Blurb from Wax Poetics:
“In celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th year, we’ve teamed up with London based ‘Classic Material’ to present a chronologically themed series of mixtapes celebrating the history of recorded rap music, mixed by Chris Read. Edition #12 in this year by year series pays tribute to the Hip Hop of 1998, a year often celebrated as the pinnacle of the late 90s ‘Indie’ era. Revered independent labels including Rawkus, ABB, Fondle Em and countless other less well known imprints released some of their strongest material during the year. Artwork pays tribute to the Rawkus Records logo.”
1. Classic Material Intro
2. Black Star – Twice Inna Lifetime (Excerpt)
3. Sound Providers -The Field (Instrumental)
4. Chris Read – Theme #1 (Scratchapella)
5. Pete Rock feat Kurupt & Inspectah Deck – Tru Master (Excerpt)
6. Constant Deviants – Hustler’s Prayer (Instrumental)
7. Rob Swift – The Ablist (Acapella)
8. Gang Starr feat Rakim & WC – The Militia II (Remix)
9. Gang Starr feat Big Shug & Freddie Foxxx – The Militia (Pete Rock Remix)
10. Paula Perry – Extra Extra (Instrumental)
11. Pete Rock feat Kurupt & Inspectah Deck – Tru Master (Acapella)
12. Black Star – Respiration (Instrumental)
13. X-Perado feat O.C. – Watch Ya Step (Acapella)
14. Mike Zoot feat El Da Sensei – International Customs
15. All City – The Actual
16. Constant Deviants – Can’t Stop (Instrumental)
17. Jemini the Gifted One – I.M.C.U.D.O.N.T (Acapella)
18. Jurassic 5 -Action Satisfaction
19. Boulevard Connection feat Tame 1 & El Da Sensei – Haagen Daz (Instrumental)
20. Defari – Never Lose Touch (Acapella)
21. MF Grimm – Do It For The Kids
22. Vinyl Reanimators feat Natruel, Shabazz the Disciple, Wicked Will, Mr Eon & L-Fudge – The Big Daddy Anthem (Acapella)
23. Sound Providers – Dope Transmission (Instrumental)
24. All Natural – 50 Years
25. DJ Honda feat Rawcotiks – For Everyday That Goes By (Acapella)
26. People Under the Stairs – Time to Rock Our Shit
27. DJ Punk Roc – Rockin’ It (Roc Raida Rockin’ It Remix)
28. Big Kwam – Execution Expert (Acapella)
29. Smut Peddlers – One By One (Instrumental)
30. Big Pun – I’m Not a Player (Instrumental)
31. A Tribe Called Quest – The Love (Instrumental)