Straight Outta West Philly: Listen to Reef the Lost Cauze’s Philly hip-hop favorites

When we asked veteran MC Reef The Lost Cauze to choose his favorite hip-hop songs from Philly, he had his sights focused on West Philadelphia, the part of town he grew up in. Talking about his selections on a special Hip Hop 50 edition of WXPN Local, he remembers watching Cool C’s ascent to fame as a neighborhood guy making the big time; he talks about going to school with Da Youngstas siblings, and hearing about their ties to the legendary Philly label Pop Art Records.

Reef also talks about the seismic impact that the State Property crew had on the local rap scene in the late 90s and early 2000s, and tells us about his own involvement in the scene beginning with Army of the Pharaohs. He reflects on his own breakout hit “Sound of Philadelphia,” a “love letter to Philadelphia as well as a cautionary tale” that he still finds relevant today.

Listen to Reef’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

Cool C – “Glamorous Life”
Da Youngsta’s – “Crewz Pop”
State Property – “One for Peedi Crakk”
Army Of The Pharaohs – “Tear It Down”

Reef the Lost Cauze – “Sound of Philadelphia”