL MEDIA Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

Welcome to Hip Hop World Cup REPLAY – your chance to revisit classic matches between golden-age rap albums from the Hip Hop World Cup vault!We kick things off with a Big Apple bust-up between two albums celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2026. When Ghostface Killah’s Ironman came out of the hat against Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt it was a bit like Man City drawing Man United in the FA Cup – a real battle of the big guns. Danny, James and Steve revisit these two iconic debuts, celebrating the raw street reportage and razor-sharp lyricism that made both albums instant classics – before inevitably tying themselves in knots trying to pick a winner using the three-man vote.If this sparks memories or arguments, all the full episodes from the first series are available on your podcast player of choice. And remember to join our Patreon for more bonus content that we’ll upload when we can be arsed.Let us know who you had winning, whether this was a fair decision or if we need to apologise.Thanks for backing Hip Hop World Cup – see you next time.JOIN OUR PATREON! Sign up to our Champions Tier on Patreon and access exclusive bonus content: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCup⁠⁠ ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠⁠ Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.SOCIAL MEDIA Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

Welcome to Hip Hop World Cup EXTRA TIME, our post-match podcast where we head back onto the pitch for more hip-hop discussion related to our main episodes.After the final whistle blew on our Shootout between revered rapper/producers LORD FINESSE and DIAMOND D, we wanted to dig deeper into the D.I.T.C. crates. So we sucked some orange slices, laced up the Predators and kicked off an ambitious 16-album tournament (or ‘bracket’ for our American listeners) to find the best LP from this legendary hip-hop stable. For this new contest – which we've dubbed Mama Said Knock You Out – the 16 albums are split into two groups of eight and drawn against each other in one-on-one matches using FIFA’s fixture super computer. Danny and Steve take it in turns to choose the winner on gut instinct alone, with albums progressing through the rounds to the final. It was a tricky, energy-sapping battle, but one album emerged victorious – listen to discover which one lifts the trophy.THE ALBUMSLord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth – Funky Technician (1990)Lord Finesse – Return of the Funky Man (1992)Showbiz & AG – Runaway Slave (1992)Diamond – Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop (1992)Fat Joe Da Gangsta – Represent (1993)O.C. – Word… Life (1994)Show & AG – Goodfellas (1995)Big L – Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous (1995)Fat Joe – Jealous One’s Envy (1995)Lord Finesse – The Awakening (1996)O.C. – Jewelz (1997)Diamond D – Hatred, Passions and Infidelity (1997)Fat Joe – Don Cartagena (1998)Big L – The Big Picture (2000)D.I.T.C. – D.I.T.C. (2000)Buckwild & Celph Titled – Nineteen Ninety Now (2010)JOIN OUR PATREON! Sign up to our Champions Tier on Patreon and access exclusive bonus content: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCup⁠⁠ ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠⁠ Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.SOCIAL MEDIA Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In this episode we take golden-age hip-hop deep into the bowels of British government as we carry out a historic VERSUS SHOOTOUT in front of a packed House of Lords.The reason for this flimsy comedic conceit? Well, we needed a group of honest, principled pillars of society to help us legislate a sensational showdown between two noblemen of ‘90s hip-hop: LORD FINESSE and DIAMOND D.Emboldened by the lords’ deep knowledge of hip-hop politics, Danny, James and Steve scrutinise the work of these two rapper-producers from the Diggin’ In The Crates crew, tackling topics like their mastery of the SP1200 sampler, their punchline-laden lyrics and their impact on hip-hop as a whole. Five tracks from each artist are drawn against each other at random, and following a feisty debate our hosts use the three-man vote to elect a winner. It’s a best of five, first-past-the-post punch-up that sees one of these rap pioneers seize the seat of power. Who will it be? Listen to find out!All that and the usual array of nonsense, including a tetchy appearance on our VAR panel from former Spurs chairman Lord Sir Alan of Sugar.TRACKSLord FinesseLord Finesse – Hip 2 Da GameO.C. – Ga HeadBig L – MVPThe Notorious B.I.G. – Suicidal ThoughtsLord Finesse feat Crystal Johnson & Rell – The Message (Original Version)Diamond DDiamond – Feel The VibeTha Alkaholiks – Let It OutSadat X, Fat Joe & Diamond D – Stay Away From The Nasty HoesMos Def – Hip HopD.I.T.C – Day OneSHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (Lord Finesse vs Diamond D):https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5YgIP67RJ2deVZ25gjWmSc?si=HLRvn0nSQySYkrsLgTJhjwJOIN OUR PATREON! Sign up to our Champions Tier on Patreon and access exclusive bonus content: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCup⁠⁠ ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠⁠ Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. SOCIAL MEDIA Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk '90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

It’s the big one! In this SOLO SHOOTOUT, we’re shining the spotlight on arguably hip-hop’s greatest-ever producer as ten DJ Premier tracks fight for sonic supremacy.From his early days with Gang Starr to era-defining work with Nas, Jeru, Biggie and a roll call of elite MCs, DJ Premier has stood at the forefront of hip-hop for more than three decades with his unmistakable boom-bap sound, becoming one of the most trusted producers of the 1990s golden era. His ear for sampling helped define the sound of New York rap at its grittiest and most refined. Built on chopped samples, hard-hitting drums and razor-sharp scratch hooks, his sound is both stripped-back and cinematic – minimal in palette yet immense in impact.In this episode, Danny, James and Steve choose ten of Preemo’s best bangers, draw them against each other and decide who wins each tie. At the end we tot up the TruSkore totals of the five winners and crown our overall Shootout champion. Simples!Along the way we serve up the usual smorgasbord of shite, including an over-elaborate quiz, ruminations on sample snitching, which ‘Crooklyn’ track is better and Group Home’s compellingly poor rap skills. Oh and Larry brings us news of an ‘unbelievable’ new sponsorship deal that will shake British podcasting to its very foundations.TRACKSCrooklyn Dodgers ’95 – Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers KRS-One – Rappaz R. N. Dainja Jeru The Damaja – Invasion Jeru The Damaja – Mental Stamina PRhyme – PRhyme A$AP Ferg – Our Streets The Notorious B.I.G. – Unbelievable Nas – N.Y. State Of Mind Group Home – Livin’ Proof OC – My WorldSHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (DJ Premier): ⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2iMolaUDOwOSPUYDB6wT34?si=ug4AExY-QO2sOQkq708MGAJOIN OUR PATREON!Become a member on Patreon and access exclusive bonus content:⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCup⁠⁠ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠⁠ Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. SOCIAL MEDIAFollow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

Teacher. Philosopher. Activist. Hip-hop legend. But that’s enough about Steve, because in this episode we’re diving elbow-deep into KRS-One’s back catalogue for another stunning Shootout.KRS-One is hip-hop’s president elect, real rap royalty, and we wanted to celebrate his legacy with a dedicated Solo episode. We discuss his troubled early years, the formation of Boogie Down Productions with Scott La Rock (RIP), his mid-90s boom-bap resurgence and whether or not he really did know a crack dealer by the name of Peter.In this episode, ten killer KRS cuts have been excavated, dusted down and lovingly curated by Danny, James and Steve – then unceremoniously hurled into the bearpit to battle it out for hip-hop podcasting’s top trophy.We draw tracks at random to face each other, debate their pros and cons and vote on the winner. At the end, we tot up the TruSkore™ totals of the five winners to find out which track emerges victorious – all overseen by our celebrity VAR panel.You can also expect the usual array of nonsense, including our occasional feature ‘That’s the Real Quiz’ and pitchside reactions from the great and mediocre of British football. TRACKSBDP – PoetryBDP – South BronxBDP – 9mm Goes BangBDP – My PhilosophyBDP – Why Is That?BDP – BeefBDP – Love’s Gonna Getcha (Material Love)KRS-One – Outta HereKRS-One – MCs Act Like They Don’t KnowChannel Live – Mad IzmSHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (KRS-One): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1WUBdwJKLH4sHmSSDLyA4C?si=zM1TlbDzRDCPRdOhm0o8vAJOIN OUR PATREON!Become a member on Patreon and access exclusive bonus content:⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCup⁠ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠ Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. SOCIAL MEDIAFollow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In this episode we get into a New York state of mind as two titans of the rap game go toe-to-toe: NAS and JAY-Z.In the world of hip-hop, artists don’t much get bigger or better. These MCs have been redefining rap music since the mid-90s, achieving global superstardom along the way. Their seminal debut LPs Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt earned them a place on rap’s Mount Rushmore, but a deluge of dope verses and iconic albums in later years further cemented their place in hip-hop history.In our latest SHOOTOUT, we reignite the pair’s legendary beef by drawing their tracks against each other in a brutal best-of-five penalty shootout. We discuss the songs and use the three-man vote to decide who buries it in the bottom corner and who puts it in row Z.All this, plus the usual guff including red-hot takes on Illmatic’s worst track, some Kanye West chat and silent analysis from the brightest brains in British football.Join us as we decide once and for all who’s the king of New York. TRACKSNasLoco-MotiveWhite LabelCome Get MeOne On OneIt Ain’t Hard To Tell (Large Professor Remix)Jay-ZNever ChangeKingdom ComePolitics As UsualDead Presidents IIPublic Service Announcement (Grey Album)SHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (Nas vs Jay-Z): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wvi2XdGLDsVtaobzsAnSH?si=U-PJplr_Qweu3__fs4ccOwJOIN OUR PATREON!Sign up as a member on Patreon and access exclusive bonus content:https://www.patreon.com/cw/HipHopWorldCupALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. SOCIAL MEDIAFollow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In this episode we’re delving into the extensive back catalogue of the Soul Brother #1, the Chocolate Boy Wonder, producer extraordinaire… the one and only PETE ROCK.From creating groundbreaking albums with CL Smooth to twiddling the knobs on era-defining productions for the likes of Nas, AZ, Redman and Run DMC, Pete Rock has staked his claim as one of the greatest producers (and remixers) in hip-hop history.In other words, he’s the perfect subject for our latest SOLO SHOOTOUT. Danny, Steve and James take ten of Pete’s iconic productions, draw them against each other in a series of one-on-one matches, then rank the five winners to find the ultimate champion.Along the way, the boys break down Pete’s beatmaking techniques and idiosyncratic rapping style, as well as discussing his link to a popular British hot chocolate drink – you do not want to miss it.All that, plus the usual array of bollocks, including our copyright-compliant ‘Time For Questions’ segment and a star-studded VAR panel that features some of the top names in British broadcasting.TRACKSAZ – Gimme Your'sINI – Think TwiceNas – The World Is YoursPete Rock – Mind Blowin’Pete Rock & Common – Dreamin’Redman – How To Roll A BluntPete Rock & CL Smooth – Go With The FlowINI – What You SayNaughty By Nature – Hip Hop Hooray (Pete Rock Remix)Heavy D & The Boyz – Got Me WaitingSHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (Pete Rock): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1QDiX3y0OHs4xICDfd1QpG?si=ca84f4d73c60495a&pt=204668b206ad40017bb1f480b031a8adALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. SOCIAL MEDIAFollow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

Shootout is the podcast where hip-hop’s mightiest MCs and producers step up to the penalty spot in a best-of-five battle to decide who’s the greatest.  In this episode, there ain’t no half steppin’ as two titans of the hip-hop game engage in Mortal Combat – RAKIM and BIG DADDY KANE. These legendary lyricists revolutionised the art of MCing with their intricate wordplay, complex constructions and memorable metaphors – inspiring a whole generation of rappers who came after them. We’ve selected five tracks from each rapper’s incredible back catalogue. We draw those tracks at random to face each other; after discussing the songs we use the three-man vote to decide who scores and who misses. Best of five wins! It’s been a long time since we set it off with a Shootout of this magnitude – it ain’t no joke and [insert song title pun here]. TRACKS: Rakim  Eric B & Rakim – I Ain’t No JokeEric B & Rakim – Let The Rhythm Hit ‘EmEric B & Rakim – Don’t Sweat The TechniqueIt’s Been A Long TimeWhen I B On The MicBig Daddy Kane Ain’t No Half Steppin’Set It OffMortal CombatHow U Get A Record Deal?Prince Paul – Macula’s TheorySHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (Rakim vs Big Daddy Kane):https://open.spotify.com/playlist/58KQMKS71FCeG9xT9VOxdB?si=b1fc303e4c8a4379 ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK  Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.  Social media  Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:  Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcup  Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In our SHOOTOUT series, there are two types of episodes: VERSUS – one rapper or producer against another – and SOLO, where we take ten songs from a single rapper or producer and work out which is best using a contrived penalty shootout-style contest.In this SOLO SHOOTOUT, we take a trip to Chi-Town and celebrate of one of the city’s most famous sons – COMMON.In a long and esteemed career that spans the worlds of music, movies and TV, Common – real name Lonnie Rashid Lynn – has established himself as one of the most original, gifted and intelligent MCs ever to grace our speakers. Not only has he released 14 solo studio albums, but he’s also blessed other artists with countless classic guest verses and even taken time out of his busy schedule to have a pop at Ice Cube in one of hip-hop’s best diss tracks.Join us for this SOLO SHOOTOUT as we deep dive into the Common catalogue and find out which tracks hit the back of the net and which ones stick it in row Z. And don’t worry, there’s plenty of the usual nonsense too – quizzes, Urgent News™ and top-class punditry from the finest minds in football, and Richard Keys.TRACKSNuthin’ To DoThe Bitch In YooGoInvocationResurrectionThe 6th SenseBlack Star feat Common – RespirationJ-Dilla feat Common – E=mc2Common feat Sadat X – 1-9-9-9The Roots feat Common – Act Too (The Love Of My Life)SHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/32vXoGWZZzz82V2xMk7B4x?si=s_9Cd7JDSeOhjuIy3FQwQQALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠ Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:  Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcupBeats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

We’re back with a brand-new series: Shootout!It’s the podcast that puts hip-hop’s premier producers and MCs up against each other in a best-of-five battle to find out who’s the greatest. We draw tracks from each side to face each other, and after discussing them we use the three-man vote to decide who wins. In our inaugural episode, two of New York’s top production teams step up to the spot – The Beatnuts and Da Beatminerz. During the shootout, we discuss the beats, the bars and how their production techniques have evolved over the years.Shootout: the podcast that takes hip-hop to penalties! TRACKS:The Beatnuts The Beatnuts – Hit Me With ThatThe Beatnuts – Let Off A CoupleAl Tariq – Peace AkkiMos Def – New World Water Ghostface Killah – One Da BeatminerzSmif-N-Wessun – P.N.C. Ill Breed – Act UpBlack Moon & Smif-N-Wessun – Headz Ain’t Ready Royal Flush – Movin' On Ya Weak Productions O.G.C. – No Fear  SHOOTOUT SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2sZ9XL9zTFWLpEDwMvNDIGALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or yourpodcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Follow and holler at us on social media to share yourthoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @hiphopworldcupBeats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

FIFA asked us to convene an emergency Play Off podcast to settle one of the biggest debates in hip-hop history – which is better, Kill at Will by Ice Cube or 100 Miles and Runnin’ by NWA? Both released in 1990 after the acrimonious split of NWA – dubbed “the world’s most dangerous group” by Shakin’ Stevens – these EPs marked a pivotal moment in the history of rap music. After watching Ice Cube drop his solo masterpiece Amerikkka’s Most Wanted, Dre, Ren, Eazy and Yella hit back with 100 Miles and Runnin’ – an electrifying EP that brims with vitriol towards Cube and portrays him as a traitor. Meanwhile Cube quietly capitalised on his growing solo success with Kill at Will, an EP that largely avoided dissing his former bandmates, keeping it bottled up until the vicious No Vaseline on his 1991 album Death Certificate. Thirty-five years after these EPs were released, Danny, James and Steve referee this brutal battle from a secret underground bunker under strict ‘papal election’ conditions, with VAR and TruSkore technology as a reassuring presence throughout. After discussing each track, they use the three-man vote to decide which EP takes home the trophy – all overseen by the usual rogue’s gallery of British football legends. Don’t miss it! HHWC SOCIAL MEDIA, YOUTUBE AND PODCAST LINKS: https://linktr.ee/hiphopworldcup ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:  Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠  Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hiphopworldcup Please rate and review Hip Hop World Cup on Spotify, Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky (@hiphopworldcup) to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: https://www.instagram.com/hiphopworldcup https://x.com/hiphopworldcup https://www.threads.net/@hiphopworldcup https://bsky.app/profile/hiphopworldcup.bsky.social Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In our final Dream Team episode of the series, we bring you a special show recorded in front of a live audience at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.  Admittedly, the audience was there to watch BBC’s Question Time being filmed and they seemed confused – occasionally angry – but we soon won them round with our lively debate over the top hip-hop tracks from 1995. And what a year it was. On the east coast, the Wu-Tang boys spoiled us with classic albums from GZA, Raekwon and ODB, which cemented RZA as the dominant force in hip-hop – challenged only by DJ Premier, whose brand of quirky head-nodders made him the go-to guy for the best beats in the business. Meanwhile Dr Dre kept our heads ringin’, Masta Ace gave us da answer and Show & AG took us to the next level. Throw in lesser-known bangers from the likes of Shabazz The Disciple, Mic Geronimo and Double XX Posse and it’s easy to see why some consider 1995 to be the low-key greatest year of hip-hop's golden era.  To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of these songs, Danny, James and Steve attempt to knock a squad of 22 down to 11 by drawing them against each other in a series of one-on-one matches and using the three-man vote to decide the winner each time.   The 11 winning tracks earn a place on our Spotify playlist, the losers get an early bath. We also decide on the team's name, manager and star player. THE 1995 SQUAD: 2Pac ‘Lord Knows’ AZ ‘Rather Unique’ Big L ‘Put It On’ D&D All Stars ‘1, 2, Pass It’ DJ Quik ‘Something 4 Tha Mood’ Double XX Posse ‘Money Talks’ Dr Dre ‘Keep Their Heads Ringin’’ E Bros ‘Funky Piano’ Group Home ‘Supa Star’ GZA ‘Liquid Swordz’ Ill Al Skratch 'Don't Shut Down On A Player’ Kool G Rap feat Nas ‘Fast Life’ Masta Ace ‘Da Answer’ Mic Geronimo ‘Masta I.C.’ Mobb Deep ‘Shook Ones Pt 2' Nine ‘Whutcha Want?’ Ol’ Dirty Bastard ‘Brooklyn Zoo’ Raekwon ‘Ice Cream’ Shabazz The Disciple ‘Death Be The Penalty’ Show & AG ‘Next Level’ (Nyte Time Remix) Smif-N-Wessun ‘Hellucination' Tha Dogg Pound ‘I Don't Like To Dream About Getting Paid'DREAM TEAM 1995 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST:   https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ApwFBhKQFq2RNvRJyLBWj?si=R6Hq6a2BSIaWQUwutcDuEw HHWC SOCIAL MEDIA, YOUTUBE AND PODCAST LINKS:   https://linktr.ee/hiphopworldcup ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠     Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hiphopworldcup  Please rate and review Hip Hop World Cup on Spotify, Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.  SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky (@hiphopworldcup) to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:   https://www.instagram.com/hiphopworldcup  https://x.com/hiphopworldcup  https://www.threads.net/@hiphopworldcup  https://bsky.app/profile/hiphopworldcup.bsky.social Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In this episode we journey back to the early stages of hip-hop’s golden era and put together a playlist of our favourite tracks from 1991.It was the year that hip-hop erupted with groundbreaking albums and cultural milestones. Public Enemy continued their legacy of politically charged anthems, while A Tribe Called Quest redefined jazz-infused rap. Ice Cube's solo sophomore effort ‘Death Certificate’ sparked controversy with its raw social commentary, contrasting with Naughty by Nature's patented brand of party bangers.Meanwhile, the debut album by a young, hungry Tupac Shakur introduced his poetic lyricism and social activism, while Cypress Hill brought a gritty West Coast flavour to the forefront with their self-titled debut album. Yep, 1991 was a pivotal year, shaping hip-hop's diverse landscape for years to come.In this epic Dream Team episode, Danny, James and Steve attempt to knock a squad of 22 songs down to 11 by drawing them against each other in a series of one-on-one matches and using the three-man vote to decide the winner each time. The 11 winning tracks earn a place on our Spotify playlist, the losers get an early bath. We also decide on the team's name, manager and star player. All that, plus quiz questions, ‘Urgent News’ and the usual mix of nonsense. Don’t miss it!THE 1991 SQUAD: 2Pac ‘If My Homie Calls’  A Tribe Called Quest ‘Scenario’  Big Daddy Kane feat Little Daddy Shane ‘Brother Brother’  Black Sheep ‘The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)’  Cypress Hill ‘How I Could Just Kill a Man’  Del Tha Funkee Homosapien ‘Ahonetwo Ahonetwo’  DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince ‘Summertime’  DJ Quik ‘Sweet Black Pussy’  Gang Starr ‘Just To Get A Rep’  Geto Boys ‘Mind Playing Tricks On Me’  Heavy D & The Boyz ‘Don’t Curse’  Ice Cube ‘Bird In The Hand’  Ice-T ‘O.G. Original Gangster’  KMD ‘Soulflexin’’  Main Source ‘Live At The Barbeque’  Naughty By Nature ‘OPP’  Nice & Smooth ‘Sometimes I Rhyme Slow’  NWA ‘Real Niggaz Don’t Die’  Public Enemy ‘Shut ‘Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)’  Terminator X ‘Homey Don’t Play Dat’  The UMC’s ‘One To Grow On’   Tim Dog ‘Fuck Compton’ DREAM TEAM 1991 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2zByTKTPp4LVvQHA6mpDs4?si=XJ9CXdLXRAm02nUzGq2IIQHHWC SOCIAL MEDIA, YOUTUBE AND PODCAST LINKS:  https://linktr.ee/hiphopworldcupALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:Apple Podcasts:⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠    Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hiphopworldcup Please rate and review Hip Hop World Cup on Spotify, Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.   SOCIAL MEDIA  Follow us on Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky (@hiphopworldcup) to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:  https://www.instagram.com/hiphopworldcup https://x.com/hiphopworldcup https://www.threads.net/@hiphopworldcup https://bsky.app/profile/hiphopworldcup.bsky.socialBeats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

1994 is regarded by many as the greatest and most important year in hip-hop history, spawning a slew of untouchable classic albums and seeing the artform reach its creative and cultural peak. In this episode, Danny, Steve and James revisit this monumental year, selecting 22 of their favourite tracks and drawing them against each other in a series of one-on-one matches. After discussing the songs, they use the three-man vote to decide the winner.  The 11 winning tracks earn a place on our Spotify playlist, which you can bump in your boomin’ system using the link below. The boys also decide on the team's name, manager and star player. THE 1994 SQUADAhmad 'Back In The Day (Remix)’Common Sense ‘I Used To Love H.E.R.’Coolio 'I Remember'       Craig Mack ‘Flava In Ya Ear’ Crooklyn Dodgers 'Crooklyn' DJ Quik 'Dollaz and Sense' Gang Starr 'Mass Appeal' House of Pain 'Where I'm From' Jeru The Damaja 'Come Clean' KMD 'It Sounded Like A Roc' Kurious 'Uptown Shit'MC Eiht feat Spice-1 & Redman ‘Nuthin’ But The Gangsta’Method Man 'Release Yo Delf'Nas 'One Love' O.C. ‘Time’s Up’ Paris 'Guerrilla Funk' Snoop Doggy Dogg & Tray Deee '21 Jumpstreet'Tha Dogg Pound 'What Would U Do?' The Beatnuts ‘Props Over Here’ The Notorious B.I.G. ‘Everyday Struggle’ Thug Life ‘Pour Out A Little Liquor'Warren G & Nate Dogg ‘Regulate’ DREAM TEAM 1994 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4PNyEkMIprQISvIV5jTOB2?si=qQHk8VedSqa08BPVcN_a7QHHWC SOCIAL MEDIA, YOUTUBE AND PODCAST LINKS:https://linktr.ee/hiphopworldcupALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOURPODCAST APP OF CHOICE:   Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠   Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hiphopworldcupPlease rate and review Hip Hop World Cup on Spotify, Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise ourvisibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Instagram, X and Threads (@hiphopworldcup)to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:  https://www.instagram.com/hiphopworldcuphttps://x.com/hiphopworldcuphttps://www.threads.net/@hiphopworldcupBeats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In this episode, Danny, Steve and James reminisce over ’92 as classic hip-hop tracks from that year battle it out for a place on our DREAM TEAM. 1992 was the year that saw Dr Dre go solo on that ass and introduce the world to a certain Snoop Doggy Dogg, while Redman, The Pharcyde, Das EFX, Pete Rock & CL Smooth and Diamond D dropped debut albums to die for. We also banged heads with EPMD, jumped around with House of Pain and spent a lovely day with Ice Cube playing craps, getting lucky with the ladies and not getting shot. So how does DREAM TEAM work? Simple. We draw 22 songs against each other in a series of one-on-one matches, then discuss them and use the three-man vote to decide the winner.  The 11 winning tracks earn a place on our Spotify playlist, which you can enjoy using the link below. We also decide on the team's name, manager and star player. The 1992 Squad: Da Lench Mob ‘Guerrillas In Tha Mist’  Das EFX ‘They Want EFX’  Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics ‘Sally Got A One Track Mind’  DJ Quik ‘Jus Lyke Compton’  Dr Dre ‘Let Me Ride’  Dr Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg ‘Deep Cover’  EPMD ‘Headbanger’  Eric B & Rakim ‘Know The Ledge’  Gang Starr ‘B.Y.S.’  House Of Pain ‘Jump Around’  Ice Cube ‘It Was A Good Day’  Ice-T & Ice Cube ‘Trespass’  K-Solo ‘The Baby Doesn’t Look Like Me’  Kool G Rap & DJ Polo ‘On The Run’  Lord Finesse ‘Return Of The Funky Man’  MC Serch ‘Back To The Grill’  Paris ‘The Days Of Old’  Pete Rock & CL Smooth ‘They Reminisce Over You’  Redman ‘Time 4 Sum Aksion’  Showbiz & AG ‘Soul Clap’  The GOATS ‘Typical American’  The Pharcyde ‘Passin’ Me By’ DREAM TEAM 1992 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2r3aUx7SpgqPPtmUW70E2T?si=9d8596d3606c4b89 ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Spotify, Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.   Social media   Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:   Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup   Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

1993 was a special time in hip-hop. On the East Coast, it was the year of shouty choruses, bald heads, big coats and Tims – and that’s just Run DMC – while Wu-Tang and Black Moon launched their legendary debut bangers.   On the West Coast, Snoop’s first album took the hip-hop world from behind, the feud between Dre and Eazy got personal, and Ice Cube stayed up all night watching police helicopters.  In this episode, Danny, Steve and Larry take a trip back to this pivotal year and assemble a star team of 11 classic tracks from a squad of 22.   The songs are drawn against each other in a series of one-on-one matches, which we discuss and use the three-man vote to decide the winner.  After sorting the beats from the chaff, the 11 winning tracks earn a place on our Spotify playlist, which you can access using the link below. We also decide on the team's name, manager and star player.  THE 1993 SQUAD:  2Pac ‘Point The Finga’   Apache ‘Gangsta Bitch’ A Tribe Called Quest ‘Award Tour’   Black Moon ‘Who Got Da Props?’   Del The Funkee Homosapien ‘Wrongplace’   DJ Shadow ‘Entropy’   Eazy-E ‘Real Muthaphukkin Gs’   Fat Joe Da Gangsta ‘Flow Joe’   Funkdoobiest ‘Bow Wow Wow’   Ice Cube ‘Ghetto Bird’   KRS-One ‘Sound Of Da Police’   Lords of the Underground ‘Chief Rocka’   MC Ren ‘Same Old Shit’   Original Flavor ‘Can I Get Open?’   Run DMC 'Down With The King'   Snoop Doggy Dogg ‘Gin & Juice’   Souls of Mischief ’93 Til Infinity’   Spice 1 ‘Trigga Gots No Heart’   The Beatnuts ‘No Equal’   The Notorious BIG 'Party and Bullshit'   Trends of Culture ‘Off And On’   Wu Tang Clan ‘C.R.E.A.M.’  DREAM TEAM 1993 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST:   https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6CeyJBzmRWAPKVshxD7ykm?si=06754a35dab640b6 ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK   Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.   Social media   Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:   Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup   Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

We’re back in effect with a brand-new format: DREAM TEAM! The goal of this new series is to create an all-star playlist of songs for each year of hip-hop’s 1990s golden era. In each episode, we take 22 of our favourite hip-hop joints from the selected year and draw them against each other in a series of one-on-one matches. We use the three-man vote to decide on the winner until we’re left with 11 triumphant tracks, which we’ll share as a playlist on Spotify. We also decide on the team’s name, manager and star player. In this episode we preside over a 22-way tussle between our favourite tracks from 1996: 2Pac ‘Skandalouz’ Blahzay Blahzay 'Danger' Busta Rhymes 'Woo Hah!! (Got You All In Check)' Cella Dwellas ‘Perfect Match’ De La Soul 'Stakes is High' DJ Honda ' Straight Talk From NY’ DJ Shadow 'Changeling' Ghostface Killah 'Fish' Heltah Skeltah ‘Undastand’ InI ‘Fakin’ Jax’ Jay-Z ‘D’Evils’ Jeru 'The Frustrated Nigga' Juggaknots 'A Rainy Saturday' Mad Skillz 'Tongues of the Next Shit' Makaveli 'Me and My Girlfriend' Nas 'I Gave You Power' Nine 'Lyin' King' OC & Buckwild 'What I Represent' Smoothe Da Hustler ‘Broken Language’ Snoop Doggy Dogg ‘Groupie’ Real Live ‘The Gimmicks’ Wu Tang Clan 'America' DREAM TEAM 1996 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ua73mXn3SxIcgDLzaCEW2?si=a34d5f35e77d4749 ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK  Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.  Social media  Follow and holler at us on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:  Instagram and X (Twitter): @hiphopworldcup  Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978  

In the final episode of this series, we’re giving The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1997 double album Life After Death a Play-Off post-mortem to decide which of its two discs is the best. Life After Death is Biggie’s second and final album, released a mere 16 days after his murder, and continues right where his revered debut Ready To Die left off. The beats are smoother, the hooks are catchier and the suits are shinier, but does Big Poppa’s brand of street-smart lyricism still blow us away? Recorded live at a special event to celebrate Biggie’s life and work – attended by an all-star line-up of hip-hop greats, as well as P. Diddy – this episode sees us diving deep into B.I.G.’s bloated blockbuster and work out if it’s a misfire or masterpiece. Also, stay tuned until the end as we attempt something that’s never been done before in the history of British podcasting. Don’t miss this one! About HIP HOP WORLD CUP: THE PLAY OFFS   It's the podcast that pits golden-age rap albums against each other in a fight for sonic supremacy!  In each episode, die-hard hip-hop heads Danny, James and Steve rate and debate two albums from rap music’s golden era (’88-‘96) to decide which one is best.  Using the patented TruSkore™ system, tracks are assigned numerical values – ‘ratings’ if you will – which the trio will use as a guide.  After the hosts vote for their favourite album, the winning LP claims the coveted Hip Hop World Cup tie and blazer badge combination pack and a trophy made of solid plastic.  This podcast is brought to you by TruSkore™, the world’s number one music evaluation system.   ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:  Google Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw⁠  Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632⁠  Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK⁠  Stitcher: ⁠https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup⁠  Anchor: ⁠https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45⁠  Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.  Social media  Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:  Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup  Individual handles  Danny:  X: @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16  James:  X: @wardner_  Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: ⁠https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In this episode we take the time machine back to 1991 and check out two albums very close to Danny’s heart – 2nd II None’s self-titled debut effort and ‘Fruits of Nature’ by The UMCs. Released a month apart and boasting many similarities, these albums sparked his love affair with hip-hop as a lad – but do co-hosts Steve and James share his passion? 2nd II None – produced entirely by West Coast legend DJ Quik – takes on The UMC’s self-produced debut record in this Play Off, in which we discuss and score every track and vote on the winner to decide who takes home the trophy. And don’t forget, we’re still the only hip-hop podcast to be adjudicated by VAR technology, which means you can be sure our opinions are completely free from ‘clear and obvious errors’. About HIP HOP WORLD CUP: THE PLAY OFFS  It's the podcast that pits golden-age rap albums against each other in a fight for sonic supremacy! In each episode, die-hard hip-hop heads Danny, James and Steve rate and debate two albums from rap music’s golden era (’88-‘96) to decide which one is best. Using the patented TruSkore™ system, tracks are assigned numerical values – ‘ratings’ if you will – which the trio will use as a guide. After the hosts vote for their favourite album, the winning LP claims the coveted Hip Hop World Cup tie and blazer badge combination pack and a trophy made of solid plastic. This podcast is brought to you by TruSkore™, the world’s number one music evaluation system. ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: X: @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 James: X: @wardner_ Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In our first episode of 2024, we take a trip back to the early noughties for a battle of the backpack rap classics! We put ‘Question in the Form of an Answer’ by People Under The Stairs (2000) up against J-Live’s debut album ‘The Best Part’ (2001) to decide which takes home the HHWC trophy. Widely regarded as two of the new millennium’s best hip-hop LPs, they helped usher in a new age of beat-making and rhyme-saying, bringing a fresh forward-thinking approach to the familiar tropes and traditions of hip-hop’s golden age. It’s a departure from our usual early-to-mid-90s milieu but these two albums are heavily influenced by (and some even recorded during) hip-hop’s golden age so we figured they were perfect candidates for the Hip Hop World Cup arena.   But here’s The Best Part – we are now officially the only hip-hop podcast to be monitored by VAR technology, which should ensure that none of our opinions are ‘clear and obvious errors’ (in theory anyway). So sit back and strap in – this is one that PUTS and J-Live fans won’t want to miss. About HIP HOP WORLD CUP: THE PLAY OFFS   It's the podcast that pits golden-age rap albums against each other in a fight for sonic supremacy!  In each episode, die-hard hip-hop heads Danny, James and Steve rate and debate two albums from rap music’s golden era (’88-‘96) to decide which one is best.  Using the patented TruSkore™ system, tracks are assigned numerical values – ‘ratings’ if you will – which the trio will use as a guide.  After the hosts vote for their favourite album, the winning LP claims the coveted Hip Hop World Cup tie and blazer badge combination pack and a trophy made of solid plastic.  This podcast is brought to you by TruSkore™, the world’s number one music evaluation system.   ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:  Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK  Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup  Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45  Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.  Social media  Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:  Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup  Individual handles  Danny:  X: @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16  James:  X: @wardner_  Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In this epic episode (epicsode?), it’s all earz on 2Pac’s 1996 diamond-selling double album ALL EYEZ ON ME. Fresh outta jail and bursting with ‘thug passion’, 2Pac banged out this 27-track opus in double-quick time, backed by the physical/financial might of Death Row head honcho Suge Knight and a luxury line-up of the West Coast’s finest producers – including a certain Dr Dre, who produced the smash hit ‘California Love’. The hype was huge and when it was released in Feb ‘96 the double album made a massive splash in the hip-hop world, with many considering it to be the late lyricsmith’s finest album – the last to be released in his lifetime. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? And which of the two albums is better? Well, in this episode we finally put those age-old questions to bed. In an historic podcasting first (probably) we put Book 1 up against Book 2 in a Death Row death match to find out once and for all which one takes the crown. It’s the battle commentators are already calling ‘utterly specPACular’. Danny, Steve and Larry rate and debate each track in detail – employing the globally trusted TruSkore™ technology to ensure 100% scientific accuracy – and vote for their winner. The trio trade war stories, share some skandalouz hot takes and get their minds made up about this unique, remarkable and historic hip-hop record. Joining the lads in their purpose-built bunker beneath FIFA headquarters in Zurich is the usual gang of greats of the football world, including a certain England winger who’s no stranger to having 'all eyez on him’. This is one you won’t want to miss! About HIP HOP WORLD CUP: THE PLAY OFFS   It's the podcast that pits golden-age rap albums against each other in a fight for sonic supremacy!  In each episode, die-hard hip-hop heads Danny, James and Steve rate and debate two albums from rap music’s golden era (’88-‘96) to decide which one is best.  Using the patented TruSkore™ system, tracks are assigned numerical values – ‘ratings’ if you will – which the trio will use as a guide.  After the hosts vote for their favourite album, the winning LP claims the coveted Hip Hop World Cup tie and blazer badge combination pack and a trophy made of solid plastic.  This podcast is brought to you by TruSkore™, the world’s number one music evaluation system.   ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:  Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK  Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup  Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45  Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.  Social media  Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:  Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup  Individual handles  Danny:  X: @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16  James:  X: @wardner_  Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

PUBLIC ENEMY 'APOCALPYSE '91: THE ENEMY STRIKES BLACK' (1991) vs 'TERMINATOR X AND THE VALLEY OF THE JEEP BEETS' (1991) This is the big one! After an unsuccessful tenure at TruSkore HQ in Qatar, Larry has been lured out of retirement by the only album that could do it - Public Enemy's fourth and sorely under-discussed LP 'Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Black'! In this episode, we thrown PE's album into the lion's den against PE DJ Terminator X's 1991 debut solo album 'Terminator X and the Valley of the Jeep Beets'. Larry reunites with Danny and Steve - the UK's answer to the S1Ws - to dissect both albums track by track, then vote to decide which one is the overall winner. Along the way the trio debate the merits of Flavor Flav and Sister Souljah, and ponder what the rest of the Casino Brothers were up to during the making of this album. Throw in an interview with a genuine England football legend it'll take a nation of millions to hold this episode back! You won't find any other podcast talking about these classic albums! So if you have a love for 1990's golden-age hip-hop, this is the podcast for you. About HIP HOP WORLD CUP: THE PLAY OFFS  It's the podcast that pits golden-age rap albums against each other in a fight for sonic supremacy! In each episode, die-hard hip-hop heads Danny, James and Steve rate and debate two albums from rap music’s golden era (’88-‘96) to decide which one is best. Using the patented TruSkore™ system, tracks are assigned numerical values – ‘ratings’ if you will – which the trio will use as a guide. After the hosts vote for their favourite album, the winning LP claims the coveted Hip Hop World Cup tie and blazer badge combination pack and a trophy made of solid plastic. This podcast is brought to you by TruSkore™, the world’s number one music evaluation system.ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: X: @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 James: X: @wardner_ Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

Time to don the helmets and prepare for what we're calling the 'HIT SQUAD HEADBANGER'! That's right - Danny and Steve take a trip back to 1992 as EPMD's 'Business Never Personal' knocks heads with K-Solo's 'Time's Up' in a two-way tussle. In this episode, we discuss the delicious irony of EPMD's 'Crossover', throw shade (business) on Parrish Smith's rap capabilities and question whether K-Solo really did have a 'Household Maid' - before totting up the scores and deciding whch album is the best. Plus we're joined on the line by an England football legend who is no stranger to banging heads. You don't want to miss this one! About HIP HOP WORLD CUP: THE PLAY OFFS   It's the podcast that pits golden-age rap albums against each other in a fight for sonic supremacy!  In each episode, die-hard hip-hop heads Danny and Steve rate and debate two albums from rap music’s golden era (’88-‘96) to decide which one is best.  Using the patented TruSkore™ system, tracks are assigned numerical values – ‘ratings’ if you will – which the duo will use to decide on the winner.  The winning LP claims the coveted Hip Hop World Cup tie and blazer badge combination pack and a trophy made of solid plastic.  This podcast is brought to you by TruSkore™, the world’s number one music evaluation system.   ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE:  Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK  Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup  Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45  Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’.  Social media  Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general:  Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup  Individual handles  Danny:  Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

Episode 3: HELTAH SKELTAH 'NOCTURNAL' (1996) vs CELLA DWELLAS 'REALMS 'N' REALITY' (1996) In this episode we compare and contrast two 1996 rap duo debut albums – ‘Nocturnal’ by Boot Camp Click members Heltah Skeltah and ‘Realms ‘N’ Reality’ by Cella Dwellas.   With loads of boom-bap bangers on both – from ‘Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka’ and ‘Undastand’ to ‘Perfect Match’ and ‘Good Dwellas’ – these are two golden-age albums that don’t get talked about enough. Time to put that right.  There are plenty of parallels between these two LPs in terms of themes, styles, beats and lyrical interplay, but which one did we prefer? We dissect both and fire up the patented TruSkore™ system to decide the winner.   It’s also an episode of firsts here at HHWC HQ. Not only is it the first one recorded IN PERSON but it’s also the first without Larry, who was headhunted by TruSkore™ top brass and is now heading up the complaints department at their Qatar campus. About HIP HOP WORLD CUP: THE PLAY OFFS  It's the podcast that pits golden-age rap albums against each other in a fight for sonic supremacy! In each episode, die-hard hip-hop heads Danny and Steve rate and debate two albums from rap music’s golden era (’88-‘96) to decide which one is best. Using the patented TruSkore™ system, tracks are assigned numerical values – ‘ratings’ if you will – which the trio will use as a guide. After the hosts vote for their favourite album, the winning LP claims the coveted Hip Hop World Cup tie and blazer badge combination pack and a trophy made of solid plastic. This podcast is brought to you by TruSkore™, the world’s number one music evaluation system. ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Artwork by Brody Phillips: https://www.instagram.com/reoma_art/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe29...

With the Qatar World Cup 2022 in full swing, we thought it was high time to post this bonus beat tape episode featuring all the music from the Hip Hop World Cup podcast - as well as a world exclusive interview with two prominent figures from the world of football. Enjoy! ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_ Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

INTELLIGENT HOODLUM ‘TRAGEDY: SAGA OF A HOODLUM’ (1993) vs ORGANIZED KONFUSION ‘ORGANIZED KONFUSION’ (1991) In this episode, two ‘90s hip-hop gems go toe-to-toe! Your hosts Danny, James and Steve size up two superb albums by Organized Konfusion and Intelligent Hoodlum, breaking down the beats and rhymes, the bangers and the clangers – then vote for their winner, guided by the tried and trusted TruSkore™ system. What will they think? Which album will be crowned champion? Will Steve’s preferred album finally win? More importantly, has TruSkore™ stopped accessing its users’ bank accounts? Listen to find out! About HIP HOP WORLD CUP: THE PLAY OFFS It's the podcast that pits golden-age rap albums against each other in a fight for sonic supremacy! In each episode, die-hard hip-hop heads Danny, James and Steve rate and debate two albums from rap music’s golden era ('88 - '96) to decide which one is best. Using the patented TruSkore™ system, tracks are assigned numerical values – ‘ratings’ if you will – which the trio will use as a guide. After the hosts vote for their favourite album, the winning LP claims the coveted Hip Hop World Cup tie and blazer badge combination pack and a trophy made of solid plastic. This podcast is brought to you by TruSkore™, the world’s number one music evaluation system. ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 James: Twitter: @wardner_ Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

ILL BISKITS ‘CHRONICLE OF TWO LOSERS’ (1996) vs CAPITAL TAX ‘THE SWOLL PACKAGE’ (1993) In the first episode of series 2, two lesser-known 1990s rap albums step in the arena! It’s a voyage of discovery for Danny, James and Steve, who are checking these slept-on LPs for the very first time. They went under the boys’ radars in the 90s, but can they impress these three jaded 40-somethings in the year 2022?  Our hosts discuss the beats, rhymes, best tracks and more, then express their opinions numerically using the tried and trusted TruSkore™ system. What will they think? Which album will be crowned champion? More importantly, is it OK to have a urinal in your house? Listen to find out! About HIP HOP WORLD CUP: THE PLAY OFFS  It's the podcast that pits golden-age rap albums against each other in a fight for sonic supremacy! In each episode, die-hard hip-hop heads Danny, James and Steve rate and debate two albums from rap music’s golden era (’88-‘96) to decide which one is best. Using the patented TruSkore™ system, tracks are assigned numerical values – ‘ratings’ if you will – which the trio will use as a guide. After the hosts vote for their favourite album, the winning LP claims the coveted Hip Hop World Cup tie and blazer badge combination pack and a trophy made of solid plastic. This podcast is brought to you by TruSkore™, the world’s number one music evaluation system. ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 James: Twitter: @wardner_ Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Artwork by Brody Phillips: https://www.instagram.com/reoma_art/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe29...

Episode 10: BEST OF THE REST In this BONUS episode we round up the best ‘honourable mentions’ from our first nine episodes and throw them into battle! These eight albums didn’t quite qualify for our regular World Cups, but they were too damn DOPE not to discuss! But which one will lift the coveted Hip Hop World Cup trophy? Listen and find out… Round One Draw: Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics ‘Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop’ (1992) v Redman ‘Whut? Thee Album’ (1992) Kurious ‘A Constipated Monkey’ (1994) v Nine ‘Nine Livez’ (1995) Grand Puba ‘2000’ (1995) v AZ ‘Doe Or Die’ (1995) Group Home ‘Livin’ Proof’ (1995) v Dr Octagon ‘Dr Octogonecologyst’ (1996) Plus, we gasp as Larry gets his ‘backpack rap club’ membership revoked, wince as Danny struggles to say ‘Octogonecologyst’ and weep as we lament the lack of a full MC Froggy Frog album. ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YWZiOWIwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup/id1589610632 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6aBAonIjzVh1zr27q733yK Stitcher: https://stitcher.com/podcast/hip-hop-world-cup Anchor: https://anchor.fm/daniel-phillips45 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_ Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978

In the final episode of the series, we’ve blown the budget on a corporate box at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena and invited some fans round for a hot buffet lunch. The occasion? Only the biggest and most brutal Hip-Hop World Cup yet! The winners from the ‘round of 16’ in the previous episode now compete in the QUARTER FINALS. Eight albums remain, including some of the finest works of hip-hop known to man. It ain’t hard to tell this one’s a BRUISING encounter, and the climax is carnage – you won’t believe who wins! Plus a football LEGEND joins us to discuss our winning album – provided the tech holds out – and Larry discusses an earth-shattering development in the world of Tru-Skore. Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_

For our series finale, we bring you a two-part special celebrating the greatest year in hip-hop history – 1994. With so many great hip-hop albums released in this year, we’ve expanded the competition to 16 albums and thrown them into battle! In this first episode we take a look at the ‘round of 16’ – yep that’s 16 albums split into two groups – and separate the wheat from the chaff. We’ll discuss the eight winners in our next episode. Round of 16 Draw GROUP ONE 1) Casual ‘Fear Itself’ vs Coolio ‘It Takes A Thief’ 2) Gang Starr ‘Hard To Earn’ vs The Beatnuts ‘The Beatnuts’ (aka ‘Street Level’) 3) The Notorious B.I.G. ‘Ready To Die’ vs Jeru The Damaja ‘The Sun Rises In The East’ 4) Common Sense ‘Resurrection’ vs Thug Life ‘Vol 1’ GROUP TWO 1) Paris ‘Guerrilla Funk’ vs Warren G ‘Regulate… The G Funk Era’ 2) Murder Was The Case v Pete Rock & CL Smooth ‘The Main Ingredient’ 3) OC ‘Word… Life’ v Nas ‘Illmatic’ 4) House of Pain ‘Same As It Ever Was’ v Method Man ‘Tical’ Plus we wonder why Everlast doesn’t get enough props, discuss Warren G’s spelling skills (or lack thereof) and ponder the out-of-time loop at the start of ‘Bury Me A G’. Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_

In this episode we take it back to the old school and preside over a battle of the best hip-hop albums released in 1988 and 1989! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Eazy-E ‘Eazy Duz It’ (88) vs Ultramagnetic MCs ‘Critical Beatdown’ (88) 2) Big Daddy Kane ‘Long Live The Kane’ (88) vs Ice-T ‘The Iceberg’ (89) 3) De La Soul ‘3 Feet High And Rising’ (89) vs The DOC ‘No-one Can Do It Better’ (89) 4) NWA ‘Straight Outta Compton’ (88) vs Public Enemy ‘It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back’ (88) Plus we explain why the hell we combined these two years and wonder if Dr Dre really did forget to bring his drum machine to the studio. Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_

In this episode we shave our heads, don the Tims and big jackets and get rowdy as 1993’s best albums enter the Hip-Hop World Cup stage! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Eazy-E ‘It’s On (Dr Dre) 187um Killa’ vs Snoop Doggy Dogg ‘Doggystyle’ 2) Wu-Tang Clan ‘Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’ vs Kam ‘Neva Again’ 3) Souls of Mischief ‘93 Til Infinity’ vs A Tribe Called Quest ‘Midnight Marauders’ 4) Ice Cube ‘Lethal Injection’ vs Black Moon ‘Enta Da Stage’ Plus we ask why Kam is such a grumpy bugger and discuss the prevalence of shouty choruses in 1993. Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_

In this episode we light the blue touch paper and stand back as the best hip-hop albums of 1996 explode into battle! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) 2Pac ‘All Eyez On Me’ vs Jeru The Damaja ‘Wrath Of The Math’ 2) Jay-Z ‘Reasonable Doubt’ vs Sadat X ‘Wild Cowboys’ 3) Ghostface Killah ‘Ironman’ vs Nine ‘Cloud 9’ 4) Mad Skillz ‘From Where???’ vs Nas ‘It Was Written’ Plus we ask if anyone really knows what the hell Ghostface Killah is going on about and reveal Prince Philip’s favourite hip-hop album (RIP). Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_

In this episode the best hip-hop albums of 1995 go toe-to-toe in our tournament! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Tha Dogg Pound ‘Dogg Food’ vs Raekwon ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx’ 2) Mobb Deep ‘The Infamous’ vs Big L ‘Lifestyles Ov Da Poor And Dangerous’ 3) Smif-N-Wessun ‘Dah Shinin’’ vs DJ Quik ‘Safe + Sound’ 4) Masta Ace Incorporated ‘Sittin’ On Chrome’ vs GZA ‘Liquid Swords’ Plus we reduce Steve to tears over the ongoing absence of 2Pac from the Hip-Hop World Cup and discuss the art of fitting an album on one side of a C90 cassette by leaving out the shit tracks. Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_

In this episode we curate a clash of the hip-hop titans from 1991! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Del Tha Funkee Homosapien ‘I Wish My Brother George Was Here’ vs KMD ‘Mr Hood’ 2) Ice Cube ‘Death Certificate’ vs Black Sheep ‘A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing’ 3) A Tribe Called Quest ‘The Low End Theory’ vs NWA ‘Efil4zaggin’ 4) Ice T ‘OG Original Gangster’ vs De La Soul ‘De La Soul Is Dead’ Plus we celebrate the legacy of Admiral Dancehall, discover why this is Danny’s favourite year in hip-hop and learn how Tru-Skore tech is now infiltrating webcams. Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_

In this episode we put the best hip-hop albums of 1990 under the microscope! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) EPMD ‘Business As Usual’ vs Ice Cube ‘Amerikkka’s Most Wanted’ 2) BDP ‘Edutainment’ vs Brand Nubian ‘One For All’ 3) Eric B & Rakim ‘Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em’ vs LL Cool J ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ 4) Public Enemy ‘Fear Of A Black Planet’ vs A Tribe Called Quest ‘People’s Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm’ Plus we examine Steve’s Ice Cube issues, question the wisdom of Flavor Flav’s disdain for the emergency services, and wonder why Danny can’t say the name of Tribe’s album properly. Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_

In our first episode, the best hip-hop albums of 1992 do battle! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Das EFX ‘Dead Serious’ vs Da Lench Mob ‘Guerrillas In The Mist’ 2) Kool G Rap & DJ Polo ‘Live And Let Die’ vs Ice Cube ‘The Predator’ 3) Pete Rock and CL Smooth ‘Mecca And The Soul Brother’ vs The Pharcyde ‘Bizarre Ride To The Pharcyde’ 4) Eric B & Rakim ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ vs Dr Dre ‘The Chronic’ Plus we ask what Eric B and DJ Polo actually do (answers on a postcard), discuss the legacy of Das EFX and air some unpopular opinions about CL Smooth. Beats and stings by Danny Phillips: https://soundcloud.com/dannyphillips1978 Please rate and review Hip-Hop World Cup on Apple or your podcast app of choice, which will help raise our visibility and give the podcast ‘mass appeal’. Social media Hit us up on social media to share your thoughts on the episode or talk 90s hip-hop in general: Instagram and Twitter: @hiphopworldcup Individual handles Danny: Twitter @dannyphillips2 / Instagram: @dannyphillips16 Larry: Twitter: @wardner_