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#MusicChallenge #EmojiSounds Day 2 = 🍓 Great Columbus guitarist Don Hales passed away in June at the age of 91. RIP. Here he is with organist Tony Monaco in 2008. Don Hales - "Strawberries-Ras[p]berries" youtu.be/CmVPvTkanXE?...

youtu.be

Strawberries-Rasberries

YouTube video by Don Hales - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 16h

#musicchallenge 30 years of Guce "Clear and Present Danger." More Bay Area gangsta rap today, but now in the G-funk era. More gloomy than bleak, but 69 minutes of the hustlin life regardless. Not much distinctive here. Samples getting me over the finish line:

youtu.be

Gimme the Right

YouTube video by Guce - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 18h

#musicchallenge 30 years of Ras Kass "Soul on Ice." 2nd ever listen? This continues to age poorly. Amazing lyrical skills deliver self-earned wisdom, but way too dense and way too much intentionally offensive content. Beats reflect lyrical wizardry. Let's go with the only guest appearance:

youtu.be

Drama - Ras Kass (Feat. Coolio)

YouTube video by prozac26

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 20h

#MusicChallenge 30 years of The Dayton Family "F.B.I." 1st listen. Bleak, unrelenting gangsta rap/horrorcore from Flint, MI. Heavy synths with color from a few samples. The MCs are adept at tales of drugs and murder. Always a sucker for a nostalgic sample:

youtu.be

Real with This

YouTube video by The Dayton Family - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 21h

#musicchallenge 35 years of Marley Marl "In Control, Volume 2: For Your Steering Pleasure." 1st listen in too long. Plenty of jams but doesn't stack up to Vol 1 for me - too many ventures into R&B and new jack swing. Some dope old names but young talent is mixed. Tragedy rips up the hype track here:

youtu.be

Marley Marl - America Eats The Young (Album Version)

YouTube video by Black Watch

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 22h

#musicchallenge 35 years of 415 "Nu N***** on tha Blokkk." 1st listen. Funky Bay Area gangsta rap. Plenty of standard subject matter but also some political/societal insights. Good mix of samples and funky beats. I enjoyed this one:

youtu.be

415 - Court In Tha Street (Remix)

YouTube video by DeepNdaBAY

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 23h

#musicchallenge 35 years of Public Enemy "Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Back." 1st listen in too long. Huge one today. Still monumental in style and scope. Bomb Squad assembles another engulfing soundscape. Chuck and Flav deal with society's ills in their own ways and work well together. Giant:

youtu.be

Public Enemy - Can't Truss It

YouTube video by PublicEnemyVEVO

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Reposted by Funky D

jeff @jazyjef.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Four cover photos by Kwame Brathwaite (credited as Ronnie Brathwaite)

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #EmojiSounds Happy to join a wonderful challenge from @lagrume.bsky.social ! Day 1 = 🏁 Donald Byrd - "Off to the Races" youtu.be/5KpAh8q60YU?...

youtu.be

"Off To The Races" Donald Byrd

YouTube video by MegaAlexandroid

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#musicchallenge 10 years of Dave East "Kairi Chanel." 1st listen. Eh, overall not for me. Harlem MC, signed by Nas to his Mass Appeal Records, but this kinda feels southern. Trap-ish beats. Hustling lyrics. Selection of guests from the previous generation. Opened solid:

youtu.be

"It Was Written" - Dave East (Kairi Chanel) [HQ Audio]

YouTube video by Mass Appeal Records

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#musicchallenge 10 years of Apollo Brown & Skyzoo "The Easy Truth." 1st listen. Checked this out due to Apollo - glad I did. Skyzoo sometimes leaves me cold but he's engaging on this one. Smooth flows and some deep references. Of course the beats are soulful and rock solid. Dug this heartfelt flow:

youtu.be

Innocent Ambition

YouTube video by Apollo Brown - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#musicchallenge 15 years of People Under The Stairs "Highlighter." Regular listen. Conjures memories of handcrafted MP3s. 😂 Their ~8th album maintains the banging beats and cultural references. Their sound continues to expand + more nostalgia. The duo is still sharp on the mic. Love beat/flow here:

youtu.be

Uprock Boogie

YouTube video by PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #WorldAtoZ Day 30. Place You Want To Go = Norway, the most distinctive part of my heritage. Great new album! Kronstad 23 - "Høytrykk" Thanks sita and all for the great challenge! youtu.be/_sgZHDX9QgU?...

youtu.be

Høytrykk

YouTube video by Kronstad 23 - Topic

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Reposted by Funky D

HATRACK DJs @hatrackdjs.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Tune of the week. Donald Byrd 'The Dude' fom his 'Electric Byrd' album (1970). The missing link between his acoustic jazz output on Blue Note and the big-bucks, Mizell Brothers, jazz-funk that would follow. Dig that riff! www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC78... #jazz #jazzfunk #donaldbyrd #bluenoterecords

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #WorldAtoZ Day 29. From a Place You've Been To. Just reread the instructions - How about Chicago? Serengeti - "Dennehy" youtu.be/oqrtoFWglMY?...

youtu.be

Serengeti "Dennehy"

YouTube video by Audio8Recordings

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #WorldAtoZ Day 27. W = West Virginia. My local hero was born in Huntington, WV before moving to Columbus as a child. Here's a great one where used the Varitone unit. Rusty Bryant - "Streak O'Lean" youtu.be/zkAdzdDBiW4?...

youtu.be

Streak O'Lean

YouTube video by Rusty Bryant - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #WorldAtoZ Day 26. V is for Virginia. Drummer Corey Fonville (Butcher Brown) is from Virginia Beach. He also has a trio with organist Sam Fribush and rotating guitarists. This was the trio's concert opener last night. Fonville x Fribush - "Blue Chips" youtu.be/m-J4vGKmrHc?...

youtu.be

Blue Chips

YouTube video by Sam Fribush - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#MusicChallenge 25 years of FUBU "The Good Life." 1st listen. Middling comp of hip-hop, R&B and dancehall, including a confusing, unnecessary remix of India.Arie's "Video" with contradictory toasting from Super Cat. Big features from the FUBU label's only signing 54th Platoon. Enjoyed this sample:

youtu.be

All Of The Things

YouTube video by Release - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#MusicChallenge 25 years of Gemini "6:16 The Genesis." 1st listen. The lazy comparison that comes to mind is Chino XL if he was from Dallas and less linguistically talented. Middle of the road Texas rap of the time. Rather introspective. Oh no, hidden track - a skit no less! I enjoyed this duo tune:

youtu.be

Blood In Blood Out (feat. Stich-E)

YouTube video by Big Gemini - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#musicchallenge 25 years of "The Wash" OST. 1st full listen? I had a keychain for this from college radio promo, lol. I enjoyed this. Snapshot of mostly Dre/Snoop related, mostly LA hip-hop/R&B of era. Beats mid-level but some attention-grabbing samples. Good mix of MCs. Enjoyed this sample return:

youtu.be

The Wash (Album Version)

YouTube video by Dr. Dre - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#MusicChallenge 25 years of Guru "Baldhead Slick & da Click." 1st listen. Guru's 1st non-Jazzmatazz solo is a long mixed bag. Beats by committee are up and down, steady Primo is missed. Guru hits par for the course but myriad guests run the gamut of skill. PF Cuttin's beat under Treach is striking:

youtu.be

Niggaz Know

YouTube video by Guru - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#musicchallenge 25 years of Big Syke "Big Syke Daddy." 1st listen. I will always hold a special place for the MCs on "Picture Me Rollin." Eh, this is OK. Too long and proteges are bad, but Syke's voice and charisma are still strong. Beats are standard G fare. Oh no, hidden track! All-star posse cut:

youtu.be

Big Syke - Time Iz Money feat. E-40 & DJ Quik - Big Syke Daddy

YouTube video by Big Syke

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #WorldAtoZ Day 25 = Free Day Let's go with a geographic conundrum. Ernie Johnson From Detroit is from Cincinnati and their sound conjures another continent. Great new album on Color Red Music. Ernie Johnson From Detroit - "One Hundred Dollars A Minute" youtu.be/f3axtUW7kfA?...

youtu.be

"One Hundred Dollars a Minute" - Ernie Johnson From Detroit

YouTube video by ERNIE JOHNSON FROM DETROIT

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#musicchallenge 5 years of Dark Lo & Havoc "Extreme Measures." 1st listen. Released as Lo started a 7.5 year prison sentence. Havoc's dark, gritty production is well-suited here. Lo is unrelenting and wild in a focused way. Verses from Havoc, Styles P and Vado fit in fine. The duo starts tough:

youtu.be

Dark Lo & Havoc - Mob Tales [Official Video] #ExtremeMeasures

YouTube video by Dark Lo

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#musicchallenge 5 years of Blu "The Color Blu(e)." 1st listen. Missed this comeback of sorts from the LA MC - this set of tunes that all have "blu(e)" in the title is a fun listen. Exile, Sirplus and J57 all deliver sounds in his wheelhouse. Blu wrestles artfully with the world. How about this chop?

youtu.be

Mr. Blu (e) Sky

YouTube video by Blu - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#musicchallenge 30 years of Raw Breed "Killa Instinct." 1st listen. Bit of a historical footnote, as Warner Bros apparently shelved this album as too hardcore. Eh, hard for my jaded ears to call, but maybe for a major label. This is fine, certainly mid-90s grimy. Shafiq Husayn did some beats? Solid:

youtu.be

Lock Shit Down

YouTube video by Raw Breed - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#musicchallenge 30 years of "Set It Off" OST. 1st listen. A balance of hip-hop and R&B but sounds/artists all over the map. If you need to hear Seal cover "Hey Joe," this is the place. A few hip-hop notables - always a sucker for new-to-me Dungeon Family tracks:

youtu.be

Angelic Wars (feat. Cool Breeze & Backbone)

YouTube video by Goodie Mob - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#musicchallenge 35 years of Def Jef "Soul Food." 1st listen in too long. TIL that this 2nd album was his last as he began doing beats full-time. A shame to me, as his voice is strong and clear and he has ample Golden Era wisdom to share. Mark the 45 King & Brand New Heavies keep it funky. Booming:

youtu.be

Soul Is Back

YouTube video by Def Jef - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#musicchallenge 30 years of The Roots "Illadelph Halflife." 1st full listen in too long. Broad, lush and influential. There was lots of chatter years ago about the sound changes from DYWM, but that is clearly now an evolution that benefitted the group and the genre+. Love the dramatic swirl here:

youtu.be

The Roots - Concerto Of The Desperado

YouTube video by TheRootsVEVO

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#musicchallenge 35 years of A Tribe Called Quest "The Low End Theory." Regular listen. !!! One of my all-time faves that deepened my early hip-hop fandom. Q-Tip's beats are intricate but thumping. Tip and Phife have their own mic approaches and complement each other magically. Legendary opener:

youtu.be

A Tribe Called Quest - Excursions

YouTube video by Snappy Drescher

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#musicchallenge 10 years of Mick Jenkins "The Healing Component." 1st listen. I liked this - spiritual hip-hop with an organic feel. Certainly heavier Christian content than usual in mainstream, but he touches on more ideas. Production is warm. Love this longer collaboration with BADBADNOTGOOD:

youtu.be

Mick Jenkins ft. BADBADNOTGOOD - "Drowning" (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by Mick Jenkins

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#musicchallenge 10 years of T.I. "Us or Else." 1st listen. Politically-minded hip-hop from a surprising source, supporting the BLM movement and speaking out on police brutality. Overall solid. Hard-hitting trap/etc. T.I. and guests have real life commentary. Very happy to hear a T.L. Barrett sample!

youtu.be

T.I. - Black Man ft. Quavo, Meek Mill, RaRa

YouTube video by TIVEVO

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #WorldAtoZ Day 23. T = Trinidad. I highly recommend Soundway Records' new comp "Kaiso Power: Sound Revolution in Trinidad 1970-1980." Many great tracks but this is my fave - I love how it turns around. Mansa Musa - "Beat The Drum" youtu.be/-BHDs_4qNJI?...

youtu.be

Beat the Drum

YouTube video by Mansa Musa - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #WorldAtoZ Day 22. S is for Santa Ana and San Diego, California. Back on a plane plus rental car to see Karl Denson's birthplace and "origin." Pumped to see KDTU in concert Friday! Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - "Ruff, Tuff & Tumble" (2021) youtu.be/cgVukZQQL-E?...

youtu.be

Ruff, Tuff & Tumble

YouTube video by Release - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

#musicchallenge 30 years of Juggaknots "Clear Blue Skies." 1st full listen. Vinyl-only LP later reissued and expanded. Peak underground hip-hop to my ears. Gritty, thumping beats guide Breeze Brewin and crew to tough flows on deep subject matter. Unrelenting drive sets this apart. An all-timer:

youtu.be

Clear Blue Skies

YouTube video by Juggaknots - Topic

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Reposted by Funky D

alexis simpson @amutepiggy.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

if you don't support trans rights, you are a loser

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #WorldAtoZ Day 21. R is for Russia. Time to hop a plane for Nizhny Novgorod. The Soul Surfers - "Doin' The Rasklad" (2012) youtu.be/2V8YaTKD_Fs?...

youtu.be

Doin' the Rasklad

YouTube video by The Soul Surfers - Topic

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Reposted by Funky D

jazzandbluesjrny.bsky.social @jazzandbluesjrny.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

youtube.com/watch?v=QPmz... Chico Hamilton For Mods Only Happy birthday Chico

youtube.com

For Mods Only

YouTube video by The Chico Hamilton Trio - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #WorldAtoZ Day 20. Q is for Queens. Anothet day heading east. Here's 3 of Queens' best MCs, including an unbelievable verse from G Rap. Mobb Deep feat. Kool G Rap - "The Realest" (1999) youtu.be/aFdepASdF4o?...

youtu.be

Mobb Deep ft. Kool G Rap - The Realest (Music Video)

YouTube video by TheHipHopSyko

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#MusicChallenge 20 years of DJ Shadow "The Outsider." 1st full listen. This is all over the place. A big hyphy segment, but also other hip-hop, alt rock, etc. Eh, mostly not for me. How about some big guests in my lane:

youtu.be

DJ Shadow - ENUFF (Featuring Lateef the Truth Speaker and Q-Tip)

YouTube video by djshadow

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#MusicChallenge 20 years of "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor." 1st listen in too long. Holds up well as a unique voice emerging with a developed sound and inclusive worldview. Producer crew delivered a lush soundscape. Lupe's slick storytelling is vivid. Of course this is eternal Midwestern fresh air:

youtu.be

Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push (Official Video)

YouTube video by Atlantic Records

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#MusicChallenge #HipHopSaturday Casual - "That's How It Is" Just found out that Casual and Pep Love have a show in town Wednesday! Love the opening line of this. youtu.be/TV74MHNrUpI?...

youtu.be

Casual - That's How It Is (Uncut)

YouTube video by UPROXX

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Reposted by Funky D

Braden Serkas @portmanteauface.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Cargo shorts? No, car go longs. That what car for

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

#WorldAtoZ #MusicChallenge Day 19. P is for Philadelphia. Going back to a great project from ?uestlove, Christian McBride and Uri Caine on my fave label of the time, Ropeadope Records. The Philadelphia Experiment - "Ain't It The Truth" (2001) youtu.be/gjmrJY0L_S4?...

youtu.be

Ain't It The Truth

YouTube video by Philadelphia Experiment - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

#musicchallenge 25 years of Immortal Technique "Revolutionary Vol. 1." 1st listen. Has my project gone too far? Lol. I had a bad 1st impression of IT so I fully avoided him until today. Unsurprisingly a mixed bag. Mostly enjoyed the beats. Lyrics are often too much for me. Happy to hear Poison Pen:

youtu.be

Top Of The Food Chain (Remix)

YouTube video by Immortal Technique - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

#musicchallenge 30 years of Gangsta Pat "Return of the No. 1 Suspect." 1st listen. I enjoyed this. Hard Memphis raps with plenty of tempo and energy. Pat impressed me most with his strong flow. Beats are nothing special but do the job. Enjoyed the humorous hook here:

youtu.be

Incarcerated

YouTube video by Gangsta Pat - Topic

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Funky D @funkydaggers.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

#MusicChallenge 25 years of Aesop Rock "Labor Days." 2nd listen this year. Huge for me at the time - NSP became my fave Aes but this is where I connected with his music. Dense but agile lyrics and flow that open upon more listens. Blockhead & Aes created off-kilter beats that work well. Monumental:

youtu.be

Aesop Rock - Daylight

YouTube video by TheHopLounge

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