The first full length rap albums were released at the beginning of 1980 and they contained as many R&B songs as they did rap songs. As a result it wasn't possible to sequence the albums thematically , and there was no sense of cohesion as the albums were really more like compilations of previously released singles paired with a few new songs. In 1980 The Sugar Hill Gang and Kurtis Blow both released self titled albums that fit the previously mentioned description. It wasn't until Run-DMC released their 1984 self-titled album that we got an album that didn't contain R&B songs. The social commentary of "It's Like That" and the remake of Kurtis Blow's "Hard Times" combined with Jam Master Jay's cut song "Jays Game" and the slightly comical "30 Days" provided a somewhat variety of different subject matters that did not exist in rap albums previously.
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Best guide to hip hop, soul, reggae concerts & events in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles & New York City + music, videos, radio and more
J Boog
Tuesday, June 16 @ UC Theater, Berkeley
DaBoyDame w/ Keyshia Cole, Plies +more
Friday, June 19 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Buju Banton & Stephen Marley
Saturday, June 20 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Kev Choice Ensemble
Friday, June 26 @ Yoshi's, Oakland
Khalid
Friday, June 26 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Thee Sacred Souls
Saturday, Aug 15 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Jungle
Wednesday, Oct 7 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
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