Today we take a rare and largely unappreciated excursion into some old school hip hop and boom bap, purists look away now! For the few still interested, this one's fairly self-explanatory ... a small selection of jeep beats and boom-box ballads that echoed through the burroughs of the big apple, during the early 90s. A bygone era and brief window where New York felt rejuvenated ~ employment was on the rise, streets were relatively safe, and art and culture was widely celebrated throughout the city. The success of hip hop in mainstream markets played a significant part in this of course, though it was also success that drastically altered the landscape of hip hop and rap culture come the mid to late 90s. In a few short years (starting with what I call the 'bling' era) hip hop went from being a vehicle for culture, expression and awareness, to being a cookie-cutter operation built on image orientation, earnings potential and exploitation. It's been a billion dollar industry for decades now and has wreaked of inauthenticity just as long. This collection takes us back to a time before all that; fully formed as a craft though still fresh enough to be an outlet for innovation. This is hip hop and boom bap from a time when its pillars educated, empowered and inspired people ... a time when the brothers on the streets were willing to work it out.
PART 1:
101 - Public Enemy - 1990 - Contract On The World Love Jam
102 - Public Enemy - 1990 - Brother's Gonna Work It Out
103 - Main Source (w. Nasty Nas, Joe Fatal & Akinyele) - 1991 - Live At The BBQ
104 - Brand Nubian - 1992 - Brand Nubian Rock The Set
105 - Pete Rock & CL Smooth - 1992 - If It Ain't Rough It Ain't Right
106 - Slick Rick - 1991 - Runaway
107 - EPMD - 1989 - Please Listen To My Demo
108 - A Tribe Called Quest - 1991 - Jazz (We've Got)
109 - Leaders Of The New School - 1993 - Noisy Meditation
110 - Eric B. & Rakim - 1992 - Keep The Beat
111 - Guru - 1993 - Take A Look At Yourself
112 - Digable Planets - 1993 - La Femme Fetal
113 - Naughty By Nature - 1991 - Uptown Anthem
114 - KRS-One - 1993 - Attacks
115 - Showbiz & A.G. - 1992 - Hold Ya Head
PART 2:
201 - Pete Rock & CL Smooth - 1992 - Can't Front On Me
202 - Black Sheep - 1991 - Have U.N.E. Pull?
203 - The Beastie Boys - 1989 - Shadrach
204 - DJ Polo - 1992 - Ill Street Blues [Instrumental Edit]
205 - Public Enemy - 1991 - By The Time I Get To Arizona
206 - EPMD - 1990 - Give The People
207 - Fat Joe - 1993 - Get On Up
208 - Biz Markie - 1993 - Bad By Myself
209 - Organized Konfusion - 1991 - Audience Pleasers
210 - Heavy D. & The Boys - 1992 - Yes Y'all
211 - De La Soul - 1991 - Talkin' Bout Hey Love
212 - Jungle Brothers w. De La Soul, Q-Tip & Monie Love - 1991 - Doin' Our Own Dang
213 - Grand Puba - 1993 - Big Kids Don't Play
214 - A Tribe Called Quest - 1993 - Midnight
215 - Boogie Down Productions - 1990 - (Love's Gonna Getcha) Material Love