Early Hip-hop, from its initial popularization to Gangsta Rap
To listen, click on a YouTube link:
- Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force Planet Rock, sampling pioneering German electronica/pre-new-wave band Kraftwerk (1982)
- Grandmaster Flash’s The Message (Live 1983)
Top 40 Rap, 1983-1988
- Run D.M.C.’s It’s Like That (1983)
- The Beastie Boys’ Cooky Puss[includes statements of violence and hate] (1983)
- Marley Marl’s Marley Marl Scratch (1985)
- Salt-N-Pepa’s Tramp (1985)
- Run D.M.C.’s It’s Tricky (1986)
- D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince: Parents Just Don’t Understand (1988)
- Public Enemy’s PETV’s Brown Bags Documentary / Night of the Living Baseheads (1987)
- Public Enemy’s Fight the Power (1988)
Early Gangsta Rap
- N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton [includes statements of violence and hate] (1988)
- Ice Cube Today Was A Good Day (1994)
In case of your curiosity:
- Afrikaa Bambaataa (2005 interview) on the The 5th Element.
Early Hip-hop