The Smithsonian released the track list for its anthology of rap and hip hop on Monday, traveling through four decades of the genre. "The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap" is set for release on August 20. It's split into nine discs, which will encapsulate four decades-worth of hip hop and rap into 129 songs.

In an announcement made by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the Smithsonian Insititute said that the goal of the anthology was to tell "the story of a defining era of music 'of, by, and for the people.'" The article also described it as a "first-of-its-kind multimedia collection chronicling the growth of the music and culture from the parks of the Bronx to solidifying a reach that spans the globe."

This is the Smithsonian Folkway Recordings' third anthology, following "Anthology of American Folk Music" (1953) and "Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology" (2011).

The anthology, which is a partnership between Smithsonian Folkway Recordings and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is paired with a 300-page book, designed by Cey Adams, the founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings. The book will feature essays and photos. The entire project centers on the evolution of rap and hip hop.

SEE THE LIST AT INSIDER !