Ever since Rich Homie Quan’s Biggie botch at this year’s Hip Hop Honors, there has been a lot of editorializing about the lack of respect from today’s generation of artists AND fans for the hip-hop classics that paved the way for what we have today. The premise of most of them goes a little something like this: “If Quan had never heard Biggie’s verse and/or didn’t even practice it before the show, what hope is there for anybody younger than him to have ever heard older classics like N.W.A, Public Enemy, BDP or Run-D.M.C.?” I’d go even further and mention Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Whodini and Treacherous Three, but you get the idea.

Today instead of TALKING about it I’ve decided to DO something about it. I’ve chosen Run-D.M.C. since they were recognized at the very first Hip Hop Honors ceremony in 2004, and can arguably be called one of the most important rap groups of all time. They had the first gold album, they had the first rap video on MTV, the first to get an endorsement deal (Adidas), and the list of accomplishments goes on and on. If you were born after Jam Master Jay died though (Oct. 30, 2002) which precipitated the group disbanding, it’s possible you’re not even aware of who they are or have heard any of their classic songs. With this set of videos you have a chance to listen to the classics that inspired an entire generation. If you love hip-hop get to know the roots of the culture here and now.

1.) Run-D.M.C. – “Rock Box”

2.) Run-D.M.C. – “King of Rock”

3.) Run-D.M.C. – “Run’s House”

4.) Run-D.M.C. – “It’s Tricky”

5.) Run-D.M.C. – “Walk This Way”

6.) Run-D.M.C. – “Beats to the Rhyme”

7.) Run-D.M.C. – “Mary Mary”

8.) Run-D.M.C. – “Pause”

9.) Run-D.M.C. – “You Talk Too Much”

10.) Run-D.M.C. – “Down With the King”

BONUS 1.) Run-D.M.C. – “It’s Like That” *

BONUS 2.) Run-D.M.C. – “Sucker MC’s” *

* Run-D.M.C. did not release videos for this seminal hip-hop classic, the A and B-side of their first single in 1983, but two videos after Jay’s death paid tribute to these songs – one of which is a Jason Nevins remix.