Training Songs

March 1, 2010

la coka nostra by brian morris Training Songs If you’ve read this blog long enough you may know by now that, next to training, music is my biggest obsession in life. I go to dozens of concerts and live performances per year and could single handedly keep iTunes in business. Here’s a list of some of the newer stuff we’ve been rocking in the gym over the last few months. Some of it is recent and some of it is just stuff that I have recently gotten into or have had renewed love affair with as of late. I’ll try not to repeat any recommendations I have made in the past.

Pearl Jam- There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t listen to some Pearl Jam. They are my all time favorite band by a mile (Public Enemy is second, for those keeping score). I’ve seen them over 50 times live and will see them at least another 50-100 more times. The two best training tracks off the new record are Got Some and Gonna See My Friend.

La Coka Nostra- This is the original three members of House of Pain along with a couple other lesser known friends of theirs. As far as hip hop training music goes, this is the best thing out there right now. I believe it’s also the best thing Everlast has ever done in his entire career, and I have followed him since his time in Ice T’s Rhyme Syndicate. There hasn’t been anything in hip hop close to this in the last five years. Almost every song on A Brand You Can Trust is gym worthy.

La Coka Nostra member Ill Bill has a few tracks featuring the rest of the crew that are worth getting as well: This is War, War is My Destiny, Pain Gang, It’s a Beautiful Thing.

Also check out Problemz and Get Outta My Way by Slaine. Both tracks also feature other members of the crew and are great for the gym.

Viking Skull- Hard rock/metal without being silly hardcore and unbearable for most human ears. There are a few good songs but my favorite is Start A War.

Obie Trice- I’ve been a big fan of Obie for years now. Recently I downloaded Welcome, Got Hungry, On & On, I Am. All good stuff.

50 Cent- Death to My Enemies, Crime Wave, I Get Money, I’ll Whip Ya Head Boy (featuring M.O.P. & Young Buck)

Eminem- I love Em as much as anyone but I truly feel that he wastes his talent on silly subject matter a lot of the time. He’s at his best when he’s angry and rapping with purpose. Having said that Elevators is a decent warm up track. I’m hoping for big things on his next record.

EPMD- Pioneers of old school hip hop and one my top five all time favorites. They recently came out with some new stuff which is gym worthy. Putten Work In (featuring Raekwon), Actin Up, What You Talkin (featuring Mobb Deep)

Rakim- Another leader of the old school. How to Emcee is a good warm up or cool down song.

KRS ONE & Buckshot- Yet another old school legend returns. Some of the best tracks are Survival Skills, Robot

The Black Keys- They recently did a hip hop album which is pretty damn good. They play, other guys rap. Dollaz & Sense featuring Pharaoh Monch & RZA is the best track to train to.

Rass Kass- Burn This Bitch Down

The Roots- Here I Come, Get Busy (featuring Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi)

Young Buck- Do It Myself

Royce da 5’9”- Royce is an underrated but incredibly talented MC who knows how to make some good training music. I recommend Gun Harmonizing, Dinner Time (featuring Bust Rhymes), Duck Down, Death Day, No Way to Stop Me, Count For Nothing, Scary Movies (featuring Eminem), Nuttin to Do (featuring Eminem)

Slaughterhouse- Fight Klub, Onslaught 2, Yeah

Wu-Tang Clan- Kill Too Hard

Raekwon- House of Flying Daggers

Dropkick Murphys- Loyal to No One, The Warriors Code, Shipping Up To Boston, The State of Massachusetts, Flannigans Ball

Beastie Boys (featuring Nas)- Too May Rappers

Jedi Mind Tricks- Animal Rap, Tibetan Black Magicians, Heavy Metal Kings, Butcher Knife Bloodbath

Army of the Pharaohs- Battle Cry, Feast of the Wolves

2Pac- Hit ‘Em Up, The Realist Killaz (featuring 50 Cent), Troublesome ’96, Ghost, Against All Odds, Untouchable

DMX- I wasn’t a huge fan back in the day but over the last year I have come to embrace DMX in the gym. Outside of the gym I would find most of this to be intolerable. For training I like: Don’t You Ever, Fuckin with D, Comin For Ya, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, Intro, Stop Being Greedy, One More Road to Cross, Get it on the Floor, X Gon Give it to Ya, We Go Hard (featuring Cam’ron)

Marilyn Manson- Definitely one of my favorites in the gym. My latest download of his is Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin-Geddon. Not as good as classics like The Fight Song, Better of Two Evils, Mob Scene or Little Horn, but not bad.

Static X- Another long time gym favorite. Besides the old classics we have recently been rocking Terra Fied, I’m The One, Z28, Hypure, Lunatic, The Only

Rollins Band- Nothing new here, but I have grown a bit tired of screaming satanic death metal lately (must be that “getting older” thing). I still like it but just can’t take as much of it as I used to. As a result I have found a renewed passion for stuff like the Rollins Band. Some of my favorite cuts are: What’s the Matter Man, Tearing, I See Through, Gone Inside The Zero, On My Way to The Cage, Low Self Opinion, Are You Ready, Do It, You Didn’t Need,

Black Flag (see above)- Six Pack, Life of Pain, Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie, My War,

Orange 9M- When You Lie

For heavy squat or deadlift days I still like to crank up some of the following stuff for 20-30 minutes. After that I need to take it down a notch as my eardrums can’t tolerate more than a half hour of it…

Slayer
Killswitch Engage
Chimaira
Underoath
Five Finger Death Punch
Slipknot
In Flames
Deftones
Superjoint Ritual

If anyone’s interested I’ll list all the stuff I listen to outside of the gym sometime later this week, as it’s nearly 180 degrees opposite of this stuff.

Please leave your comments below and add your recent favorite training music.

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Music | 44 Comments

30 Questions

May 30, 2009

megan fox2 30 Questions Does anyone actually like doing front squats?

Why do so many people think that front squats are somehow magically more “sport specific” than back squats?

When did getting strong get so complicated?

Has anyone who weighs above 180 ever tried to wear an American Apparel t-shirt? Man, is that a funny look. The upper body is skin tight and then it flares out to a giant moo-moo dress at the bottom. Strange..

Is everyone in the fitness industry now a business/ marketing expert?

If you make less than 250k per year can you really be considered a money making authority? What about all the sub 100k earning biz experts? Not good, my friends, not good.

Speaking of business and marketing, if you are one of the presenters at such a conference I probably wouldn’t mention to people on your blog or twitter account that you are driving there or splitting the hotel room with five other guys. That’s not what big time successful people do. If you’re gonna go with “the fake it til ya make it” approach you gotta be on your game at all times, kids.

Has anyone ever done snatch grip deadlifts on a podium?

A podium? Really? Isn’t that what people speak in front of?

Are people really still recommending glutamine as a worthy supplement?

Are people actually still taking glutamine?

Is it me or is Megan Fox really hot?

Does anyone actually like doing split squats?

Is a fauhawk ever acceptable?

What would Mr. T think of such a hairdo?

Why don’t more people have a reverse Mohawk like late, great Road Warrior Hawk? If I could grow one I damn sure would.

Is there anyone with more built up anger than the Iron Sheik? Man, I love that guy.

Are people still recommending 40-70 seconds of time under tension for optimal hypertrophy gains? That’s good comedy right there.

Why does everyone on 24 start every sentence with the word, “Look?”

“Look, Jack Bauer was in trouble and I had to cover for him.”

“Look, I never meant for it to end up like this.”

“Look, if you want my help you’re gonna have to start trusting me.”

“Look, we’re running out of time here!”

Are still people recommending the ole slow tempo scam?

Did anyone ever see Arnold, Yates or Ronnie Coleman perform a 402 tempo? Or a 505?

Did you ever hear the one about how leg curls should be done plantar flexed because doing so lessens the involvement of the gastrocnemius and puts more stress on the hamstrings? Oh man, that is funny stuff. Although you wont think so if you actually do that because your knees will be ruined. But it’s funny to read about.

You know what I find very annoying lately? Cookie monster metal. I got into it for a year or so and then woke up one day and wondered why. Slayer and Static X, yes. The cookie monster just screaming jumbled nonsense, no thanks.

Are trap bar deads really safer than regular deads? Usually, but not always. Depends on the person.

Why would anyone ever want to use a treadmill when there are infinite amounts of earth to cover by foot or by bike?

Why don’t more people meditate? The Holosync Meditation Program has changed my life.

Is it me or deadlifts really, really fun?

Are there two more “sport specific” exercises than running or jumping? People need to do these two things more often and worry less about standing on a wobble board or whatever other scams they use to make exercises more “functional.”

Has anyone ever heard Dane Cook say anything funny?

You know what is funny? White sneakers. Those are funny.

Solid white sneakers are really funny.

Solid white sneakers on a guy… hilarious.

Why has Snoop still not realized that he is nothing without Dr. Dre and that his only good album was released in 1993. Call the good doctor and make something worth listening to. I’m begging you. That’s 16 years of wasted talent.

Please leave your answers, questions and comments below.

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Muscle Building, Music, Strength & Conditioning, Uncategorized | 22 Comments

Wednesday’s Workout & Playlist

April 29, 2009

henry rollins 01 Wednesdays Workout & Playlist Got a little too fired up to train way too long before tonight’s workout. Approximately two and half hours prior to training I was listening to some old Rollins Band stuff and working myself into a frenzy. I want my old size and strength back yesterday. Not three months from now, not a week from now, not tomorrow. But yesterday. And I want to triple my previous bests in the worst way possible.

Since I have gotten worked up like this a million times in the past only to burn myself out come workout time, I tried my best to keep calm. I did some work and talked to people who have a calming effect on me. But no matter how hard I tried to suppress it I couldn’t hide the fact that I just wanted to get my hands on some heavy iron and rip the bar in half.

One of my training partners arrived at the gym early and said, “Wow, you’re already reeeeally pissed off, huh?”

“I wanna rip your fucking face off right now.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear. This is gonna be fun.”

After over two hours of visibly shaking in anticipation I finally started mellowing out and crashing about five minutes before the workout. Luckily I got the rage back and went on to have a great workout that consisted of a bunch of chins, military presses, pushups on the TRX Straps and neck work.

I only started being able to press overhead with kettlebells or dumbbells about a month or so ago. Started with a bar about a week or two ago. Tonight I did 135 for 10, which I was happy with. I have to take these slow and be careful not to reinjure myself. But I have my sights set on 225 for the summer. We’ll see how the shoulder holds up. But it’s feeling pretty good so far. The band dislocations definitely make a big difference and are highly recommended.

The training mix, listed below, which was blasting on the stereo definitely helped me reignite the intensity that I nearly lost and kept it high throughout the workout.

Prelude: NWA

Son of a Bush- Public Enemy

Take the Power Back- Rage Against the Machine

Just Another Victim- Helmet & House of Pain

Metal Storm/ Face the Slayer- Slayer

I Fuckin Hate You- Korn

Mob Scene- Marilyn Manson

Psycho- System of a Down

Step Up- Drowning Pool

Bastards of Bodom- Children of Bodom

Street Fighting Man- Rage

Gone Inside the Zero- Rollins Band

Zero- Smashing Pumpkins

I’m With Stupid- Static X

The Way I Am- Eminem ft/ Marilyn Manson

The Nigga Ya Love to Hate- Ice Cube

Night of the Living Baseheads- Public Enemy

I’m slightly stronger than my mom.

So don’t fuck with me.

Please leave your comments, questions and music recommendations below.

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Motivation, Muscle Building, Music | 4 Comments

Last Night’s Training Mix

April 21, 2009

publicEmemyLogo Last Nights Training Mix - Rebel Without A Pause- Public Enemy

- We’re Back- Bobby Creekwater, Cashis, Eminem, Obie Trice & Stat Quo

- Renegade- Hed PE

- Bleed it Out- Linkin Park

- PscyhoSocial- Slipknot

- War Within a Breath- Rage Against The Machine

- Fish Out of Water- Mudvayne

- Davidian- Machinehead

- Zero- Smashing Pumpkins

- Survival of the Streets- Cro Mags

- 99 Problems/ One Step Closer- Jay Z & Linkin Park

- Freedom (live)- Rage Against The Machine

- Butcher Knife Bloodbath- Jedi Mind Tricks

- What a Day- Nonpoint

- You Don’t Know- 50 Cent, Cashis, Eminem, Lloyd Banks

- Undead- Hollwood Undead

- Prophets of Rage- Public Enemy

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Motivation, Music | 5 Comments

Spin the Black Circle

November 13, 2008

nwa Spin the Black Circle I finally got the ok from the doctor, yesterday, to go back to training. Nothing overhead and no heavy pressing, but I can ease my way back into everything else and finally start regaining all the weight I have lost this year. It’s been a long time and I couldn’t take much more of it. I feel like it’s Christmas morning right now and can’t wait to get to the gym today.

I got a question about music yesterday and since, along with training, that is my favorite subject in the world to discuss, I will gladly ramble on.

Listing everything I train to would take me all day but some of my favorites are:

- Public Enemy

- Rage Against the Machine

- Slayer

- NWA

- Eminem

- Ice Cube

- Killswitch Engage

- Static X

- D12

- DMX

- Black Sabbath

- Metallica

- Superjoint Ritual

- Pearl Jam

- Metallica

- Nashville Pussy

- Pantera

- Smashing Pumpkins

- Pantera

- Run DMC

- Nas

- 2Pac

- The Game

As far as the newest stuff I have gotten, One Day as a Lion is great. In case you don’t know, that is Zach from Rage Against the Machine and Jon Theodore, the drummer from the Mars Volta. It’s a five song EP and every track is worth the money.

When I return to the gym later I will listen to that along with these other recent tracks that I just added to today’s playlist:

- Dope Boys by The Game

- Sly Fox by Nas

- Tomorrow by Ice Cube

- Kill the Emperor by Everlast

- State of Emergency by The Game featuring Ice Cube

- Black President by Nas

- It Takes a Nation by Ice Cube

To round it out I threw a few older tracks on there which are great songs to train to:

- Ante Up Remix by MOP featuring Busta Rhymes

- 187 Um (Deep Cover Remix) by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg

- Who’s the Man by House of Pain

- I Aint Goin Out Like That by Cypress Hill

Please feel free to share your favorites in the comments section below.

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Motivation, Music, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

More For Your Eardrums

November 14, 2007

What is it about the owners of public gyms that makes them think that people want to listen to… TECHNO when they train? How does techno equal training music? I don’t get it. Am I the only who is bewildered by this phenomenon? Who gets fired up to lift heavy weights to this crap? Isn’t this what guidos in wife beaters pump their fists to in clubs at 4am? Or did that fad die in the 90’s? I don’t know, but I do that Eminem was right when he said (in Without Me) “Nobody listen to techno!”

So public gym owners everywhere, I beg you, please stop.

With that being said, here is a list of top 25 songs to train to. It was nearly impossible to narrow it down to less than 50 and I will probably be constantly changing my mind about the list but this is what I have right now. Hopefully you will find a few songs on there that you don’t have and can add to your training mixes.

1. Raining Blood- Slayer (Still number one in my book)
2. Loyalty- D12 featuring Eminem & Obie Trice (this song played at least 5 times per day in my gym for about two years straight)
3. The Fight Song- Marilyn Manson
4. Irresponsible Hate Anthem- Marilyn Manson (Lots of anger and screaming)
5. Lost at Birth- Public Enemy (A rare and unknown PE song that kicks ass)
6. Killing In The Name Of- Rage Against The Machine (RATM)(“Fuck you I won’t do what you tell,” me still gets me fired up)
7. Straight Outta Compton- NWA
8. 100 Miles & Running- NWA
9. Angel Below- Underoath
10. Sleep Now in the Fire- RATM
11. Bring Tha Noize (Remix)- Public Enemy & Anthrax
12. F*ck Your Enemy- Superjoint Ritual
13. Blood- Pearl Jam
14. The N**** You Love To Hate- Ice Cube
15. The Better of Two Evils- Marilyn Manson
16. Welcome to the Terrordome- Public Enemy
17. Vietnow- RATM
18. Rabbit Run- Eminem
19. Remember The Name- Fort Minor
20. Bleed It Out- Linkin Park
21. The Beautiful People- Marilyn Manson
22. Make a Move- DMX (Chuck Liddells entrance song. If it’s good enough for Chuck, it’s good enough for me)
23. The Source- Eminem
24. Lukin- Pearl Jam
25. 99 Problems/ One Step Closer- Jay Z & Linkin Park

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Music | Leave a Comment

Top Ten Albums To Train To

November 13, 2007

A good friend of mine asked me yesterday what my top ten albums to train to were. After much thought and deliberation, here is what I came up with. Note that live albums and greatest hits were not allowed; strictly studio albums. Although it is blasphemous to mention their name in public and usually results in your being labeled a douchebag, and Fred Durst was the worst excuse for a rapper ever, Limp Bizkit did make some pretty good music to train to for a couple years there.

1) Rage Against The Machine- Rage Against The Machine
2) Rage Against The Machine- The Battle of Los Angeles
3) Rage Against The Machine- Evil Empire
4) Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (greatest rap album of all time)
5) Slayer- Reign in Blood
6) NWA- Straight Outta Compton
7) Metallica- Garage Inc. (disk 2)
Limp Bizkit- Chocolate Starfish & The Hotdog Flavored Water
9) Marilyn Manson- Antichrist Superstar
10) Metallica- …And Justice For All (when Metallica was Metallica)

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Motivation, Music | Leave a Comment

Death to Pop Music

November 6, 2007

Today I’m gonna put training on the back burner and discuss my other biggest passion in life which is music. The state of music today can be quite dismal at first glance. Every Tuesday when new albums are released I log onto iTunes and buy at least 30-50 new songs. I check the new releases, grab some stuff there and then end up spending a half hour searching out other stuff that somehow makes its way into my account. When I look at the top ten charts though, I’m usually sickened. T-Pain? Colby Calliat? Souljah Boy? Baby Bash? Fergie? Good Charlotte? BRITNEY SPEARS????

People, this is NOT good music. Nas was almost 100% on the money when he said hip hop is dead. As someone who grew up listening to real hip hop and has the Public Enemy logo tattooed on his arm, it pains me to listen to some of the crap that is out there today. Luckily there are a few artists still making real hip hop including Nas, Talib Kweli, Common, and my good friend E-Reece.

Fortunately, the state of rock is not as bad as the current state of hip hop. Sure when you look at the pop charts (or worse yet, listen) you need to do all you can to hold your lunch down, but if you dig deeper you will see that there are plenty of great bands making real rock & roll.

Without further adieu here is a list of some stuff that, while you won’t ever see them selling a million records, is on high rotation on my iPod and definitely worth checking out. Especially if you can’t stand the sight or sound of Daughtry or Carrie Underwood ever again.

Note: This is NOT music to train to. That’s a different topic for a different time. While I love hearing Slayer in the gym; it’s the last thing I want to hear at home or driving in my car.

*********

-Kings of Leon

-State Radio

-Pete Yorn

-The Beautiful Girls

-Built To Spill

-Xavier Rudd

-Silversun Pickups

-Matthew Good

-The Shins

-Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

-Pete Francis

-LCD Soundsystem (not really rock but good stuff, especially live)

-Deathcab For Cutie

-Keane

-Sea Wolf

-The Fratellis

-Tokyo Police Club

-The Black Keys

***********

At the Big Seminar, someone asked Jim Wendler what five CD’s he would buy if he only had $100. Later that night, my friend Keith asked me the same question and (for anyone who’s interested) here’s my answer, although it is a brutally tough decision:

1) Vs.- Pearl Jam
2) Ten- Pearl Jam
3) It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back- Public Enemy
4) Us Against The Crown (w/ Bonus Tracks)- State Radio
5) The Low End Theory- A Tribe Called Quest

Runner up- Because of the Times- Kings of Leon (absolutely amazing album from start to finish)

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Music | 4 Comments

State Radio

July 3, 2007

“Dude, you just got that chicks number?!”

“Yeah. Why are you saying it like that?”

“Cuz she’s not even 21 you moron!”

“WHAT?! How do you figure? She looks at least 25. You checked her ID and determined that it was fake?”

“No wristband, Einstein!”

“Aaaaooooo…That can’t be good. Well, why are their underage girls in here? Isn’t this a bar?”

“Dude, what time did you start drinking? It’s The Stone Pony, it’s a concert venue, first and foremost, you know that. They let anyone in.”

“Well I don’t think Bruce should be letting underage girls in here. Doesn’t he own this place now? I mean talk about Badlands, that’s nothing but trouble right there. She was just Dancing In The Dark so it was kinda hard to tell. Then she whispered that she wanted to take me to her Secret Garden and show me her Tunnel of Love. She invited me back to her place and-”

“Yeah, I know, she lives on Thunder Road and you were gonna show her The Rising, right? Cuz, what, you’re On Fire? I’m from Jersey too, you retard, I know all of Bruce’s songs too. And by the way, it’s not remotely funny. Go get us another drink.”

“Well, actually I was gonna go with I’m Going Down.”

“Shut up!”

“Ok…”

With that I sifted through a sea of hot young females en route to the bar. Since I was too drunk to try to spot the wristbands or lack thereof on their wrists, I kept my head down and thought about Rosie O’Donnell naked. Luckily, when I returned to my friends, one of my favorite bands had finally taken the stage.

State Radio is fronted by Chad Stokes, one of the two lead singers from Dispatch, who broke up three years ago. Music is one of my biggest obsessions in life and I can’t exist in silence without music for more than a few minutes at a time. As such, I like to share some good recommendations with you guys from time to time.

Since I have the pleasure of knowing everyone who’s anyone in the fitness/ strength & conditioning industry and many of them are my close friends, I can’t say that I know more about training than anyone I know. But I can say I know more about music than anyone I know.

Although many people think I listen to nothing but Slayer and NWA the fact of the matter is that when I am not training and have an incredibly wide variety of musical tastes.

State Radio is socially conscious jam rock which the band describes as Bob Marley meets Rage Against The Machine. They had rapidly been becoming one of my favorite bands but after the incredible performance I witnessed this Sunday, they have moved up the ranks even higher. Chad sounded exactly like he does on his records and the guitar was on point and powerful.

If you get a chance to see them live, I highly recommend it. If not, check them out on iTunes or at http://www.stateradio.com/.

I recommend Mr. Larkin, Right Me Up, Camilo, State I and I, and People To People as a good starting point of songs to download.

Shoot me and email and let me know what you think. I’ll be back with some training info tomorrow.

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Music | Leave a Comment

Hardcore Hip Hop For Hardcore Training

June 29, 2007

pe Hardcore Hip Hop For Hardcore Training Originally written 8/2005

I decided to write this article a few months ago but never got around to it until recently. It wasn’t until last weekend, when I scrolled through Dave Tate’s hip hop training mix on his iPod, that I realized this article was a necessity. Too many people are listening to, and worse yet, training to bad hip hop.

Before I get into my recommendations of hip hop to train to I must first tell you why I feel I am qualified to write such an article. Afterall, if I saw a hip hop article written by some thirty year old white dude who trains athletes for a living I would be quite skeptical myself.

The year was 1985 and like most kids from Jersey I listened to a lot of Bruce Springsteen. Normally I listened to my mom and dad’s tapes but Born in the USA was the first tape that was ever mine. Around this time I was also introduced to The Who by some of my older cousins as well as U2 and Tom Petty. This was what I listened to all the time. That is until I got my first taste of hip hop. It was the Sugar Hill Gang, the Fat Boys, Slick Rick and Dougie Fresh. I played the tapes for some of my buddies and they were hooked instantly. Everyday at lunch we would do one of two things; play football or throw down the cardboard and have break dancing battles.

My love for hip hop did not turn to obsession until 1988. That was my freshman year of high school and it was also the year when two of the best, most controversial and most influential albums in hip hop history were released. The first was It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy. The social impact of that album had never previously been matched. Chuck D’s unmistakeably powerful voice over Terminator X’s violent, angry beats with the trademark siren created a noise that changed the face of hip hop forever. The second landmark album that was released that year was Straight Outta Compton by NWA. Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy E, and MC Ren took gangsta rap to a new level and caused so much controversy that they recieved numerous threats from the government. To this day these two albums remain amongst the greatest of all time.

Throughout high school I was one of the few white kids I knew who listened to hip hop. Back then it wasn’t like it is now where everyone and their grandmother listens to Outkast on a regular basis. Like Eminem said, “hip hop is universal now, it’s so commercial now.” But it wasn’t always that way.

When I went off to college the first two friends I made who remain my brothers to this day, were black and Hispanic. Since they knew more people than I did I always hung with their crew. Strange as it sounds now I barely hung out with any white people or listened to anything but hip hop for the next few years.

Of course, in time I came back to Bruce and The Who, and now listen to a wider variety of music than almost anyone I know. However, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t listen to hip hop, and it’s been that way since ‘85. With that said, let’s get to the music.

Public Enemy- There is not much more that can be said about one of the most legendary groups in hip hop. The PE sound is unmistakeable and always makes you stand up and take notice.

Public Enemy # 1- The biggest hit from their 1987 debut, which created the buzz that would last for several years to come.
Bring Tha Noize- The song that put PE on the map with the unforgettable sound of Chuck D’s booming voice shouting out the opening line, “Bass, how low can you go…”
Bring Tha Noize Remix featuring Anthrax- An already great song becomes even better with Anthrax turning up the beat a notch.
Terminator X To the Edge of Panic- The classic PE sound, with sirens blaring and Chuck D ripping rhymes over the Bomb Squads flawless production and Terminator X’s turntable wizadry.
Rebel Without A Pause- More of the trademark PE sound from It Takes A Nation on Millions, including the unmistakeable sirens and Chuck D rhyming with purposeful anger.
Brothers Gonna Work It Out- Chucks much anticipated response to police brutality against a large group of black teenagers in Virginia Beach. This is always in high rotation on my training mixes.
Welcome to the Terrordome- PE stirred up an endless amount of controversy with the release of this 1994 single and made a hell of a song to get angry and lift heavy weights to in the process.

NWA

Straight Outta Compton- The song that started it all and changed hip hop forever. Although the video was played less than a handful of times on MTV, the image of Ice Cube busting through the Compton sign and shouting out the opening verse will be etched in hardcore hip hop fans memories forever.
Fuck Tha Police- At the time, the most controversial song in the history of hip hop.
100 Miles N Runnin- The group’s first hit song without Ice Cube.
Chin Check- After the death of Eazy E and the succesful solo careers of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube no one ever thought they would hear from NWA again. On the Next Friday soundtrack the group reunited and added Snoop Dogg to the mix to produce this comeback hit.

2Pac

Holler if Ya Hear Me- No hip hop list would be complete without including the late Tupac Shakur and this was one of his angriest tracks.

Mobb Deep

Survival of the Fittest- A very dark gloomy beat from one of New York’s biggest underground stars.
Shook Ones Part II- Recognized as one of the greatest hip hop songs ever, this is definitely a great one to train to. For those unfamiliar with this song, it is what Eminem was listening to in his headphones at the beginning of 8 Mile.

Busta Rhymes

This Means War- Busta’s angry raps over Ironman by Black Sabbath makes for an outstanding song to train to.

DMX

What’s My Name
Make A Move

D12- Eminem’s crew came upon the scene a few years ago but it wasn’t until their 2004 album, D12 World, that they truly established themselves as major players. D12 World was a strong contender for hip hop album of the year and featured several great songs to train to including the following:

Git Up
Loyalty
American Psycho II
Keep Talkin
How Come

Eminem- Although he is recognized by many as a pop rapper, Eminem is one of the best lyricists in hip hop history and can battle with the best of them. When he is angry, there is no one better on the mic.

Lose Yourself- The 8 Mile Classic that everyone on the planet has listened to at least a dozen times.
Rabbit Run- This is an example of Eminem at his best, flowing seemlessly without taking a breath for minutes on end.
Nail In the Coffin- This is an unreleased song directed at The Source’s owner Benzino. To hear him rip the mans heart out on wax is awe inspiring.
The Source- This is another unreleased dis directed at Benzino and is yet another example of how good Eminem can be when he is mad and has a point to make. Do yourselves a favor and download these tracks.
If I Get Locked Up- This is a non album track which was done with Dr. Dre and Funk Master Flex. The beat itself gets you fired up.
Till I Collapse
Soldier
What You Say
The Way I Am Remix featuring Marilyn Manson

Eric B. & Rakim

Follow the Leader- For years, Rakim was known as the greatest rapper in the game. Although there have been many contenders for the thrown over recent years, Rakim has still laid down some of the best vocals in the history of the game over Eric B’s grimey beats. Follow the Leader is a classic from one of the greatest duos in hip hop history.
Know the Ledge- This was the the theme song to Tupac Shakur’s first movie, Juice.

EPMD

Headbanger- Although they have produced some of the greatest party songs in hip hop history, EPMD can still get angry on occasion and their best example of this came on this 1992 track featuring Redman and K-Solo.

House of Pain

Shamrocks & Shenanigans Remix- Sometime between The Beastie Boys debut and the time Eminem took over hip hop there was another white rap group known as House of Pain. This song was from their debut album and the remix features an angry guitar riff which fits perfectly with Everlast’s gravely vocals.

Ice Cube

The Nigga Ya Love To Hate- The opening track of Ice Cube’s debut solo album let everyone know from the get go that he was not fooling around.
Hello- Reunited with Dr. Dre, Cube let’s everyone know that, “I started this gangsta shit.”
Wicked

Wu Tang Clan

Aint Nothin Ta Fuck Wit- Shaolins finest produced one of the most highly revered albums in hip hop history with 1992’s Enter The 36 Chambers. Although nearly every track is a classic, this would probably be the best one to train to.

OutKast

Da Art Of Storytellin Part II- Long before they started making pop hits like Hey Ya, the boys from Atlanta made tons of hardcore underground hits. The distortion of the vocals is what makes this song.

Naughty By Nature

Uptown Anthem- Like EPMD, Naughty was always famous for their party jams. However, when Treach was given a rugged beat and decided to get angry, great things could happen. This song is one such example.

Cypress Hill

Aint Goin Out

Snoop Dogg

Serial Killa- Lately Snoop has become a pop rapper who makes love songs but there was a time back in ‘92 and ‘93 when Snoop was as hardcore as a rapper gets. This song from his debut classic, Doggystyle, featuring Tha Dogg Pound is a far cry from Drop It Like It’s Hot but is great for moving some heavy iron.

Jay Z Featuring Linkin Park- The jigga man was known for years as one of the best rappers in the game and made one party hit after another. To this day it’s impossible to go into a New York club and not hear at least two dozen Jay Z songs in one night. However, when he decided to team up with Linkin Park last year he produced some of the greatest hip hop training songs ever.

99 Problems- The original, featuring Rick Rubins production is also a great song but adding Linkin Park makes this one of the best songs of the year to train to.
Faint/Jigga What
Numb/ Encore

Run DMC

King of Rock- It would be sacreligious to leave Run DMC off this list. Long before Limp Bizkit and Rage Against the Machine started making rock/rap a popular entity, Run DMC was combining the two genres on a regular basis. They started the trend twenty years before it became popular and Public Enemy took it to another level. On King of Rock, Run DMC prove why they are the legends they are.

There are probably several songs that have been left off the list as an oversight but I think that what I have provided covers a pretty wide spectrum of hardcore hip hop. Now you have the list and there are no excuses. Start buying and downloading these songs today. If I scroll through Dave’s or anyone elses iPod again and see Nelly on the training mix I will officially lose my mind.

Please leave your comments below.

Written by jasonferruggia · Filed Under Music | Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

Popular Posts

Training Songs

30 Questions

Wednesday’s Workout & Playlist

Last Night’s Training Mix

Spin the Black Circle

More For Your Eardrums

Top Ten Albums To Train To

Death to Pop Music

State Radio

Hardcore Hip Hop For Hardcore Training

Follow/Friend Me

Recommended Sites

Recent Comments

Renegade Approved