Hip Hop did not develop in a vacuum- its roots can be traced back to the earliest Afro-American music, and the folks who were influenced by these sounds along the way. This CD compiles some of the greatrecordings that showcase the spoken word and street culture put forth from the 1920s through the 1960s that would go on to influence the entire rap music genre. The themes will be familiar- religion, politics, Black experience, badass gangsta rap, speed, sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. Lets listen to the lessons that the hipsters of the past taught the rappers of today. Tracks: 01 Katie Webster and Ashton Conroy: Baby Baby 02 Mamie Ree & Young Wolf with the Gus Jenkins Band: Caught 03 Rev. J.M. Gates: These Hard Times 04 Soul Stirrers: Why I Like Roosevelt Pt. 1 05 Soul Stirrers: Why I Like Roosevelt Pt. 2 06 Jimmie Lunceford and His Chickasaw Syncopators: In Dat Mornin 07 Famous Hokum Boys: Terrible Operation Blues 08 Dirty Red: Mother Fuyer 09 Butterbeans: Hello, Sue 10 Dan Pickett: Number Writer 11 Harmonica Frank Floyd: Swamp Root 12 Champion Jack Dupree: Slow Boogie 13 Red Saunders with Dolores Hawkins and The Hambone Kids: Hambone 14 Slim Gaillard Trio: Puerto Vootie 15 Dr. Jo Jo Adams with Maxwell Davis All Stars: When Im In My Tea 16 Big Jay McNeely: Road House Boogie 17 William "Thunderbird" Walker: Thunderbird 18 The Treniers: Uh Oh (Get Out Of The Car) 19 Brother Woodman & The Chanters featuring Ethel Brown: Hot Mama 20 Little Caesar: You Cant Bring Me Down 21 Little Caesar: Goodbye Baby 22 Vernon Green and The Medallions: The Letter 23 The Shaweez: No One To Love Me 24 Joe Hill Louis- One Man Band: Gotta Let You Go 25 Willie Nix and His Combo: Just Cant Say 26 Richard Berry: The Big Break