Woo, more replies.
Run-DMC, 2Pac, and Snoop didn't make the cut for this album. They were in the running, but in cutting down the album to fit on a CD, I wanted to go more with some One Hit Wonders, instead of established and good groups.
The songs on this CD are not necessarily good, as much as they were popular and fun at the time. Run-DMC and WuTang put out a ton of great songs, but after I started forming this album and making cuts, I decided to go the other way; focusing more on songs that aren't necessarily good, but that I smile when I hear again after all these years.
It's hard to explain, but Run-DMC and WuTang didn't really "fit" into this album. Not because they weren't good, but instead because they "were" good.
I wanted to go for some sleepers that people likely don't remember, whether they want to or not. Skee Lo, Tag Team, Sir Mix A Lot, Da Brat, Hammer, Vanilla Ice. They aren't on a level with Run and Wu, but they put out a song that I think many people listen to now and smile, remembering the music back then.
I only used "old school" in the sense that the music was from a genre 10-15 years ago, and did not intend to imply old school quality and originality.
After burning and listening to this album, I love it. It's like taking all the songs that were "cool" (but not necessarily good) back in the 90's and hearing them back to back.
Furthermore, I didn't really grow up listening to a lot of WuTang or Run-DMC so that likely played a part in why they weren't included. I consider this CD to be for the casual rap listener at the time, and not necessarily the one that was into all of the quality groups. Because the groups/artists on this CD didn't necessarily put out quality songs consistently, but they did have a few fun ones. And I tried to find those and put them on this CD.
This album isn't supposed to be serious at all; it's supposed to be completely fun, maybe make the listener smile thinking back about these songs and the time when they were popular.
Of all the songs on the album, I think TLC's "No Scrubs" is the most fun. The lyrics are amusing, and it has a nice beat. Informer is also really funny, and I remember that song well. I originally had a Kriss Kros track on the album, but it didn't fit and threw the flow off, so I removed it.
I appreciate the replies, and wanted to reply and state that I wasn't attempting to make an album filled with quality hip-hop/rap as much I was an album filled with some one hit wonders, fun songs, and songs that would be memorable to the casual rap listener.
I don't consider Tag Team and Snow to be better groups than Run-DMC, but I do consider their song(s) to be more memorable, catchy, and noticeable to someone that was only a passing fan of the genre in the 90's. That's an opinion, and granted I wasn't really into Run-DMC, but I'm really pleased with the final CD, and I think my friend will like it a lot.
Thanks again for the replies and recommendations.