Hip Hop Essentials [Box set, Limited Edition]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 5, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 12
• Format: Box set, Limited Edition
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Tommy Boy
• ASIN: B000JMKJG4
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,437 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Kurtis Blow - The Breaks

2. Beastie Boys - Hold It Now, Hit It!

3. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force -

4. Looking For the Perfect Beat

5. Run-DMC - Rock Box

6. Just Ice - Cold Getting Dumb

7. MC Shan - The Bridge

8. De La Soul - Me, Myself & I

9. Main Source - Live at the Barbeque

10. King Tee - Played Like a Piano

11. Heavy D & The Boyz - We Got Our Own Thang

12. Fearless Four - It's Magic

13. Cold Crush Brothers - Weekend

14. Kurtis Blow - If I Ruled The WorldDisk 12

Editorial Reviews

Pitchforkmedia.com

"Street Cred 101 students, class is now in session"

"An unforgettable hip-hop primer"

"A must have! A-!"

Product Description

From the biggest radio hits to the underground club favorites, the early days of hip-hop featured some of the best music ever recorded. Now Tommy Boy has compiled its critically acclaimed "Essential Hip Hop" series, Volumes 1-12, into one limited edition box set. Compiled by Tommy Boy founder Tom Silverman himself, from a great assortment of hip-hop labels including many long unavailable tracks, each volume contains twelve hits plus eye-catching graphics, archival photos, and extensive liner notes. 144 songs. 1979-1991. Limited edition/numbered. Black velvet/gold foil stamp.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great track listing, but what's up with the censorship?, December 29, 2006

By 

K. Herlitz - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hip Hop Essentials (Audio CD)

I received this box set for Christmas and was amazed at the comprehensive track listing. I've been listening to hip hop for over 20 years now. To have all of these classic tracks in digital format is a great prospect - a lot of these tracks I only have on cassette or vinyl.

But, as I listened to these tracks, I was dismayed to find that any profanity in the tracks is 'reversed' to make it into a 'clean' version. For a lot of the tracks, this isn't too much of a problem, but ones that do have profanity, it's really annoying - the NWA tracks are pretty laughable especially when there's profanity in the chorus, like "@#$^ tha Police". Even for tracks with a few pieces of profanity, like La Di Da Di, it just really detracts from the experience of the track.

For someone to put such an amazing collection together and then ruin it by editing the tracks because they didn't want to put a 'parental advisory' sticker on it is utterly deplorable. It's just really disappointing considering the impressively expansive track listing. I can't believe that they did this - especially since it's put together by Tommy Boy records - a legendary label in their own right. They should really know better.

I'm especially amazed that they don't mention in the product description that all the tracks have been 'cleaned'. It's really kind of deceptive since potential buyers are assuming that they're getting the original unadulterated tracks. Be aware that this is definitely not the case. If I had paid for this myself, I'd probably return it because I would have felt deceived since the censorship is not mentioned in the product description at all - nor anywhere on the box set packaging.

Shame on you, Tommy Boy. I'm really disappointed.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars CENSORED - DO NOT BUY, December 29, 2007

By 

Andre Corbin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hip Hop Essentials (Audio CD)

This is a "partial" waste of money. Tracks that contain profanity are censored.

Like the first reviewer, I don't understand why Tommy Boy even bothered to release this.

This is a comprehensive release. I love all the tracks. But the censorship completely ruins some of the tracks. For example, Tim Dog's "F**k Compton" is completely ruined.

There is also no disclaimer stating that tracks are censored. Isn't this unethical.

My advice - do not buy.

Tommy Boy needs to set this straight.