Radio 1 Rap Show

July 23, 1999
BBC Radio 1 (97-99 FM)
London, England, UK

As you may remember, Big Tim got shot back in '99*. The full story behind it was never made public but general consensus seems to be that some gangster types wanted to do some business with him (promoting a show, running security or whatever) and didn't react well when he refused. As a result he couldn't present his show the following weekend so Funkmaster Flex steps up and covers for 3 hours, albeit with no talking just music. The voice you hear before the show starts is Pete Tong, who presumably had just explained what had happened in his very best Simon Bates voice. This is still the BBC after all and their DJs don't get shot every day.

Flex gets busy dropping Nas, Ruff Ryders, Mobb Deep, Redman, Missy, Biggie, Jay Z as well as throwing on 50's 'How To Rob' (which is still great) and some GZA, Beatnuts, High & Mighty, Flipmode Squad and Sir Menelik's dope '7XL' featuring Pubes and Derek. Oh, and Mobb Deep and Kool G Rap 'The Realest' which I've been bumping a lot recently.

*The Guardian article says Tim was 30 at the time of the shooting. Suffice to say, that's not entirely correct. He must've been at least 40 in '99.

Track List
  • DMX f/Drag-On & Swizz Beatz – No Love 4 Me
  • Missy Elliott – She’s a B!tch
  • Notorious BIG – Nasty Boy (Acap) b/w Missy Elliott – She’s a B!tch (Inst.)
  • Notorious BIG – Nasty Boy
  • Crooklyn Clan – Say Wut
  • JAY-Z – Jigga My N!gga
  • Eve f/DMX, The Lox & Drag-On – Scenario 2000
  • Ruff Ryders f/Drag-On & Juvenile – Down Bottom
  • Trick Daddy f/Trina – Nann
  • Total f/Mase – If You Want Me
  • Total f/Shyne – Sitting Home (Remix)
  • R. Kelly f/Nas – Did You Ever Think (Remix)
  • 702 – Where My Girls At?
  • 702 f/Fabolous – Where My Girls At? (Remix)
  • Ruff Ryders f/Eve – What Y’all Want
  • The Beatnuts – Watch Out Now
  • Busta Rhymes – Party Goin’ on Over Here
  • Busta Rhymes – Do the Bus a Bus (Remix)
  • Mobb Deep – Quiet Storm
  • Noreaga – Oh No
  • DMX f/The Lox – Get At Me Dog (Freestyle)
  • Lil Cease f/Mr. Bristal, Joe Hooker & Lil Kim – Play Around
  • P. Diddy f/Hurricane G – PE 2000
  • Redman f/Busta Rhymes – Da Goodness
  • Snoop Dogg f/Xzibit & Nate Dogg – B Please
  • Cam’ron – Let Me Know
  • Ja Rule – Holla Holla
  • The Murderers f/JAY Z, Memphis Bleek & Busta Rhymes – Holla Holla (Remix)
  • 50 Cent f/The Madd Rapper – How to Rob
  • Rass Kass f/Doo Wop – Dreams 2… (Where My B!tches At?)
  • Ali Vegas – The Specialist
  • Half-A-Mill f/Norwaga & Kool G Rap ‎– Thug Ones
  • EPMD f/Redman, Method Man & Lady Luck – Symphony 2000
  • Slick Rick f/Nas – Bring It to Your Hardest
  • Flipmode Squad – Whatcha Come Around Here For
  • ???
  • Prince Po f/Cairo & Wax Dawg- Love Tha Love
  • Shabaam Sahdeeq f/Xzibit – Concrete
  • Too Short f/JAY Z – Here We Go (Jermaine Dupri Remix)
  • The High & Mighty f/Mad Skillz & Mos Def ‎– B-Boy Document 99
  • DITC – Way of Life
  • Sir Menelik f/Grand Puba & Sadat X – 7XL
  • Spliff Star – Say What
  • Lil Cease f/Mr. Bristal & JAY Z – Do My Thing
  • Busta Rhymes – Do the Bus a Bus (Remix)
  • GZA – Breaker Breaker
  • Mobb Deep – Adrenaline
  • Tash – Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy
  • Lil Cease f/Redman, Mr. Bristal & Joe Hooker – Future Sport
  • Missy Elliott f/Redman – Dangerous Mouths
  • Gang Starr – All 4 Tha Cash
  • Mobb Deep f/Kool G Rap – The Realest
  • Dr. Dre f/Eminem – Life As An Outlaw
  • Cam’ron f/Noreaga – F!ck You At
  • QSR f/Mr. Cheeks – Money
- DJ Step One (description), Brian M. (track list)

About Radio 1 Rap Show

The Radio 1 Rap Show was hosted by Tim Westwood, and broadcast from London, England, UK. Also known as the 1FM Rap Show, it ran from 10 December 1994 to 14 September 2013. Similar to the previous show on Capital Radio, along with recognised groups, it featured a plethora of rap artists on independent labels making their way up the rap ladder. The general tone of the Radio 1 Rap Show was a tipping point in the general sound of rap and being on a national station, it introduced the culture to a new generation of listeners.

More Radio 1 Rap Show

In Context

These are the three shows that aired closest in time to this one.

July 10, 1999
Radio 1 Rap Show
London, England, UK

July 16, 1999
Radio 1 Rap Show
London, England, UK

July 23, 1999
Radio 1 Rap Show
London, England, UK

July 30, 1999
Radio 1 Rap Show
London, England, UK

These are three albums that were released closest in time to this show.

July 20, 1999
EPMD: Out of Business

July 20, 1999
Public Enemy: There's a Poison Goin' On

July 20, 1999
The Roots: The Legendary

July 23, 1999
This episode