VA – The Hip Hop Box (2004) (4CD) [FLAC]

Genre: Hip-Hop
Codec: Flac (*.flac)
Rip: tracks+.cue
Quality: lossless
Size: 1.55 Gb

Hip-O’s Hip Hop Box is patterned much like the same label’s Funk Box, consisting of four discs and a booklet loaded with information. And much like The Funk Box, this set functions as a starter kit with some considerable blind spots. Hip-hop fanatics will no doubt put the track selections under deep scrutiny, but this is certainly intended to be an introduction, not a be-all and end-all statement. The tracks run in rough chronological order, from the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” to Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode”; between these two, nearly every stripe of rap music from the past 25 years receives some attention, and the listener can chart the form’s evolution, even though this particular time line tends to overemphasize safe critics’ darlings. To be fair to the compilers, there’s no way a definitive set could’ve been made within the span of four discs; more importantly, licensing material from big names and certain labels can put you over budget with the quickness. There are some definite blunders – the Notorious B.I.G. represented only by a Junior M.A.F.I.A. track, very little Southern rap, no N.W.A. or Jay-Z – but the package was put together with such care that some of the mistakes can be forgiven.
Andy Kellman

CD1:

01. Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight (Short 12″ Version)
02. Kurtis Blow – The Breaks (Extended Version)
03. Treacherous Three – The Body Rock
04. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock
05. Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five – The Message (ft. Melle Mel & Duke Bootee)
06. Run-D.M.C. – Sucker M.C.’s (Krush-Groove 1)
07. UTFO – Roxanne Roxanne
08. Roxanne Shante – Roxanne’s Revenge
09. Salt-N-Pepa – Push It
10. Too Short – Freaky Tales
11. Kool Moe Dee – Wild Wild West

CD2:

01. Eric B. & Rakim – Follow The Leader
02. Boogie Down Productions – My Philosophy (12″ Version)
03. Ice-T – I’m Your Pusher
04. M.C. Hammer – Turn This Mutha Out
05. Public Enemy – Fight The Power (Soundtrack Version)
06. The 2 Live Crew – Me So Horny
07. Biz Markie – Just A Friend
08. De La Soul – Buddy (Native Tongue Decision Version) (ft. Jungle Brothers, Q-Tip, Phife, Queen Latifah & Monie Love)
09. 3rd Bass – The Gas Face
10. A Tribe Called Quest – I Left My Wallet In El Segundo
11. Main Source – Looking At The Front Door
12. Chubb Rock – Treat ‘Em Right

CD3:

01. Naughty By Nature – O.P.P.
02. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime
03. DJ Quik – Tonite
04. Black Sheep – The Chioce Is Yours (Revisited)
05. Arrested Development – Tennessee
06. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
07. Digable Planets – Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
08. The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me By
09. Onyx – Slam
10. Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y.
11. Wu-Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M.
12. Warren G & Nate Dogg – Regulate
13. Craig Mack – Flava In Ya Ear
14. Method Man – I’ll Be There For You, You’re All I Need To Get By (Puff Daddy Mix) (ft. Mary J. Blige)

CD4:

01. Redman & Method Man – How High (Remix)
02. Junior M.A.F.I.A. – Gettin’ Money (The Get Money Remix) (ft. Little Caesar, Little Kim & The Notorious B.I.G.)
03. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Tha Crossroads
04. Scarface – Smile (ft. 2Pac & Johnny P)
05. Busta Rhymes – Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
06. Timbaland & Magoo – Luv 2 Luv U (Remix)
07. Gang Starr – You Know My Steez
08. DMX – Get At Me Dog (Street Version) (ft. Slheek Of The Lox)
09. Noreaga – Superthug (What, What)
10. The Roots – You Got Me (Live) (ft. Jill Scott)
11. Common – The Light
12. 2Pac – Until The End Of Time (RP Remix)
13. 50 Cent – 21 Questions (ft. Nate Dogg)
14. Dr. Dre – The Next Episode (ft. Snoop Dogg)