Sample mixes are a funny thing in Hip-Hop. In the 1970s park jams, DJs favored records that evoked a feeling in the crowd. Whether dancing, breakin’, or simply signaling good times, these records became mainstays in the emerging culture. By the late 1980s, many of these same records were revisited, altered, and used in creating originally-produced Rap music. Today, more than 40 years after Hip-Hop’s inception, those worlds thrive, side-by-side.

In that time, it’s been very easy for DJs to go back into these portals, in their playlists. While he was not the first, DJ Neil Armstrong has been instrumental in making mixes that showcase Hip-Hop, samples, and other food for your ears in a gestalt mix. The 5th Platoon DJ launched his Original series more than 15 years ago.

In these (now acclaimed) mixes, Neil covered Hip-Hop as a Head, not just veering for the hits. He celebrated elaborate productions, deep digs in the crates, and pop recreations alike. Like Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, and DJ Kool Herc, Armstrong also made sure that these audio references worked as a party. Perhaps that is why in the years since releasing Original, Jay Z and others called upon him for their tours. Original kicked in the door. Listen to Hip-Hop from Nas, Gang Starr, The Fugees, De La Soul, Dr. Dre, The Notorious B.I.G., Ice Cube and more, and samples from the likes of Steve Miller Band, Shalamar, The Isley Brothers, Isaac Hayes, and more. Chances are, you’ll know some of these samples and where they belong. However, few can mix as well as DJ Neil Armstrong.

Here’s the tracklist:

1. Mtume, Rappin’ Duke – ‘If U Don’t Know Now You Know’
2. Jeff Lorber Fusion, Bahamadia – ‘Crush On You’
3. El Debarge – ‘One More Chance’
4. Lou Donaldson, The Roots – ‘Another Chance’
5. Isley Brothers – ‘Call Neil Big Poppa’
6. Isaac Hayes – ‘Warning’
7. The Delphonics – ‘Player Haters’
8. Slick Rick, Public Enemy, Busta Rhymes – ‘Zulu Nation War Chant’ (feat. Betty Wright / Mary Jane Girls)
9. Mark the 45 King, DJ Kool, Marva Whitney – ‘900 Number’
10. Aja – ‘Whose In The House’
11. Taste Or Honey – ‘Sad & Blue’
12. Dionne Warwick – ‘Mona Lisa Says Goodbye’
13. Gloria Gaynor, Herb Alpert – ‘Release Yo Delf’
14. Underdog There, Wu-Tang Clan – ‘Nuthin To F*ck Wit’
15. Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band – ‘Cherchez Le (Neil)’
16. De La Soul, Aja – ‘Eye Know’
17. De La Soul, Hall & Oates – ‘Say No Go’
18. Leaders Of the New School, Boz Scaggs – ‘Zone Coasting’
19. For The Bitties At Bobs Lounge, Joe Sample – ‘W5PS’
20. De La Soul, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson – ‘Breakdawn’
21. John Leguizamo, Al Green – ‘Lets Stay Together’
22. Shalamar – ‘For The Player In You’
23. Teddy Pendergrass, BUMS – ‘The Door Is Closed’
24. Rick James – ‘Mary Jane’
25. Gap Band – ‘She’s Outstanding’
26. Eric B. & Rakim, Marvin Gaye, Midnight Star – ‘Got Me Curious’
27. Eric B. & Rakim, Aaliyah, Cecil Homes, Helix C. – ‘It’s Been A Long Time’
28. Surface, Kool G Rap, Nas – ‘Happy’
29. AZ, Nas, Gap Band – ‘Life’s A Bitch’
30. Nas, Michael Jackson, Biz Markie – ‘It Ain’t Hard To Tell’
31. Biz Markie, Steve Miller Band – ‘Nobody Beats The Biz’
32. Big Daddy Kane, Heatwave – ‘Ain’t No Half Steppin’
33. Brand Nubian, Edie Brickell – ‘Slow It Down’
34. Queen, Vanilla Ice – ‘The Vanilla Cometh’
35. Labi Siffre, Eminem – ‘Slim Shady Reps’
36. Dr. Dre, Leon Haywood – ‘The Next Episode’
37. Isley Brothers, Ice Cube – ‘It’s A Good Day’
38. Herb Alpert, Blacksheep – ‘Flavor Of The Month’
39. Gang Starr, Public Enemy, Joe Simon – ‘U Know My Steez’
40. Maynard Furgeson, Showbiz & AG – ‘Next Level’
41. Grace Jones, LL Cool J – ‘Doin’ It Well’
42. ATCQ, Lou Reed – ‘Cause I Can Kick It’
43. Fugees, Roberta Flack – ‘Killing It Softly’
44. Heatwave, Nice & Smooth – ‘Mindblowing’
45. Partridge Family, Nice & Smooth – ‘Hip Hop Junkies’
46. Tracy Chapman, Nice & Smooth – ‘Sometimes I Rhyme Slow’
47. Souls Of Mischief, Bobby Cobham – ‘From Now Til Infinity’

For more Neil Armstrong mixes, visit his official page.

Related: Listen To The Best Hip-Hop Of November 2015 In One Playlist (Audio)