The Best of U.T.F.O.
Artist: U.T.F.O.

U.T.F.O. never had many hits. During the mid-'80s, the rap group released a series of singles, but only one stood out, and for good reason, because that song, "Roxanne, Roxanne," is one of the classic rap singles of all time. Though "Roxanne, Roxanne" only hit number ten on the R&B charts, it was far more popular than its chart position... Read More

Adventures of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & The Furious Five: More of the Best
Artist: Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
Community Score: 10.00

Although much of Grandmaster Flash's best, biggest, and most groundbreaking work was compiled on Message From Beat Street: The Best Of, The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash: More of the Best is necessary for any comprehensive rap collection. The rest of Grandmaster Flash's most important singles, many of which have not appeared on compact disc... Read More

Rock Hard
Artist: Beastie Boys
The Best of Kurtis Blow
Artist: Kurtis Blow
Community Score: 5.00

While he made many groundbreaking singles, Kurtis Blow was never a consistent album artist, making this best-of collection his definitive artistic statement. Throughout the early '80s, Blow helped define what rap could do, and these tracks confirm his status as one of hip-hop's legendary acts. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read More

Greatest Hits
Artist: Whodini
Community Score: 9.00

When funksters and soulsters who reached adulthood in the 1960s and '70s criticize rap, their #1 complaint is usually that too much of it isn't melodic enough. But they seldom make that complaint about Whodini, which in the mid-'80s, enjoyed a lot more support from R&B fans than the more forceful and abrasive sounds of Run-D.M.C. or LL Cool J.... Read More

Escape
Artist: Whodini
Community Score: 10.00

A vast improvement over the previous year's debut, Escape is the second album from the seminal no-nonsense New York rappers. Unlike many rappers, Whodini got their beats and musical backing from synthesizers. While this isn't a conceptual masterpiece and really is nothing more than sure-shot singles and sound-alike single, "Five Minutes of Funk"... Read More

Hot, Cool & Vicious
Artist: Salt-N-Pepa
Community Score: 8.30

One of the first albums to be released by an all-female rap group, Hot, Cool & Vicious is paced by its opening track, "Push It," one of the first rap songs to hit number one on the dance singles charts. Considering how little Salt-n-Pepa actually rap on "Push It," which is all about its instrumental hook, they maintain a surprisingly strong... Read More

Ain't a Damn Thing Changed
Artist: Nice & Smooth
Community Score: 6.00

Nice & Smooth returned for a second album that injected a much-needed and entirely welcome sense of the absurd into the generally far too austere and sincere New York City underground hip-hop community, which has traditionally sacrificed humor for hardcore technique when it comes to rhyming. Greg Nice and Smooth B., however, are often downright... Read More

Licensed to Ill
Artist: Beastie Boys
Community Score: 7.84

Perhaps Licensed to Ill was inevitable -- a white group blending rock and rap, giving them the first number one album in hip-hop history. But that reading of the album's history gives a short shrift to the Beastie Boys; producer Rick Rubin and his label, Def Jam; and this remarkable record, since mixing metal and hip-hop isn't necessarily an... Read More

Planet Rock: The Album
Artist: Afrika Bambaataa
Community Score: 7.50

All the important early 12"s from 1982-1984 are here, including "Planet Rock" and "Looking for the Perfect Beat," plus three previously unreleased tracks. (Recorded with Soulsonic Force.) ~ John Floyd, All Music Guide Read More