VA – Ministry Of Sound: Anthems Hip Hop (3xCD) (2011) (FLAC + 320 kbps)

After recently tackling the old-skool classics of disco, electronica, and R&B, the influential Ministry of Sound label now switch their attention to the hip-hop anthems of yesteryear with this 2011 three-CD collection. Encompassing everything from the iconic rap-rock of Run-D.M.C. (“Walk This Way”) to the West Coast G-funk of 2Pac (“California Love”) to contemporary offerings from T.I. (“Dead and Gone”) and DMX (“Lord Give Me a Sign”), Anthems Hip Hop incorporates 54 of the genre’s most influential tracks from the last three decades. While there are a couple of glaringly obvious omissions (the absence of pioneers Grandmaster Flash and the Sugarhill Gang is almost unforgivable) and surprising snubs to Kanye West, the Beastie Boys, and the Notorious B.I.G., this latest installment in the Anthems series does at least attempt to paint a rounded picture of the history of hip-hop, concentrating just as much on underground acts like King Bee (“Back by Dope Demand”) and Chubb Rock (“Treat ‘Em Right”) as it does on commercial juggernauts like Jay-Z (“Dead Presidents II”) and Dr. Dre (“Nuthin’ But a G Thing”). Alongside seminal early cuts from A Tribe Called Quest (“Can I Kick It?”), Base (“It Takes Two”), and House of Pain (“Jump Around”), there are massive chart hits from Missy Elliott (“Get Ur Freak On”), OutKast (“Ms. Jackson”), and M.O.P. (“Ante Up”) and two tracks apiece from hip-hop legends Cypress Hill, Wu-Tang Clan, and Nas, while the British contribution to the scene is wisely acknowledged with tunes from Roots Manuva (“Witness [I Hope]”), and Blak Twang (“So Rotten”). But while the first two ’80s/’90s-based discs appear to have been carefully compiled, the selections on the noughties-heavy third seem a little more haphazard, with only four tracks included post-2002, two of which (J-Kwon’s “Tipsy” and Flo Rida’s “Low”) are more crunk-led R&B than authentic hip-hop. Like most attempts at genre-defining compilations, Anthems Hip Hop will spark heated debates over what should and shouldn’t have been included. But although it’s by no means the definitive retrospective, it’s a fairly representative musical history lesson that should inspire listeners to dig out their box-fresh Adidas and bust out their best breakdancing moves.

Tracklist CD 1:

01. Run-DMC – Walk This Way (3:35)
02. A Tribe Called Quest – Can I Kick It? (Boilerhouse Mix) (3:46)
03. Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock – It Takes Two (5:01)
04. King Bee – Back By Dope Demand (4:56)
05. House Of Pain – Jump Around (3:38)
06. Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg – Nuthin’ But A G Thang (3:59)
07. Cypress Hill – How I Could Just Kill A Man (4:08)
08. Gangstarr – Jazz Thing (Video Mix) (4:43)
09. Jungle Brothers – Straight Out The Jungle (3:59)
10. Chubb Rock – Treat ‘Em Right (Cribb Mix) (5:02)
11. Sugar Bear – Don’t Scandalize Mine (4:13)
12. Boogie Down Productions – My Philosophy (5:37)
13. Run-DMC – Peter Piper (3:23)
14. Kool Moe Dee – Go See The Doctor (5:32)
15. Poor Righteous Teachers – Rock Dis Funky Joint (5:12)
16. DJ Quik – Born And Raised In Compton (3:25)
17. Special Ed – I Got It Made (3:42)
18. Black Moon – Who Got Da Props (5:04)

Download CD1:

FLAC – Wayshare

320 kbps – Wayshare

Tracklist CD2:

01. 2Pac & Dr. Dre – California Love (4:45)
02. Snoop Doggy Dogg – Who Am I (What’s My Name?) (4:07)
03. Cypress Hill – Insane In The Brain (3:28)
04. Fugees – Fu-Gee-La (4:15)
05. Wu-Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M. (4:08)
06. Jay-Z – Dead Presidents II (4:25)
07. A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario (4:11)
08. Mobb Deep – Shook Ones Part II (5:25)
09. Nas – Halftime (4:20)
10. Common – I Used To Love H.E.R (4:39)
11. Raekwon – Ice Cream (4:14)
12. Kool G Rap – It’s A Shame (3:57)
13. Smif-n-Wessun – Sound Bwoy Bureill (4:19)
14. Big L – Put It On (3:37)
15. Tha Alkaholiks – Make Room (3:22)
16. Big Punisher – Twinz (Deep Cover ’98) (3:48)
17. KRS-One – Step Into A World (4:52)
18. Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz – Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby) (4:45)

Download CD2:

FLAC – Wayshare

320 kbps – Wayshare

Tracklist CD3:

01. Jay-Z – Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem) (4:00)
02. Wu-Tang Clan – Gravel Pit (4:17)
03. Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On (3:57)
04. M.O.P. – Ante Up (Robbin Hoodz Theory) (3:52)
05. OutKast – Ms. Jackson (4:30)
06. Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing (3:12)
07. Nas – Got Ur Self A… (3:49)
08. Xzibit – X (4:07)
09. Dead Prez – Hip Hop (3:35)
10. Clipse – Grindin’ (4:26)
11. DMX – Lord Give Me A Sign (3:27)
12. Public Enemy – Harder Than You Think (4:10)
13. Roots Manuva – Witness (1 Hope) (4:14)
14. Blak Twang & Jahmali – So Rotton (4:55)
15. Mystikal – Shake Ya Ass (4:17)
16. J-Kwon – Tipsy (4:03)
17. Flo Rida & T-Pain – Low (3:50)
18. T.I. & Justin Timberlake – Dead And Gone (5:01)

Download CD3:

FLAC – Wayshare

320 kbps – Wayshare