Description
Compilation – Giant Single: The Profile Records Rap Anthology Vol. 1 – Double Red Vinyl Records
Official Record Store Day 2017 release. Quantity 2500
RSD 2017
Giant Single: The Profile Records Rap Anthology, Vol. 1 is a compilation celebrating the legacy of Profile Records, one of the most important independent labels in the history of hip-hop. Rather than focusing on a single artist, the collection documents a formative period in rap music during the 1980s, when the genre was evolving from a regional phenomenon into a major cultural and commercial force. For anyone interested in the foundations of hip-hop, it serves as both an entertaining listening experience and an invaluable historical document.
Founded in 1981, Profile Records became one of the defining independent rap labels of the decade. Alongside pioneering companies such as Sugar Hill Records, Tommy Boy Records, and Cold Chillin’ Records, Profile helped shape the sound and business of early hip-hop. The label was particularly influential in bringing rap from local clubs and block parties into record stores and onto radio playlists.
The anthology highlights many of Profile’s most important artists, including pioneers such as Run-D.M.C., whose groundbreaking recordings transformed hip-hop through stripped-down beats, hard-hitting delivery, and rock-inspired production. Their success helped establish rap as a mainstream musical genre and opened doors for countless artists who followed.
The compilation also features recordings by other notable Profile acts, illustrating the label’s stylistic diversity. Rather than presenting a single vision of hip-hop, it demonstrates how rapidly the music evolved during the decade.
The production reflects the technological innovations of the era. Drum machines such as the Roland TR-808, sparse sampling, scratching, turntablism, and minimalist beats dominate many tracks. Although these productions may sound simple compared with modern hip-hop, their rhythmic power and inventiveness remain remarkably influential.
The anthology captures many of the themes that defined early rap: competitive boasting, party culture, urban life, social observation, humor, storytelling, and personal identity. The MCs display extraordinary rhythmic precision and verbal creativity, laying the foundation for later generations of lyricists.
One of the compilation’s greatest strengths is its historical perspective. Listening to these recordings reveals how quickly hip-hop developed during the 1980s. Early party-oriented tracks gradually gave way to more sophisticated rhyme schemes, harder production, and increasingly complex storytelling. The anthology documents this evolution in real time.
The sound quality generally preserves the character of the original recordings while benefiting from modern remastering where appropriate. The recordings retain the raw energy of independent studio productions without losing the warmth and immediacy that made them so exciting when first released.
Beyond its musical value, Giant Single illustrates the importance of independent record labels in hip-hop’s growth. Profile Records operated outside the traditional major-label system, allowing artists greater creative freedom and helping establish the entrepreneurial spirit that remains central to hip-hop culture today.
For longtime fans, the anthology offers an opportunity to revisit many foundational recordings in one place. For newer listeners, it serves as an excellent introduction to the sounds, production techniques, and lyrical styles that shaped modern rap.
The compilation also highlights how influential Profile’s catalog has remained. Many of its recordings have been sampled, referenced, and celebrated by later generations of artists, demonstrating the enduring impact of the label’s pioneering work.
With its collection of classic tracks, groundbreaking performances, and historical significance, Giant Single: The Profile Records Rap Anthology, Vol. 1 stands as an essential survey of early hip-hop. More than simply a compilation, it is a chronicle of a musical revolution, capturing the creativity, innovation, and cultural energy that transformed rap from neighborhood expression into one of the world’s most influential art forms. For anyone interested in hip-hop history, it remains an indispensable listening experience.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde – Genius Rap
Disco Four – Whip Rap
Rammellzee vs. K-Rob – Beat Bop
Fresh 3 M.C.’s – Fresh
Pumpkin And The Profile All-Stars – Here Comes That Beat!
Word Of Mouth Featuring DJ Cheese – King Kut
Run-DMC – Sucker M.C.s (Krush-Groove 1)
Pebblee-Poo – A Fly Guy
Dana Dane – Nightmares
The Masterdon Committee – Get Off My Tip!
Rap-O-Matic, Ltd. – Lies, Lies
Spyder-D Featuring D.J. Doc – I Can’t Wait (To Rock The Mike)
The Showboys – Drag Rap
Sweet Tee & Jazzy Joyce – It’s My Beat
Asher D Featuring Daddy Freddy – Ragamuffin Hip-Hop
