Filed under: Black Music Month
Now that Ryan Leslie is mostly rapping on his next album, 'Les Is More,' we figured he had to have some old school rap favorites to share. He didn't disappoint either, naming five classic joints that seem perfectly aligned with his smooth, hip-hop soul sensibilities.
1. 'Smooth Operator' by Big Daddy Kane: "I just love that song. That's just the epitome of cool. That's what I wanted to be growing up."
2. 'Teenage Love' by Slick Rick: "I was going through it when he was talking about it."
3. 'I Need Love' by LL Cool J: "Again, I was going through it when he was talking about it."
4. 'Treat Em Like They Want to Be Treated' by Father MC.
5. 'What's on Your Mind' by Eric B & Rakim: "I was gravitating toward those rap records that were spitting that game. When I had coke-bottle glasses, I'd look at these brothers who were so smooth, so slick and they spitting the game," he explained. "[In the same way,] I write my records now so that someone else who may not have the gall could just send it as a message."