With its infectious rhythm and Kurtis Blow 's charismatic delivery, this track became an anthem for hip-hop's emergence as a global phenomenon. 4. "Rhythm Nation" - Janet Jackson Year Released: 1989 ...

Pick a side: Old-school hip-hop or new? Old-school all day. I was at the rap battles in the parks. Hip-hop came from the dirt. You had to be a lyrical assassin then. If you weren’t, you were trash.

ALIBI recently had that experience while creating its Old School Rap album. Parks and his team had tapped an up-and-coming artist/writer for two of the tracks, and the level of authenticity she ...