Double X Posse "Not Gonna Be Able To Do It" (1992)

'92 had a number of ice-cold tracks (in the "Take It Personal" vein), and this Double X Posse semi-hit was definately one of the cream. I remember this cut making a fair amount of noise on the radio; the production and rhyming fused with the concept so well it made heartless make more sense than love:

Double X Posse "Not Gonna Be Able To Do It" 12"
[re-up 11/08]

There's a remix on the twelve that's worth checking out, and the Double X Posse did spread out some tight material over their two albums, but they never could touch the perfection that is "Not Gonna Be Able To Do It". From the dark bass intro, to the wicked snare that opens on to the drum break, the lyrics start and end with "Nah, baby, I'm not gonna be able ta do it!" MC Sugar Ray is a reasonable man; his verses wind through the dramatics, but always find their way back to principle:

...I knew that this was just too good to be true
and what you're asking me to do, girl, I cannot do
You told me "no commmitments" and you best stick to it
or baby, I'm not gon' be able to do it

T-Ray's beat is hard as f*ck, and like I said, cannot possibly complement Sugar Ray's lyrics any better. Yeah, I ride this cut, but sh*t is definitive. Includes the Criminal Minded Remix (and instrumental), "The Pure Thing" (and instrumental), and "The Headcracker remix".