"Bongo Rock" is the title track from the Incredible Bongo Band's 1973 album, and alongside "Apache" it forms one half of what might be the most important record in hip-hop history. While "Apache" gets more historical credit, "Bongo Rock" is built from the same DNA — heavy percussion, interlocking drum patterns, and a raw energy that was purpose-built for the dance floor.

DJ Kool Herc used both tracks at his parties in the Bronx, and the album's percussion-forward approach made it an ideal source for the breakbeat-driven DJ style that would become hip-hop's foundation. The Incredible Bongo Band were session musicians creating music to fill a commercial niche, but they accidentally provided the raw material for an entire culture.