Sugarhill Gang vs. Grandmaster Flash: The Showdown

The Showdown is not an old-school battle of the MCs in the style of KRS One vs. MC Shan. It's certainly not in the current style of Canibus vs. LL Cool J, either. But don't be fooled--the gloves do come off. Essentially a dual greatest hits album, the Sugarhill Gang alternates tracks with Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five while rapping referees Chuck D and Ice-T debate the winner between rounds. It's good-time rap vs. political rap. The only losers are Chuck D and Ice-T, who are pretty much just there to collect, as the Sugarhill Gang says, "that cold, cold cash."

While no longtime fan of the old school will find any new music on this collection, it's perfect for those who do not yet own anything by Flash or the Gang. The two groups, generally credited with starting the whole rap scene, complement each other in every "Round." For example, Flash's harsh "The Message" follows the Sugarhill Gang's sampling of Chic's "Good Times" on "Rapper's Delight."

The first-ever techno rap, performed by Flash and the Furious Five, might actually be the last one as well. Track six, "Scorpio," follows the Gang's "8th Wonder," which samples a rhythmic calypso beat. And of course, there's the super Round Five matchup between Flash's vigorously anti-drug "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)," the 15th track, and a ridiculous dance jam that you just might have heard before, entitled "Apache."

Which brings us to the one reason, above all else, why this album absolutely must be a part of every record collection. That's right, track 14 is the Sugarhill Gang's rendition of "Apache," and that's right, this is the song immortalized by Carlton Banks' dance on the Las Vegas sweeps episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air. How can anyone refuse the classic line "Kemosabe, jump on it, jump on it!"? Frankly, this reviewer certainly cannot. So jump on it, and as the Sugarhill Gang's Wonder Mike puts it, "Keep it rockin' like the stuff that we call me/ (What's that?)/ Hot butter popcorn." (Rhino)

--Nathaniel Rich

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