Episode 171: Monica Lynch

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Monica Lynch is a woman who truly was at the center of it all during hip-hop’s Golden Age.

Monica started out in late 1981 as the very first employee of a small record label called Tommy Boy, which was releasing early rap and electro singles by the likes of Afrika Bambaataa and the Jonzun Crew. She quickly worked her way up to becoming the label’s president, and oversaw its most fertile period during hip-hop’s golden age of the late 1980s and early 90s. Under her tenure, the label released classic albums by Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, Stetsasonic, Paris, Digital Underground, CNN, House of Pain, and many more.

Monica was a key part of bringing Tommy Boy to the attention of the masses. She oversaw the label’s clothing line, its successful compilation albums, and also played a key role in the development of careers of artists, executives, and more ranging from The RZA to Dante Ross to Prince Paul.

Tracks featured in this episode:

1. Prince Rakeem, “I Get Down for my Crown (Version 1)”
2. Prince Rakeem, “I Get Down for my Crown (Version 3)”
3. Prince Rakeem, “Illusion of Love (Remix)”
4. Prince Rakeem, “Illusion of Love”
5. Prince Rakeem, “Enter the Wu-Tang (Inst Only)”
6. Prince Rakeem, “Pass the Bone (feat the Genius)”
7. Prince Rakeem, “Ooh, We Love You Rakeem
8. Big Daddy Kane, “Warm It Up, Kane”
9. King Sun, “Stunts”
10. Prince Rakeem, “Ooh We Love You Rakeem”
11. Cocoa Brovaz, “Bucktown USA”
12. Afrika Bambaataa & the Jazzy Five, “Jazzy Sensation”
13. Run-DMC, “Rock Box”
14. Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force, “Planet Rock”
15. Whodini, “Freaks Come Out At Night”
16. Malcolm X & Keith LeBlanc, “No Sell Out”
17. Malcolm X & Keith LeBlanc, “No Sell Out”
18. Pressure Drop, “Rock the House (You’ll Never Be)”
19. Jonzun Crew, “We Are the Jonzun Crew”
20. Planet Patrol, “Play At Your Risk”
21. G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid, “Play That Beat Mr. D.J.”
22. Stetsasonic, “Just Say Stet”
23. Chillin with Latifah & The 45 King 1989
24. Official Trailer | STAR
25. Queen Latifah, “I Put A Spell On You”
26. Queen Latifah, ”I’m Not in Love”
27. Queen Latifah & Taye Diggs, “When You’re Good To Mama”
28. Queen Latifah, “Come Into My House”
29. Queen Latifah, “How Do I Love Thee”
30. Digital Underground, “The Humpty Dance
31. Digital Underground, “Same Song - Edit Version”
32. Digital Underground, “Sex Packets”
33. Rodd Houston, Creed spot
34. Paris, “The Hate That Hate Made”
35. Eric B. & Rakim, “I Ain’t No Joke”
36. The Cipher 136: Paris
37. Paris, “Coffee, Donuts, & Death”
38. Paris, “Bush Killa”
39. HipHop Pt2 - E
40. Body Count, “KKK B***h”
41. De La Soul, “Plug Tunin’”
42. De La Soul, “Freedom of Speak (We Got Three Minutes)”
43. De La Soul, “The Magic Number”
44. Fresh Gordon, “Feelin’ James”
45. House of Pain, “Jump Around
46. Naughty By Nature, “Craziest”
47. WFMU, “Monica from 12/1/2013”
48. The Isley Brothers, “Shout, Pts. 1 & 2”
49. Information Society, “Think”
50. Shannon, “Let the Music Play”

Show notes:

1. Forbes.com, “Tom Silverman On The New Music Seminar Past And Present, The Future Of The Industry, And More”
2. Hip Hop Be Bop, “Sugar Hill All-Stars – Malcolm X No Sell Out”
3. The Awl, “Revealed: ‘Sex Packets’ Based On Junk Science”
4. Paris, ‘Sleeping With the Enemy’ cover art
5. Paris, “Coffee, Donuts & Death” cover art
6. Ebony, “DE LA SOUL IS (NOT) DEAD: Inside the Anonymous Nobody”
7. Philadelphia Inquirer, “Jumping On The Bandwagon”