Def Jam 1985-2001: History of Hip Hop, Vol. 1

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: February 27, 2001
• Type: Contains explicit content, Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rap

Review

A flawless compilation, Def Jam 1985-2001: History of Hip Hop, Vol. 1 showcases just how powerful the New York-based record label was during the '80s and '90s. In fact, no label came close to challenging Def Jam's status as the premier rap label -- not Death Row, not Jive, not Sugar Hill, not Cold Chillin'; no label even came close. The early mid- to late-'80s hits that catapulted the label to recognition during the Russell Simmons/Rick Ruben era are here: LL Cool J's "I Can't Live Without My Radio," Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right," and Slick Rick's "Children's Story." So are plenty of the early-'90s hits that solidified Def Jam's status during a time when it finally had to fend off competitors and a fledging West Coast scene: Public Enemy's "Fight the Power," EPMD's "Crossover," and Onyx's "Slam." And there are also a handful of the late-'90s hits that redefined Def Jam's image once the label shed many of its veteran artists: Jay-Z's "Can I Get A...," DMX's "Party (Up in Here)," and Method Man's "I'll Be There/You're All I Need." While the Def Jam Music Group -- Ten Year Anniversary box set is undeniably more thorough and informative, this convenient single-disc compilation features nothing but the big hits and also features the late-'90s artists that aren't found on that pricey box set. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
I Can't Live Without My Radio (Lyrics)	James Todd Smith, R. Rubin	LL Cool J	(5:27)
Fight for Your Right (Lyrics)	Beastie Boys, Rick Rubin	Beastie Boys	(3:26)
The Rain		Oran "Juice" Jones	(5:06)
Children's Story (Lyrics)	Ricky Walters	Slick Rick	(3:59)
Fight the Power (Lyrics)	Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, Hank Shocklee, Keith Shocklee, Chuck D	Public Enemy	(4:37)
Pop Goes the Weasel	D. Ross, John Gamble, Stevie Wonder, P. Nash, Harvey Fuqua, Michael Berrin	3rd Bass	(3:53)
Crossover (Lyrics)	David Gamson, Roger Troutman, Parrish Smith, Erick Sermon	EPMD	(3:48)
Sometimes I Rhyme Slow, Sometimes I Rhyme Quick	Tracy Chapman	Nice & Smooth	(2:50)
Slam (Lyrics)	Fredro Scruggs, T. Taylor, K. Jones	Onyx	(3:37)
Getto Jam (Lyrics)	Kevin "D.J. Battlecat" Gilliam	Domino	(4:18)
Regulate (Lyrics)	N. Hale	Warren G	(4:09)
I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By (Lyrics)	Clifford Smith, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson	Mary J. Blige, Method Man	(5:07)
Get Me Home (Lyrics)	Sean Carter, McKinley Horton, Ronald Broomfield, Samuel Barnes	Blackstreet, Foxy Brown	(3:48)
Da Rockwilder	D. Stinson, Clifford Smith, R. Noble	Method Man, Redman	(2:18)
Can I Get A... (Lyrics)	Jeffrey Atkins, Jay-Z, Irv Gotti, Robin Mays	Amil, Jay-Z, Ja Rule	(5:11)
Holla Holla (Lyrics)	Irv Gotti, T.J. Green	Ja Rule	(4:24)
Party Up (Up in Here)	K. Dean, Earl Simmons	DMX	(4:36)

Credits

Poke (Producer), Jeff Moskow (Compilation Producer), Rick Rubin (Producer), Teddy Riley (Producer), Parrish Smith (Producer), Amil (Performer), Beastie Boys (Performer), Adam Starr (Product Manager), Eric "Vietnam" Sadler (Producer), Hank Shocklee (Producer), Ute Friesleben (Project Coordinator), 3rd Bass (Producer), Tone-Loc (Producer), Doug Schwartz (Digital Mastering), Drew FitzGerald (Design), Blackstreet (Performer), Randy "The Executioner" Acker (Compilation Producer), Carl Ryder (Producer), Rockwilder (Producer), EPMD (Performer), Jam Master Jay (Producer), Ja Rule (Performer), Redman (Performer), DJ Battlecat (Producer), Prince Rakeem (Producer), Keith Shocklee (Producer), Irv Gotti (Producer), Erick Sermon (Producer), Method Man (Performer), Greg Nice (Producer), Bill Adler (Liner Notes), Vincent Bell (Producer), Mary J. Blige (Performer), Ricky Walters (Producer), SD50 (Producer), Slick Rick (Performer), Oran "Juice" Jones (Performer), Warren G (Producer), LL Cool J (Performer), Vartan (Art Direction), Russell Simmons (Producer), Nice & Smooth (Performer), Chyskillz (Producer), Mister Bozack (Producer), Lil Rob (Producer), Swizz Beatz (Producer), Public Enemy (Performer)