Moving on from the six-pack series, we’re out to compile the next in the playlist series. We’re taking it to the city streets for Backyard Road Trips’ ultimate hip hop playlist. We’ve already paired beer with the Beastie Boys, but here’s a full spectrum hip hop playlist, from its roots to the early ’00s.
Pressing Play
We’re starting out old school with “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang and “The Message” from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Early hip hop continues with a personal fave, “Basketball,” from Kurtis Blow. A little more obscure, we go straight from the basement of Cooley High with Original Concept. The trend keeps kicking it old school with the Fat Boys as they take on Freddy Kreuger!
Run DMC takes us into the next five with “King of Rock,” followed by UTFO and the Pharcyde. A Tribe Called Quest asks if they can kick it, and Salt-N-Pepa pushes it. The Beastie Boys come in with track 11 with “So What’Cha Want” and Del the Funky Homosapien samples the Monkees with “Mistadobalina.” Mixing jazz and hip hop, the Digable Planets and Gangstarr’s Guru take the next two.
Finishing up
Wyclef Jean’s hit, “We Trying to Stay Alive,” rounds out track 15. Alternative hip hop comes in with Madvillain, the collab between MF DOOM and Madlib. Kool Keith’s Dr. Octagon alias (with Dan “the Automator” twisting the knobs) takes a spaced-out trip with “Earth People.” The last three tracks head to the streets. “Regulate” samples the yacht rock playlist’s Michael McDonald. The GZA from Wu-Tang Clan and Dr. Dre finishes up the playlist, making sure to keep your heads ringing.
Hit the courts. Lace up your Adidas and get ready for the ultimate hip-hop playlist!. To listen to the official BYRT’s Hip Hop Playlist click here for the Spotify Playlist. Big ups to Mike Landolfi for compiling this list with me, yo.
