About this item

Soul Jazz Records’ ‘Boombox 2’ is a new selection of early rap music from the period 1979 - 83, with barely a household name in sight. Featured here are some the earliest hip hop records that came out of New York City following the enormous commercial success of the first ever rap record, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ by the Sugarhill Gang, in September 1979. Artists and producers alike tried to jump aboard the new commercial possibilities of hip hop. By the end of the year there were 30 hip hop singles, all released by independent New York labels. The following year there were over 100 more and so on.

‘Boombox 2’ tells the story of how hip hop went from its evolutionary roots in the Bronx through DJs Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa through to its second phase where veteran music producers - Paul Winley, Peter Brown, Joe Robinson and others - all based in Harlem, began to put rap on vinyl for the first time.

Harlem is also where the separate worlds of disco and hip hop met through the styles and influence of earlier ‘uptown’ DJs - DJ Hollywood and Eddie Cheba. In similar fashion these veteran Harlem-based producers instinctively tapped into a long lineage of African-American rhythm and blues, soul and disco.

STAFF COMMENTS

Patrick says: "Well I went to the hat store today and I bought myself a hat! Ha ha ha ha!" Soul Jazz take us to Harlem with a second survey of the nascent hip hop scene. It's lino time!

TRACK LISTING

Harlem World Crew - Let’s Rock
Lonnie Love - Young Ladies
Kool DJ A.J. - Ah, That’s The Joint
Terry Lewis & Wild Flower - The Peoples Message Take Two
Rappers Rapp Group - Rappin’ Partee Groove (Club Version)
Eddie Cheba - Lookin’ Good
MC Rock Lovely - One Time Two Time Blow Your Mind
Little Starsky - Dancin’ Party People
Manujothi - Shake Your Body
Busy Bee - School Days
T.J. Swann, Pee Wee Mel & Swann Controllers - Maximus Party
Margo’s Kool Out Crew - Death Rap
Grand Master Chilly T & Stevie G - Rock The Message Rap
Zoot II - Dr. Ice Rap