Golden Era Classics: Listen to Dell-P’s Philly hip-hop favorites

When you listen to Philly rapper Dell-P‘s 2022 album The People’s Emcee, you can’t miss the melodic tones and swift rhythms that are rooted in rap classics of the late 80s and early 90s. It’s widely regarded as hip-hop’s golden era, and on a WXPN Local Hip Hop 50 special this week, Dell talked about how the music from those years strongly influenced what he does creatively.

For his playlist of Philly hip-hop favorites, he explored memories of that time: first experiencing the Boogie Down Productions remix of Steady B’s “Serious” in his grandmother’s living room when the music video aired on The Box. Being thrilled when DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince’s He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper became the first rap album to win a Grammy. Connecting with a team of creatives in the Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program and hearing them get shouted out in The Roots’ “Proceed.” Feeling even more of the community spirit in Bahamadia’s hit “Uknowhowwedu” and its roll-call of Philly rap scene movers and shakers.

Listen to Dell-P’s guest DJ set in the player above, check out his playlist below, and stream an archive of the entire WXPN Local Hip Hop 50 special here.

Setlist

Steady B – “Serious (Ceereeus BDP Remix)”
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – “Brand New Funk”
The Roots – “Proceed”
Bahamadia – “Uknowhowwedu”

Dell-P – “Unconditional (ft. Speech)”