Various Artists – Big Apple Rappin’- The Early Days Of Hip-Hop Culture In New York City (1979-1982).
Covering the first few years of recorded hip-hop, Big Apple Rappin’ is not mapped out in a way to stake claim as a definitive compilation. It contains a handful of well-known old-school singles, such as Spoonie Gee’s “Spoonin’ Rap” and Cold Crush Brothers’ “Weekend,” but all told, it’ll appeal most to hip-hop fans who have only the basics. For hip-hop neophytes and younger listeners who were born too late, it might be like jumping into an advanced class, but the whole thing is too fun to make you feel lost. The younger listeners — especially those who have heard all sorts of purist accusations leveled at Puff Daddy and his descendants for the lifting of entire songs for new hits — might be surprised by what they hear. Compared to modern hip-hop, the songs might sound archaic and practically novelty-like, and that’s because they are precisely that. With rare exception, this set is made of basic and one-dimensional rhymes over replayed disco hits (including Cheryl Lynn’s “Got to Be Real,” Taana Gardner’s “Heartbeat,” and Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”); Masterdon Committee’s “Funkbox Party,” in fact, is the only selection that makes use of a drum machine. However, the infectious exuberance on display through the whole thing, along with the knowledge of how this culture would continue to develop, more than makes up for whatever misgivings you might have toward the simplicity of it all. Amidst the MCs’ talk of their own greatness, how they’ll make you want to get down, and their many nicknames and why they deserve them, it would be easy to lose sight of Brother D and Collective Efforts’ “How We Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise?,” one of the first tracks to accept the torch from the Last Poets and Watts Prophets: “Blessed are we who dare to be free, we gotta change the way we behave/You gotta sacrifice for a righteous cause, or remain a passive slave.” This is one of the most respectfully packaged hip-hop compilations, balancing familiar with forgotten goods, and the information-stuffed booklet — true to the Soul Jazz label’s usual standard — is a real plus.
Tracks:
01. Spoonin Rap – Spoonin
02. Sure Shot – Xanadu
03. How We Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise? – Brother “D”
04. Rapping Dub Style – General Echo
05. Catch the Beat – T-Ski Valley
06. Dancing Heart – Universal 2
07. Funk Box Party – Masterdon Committee
08. Weekend – Cold Crush Brothers
09. Big Apple Rappin’ – Spyder D
10. D.J. Style – Mr Q
11. Fly Guy Rap – Fly Guys
12. Get the Party Jumpin’ – Solo Sound
13. Rock the Beat – Jamaica Girls
14. When You’re Standing on Top – Super 3
15. Are You Ready? – T.J. Swann, Peewee Mel
16. The Ultimate Rap – Nice & Nasty 3
Listen:
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Disco Circus (1978)