Rap Essentials Volume One is a Canadian hip hop compilation album, released in 1996 on Beat Factory Music, and distributed by EMI Music Canada. It is considered a landmark hip-hop album, and it was very influential.

Three songs from the album—"Naughty Dread" by Kardinal Offishall, "Fitnredi" by Rascalz, and "Bright Lights, Big City" by Scales Empire—were nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 1997 Juno Awards. "Dear Hip Hop" by Dan-e-o is considered a Canadian hip-hop classic.

Music videos for "Dear Hip Hop", "Bright Lights, Big City", and "Sunlight" by Wio-K were put into rotation on MuchMusic.

Track listing

#TitlePerformer(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Fitnredi"RascalzDJ Kemo4:29
2."Boiling Point"Concrete MobScam3:17
3."Learn to Earn"Down to ErfDown to Erf3:25
4."Naughty Dread"Kardinal OffishallKardinal Offishall4:24
5."No Lawz"Black-IDRK4:23
6."Sunlight"Wio-KDJX3:42
7."Who's Talking Weight (Remix)"Red LifeSwiff3:46
8."Dear Hip Hop"Dan-e-oScam3:24
9."Bright Lights, Big City"Scales EmpireDJ Luv, Kandu (co-producer)4:00
10."Twenty One Years"ChoclairDay4:17
11."Structure, Foundation (What's the Plan)"Citizen KaneDown to Erf3:14
12."U.L."Ghetto ConceptKwajo Cinqo4:24

Samples

See also