Hip Hop Gold Dust - Prince Paul

Advantages: Comprehensive, diverse, good songs
Disadvantages: Why was Nelly's "Hot in Herre" on this!?

...As a bboy, I pride myself on being a dignitary as well as a student of Hip Hop culture. This 3 CD set is comprised of some of the most influential artists and songs in the history of hip hop. Not all of the songs were Top 40 songs during their time (thus not many people in mainstream culture have heard them), but they were still VERY influential in the underground hip hop movement. Everything from Big Daddy Kane, A Tribe Called Quest, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and the Furious 5, Afrika Bambaataa, NaS, N.W.A., The 45 King, O.D.B., etc. are on here. This is an EXCELLENT collection of the songs that were an integral part of spreading the influence of hip hop, changing it's style, and bringing it to its present status. Hip Hop now has become too over-produced and has lost sight of its roots. No longer "dropping knowledge" to educate... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: In depth, some fabulous, essential tracks
Disadvantages: Some tracks even the purists won't have heard of

...An eclectic mix, unjustifiably called a history of Hip Hop but entertaining anyway. Tracks seem to be categorised, with raps such as "It was a Good Day" and "Regulate"; hip hop classics such as "Rappers' Delight"; 80s hip hop such as "Humpty Dance", and relatively modern hip hop, seen in "OPP". However, some tracks are real head scratchers, fillers to make the album seem more dense. However, several surprised me, having never heard them before, namely "Wild Thing" and this made listening to the album a worthwhile experience. There seems to be no real progression of tracks, which is slightly disappointing, although for the tracks themselves, there is little left to quiblle with. Overall, this comprehensive album is a good buy for lovers of the genre on the whole, and at 50 tracks, under £20 ain't bad value... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Hip-Hop Tracks From All Over The Decades.
Disadvantages: ???

...Jay Z ??? Eminem ??? Dr. Dre ??? Whoever you like, you;re sure to come across them and many other people you are not aware of. Not only does this CD showcase the brilliant talents of the current Hip Hop stars including Eminem, Dr Dre and Jay-Z, it also features some of the older Hip Hop songs, original tracks which can be said to be better than some recent releases. I bought this when it first came out and I was very pleased with it. I got to hear some of the stuff that my older friends listened to when they were youngsters. The coolness of LL Cool J, mashed in with the controversy of Eminem...cannot go wrong. I like most of the tracks on this CD and found it very useful to have information about the tracks on the sleeve as well. What I didn't do much like about it was, that i'm a hip hop fan and have lots of Hip Hop CDs... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful