What’s More Important In Hip-Hop: Lyrics, Samples or Impact? | For The Record

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:41:16 +0000

Strap in for a special edition of "For The Record" with Genius, as this panel of hip-hop experts drop knowledge (and a few opinions) on the Sprite Living Tracklist. (See the full list at https://livingtracklist.genius.com/ ). Moderated by media icon Angie Martinez ("Angie Martinez IRL"), aka “The Voice of New York,” the panel includes media powerhouse Speedy Morman (Exec. Producer at Boardroom); renowned podcast and radio host Scottie Beam ("Hi, I'm Uninspired"); DJ, radio host, and cultural curator Nyla Symone ("Certified Vibe"); culture executive Josh Peas; famed journalist Frazier Tharpe (GQ); and Genius VP of Music & Content Rob Markman.

The Sprite Living Tracklist is a collection of 50 songs that have influenced hip-hop and pop culture since the genre’s inception. It’s not meant to be a definitive best-of list, but rather a conversation starter that honors legends from across the decades. With that in mind, this panel of hip-hop experts was assembled to dig deep into the Living Tracklist and share their thoughts on the classics contained within.

0:00 Cameras on, already lying?!?
0:10 "We're gonna agree to disagree..."
1:17 Impact versus Innovation
6:25 Is 'sonically dated' a thing?
9:02 90's New York hip-hop
14:36 Jazzy Hip-hop
16:28 The Feature verse
20:38 West Coast and style
26:13 Regionality now
27:46 Business and community
29:52 Most impactful historically?
33:59 What's the future of hip-hop?

Read more on Genius: https://genius.com/a/explore-t....he-sprite-living-tra

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