VARIOUS ARTISTS - WILD STYLE (SPECIAL EDITION)

Blurring the lines between documentary and fiction, Charlie Ahearn’s 1983 film Wild Style stands as a defining portrait of hip hop’s early years in New York. Developed with Fred Braithwaite (aka Fab Five Freddy), it captures the energy, culture and sound of the South Bronx as the movement began to shape the wider world.

The accompanying soundtrack has become a cornerstone of hip hop history. Originally released on Chris Stein’s Animal Records, it featured artists such as Double Trouble, Busy Bee, The Cold Crush Brothers and The Fantastic Freaks. Co-produced by Stein and Braithwaite, its beats and scratches — with contributions from musicians including drummer Lenny Ferraro and bassist David Harper — were created to echo the breakbeats driving block parties of the era. Frequently sampled and endlessly referenced, the record became a blueprint for the genre’s future.

This edition gathers highlights from previous versions, the full instrumental album and Kenny Dope’s edits. It remains a raw, vital and absorbing document of hip hop’s first explosion.