The Showdown: The Sugarhill Gang Vs. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
With the exception of one new track--the cynically titled "One for the $," by the Sugarhill Gang and Melle Mel--and some commentary by Ice-T and Public Enemy's Chuck D, there's nothing on The Showdown that can't be found on other collections. The Showdown also skips some important classics--"The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" and Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five's "Beat Street" among them. Those quibbles aside, this collection does achieve its goals: by showcasing the Sugarhill Gang--who emphasized the party groove from which rap came--and the extended Grandmaster Flash family--who saw themselves as social messengers (pun intended)--side by side, the album brings to light the pair's differences and groundbreaking creativity. Looking back on them decades after the fact with ears accustomed to production gymnastics, we can occasionally--and criminally--miss this.(For a more complete look at the two pioneers of rap and how they fit in with their contemporaries, check out The Sugar Hill Records Story.) --Randy Silver

The Showdown: The Sugarhill Gang Vs. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five,Sugarhill Gang,Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five,Rhino / Wea,Electro,Hip-Hop,Old School Rap,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop

Tracks:

Introduction/Pre-Game Show - Ice-T & Chuck D
Rapper's Delight - Sugarhill Gang
The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Round One Wrap-Up - Ice-T & Chuck D
8th Wonder - The Sugarhill Gang
Scorpio - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Round Two Wrap-Up - Ice-T & Chuck D
Kick It Live From 9 To 5 - Sugar Hill Gang
New York New York - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Round Three Wrap-Up - Ice-T & Chuck D
Livin' In The Fast Lane - Sugar Hill Gang
Jesse - Grandmaster Melle Mel
Round Four Wrap-Up - Ice-T & Chuck D
Apache - Sugar Hill Gang
White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) - Grandmaster & Melle Mel
Round Five Wrap-Up - Ice-T & Chuck D
Showdown - The Furious Five Meets The Sugarhill Gang
One For The $ - Sugarhill Gang & Grandmaster Melle Mel
Post-Game Show - Ice-T & Chuck D

Amazon.com

With the exception of one new track--the cynically titled "One for the $," by the Sugarhill Gang and Melle Mel--and some commentary by Ice-T and Public Enemy's Chuck D, there's nothing on The Showdown that can't be found on other collections. The Showdown also skips some important classics--"The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" and Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five's "Beat Street" among them. Those quibbles aside, this collection does achieve its goals: by showcasing the Sugarhill Gang--who emphasized the party groove from which rap came--and the extended Grandmaster Flash family--who saw themselves as social messengers (pun intended)--side by side, the album brings to light the pair's differences and groundbreaking creativity. Looking back on them decades after the fact with ears accustomed to production gymnastics, we can occasionally--and criminally--miss this.(For a more complete look at the two pioneers of rap and how they fit in with their contemporaries, check out The Sugar Hill Records Story.) --Randy Silver

Customer Reviews:

Showdown--Old School Style........2007-07-17

GREAT CUTS ON THIS CD! PURCHASED TO HEAR "THE MESSAGE", AND "RAPPER'S DELIGHT"--SURPRISED BY SO MUCH MORE, FROM EACH GROUP, OF SIMILAR MUSICAL QUALITY! "APACHE","NY NY", "LIVIN' IN THE FAST LANE"--"WHITE LINES" (SERIOUS, SOLID, OLD-SCHOOL, TIMELESS BEATS), JUST TO NAME A FEW.
ONLY DOWN SIDE TO THIS CD ARE THE SPOKEN "RATINGS" OF EACH SONG BY ICE-T & CHUCK D--A FEW SECONDS LONG, AFTER EACH "DUEL" (AFTER ONE SONG BY EACH GROUP). IT'S ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY, UNNECESSARY TO HEAR WHAT THESE TWO HAVE TO SAY--IF YOUR EARS WORK, THAT'S ALL YOU'LL NEED TO ENJOY THIS TREAT. JUST SKIP THE "REVIEW" TRACK AFTER EACH SECOND SONG. "SHOWDOWN" IS A SHOW-STOPPER!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CD!

The Beginning of Rap!.......2006-03-01