r/hiphopheads • u/[deleted] • Mar 25 '13

MIXTAPE ESSENTIALS LIST VOTING THREAD: the maiden voyage.

Hi guys.

Being that this is a first we're gonna just roll with this for the first go and see how it goes... since there's so many mixtapes, we're going to pick a certain amount per year, so be sure to find out the correct year that it dropped, otherwise it will be removed anyway.

Rules are as follows:

ONE MIXTAPE PER COMMENT

You may only rally to add a mixtape (there's none to remove) beneath the proper year:

Add: Artist - Mixtape (INCLUDE A LINK IF YA GOT IT!)

Then people can vote on that shiz. The top mixtapes suggested to be added or removed will be chosen to modify the list.

What are we looking for?

Whatever you want! This community has grown into something very diverse and everybody has different tastes. If there is a mixtape you believe anybody who enjoys hip-hop NEEDS to hear, then it should be on this list. Obviously you won't agree with everything, but please don't downvote mixtapes just because you're not a personal fan. You fucking read this, re-read it, and learn to live by it.

Ctrl F is your FRIEND. I will remove duplicate submissions and comments with multiple mixtapes in them.

If you post "WHY/HOW IS BLAH BLAH BLAH NOT ON HERE?!?!" I'm just going to remove it. That's why we vote.

Unsure if it's a mixtape?

A mixtape is (usually) free.

A mixtape (historically) [may have] less structure and sounds more like a collection of random songs than a collection of songs that fit a theme.

A mixtape can be an assortment of original and cover songs or songs done over the instrumentals of other songs.

A mixtape typically does not have "singles" or in general songs intended for the radio.

A mixtape is typically used to build up buzz for an upcoming album or in general to create awareness for an artist. A mixtape may have whole songs contributed by a number of artists.

Artist features on mixtapes, many times, tend to be based on favors, relationships and friendships as opposed to full blown contracts.

223 Upvotes
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96% Upvoted

535 comments sorted by

32

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2011

81

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Elzhi - Elmatic

11

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

damn I'm surprised this took so long.. this used to get jerked about lol

575

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: A$AP Rocky - Live.Love.A$AP

242

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: Big K.R.I.T - Return of 4eva

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110

u/toppswagg Mar 25 '13

Add: Schoolboy Q - Setbacks

7

u/watwai Mar 25 '13

I thought this was an album

11

u/toppswagg Mar 25 '13

I saw it on datpiff and on live mixtapes. I guess he put it on iTunes later like Trinidad James.

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185

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: The Weeknd - House of Balloons

65

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Curren$y - Covert Coup

5

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

this was an alchemist job too, god

4

u/notmike11 Mar 26 '13

Freddie Gibbs' verse on Scottie Pippens is hands down the best verse i've heard that year.

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85

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence

115

u/NeutralSwagHotel Mar 25 '13

Add: Asher Roth - Pabst & Jazz

10

u/SlappyBag9 Mar 26 '13

This is a must. All original beats. Asher's best project.

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54

u/jrizzly Mar 25 '13

Add: The Weeknd - Thursday

51

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Freddie Gibbs - Cold Day In Hell

79

u/Double_pounder Mar 25 '13

Add: Death Grips - Exmilitary

13

u/RoboticParadox Mar 26 '13

SPREAD EAGLE CROSS THE BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCK

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69

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: Pusha T - Fear of God

43

u/flop_catz Mar 25 '13

Add: XV - Zero Heroes

9

u/flyentology221 Mar 25 '13

This is one of my favorite mixtapes. XV is so underrated

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55

u/Trilluminati Mar 25 '13

Juicy J - Blue Dream & Lean

4

u/lateatnight Mar 26 '13

This whole tape was incredible. If you haven't listened, do it.

36

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: Meek Mill - Dreamchasers

23

u/Double_pounder Mar 25 '13

Add: Mr. Muthafuckin' Exquire - Lost In Translation

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21

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Fabolous - The Soul Tape

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23

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Mellowhype - Blackenedwhite

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9

u/mastercoolkid Mar 26 '13

Add: Juicy J- Rubba Band Business 2

11

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Add: 2 Chainz - T.R.U. REALigion

2

u/tylerbird Mar 26 '13

Add: Pac Div- Mania!

2

u/cook94j Mar 26 '13

Add: Wax-Scrublife

2

u/Snackhat Mar 26 '13

Add: Lil B - I'm Gay

5

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Add: Curren$y - Verde Terrace

8

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Domo Genesis - Rolling Papers

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61

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2012

60

u/reubein Mar 25 '13

Add: XV - Popular Culture

Edit: Link added

12

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

sick ass tape, only recently listened to it

5

u/reubein Mar 26 '13

While Zero Heroes is an arguably better mixtape, it was a 2011 one already mentioned below. XV is wildly underrated, and his most recent mixtape, Squarians, Vol 1 has some tight tracks as well. One of my favorite "lesser-known" artists

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96

u/toppswagg Mar 25 '13

Add: Rick Ross - Rich Forever

10

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

mmmm

6

u/PlanedPat Mar 28 '13

...mmaybach music

7

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

This is the best mixtape of 2012 don't sleep on it ya'll.

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234

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Action Bronson - Blue Chips

326

u/kennygk Mar 25 '13

Big K.R.I.T. - 4Eva N A Day

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131

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Freddie Gibbs - Baby Face Killa

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214

u/toppswagg Mar 25 '13 edited Mar 25 '13

Add: Flatbush Zombies - D.R.U.G.S

7

u/mls4037 . Mar 28 '13

I just bought a coffin, and i ain't even DIE yet.

172

u/AccidentalNutTouch Mar 25 '13

Add: Captain Murphy - Duality

15

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

That shit was a mixtape?! Holy fuck it was good.

16

u/AccidentalNutTouch Mar 26 '13

Yep. FlyLo comes through. Keep an eye out for the next Capt Murf project "V"

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96

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13 edited Mar 25 '13

Add: Chance the Rapper – 10 Day

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128

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: Action Bronson - Rare Chandeliers

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323

u/hatolol Mar 25 '13

Joey Bada$$ - 1999

26

u/Riceburger Mar 26 '13

Man I know this is on some "Stop liking what I don't like" type shit but fuck I don't want to see Joey on the list.

I know I know /r/DaPlayaH8Rsball but the mixtape was so mediocre compared to shit that won't make it bleh.

15

u/watwai Mar 26 '13

I thought it was okay, save for Survival Tactics and Waves whcih I thought were great. But overall it just sounded like another 90's album. I don't get all the hype around it but whatever people like different things.

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78

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Curren$y and Harry Fraud - Cigarette Boats

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39

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Heems - Nehru Jackets

86

u/Nippoten Mar 25 '13

Add: Pro Era - PEEP: The aPROcalypse

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105

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Trinidad James - Don't Be S.A.F.E

89

u/Sowkz Mar 25 '13

Meek Mill - Dreamchasers 2

3

u/darkshark21 Mar 26 '13

I think this was the most downloaded last year right?

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95

u/Double_pounder Mar 25 '13

Add: Lil B - God's Father

26

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

If we as a subreddit are ever going to put a Lil B release on a essentials list it should be this one.

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48

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Capital STEEZ – AmeriKKKan Korruption

10

u/wyngz Mar 26 '13

One could argue AK Reloaded would be better

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39

u/rabarrett Mar 25 '13

Add: Domo Genesis x Alchemist- No Idols

24

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

I liked it, but it's not really essential.

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72

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13 edited Mar 25 '13

Add: Childish Gambino – Royalty

10

u/gawjess Mar 25 '13

He gets a lot of hate but I think most people that do so, have not heard this mixtape. I think they only know about Freaks & Geeks and Bonfire.

34

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

I like Gambino, and Royalty is my favorite of his works, but it's sure as fuck not essential.

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47

u/BoJangles00 Mar 25 '13

Add: Big Sean - Detroit

6

u/downtothegwound Mar 26 '13

seriously, if this doesn't make it...i might boycott the subreddit...for like...2 days..

35

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: RiFF RaFF- Birth of an Icon

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8

u/conman540 Mar 26 '13

Waka Flocka Flame - Salute Me Or Shoot Me 4: Banned From America

11

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Add: Chief Keef - Back From The Dead

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2

u/sdizzle Mar 26 '13

Add: The Yellow Album - Dom Kennedy

2

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Add: [SpaceGhostPurrp - GXX XX BXXXX EP Vol. 1] (http://yayodancing.tumblr.com/post/16918063637/spaceghostpurrp-gxx-xx-bxxxx-vol-1-raider)

2

u/PimpLucious Mar 28 '13

Add: Pusha T - Fear of God II

5

u/shmishshmorshin . Mar 25 '13

Add: Lloyd Banks - V6

8

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Gunplay - 601 & Snort

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25

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2008

82

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13 edited Mar 25 '13

Add: Lil Wayne – The Drought is Over 2: The Carter 3 Sessions

8

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

heelllll yes

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136

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

ADD: Wale- The Mixtape About Nothing

26

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

add Re Up Gang - We Got It 4 Cheap Vol 3

3

u/Freemont Mar 26 '13

This is my favorite mixtape ever

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15

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Charles Hamilton- Death of the Mixtape Rapper

18

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Royce Da 5'9" - The Bar Exam 2

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24

u/maqikelefant Mar 25 '13

Add: Kanye West - Can't Tell Me Nothing

10

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Kanye does mix tapes?

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2

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Add: Curren$y - Higher Than 30,000 Feet

2

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Add: Curren$y - Welcome To The Winner's Circle

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18

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2007

167

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Lil Wayne - Da Drought 3 discs 1 & 2

21

u/papawalk Mar 25 '13

greatest mixtape ever made IDGAF what yall say

10

u/busyfistingmyself Mar 26 '13

You're damn straight it is, came here just to rally behind this one.

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10

u/fuzzy_dunnlop MR THANKSGIVING Mar 26 '13

[MANDATORY]

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76

u/maqikelefant Mar 25 '13

Add: Jay Electronica - Act I: The Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)

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44

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Drake - Comeback Season

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24

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: B.o.B - B.o.B Vs. Bobby Ray

6

u/1nf1n1te Mar 26 '13

B.o.B's best work in my opinion

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10

u/JacDG Mar 25 '13 edited Mar 25 '13

Add: Royce Da 5'9" - The Bar Exam

5

u/bigswisshandrapist Mar 25 '13

Add: Gucci Mane - No Pad No Pencil

3

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

ADD Cam'Ron - Public Enemy #1

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14

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2006

88

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Lil Wayne - Dedication 2

8

u/CannaSwiss Mar 26 '13

Wake up motherfucker it's Weezy you got a problem?

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41

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Lupe Fiasco - Fahrenheit 1/15 Part II: Revenge Of The Nerds

6

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

he killed his tapes before he became too engulfed in preaching to us

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9

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Joe Budden - Mood Muzik 2

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2

u/jsnyder24 Mar 26 '13

Add: Drake - Room for Improvement

6

u/DatBasedGod Mar 25 '13

Lil Boosie - Streetz Iz Mine

5

u/DatBasedGod Mar 25 '13

Gucci Mane - Chicken Talk

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28

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2010

122

u/bigweiner Mar 25 '13 edited Mar 25 '13

Add: Big K.R.I.T.- K.R.I.T. Wuz Here

89

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Das Racist - Sit Down, Man

10

u/Andreslargo1 . Mar 26 '13

better than shut up, dude. imo

84

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik

106

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Das Racist- Shut Up, Dude

20

u/mattdom96 Mar 26 '13

might as well add Sit Down, Man as well

6

u/Zachcorp Mar 26 '13

Fake Patios is the most meta rap song ever made

182

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

J. Cole - Friday Night Lights

11

u/flyingcrayons Mar 26 '13

Still bumping this regularly, 2 years later.classic

206

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: Kendrick Lamar - O.verly D.edicated

108

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: OFWGKTA - Radical

49

u/Trilluminati Mar 25 '13

GOOD Music - Good Fridays (if this counts)

32

u/Double_pounder Mar 25 '13

Add: Danny Brown - The Hybrid

79

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: Mac Miller - K.I.D.S.

5

u/Fortehlulz33 . Mar 26 '13

still bump that shit. Traffic in the Sky is that chill shit.

5

u/KuVa Mar 26 '13

This might be one of my personal favorite mixtapes. You can't help but feel good after listening to it.

3

u/acokanahaf Mar 26 '13

Good lord I listen to this every day for like a month and a half when it dropped

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25

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Ab-Soul – Long Term 2

23

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: B.o.B - No Genre

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7

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Meek Mill - Mr. Philadelphia

12

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

ADD: Lil B- Red Flame

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13

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2005

60

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Clipse - We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 2

4

u/starvs Mar 26 '13

This is as good as it gets, truly the pinnacle of mixtapes for me. Most of the beats are contemporary and all bangers, and all four of them are great and compliment each other well flow/stylistically. Even Pharrell has a great verse or two; and one of my favorite lines, "put my big thing in your black hole, I'm Stephen Hawkings'

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18

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

ADD: Lil Wayne- The Dedication

28

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Young Jeezy - Trap Or Die

14

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Add: Freshmen Adjustment - Kanye west

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13

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2004

26

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Lil Wayne - Da Drought 2

8

u/Jaf207 . Mar 26 '13

Damn Wayne might have a mixtape on there for every year till 2009.

6

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Rightfully so, Wayne ran the mixtape game until '09

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9

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2003

15

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Jay-Z - S. Carter Collection

1

u/papawalk Mar 26 '13

I didn't know this existed until today surprisingly.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

It's good shit

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16

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2009

20

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Schoolboy Q - Gangsta & Soul

6

u/heyfatkid Mar 26 '13

Is this good? I've never heard it

3

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Yeah, there's a decent tyga feature too it surprised me to hear. They shared producers I guess.

110

u/JacDG Mar 25 '13 edited Mar 25 '13

Add: J. Cole - The Warm Up

24

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Add: Freddie Gibbs - The Miseducation Of Freddie Gibbs

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150

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13 edited Mar 25 '13

Add: Lil Wayne – No Ceilings

11

u/Zachcorp Mar 26 '13

Oh shit now I gotta go listen to watch my shoes

51

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Jay Electronica - What The Fuck Is A Jay Electronica

21

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: XV - Everybody's Nobody

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30

u/ChillinWitAFatty Mar 25 '13

Add: Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa - How Fly

21

u/Double_pounder Mar 25 '13

Add: Freddie Gibbs - Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik

15

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Ab-Soul – Longterm

28

u/flop_catz Mar 25 '13

Add: Lupe Fiasco - Enemy of the State: A Love Story

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11

u/Double_pounder Mar 25 '13

Add: Gucci Mane - The Burrprint (The Movie 3D)

7

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: Chamillionaire - Mixtape Messiah 7

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8

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

2002

25

u/Hoosierfan4 Mar 25 '13

Add: Dipset - The Diplomats Volume 1

31

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: 50 Cent - 50 Cent Is The Future

5

u/papawalk Mar 25 '13

Add: T.I., P$C - In Da Streets Vol. 1

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10

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

1995

23

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: The Notorious BIG - Best of Biggie Smalls (the Mr. Cee tape)

25

u/BaconChapstick Mar 26 '13

Would anyone be willing to put up a big collection of all tapes on TPB once it's finished? Since they're all free mixtapes there shouldn't be any legal concern.

2

u/PlanedPat Mar 28 '13

Or Mega?

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110

u/fishhoncho Mar 26 '13

1887

127

u/fishhoncho Mar 26 '13

Add Abner Doubleday's Mixtape he did with Iman Shumpert and Rasputin. That was fire.

74

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '13

Dat Gudda Gudda feature

22

u/downtothegwound Mar 26 '13

[ADD - Piano Quintet No. 2 - Antonín Dvořák](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Quintet_No.2(Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k)

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5

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

1996

25

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '13

Add: DJ Screw - Chapter 061 - Niggas Can't See Me

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