Q 01/05

Which Oakland rapper, once an Athletics bat boy, took his stage name from a likeness to Hank Aaron?

A) Too Short

B) Young MC

C) MC Hammer

D) Coolio

Answer · why

C) MC Hammer

MC Hammer was hired at 11 by team owner Charlie Finley, who had seen him doing splits. Players called him Little Hammer for his resemblance to the slu...

Q 02/05

Which Queens trio signed an Adidas endorsement deal after recording a single about the sneakers?

A) Run-DMC

B) Whodini

C) UTFO

D) EPMD

Answer · why

A) Run-DMC

Run-DMC wore the shoes unlaced, and the endorsement deal that followed 'My Adidas' has been described as the beginning of hip hop fashion.

Q 03/05

Which New York trio began as a hardcore punk band before releasing the album Licensed to Ill?

A) Geto Boys

B) Cypress Hill

C) Stetsasonic

D) Beastie Boys

Answer · why

D) Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys grew out of a hardcore punk outfit called the Young Aborigines. Their 1986 debut became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200.

Q 04/05

Which 1990 rap chart-topper lifted its bassline, at first uncredited, from 'Under Pressure'?

A) Pump Up the Jam

B) Ice Ice Baby

C) Rico Suave

D) Informer

Answer · why

B) Ice Ice Baby

Ice Ice Baby was the first hip hop single to top the Billboard Hot 100. David Bowie and his co-writers got no songwriting credit or royalties until it...

Q 05/05

Which Staten Island group, assembled in 1992 with RZA as leader, took its name from a kung fu film?

A) Brand Nubian

B) Gang Starr

C) Wu-Tang Clan

D) Mobb Deep

Answer · why

C) Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan took the name from the film Shaolin and Wu Tang, then made up backronyms for it such as Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game.