Mahershala Ali is the most hip-hop man in Hollywood. Besides enjoying a short-lived rap career himself back in the day (he dropped two albums under the name Prince Ali through Hieroglyphics’ Hiero Imperium label and worked with Planet Asia, Keith Murray and Dilated Peoples’ Rakaa), the two-time Oscar winner has named underground lyricists like Ka, Roc Marciano and Mick Jenkins as some of his current favorite MCs.

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In the latest episode of their Deconstructed series, Genius revisits a classic hip-hop song with a legendary hip-hop producer. Ahead of its 20th anniversary later this month, Mannie Fresh breaks down the making of Juvenile’s 1998 hit “Back That Azz Up,” walking us through each individual element while explaining how Ice-T, UGK and The Showboys influenced the song. Despite sounding relatively simple, Mannie actually went through a meticulous process to make the beat — and the result was nothing short of magic.

“20 years ago, ‘Back That Azz Up’ coming out, that was the introduction to bounce music to the world,” Mannie says. “A lot of people don’t know, it was met with, ‘Nah, maybe the world not ready for it.’ Like, we get it. This New Orleans, we get it.’ Fast forward 20 years later, it stood the test of time.”

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On this day 25 years ago, two of the most important albums in hip-hop history hit shelves: A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders and Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). To celebrate, DJ Filthy Rich has released a new blend tape titled A Clan Called Wu: Enter the Marauders, which imagines the Wu’s ruckus-bringing rhymes from 36 Chambers over Midnight Marauder‘s jazzy, Jeep-ready beats.

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Jason Derulo and Nicki Minaj previously collaborated on the song (and remix) “Swalla” with Ty Dolla $ign last year. The pop singer and Young Money Queen connect once again, this time bringing David Guetta and Latin star Willy William into the fold, on “Goodbye.” Teased by Derulo all week leading up to its release, the record is what many have come to expect from the Miami native over the years. A dance number mixed with sounds from the islands, hear the late summer heater from Derulo and Guetta below.

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In the latest episode of Deconstructed, Genius sit down in the studio with veteran producer Buckwild (Big L “Put It On,” Black Rob “Whoa!”) to get the story behind The Notorious B.I.G.’s “I Got a Story to Tell.” The true events behind Biggie’s lyrics are already the stuff of legend (RIP Anthony Mason), but here, the D.I.T.C. crate digger walks us through the making of his beat, which required the Andreas Vollenweider sample to be completely recreated, while talking about his relationship with Big and how the song landed on Life After Death.

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One of the most exciting events at last year’s ComplexCon was their panel on Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Former Complex Editor-In-Chief Noah Callahan-Bever, who spent a week in Hawaii during the making of the album and penned the classic “Project Runaway” cover story, sat down with key players and collaborators like Mike Dean, Rick Ross, Consequence, Malik Yusef, Hype Williams and Selita Ebanks to share their memories of Kanye’s magnum opus.

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In the latest installment of Off The Record, Mass Appeal sit down with Large Professor to reflect on the making of Nas’ “It Ain’t Hard to Tell.” Large Pro remembers how the blend culture in Queens sparked the idea, how Nas being on the same label as Michael Jackson (Sony) helped them clear the sample, and his approach to remixing his own beat.

Above all else, Extra P and Nasty Nas were operating with a true N.Y. state of mind. “We were heavy New York, so we weren’t thinking about the globe and, like, ‘Yo, what do they want in Paris?’ We was just like, ‘Yo, we do what we do and we put it down,'” he says. “We’re just thankful that the world received it and loved it.”

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Nicki Minaj has been busy in recent days, giving fans three new tracks and a Pretty Girls Like Trap Music playlist for 2 Chainz. On Saturday (Mar. 11), Minaj tweeted to her fans that she had another surprise up her sleeve that would appear on TIDAL by Monday.

The surprise? A 40-track curated playlist called “Queens Got Da Crown.” The title, an obvious subliminal aimed at Remy Ma during their current beef, leads a three-hour trip of rap classics by famous artists from the New York City borough the Young Money Queen grew up in.

It includes songs by Nas, Q-Tip, 50 Cent and G-Unit, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Roxanne Shante, Run-DMC, Ja Rule, Lost Boyz, Noreaga, and more.

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Nas’ Hip Hop Is Dead album turned 10 earlier this week, and to celebrate, the Queensbridge rapper teamed up with Mass Appeal and Google Play to put together a short documentary on his provocative project.

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Lupe Fiasco released Food & Liquor 10 years ago today. In this new podcast, the Chicago rapper reflects on the making of his critically acclaimed debut album, which spawned hits like “Kick, Push” and “Daydreamin,” and cemented him as one of the best MCs of his generation. Lupe talks in length about the album cover, from the Dōmu inspiration to the story behind each item floating around him (“I was born Muslim, it’s my spiritual foundation,” he says of the Qur’an, which was actually his father’s copy).

Later on, Lupe touches on the infamous Food & Liquor leak, collaborations with Three 6 Mafia and Sa-Ra that didn’t make the cut, and the album’s far-reaching influence on hip-hop today. As an added bonus, Lupe plays a bunch of unreleased material throughout the podcast, including what sounds like the sequel to “Hip-Hop Saved My Life” at the very end.

You only get to do your first one once. i don’t do interviews but i will record myself talking to myself lol. 10…Remembering is hard but its fun lol. Enjoy. Happy Anniversary!

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