There was time in east coast hip hop, just after the days of tight jeans, white Reeboks and silver boom boxes on shoulder and just before the flashiness of bad boy records, puffy and glamorous hip hop.  This is when the rough, rugged and raw side of east coast hip hop began to emerge into the spotlight.  The videos of the time consisted of harsh amplified emotion by artists who resembled street soldiers usually in dark places, looking ready for war.  Wu-Tang first emerged in this era and was able to stand the test of time, other groups like Das Efx, Heltak Skeltah and Gravediggaz fell off in the mid-late 90′s when flashy hip hop re-emerged.  This side of hip hop lives on but doesn’t get much credit because the songs certainly don’t hold up in the club ready, bling manufactured world hip hop has become.  The instinctive raw emotion of hip hop began here.

1. KRS One – Sound of Da Police

2. Run DMC – Down with the King

3. EPMD – Headbanger

4. Wu Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck

Bonus Jam – DAS EFX – Real Hip Hop