Hip Hop World Cup

PUBLIC ENEMY 'APOCALPYSE '91: THE ENEMY STRIKES BLACK' (1991) vs 'TERMINATOR X AND THE VALLEY OF THE JEEP BEETS' (1991) This is the big one! After an unsuccessful tenure at TruSkore HQ in Qatar, Larry has been lured out of retirement by the only album that could do it - Public Enemy's fourth and sorely under-discussed LP 'Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Black'...

Time to don the helmets and prepare for what we're calling the 'HIT SQUAD HEADBANGER'! That's right - Danny and Steve take a trip back to 1992 as EPMD's 'Business Never Personal' knocks heads with K-Solo's 'Time's Up' in a two-way tussle. In this episode, we discuss the delicious irony of EPMD's 'Crossover', throw shade (business) on Parrish...

Episode 3: HELTAH SKELTAH 'NOCTURNAL' (1996) vs CELLA DWELLAS 'REALMS 'N' REALITY' (1996) In this episode we compare and contrast two 1996 rap duo debut albums – ‘Nocturnal’ by Boot Camp Click members Heltah Skeltah and ‘Realms ‘N’ Reality’ by Cella Dwellas.   With loads of boom-bap bangers on both – from ‘Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka’ and ‘Undastand’ to ‘Perfect Match’ and ‘Go...

With the Qatar World Cup 2022 in full swing, we thought it was high time to post this bonus beat tape episode featuring all the music from the Hip Hop World Cup podcast - as well as a world exclusive interview with two prominent figures from the world of football. Enjoy! ALL PREVIOUS EPISODES AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR PODCAST APP OF CHOICE: Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9...

INTELLIGENT HOODLUM ‘TRAGEDY: SAGA OF A HOODLUM’ (1993) vs ORGANIZED KONFUSION ‘ORGANIZED KONFUSION’ (1991) In this episode, two ‘90s hip-hop gems go toe-to-toe! Your hosts Danny, James and Steve size up two superb albums by Organized Konfusion and Intelligent Hoodlum, breaking down the beats and rhymes, the bangers and the clangers – then vote for their winner, guided by the tried and trusted Tru...

ILL BISKITS ‘CHRONICLE OF TWO LOSERS’ (1996) vs CAPITAL TAX ‘THE SWOLL PACKAGE’ (1993) In the first episode of series 2, two lesser-known 1990s rap albums step in the arena! It’s a voyage of discovery for Danny, James and Steve, who are checking these slept-on LPs for the very first time. They went under the boys’ radars in the 90s, but can they impress these three jaded 40-somethings in the year...

Episode 10: BEST OF THE REST In this BONUS episode we round up the best ‘honourable mentions’ from our first nine episodes and throw them into battle! These eight albums didn’t quite qualify for our regular World Cups, but they were too damn DOPE not to discuss! But which one will lift the coveted Hip Hop World Cup trophy? Listen and find out… Round One Draw: Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics ‘S...

In the final episode of the series, we’ve blown the budget on a corporate box at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena and invited some fans round for a hot buffet lunch. The occasion? Only the biggest and most brutal Hip-Hop World Cup yet! The winners from the ‘round of 16’ in the previous episode now compete in the QUARTER FINALS. Eight albums remain, including some of the finest works of hip-hop kn...

For our series finale, we bring you a two-part special celebrating the greatest year in hip-hop history – 1994. With so many great hip-hop albums released in this year, we’ve expanded the competition to 16 albums and thrown them into battle! In this first episode we take a look at the ‘round of 16’ – yep that’s 16 albums split into two groups – and separate the wheat from the chaff. We’ll discuss...

In this episode we take it back to the old school and preside over a battle of the best hip-hop albums released in 1988 and 1989! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Eazy-E ‘Eazy Duz It’ (88) vs Ultramagnetic MCs ‘Critical Beatdown’ (88) 2) Big Daddy Kane ‘Long Live The Kane’ (88) vs Ice-T ‘The Iceberg’ (89) 3) De La Soul ‘3 Feet High And Rising’ (89) vs The DOC ‘No-one Can Do It Bette...

In this episode we shave our heads, don the Tims and big jackets and get rowdy as 1993’s best albums enter the Hip-Hop World Cup stage! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Eazy-E ‘It’s On ( Dr Dre ) 187um Killa’ vs Snoop Doggy Dogg ‘Doggystyle’ 2) Wu-Tang Clan ‘Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’ vs Kam ‘Neva Again’ 3) Souls of Mischief ‘93 Til Infinity’ vs A Tribe Called Quest ‘Midnight...

In this episode we light the blue touch paper and stand back as the best hip-hop albums of 1996 explode into battle! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) 2Pac ‘All Eyez On Me’ vs Jeru The Damaja ‘Wrath Of The Math’ 2) Jay-Z ‘Reasonable Doubt’ vs Sadat X ‘Wild Cowboys’ 3) Ghostface Killah ‘Ironman’ vs Nine ‘Cloud 9’ 4) Mad Skillz ‘From Where???’ vs Nas ‘It Was Written’ Plus we ask if any...

In this episode the best hip-hop albums of 1995 go toe-to-toe in our tournament! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Tha Dogg Pound ‘Dogg Food’ vs Raekwon ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx’ 2) Mobb Deep ‘The Infamous’ vs Big L ‘Lifestyles Ov Da Poor And Dangerous’ 3) Smif-N-Wessun ‘Dah Shinin’’ vs DJ Quik ‘Safe + Sound’ 4) Masta Ace Incorporated ‘Sittin’ On Chrome’ vs GZA ‘Liquid Swords’ Plus w...

In this episode we curate a clash of the hip-hop titans from 1991! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Del Tha Funkee Homosapien ‘I Wish My Brother George Was Here’ vs KMD ‘Mr Hood’ 2) Ice Cube ‘Death Certificate’ vs Black Sheep ‘A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing’ 3) A Tribe Called Quest ‘The Low End Theory’ vs NWA ‘Efil4zaggin’ 4) Ice T ‘OG Original Gangster’ vs De La Soul ‘De La Soul Is Dea...

In this episode we put the best hip-hop albums of 1990 under the microscope! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) EPMD ‘Business As Usual’ vs Ice Cube ‘Amerikkka’s Most Wanted’ 2) BDP ‘Edutainment’ vs Brand Nubian ‘One For All’ 3) Eric B & Rakim ‘Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em’ vs LL Cool J ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ 4) Public Enemy ‘Fear Of A Black Planet’ vs A Tribe Called Quest ‘People’s...

In our first episode, the best hip-hop albums of 1992 do battle! Who will be crowned champion? Round One Draw 1) Das EFX ‘Dead Serious’ vs Da Lench Mob ‘Guerrillas In The Mist’ 2) Kool G Rap & DJ Polo ‘Live And Let Die’ vs Ice Cube ‘The Predator’ 3) Pete Rock and CL Smooth ‘Mecca And The Soul Brother’ vs The Pharcyde ‘Bizarre Ride To The Pharcyde’ 4) Eric B & Rakim ‘Don’t Sweat The Techniq...