Various: Hip-Hop Don’t Stop
Solid State, 1997
Solid State’s Hip-Hop Don’t Stop compilation, released in the UK, is two CDs or four records of classic rap. Ranging from 1979 to 1992, these cuts include some hard-to-find mixes. There’s Eric B & Rakim’s “Paid in Full (Seven Minutes of Madness—The Coldcut Remix),” Digital Underground’s “Doowatchyalike (Playhowyalike Mix)” and even The 45 King’s “The 900 Number” (a classic breakbeat). Unfortunately there’s a couple of songs which I wouldn’t have included, such as House of Pain’s “Jump Around” and “O.P.P.” by Naughty by Nature. (I’m much more partial to “Uptown Anthem.”) Nonetheless, classics like “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, and “Peter Piper” by Run DMC save the day. If you’re looking for some artists who had a serious influence on electronic music, check these out. If you haven’t heard these tracks before, you’ll be surprised by how familiar the samples sound. If you know them all by heart, you’ll be happy to have them all in one place.
