Chills. From 0:00 to 4:20. Any extraction of an interview is an automatic tone-setter - a positive one at that. Some of my favorite 2Pac records began with extracted interviews or news coverage ("The Uppercut", "Runnin' (Dyin' To Live)", and the Intro to Me Against The World) and they have such a profound, powerful effect on your emotions. Likewise, the "Something Is Wrong RMX" begins with a disturbing news interview that brings you down to earth and focuses your attention solely on the record. In comes Lisa Ivey with her beautiful, soulful hook, reminiscent of some old school 90s hooks, setting up the positive message all parties involved convey. Literally every MC rocks the mic with messages that I can go on all day extracting. Chicago represents well on the RMX with Rhymefest, Naledge, and Twista batting cleanup and knockin' a grand slam out onto Sheffield¹. This is the positivity of hip hop that sometimes gets overlooked - artists using their direct connection with the urban community, using hip hop as their platform to reach the youth and affect positive change that really resonates. The formative years for today's youth can be affected emotionally very powerfully with music and seeing some of Chicago's finest join David Banner and 9th Wonder for this wonderful remix record is a very welcoming sight. Don't just download this track for yourself, but share it with others, play it out loud, get Twista's verse down and rhyme it a capella to a group of friends², whatever!
¹ Sheffield - the street behind right field at Wrigley Field. Wouldn't it be awesome to see a home run derby at Wrigley featuring hip hop artists? Who can't see Twista doin' his best Prince Fielder impression next October.. you know, since Wrigley's schedule will be wide open.. smh.
² Major bonus points if you can really pull that off... easily a feature on Gowhere if you send in a YouTube link, haha.

It was tough to decide between the top two; in the end, "Fire" wins out because of its high replayability¹ but of course, you can't go wrong with any of these five records. Who didn't flip out once those first few Hendrix guitar riffs rang through your speakers? The sheer originality in the sample/production - for it to become a hip hop production - acted as a canvas that Lupe Fiasco emphatically utilized to shout (loudly) that he's back. The wordplay, the metaphors.. there's no one in the game that does it better today, period. Peep:

"Wish ya well like a wishin well wisher wish itself
It fell at first so now I sail with ya
If it happen to sink, I pitch in with pales
And pitchers, bucket and cup it back to the river
Then cover the leak with garbage pail kid stickers
{dynamite} and first aid the way ya saviors"

...

"Bully or I bogard, bodacious so I'm humphrey
I used to rubber band, but now I got a bungee
If you let me expand, that refers to the money,
Gucci's all good, Chanel is all chummy
And that ain't even for me, my honey and my mommy
I'd rather be bummy, nappy on top
Cipriani in my tummy, the fade is for the fans
Not even for my fans, its more for like the brand"

- Lupe Fiasco

Bottom line: Lupe Fiasco uses a Jimi Hendrix sample to not only come back with a vengeance, but also to attract fans outside hip hop to his talent. I passed this record along to some of my rock friends who were immediately amazed and are now giving Lupe Fiasco and hip hop a closer listen. Remember folks, there are many casual music fans who are misguided by the negative perception and glorification of hip hop, so much so that they won't listen to any hip hop. Many of those same people don't really know just how much positive hip hop out there exists. It's our job to let them know!
¹ #Shoutout Jay Bilas