A flawless compilation, Def Jam 1985-2001: History of Hip Hop, Vol. 1 showcases just how powerful the New York-based record label was during the ’80s and ’90s.
In fact, no label came close to challenging Def Jam’s status as the premier rap label — not Death Row, not Jive, not Sugar Hill, not Cold Chillin’; no label even came close. The early mid- to late-’80s hits that catapulted the label to recognition during the Russell Simmons/Rick Ruben era are here: LL Cool J’s “I Can’t Live Without My Radio,” Beastie Boys’ “Fight for Your Right,” and Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story.”
So are plenty of the early-’90s hits that solidified Def Jam’s status during a time when it finally had to fend off competitors and a fledging West Coast scene: Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” EPMD’s “Crossover,” and Onyx’s “Slam.”
And there are also a handful of the late-’90s hits that redefined Def Jam’s image once the label shed many of its veteran artists: Jay-Z’s “Can I Get A…,” DMX’s “Party (Up in Here),” and Method Man’s “I’ll Be There/You’re All I Need.”
While the Def Jam Music Group — Ten Year Anniversary box set is undeniably more thorough and informative, this convenient single-disc compilation features nothing but the big hits and also features the late-’90s artists that aren’t found on that pricey box set. (AMG)
01. LL Cool J – I Cant Live Without My Radio
02. Beastie Boys – Fight For Your Right
03. Oran ‘Juice’ Jones – The Rain
04. Slick Rick – Children’s Story
05. Public Enemy – Fight The Power
06. 3rd Bass – Pop Goes The Weasel
07. EPMD – Crossover
08. Nice & Smooth – Sometimes I Rhyme Slow
09. Onyx – Slam
10. Warren G – Regulate
11. Method Man Featuring Mary J. Blige – I’ll Be There For You- You’re All I Need To Get By (Puff Daddy Mix)
12. Foxy Brown Featuring Blackstreet – Get Me Home
13. Method Man, Redman – Da Rockwilder
14. Jay-Z Featuring Amil (Of Major Coinz) & Ja Rule – Can I Get A…
15. Ja Rule – Holla Holla
16. DMX – Party Up (Up In Here
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