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In tha Beginning... There Was Rap is a compilation album presented by Priority Records, released on November 25, 1997. The album featured cover versions of classic old school hip hop songs done by some of hip hop's most popular acts at the time.

The album peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Less than two months after its release on January 9, 1998, it was certified gold for sales of 500,000 copies.

Track listing

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Sucker M.C.'s" (Original song by Run-DMC)Wu-Tang Clan3:46
2."Fuck tha Police" (Original song by NWA)Bone Thugs-N-Harmony5:02
3."Big Ole Butt" (Original song by LL Cool J)Puff Daddy, Lil Cease5:23
4."6 in the Mornin'" (Original song by Ice-T)Master P2:59
5."Freaky Tales" (Original song by Too Short)Snoop Doggy Dogg3:55
6."Knick Knack Patty Wack" (Original song by EPMD)Tha Dogg Pound4:19
7."Rapper's Delight" (Original song by Sugar Hill Gang)Def Squad Redman/Erick Sermon/Keith Murray6:55
8."I'm Still #1" (Original song by Boogie Down Productions)Cypress Hill5:12
9."I Need a Freak" (Original song by Sexual Harassment)Too Short5:19
10."Dopeman" (Original song by NWA)Mack 104:03
11."Money Dollar Bill Y'all" (Original song by Jimmy Spicer)Coolio4:42
12."The Show" (Original song by Doug E. Fresh/Slick Rick)The Roots6:24

Charts

Chart (1997)Peak position
Weekly charts Chart (1997) Peak position US Billboard 200 15 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 4Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position US Billboard 200 110 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 61
US Billboard 20015
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)4
Chart (1998)Position
US Billboard 200110
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)61

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)Gold500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

External links