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SignUp Now!rhfarmer said:OK, so I've decided to start my music project in 1984, of all years. I was 16-17 in 1984, so I was buying music. I was also playing varsity basketball, so I was exposed to early rap and hip hop, plus I was being heavily influenced by my college aged brother. I'm starting with Rap/Hip-Hop
1984'--
Run D MC- Run D MC...easily the most important release in rap/hip hop in 1984, and maybe ever. This is a must listen for anyone with an interest in early rap/hip hop
Kurtis Blow-Ego Trip...featured two smash hits--8 Million Stories and Basketball
Houdini--Escape...so cheesy, so good; huge crossover album; it's rap, but it still has choruses, instrumentation, etc.
The Fat Boys--Fat Boys...this was purely human beat box and rap; campy, and ultimately, inimitable.
Newcleus--Jam On Revenge...not sure how much this is hip-hop, and it was fucking awful, but it was a gigantic hit
1985
Run D MC- King Of Rock...they could have just gone away after their first album, and this album was highly anticipated. Every bit as great as Run D MC, but it did feature hard rock guitar riffs, signalling the future of late 80's hip hop...
UTFO- UTFO...just one song off this album makes it an instant classic--Roxanne Roxanne
LL Cool J--Radio...fucking great. "Rock The Bells" is one of my all time faves. I think LL was 16 or 17 when this came out, he was brilliant.
Doug E Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew--The Show/La Di Da Di--this was released as a single in 1985, although The Show was also released in 1986 on a full LP.
1986
Just a little personal plug for 1986. I feel like 1986 really blew the lid off hip hop/rap commercially in the US. Some absolutely massive albums came out in '86, and the genre was really dominating youth culture at this point. There were plenty of great rap and hip hop singles, and a few great albums prior to '86, but '86 really brought rap and hip hop home to American living rooms.
RUN D MC-- Raising Hell
Beastie Boys--Licensed to Ill
Salt'n'Pepa--Hot Cool and Vicious
Doug E Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew--Oh My God
Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force--Planet Rock
2 Live Crew Is What We Are
1987
This is where shit gets really amazing. Once Run D MC and The Beastie Boys proved to record execs that Rap and Hip Hop albums could go multi platinum, the lid was off. Also, Gangsta Rap, hinted at earlier, starts to bloom in '87.
Public Enemy--Yo, Bum Rush the Show
Eric B and Rakim--Paid in Full
Boogie Down Productions--Criminal Minded
LL Cool J--Bigger and Deffer
Kool Moe Dee--How Ya Like me Now
Ice T--Rhyme Pays
I will keep editing these post to add years...