Hip-Hop Perfection 101
Aug 09 '02 (Updated Jul 04 '03)
The Bottom Line There is no need to read any other articles about this subject because you know damn well mine is the definitive list.
Hip-Hop has had many landmark albums within it's relatively short lifespan of about twenty-two years. For those of you who think that Hip-Hop is all about gold watches and endless amounts of jewelry over a club beat and a rapper who thinks every doo-rag he owns is how good he rhymes, this is the list of every Hip-Hop album that deserves to be heard of. Don't expect any P. Diddy crap to be listed here, this elite list is only for the artists who take themselves seriously and have actually spent more than two hours in the studio perfecting these masterpieces. So, without further ado, prepare to read the only list you'll ever need on this particular subject.
#10. O.C. - Word... Life
I'm sure many of you haven't heard of O.C. or his classic debut album. Word... Life is a rare and unknown gem that has even been compared to Illmatic from time to time. The comparison is one that could be made easily; both albums are classics due to their stupendous lyrical accomplishments through-out each track and subject matter that relates to real-life topics in both social consciousness and street poetry. The production found here, however, isn't as good as that on Illmatic, which is to be expected. The minimalist drum beats and bass lines, though head-nodding, aren't anything that would have fans of DJ Premier or Pete Rock rushing out to order a copy. However, few albums can compare to Word... Life's messages, lyrical prowess and truth put into every one of the thirteen tracks.
Essential Tracks:
Creative Control
Time's Up
Point O Viewz
#9. Onyx - All We Got Iz Us
Arguably, this is Onyx's greatest album. They moved away from the hardcore, violent ramblings of their classic debut album Bacdafucup and went more towards introspection, self-expression, and socially/politically conscious topic matter. Lyrically, the remained the same although that's far from a detractor. Of course it wouldn't be an Onyx if the group didn't yell and shout but this time around it has underlying meanings. Screaming is utilized as a form of anger management, expressing their frustation at the social system and the decline of morality. It's a powerful, moving album that is made all the much better by Self's (Fredro Starr) excellent production work. This is truly a work of art, a once-in-a-lifetime album by all means.
Essential Tracks:
Last Dayz
Most Def
2 Wrongs
#8. GZA - Liquid Swords
The Wu-Tang Clan had no idea what they started with their debut album. It made way, however, for this, arguably the best Wu-Tang solo album of all time. GZA was the philosopher of the group, more or less, the poet who also doubled as a fierce battle rapper. His sophomore solo album (Words From The Genius was and still is widely ignored) mixed in some of RZA's grimiest production, as well as street poetry with a healthy offering of battle rap's and street narratives. The lyrics/beats combination was one of the best I've ever heard and only helped his messages come through with crystal clarity. There was never one moment where he didn't have something of meaning or mind-boggling perfection to say. With his on-point flow and suitably dark production, the overall effect is astounding.
Essential Tracks:
Labels
Cold World
B.I.B.L.E
#7. AZ - Doe Or Die
AZ made his first appearance on Nas' classic debut album Illmatic on the impressive track Life's A Bitch. He was well-respected in the underground for his dark street poetry and his true-to-life street narratives. While he didn't have the skill of Nas, his debut album is a testament to what his career could have been. AZ, although Nas' protégé so to speak, had a comparably different style: Nas rapped about what he saw and his opinions on it, AZ rap's as if he's in the middle of it, taking part in all of these heinous acts of robbery, violence, etc... His detailed street stories and cautionary tales had his own trademark and unique style on each one of the tracks; this made him an emcee who didn't try to copy what Nas was trying to do. At this point the production doesn't really matter mainly because his lyrics were generally perfect.
Essential Tracks:
Gimmie What You Got
Ho Happy Jackie
Rather Unique
6. Kam - Neva Again
For those of you who think that the West Coast is nothing more than assemblies of Gangsta rappers, who think hedonistically about the lifestyle of the streets, treat women like sex objects as if they're good for nothing else, etc... than you've yet to hear this, a piece of Hip-Hop history. Over sample-laden, Bomb Squad-esque production which matches Kam's Chuck D.-influenced delivery, socially and politically conscious lyricism, and extreme thoughtful lyrics which reflect on unjust treatment of African-American's, the ridiculousness of the holidays, the wrongful stereotypes that are portrayed through ignorant minds, etc... Without a doubt, Kam's lyrics and thoughtful, excellent subject matter bring up topics that are well-explained and extremely intuitive. You owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this classic LP.
Essential Tracks:
Stereotype
Ain't That A Bitch
Holiday Madness
#5. Common - Resurrection
By 1994, Common had found his calling as an abstract poet rather than a West Coast pimp, which is what his persona was on the poor-selling and hardly known Can I Borrow A Dollar?, his debut album. This album is legendary for being one of, if not the first, uses of having the metaphor of a woman as his relationship with Hip-Hop. Over jazzy production provided mostly by No I.D mixed with Common's deep, introspective themes, the subject matter is top-notch. While Common doesn't have an actual flow per say, his lyrics are deep, emotion-filled and brimming with deep messages about society, himself and the world around his as a whole.
Essential Tracks:
I Used To Love H.E.R
Chapter 13 (Rich Man Vs. Poor Man)
Sum Shit I Wrote
#4. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
This is a seminal LP. Everyone in the year 1993 was used to hearing political Hip-Hop and the likes of Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie either being humorous or battling any emcee for the respect. No one was really deep into the streets or socially conscious when it came ot the projects, although a lot of social problems and topics were brought up by the X-Clan, Public Enemy and even KRS-One to an extent. The Wu-Tang Clan was something new and something completely different from Rakim's braggadocio and Public Enemy's politics. The nine-man collective assembled of producer RZA, who, himself, was also an emcee in the group, brought a grimy, darker edge to underground Hip-Hop. They're street narratives and dark lyrics made way for a sound that was a cautionary tale as it was a first person look at what happened in the streets with no sugarcoating. Accompanying this was RZA's unique production; nothing was up-beat but rather dark and nihilistic. It sounded like the group had a rain cloud hanging over they're head every time they recorded a new track which helped them etch out they're own style and add more atmosphere to they're already nihilistic, skilled yet suitably dark lyricism.
Essential Tracks:
Bring Da Ruckus
Can It Be All So Simple
Wu-Tang Ain't Nuthing Ta "F" With
#3. Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet
I disagree when most people comment on It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back being Public Enemy's best album. I feel as though It Takes A Nation Of Millions was them getting into the political style and Fear Of A Black Planet was them perfecting it. They're subject matter went more into oppression, wrongful racism, the fear of having African-American's being equals, police brutality and a wide variety of other topics. The Bomb Squad's production was more listenable and sounded like they put actual drum beats into it to give it a cohesive feel rather than just throwing in sound effects and samples and calling it a beat. The album wouldn't sound half as good as it is without Chuck D.'s voice sounding as if he's mad at absolutely everything and everyone in the world. The subject matter and lyrics are made more apparent and more important my Chuck D.'s delivery and put anger put into every word he speaks.
Essential Tracks:
911 Is A Joke
Welcome To The Terrordome
Fear Of A Black Planet
#2. Ras Kass - Soul On Ice
Ras Kass' legendary debut album is as close to perfection as you can get in a Hip-Hop album. Next to Illmatic, this is one of the most knowledgeable, intelligent Hip-Hop albums of all time. Ras Kass' socially/politically conscious lyricism accompanied by great vocabulary and extremely well-written rhymes easily classifies as the epitome of lyricism in this particular genre. True school Hip-Hop fans will find everything to love about this miracle of an album from Ras' unbelievably great lyrics to the intelligent, in-depth subject matter to the mellow, dark, at times jazzy, production. This is as close to lyrical perfection as Hip-Hop can get (with one exception, which will be discussed next).
Essential Tracks:
On Earth As It Is...
Nature Of The Threat
The Evil That Men Do
#1. Nas - Illmatic
This is the epitome of all Hip-Hop. Nas will never make an album this good again. The production was perfection, his lyrics and subject matter were realistic and truthful and the guest artists were just one verse which is one of the best guest verses of all time which were placed over a classic track. Without a doubt this album does not need an explanation; because in doing that I would take more than one paragraph in explaining it to the reader. If you have never listened to this album or any track from it, it's required listening for any Hip-Hop fan. This is an essential album and is better than any other Hip-Hop album ever released.
Essential Tracks:
Life's A Bitch
The World Is Yours
Memory Lane (Sittin' In Da Park)
There is no need to read any other articles about this subject because you know damn well mine is the definitive list. Everything I have listed you will go and get a copy of with no hesitation. All of you know that DVON is never wrong and if I list ten of the best Hip-Hop albums of all time you can bet that they're worth my time to write summary's up on them.
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