Every year, artists of all genres release hundreds of Christmas-themed albums. Once November rolls around, the avalanche of musical cheer begins. Some of these records will become timeless favorites; many others will go straight to the dollar bin. While gospel, pop, R&B, and country music tend to dominate the market, a few monumental Christmas rap records have also emerged over the years. With the holidays just around the corner, let's take a look at some classic seasonal hip-hop.

Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin'

Hailing from Harlem, Kurtis Blow was the first true rap star. He was the first emcee to be signed by a major label and the first to release a full-length hip-hop album. He was managed by a young, pre-Def Jam Russell Simmons, and his DJ was a pre-Run-D.M.C. Reverend Run (then known as Son of Kurtis Blow). He would go on to rack up multiple (now) old-school hits, produce the Fat Boys, and appear in the film Krushgroove. But it was this debut single that remains one of his best-loved works.

Released in late 1979, "Christmas Rappin'" hit the airwaves shortly after the Sugarhill Gang's breakout smash "Rapper's Delight." The original mix was an unwieldy eight minutes long, the rhymes were pretty straightforward, and the groove was very repetitive, but it was absolutely perfect for an audience that was just being introduced to rap music. The song was included on Blow's self-titled LP released a few months later, and has aged quite well, still finding seasonal airplay some 25 years after. In 1998, R&B group Next sampled for the song for their multiplatinum single "Too Close."

Run-D.M.C. - Christmas in Hollis

By 1987, Kurtis Blow's shine had dimmed considerably, and Queens trio Run-D.M.C. were now the biggest rappers in the game, thanks to several classic albums and huge singles. They were touring extensively, both in the states and abroad, spreading the magic of hip-hop around the globe. In addition to their groundbreaking music, they also had something working for them that many of the first-wave rap acts did not: MTV. Run, Jam Master Jay, and D.M.C. were staples on the popular cable channel, and their charismatic clips were in heavy rotation. It seemed only right that they do a holiday video.

"Christmas in Hollis" debuted on TV screens in late '87, and quickly earned the kings from Queens yet another hit. An upbeat jam complete with sleigh bells, a great horn riff (sampling "Back Door Santa" by Clarence Carter), and props to eggnog and St. Nick, it instantly became a Christmas classic. Though not featured on any proper group album, it is included on many of their greatest hits compilations, and popped up three years after its release on the first A Very Special Christmas collection. Check out the video here.

Various Artists - Christmas on Death Row

A full decade after "Christmas in Hollis" dropped, the sound and style of rap music had changed dramatically. N.W.A made the gangsta life seem glamorous for millions of suburban kids, and crucial West Coast releases like The Chronic and Doggystyle furthered the cause. Death Row Records, run by superproducer Dr. Dre and bodyguard-turned-businessman Suge Knight, was the undisputed leader in the exploding G'd-up marketplace, home to Snoop and Tupac, among others. By 1997, after 'Pac's murder and Dre and Snoop's defection, the label was fading fast, but it still managed to release this solid (if a little corny) holiday compilation.

Christmas on Death Row may have featured Santa sitting in an electric chair on its cover, but the music itself was surprisingly nonthreatening and family-friendly. Tha Dogg Pound ditched their trademark thugged-out style on the positive anthem "I Wish," while Snoop Dogg morphed into the crip Kris Kringle on "Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto." Longtime Dre affiliate Michel'le delivered her take on "Silver Bells," and G-funk crooner extraordinaire Nate Dogg impressed on the ballad "I Wish." The rest of the album basically features traditional favorites done by a bunch of obscure R&B singers and third-rate rappers; but for the above songs, it's definitely worth a listen.

Jim Jones - A Dipset Christmas

Despite being one of the worst crews in hip-hop today (no small feat), The Diplomats have achieved a startling amount of popularity over the last few years, especially amongst youngsters in the New York area. Though Cam'Ron and Juelz Santana started out as the biggest names in the bunch, Jim Jones has eclipsed them both recently, thanks largely to his hit single "We Fly High" and requisite catch-phrase "ballllllin!" He threw some rocks at the throne of Jay-Z, and, atleast to the 10-16 year old set, (and ironic blogger patrol) succeeded in toppling the once-mighty Jay Hova in swagger points alone. Similar in ridiculousness to their unintentionally hilarious rollerblading team, the Harlem conglomerate hits us off with A Dipset Christmas, a ten-song collection of traditional holiday cheer ("Ballin' on Xmas" revisits the beat from "Christmas in Hollis") as well as their trademark s***-talking and rampant ad libs. I sincerely doubt that this will ascend to seasonal classic status, but if it's Christmas Eve and you're still shopping for your 12 year-old sister, this could come in handy.

BONUS VIDEO - Treacherous Three "Xmas Rap" (from Beat Street)