DE LA SOULThree Feet High and Rising

Introducing playfulness to hip-hop, De La Soul revealed the immense creative potential of making hip-hop without all the hype and bullshit. Whereas Public Enemy and BDP dealt with society, N.W.A. and Schooly D with nihilism, and LL Cool J and Too Short with big egos and the ladies... Posdunos, Mase, Trugoy and Prince Paul explored the possibilities of having fun. Not that they ignored social issues. In fact, their Native Tongues crew (which included A Tribe Called Quest, The Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep, and others) played an important role in bringing afrocentrism into the national media spotlight.

BEASTIE BOYS Paul's Boutique

Along with De La Soul's Three Feet, this album pioneered the integration samplers and drum machines in popular music. Ironically, this album was a commercial "flop" relative to the Beasties' Licensed To Ill. But far beyond this album's historical importance is its total listenability after almost a decade. Take a timeless journey through the "pre-sample clearance days" when the Dust Brothers were able to mix nothing but the finest samples into this heady musical trip. Much like their production of Beck's Odelay, Paul's Boutique happily roams freely throughout modern popular genres. And as astute connoisseurs of popular culture, Ad Rock, MCA, and Mike D. are your perfect hosts for this journey through post-Woodstock popular culture.

JUNGLE BROTHERS Done By The Forces Of Nature

KOOL G. RAP & DJ POLO Road To The Riches