This playlist, the first of three created to accompany our Black Music Month special tracing hip-hop's evolution, soundtracks the fertile early days of recorded rap—from 1978-89. It features such familiar names as Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, Afrika Bambaataa, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Public Enemy and N.W.A, as well as a few that aren't quite so well known.

We wish we could play it for you on vinyl, but them's the breaks.

Having issues playing this embedded playlist? Go here.

Having issues playing this embedded playlist? Go here.