OK as promised...here's the first of a multi-part series featuring Ego Trip's Greatest Hip Hop Singles from 1988 to 1998. But before I get to my little '88 year in review intro, I just want to clarify that to the best of my knowledge, Ego Trip did not organize the tracks, but just simply listed the best 40 singles alphabetically in no particular order. So I'm just giving you all the tracks the same way I got them. If I find out otherwise, I'll do my best to organize the tracks from 1-40. Oh and since there is 40 tracks for each year, the files are obviously going to be larger than normal. Each year's folder size is about 250MBs and since Mediafire has a 100MB limit, so just as a heads up, I'm going to be using some different sites to upload the collection. And I've also been thinking about taking on the challenge of adding onto their list with my own best of from where they left off (1999 to 2006). But before I get too far ahead of myself...lets get this jumpoff started at the beginning...



Of course hip hop didn't start in '88...but it's around the time where it began to evolve into something more than just a fad or trend. It was when that the culture and scene really started to take shape and grow into a full fledged movement. Many music historians refer to '88 as the start of hip hop's "Golden Era". It was a year that saw the controversial release of N.W.A.'s "Straight Outta Compton". The album's constant profanity and violent lyrics pushed the envelope like never before and redefined the direction of the game. With the help of other west coast artists like Too Short & Ice-T, they are credited with creating the sub-genre "gangsta rap". Also released that year was Public Enemy's "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back", an album that is widely considered as one of the greatest albums of all time. Chuck D's socially conscious and politically charged lyrics influenced an entire generation and it's impact can still be felt today. Also, After the murder of DJ Scott La Rock, KRS-One shifted from the violent topics of his debut "Criminal Minded" with a more socially conscious & educational edge on "By All Means Necessary". In addition to those landmark albums, '88 was dominated by established acts like Run DMC's "Tougher Than Leather", Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince's "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper", LL Cool J's "Walking With A Panther", and Eric B. & Rakim's "Follow The Leader". Finally, the year also debuted a gang of new artists who would go on to become certified stars. Among them were Slick Rick, EPMD, MC Lyte, Kid 'N Play, De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers, and of course Big Daddy Kane.

OK enough historical background bullshit...heres the track list...you'll notice that some years had so much piff that they couldn't limit it to just 40, which is evident in '88's list which has an additional 9 tracks...also click the cover below to begin downloading the compilation.


Ego Trip's Greatest Singles Of 1988

01. 2 Much - Wild Thang (3:36)
02. Antoinette - Hit Em With This (4:06)
03. Antoinette - Unfinished Business (3:41)
04. Big Daddy Kane - Ain't No Stoppjng Us Now (3:22)
05. Biz Markie - Biz Is Goin' Off (4:54)
06. Biz Markie - Vapors (4:36)
07. Boogie Down Productions - I'm Still #1 (5:13)
08. Boogie Down Productions - Jack of Spades (4:50)
09. Boogie Down Productions - My Philosophy (5:40)
10. Chill Rob G. - Chillin' (2:01)
11. Chill Rob G. - Dope Rhymes (3:33)
12. Chill Rob G. - Wild Pitch (2:46)
13. Chubb Rock - Caught Up (Remix) (4:14)
14. De La Soul - Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge) (3:25)
15. De La Soul - Plug Tunin' (Last Chance To Comprehend) (4:07)
16. De La Soul - Potholes In My Lawn (3:49)
17. Doug E. Fresh - Keep Risin' To The Top (3:50)
18. EPMD - You Gots to Chill (4:23)
19. Eric B. & Rakim - Microphone Fiend (5:15)
20. Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full (7:09)
21. JJ Fad - Supersonic (7:59)
22. Jungle Brothers - Because i got it like that (4:38)
23. JVC FORCE - Strong Island (6:12)
24. Kid'n Play - Do This My Way (3:45)
25. Kid'n Play - Gettin' Funky (4:42)
26. King Tee - Bass (Remix) (4:43)
27. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Road to the riches (5:16)
28. LL Cool J. - Going Back To Cali (4:12)
29. LL Cool J. - Jack The Ripper (4:50)
30. Mark 45 King - The 900 number (6:03)
31. Marley Marl & Craig G. - Droppin' Science (5:00)
32. Marley Marl - The Symphony (6:08)
33. MC E.Z and DJ Troup - Get Retarded (3:40)
34. MC Lyte - 10% Dis (5:04)
35. MC Lyte - Paper Thin (5:18)
36. MC Shan - I Pioneered This (4:58)
37. Positive K - Step Up Front (4:13)
38. Public Enemy - Don't Believe the Hype (5:19)
39. Queen Latifah - Princess of the Posse (3:53)
40. Queen Latifah - Wrath of my madness (4:12)
41. Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock - It Takes Two (5:00)
42. Run DMC - Beats To The Rhyme (2:41)
43. Run DMC - Run's House (3:44)
44. Sir Mix-a-lot - Posse On Broadway (5:05)
45. Stetsasonic - DBC Let The Music Play (4:17)
46. Stetsasonic - Sally (4:32)
47. Stetsasonic - Talkin' All That Jazz (4:51)
48. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud - Super-Casanova (3:56)
49. Supreme Nyborn - Versatile Extension (4:25)

There we go...One year down...10 more to go. Keep an ear to the Undaground for 1989. One.