Customer Reviews

Kurtis Blow Presents The History of Rap: Vol. 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Most of these tunes were funky party favorites on the east coast during the 70s, few of these made the national R&B charts during this era since Disco was ruling the roost. But even today on the East Coast, it's not unusual to hear tunes like "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly and Life and the one that started it all, "King Tim III" by the Fatback Band.

This is the ultimate CD to play when you get up in the morning. By the time the second song is over, you'll be in full ignition mode.

The title's a little misleading. There's only one real rap song on here: the last track, King Tim's rap with Fatback. The rest is uptempo funk from the late sixties and early seventies. AND IT KILLS.

From the first crash of James Brown's "Give It Up..", on through the sampled-a-million-times "Scorpio" and "Apache", this album is perfect if you like fast, heavy funk. Especially good: "Listen to Me" by Baby Huey and "Love the Life You Live" by Black Heat.

Oh, and the S.W.A.T. theme's on here too.

If you're a fan of loud, obnoxious funk music, get this. Now.

These are all great funk jams in their original 6-8+ minute versions and with great sound quality. Not just for rap historians but for anyone who wants to give up the funk. Excellent liner notes by Kurtis Blow, too, who puts all these tracks in their historical context.

this a Break Dancers dream disc.you can Lock&Pop to it.this is a great party album.70's dance jams that are still cooking today.the kind of Grooves that are non-stop.this is the kind of Jams that are good for a Summer Bar B-Que.mad Props To Kurtis Blow.

This collection of songs that have inspired nearly 25 years of rap music is a great sample of, er, samples that are best known today by their place in hip-hop music. While most rap fans are fully familiar with, say, the breakdown from "Apache," only the hardcore have heard the rest of the cut. Same for the "Theme From S.W.A.T.," another gem forgotten by the general public. Then there are the songs that virtually no one has heard stuff like Jimmy Castor's "It's Just Begun" or Baby Huey's "Listen To Me," but you'll immediately hear their relevance on and influence to today's hip-hop.

"Michael Viner" is supposed to be "Michael" and "Black Heart" is supposed to be "Black Heat." Jeez!

This compilation will finally make you "cool" if you've been looking for that. If not, well then it will heat up any party, event, or mood in a hurry. Put away your Coldplay and downtempo Zoloft popping emo tracks. These are the funk and soul cats that everyone has been trying to capture since they burst on the scene in the late 60's and early 70's. We're talking uptempo bass and drums driven F-U-N-K. Raw soul from the guys who thought "overdubs" were wack.

James Brown? Oh yah, one of the best mixes of his "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" starts this record off with a blast. The pure analog warmth just pulses with that organic vibe lost in today's overcompressed, overdubbed, over processed digital, ahem "noise" of today.

Kurtis Blow knew his stuff. He makes no obvious choices here. Lots of underground and rare cuts, some only available on CD on this very disc. Else, you gotta buy the original vinyl. Good luck when most of the albums with these cuts will set you back $30-$200 -- that's right kids, these songs are just that hot.

So put this record on, turn it up, and remember, this is what music is *supposed* to sound like.

I simply must write this review based on one thing: I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THESE SONGS MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!! Plain and simple. I'm 21 and have been breakdancing since I was 12. I have heard many of these songs played a break battles and seen them on the Rock Steady Anniversary DVD's but never knew the artist or song titles becasue I am really too young and none of my friends ever knew. The following tracks are my personal favs and songs every b-boy needs in their collection.

1. James Brown - Give it up or turn it loose. "Clap your hands, stomp your feet"
2.Herman Kelly and Life - Dance to the drummer's beat. "lets dance" nuff said
3. Jimmy Castor Bunch - It's just begun. Once you hear the beat you'll know.
4. Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band - Apache. I always thought that this was originally a sugar hill gang song, but I knew a better version existed, but I thought it was a rare remix. turns out the originals always best.
5. Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band - Scorpio . Classic as sampled by Young MC - bust a move
6. Rhythm Heritage - Theme from SWAT - has a classic break in the middle


These songs are must haves, you will not be dissappointed with Kurtis' selection as he was there when it all popped off.

Also check out Bobby Byrd-I know you got soul , as sampled by rakim.
Hoped I helped u guys out, keep it real.

you expect Curtis Blow to have taken the time to choose hipper tunes for this cd. if it wasn't for SWAT, drummer's beat, and king tim, this cd would be worthless. definitely not worth paying full price for. real disappointing!

If you want to know what the Original B-Boys were listening to in the Bronx before Rap was Rap and Hip Hop was Hip Hop, this CD is right on the money. Each of these cuts was popular among the Bronx DJs like Kool Herc and Curtis Blow "back-in-the-day". I was there and I heard them all. I don't think anyone could have anticipated that Hip Hop would become a cultural phenomenon, but obviously these guys were on to something. Give it Up or Turn it Loose was THE anthem. Listen to Me by Baby Huey was a hot commodity too for any self respecting DJ back then. The others cuts were all standards of the day. This is a great tribute to the early days.

These songs really aren't supposed to be rap, the title is genesis, and all these songs are the songs that DJ Kool Herc (rap's creator) would always play, since there is no Kool Herc songs available.

This CD is awesome and shows where rap was before 1979. If u hate reading and u want to know the history of rap, GET THIS CD and the 2 other ones!