Planet Rock: The Album

This one was just way too corny 80s hip hop for me to take it seriously. Not really painful to listen to, just formulaic.

2/5 not for me

Historically important but intrinsically a bit repetitive and vacant.

Eh, this is fine. Super dated and not something that I would consider good, but for the time, this may have been good.

I respect that this is clearly a foundation that a lot of amazing hip hop evolved from, but it was a tough listen

Holy crap: Renegades of Funk, did not know Rage was not the original!

An incredibly influential album that has aged terribly for both musical and non-musical reasons. The title track slaps and has been sampled everywhere (Public Enemy, Kendrick, LCD Soundsystem, Lana Del Rey) and the rest of the album is just a lesser version of that title track

Maybe it’s all the cringy memories of teachers or education programs following this blueprint to make education hip. It was already dated when I was 5. Like, I get something had to do it first, and my opinions are colored by unrelated moments, but it just makes me feel uncomfortable.

Doesn't do it for me sorry, would like to like it given its role in the big scheme of things

1980s rap. No doubt cutting edge and pioneering at the time and hugely influential since, but it sounds very dated now. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Planet Rock Date listened: 05/02/24

На бумаге звучит лучше, чем есть на самом деле. Треки затянутые, и на сегодня звучат ну супер устаревшими с точки зрения и звука, и текстов. Лучшая песня - Go Go Pop.

I liked go go pop. The rest not for me

80s rap that Fresh Prince probably listened to

It’s not bad, but it just sounds too cheesy to me. They definitely put effort into the beats, which were groovy, just not what I like to listen to. I don’t recognize any of the songs, so there isn’t any nostalgia element for me. Haven’t given a one star yet, but this wasn't thaaat bad.

Cool and unique, but not super listenable. At over 40 minutes with 7 songs, we’re looking at almost 6 minutes per song on average. The cool factor is that the songs actually change and progress, but they’re not compelling enough to hold my attention for that long. Especially in modern day when we have catchier songs that are less than 2 minutes long. I acknowledge that the instant gratification that comes from less nuanced, shorter songs, certainly impacts my view of this. With that, the rapping is a relic of the past. It’s like the first time someone landed an Ollie in skateboarding it was the craziest thing, but now everyone is (rightfully so) desensitized to it. I’m looking for the 900, not the Ollie.

One of those cases where the originators aren’t exactly the best to do it. It’s a groundbreaking album but this is when rap had really just gotten started by adding lyrics to breakdancing beats. I’m sure if I heard this in 1986 it would have blown my mind, but it doesn’t really hold a candle to the great rap albums that released in the decades following. That being said there are a couple classic tracks that deserve some replay from time to time and Afrika Bambaataa has to be mentioned when discussing the history of rap. Two stars because I know there’s gonna be better rap albums in our journey.

I liked the eponymous track

One of those probably groundbreaking at the time, but sounds so dated now.

Sounded like a cover band for 1980s rap.

stemning, kannski 1 gott lag samt

I think this album is weird in the sense that it is more famous for its historical significance than the content. I am not a big fan of early hip hop but there is definitely better albums out there from this time period. I do like the electronic beats but it just feels all over the place. I would at least recommend a listen from hip hop fans! Favorite Song(s): N/A

Yeah its just a bit dated. Im sure its revolutionary for its time

iconisch voor de stijl maar verder niet heel enjoyable

Not my thing, yet it's fun to listen out for the elements that obviously influenced the future of Hip-Hop. Also the panning, they loved panning vocals constantly, kind decide whether it's annoying or fun. But it makes more sense considering the more dance atmosphere - I just imagine it at an 80's disco, makes it much more fun. Who You Funkin' With is probably my 'favourite' with Go Go Pop having the best beat, at least to me. Very much of its time, not my thing, but y'know, interesting.

Hm. Rapping, black "Village People" in outer space - that can only ever have seemed like a good idea in the 80's. This 'futuristic' proto-rap really didn't age well in any regard and the rhymes and vocabulary used are so simple that the lyrics seem like they could have been written by an elementary school kid. That said, it all still sounds less painful to me than the majority of rap and Who You Funkin' With? even sounded somewhat nice.

Ach ja…

Parts I really enjoyed. And other parts, I did not.

Couple of bangers, rest is struggling to be filler

Get kinda old fast

If I wasn’t sure from the nebulous intro of “Planet Rock” how much it holds up today, reading about Afrika Bambaata removed all doubt. Once a giant in electro and hip-hop, in 2016 he was removed from his position as head of the Universal Zulu Nation due to a number of child sex abuse allegations. As such, it’s difficult to really get on board with his work and I was never going to commit to getting invested in “Planet Rock”. But the fact remains that this album is an interesting step in the evolution of hip-hop as well as electro, influencing artists from Run DMC to Fatboy Slim. The opening track in particular, built around a Kraftwerk sample, has gained praise from hip-hop enthusiasts as a major influence on the genre. However, I actually didn’t warm to the song “Planet Rock”: it feels a little tired-sounding, with no obvious hook and like a collection of half-finished ideas over a static loop. The biggest drawback with the music here is the severely dated flavour of the record. This begins with the dodgy Word Art on the cover and doesn’t let up for a single note of the record: the whole thing’s steeped in hollow, plastic drum loops with little imagination or sonic experimentation. For a good chunk of the songs, it just sounds like they plugged in some presets and improvised over the first sounds they found. There are exceptions to this: “Renegades of Funk”, the third track, is where I started to get moving as the arrangements became a little more colourful with more to latch onto. “Who You Funkin’ With”, with a sung-through hook, increased urgency and some incorporation of bombastic 80’s rock, is good fun too: there’s even a guitar solo, which is always delightful in hip-hop. Funk is also integrated well into the mix, and the vocals here are some of the catchiest on the album. But the two final numbers, “Go Go Pop” and “They Made A Mistake”, return to empty, soulless dance tracks with all the funk drained out of them. Not even the sweeping synths of “Go Go Pop” or the juicy bassline of “They Made A Mistake” can salvage the whole set. Perhaps I’m being a little unfair on this album: it’s still one to appreciate for its place in the evolution of a genre. But from the limited time I’ve spent with it, it’s hard to imagine it will ever be one I’ll come back to, let alone proudly display in my collection while the allegations of noncery remain.

Like a visit to a museum to look at an important but ugly statue.

This really early hip hop has never resonated with me. It just feels kinda corny - the casio keyboard-sounding beats, the silly voices and lame lyrics. I know they're doing some sampling from older soul records - the element of old school hip hop that really appeals to me - but not enough and the heavy electro stuff makes me cringe a bit. And most of these tracks are WAY too long.

This didn't age particularly well. I guess it was important for it's time but there's better albums from the time that are still great.

Perhaps more influential than good?

Love the album cover. You can hear the influence all over this album. But it sounds incredibly dated, not a pleasant listen for me. This is one where I fully understand the inclusion on the list, but I don't enjoy it as a piece of music. 1.8/5

Not sure what to make of this one. If they did find the perfect beat they kept it to themselves.

I only liked a single song. Stand-out: Go Go Pop

Don't get yourself ready for another rock album. We've been lied to. This is not another rock album. This is, as the name does not suggest, an 80s hip-hop album, and a mediocre one at that. I'll start with the thing I like. The beats aren't that bad. I liked them at times, and they were pretty well made. That's really the only thing about this album that stands out though. The rapping itself is just kind of okay. The lyrics are repetitive and uninteresting. The album also kind of drags a bit. It may only have 7 songs, but those songs range from nearly 4 minutes to 7 and a half minutes. Why? I don't know. My overall problem with this album is that it lacks substance. Most of the songs just feel like, "Hey, we're rockin' and rappin'! Here's the crew!" It feels like a couple of singles cobbled together to form a not-so-cohesive package... probably because that's what it is, at least according to the wikipedia article. Overall, this is an album that starts with a pretty decent hip-hop song, before continuing into an uninteresting drag, produced by someone with some major allegations against him. 2/5.

Mozda nije momenat zivota za ovo. Mozda je i samo veoma random.

Hip hop. Coñazo.

Some interesting parts, bit disjointed, felt on the verge of something really good

This is some real primitive hip hop. The genre has definitely come a long way. The backing tracks all need some work. Production, mixing, mastering, etc. seems to be lacking something. Just a product of the times I think. Not much of substance in the lyrics that I can't tell. Go Go Pop sounds like a Donkey Kong song. 1 extra star for being the first.

god that aged

Kinda like the Furious 5 but not as good. 2.5

It was like if Eddie Murphy and The Beastie Boys were asked to make a soundtrack for a Muppets movie. What a wild ride.

Boring. Drum machine shenanigans ain't enough to keep me engaged. A few good amd interesting moments save it from being a 1/5.

I can see how this was influential, and it is groovy, but a bit too long and same-y for me.

I’ve gotten into old school hip hop quite a bit—especially grandmaster flash—but this really didn’t click for me. The production was super simplistic to the point being bad and none of the lyrics really grabbed me.

Moins bien que planète rap

la planete va mal ...

Not my thing!

Listened Before? N This was some interesting stuff... the 80s were a magical time. I'm pretty sure I've heard the title track before in an arcade somewhere in time. I don't know that the whole album needed to be included here. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Planet Rock

Actually not as bad as I expected. I’ll give it some credit. Barely a 2.

Funky ochentero sin ninguna extravagancia. Sonidos de otro tiempo que parecen extinguidos. Sintetizadores y percusiones flojas.

It was alright.

Incredibly dated

This could have been an email. And I would have marked it as spam.

Meh. All sounds the same to me. Energetic, but not as good as the Bhundu Boys or Malian blues.

You can hear the influence that this album had on the music that followed it. This historical influence however does not make the album any better to listen to. Some tracks have a pretty good beat and rhytm, but are still very repetitive and overstay their welcome.

Nope

I don't love it, although I do recognize that it is a pioneering album in the world of hip hop, which is a genre I don't like at all. So, not sure if I should appreciate the innovation or be mad at the introduction of a new genre that I'm not really into. 2 stars.

Soooooo dated and repetitive

Album 113 of 1001 Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock - The Album Rating : 2 / 5 Lots of rhymes. Pretty low key hip hop. I didn't mind listening to it, but it never grabbed my interest.

Obviously had significant influence on hip hop as we know it but the production is too spikey/aggressive/disjointed/erratic for my 21st century ears

It’s pretty bad unfortunately, this is a really hard one to recommend

Not my cup of tea

Dated and campy in the worst way - not a single one of the musical fads featured here made it outside the 80s, and for good reason. There’s some rhythmic breakdowns later on that drew me in a bit, but they were a day late and a dollar short to overcome the cloying instrumentals and goofy lyricism that dominated most of this LP

Planet Rock: The Album is an old school hip hop album by Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force. It is a collection of singles that contain the earliest hits of hip hop music. The album was celebrated critically, but didn't perform amazingly commercially. I liked listening to the early music of hip hop, but this album is pretty dated compared to what hip hop has evolved into. It may be a great album in the history of music, but it's not for me.

every song starts off interesting enough but gets boring pretty quickly. the raps are unbearably corny and every song overstays its welcome. i liked the beats. bass was pretty funky at times especially the last song! not overly bad but dated.

I just don’t understand. What were the lyrics?! Yeah I have no words

Yeah no this album sucked. Like how did it even get here.

How can an album that sounds like all the other albums that came out at the same time be considered so influential? Especially when they've got nothing to say? Best track: Who You Funkin' With?

Choppy beats and flow, corny lyrics, and lacking substance are being merely held back by snippets of enjoyable music and inspirations surely brought forward by this album keeping it barely afloat. There are certainly other "items" to bring this album down more, but as it is not directly tied to the album itself, the album stays at that low two rating. Thank God hip-hop got much more interesting by the end of the 80s.

Quick notes on this one: - I'm not denying the historical and cultural importance of the "Planet Rock" single, with its interpolations taken from Kraftwerk and its socially conscious lyrics. -The same goes for "Renegades of Funk", even if Rage Against The Machine did a far better version of it in their *Renegades* album (the one made out of covers). Listening to both tracks again, I was surprised at the way that RATM version and the original actually sound so distinctly *different*, musically speaking. -Turns out Bambaataa has been accused of using his position as community leader to sexually assault a bunch of teenage boys. Those allegations, which came out during the mid-2010s, are pretty serious and believable. And it seems the abuse started as far back as the early eighties. I guess there could NOT be *worse* ways to tarnish the man's legacy, along with the one of the Zulu Nation. I was also appalled at the way some people in that community kept on defending Bambaataa/Lance Taylor some time after those allegations came out. Or the way a couple of bastards even exerted pressure on the victims so that they kept their mouths shut. - Fortunately, it seems that Taylor was then quickly expelled from that group he had founded, and I just hope its current leaders won't make the same sorts of mistake again, at the very least. The Zulu Nation had rather admirable goals, culturally and community-wise. It would be a shame to see *everything* it established go down the drain because of that very sad story. Under that light, I don't really have the heart to explore the deep cuts of this album any further. To be honest, I've only listened to a few tracks from it... Knowing the singles and how hip hop generally sounded back in 1986, I have a pretty good idea of how the thing pans out. Besides, there are only ten reviews in here rating this LP with a 5/5 grade. Seems like I'm not really missing anything here... Hip hop was in its infancy back then anyway. Maturity allowing the creation of more "timeless" full-length releases would only appear with Public Enemy, and then, even more, through the Native Tongues and Wu-Tang collectives. Oh, and there was also that thing called *Gangsta Rap* on the west coast, but that's a story for another time, kiddies... Hard to rate this album. 2/5, mostly for cultural importance? Number of albums left to review: 565 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 210 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 102 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 127 (including this one)

Probably groundbreaking at the time, but now sounds like less than the sum of its parts. It's OK

It's very dated now. Way too much ear abrasion for an enjoyable album

I understand the historical significance of this album, but not really my jam. The title track was ok tho. 2/5

-I feel like you can sample the hell out of this album based on the first song alone. I'm pretty sure the first track has been sampled in a lot of different tracks, bc eventhough I havent heard this song in particular, I recognize the instrumental. (Upon further inspection, this song appears in over 400 songs as a sample) - I like the classic hip-hop vibes. Reminds me of RUNDMCs style of rapping. Its a little dated, but I can appreciate the style at the time. -The songs instrumentals on the other hand, are really cool. I see so many samples being made from this album. Other than the potential sampling of this record, nothing really stood out to me. I can appreciate how it’s the beginnings of hip hop and rap but I’m probably not gonna listen to these songs again

I know it’s very influential but it’s just not my kind of music.

It’s not for me in your face 80’s hip hop made by some nonce…nah

Not the best old school hip hop album so far, but definitely still a fun album. Another early electronic album, which I have respect for. Renegades of Funk!! (Rage version is better) I think I wanted to like this album more than I did. Album cover reminds me of Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure.

A third song from Renegades of Funk this early???? I wonder if we'll hear all of them eventually. Rage's is obviously better (like most of album). I'm sure this was very cool in 86 and I can see some influence but it was very meh to me for most.

It's possible this was very influential. I bet it's better live.

Wife and daughters used to dance/exercise to this music after dinner. Sadly, I never found it compelling.

At one time this was cutting edge, now it sounds like a SNL skit. I do wish I had a boom box to blast it on.

Hip hop sound with an expiration date sometime in the mid 80’s.

Started off and I hated it. Then for a song or two I thought, oh this isn't too bad. Then I started to dislike it again. It's just too dated. Not for me.

some good bits, but a whole album of this is way too much

1/7, 14%

Definitely not for me

This seems like it was a very experimental album for it’s time (1986). It’s like RunDMC in space with all its synthesizers and techno effects! I was really shocked to hear so many things I recognized from later music, so they were definitely inspirational to up and coming artists in the 90s. (I heard inspiration for LL Cool J, Rage Against the Machine, even Beverly Hills Cop!)

Fun!

Ok. Typical sound for that period

80's club/dance/party rap. Not my favorite. Probably nothing like it at the time. Best played extremely loud. 2 stars. Definitely would have be a killer mind blowing change from disco.

1st track pretty rough 2nd track better. Clearly a lot of influential sounds.

Cheesy and over the top in all aspects. Normally I would enjoy something so ridiculous and fun and give full credit to its place in history. I even just had Kraftwerk two albums ago, which should make Planet Rock even more rewarding to listen to. But somehow I found it grating and weirdly slow from the get go and I just couldn't warm up to it. 2 stars.

Very old skool hip hop. Not much of an advance from Rappers Delight or Grandmaster Flash’s hits. Good to hear Kraftwerk, but generally disappointing given all plaudits for being so influential.

I don't think there was anything that I liked on this album but I can't bring myself to give it a 1 :(

This is alright but almost every track is better as a sample source than a work in its own right and they each go on loads longer than necessary.

Not come across this before, but lots of the sounds are very familiar. Feels like it's probably on the list by virtue of what it inspired and what has borrowed from it, rather than on its own merit. Sounds very dated, lacking a bit of energy, not really my cup of tea. 2/5.

I felt like this was a weird redux of Grandmaster Flash. Didn't do a lot to me, but some of the Go Go stuff was pretty enticing. Maybe with a couple more listens, but I wasn't super excited about it.

Remember when you thought that Breakin' was the best movie ever until Electric Boogaloo came out and then you couldn't decide? Well, this album takes you baaack in time and proves that you are better off where you are now. Though I did enjoy doing a deep dive into the rabbit hole of Renegades of Funk, I didn't feel like this was something that I'd listen to again. I get it, Afrikka Bambaataa was an innovator, a godfather of early hip-hop and a super important figure we should have some knowledge of and respect for ... (Poppin', sockin', rockin' puttin' a side of hip-hop ... 'Cause where we're goin', there ain't no stoppin') If I listen to this album again, it'd probably be on my way to an 80's-themed breakdance party.

I did not enjoy this at all.

This sounds like a soundtrack from a space invaders movie for the 1950s if the space invaders were actually friendly and took someone from earth to a club on their planet where other aliens were shown having a good time. It sounds cool and futuristic…70 years ago.

all due respect - not my jam

Here and there, I found some elements I did like.

Really boring The first track is OK, but then it's just more of the same

Mihin avaruus katoaa ekan biisin jälkeen? Odotin jotain jännempää, oli aika perus kasariräppiä kuitenkin. Tosin Afrika-ilottelu tavallaan ilahduttaa

Unfortunately not much to it, lots of funky beats and electronic music, not much rapping and it all sounded the same

Sounds a bit like uncompleted songs

Can appreciate the influence these guys had but musically it feels to much like an early draft too really enjoy a full listen. Also I really want hiphop to use more real drums so I'm a bit mad at these 808 pioneers :')

I love hip hop and I love the pioneers of hip hop but I just can’t get into a whole album of this sound which grates after a while, all electro stabs and synth reworkings of Kraftwerk. And that’s without bringing up the allegations which have been swirling about Bambaataa who, on the balance of probability, seems to be a pretty trash individual.

An album that does deserve to be in this list because of its influence over hip-hop along with it's clever sampling and production. Although I respect it, especially with the use of Kraftwerk, I personally didn't like it. Bit like an artefact that is significant that you look and become informed, but walk away unmoved emotionally.

Nowt special in this for me.

The original hip hop songs in one album. I didn't think I would see a 'Best Of' record on here, but here we are.

It was definitely interesting to listen to the origins of DJing and Hip Hop, but the music just does not hold up. So I'm happy that I listened to it, but I feel not the urge to listen to it again.

The sorted of dated dance music you’d expect to hear in the background of a period film set in the ‘80s. A few funky rhythms sprinkled in here and there do not make up for an otherwise uncompelling listen.

This would be good for anyone that likes the beastie boys.

More of an inspiration for better music than something I enjoyed for itself

Urgh, what am I listening to? This is dated in the worst way; it just doesn't hold up. The vocals are weird and all over the place. There's no depth to the lyrics besides 'rock the party,' which gets old and tedious quickly. The instrumentals are boring and uninspired. Overall, this was not an impressive album.

Probably groundbreaking at the time, but now sounds like less than the sum of its parts. It's OK

Goofy and definitely not timeless.

It can be really difficult to separate the person from the music. This is one of those cases. I first became aware of Afrika Bambaataa in high school. A friend of mine put "World Destruction" on a mix tape. It's a good song, him and John Lydon going round and round, their vocals. I hadn't heard the song in 20 years. It popped up on the PiL box set I picked up and brought me back to my teen years in an instant. So I was surprised to hear his work on this album, a very different context. Anyway, this album seems so... dated. At the time, I'm sure it seemed very much ahead of its time, but I listen to it, and compare it to some of the other rap hits of the era, and a lot of them still hold up, while this just... doesn't. Then "Renegades of Funk" came on. I was unaware that this is where Rage Against The Machine covered it from. I knew it was a cover, but didn't realize that this was the original. The cover is better, way better. So then I looked up in wikipedia about Afrika Bambaataa. Do your rating of this album or any of his work, then look him up. Because once I read it (not going to summarize), it really colored my feelings toward any of his work. I know it shouldn't, but it's like looking at a painting, critiquing it, and THEN finding out it was Hitler's. Do you still give it the same regard? _CAN_ you?

electrohip hop from around this time must have blown peoples minds. however now it just sounds like a casio keyboard turned to the hip hop setting and a teenager just jabbing away at it. this has not aged well.

Référez-vous à la critique d'Àfrica Brasil même si elle n'a rien à voir.

Afrika Bambaataa nous propose ici une pâle copie de Grandmaster Flash. Seulement, ses senegalaiseries n'arrivent pas à la cheville de celles offertes par Grandmaster Flash. Afrika Bambaataa ferait mieux de retourner a ses cahiers de funk hip-hop.

Meh. Very dated party hip hop that just wasn't for me. Favourites: "Renegades Of Funk"

The founder of the Zulu nation, Afrika Bambaataa. The dude was batshit insane. Just look at these lyrics, then his beliefs, and finally his conviction for child trafficking. But let's ignore that for now. Here we have an old-school hip-hop record heavily tied with electronica, no doubt influenced by the rise of synthpop (and of course Kraftwerk). The title track is one of the most iconic tracks from the period. Reminds me a lot of Mothership Connection, with its strong ties to p-funk, silly and fun lines, sound affects, and alien-themed dance-craze subject matter. Note that the title track was released two years before they even had the idea to make an album named after it... that's how BIG this song was in clubs. "Looking for the Perfect Beat" is nothing more than an attempt to follow up on "Planet Rock" and, hey it worked out. It's more of the same, except more fun and suited for clubbing, but it was also super successful, and pushed for this album to be made. This track has my favorite electronica. Just like the previous there's plenty of diversity and wildness to keep me going for the full 7 minutes. It's crazy how Ratm managed to reinvent "Renegades of Funk." The lyrics are a near-perfect match, but Ratm is twice as fast and mindblowing. For that, I have to compliment the writing, but besides the clapping and belching part in the middle, it felt repetitive and dull. "Frantic Situation" was alright, fortunately the shortest, but has nothing new, and the lyrics suck. "Who You Funkin With?" whips out the guitar. Raps are tight, and it's loud and exciting. "Go Go Pop" mostly sucks, but I do like the cool stylistic shift in the instrumental and the distant female vocals. "They Made a Mistake" oh yeah they made a mistake alright leaving this irredeemable track on the album. 2 stars for 2 great tracks, 2 decent ones, and 3 bad ones.

crazy stuff, not for me

mehhhh

I dunno. Maybe 1986 proto-hip hop isn't my thing.

The first track was fun. The charm wears off quickly due to how dated it sounds. I wouldn't recommend a whole album of this, but in small doses it's a good time. Cheesy as hell, but fun.

unusual fusion of oldschool hiphop and electronic, but it wasn't very enjoyable for me. First two tracks were remarkable, but that's all

Planet rock Searching for the perfect beat

Not my jam, but I admire these early-hip-hop/funk experiments.

I’ve always poo-pooed Afrika Bambaataa and said that without Kraftwerk, no one would have ever heard of him. But this LP makes me appreciate that he was the creator or at least one of the creators of electro and Miami beat – both cheesy, but long-lasting club genres. As good as that looks on a resume, I still find the vocals beyond annoying. It’s more bearable knowing that Kraftwerk got $1 for each single sold. That’s $1 million in the US alone.

been digging the old rap, there was some good here, but overall, not a fan.

2/5 not anything special

So 'Planet Rock' was just a name, huh? At least 'Go Go Pop' and 'Renegades of Funk' weren't lying to me. Like Grandmaster Flash, this sounds pretty dated now, but the artwork is great, so: 2.5 stars. I hope they find that perfect beat one day.

Ja inte vet jag... jag hatar hur trummorna låter, plastiga, tomma och torra. Fick inte särskilt mycket av skivan och musiken låter väldigt föråldrad, men fattar förstås hur inflytelserikt det är.

Pioneering. Influential. Rubbish.

Too many funky noises. Headache for me

"Can you play stuff like Kraftwerk?" asked Bam (Afrika Bambaata), who played their records at DJ gigs. (Producer, Arthur Baker) worried about stealing the melody from "Trans-Europe Express," but (John) Robie said, "I'll tear that shit up." Source: Rolling Stone- 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2004) This is technically a compilation. It was industry standard for electronic based artists to record 12" singles for DJs instead of albums. It was cheaper and quick to release. If the single was successful, then the label would consider a compilation instead of a studio album. I get that it's foundational for hip hop and possibly the development of American house music. But it's a compilation. Most of this I've heard before on previous albums on the list (RUN DMC, et al) Overall: 2/10

This . . . this was intolerable.

I can imagine how this might have been super important or influential in its time, but man, does it just not hold up over time.

My morals are too high to even bother listening to this nonce's music.

I’m certain that I am ignorant of the influence that this album has on hip-hop. But, this is bad, and, outside of its historical roots, meaningless. For a project titled, “Planet Rock”, the songs themselves don’t really go anywhere.

Shocked at how much this has in common with Playboi Carti. I never realized before today that funk is the granddaddy of the modern ear worm (duh?). Not enough variation here to warrant repeat listens, but those low bass punches on the title track are still off the chain. I hope this fuckhead is burning in the lake of sulfur! https://www.vice.com/en/article/afrika-bambaataa-sexual-abuse-zulu-nation-ron-savage-hassan-campbell/

This isn't even the charming kind of dated. It's like video game music with shitty rapping over top.

one of these kinda reminded me of a highschool rap project

This stuff is so funny to go back and listen to. It’s cringey and dorky as hell from our modern perspective. So F U T U R I S T I C it’s like a proto-Black Eyed Peas lol. If the guy wasn’t a child molester I would feel weirder trash talking something so obviously influential but fuck it. It’s just goofy.

This sound took me back. Rapping with a funky electronic backing. Would have been a three and a half. But... you know.

Dated

Look, this is a great album, and I understand separating art from artist, but Lance (Afrika Bambaataa's real name) was a really, really awful human. Awful enough that there's debate about keeping him in any historical documentation about the rise of hip hop in NYC in the 80s.

Super old and super shit.

what IS this 😭😭🙏 like sci-fi + 80's rap? two genres im not a huge fan of the random ass synth solos reaaallllyyy do it for me /s

Not my thing. Funk soul with synthesizers.

Clearly been sampled loads but it sounds dated now. Also the blokes a nonce

This is a pretty awful album.

Not bad, but it didn’t stand out to me much. It probably hit harder when it first came out though. Why are there so many pedos?! Edited down from 3 to 1.

He's a nonce, apparently.

I initially was not into this album at all, as the first few tracks just were not very good. There were a couple of tracks towards the end that I enjoyed more, notably Who You Funkin' With, sounded less like a drum machine with synth compared to the others on the album, and the rap flow on this track is catchy. I also feel like I keep getting albums of artists who very recently passed away. He died only 5 days ago. I'm giving this one a low score, partly because I didn't really like it, with some exceptions toward the end of the album, and also because he was not a good person and abused children.

I wasn't able to separate the man from the music.

it sounds like that episode of the super mario bros super show where every line is spoken like they're trying to rap and its awful and sucks

Overall: 2/10 I understand that this was influential to the evolution of hip hop and a lot of classics of the genre wouldn't be the same without it, but I genuinely really hated this. It's primitive and repetitive and the rappers aren't very good. It doesn't help that Bambaataa is a kid diddler either. Fav Song: Renegades of Funk

Dated, uninteresting, and made by a pedophile? What a classic

Not for me. Sat dozing throughout.. No best track.

Bof

Album #111 Afrika Bambaataa and The Soulsonic Force: Planet Rock: The Album I really did expect to hate this album. I already am not huge on hip-hop, and so I figured if I don’t like the final product, why would I enjoy it in its infancy? But this album actually felt a lot more in line with Funk and Electronic music than hip-hop. Of course, there are still hip-hop verses, but the instrumentals are quite reminiscent of P-funk, mixed in with the heavily sampled electronic music of Kraftwerk. The first track is clearly the stand-out here; it was actually originally a single released earlier in the 80s that went on to sell incredibly well and make the electro movement mainstream. So naturally, after a few years of not being able to replicate the success of Planet Rock, Afrika Bambaataa figured fuck it, we’ll milk it for a whole album. There are some other good tracks on here, but nothing to the level of the title track. Near the back-end, I started to get pretty fatigued by the whole sound, which isn’t a great sign for a relatively short album. I feel like the instrumentals were great for the most part, reminded me a bit of Pet Shop Boys' Introspective, another dance-fusion element, which let each song run its course. However, unlike with the Pet Shop Boys, these songs would have been better off being a bit shorter. Overall, a pretty interesting album, with some great moments, but not enough going for it to be an engaging album; however, I do prefer this sound to most early hip-hop. Ok, just found out this guy was a crazed pedophile, the music wasn't even that good I think I just liked the Kraftwerk sample so I'm dropping this from a 5 to a 2. Best Songs: Planet Rock, Go Go Pop, Looking for the Perfect Beat Worst Song: Who You Funkin’ With? Score out of 10: 2

tf is this shit

Not for me. Aged badly.

There might be some mid-1980s context that I’m missing that makes sense of Planet Rock, but I struggle to find anything redeeming about it. It is compositionally poor, never managing to coalesce around a pleasing melody. The vocals and samples are frequently at odds with each other. It’s zany, rambling music which never gets to the point. It grates and frustrates from beginning to end.

Apparently this Afrika Bambaataa dude is a pedophile rapist. Good thing his music sucks too or I'd have a harder time giving this 1 star.

ja nein die child molesting sachen

This might be the worst thing I’ve ever heard. I’d rather go def than have to finish this album. I’ve heard wet farts in elevator that sounded like Caruso compared to this.

80s hip hop was so important for so many reasons and the onwards influence it has had on all aspects of modern life cannot be understated. But it sounds terrible

Pladder

not for me

All one song

Not for me

wtf is this pos

Terribly boring

Hard for me to separate art from the artist in this one.

Didn't enjoy this at all. Repetitive drum beats with annoying rap over the top. Not for me.

Aged horribly

This album felt really dated. Was so campy and I couldn’t get into it. Some of these older albums have timelessness… this wasn’t one of them. I stuck it through but mostly wanted it to end.

"Who You Funkin' With?" Me, apparently.

5 minutes is more than enough of that goofy shit

Im sorry i dont usually do this but this sucks and i cant, nay, i wont finish this album. These drum machines are making me go f$&@!ng crazy I hate this side of the 80’s

I can see how this helped shape hip hop but this aged incredibly poorly to me. It would be nice if they have any lyrical depth besides “we’re the funkiest guys in town and we’re gonna party with some tunes”

One of the most "product of its time" albums I've heard on this site...and no, in this case, it's not a good thing.

Nah.

This album reminds me of my Tio's backyard. The parties my parents would dance all night to the music bumping loud on speakers. The DJ scratching at the ones and twos and every adult in my family awkwardly moving their bodies to the groove. Personallu, this album drips with nostalgia. This record was the background to me playing with my cousins running around causing trouble while my parents we're toopreoccupied to take notice. It reminds me of good times; however, I am a person who cannot separate art from its artist or I suppose I simply refuse to. And therefore, for that reason and the allegations, this alb I m a nothing for me.

Holy unc shit. Das ist gealtert wie Milch in der Sonne 1/5

I’m not the greatest lover of hip hop and this album to my ears was dreadful. Reading up on it I see that it was quite influential on later artists. I was familiar with ‘renegades of funk’ from RATM. I find the cover version much more enjoyable and biting… This did send me on a journey listening to RATM, so not all lost. Rating 1 star for the renegades. Best track - renegades of funk.

Found the first half decent background music. Solid beats but nothing over the top. Turned it off when I learned of allegations against the artist.

Even my love of the song Planet Rock cannot redeem this album. I definitely do not see the influence this had on anything else. The beats are boring, the raps' cadence monotonous and the lyrics were trite. Easy 1/5

Nope, sounds like kids making noise with pots and pans

Hmmm. Not really my thing. It’s ok - maybe of it’s time! Flight of the Concords inspired by this?

This album gets "decades of child molestation" out of 5

Kraftwerk was just fine without being extended to 8 minutes and having people yell over it, thank you very much

Det har uden tvivl været ekstremt betydningsfuldt for Hip-Hop (og Rap-metal). Men det lyder satme ikke godt. Niveau mæssigt vil jeg placere det lige omkring og måske lidt under MC Einar og Rockers By Choice. Det har ikke den charme som Rapper’s Delight har og rammer mig ikke som Grandmaster Flash’s The Message gør. Personligt syntes jeg Run-DMC holder langt bedre i dag end det her. Det er nok ikke helt uden årsag at Afrika Bambaataa ikke er det Old School Rap jeg har hørt.

I understand the historical significance of Afrika Bambaataa, but a hip. hop. a hip hip hop. a hibby to the hop and ya just don't stop. My name is Lance Taylor and I'm here to say that it's time to rap in an old school way! 🤓 And I never stop being embarrassed.

I was going to give this a five-star just for how funky this thing is, but it turns out Afrika Bambaataa has been credibly accused of trafficking children. So, that's not great.

Die Aufnahmen für „Planet Rock – The Album“ entstanden in verschiedenen New Yorker Studios, darunter Intergalactic Studio und Unique Recording Studios. Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force stammen aus den USA und verbinden auf diesem Album Electro, frühen Hip-Hop und elektronische Club-Ästhetik. Prägend sind Stücke wie „Planet Rock“, „Looking for the Perfect Beat“ und „Renegades of Funk“, die den charakteristischen Synth-Sound und die rhythmische Strenge der Produktion tragen. Insgesamt wirkt das Album als konzentrierter Blick auf eine Phase, in der elektronische Klänge und Straßenszene eng zusammenfanden.

It’s hard to listen to an album/ artist when they have been accused of something as awful as sex abuse of children. I was enjoying it a bit until I read that then I was put off it completely and felt bad for listening to it.

I was/am an 80s kid. Music shouldnt make you feel tired this fast. Harsh, jarring, tinny and remorslessly aggressive. Only listen out of curiosity to hear how far we've come in pop electronic hip hop. But if old scool hip hop was mid 70s to mid 80s, is this (1986) supposed to stand out as an examplary or seminal work form the period. I sspect its ill chosen. Or the genre is weaker and more discordant than I thought? a hit album apparently. doesnt work on me. But... makes me appreciate all the more other electronic / synth musis of the era . there was Jean Michelle Jarre, Vangelis, Kraftwerk, New Order, I know these are not hip hop. I dont really know hip hop. I dont htink I want to know any more. I think i might need to listen to Rhapsody in Blue as an antidote. Can someone suggest an antidote? I needs colour lyrcism and human warmth, music to tell a story, and move the soul.

Hip-hop pioneer he may be - and so much music from other artists clearly owes a debt to Bambaataa's work - but this collection has not aged well at all. Dated and dull, the allegations against Afrika only serve to sour any appreciation for this even music further.

Espantoso. No sé si en su momento alguien escuchó esto y lo considero genial, pero hoy me resultó insoportable. Lo terminé por completista pero es de esos discos que me hacen no entender qué demonios estaba escuchando aquí la persona que hizo esta lista.

Stopped listening (and wasn't enjoying it anyway) when I read the molestation allegations. Don't really want to support a peadophile.

Yuck!

"They Made a Mistake" should have been the opening track as that would have been very apt to describe this album. I hope they didn't quit their day jobs.

This album is hilarious it really sounds like a gcse music project, trying to make songs with as many buttons on the casino keyboard as possible. The only thing to know it isn't is no song just made with the burb and fart function. This does not hold up in any shape or form.

Not good

If I wanted to listen to a singing gay paedophile, I'd visit a catholic church...

Not for me.

Don't listen to albums by known pedophiles.

If this was one of the genre defining albums for Hip Hop, I wish I had a time machine so I could stop the genre from ever occuring. This is just awful, even worse than the noise it spawned.

I was searching for a reason to give this a 2 but I couldn't find one.

Another hip-hop album... What can I say? That it feels bland, uninteresting, insipid and repetitive to me? Of course, it's like listening to the same thing over and over just to end up where it all began. Nothing. This album gets me to nothing. So, did I like this? Of course not! But I knew it even before clicking play. I understand it's a musical genre that doesn't interest me the less, but I've listened to many hip-hop albums with this list and, still, I haven't found good at least any of them.

This is not music, it's cRap.

A critical darling that has not held up well. The magnitude of its impact on hip-hop seems exaggerated; but it’s hard to even care when everything about this music is so reductive and uninspiring. The title track is like millennial whoop set to an electro funk beat. If that combination sounds appealing, then you might just love this album. If not, then consider yourself warned.

I hear the influence this obviously had on subsequent hip hop music, but overall it’s not something I would be very likely to put on and listen to. 12/21. 57%

This guy’s a monster so not listening

55/1089 dated but not in the fun, endearing way that The Message was. That album was cool and nicely produced, this, however, doesn’t sound good in 2025 as much as it may have been influential at the time Go Go Pop was the best of the bunch 1 star or 16/100

1. Rock - 2 2. Beat - 1.5 3. Funk - 1 4. Frantic - 1 5. You - 0 6. Pop - 1 7. Mistake - 1

So much is happening, it feels like someone put the beats in a blender. I could make better music on GarageBand.

Shite

Et helt forferdelig irriterende album med gammeldags hip-hop, laserlyder, stemmeforvrengere og synth.

Planet Rock is a cold, mechanical mess that mistakes repetition for rhythm and noise for innovation.Despite its reputation, the album offers no emotional depth, no musical warmth, and no redeeming features.

On the one hand, the author(s) reach well beyond their intention of this list by including an "album" that is comprised of previously released singles. On the other hand, y'all. I'm will always separate the art from the artist, HOWEVER, Africa Bambaaataa has SA'd many young individuals. His actions by far surpass Kid Rock being a douche bag or Eric Clapton being a drunk racist. 1/5

J ai écouté à peine 1/2 morceau et clairement je n arriverai pas plus loin. Certes, créateur du mouvement hip-hop mais inaudible ...

planet rock - rather dated sound, and a little too sparse of a production for my tastes (3/10) Perfect Beat - banger intro, decent sound, needs less record scratches tbh, but made me move (5/10) giving up with renegades - it hurts to listen to frantic situation - decent enough, a little repetitive but catchy (6/10) funkin with - another potentially good song ruined by clashing sounds… it hurts my ears >< go go pop - amazing intro, but the rap part isn’t doing it for me… why are there snares and bottle sounds in everyyyy song?? (6.5/10) just give me the intro extended mistake - decent rap actually! still too much harsh instrumentals for me… (7/10) OVERALL: 4/10 - I’m sure it’s considered a classic for rap music, but it’s not for me… dated 80s production, clashing music, and rap that sounds meh

Comically bad

1 star because he’s a sexual offender

1

No

Crazy how hip hop has evolved, to where this is interesting mostly as an artifact. The record is pleasant enough to listen to, but the sexual abuse allegations pretty much spoil it.

Renegades of Funk is cool just because of Rage Against the Machine. Otherwise this record sounds super dated and amateurish.

Didn't feel the need to finish it...

This is so excruciatingly boring. The beats, the lyrics, nothing goes anywhere. The songs are too long as well. I hate to say it, but except for maybe “Who You Funkin’ With?” I don’t think I enjoyed anything off of here.

I was waiting for an album like this to come along. When it comes to early hip-hop, I'm glad these albums existed as a precursor to what we have today. But I really got no enjoyment out of this.

Could not relate to this album at all.

I listened to like half of this. Hated it. 80s pro rap

Groundbreaking, and super influential, and objectively very good. Not a fan of the kid-touching.

Pff, matig. Ik had één of ander psychedelisch, sci-fi rock album verwacht, maar het is gewoon hip-hop. Nogal een anti-climax. 1.2

Stopped listening after I read about the child sex abuse 0/5

Did not vibe. More dated than net curtains and paisley print wallpaper.

Sometimes, with material that has been very influential on subsequent music... I'd rather just listen to the subsequent music, as it feels more refined. Like this was the raw sonic ore that was melted down to form the much sturdier hip-hop of later musicians. Also it's very, VERY difficult to force myself to consume the artistic output of any individual who seemingly spent decades repeatedly committing one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. Yikes.

Not for me. I’ll take Rage Against tge Machine’s “Renegades of Funk” any day, but I could have done without this album.

This is hilariously terrible music, and it turns out the artist is a seriously terrible person, too. 0.5/5.0: Unlistenable

this was a tough listen. a few cool beats that drag on way too long. i spent some of that extra time reading about the artist which further soured my thoughts on the album

Not really my thing. I bet this was the hypest shit when it came out, though.

Oy vey.

I did NOT need to hear this.

Pure. Unadulterated. Trash. All synthetic music with some synthetic vocals. No talent displayed.

sorry, no. not into funk. hate that weedy synth sound

Zulu Nation!! Don’t touch children!! This was a miserable experience. Next.

I wanted to like this more than I do. I suppose it is important, but I just find it to be boring. The beats are just too unvaried. I will say it does have a unique sound, but that's about all it has going for it in my opinion. Ready to turn it off after two and a half tracks.

Me and my big mouth. Only yesterday was I saying it was ages since I got some hip hop and then right on cue this comes along. Just like buses I get two in a row but this ain’t no magic bus (clue there for what I’d rather have had) So I refer to my (too many now) previous reviews of this genre which I hate. 1/5 15/4/25

I recognized the music from being sampled so often, but as an album it just didn't work for me.

This pretty much feels like the same track going on and on and on and on… I’m bored.

Man, this is definitely a dud for me. Perhaps it had a cultural impact of some sort but I'll just be ignorant enough to say that this aged like milk, just like the child abuse alleagations.

Pure Shit

I don’t know if this is good music or not, but I know I don’t like it at all.

Did not enjoy - sounds like a scrubs parody of a hip hop track & he’s a nonce.

This site/reviewers are giving waaaaay too much credit here. This is 86. The Beastie Boys were releasing Licence to I'll, a record that's lyricly and sonicly light years ahead of these guys and their 4track. Just another example of misguided reverance

What was I listening to?

Straight up doodoo.

Like really fucking shit.

Ekstremt ujævnt af en single-opsamling at være. Ærlig talt kun rigtigt første nummer som er godt.

Electro and rap have a kid. But the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

After the references to Kraftwerk, Captain Sky and Ennio Morricone, I was interested in the album despite the genre. I listened to the first track on the album. I immediately recognized the Kraftwerk samples. However, it was the kind of hip hop I don't know what to do with. After just over a minute, I'd had enough. I didn't feel like listening to any of the rest of the album either. The album may have been groundbreaking and pioneering for its genre, but I just don't like the genre. 1/5

p545. 1986. 1 star. The genesis of hip-hop, so wrong audience. Bonus point for the pilfering of Kraftwerk, but it's difficult to award anything but 1 star to kiddy fiddlers.

Crap

Kraftwerk Jumpscare anyways i dont fw kid diddlers

Some parts were pretty funky but the songs were just way too repetitive, it really didn’t hold my attention

wut? the?

PG13 movie ahh soundtrack

Ahah nah no no

The interesting thing about this album is that it's quite bad. There's very little substance and lots of amateur DJ noise. It seems that a lot of people are giving this a higher rating on account of having lived through its release as a kid, but that's a ridiculous measure. It's like me saying Katy Perry's Teenage Dream album is good. Utter delusion assisted by violently rose-coloured glasses. Obviously Afrika Bambaataa was going for something groundbreaking, and that grants it some merit – but the end product is aimless, repetitive electronic drumbeat stuff with no particularly interesting melodies, textures, or variations in energy. There's no adherence to the classic "album experience" that showcases all the strengths of a band across a miniature variety show of tracks within one or a few genres. Instead, there's just soulless noise. And sure, it pioneered the hip-hop genre – but is that really something you want to be known for? As another reviewer wrote: "In historical context this album is very important for electro and hip-hop, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's still interesting to actually listen to today." 1/5 Key tracks: Looking for the Perfect Beat

Muddy disco type of thing. A fever dream I couldn't wait to get up from. The sort of thing your sleep paralysis demon would listen to on TV at 3AM in between infomercials and softcore porn on the History channel.

Sounds very dated decades later. No good at all.

Nope!

Old School Hip-Hop or New School Hip-Hop - it's still Hip-Hop and I just don't see the point.

Definitely influential and another time I would have given this a lot higher score. But I can't anymore

Nah

sounds horrible to be honest.

Weirdest album ever... bueno no, si he oido más raros pero este no me gusto mucho... por que no le entendí supongo... no se, de este si no entendí por ke estaba aquí pero ok.

It’s kinda all the same

This started off reminding me of Funkadelic, which I respect due to George Clinton, but then slowly unraveled into messy chaos, oh well... 1 Star

Leider hat mich das Album mehr als enttäuscht. Die überwiegende Präsenz von Acid- und House-Experimenten entsprach nicht meinem Musikgeschmack. Ich bedauere, dass ich meine Zeit auf das Hören dieses Albums verwenden musste. Musikalische Bedeutung: “Planet Rock: The Album” ist ein wegweisendes Werk in der Geschichte des Hip-Hop und der elektronischen Musik. Veröffentlicht im Jahr 1986, enthält es einige der frühesten und einflussreichsten Tracks des Genres. Das Album hat die Entwicklung von Electro und Breakbeat maßgeblich beeinflusst und sollte ein Meilenstein in der Musikgeschichte sein. Dies hat sich mir nicht erschlossen und so konnte mich das Album persönlich nicht überzeugen. Die experimentellen Klänge und die stilistische Ausrichtung waren einfach nicht nach meinem Geschmack und einfach nur schlecht.

I got two or three songs in and I just couldn’t 😅

Not my taste

First few minutes I couldn't tell if this was very dated retro cool or very dated terrible, then realised it's the latter.

Discount Beastie Boys with discounted value. Not my jam, and I don't get how this belongs in a list like this.

Eletro funk dos ano 80. Desnecessário!

This was a challenging listen. On the one hand, clearly influential - from the sampling to the cover of Renegades of Funk by RATM - but at the same time a lot of this didn't age well and I found the repetitive beat to get very repetitive very quickly.

Alright I'm just going to say it. I don't like classic hip-hop. It's garbage. Full stop. The elementary level rhyme scheme throughout this record makes for the most boring, predictable listen imaginable. I recognize that we needed these albums to get to the legendary albums we have now. But for god sakes this is insufferable, and what's worse is I believe it's across the board unbearable. As in, if it came out in the 80s, and is hiphop - it sucks.

What is these goofy uninspired beats I am hearing.No wonder there is a song called "looking for a perfect beat" because NOBODY AND I could find one.The raps are kinda fire i guess, but that does not save the album.People could praise this album but i can't.Maybe in a few years i could find this album listenable.