DENT's Top 20, One Hit Wonder's of Hip-Hop. Good Hip-Hop has NO Expiration Date! #TBT #IamD

I’ve always been Intrigued bytrue one-hit wonders: the artists who had a song go to No. 1 on theBillboard pop charts, then never again reached the Top 40. I figured this was the kind of thing that happens pretty rarely—it seems like any schlub who has a No. 1 hit would then carry enough clout to put at least one more song on the charts. The usual definition of a "hit" is a Top 40 single, but with rap it's not that simple. Especially in its earlier years, the genre was essentially street music, poorly represented on radio and the charts. Many classic records would not be considered a hit at all by mainstream standards. By the same token, many classic acts like De La Soul and Digital Underground had huge career-defining chart hits ("Me Myself & I" and "The Humpty Dance," respectively) but still enjoyed rich and productive careers. You won't find them on this list. I dug deep in the crates to bring you this list of my TOP 20 1 Hit Wonder's!

20. KMD "Peach Fuzz" (1991)

Producer: KMD Album: Mr. Hood Label: Elektra Records

Before MF Doom donned the mask, he was known as Zev Love X. Along with his younger brother Subroc and Onyx the Birthstone Kid, they made up the group KMD. After appearing on 3rd Bass's "The Gas Face," they were signed to Elektra Records, where they dropped their debut LP, Mr. Hood, in 1991. Their second album, Black Bastards, proved too controversial for Elektra, and on the heels of Subroc being killed while crossing the Long Island Expressway, the tragically slept-on group was subsequently dropped.

19. King Just "Warrior's Drum" (1995)

Producer: RNS Album: Mystics Of The God

Label: Select Records/Blackfist

On the heels of Wu-Tang breaking through to the mainstream, A&Rs swarmed all over Staten Island, signing as many acts as they could. Select Records lucked up with King Just, who hit the charts with "Warrior's Drum." Its "hey ya hey ya hey ya ho" chant was infectious enough to make the song a radio staple. His second single, ""No Flows on the Rodeo," was also pretty popular, but Just's success was short-lived, and he was soon back to the underground. I had this on a maxi-tape single and bumped this song quite often!

18. RBL Posse "Don't Give Me No Bammer Weed" (1992)

Producer: Black C Album: A Lesson To Be Learned Label: In-A-Minute Records

Mr. Cee, Black C and Hitman were a trio out of San Francisco who called themselves RBL Posse. "Don't Give Me No Bammer Weed" was released independently on In-A-Minute Records, and peaked at No. 16 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The group dropped a pair of indie albums that sold well, which lead to a deal with Big Beat Records. But group member Mr. Cee (not to be confused with the Brooklyn DJ) got shot nine times on New Year's Day in 1996, and the trio became a duo. Though they continued to drop records, Hitman was shot and killed in 2003, leaving just Black C to carry on the legacy.

17. Anotha Level "What's That Cha Say" (1994)

Producer: Laylaw and D-Mac Album: On Anotha Level Label: Priority Records

Comprised of group members Bambino, Ced Twice, Stenge, Stix and Stones, Anotha Level hit the scene in '94 with "What's That Cha Say," a breezy jazz-infused cut that offered an alternative to the gangsta rap that was flowing from the Left Coast at the time. Oddly enough it was Ice Cube who put them on and helped them get their deal with Priority Records. Go figure. Their debut LP Future Profits failed to make much of an impact, though, and the group disbanded a year later. I remeber seeing their video on Rap City, I kept my VHS on record when this song played!

16. The B.U.M.s "Elevation" (1995)

Producer: Joe Quixx for All City Productions Album: Lyfe'N'Tyme Label: Priority Records

(Brothas-Unda-Madness=BUMS)Evocalist and D. Wyze were a duo out of Oakland, CA, and they rode a sample of Teddy Pendergrass' "Close The Door" into the ears of hip-hop fans nationwide, briefly, in 1995. "Elevation (Free My Mind)" was all about rappers dealing with major labels for a quick buck. Oddly enough, the group signed to Priority Records, and then their album, Lyfe N' Tyme, flew way under the radar. Talk about speaking reality into existence. Sheesh, had crazy legs reppin in their video, female MC from L.A. Mystic also started her career off rhymin with them, she has a feature on their LP release.

15. The Nonce "Mix Tapes" (1993)

Producer: the nonce Album: world ultimate Label: Wild West 1994 / American Recordings / Warner Bros. Records

Before mixtapes were glorified zip files turnt iTunes playlists, they were actually... gasp!... tapes. And The Nonce's ode to making mixtapes and selling them is as classic a cut as there is. The technology gets more intricate, but some things never change. "I used to sell mixtapes, but now I'm an MC." Hell yeah. A Sad end to a DOPE Artist, original apart of The Legendary Project Blowed, On May 21, 2000, Yusef Muhammad AKA The Nounce was found dead on the side of Freeway 110 in Los Angeles, he was 28 years old. R.I.P.

14. Young Black Teenagers "Tap The Bottle" (1992)

Producer: Terminator X, DJ Skribble Album: Dead Enz Kidz Doin' Lifetime Bidz Label: MCA Records

And you thought V-Nasty was bad! None of the five members of Young Black Teenagers were actually black. But they had a cosign from Public Enemy producer Hank Shocklee, who released their records on his Sounds Of Urban Listeners record label, and they weren't disgraceful to the culture or anything-well, not counting group member Kamron's whiteboy dreads. "Tap The Bottle" dropped a few months after House of Pain's "Jump Around" in 1992, and rose to No. 6 on the Rap Singles chart. But that was their last real hit, and two years later the group broke up.

13. East Flatbush Project "Tried By 12" (1996)

Producer: Spencer Bellamy Album: N/A Label: 10/30 Uproar Records

East Flastbush Project is actually the alias of Spencer Bellamy, a Brooklyn producer who has put out a few records over the years-but none more renowned than "Tried By 12." Most newbies will recognize the beat to this one-hit wonder as the instrumental that was used in the 2011 Shady 2.0 Cipher at the BET Awards. But in 1996 it provided the backing track to a gritty kill-or-be-killed tale told by rapper Des. Where is he now? Every Hip-Hoppa at this time, catch the illest rhyme's when this beat was on in the cypher!

12. Nine "Whutcha Want?" (1995)

Producer: Rob Lewis Album: Nine Livez Label: Profile Records

Largely built off a sample of The Staples Singers' version of "The Dock of the Bay," Nine's "Whutcha Want?" brought the gruff-voiced Bronx MC notable acclaim in 1995, peaking at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. But he was never able to make much of an impact on the charts again, and though he released three albums, Nine had faded into oblivion by the late '90s.

11. Tracey Lee "The Theme (It's Party Time)" (1997)

Producer: Derik "D-dot: Angelettie Album: Many Facez Label: Universal Records

Tracey Lee was a Philly-bred rapper whose only real hit was "The Theme (It's Party Time)." Even though the Mark Pitts–managed MC had production from key hitmakers at the time like Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie and Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence of Diddy's famed The Hitmen production squad-as well as a guest appearance from The Notorious B.I.G.-his debut album, Many Facez(Bystorm/Universal, 1997) didn't perform well on the charts, and he disappeared only to later resurface in 2006 as a lawyer. A rapper turned attorney-wait, what?

10. Ahmad "Back in the Day" (1994)

Producer: Redfoo Album: Ahmad Label: Giant / Reprise / Warner Bros. Records

The irony of Ahmad's hit single "Back In The Day" is that he was actually a 19-year-old kid when he sang the song that goes: "Back in the days when I was young / I'm not a kid anymore..." Perhaps owing to his maturity, the LA-bred MC would go on to graduate from Stanford and become a sought-after public speaker, despite never having another real hit.

9. Canibus "Second Round KO" (1998)

Producer: Wyclef Jean Album: Can-I-Bus Label: Universal Records

After Canibus sneak-dissed LL Cool J on an early version of his song "4, 3, 2, 1," from the Phenomenon LP (1997, Def Jam), L dissed him right back on the same track, then told 'Bis the only way he'd keep him on the song is if he changed his verse. Which he did. Except LL kept the original verse that he spit, which made Canibus look pretty lame. So he dropped "Second Round K.O.," which put the lip-licking rapper/actor in his rightful place. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, but Canibus had trouble providing a solid follow-up single and the rest of his debut album, Can-I-Bus, was plagued by shoddy production. His career was Dead after he took out his Rhyme Book against Dizaster during a rap battle, a huge no,no in the MC world! He might have got the second round K.O. on this track But Canibus whole career is permenently K.O'd for life. R.I.P. to Canibus.

8. Blahzay Blahzay "Danger" (1996)

Producer: PF Cuttin and Out Loud Album: Blah Blah Blah Label: Fader / Mercury / PolyGram Records

Blahzay Blahzay was a duo made up of DJ PF Cuttin and MC Out Loud, who hit it big in 1996 with "Danger." The song's strength came from its hook, which stitched together samples from Jeru the Damaja, Q-Tip and Ol' Dirty Bastard, to create a popular refrain-"When the East is in the house/ Oh my God / Danger!" Though they released a solid debut LP, Blah Blah Blah, the group never made much of an impact outside of this one song.

7. Channel Live "Mad Izm (1995)

Producer: KRS-One, Rheji Burrell, Salaam Remi Album: Station Identification Label: Capitol / EMI Records

Years before weed rap became like, a thing, Channel Live hit it big with "Mad Izm," a song about... well... smoking. "Wake up in the morning got the yearning for herb," is how group member Hakim Green opens his verse. Indeed. Buoyed by an appearance from KRS-One, the song made it to No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart. Although rap would continue to suffer from a chronic case of reefer madness, Channel Live never did recapture their spark.

6. Miilkbone "Keep It Real" (1994)

Producer: Mufi Album: Da' Miilkrate Label: Capitol Records

Miilkbone was a rapper from New Jersey whose song "Keep It Real" was a modest hit in '95. He also had another song, "Where'z Da Party At," which was not nearly as popular, but still helped solidify him as a serviceable MC with a few different styles. Miilkbone was never able to follow up on "Keep It Real," and when Eminem said "I'm on a search to crush a milkbone," in "Just Don't Give A Fuck," he may have put the final nail in dude's coffin. Miilkbone would eventually sign with Death Row Records and try to dis Em, but by that point nobody was even paying attention. I loved the piano chops on this song, a head nod banger for sures!

5. Apache "Gangsta Bitch" (1993)

Producer: A Tribe Called Quest Album: Apache Ain't Shit Label: Tommy Boy

Rest in Peace, Apache, who died in January of 2010. The New Jersey-bred MC will always be remembered for "Gangsta Bitch," his only noteworthy hit. Till this day, we still want a gangsta bitch, dressed in Carharrt and leather, who's "always in trouble and definitely fuckable."

4. Akinyele "Put It In Ya Mouth" (1996)

Producer: Chris Forte Album: Put It in Your Mouth Label: Stress / Zoo / BMG Records

Akinyele made some minor noise in 1993 with "The Bomb," a g-funk-inspired tune from his debut LP Vagina Diner. But when he channeled his sex addict persona on 1996's "Put It In Ya Mouth," he had a certifiable party anthem on his hands. Going back and forth with singer Kia Jefferies, the oral sex ode posed the question, "What do you choose to lick, pussy or dick?" The amount of dome that this tune has inspired is unmeasurable.

3. J.J. Fad "Supersonic" (1987)

Producer: The Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre Album: Supersonic Label: Ruthless Records

Before N.W.A. hit it big, J.J. Fad were the ones keeping the lights on at Ruthless Records, moving 400,000 copies of this single independently before Eazy E and Jerry Heller were able to get them a real recording contract. Owing to the song's danceable electro groove, they were the first female rap group to earn a Grammy nom and a platinum plaque.with their first LP Supersonic. But when N.W.A. ushered in gangsta rap, this fun lovable trio were out.

2. Camp Lo "Luchini AKA This Is It" (1997)

Producer: Ski Album: Uptown Saturday Night Label: Profile Records

Much of the success of "Luchini" is derived from the song's beat, which was produced by early Jay-Z collaborator Ski. At the time that he was called to work on Hov's Reasonable Doubt LP, he'd already been hard at work on Camp Lo's debut album, Uptown Saturday Night. Some of the beats from that album went to Jay-Z ("Feelin' It"), but "Luchini" was kept in Camp Lo's possession, and the BX duo will forever be remembered for it.

1. Audio Two "Top Billin'" (1987)

Producer: Daddy-O, Audio Two Album: What More Can I Say? Label: First Priority Music

One of the few songs in hip-hop's storied lexicon where it seems like everyone, young and old, knows every word. In reality, it's just Milk D spitting over a fobbled "Impeach The President" drum loop handled by Stetsasonic's Daddy-O. But even lyrics from '87- "I get money, money I got"- hold sway today. It was a true sign of things to come. A hustler's anthem. A Song you can play till this day and it sounds brand new! There is No Expiration Date on Good Hip-Hop!

Some infomation Obtain Via Complex Mag: