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Nas - Illmatic

Every day on the show this week, I'll be bringing you bonafide Hip Hop classics on fast forward to warm you up for this weekend's 30 years of Hip Hop celebrations on 1Xtra & Radio 1 with the Minipieces (mini masterpieces - geddit?). We're tackling an album per decade per day - Tuesday is the 90's and Nas' highly influential 'Illmatic' reps for the decade.

'Illmatic' is the embodiment of 90's New York Hip Hop. Boasting a producer credit list full of legends (DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q Tip, Large Professor...), this set the bar to which all other New York Hip Hop albums were and still are measured against. Tomorrow, the naughties and Kanye West's "College Dropout" does the business!

De La Soul - 3 Feet High And Rising

Every day on the show this week, I'll be bringing you bonafide Hip Hop classics on fast forward to warm you up for this weekend's 30 years of Hip Hop celebrations on 1Xtra & Radio 1 with the Minipieces (mini masterpieces - geddit?). We're tackling an album per decade per day - Monday is the 80's and De La Soul's seminal '3 Feet High And Rising' reps for the decade.

I remember first hearing this on a tape my dad was given by a friend at his work. My dad liked Me, Myself and I and Eye Know but wasn't too keen on the rest. Even though I was 6 at the time, I loved it and it got rinsed alongside the tapes of 80's soul and the Janet Jackson 'Control' album my uncle had done for me. It was my first ever Hip Hop album and was only surpassed by MC Hammer's 'Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em' as my favourite a year later in 1990... what? I was only young! Tomorrow Nas' "Illmatic" represents for the 90's.

Last night (25th March) I had the pleasure of up and coming Canadian artist Melanie Fiona performing live and exclusively on my 1Xtra show.

Melanie is signed to the same label that launched the career of Akon and her debut album "The Bridge" is due out later this year. There's a huge buzz about her both stateside and over here - especially after her supporting Kanye West on the european dates of his Glow In The Dark tour.

She came with Jeremy, her guitarist and 3 songs - the current single "Give It To Me Right", a great Beatles cover version and her second single "Ay Yo". Check out the session and interview in full on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer now. She's damn good!

Last week my Jam Hot was Lethal Bizzle's brand new track "Go Hard" featuring and produced by man of the moment (and crown King of Funky) Donae'o.

Last thursday I had the pair pass by 1Xtra towers and we spoke about the past, present & future. Bizzle came strapped with an exclusive from his forthcoming 3rd album and the pair performed "Go Hard" live for the first time ever. Here's what happened:

Last week on 1Xtra, my monthly live music session from the legendary Maida Vale studios came from Leeds' bassline don T2 who took the chance to showcase some of his brand new material forthcoming on his own label 'Powerhouse Records'.

He was joined by the UK legend who is Michelle Escoffery (who is also the featured vocalist on his current single "Come Over") and future star H-Boogie.

I've been telling people for years about H Boogie ever since I saw her singing backup for older sister Estelle and now it seems she's ready to step out as her own artist and I for one am very excited to hear what she comes up with. Right now though, it's all about her two collabos with T2 - "On The Floor" and the track that you can download for free soon "Better Off As Friends (La La La)"

Check out the video from the session:

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You know KIG's huge Funky anthem 'Head, Shoulders, Kneez & Toez'? Well, by now:
You will have seen the video both on TV and right here on this blog.
You will have heard the record on the radio and in the club.
You will have learned the dance.

Now watch the official parody video - the thing you need after a hard night of dancing to Head Shoulders Knees & Toes: Egg, Soldiers, Beans & Toast.

Update - Thank you very much to everyone who has watched the video and commented - even those people on YouTube who have questioned the logic of the double bread with the Egg, Soldiers, Beans & Toast meal!