What is a rap compilation?

A rap compilation is a record that gathers tracks by several rappers around a label, a scene, a film or a DJ. It often includes exclusive songs or tracks missing from the artists' own albums, which is why hip-hop collectors seek them out.

What is a break compilation?

It is a compilation of funk, soul or rock songs containing drum breaks, the rhythmic passages that hip-hop DJs and producers looped and sampled for their tracks. The "Ultimate Breaks & Beats" series is one of the best-known examples of this kind of record.

Do rap compilation LPs have the same track list as the CD?

Not always. In the 1990s, a CD could hold more music than a single LP, so some vinyl editions were shortened. Compare both track lists before you buy, especially for a vintage pressing, and check whether the edition is a double LP.

How can I spot a censored version on a rap record?

Look for "clean" or "radio edit" on the jacket or center label, which means lyrics were cut or altered for airplay. "Explicit" or "dirty" marks the uncensored version, which is usually the one listeners and collectors want for home listening.

Rap Compilations

Rap compilations bring together flagship and classic tracks from the genre, illustrating the diversity and richness of the hip-hop scene. These vinyls offer an insight into the rhythms, lyrics and flows that have shaped the history of rap.

On Vinyles.com, you can find full access to commercially available rap compilations for urban music enthusiasts.

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ANTHOLOGIE RAP FRANÇAIS

Rap Compilation Vinyl: Label Samplers, Break Records and Scene Classics

Why rap compilations belong on vinyl

A rap compilation on vinyl brings together tracks by several artists, or by one artist across several releases, around a label, a scene, a film or a DJ. Hip-hop grew up on 12-inch singles and compilations: label samplers to introduce a roster, soundtracks, and break records made for DJs. Owning these compilations on vinyl often means getting tracks that never landed on the artists' own albums.

This page gathers the rap compilations tracked on Vinyles.com, from recent reissues to older records. For each title you can compare offers from several partner stores, see whether it is still available new, and choose between a vintage pressing and a reissue, which is often cheaper and in better shape than a well-played original.

The main kinds of hip-hop compilation records

Label samplers trace the story of a record company, from Sugar Hill Records in rap's earliest years to Rawkus Records in the late 1990s, whose "Soundbombing" and "Lyricist Lounge" series featured Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Break compilations such as the "Ultimate Breaks & Beats" series collect the funk and soul tracks DJs and producers looped for their beats. France has its own tradition too: "Rapattitude" in 1990 was one of the first compilations to showcase the French rap scene.

Label samplers: Sugar Hill Records, Rawkus Records
Break compilations for DJs and producers
Hip-hop movie soundtracks
French rap and regional scene compilations

Original pressing or reissue: what to check

In the 1990s, many rap compilations came out on CD first, sometimes with a shorter vinyl edition or a double LP. Compare the vinyl track list with the CD version, since songs can be missing. Also check for "clean" versus "explicit" labeling, as some radio-oriented editions carry censored lyrics, and look for instrumentals, which DJs value.

On a used copy, the condition of each side matters even more because these records were often played out at parties, mixed or scratched, so check the grading and photos when available. A recent licensed reissue is a safe option if the original is worn or too expensive, as long as the track list matches.