Various Artists - Sugarhill Club Classics Vol.1 (CD 1999)

This collection is enjoyable on quite a few different levels.

Firstly, it is a great history of the very early roots of rap/hip-hop - this is pretty much the genesis of hip-hop today stands up well considering it's well over quarter of a century old!

Here is the boasting that is so much part of modern hip-hop and the obsession with cars, jewellry and women as well as very recognisable beats and (less so) samples although much of it was played by real instruments.

That said, you don't get much scratching these days and the 'electro' influences creeping in on some tracks were very popular for a while but (thankfully) went out of fashion just as quick.

Before highlighting some of the tracks, I would mention that I had forgotten just how damn FUNKY much of this music is! If you can sit still while Trouble Funk 'Drop the Bomb' or during 'Monster Jam' then you've got problems of one sort or another!

The best-known tracks are the pick of the selections. I guess there's nothing much more to be said about 'Rappers Delight' but it's where it all started.

I bought 'The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash' on import at the time and I had never heard anything like it and it may not be sophisticated now but stll hits the mark. 'The Message' was another step forward and made a huge impact at the time of it's release.

The Trouble Funk tracks are both incredible - I really think that Go-Go sound was never fully appreciated and they really are funky and very dancable. I saw them live and they really could get the party started!

A personal favourite is 'We got the Funk', probably the most conventional funk/disco track but great for that.

The more 'electro' tracks haven't stood the test of time so well ('Scorpio', 'Mosquito' and Breakdance-Electric Boogie') but, if you can get past that particular sound, are still pretty good.

There is something to love about all of the rest of the tracks although you'd have to be pretty dedicated to listen to them all the way through, especially as they are all the full-length versions and a few of the raps get a bit tedious. That said, they work as dancable background music.

To sum up, this CD is very much a snapshot of a particular time and place and will obviously sound old-fashioned.

However, as well as the historical value, there are some real classics on here that have stood the test of time and most of them are suprisingly still very funky to this day!