For hardcore rap fans and die-hard hip-hop heads, few things are more sacred than their personal top five. When it comes to ranking the best MC's to ever bless the mic – countless mixtapes, street cyphers, and billboard charting hits must be taken into account and weighted for lyrical content, cultural impact, and flow, just to open the discussion. Take that intensity and imagine trying to condense the entire genres of rap and hip-hop into one anthology containing 120 of the most impactful songs ever made.This is exactly what nonprofit record label, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is doing in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

Photo: Michael G. Stewart and Jati Lindsay

A panel of artists, music critics, academics, and industry mavens from all three major music labels – Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment – have been assembled to compile songs for The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, no trifling "greatest hits" collection. Along with the anthology, comes intense liner notes giving social and political context to the selected tracks with original essays written by songwriters and scholars.

In addition, the must-have, 300-page collectors edition includes relevant, never-before-published photographs provided by NMAAHC as well as printed song lyrics. "We anticipate getting something which is a perfect mix of image, words, and music," Folkways director Huib Schippers told Smithsonian Magazine.

To cover production costs of this ambitious project, Schippers and his Folkways team have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $250,000 for the project. Donors who contribute $100 or more will receive advanced access to the anthology at production cost. Other giveaways, including a museum tour guided by Questlove of the Roots, are also up for grabs. Dope!

Click here to check out the project promo video.

Hip Hop Anthology

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