Frankly speaking, if you are truly interested in being a TRUE rap fan, this is probably the absolute most important box set of old school rap that has ever existed. We are talking about pre-run dmc days, before white folks got a chance to steal this stuff or really, even listen to it. The cuts on these albums are permeated with two very distinct themes that are overlooked and underdone in later pop rap albums. First, there is an excessive amount of ?scratching? and to tell the truth, it is absolutely awesome. Back in the day, the original DJs out on the streets were out ther making art out of records and turntables. This can best be exenplified in tracks such as ?Electric Boogie.? Second, there is an underlying feeling of political and social anger that really does not surface again until the emergence of the politically aware messages of Public Enemy in the late 1980s. The tracks here are mostly from the late 70s and early 80s and therefore exhibit the rap movement?s earliest and most raw (and legitimate) depictions of the hardships of urban black life during that time period. Unfortunately, the pop music world did an excellent job of sweeping most of this under the rug. But this box set is the real deal. I especially find the Christmas Rap? by the Treacherous Three to be an excellent example of this cynical aesthetic. Finally, the best part about this rap compilation is the fact that ALL, and I mean ALL, of it is groovin? ass music. Let us not forget that no matter what, break dancing will always be cool and there is no better source of music than this box set to do the ?Breakdance, electric boogie? (in robot voice of course) to. Tracklist Disc 1: 1. The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper?s Delight (Long Version) (14:36) 2. The Sequence - Funk You Up (Long Version) (10:55) 3. The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper?s Reprise (Jam-Jam) (7:50) 4. Super-Wolf - Super-Wolf Can Do It (Short Version) (6:22) 5. The Sugarhill Gang - Hot Hot Summer Day (7:09) 6. The Sequence - And You Know That (4:17) 7. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five featuring Melle Mel - Freedom (8:17) 8. Spoonie Gee & The Sequence - Monster Jam (8:51) 9. The Moments - Baby Let?s Rap Now (4:09) 10. Positive Force - People Get On Up (6:23) Tracklist Disc 2: 1. The Sugarhill Gang - 8th Wonder (7:27) 2. Funky 4 + 1 - That?s The Joint (9:23) 3. Grandmaster Flash & The Furios Five - The Birthday Party (8:21) 4. Wayne & Charlie (The Rapping Dummy) - Check It Out (6:15) 5. Grandmaster Flash - The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel (7:11) 6. The Furious Five Meets The Sugarhill Gang - Showdown (5:54) 7. West Street Mob - Let?s Dance (Make Your Body Move) (6:50) 8. Spoonie Gee - Spoonie Is Back (6:35) 9. The Sugarhill Gang - Apache (6:15) 10. Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five - It?s Nasty (Genius Of Love) (Short Version) (7:52) Tracklist Disc 3: 1. Trouble Funk - Hey Fellas (Long Version) (7:21) 2. West Street Mob - Sing A Simple Song (5:24) 3. Sylvia - It?s Good To Be The Queen (8:23) 4. The Sugarhill Gang - The Lover In You (6:57) 5. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five featuring Melle Mel - The Message (7:13) 6. Treacherous Three - Whip It (7:44) 7. Crash Crew - Scratching (5:38) 8. West Street Mob - Ooh Baby (4:43) 9. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five featuring Melle Mel - Scorpio (4:55) 10. Busy Bee - Making Cash Money (6:29) 11. The Sequence - Here Comes The Brid (6:18) Tracklist Disc 4: 1. Melle Mel & Duke Bootee - Message II (Survival) (6:56) 2. Crash Crew - Breaking Bells (Take Me To The Mardi Gras) (7:24) 3. Treacherous Three - Yes We Can-Can (7:00) 4. The Sugarhill Gang - The Word Is Out (5:43) 5. Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five - New York New York (7:28) 6. The Sugarhill Gang - Girls (5:40) 7. The Sugarhill Gang - Kick It Live From 9 To 5 (6:40) 8. West Street Mob - Break Dance: Electric Boogie (5:12) 9. Kevie Kev (Waterbed Kev) - All Night Long (Waterbed) (6:11) 10. Chilly Kids - At The Ice Arcade (4:57) 11. Grandmaster Mellle Mel - White Lines (Don?t Don?t Do It) (Long Version) (7:40) 12. Crash Crew - We Are Known As Emcees (We Turn Party?s Out) (5:37) Tracklist Disc 5: 1. Grandmaster Melle Mel - Jesse (6:11) 2. Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five - Beat Street (7:05) 3. The Sugarhill Gang - Livin? In The Fast Lane (5:09) 4. Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five - We Don?t Work For Free (5:02) 5. The Furious Five, Featuring Cowboy, Melle Mel & Scorpio - Step Off (7:26) 6. Treacherous Three - Xmas Rap (Un-Censored) (6:10) 7. Busy Bee - Busy Bee?s Groove (5:22) 8. Treacherous Three - Turn It Up (7:35) 9. The Sugarhill Gang - The Down Beat (4:32) 10. Grandmaster Melle Mel - Vice (From Miami Vice) (5:04) 11. Miracle Mike & The Ladies Of The 80?s - Outta Control (5:31) 12. Mass Production - Street Walker (Original) (6:13) 13. Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five - The Message (?97 Dungeon Mix) (5:13)