After scribing our first of (hopefully) many Jay Z Tale Of The Tape articles, it was hard not to get nostalgic about the old Roc-A-Fella. And it’s been awhile we’ve done a Memory Lane piece, so naturally, we started diggin in the crates.
Of course, there was a number of joints from the Roc era that could’ve been used in this spot, but we decided to shine the spotlight on these two favorites that were underrated in the eyes of most.
The Young Gunz put out the memorable “What We Gotta Do” off their second album Brothers From Another in 2005. It really would’ve been nice to see the Young Gunnas make it. They were always ahead of their age, and were capable of putting out highly introspective records such as this one, and “Tough Luv“, where Young Chris puts Neef Buck on blast for his laziness on a song they recorded together.
“I now you got us lookin like Jaz & Jay/T-Mac & Carter Neef, you gotta work harder Neef”. It was as funny as it was awkward. Great songs though.
Then there was Freeway. Like the Young Gunz, Free is a Philly native with talent, but struggled to sustain a long career once the Roc closed up shop. Today, he can be found in Philly still asking somebody to throw a beat on. But he did have his moments, like the classic record “What We Do“, and this very soulful record with Allen Anthony, both off his 2003 debut album Philadelphia Freeway.
Free’s style was always unique. He ties a knot with his words in the middle of a verse, then unties it before the end of his 16. That rhyme scheme was never more true than on this song.
What was your favorite non-Jay Z song from the Roc/State Property era?