Available either as a box set or as four individual discs, Street Jams: Hip-Hop from the Top, Vols. 1-4 is a superb collection of old-school rap, featuring most of the major singles and artists from the genre's formative years. Over the course of the series, such classics as "Rapper's Delight," "The Breaks, " "The Message, " are presented, usually in their full-length 12" mix. It's comprehensive and surprisingly listenable, illustrating that even from the start all hip-hop did not sound the same. It's an essential collection for any comprehensive urban, rap or pop library. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
