Let's be honest... These changed the game
Nov 16 '01
The Bottom Line What album woul you take with you on a deserted island? That's how I give my recommendations. These are them... and I would be happy.
1 Illmatic - Nas
For the time Illmatic was hot, Nas was the greatest lyricist ever... At the time this came out, people said he was even better than Rakim and KRS 1.
2 To the East Blackwards X Clan
Are you going to tell me that you took this out of your CD Player, off your Turntable or out of your tape deck in 1990? This was the Be All to End All in "Rap" back then. It was considered the greatest "Rap" album ever, back then. It changed the face of conscious hip hop.
3 Paid in Full Eric B. Rakim
The greatest lyricist EVER, on his greatest album. What more can be said? Content is kinda cheezy now a days, but his lyrical abilities are untouched, even today (except for the likes of Nas, Jay Z and Biggie).
4 Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) - Digable planets
I think, the single most contagious album ever recorded. They had everybody "swoonin" in the early 90's. I saw many a groovy cat rockin' a baby afro after this album hit the streets.
5 One for All Brand Nubian
All I have to say is, Grand Puba Maxwell. His lyrical offerings in this piece were outrageous. He carried the rest well enough for it to hit top 5 for me.
6. Three Feet High and Rising De La Soul
The first CD to have like 30 cuts on it... All of them were tight. No forwarding the CD onto the next song. They clearly defined the Native Tongue for me.
7 Amerikkkas most wanted Ice Cube
He brings the heat. Just go get it and you will see what I mean. Educated Thug is what will come to mind. You'll see.
8 Cypress Hill Cypress Hill
Fadin; Big Pun, Fat Joe, Mello Man Ace, Kid Frost, etc. One of the tightest Latin Crews bringing the heat on one of the tightest albums ever made. Listen to the content, he isn't just having fun, his lyrics actually have a message.
9 License to Ill Beastie Boys
Couldn't leave the Beastie Boys. They revolutionized non-black rap and are the reason that Eminem, Bubba Sparks, and (even) Jon B got the chance to get respect, initially.
10 Do you want more The Roots
Revolutionized Jazz in Hip Hop. GURU through Gangstarr was the first, but The Roots took it to a "whole nother"level. I mean, they had the band in the back, playin and the background singers (like J. Scott and Jaguar Wright). They have done more to catapult careers of others, than alot of more popular folk.
11 The Chronic Dr. Dre
Brought the West back into the fold with this one. If it were a little more diverse, I would have probably had it in the top 5. If you like, mid 90's, west coast gangsta rap though, this is #1.
12 Straight up Sewaside Das EFX
What do I need to say??? They had the illest style in the world when they came on the scene. Often imitated, never truly emulated. More playful than real (with the exception of a few joints) or they would have been in my top 5. I think they created a new style that may have been faddish, but was definitely respected at the time.
13 Straight out of Compton NWA
They started the whole west coast gansta trend. In fact, with the exception of ICE T (who wasn't really brining it then), they were the first thugs on wax, really talkin about thug "ish." They didn't revolutionize gangsta rap; they created it. They are #1 for commercializing drive by's but, I couldn't just sit there and listen to the album over and over again, like I can some of these others.
14 Low End Theory Tribe Called Quest
No major, major praise of Low End Theory. Q Tip and Phife were top 4 tightest MC's in Native Tongue, in my opinion (and that really is saying alot), but they didn't team up "perfectly" to me (outside of "Check the Rhyme"). They had GREAT potential that only turned out "good."
15 Enter The Wu Tang Wu Tang Clan
Many groups have come together, but not with as many good MC's as the Wu Tang Clan. The only reason they are not higher on my list is because I don't think this gave them the outlet to do their best work. WU Tang is equivalent to having a bunch of scorers on a basketball team. Everyone needs the ball, at the same time, but they all can't have it. The truest potential and success comes across on their solo efforts, in my opinion.
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mdsmith06
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