Note: The included t-shirt size is XL In Billboard magazine in November of 1984, a little story three-paragraphs long announced the creation of a new record label called Def Jam. "The purpose of this company," said a young artist manager named Russell Simmons, "is to educate people to the real value of real street music by putting out records nobody in the business would distribute but us." Twenty-five years later, `the real value of real street music" can be measured not just in billions of dollars, but in the changed complexion of all of the following xpressions of creative endeavor: music, movies, television, language, dance, fine art, graphic art, fashion, advertising, automobiles, jewelry, video games, and politics...and not just in America, but globally. If any one entity can be said to have sparked these changes - and to have continued to stand for street music and the culture that birthed it, namely, hip-hop -- it is Def Jam Recordings. The Def Jam 25th Anniversary set is a collection hits from the labels chart topping stars and cultural icons. Includes Jay-Z, Kanye West, Ludacris, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, DMX, Young Jeezy, Method Man, Redman and more!
L**A
Awesome Collection!!
I bought this box set for my husband and he LOVES it. It has all of his old school favorites and then some new stuff that's good too! The shirt only comes in X-Large, he gave it to me for a sleep shirt....but it is a cool shirt for someone who likes to wear baggy tshirts! I personally don't listen to this type of music, but my husband said that this was the best gift I've ever given him...so if you like old and new school rap, this is the box set to buy!
M**N
almost perfect
I I had problem with the lyrics on disc 4 so I got rid of it and kept everything else.
M**O
Def Jams CD Collection
It would be so nice if collections were automatically the radio versions instead of the explicit ones. These are filled with so many expletives I can't play them for anyone but myself.
R**I
Def Jam's Def Jams
I loved having a box set of music from different artists. I'm glad I got this set. Planning to order more as gifts.
I**N
Five Stars
Great collection
J**Z
Classic tracks from the last original record label EVER...
Def Jam, in two words, are just that.Times may have changed and the so-called 'music' tossed out there into our ears may taste worse than a Big Mac, but this collection, presented over 5 CDs and 60 songs, is an anthology of some of the greatest rap and hip-hop ever laid down on vinyl. The time line literally goes from 1985 to 2010 (well, 2009), and the highlights are fantastic.The value of this box set is immeasurable - legendary rappers such as LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Slick Rick, EPMD, Montell Jordan, Nikki D and many more of the original brothers (and sisters) of rap music are featured here, many of them originating even their sound on this one label.Def Jam was even smart enough to venture into hard rock, releasing the band Slayer (one of the hardest metal bands to lay it down in the 80's and 90's).We go from rap to hip-hop, and we go hard: Beanie Sigel and DMX to the likes of early Rhianna and Ja Rule, and don't forget Ludacris and Foxy Brown!The tracks on the 5 CD's go like this:CD1 (1984-1988):01. LL Cool J - I Need A Beat [04:01]02. Hollis Crew - It's The Beat [04:15]03. Public Enemy - Bring The Noise [03:46]04. Beastie Boys - Paul Revere [03:42]05. Oran "Juice" Jones - The Rain [05:08]06. LL Cool J - Goin' Back To Cali [04:10]07. Beastie Boys - Brass Monkey [02:39]08. T-La Rock - It's Yours (feat. Jazzy Jay) [04:21]09. LL Cool J - I Need Love [05:23]10. Slick Rick - Children's Story [03:59]11. 3rd Bass - The Gas Face (Remix) [02:08]12. Public Enemy - Fight The Power [04:37]CD2 (1989-1993):01. LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out [04:49]02. EPMD - Gold Digger [05:02]03. 3rd Bass - Pop Goes The Weasel [03:54]04. Nikki D - Daddy's Little Girl [04:26]05. Downtown Science - Room To Breathe [04:10]06. Redman - Time 4 Sum Aksion [03:26]07. Onyx - Slam [03:37]08. Boss - Deeper [03:58]09. EPMD - Crossover [03:48]10. Method Man - Bring The Pain [03:09]11. Nice & Smooth - Hip Hop Junkies [03:25]12. Warren G - Regulate (feat. Nate Dogg) [04:09]CD3 (1994-1998):01. Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It [03:54]02. Ludacris - Stand Up (feat. Shawnna) [03:34]03. Ja Rule - Holla Holla [04:23]04. Case - Touch Me Tease Me (feat. Foxy Brown) [03:50]05. Method Man - I'll Be There For You / You're All I Need To Get By (feat. Mary J. Blige) [05:09]06. Foxy Brown - Get Me Home (feat. Blackstreet) [03:48]07. Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) [04:00]08. DMX - Get At Me Dog (feat. Sheek) [03:07]09. LL Cool J - Doin' It [04:57]10. Method Man & Redman - Da Rockwilder [02:19]11. DMX - Party Up (Up In Here) [04:33]12. Erick Sermon - Tell 'Em [02:35]CD4 (1999-2003):01. Jay-Z - 99 Problems [03:55]02. Sisqo - Thong Song [04:11]03. Musiq Soulchild - Just Friends (Sunny) [04:11]04. Ja Rule - Put It On Me (feat. Vita) [04:23]05. Memphis Bleek - Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses) (feat. Jay-Z, Twista And Missy Elliott) [04:54]06. Jay-Z - Izzo (H.O.V.A.) [04:01]07. Beanie Sigel - The Truth [04:10]08. Cam'Ron - Oh Boy (feat. Juelz Santana) [03:28]09. Scarface - Guess Who's Back (feat. Jay-Z And Beanie Sigel) [04:03]10. Freeway - What We Do (feat. Jay-Z And Beanie Sigel) [03:49]11. Ludacris - Southern Hospitality (feat. Pharrell) [05:02]12. Kanye West - Jesus Walks [03:20]CD5 (2004-2008):01. Kanye West - Gold Digger (feat. Jamie Foxx) [03:28]02. Young Jeezy - And Then What (feat. Mannie Fresh) [04:07]03. Juelz Santana - There It Go (The Whistle Song) [03:01]04. Rick Ross - Hustlin' [04:15]05. Ghostface Killah - Back Like That (feat. Ne-Yo) [04:03]06. Ne-Yo - So Sick [03:28]07. Nas - Hip Hop Is Dead (feat. Will.i.am) [03:46]08. The Roots - Don't Feel Right (feat. Maimouna Youssef) [04:46]09. Rihanna - Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z) [04:33]10. Fabolous - Make Me Better (feat. Ne-Yo) [04:14]11. The-Dream - Shawty Is Da Sh*! [03:51]12. Young Jeezy - Put On (feat. Kanye West) [05:21]I only wish there was more included, but 60 songs pulled from over 4,500 recorded songs for the label are great!THE ONLY REASON I GAVE THIS COMPILATION 4 STARS INSTEAD OF 5:On the 10th Anniversary, the 4 CDs tracklist is very similar in artist selection and the exclusion of many others is evident here. They could have included many other newer artists because, well, much as I love the oldies, I've got those already, on vinyl and on CD, and I wanted to hear some of the younger and just as talented artists from the last 5 or so years on the collection and given their due as well - what about Pittsburg Slim, Lady Sovereign, and maybe one cut, maybe "Oye Mi Canto" from N.O.R.E's Latin-language album "N.O.R.E. y la Familia... Ya TΓΊ Sabe"? I understand it's difficult to choose only so many in a package as wonderful, but it's hard to see others left behind when they have contributed their talents now as much as the originators did then.Other than that, though, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a jumping-off point for hip hop and rap. Yes it's explicit, but hey, real life isn't all flowers and balloons. Rap and hip-hop are an extension of the streets of New York, and Los Angeles, and every inner city in between. It has also gone international, but that's okay, too.Get this set if you want to hear how it began, and right up to the last disc you'll enjoy it, 100%.(Thanks for reading, and check out my ,other reviews because I like and dislike a lot of stuff I've got, and right or wrong I'm letting folks like you know about it!)
J**S
Def Jam
I purchased this set for my 17year old son, for Christmas, and he loved it! Although many of these songs were made before he was born, he knows the music and thinks it's pretty cool and nestalgic! -JR
K**Z
Gift well received
This was bought as a gift and was well appreciated. I was impressed with the contents and pleased at the quality. I didnt realise there was a T-shirt in there too - an adidas one. I got to recommend this to any fan. Delivery was prompt too.
A**R
Def jam tells you who I ham.
Fantastic set if you ain't got one then you miss out. Great t shirt by adidas
L**.
Perfect Fathers Day Gift
Bought this for my hubby from my son for fathers day. He was delighted with it and has played it non stop! Great T-shirt and cool packaging.
L**E
a great present
really loved this collection, music great and the t- shirt fitted me really well . Would recomend this for my friends to buy
G**
Def?
I said a hip hop, Hippie to the hippie, The hip, hip a hop, and you don't stop, a rock it. To the bang bang boogie, say, up jump the boogie - Blimey sorry wrong label that was Sugerhill but it does explain what 25 years of Def is all about it was the bang to the boogie full on. If your a young whipper snapper looking to rob some samples for home DJ sets? This is the box set its the best place to lift some fat beats from. I also recommend you buy a 808 drum machine as well which will drive your parents mental whilst you learn to program it.
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