‘You wot, mate?!’
In the spirit of eighties Answer Rap, here’s my list of alternative’s to the Martinator’s 80’s Rap 101 list. I’ve stuck to his original list of artist’s (except for a few who only had one record…or one good record) and presented an alternative to each to demonstrate just how great the best of rap from that decade really was.
Spoonie Gee – Love Rap (1980) / Take It Off (1987)
Treacherous Three & Spoonie Gee – New Rap Language (1980) / Gotta Rock (1980)
Kurtis Blow – Hard Times (1980) / AJ Scratch (1984)
Blondie – Rapture (1980) / *Alternative* Puffy Dee – Joe Blow (1985)
Grand Wizard Theodore & The Fantastic 5 – Can I Get A Soul Clapp (1981) / Fantastic Freaks At The Dixie (1983)
Grandmaster Flash – The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash.. (1981) / Flash To The Beat [Bozo Meko Version] (1980)
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde – Doing The Do (1982) / AM/PM (1984)
Super 3 – When You’re Standing On The Top (1982) / Philosophy Rappin’ Spree (1980)
The Fearless Four – Rockin’ It (1982) / It’s Magic (1982)
Duke Bootee & Melle Mel – The Message (1982) / The Message II (Survival) (1982)
Afrika Noncebaataa & The Soulsonic Force – Planet Rock (1982) / Renegades of Funk (1983)
Planet Patrol – Play At Your Own Risk (1982) / *Alternative* Twillight 22 – Electric Kingdom (1984)
Trouble Funk – Pump Me Up (1982) / Drop The Bomb (1981)
Busy Bee – Making Cash Money (1982) / Busy Bee’s Groove (1985)
Hashim – Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) (1983) / *Alternative* / Arthur Baker – Breaker’s Revenge (1984)
Jimmy Spicer – Money (Dollar Bill Y’all) (1983) / Adventures of Super Rhyme (1980)
Chris Stein ft. Grand Wizard Theodore – Gangbusters (1983) / Meetings (1983)
Davy DMX – One For The Treble (1983) / Davy’s Midnight Ride (1985)
West Street Mob – Break Dance — Electric Boogie (1983) / *Alternative* The Russell Brothers – The Party Scene (1983)
Jonzun Crew – Space Is The Place (1983) / Pack Jam (Look Out For The OVC) (1982)
Disco Four – Throwdown (1983) / Move To The Groove (1980)
Rammellzee vs. K-Rob – Beat Bop (1983) / K-Rob – I’m A Homeboy (1986)
Love Bug Starski – You’ve Gotta Believe (1983) / Say What You Wanna Say (1986)
Run D.M.C – Sucker MC’s (1983) / Daryl & Joe (Krush-Groove 3) (1985)
Cybotron – Clear (1983) / *Alternative* Spyder D – Big Apple Rappin’ (1980)
Fat Boys – Jail House Rap (1984) / Stick Em (1986)
Newcleus – Jam On It (1984) / Space is The Place (1985)
The Furious Five – Step Off (1984) / Pump Me Up (1985)
Herbie Hancock ft. Grand Mixer D.ST – Rockit (1984) / Grandmixer D.ST – Grandmixer Cuts It Up (1982)
Whodini – Featuring Grandmaster Dee (1984) / I’m A Ho (1986)
World’s Famous Supreme Team – Hey D.J (1984) / D’Ya Like Scratchin’ (Special Version) (1983)
Crash Crew – We Are Known As Emcees (1984) / High Power Rapp (1980)
Cold Crush Brothers – Fresh, Fly, Wild, And Bold (1984) / Feel The Horns (1988)
Egyptian Lover – I Cry (Night After Night) (1984) / Computer Love (Sweet Dreams) (1985)
T La Rock – It’s Yours (1984) / Breaking Bells(1986)
DJ Red Alert – Hip Hop On Wax Volume 2 (1984) *Alternative* DJ Born Supreme Allah – 2, 3, Break (Part II, The Sequel)
Marley Marl ft. MC Shan – Marley Marl Scatch (1985) / He Cuts So Fresh (1987)
Doug E. Fresh & MC Ricky D – La Di Da Di (1985) / Treat Her Like A Prostitute (Movie Version) (1988)
Stetsasonic – Just Say Stet (1985) / DBC Let The Music Play (1988)
Z-3 MC’s – Triple Threat (1985) / *Alternative* MC Crash – Life On The Street (1987)
Steady B – Just Call Us Def (1985) / Bring The Beat (1986)
Whistle – (Nothing Serious) Just Buggin’ (1985) *Alternative* Divine Sounds – Do Or Die Bedstuy (1984)
Schoolly D – Saturday Night (1986) / Housin’ The Joint (1987)
Just Ice – Cold Gettin’ Dumb (1986) / Kool & Deadly (1987)
Super Kids – The Tragedy (Don’t Do It) (1986) / Stunt Of The Block (1986)
Roxanne Shanté ft. Biz Markie – The Def Fresh Crew (1986) / Bite This (1985)
Word Of Mouth ft. DJ Cheese – Coast To Coast (1986) / King Kut (1985)
2 Live Crew – We Want Some Pussy (1986) / 2 Live Is What We Are (1986)
Salt-N-Pepa – Push It (1986) / My Mic Sounds Nice [Remix] (1987)
Skinny Boys – Rip The Cut (1986) / Awesome (1985)
The Showboys – Drag Rap (1986) / Cold Frontin’ (1985)
Audio Two – Top Billin’ (1987) / Many Styles (1988)
Cool C – Juice Crew Dis (1987) / I Gotta Habit (1989)
Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud – Do The James (1987) / Super Casanova (1987)
Latee – This Cut’s Got Flavor (1987) / Puttin’ On The Hits (1987)
Heavy D & The Boyz – The Overweight Lover’s In The House (1987) / We Write The Songs (1988)
The Classical Two – New Generation (1987) / The Classical Two Is Back (1988) [Not on YouTube damnit]
J.J. Fad – Supersonic (1987) / Let’s Get Hyped (1988)
Eric B. & Rakim – Lyrics Of Fury (1988) / As The Rhyme Goes On (1987)
Slick Rick – The Moment I Feared (1988) / Lick The Balls (1988)
Ultramagnetic MC’s – Kool Keith Housing Things (1988) / Break North
Ice-T – Drama (1988) / Our Most Requested Record (1987)
M.C La Kim aka Lakim Shabazz – We Got The Funk (1988) / Your Arms Too Short To Box With God (1989)
EPMD – You Gots To Chill (1988) / Get The Bozack (1989)
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Brand New Funk (1988) / The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff (1987)
N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton (1988) / 8-Ball (1987)
Eazy-E – Eazy-er Said Than Dunn (1988) / Boyz-N-Tha-Hood (1987)
LL Cool J – Jack The Ripper (1988) / Rock The Bells [Original] (1985)
Public Enemy – Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos (1988) / Night Of The Living Baseheads [Anti-High Blood Pressure Encounter Mix] (1988)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Poison (1988) / Men At Work (1988)
The Juice Crew – The Symphony (1988) / Juice Crew All-Stars (1987)
Big Daddy Kane – Set It Off (1988) / Wrath of Kane (1988)
Biz Markie – Vapors (LP version) (1988) / Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz (1986)
MC Shan – So Def (1988) / Juice Crew Law (1988)
Too $hort – City Of Dope (1988) / Partytime (1987)
Jungle Brothers – Because I Got It Like That (1988) / Straight Out The Jungle (1988)
Mantronix – King Of The Beats (1988) / Needle To The Groove (1985)
J.V.C Force – Strong Island (1988) / The Move (1988)
MC Lyte – Paper Thin (1988) / 10% Dis (1988)
Positive K ft. King Of Chill – Step Up Front (3 Heineken Technique) (1988) / A Good Combination (1988)
Three Times Dope – Funky Dividends (1988) / Greatest Man Alive (1988)
Sir Mix-A-Lot – Posse On Broadway (1988) / Iron Man (1988)
Nice & Smooth – Early To Rise (1989) / Skill Trade (1987)
Grandmaster Melle Mel – Free Style (1989) / Vice (1985)
The 45 King – The 900 Number (1989) / The Red The Black The Green (1989)
Stezo – Girl Trouble (1989) / Bring The Horns (1989)
Special Ed – I Got It Made (1989) / Taxing (1989)
Uptown – Dope On Plastic (1989) *Alternative* Sugar Bear – Ready To Penetrate (1988)
Freddie Foxxx – The Master (1989) / I’m Ready (1989)
De La Soul ft. Native Tongues – Buddy (1989) / Freedom of Speak (1988)
Tuff Crew – Behold The Detonator (1989) / Deuce, Ace, Housin’ (1988)
Beastie Boys – What Comes Around (1989) / Hold It Now, Hit It (1986)
Ultimate Force – I’m Not Playing (1989) / Another Hit (1989)
Mac Dre – Young Black Brotha (1989) / Too Hard For The Fuckin’ Radio (1989)
3rd Bass – Monte Hall (1989) / Steppin’ to The AM (1989)
Brand Nubian – Brand Nubian (1989) / Feels So Good (1989)
YZ – In Control Of Things (1989) / Thinking of a Master Plan (1989)
Geto Boys – Gangster Of Love (1989) / Life In The Fast Lane (1989)
Gang Starr – Words I Manifest (Remix) (1989) / Positivity [Remix] (1989)
The D.O.C – Portrait Of A Masterpiece (1989) / No One Can Do It Better (1989)
Tone Loc – Wild Thing (1989) / Cheeba Cheeba [12″ Version] (1987)
