One of my favorite tributes on Take It Personal has been our West Coast Classic series. Many years ago, on West Coast Classics III (episode 16), we dropped this 2Pac mini-mix.

It's no secret that I'm a huge Pac fan. I know that's really not something people who love Kool Keith or MF DOOM willingly admits, but I do. From 1993-1995, Pac was an absolute beast. His Death Row material is cool, but I felt like we got the real Pac before joined Suge and the gang.

I've always felt his voice, his delivery and his storytelling ability made him extremely special. Much like Ice Cube or Scarface, Pac was just as talented in painting that vivid tale on wax.

This mix is JUST an appetizer(we promise). It does NOT feature everything, especially some of my favorite Pac collaborations, but it's a reminder of what we do when it comes to tributes. This summer, we'll be honoring the late Tupac Shakur.

I strongly suggest you to revisit our West Coast Classic series (episode 14-17), where we feature many other mini-tributes such as Ice Cube, Hieroglyphics, Golden State Warriors, Death Row Records, Pharcyde, Likwit Crew, Cypress Hill and the west coast underground with Dilated Peoples, Freestyle Fellowship, Defari, Planet Asia, Rasco & Encore.

While this 2Pac mini-mix is just a taste of what's coming, there are a lot of Pac songs features on West Coast Classics not featured on this mix. 

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On episode 166, we're taking it back to 1993.  One of our favorite years in hip-hop. We've got music from Erick Sermon, Black Moon, Yaggfu Front, Funkdoobiest, Lords of the Underground, Akinyele, KRS-One, Tim Dog, Nice & Smooth, Ultramagnetic MC's, Geto Boys, Leaders of the New School, Fat Joe & Masta Ace

Don't forget, our exclusive Xzibit interview is streaming on our Vevo Channel and if you haven't already noticed, we're adding back all of the shows that disappeared this year on some streaming platforms. Be sure to go to TakeItPersonalRadio.com for your latest options and remember, all episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Player FM and Pandora, and new episodes will still be available on Spotify. Updated streaming links are listed below.

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On this flashback of Take It Personal Radio, we're hitting you with our Mos Def tribute.

If there was a poster that defined the indie hip-hop movement, it would have the face of The Mighty Mos Def on it. Whether you first heard him on My Kung Fu, The Love Song or Stakes Is High Remix, you immediately knew what you heard was special. We're talking a generational talent. Mos Def had the voice, the sound, the style, the charm, the humor, the endless stories and the ability to spit bars as great as singing those melodic hooks. A real dual-threat. Triple-threat when you factor in his acting chops.

If LL Cool J is the face of Def Jam, Mos Def is the face of Rawkus. He breathed new life into hip-hop in the late 90s. Mos was the last Jedi able to carry on that Native Tongues torch. On Episode 85, we cover the catalog, the guest spots and discuss our favorite Mos Def moments.

Don't forget to follow us @takeitpersonalradio, as we have an exciting giveaway on this episode. 

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Chances are you listen to Take It Personal because you're stuck in the golden era. But every once in a while, we feel it's our responsibility to put a spotlight on today's music.

On episode 165, we're do all of the heavy lifting to help you diversify your bonds. We always be a 90's centric show at heart, but we feel you might be missing out on some great music, especially from the independent artists out there.

Side A

Side B

If you like what you hear, support these artists. Follow them on social. Buy their products when they drop and cop their merch when available.

Take It Personal Radio is now streaming on Pandora in addition to iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Vevo, Podbean, Podchaser, Boomplay and Player FM.

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Ever since we first heard “Free Style Ghetto” off King Tee’s IV Life album, we were all-in on Xzibit. Here was this hungry rapper, sporting this distinct husky voice with an extraordinary flow, so it wasn’t much of a surprise to see him later on become a household name.

Whether you first heard him with King Tee, Tha Alkaholiks or maybe you first caught Xzibit on Bitch Please or What’s The Difference, there is no denying that when you heard him, you knew it was something special.

We call this an interview, but it’s really a 2-hour discussion amongst rap fans and there is no bigger fan of rap than Mr. X to the Z.

On this episode we have 3 mixes with over 75 tracks highlighting his incredible career. We’ve got the classics, the features and all those obscure collabos for our underground heads.

This one of the most informative and entertaining interviews Xzibit has done.

Here’s what we got into:

• Leaving Albuquerque for Los Angeles.

Xzibit’s Kingmaker drops May 16th!

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Ever since we first heard "Free Style Ghetto" off King Tee's IV album, we were all-in on Xzibit. Here was this hungry rapper, sporting this distinct husky voice with an extraordinary flow, so it wasn't much of a surprise to see go on to become a household name.

Whether you first heard him with King Tee, Tha Alkaholiks or maybe you first caught Xzibit on Bitch Please or What's The Difference, there is no denying that when you heard him, you knew it was something special.

We call this an interview, but it's really a 2-hour discussion amongst rap fans and there is no bigger fan of rap than Mr. X to the Z. 

This exclusive Xzibit interview is only available in its entirety our Vevo channel and in a few days we'll be releasing our Xzibit Tribute, featuring 3 mixes with over 75 tracks highlighting his incredible career. We've got the classics, the features and all those obscure collabos for our underground heads.

This one of the most informative and entertaining interview Xzibit has done.

Here's what we got into:

• Leaving Albuquerque for Los Angeles.

• Debuting on Free Style Ghetto and working with King Tee and Tha Alkaholiks.

• Steve Rifkind signing him to Loud Records.

• Beefing with Steve Rifkind.

• Bigga B and Unity.

• Sir Jinx.

• Working with Pharoahe Monch

• What U See Is What U Get music video.

• Getting the phone call from Snoop Dogg.

• Dr. Dre changing his life.

• The Up In Smoke Tour.

• The 2Pac misunderstanding.

• Working with De La Soul.

• Working with Nate Dogg.

• Working with LL Cool J.

• Why the Golden State Warriors album never happened and all their unreleased material.

• Saafir stories.

• The Sopranos, starting an acting career and Pimp My Ride.

• His golden girl acting teacher moonlighting as his sex therapist.

• Signing to Connor McGregor's Greenback Records. 

• Listening to Black Crows, Deftones, Peter Gabriel and Janis Jopin.

• Xzibit's hip-hop producer Mount Rushmore.

• Kingmaker.

Xzibit's Kingmaker drops May 16th!

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Since Y2K, 3K became a part-time rapper. It's been a discussion for the last 25 years. After Stankonia dropped, there were frequent rumors about Outkast was breaking up to pursue solo careers.

Those rumors lingered for years, then we got what we thought was going to be their last album as a group. Thanks to some label politics, contractual obligations and marketing trickery at its finest, we didn't really get the last Outkast album, we got Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which was precisely the start of their solo careers. 

It's not like many of us didn't want this, it's that we didn't expect it. And we certainly didn't expect Andre 3000 to stray from the very thing that made us appreciate him and that was his otherworldly ability at rapping. Big Boi would an ace on any staff, but his partner happened to be an all-time great.  Andre Benjamin solidified that status after the 3rd consecutive classic, Aquemini in 1998. 

In just 4 short years, Andre jumped the line and entered the top emcee lists. He became a favorite for many and a GOAT for some. He was the reason fans outside of the South even paid attention to it. Sure, groups like Geto Boys, U.G.K., 8Ball & MJG and 2 Live Crew helped paved the way but like Andre said at The Source Awards, "I'm tired of them closed minded folks, it's like we gotta demo tape but don't nobody want to hear it. But it's like this: the South got something to say, that's all I got to say." 

The Dirty South was born and a legend was made. And like many legends, we marvel at them for as long as they allow us to. Stars fade for various reasons. Some to an untimely death. Some get caught up in the fame and some simply losing the passion. Whether it's Jimi Hendrix, Joy Division, Lauryn Hill, Mos Def, Kurt Cobain, 2Pac or Jeff Buckley, losing the ability to witness their greatness isn't something us fans can come to grips with.

Andre is a unicorn. He's always had a unique style and sound. He was mature beyond his years. He had a remarkable ability at storytelling and his delivery was bar none. He had mental prowess and his skill at entertaining and articulating the fundamental understanding of life was a thing of beauty. 

Only the greats really get a pass when it comes to fashion. Michael Jackson had that pass. Prince had that pass. David Bowie had that pass. Andre Benjamin had that pass. It's a testament to their greatness. Their influence. Their timeless classics. It didn't matter he wore a wig like ear a wig like Morrie or would throw on a sundress or kilt because he just felt like it, Andre 3000,  the rapper, could do no wrong in our eyes.  

We've been blessed with the occasional guest verse throughout the years, but it's never enough. We've been teased with thought of new music from Andre, but then we end up with the soundtrack to The Legend of Zelda with New Blue Sun.

It's easy to shuffle around your top 10 rapper list and replace a few guys from time to time, but you can never replace Andre 3000.

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No, this isn't a Grand Puba album spotlight, although he is certainly deserving of one. This is quick trip down memory lane, where the music wasn't as dark, the tracks had more bounce, more harmony and in some cases, more flavor. We're dusting off those Girbaud jeans, that favorite Tommy Hilfiger you wore twice-a-week to school and your fresh '92 Polo Sport jacket. 

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On episode 161, we're hitting you with some winter vibes. Grab your Triple Fat Goose, your Helly Hansen or dust-off that Avirex and get ready for a cold one.

We got music from Group Home, GZA, Smoothe da Hustler, Shadez of Brooklyn, Finsta Bundy, Choclair, Real Live, Mobb Deep, Onyx, Frankenstein, Fat Joe, Lord Finesse and Mic Geronimo.

You've still got time to enter our Get On Down giveaway, listen to episode 160 for the rules and be sure to tag us to enter.

Next-up is our first guest of 2025 and it's gonna blow your mind.

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This is part 2 of our 1988 Tribute and we've teamed up with Get On Down to giveaway some goodies from '88 like vinyl from Run-D.M.C., Kid 'N Play, Too $hort and even a dope-ass Slick Rick action figure. 

We're hitting you with 2 jam-packed mixes featuring classics from EPMD, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, Geto Boys, MC Shy D, Masters of Ceremony, Original Concept, N.W.A., Jungle Brothers, 2 Live Crew, De La Soul, Stetsasonic, Biz Markie, Sir-Mix-A-Lot, Schoolly D and Tuff Crew.

Get ready for another incredible TIP episode to put on the shelf. Enjoy!

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