This three-disc box is a budget version of Rhino's five-disc Sugar Hill Records Story. For those who want to go a little deeper than one of the single-disc Sugar Hill compilations, while at the same time wanting to avoid the extensive nature of the Rhino set, this is a decent midway point, including essentials like
the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight,"
Funky Four Plus One's "That's the Joint," and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five's "The Message." However, the Rhino set is such a definitive release, making this -- and the very similar Sugar Hill Story: To the Beat Y'All (also a three-disc set) -- seem like a compromise. Regardless, the inclusions make for some of the earliest and most vital rap music money can buy. It's packaged much like the several Trojan reggae box sets that were in circulation at the time of its release. ~ Andy Kellman