Wednesday 28 August 2013

Generic list post

Apropos of D.M.C appearing in that corny Adidas advert recently, here's a totally incontestable list of my favourite pre-Sucker M.C.'s Rap songs. One song per artist, although I've semi-cheated by including both Love Rap and New Rap Language on the technicality that the latter is a Treacherous 3 song with Spoonie Gee even though the label of the 12" suggests vice versa :

1. Spoonie Gee - Love Rap (1980)
2. Treacherous 3 & Spoonie Gee - New Rap Language (1980)
3. Duke Bootee & The Furious Five - The Message (1982)
4. The Fearless Four - Rockin' It (1982)
5. Grandmaster Flash - Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel (1981)
6. Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde - Doing The Do (1982)
7. Jonzun Crew - Space Is The Place (1982)
8. Super 3 - When You're Standing On The Top (1982)
9. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock (1982)
10. Grand Wizard Theodore & The Fantastic Romantic 5 - Can I Get A Soul Clap (1981)

All youz 90's Boom-Bap clods who still spout on about listening to "real Hip Hop" rather than "Rap music" should go Michael Hutchence yourselves with the straps of your Jansports because you've got history on back-to-front: the words Rap or Rappin' appear in the titles of around 50% of all old-school songs released between 1979 and 1983, while the term Hip Hop didn't even come into contention until after New York street culture had been neatly wrapped up into a presentable package by the likes of Malcolm McLaren, Charlie Ahearn, and Tony Silver & Henry Chalfont.

8 comments:

James said...

I like "The Breaks"!

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

My early Kurtis Blow joint of choice is Hard Times. Not quite as its namesakes by B.G. or Run D.M.C but still great.

Anonymous said...

No "That's The Joint"?

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Not top 10 material for me but definitely a classic.

Anonymous said...

lol @ sons of rosenberg

Drew said...

"That's The Joint" should have been in this but good list otherwise.

Jerry said...

Not heard that Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde song before. Good call.

done said...

Oh sweet, missed this.

Love how old west coast rappers claim Spoonie as an influence rather than one of the official goats cos hes the most charismatic/slick and has way more in common with modern stuff than the less sloppy radio announcer type dudes anyways. Rodney O too. Nothing to do w nothing but I think my preferring Pimp over Bun might have to do with his favs being Run and Whodini and Bun being a secrete Conservative Rap Coalition member who thinks raps been downhill since G Rap.