250 Essential Old School Hip-Hop Records (1979-1990ish)

This is a comprehensive list of songs from the Pre-Skool Hip-Hop era that are essential to all B-Boys, DJs and plain old nostalgia lovers. These songs helped the art form grow during it's infantile stages and several of them were pivotal in it's massive growth spurt between 1988-1993. I had made an all-inclusive list of the 250 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All-Time songs but it lacked depth because it is virtually impossible to measure Jay-Z against say...Afrika Bambaataa. So I have separated the "Golden Age of Hip-Hop" a/k/a the emergence of Biggie, 2Pac, Dre & Snoop, Nas, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang, DMX, Redman, Cypress Hill, The Pharcyde, etc.

I will be making a list specifically for the Golden Age a/k/a everything leading up to Lil' Jon's Get Low. The last album included in that list will be Speakerboxxx / The Love Below by OutKast which devoured the competition at the time and sent the entire game back home to rewrite their shit while Kanye & the drty drty took over.

But forget about that for now, and sorry I brought it up because we are in a breakin' on a box state of mind. Kool Herc brought his Kingston soundsystem roots to the Bronx, NY in 1973 when he first began doing parties. He, of course influenced the trifecta of MC Grandmaster Caz, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash. The other elements of hip-hop began emerging as well. Graffiti began to dominate and beautify the otherwise dreary looking subway cars of New York City. Movies like Wild Style, Beat Street, Krush Groove started appearing and a new culture was born.

Let's take a walk 'round the block. See who's hangin out....

Remember "Rappin' Duke"?

Duh-hah, Duh-hah,

You thought that hip-hop

would take it this far. Suckas!

This list is a form of entertainment and songs are not really ranked on merit, besides what would be the point of listing every Rakim & KRS joint in a row at the top? Some are at the bottom not because they are worse, but more of a "betcha thought I forgot" kinda thing. I've intentionally left 25 songs off this list because I want you. the public, to participate. This list reflects my tastes but I certainly left a lot of songs off so that you can nominate. So get a pen and pad and get ready to fill out the definitive 250 Greatest Old School Hip-Hop Records!

Some groups were ahead of their time but part of the new school movement like A Tribe Called Quest and the Geto Boys. They shall be honored during the Golden Age instead.

Let's take it back...

Let's remember when rap was as innocent as a newborn.

1) The Show b/w La Di Da Di ~~ Doug E. Fresh & MC Ricky D - 1985

2) I Know You Got Soul ~~ Eric B. & Rakim - 1987

3) The Message ~~ Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - 1982

4) White Lines (Don't Do It) ~~ Grandmaster Melle Mel - 1983

5) The Bridge Is Over ~~ Boogie Down Productions - 1987

6) Planet Rock ~~ Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - 1982

7) Straight Outta Compton ~~ N.W.A. -1989

8) It's Like That b/w Sucker MC's ~~ Run DMC - 1983

9) Top Billin' ~~ Audio Two - 1987

10) Rock The Bells ~~ LL Cool J - 1985

~~~~~

11) Eric B. is President b/w My Melody ~~ Eric B. & Rakim - 1986

12) Rapper's Delight ~~ Sugar Hill Gang - 1979

13) My Philosophy ~~ Boogie Down Productions - 1988

14) Fight The Power - Public Enemy - 1989

15) It Takes Two ~~ Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock - 1988

16) The Humpty Dance ~~ Digital Underground - 1990

17) Hey Young World b/w Mona Lisa ~~ Slick Rick - 1989

18) Run's House ~~ Run DMC - 1988

19) Just Hangin' Out b/w Live at the Barbecue ~~ Main Source - 1991

20) Paid In Full (Coldcut Remix - Seven Minutes of Madness) ~~ Eric B. & Rakim - 1988

~~~~~

21) Rock On Y'all ~~ African Islam - ????

22) Sally b/w DBC Let The Music Play ~~ Stetsasonic - 1988

23) Friends b/w Five Minutes of Funk ~~ Whodini - 1984

24) The Bridge ~~ MC Shan - 1986

25) South Bronx ~~ Boogie Down Productions - 1986

26) Treat Em Right ~~ Chubb Rock - 1990

27) My Adidas b/w Peter Piper ~~ Run DMC -1986

28) Tramp b/w Push It ~~ Salt-N-Pepa - 1987

29) The Magic Number ~~ De La Soul - 1989

30) Children's Story ~~ Slick Rick - 1989

~~~~~

31) P.S.K. - What Does It Mean? b/w Gucci Time ~~ Schoolly D - 1985

32) Funk You Up ~~ Sequence - 1979

33) Microphone Fiend ~~ Eric B & Rakim - 1988

34) Beat Bop ~~ K-Rob vs. Rammelzee - 1983

35) Just a Friend ~~ Biz Markie - 1989

36) The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel ~~ Grandmaster Flash - 1981

37) Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos ~~ Public Enemy - 1988

38) Ego Trippin (rmx) - The Ultramagnetic MC's - 1988

39) It's Yours ~~ T La Rock & Jazzy Jay - 1984

40) I Need a Beat ~~ LL Cool J - 1984

~~~~~

41) Hey DJ ~~ The World Famous Supreme Team - 1984

42) Play That Beat Mr. DJ ~~ G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid - 1983

43) Ain't No Half Steppin' ~~ Big Daddy Kane - 1988

44) Lesson 1: The Payoff Mix b/w Lesson 2: The James Brown Mix ~~ Double Dee & Steinski - 1983

45) Hip Hop Be Bop (Don't Stop) ~~ Man Parrish - 1983

46) That's The Joint ~~ Funky 4 + 1 - 1981

47) It's a Demo b/w I'm Fly ~~ Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - 1986

48) The New Style b/w Paul Revere ~~ Beastie Boys - 1986

49) O.P.P. b/w Wickedest Man Alive ~~ Naughty By Nature - 1991

50) Don't Believe The Hype ~~ Public Enemy - 1988

~~~~~

51) Buddy (Native Tongue Decision) ~~ De La Soul feat. Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, & Monie Love - 1989

52) Funky for You b/w No Bones in Ice Cream ~~ Nice & Smooth - 1990

53) Boyz N The Hood ~~ Eazy-E = 1987

54) Just to Get a Rep b/w Who's Gonna Take The Weight? ~~ Gang Starr - 1990

55) Shut Em Down (Pete Rock Remix) - Public Enemy - 1991

56) Pump Up The Volume ~~ M/A/R/R/S - 1987

57) Rockit ~~ Herbie Hancock - 1983

58) Buffalo Gals ~~ Malcolm McLaren - 1982

59) Jazzy Sensation (Bronx Version) ~~ Afrika Bambaataa & The Jazzy 5 - 1981

60) Fat Boys b/w Human Beat Box ~~ Disco 3 - 1984

~~~~~

61) Batterram - Toddy Tee - 1985

62) Breaker's Revenge ~~ Arthur Baker - 1984

63) New Jack Hustler ~~ Ice-T - 1991

64) Supersonic ~~ J.J. Fad - 1988

65) Strong Island ~~ J.V.C. Force - 1988

66) Vapors ~~ Biz Markie - 1988

67) Because I Got It Like That ~~ Jungle Brothers - 1988

68) Around The Way Girl ~~ LL Cool J -1990

69) DJ Premier in Deep Concentration ~~ Gang Starr - 1989

70) The Rhythm ~~ Kwame The Boy Genius - 1989

~~~~~

71) Roxanne Roxanne ~~ U.T.F.O. - 1984

72) Roxanne's Revenge ~~ Roxanne Shante - 1984

73) Break Dance (Electric Boogie) - West Street Mob - 1983

74) The Breaks ~~ Kurtis Blow - 1980

75) Rock Box ~~ Run DMC - 1984

76) Feel The Heartbeat ~~ Treacherous Three - 1981

77) The Bubble Bunch ~~ Jimmy Spicer - 1982

78) Pee Wee's Dance ~~ Joeski Love - 1986

79) Holy War (Live) ~~ Divine Force - 1987

80) Jam On It - Newcleus - 1984

~~~~~

81) Jenifa (Taught Me) b/w Potholes in My Lawn ~~ De La Soul - 1988

82) Hey Ladies b/w Shake Your Rump ~~ Beastie Boys - 1989

83) Looking for the Perfect Beat ~~ Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force - 1982

84) Rockin' It ~~ Fearless Four - 1982

85) Talkin' All That Jazz ~~ Stetsasonic - 1988

86) Lyrics of Fury ~~ Eric B. & Rakim - 1988

87) Funky Dividends ~~ Three Times Dope - 1989

88) Steppin' to the A.M. ~~ 3rd Bass - 1989

89) Smooth Operator b/w Warm It Up, Kane ~~ Big Daddy Kane - 1989

90) The 900 Number ~~ The 45 King - 1988

~~~~~

91) The Symphony ~~ Marley Marl feat. Masta Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap, & Big Daddy Kane - 1988

92) Wild Thang ~~ 2 Much - 1988

93) Jack of Spades b/w I'm Still #1 ~~ Boogie Down Productions - 1988

94) One For The Treble (fresh) ~~ Davy DMX - 1984

95) The Adventures of Super Rhyme ~~ Jimmy Spicer - 1980

96) Bring The Noise ~~ Public Enemy - 1987

97) Fuc& Tha Police ~~ N.W.A. - 1988

98) Apache ~~ Sugar Hill Gang - 1981

99) It's My Thing b/w You're A Customer ~~ EPMD - 1987

100) The Roof Is On Fire b/w Request Line ~~ Rockmaster Scott & The Dynamic Three - 1985

~~~~~

101) I Cram To Understand U ~~ MC Lyte - 1987

102) Go Stetsa I ~~ Stetsasonic - 1986

103) Funky ~~ The Ultramagnetic MC's - 1987

104) King of Rock ~~ Run DMC - 1985

105) 2,3 Break ~~ The B-Boys - 1983

106) Double Dutch Bus ~~ Frankie Smith - 1981

107) Beat Box b/w Moments in Love ~~ Art of Noise - 1983

108) Funk Box Party ~~ Masterdon Committee - 1982

109) Looking At The Front Door - Main Source - 1990

110) Renegades of Funk ~~ Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - 1983

~~~~~

111) So Wat Cha Sayin' ~~ EPMD - 1989

112) Wrath of My Madness b/w Princess of the Posse ~~ Queen Latifah - 1988

113) Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man ~~ Public Enemy - 1990

114) Freaks Come Out At Night ~~ Whodini - 1984

115) You Gotta Believe b/w Live At The Fever ~~ Lovebug Starski - 1983

116) King of the Beat ~~ Pumpkin - 1983

117) Bust A Move ~~ Young MC - 1989

118) Make The Music With Your Mouth Biz ~~ Biz Markie - 1986

119) Mahogany ~~ Eric B. & Rakim - 1990

120) Knowledge Me b/w Can You Feel It? ~~ Original Concept

~~~~~

121) Hold It Now, Hit It ~~ Beastie Boys - 1986

122) Straight Out The Jungle ~~ Jungle Brothers - 1988

123) Freaky Tales ~~ Too $hort - 1986

124) Money (Dollar Bill Y'all) ~~ Jimmy Spicer - 1983

125) On The Radio ~~ Crash Crew - 1983

126) It's Tricky ~~ Run DMC - 1986

127) Pump Me Up ~~ Trouble Funk - 1981

128) Fresh, Fly Wild & Bold ~~ Cold Crush Brothers - 1984

129) I Can't Live Without My Radio ~~ LL Cool J - 1985

130) Can You Feel It? ~~ Fat Boys - 1984

~~~~~

131) If I Ruled The World ~~ Kurtis Blow - 1985

132) Fresh Is The Word ~~ Mantronix feat. MC Tee - 1985

133) Rapture ~~ Blondie - 1981

134) At The Party ~~ Treacherous Three - 1980

135) Rock The House b/w Cuttin' Herbie ~~ The B-Boys - 1983

136) 911 is a Joke ~~ Public Enemy - 1990

137) Paper Thin ~~ MC Lyte - 1988

138) Why Is That? ~~ Boogie Down Productions - 1989

139) I Got It Made ~~ Special Ed - 1989

140) I'm Bad ~~ LL Cool J - 1987

~~~~~

141) It's Funky Enough ~~ The D.O.C. - 1989

142) Have a Nice Day ~~ Roxanne Shante - 1987

143) Original Human Beat Box ~~ Doug E. Fresh - 1984

144) Marley Marl Scratch ~~ Marley Narl feat. MC Shan - 1985

145) Freedom ~~ Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - 1980

146) Basketball ~~ Kurtis Blow - 1984

147) Last Night ~~ Kid 'N Play - 1987

148) Just The Two Of Us ~~ Chubb Rock - 1991

149) I Go To Work ~~ Kool Moe Dee - 1989

150) Streets of New York b/w Poison ~~ Kool G Rao & DJ Polo - 1990

~~~~~

151) Nobody Beats The Biz ~~ Biz Markie - 1987

152) A Fly Girl ~~ Boogie Boys - 1985

153) Wild Style ~~ Time Zone - 1983

154) Delancey Street ~~ Dana Dane - 1987

155) Punk Rock Rap ~~ Cold Crush Brothers - 1983

156) Lesson Three: The History of Hip-Hop ~~ Double Dee & Steinski - 1985

157) Rock Dis Funky Joint ~~ Poor Righteous Teachers - 1990

158) Your Mom's In My Business ~~ K-Solo - 1990

159) My Mic Is On Fire ~~ Lord Shafiyq - 1987

160) Murder Rap ~~ Above The Law - 1990

~~~~~

161) Nod Your Head To This ~~ Kings of Swing - 1990

162) Keep Risin' To the Top ~~ Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew - 1988

163) 8th Wonder ~~ Sugar Hill Gang - 1980

164) Wild Thing ~~ Tone Loc - 1989

165) Me So Horny ~~ 2 Live Crew - 1989

166) Words I Manifest (rmx) ~~ Gang Starr - 1989

167) Spoonin' Rap ~~ Spoonie Gee - 1980

168) 6 'N The Mornin' ~~ Ice-T - 1986

169) Do The James ~~ Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud - 1987

170) I Ain't No Joke ~~ Eric B. & Rakim - 1987

~~~~~

171) The Gas Face ~~ 3rd Bass - 1989

172) Boogie Down Bronx ~~ Man Parrish - 1984

173) It's Nasty (Genius of Love) ~~ Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - 1981

174) Me Myself & I ~~ De La Soul - 1989

175) Follow The Leader ~~ Eric B. & Rakim - 1988

176) Call Me D-Nice ~~ D-Nice - 1990

177) Summertime ~~ DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - 1991

178) Get Retarded ~~ MC EZ & Troup - 1988

179) Posse On Broadway ~~ Sir Mix-A-Lot - 1988

180) It's Your Rock ~~ Fantasy Three - 1983

~~~~~

181) Rebel Without a Pause ~~ Public Enemy - 1987

182) Da' Butt - E.U. - 1988

183) Jam On Revenge (The Wikka Wikka Song) ~~ Newcleus - 1983

184) Jimbrowski ~~ Jungle Brothers - 1987

185) Hard Times b/w Jam Master Jay ~~ Run DMC - 1983

186) The Originators ~~ The Jaz & Jay-Z - 1990

187) Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) ~~ De La Soul - 1991

188) Johnny The Fox ~~ Tricky Tee - 1985

189) This Beat Is Military ~~ K-9 Posse - 1989

190) Brass Monkey ~~ Beastie Boys - 1986

~~~~~

191) Criminal Minded ~~ Boogie Down Productions - 1987

192) Catch The Beat ~~ T Ski Valley - 1981

193) Deeper Shade of Soul ~~ Urban Dance Squad - 1989

194) Monster Jam ~~ Sequence and Spoonie Gee - 1980

195) The Body Rock ~~ The Treacherous Three - 1980

196) Weekend ~~ Cold Crush Brothers - 1982

197) Think b/w Atom ~~ Main Source - 1989

198) Raw ~~ Big Daddy Kane - 1987

199) Saturday Night ~~ Schoolly D - 1987

200) Last Night a DJ Saved My Life ~~ Indeep - 1982

~~~~~

201) Sally (That Girl) ~~ Gucci Crew II - 1988

202) Needle to the Groove ~~ Mantronix - 1985

203) Jingling Baby (rmx) ~~ LL Cool J - 1990

204) Sexy ~~ Masters of Ceremony - 1987

205) Poetry ~~ Boogie Down Productions - 1987

206) Express Yourself ~~ N.W.A. - 1988

207) Life Is...Too $hort ~~ Too $hort - 1988

208) High Powered Rap ~~ Disco Dave & The Force of the 5 MC's (Crash Crew) - 1980

209) Latoya ~~ Just-Ice - 1986

210) I Want You b/w Dangerous ~~ LL Cool J - 1985

~~~~~

211) Change Le Beat ~~ Fab 5 Freddy - 1982

212) New York New York ~~ Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - 1983

213) Plug Tunin' ~~ De La Soul - 1988

214) Love Rap b/w New Rap Language ~~ Spoonie Gee & The Treachrous Three -1980

215) Nightmares ~~ Dana Dane - 1986

216) Brooklyn's in the House ~~ Cutmaster D.C. - 1985

217) Give The Drummer Some b/w Moe uv Theme ~~ Ultramagnetic MC's - 1989

218) Gangsta Gangsta ~~ N.W.A. - 1988

219) (Nothing Serious) Just Buggin' ~~ Whistle - 1985

220) The Grandmixer Cuts It Up ~~ Grandmaster D.ST & The Infinity Rappers - 1982

~~~~~

221) Ghetto Bastard (Everything's Gonna Be Alright) ~~ Naughty By Nature - 1991

222) La Raza ~~ Kid Frost - 1990

223) Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble ~~ D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - 1986

224) Doowutchyalike ~~ Digital Underground - 1989

225) Case of the P.T.A ~~ Leaders of the New School - 1991

226) Eye Know ~~ De La Soul - 1989

227) Funkin' Lesson ~~ X-Clan - 1990

228) Love's Gonna Get'cha (Material Love) ~~ KRS-One - 1990

229) Ease Back b/w Kool Keith Housing Things ~~ The Ultramagnetic MC's - 1988

230) Everlasting Bass ~~ Rodney O & Joe Cooley - 1986

~~~~~

231) Mentirosa ~~ Mellow Man Ace - 1990

232) The Smurf ~~ Tyrone Brunson - 1982

233) King Of The Beats ~~ Mantronix - 1987?

234) Mr. Big Stuff ~~ Heavy D & The Boyz - 1986

235) The Mighty Hard Rocker ~~ Cash Money and Marvelous - 1988

If you were looking for Rumors by the Timex Social Club or Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry, then yeah I gotta laugh a little. Nah man, we are looking for better than Funky Cold Medina or "God forbid!" Yo' Little Brother by Nolan Thomas, a song so bad that it has to be seen to be believed.

The Final 25 Spots belong to the Hip-Hop Nation!

You decide....

Do You think I need to "Go See The Doctor" for leaving off too many Moe Dee classics?

Did I leave out one of your favorites?

.....like say....Heavy D & The Boyz?

or Steady B or Antoinette?

need more 2 Live Crew? more Gang Starr?

Well, then YOU decide which track should represent them.

Smurf Trek anyone? Woppit?

and where do we place Ice Ice Baby in the grand scheme of things???

PLEASE HIT THUMBS UP IF YOU ENJOYED YOURSELF! Peace, DJ Funktual