The soundtrack to -Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists salutes its namesake by offering a dozen classic tracks from the mid-'80s golden age of hip-hop. Still, rap fans may be a bit surprised at the track list; there's nobody here with the name recognition of the period's heroes (Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy, EPMD, LL Cool J) or even those with renewed underground cred during the late '90s (Ultramagnetic MC's, Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo). Instead, this compilation focuses on real obscurities, not necessarily the best tracks of all time, but top-rate cuts that never got the attention they deserved. Obviously, it's required listening for readers of the book, the perfect way to actually hear some of the out of print classics mentioned in sections like "Quarter Pound of Underacknowledged Hip Hop Cuts" and "Disses You Might Have Missed." Even for fans who aren't interested in a book of rap lists, Ego Trip's the Big Playback is a stellar compilation, providing a couple of the original tracks whose samples might sound very familiar to '90s fans: "Holy War (Live)" by Divine Force (used by DJ Premier on a Jeru the Damaja cut) and "Get Retarded" by MC EZ & Troup (used by Dr. Dre on "Zoom" from the Bulworth soundtrack). Other highlights among these rarities include "Marly Marl Scratch," the first solo-billed track by Marly Marl, and "Get Down Grandmaster" by Grandmaster Caz, a great latter-day cut by the old-school legend. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide