The Legacy of Hip-Hop East Coast Box Set

Description

The Legacy of Hip-Hop East Coast: The East Coast of the United States is the birthplace of Hip-Hop. Born in the late 70s in the streets of the Bronx, and discovered by the general public thanks to the hit “Rappers Delight” by Sugarhill Gang, East Coast Hip-Hop is characterized by its conscious side, sometimes dark, melancholic and violent, placing the main emphasis on writing and hard-hitting punchlines. More than just a movement, it aims to be the unfiltered reflection of the life of the population of Black American ghettos. After the 80s, when it grew considerably thanks to the legends who shaped it (DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Run-D.M.C. [here with “Down with the King”], The Sugarhill Gang, Boogie Down Productions [“You Must Learn” in a supercharged remix version], Kurtis Blow.), East Coast Hip-Hop found its golden age in the mid-90s (from 93 to 98). A period that saw the release of many albums praised by critics and instantly considered classics of the genre, both for their writing quality and their musical richness: “Illmatic” by Nas (“The World Is Yours” in a remix version by Q Tip and “It Ain't Hard to Tell”), “Reasonable Doubt” by Jay-Z (with the soulful “Politics as Usual”), “Enter the 36 Chambers” by Wu-Tang Clan (“M.E.T.H.O.D. M.A.N.” here in the “Home Grown” version), “Only built 4 Cuban linx” by Raekwon (with its classic “Ice Cream”), “Ready to Die” by The Notorious BIG or even “Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous” by Big L (the bombs “Street Struck” and “Put It On”). Some albums even set records. The second album by the Fugees, “The Score,” released in 1996, became the best-selling rap album of all time, taking the title from MC Hammer in the process, and won two Grammy Awards. On this compilation, you can enjoy a very good remix of one of their tracks from their very first album (“Nappy Heads”). We also see the explosion of labels now considered cult such as Def Jam, Tommy Boy, and later Loud Records, So So Def, Bad Boy or Roc a Fella. The influences of East Coast rap can be found in its samples. Indeed, the producers (DJ Premier, J Dilla, Lord Finesse, Jazzy Jeff, Large Professor to name just a few) drew heavily from the Soul of Philadelphia International, Motown and Stax as well as jazz, using countless loops from the great music they grew up with, which give it that famous extra soul. Also worth noting on this compilation is the presence of two songs (“When the Last Time” by Clipse and “Not the Kids” by Harlem World) composed by a young producer who was already making a big name for himself at the time with the help of his partner Chad Hugo of the Neptunes: Pharrell Williams. Hip-Hop in its purest expression!