I really really really wish they would leave dead peoples music alone. This didn't live up to Sean's standards when he was alive, so now his dudes are gonna release it for some money and sulley dudes name.
I think I figured out why the Gates piece is interesting to my ear.
The bass line is written in Cmin and hangs on the Supertonic before resolving to the Tonic, while the vocal line plays around a I-vii-V figure.
I doubt that much thought was put into it when made, but there is a (musical) lesson to learn from it.
But there is one thing that bugs me, and that's meaning (purpose?). What the hell does "I'm gonna die a real nigga" mean? It doesn't sound like a worthwhile goal to have in life.