various artists - Ego Trip's The Big Playback

I don't write much about hip-hop, because there are a million and one cats who know more about the culture and can do it better. But it occurred to me the other day that it's been more than 20 years since Ego Trip was a thing. And there's never been a better collection of heads who have captured my attention for the five elements.

When the crew of Sacha, Elliot, Gabe, Brent, and Chairman Mao put together "The Big Playback" in 2001, it reminded me of the "Killed By Death" comps. It provided a roadmap to the early, low pressing hip-hop records I'd never get access to. I'd been obsessed with the early days of New York hip-hop and L.A. electro, and by the time this was released, I'd been spending more on reissues of old Profile sides than I was on what was actually charting. I'd never be able to afford a first pressing of "Beat Bop", but I could actually listen to it.

So...standouts here. The aforementioned Rammelzee vs. K-Rob cut is one I still love listening to. Sure, I don't have the Basquiat artwork, but what are you going to do? The first Marley Marl A-side also appears here; his beats for Roxanne Shante and Cold Chillin', and production work on "Mama Said Knock You Out" were crucial exposures to hip-hop for a young Ape Mummy. Likewise with Grandmaster Caz; I'd had a copy of the Rhino reissue of "Wild Style" for a while, but his Tuff City sides never came back in print, so it's rad to hear something "new" from one of the classic DJs. Even a track like "Get Retarded" by MC EZ & Troup sounds great...and that's before finding out that it's a super-young Craig Mack on the mic. All new flava in ya ear, indeed.

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