My Long Lost Tape Collection - Pop, Rap, and R&B
This list is going to date me. Being old enough for tapes (but too young for 8-tracks and records) - I had my own fairly large collection of cassette tapes. Many of the music stores, to which I visited, had both low priced cassette singles and cassette albums. With the singles, one could get your favorite songs without spending the full album price. And if I did buy the entire album - it was often cheaper than the CD (a new technology at the time) counterpart. These were the earliest cassette tapes in my collection, commencing in 1989. |
| 1 |  | The B-52s
Cosmic Thing
1989. The first tape I recall having (for myself) was a cassette single for "Love Shack", received from Santa. Who knew that this single cassette tape would escalate into tape collections, and then later into CD collections and MP3 collections (sorry, just a few records). This was the tip of the iceberg. |
| 2 |  | Technotronic
Pump Up the Jam: the Album
I was firmly into pop territory in my earliest music listening years/days. And I dug some dance beats - had the cassette single for "Pump Up the Jam". Also liked C+C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat; but don't recall having this tape. |
| 3 |  | Paula Abdul
Forever Your Girl
Was also drawn to pop songs that would include a hint of rap. Had the cassette single for "Opposites Attract", and loved the rap guest spot by MC Skat Kat. |
| 4 |  | Soundtrack (Film)
She-Devil Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The D-Mob (Introducing Cathy Denis) - "C'mon and Get My Love" cassette single also had a sweet spoken word/rap spot. |
| 5 |  | Glenn Medeiros
Not Me
As did the 1990 Cassette single for Glenn Medeiros - She Ain't Worth It by Glenn Mederios with guest rap vocals by Bobby Brown. |
| 6 |  | Young MC
Stone Cold Rhymin'
In 1990, I was in middle school. Some of my friends liked Rock, as did I; but rap was my primary interest. My history teacher (and also a football coach) played a track off this album for the class - which spurned me to also get it. |
| 7 |  | Milli Vanilli
Girl You Know It's True
Also purchased this timepiece. On a separate note; my Mom and Sister liked this - so this was listened to in the car on the way to school a decent bit. We listened to it until the lip syncing scandal. |
| 8 |  | Vanilla Ice
To the Extreme
Can't remember if MC Hammer or Vanilla Ice came next, but was into both of them. Even had the VHS for Vanilla Ice's music videos. |
| 9 |  | MC Hammer
Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
Seem to recall that I had picked up this tape at a Flea Market in NW Alabama. My older cousin liked to go there - and they had a buttload of tapes for low cost. |
| 10 |  | DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
Stores like WalMart also sold tapes. My Grandmother (Father's mother) took me to WalMart, when I was staying at her house over the summer of 1990, and allowed me to buy a few tapes on budget. Bought this one - primarily for the track "Nightmare on My Street" and "Parents Just Don't Understand", as well as their earlier album Rock the House with "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble". |
| 11 |  | Various Artists (Hip Hop)
On the Rap Tip
In 1990/1991, I was buying up any rap comp cassette that I could find - to expand my repertoire. This was the first comp tape that I bought. I already knew the likes of EPMD, Tone Loc, and De La Soul. But this introduced me to Gangsta Rap - including tracks by N.W.A. (Straight Outta Compton) and Eazy E (Eazy-er Said Than Dunn). |
| 12 |  | EPMD
Unfinished Business
As above, was really into EPMD. Two of my middle school friends (BM and DB) were also into them, and BM had provided me with a mix tape of EMPD tracks off Strictly Business and Unfinished Business. This got a lot of listens... |
| 13 |  | K-Solo
Tell The World My Name
My Friend BM also gave me a cassette of K-Solo's album. Really loved the track "Spellbound" off of this. |
| 14 |  | Various Artists (Hip Hop)
Kool Rap
This was another comp that provided a bit more N.W.A. and Easy E tracks, as well as some tracks from Ice-T and Public Enemy. |
| 15 |  | Public Enemy
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Wasn't long before I had a cassette copy of some Public Enemy. Loved the beats and rebellious lyrics at the time - and Chuck D still has a delivery harder than most rappers could ever dream of dropping. |
| 16 |  | Various Artists (Hip Hop)
Hard Rap
Still kept going down the comp tape route - getting more N.W.A. and Easy -E tracks - as well as introducing me to other rappers (Eric B & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane) |
| 17 |  | Big Daddy Kane
Taste Of Chocolate
Had the Cassette Single for "Its Hard Being the Kane". |
| 18 |  | Bell Biv DeVoe
Poison
Around 1990, I started dabbling in R&B. Bell Biv Devoe's cassette single for "Poison" was the first R&B I ever owned. Was also seeing some R&B sneaking into rap - had the Father MC - I'll Do 4 You cassette single. |
| 19 |  | Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill
Also had the R&B cassette single for "Rub You the Right Way". Wasn't too long before my mother took this one away from me - for obvious reasons (when you read the name of the track) now. |
| 20 |  | Partners in Kryme
Turtle Power!
In 1990, there was still some elementry rap out there. Had this cassette single for "Turtle Power" |
| 21 |  | LL Cool J
Mama Said Knock You Out
Was all about a few tracks off this album. Know for certain that I had the cassette single for "Around the Way Girl". May have also had a single for "Mama Said Knock You Out" as well. |
| 22 |  | The KLF
The White Room
Enter 1991, still listening to a good proportion of rap. Still buying tape albums and cassette singles. Had KLF's 3AM Eternal cassette single. Loved this track. |
| 23 |  | MC Hammer
Too Legit to Quit
Still loved some MC Hammer - and bought his cassette single for "Too Legit to Quit". And this was like the theme song for the Atlanta Falcons at the time - so had to have a copy. |
| 24 |  | DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Homebase
Still was listening to some Fresh Prince - bought this tape album. And the track "Summertime" off this album was hot. |
| 25 |  | Heavy D and the Boyz
Peaceful Journey
Thought this was a good track mixing some R&B and rap - so had the "Now That We Found Love" cassette single. |
| 26 |  | 3rd Bass
Derelicts of Dialect
Also had the cassette single for "Pop Goes the Weasel". |
| 27 |  | Various Artists (Hip Hop)
Gangsta Rap
Also, in 1991, continued my love of NWA and the like with this compilation. Some absolute classics on here from NWA, Easy-E, Eric B & Rakim, and Ice Cube. |
| 28 |  | DJ Quik
Quik Is The Name
Purchased the cassette single for "Born and Raised in Compton", capitalizing on the Gangsta rap push. |
| 29 |  | Gang Starr
Step in the Arena
Found this tape at a random flea market in AL. A classic. |
| 30 |  | 2 Live Crew
Banned In The U.S.A.
Also found an edited version of this tape at a different flea market. My cousin and I would drive around blasting this out of his truck windows; even though there actually were no curse words (as they were bleeped or edited out). |
| 31 |  | Public Enemy
Muse Sick-N-Hour Message
1991 was the end of my major rap run, at least for tapes. I would continue to buy some rap cassette singles, if the mood fit. For example, the cassette single for "Give It Up" in 1994. But by 1991, i was firmly back into hard rock/grunge. And wasn't to really return to rap until RATM and 311, and when nu-metal/rap-metal hit in 1995 to 1997. |
| 32 |  | Beastie Boys
Check Your Head
I would continue to pick up cassette tapes, if cheap, into the mid 1990s. Believe I picked this one up at Wax N' Facts in ATL during my early college years. |
| 33 |  | House of Pain
Same As It Ever Was
Same for this one. Wax N' Facts was the only store that was selling tapes in the mid 1990's - at least that I was aware of. |
| 34 |  | Boyz II Men
II
Another case of coming across this album, as well as Cooleyhighharmony), at a flea market in the mid 1990's - and adding to the collection. |
| 35 |  | Shaggy
Boombastic
I believe my Sister had a copy of this - and somehow I came into having it now. But I dug some tracks off this. |
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