My top 10 albums read it.....go on you know you want too!!
Feb 27 '03 (Updated Mar 01 '03)
The Bottom Line Well there's my top 10 hip hop/rap albums of all time! Don't hesitate to leave a comment and i hope you ummm enjoyed reading it!
Well hello i'm back again. I wrote a review around about a month ago that had an over all average of 'Helpful'. Well I never give up on anything!! And i want a 'Very helpful' SO YOU BETTER GIVE IT TO ME lol! ;-)
So basically to cut to the chase this is my favourite hip hop and rap albums of all time (in NO order)! Most you would have heard of or already have on your list's, but i hope there are a few surprises....
1)Big L-Lifestylez ov da poor and dangerous
This is where the serious early 90's hip hop comes about. Throughout a period of Shaolin and Queensbridge domination came a guy from Harlem, with punchlines as quick as the speed of light!
Described as 'Pure ninties b-boy theme music' his ever so glossy production, mixed with his harsh battle rhyming experience, brought the perfect combination.
'You better flee hops or get your a** blown three blocks, L keeps rappers hearts bumping like Beat Box'
Well that he certainly did! Even though not the most anticipated album in history, Big L certainly claimed the ground as one of the most underated rappers ever...
2)Gza-Liquid Swords
Well what is there to say that hasn't been said a thousand times???
This album (for me) is better than the '36 chambers'!
Whats that i hear?? Shock, horror??!
Well Rza's production is on top, dark and at it's most grittiest. Along with the Gza's textured and metaphoric lyrics the surely has to take a place in the top 5!?
So 'Picture blood baths and elovation shalf's' as you take a trip through not only the chamber's but the island...
3)Snoop Dogg-Doggystyle
I was contemplating what 'Westcoast' album to put on here and the reason I choose 'Doggstyle' was for it's form.
Dre literally had stomped his authority on rap leaving a trail of old friends and dusted beats.
Along with the smoothest voice in rap, there brought out the most anticipated rap album of the 90's!
The lyrics (i must admitt) are not quite on point, but with the help of beats classic to G-funk and beautiful timing, this brought notice to the 'West' like no one could of expected! Actually after this album followed there were a few solid years were the Eastcoast blew silent until this guy...
4)Common-Like water for chocolate
I know most would choose 'Resurrection' but i feel a connection more to 'Like water for chocolate'
When this man turned up he stunned and appaled (some people) with his overt and grained rapping technique!
With the help of DJ Premier (to name one) Common took rap/hip hop to a different level as we know it. Bringing through vocabulary that would later influence Talib Kweli and beats fit for a king (so to speak)this album couldn't grow on me anymore!
5)Nas-Illmatic
Yes yes YES!! This album is basically perfection!!! The only aspect letting it down, is it's time length, but dont worry I forgive you Nas!
This is just hip hop! Straight up, real and taking it back to it's roots!
A time where Rakim and Krs-One were taking centre stage, Nas put out an album that (i dont think he ever realised) would make a HUGE impact on hip hop! At the the tender age of 18 Nasir Jones with the help of vocals from Rakim and AZ and beats from Premier and Large Professor produced the closest thing to perfection hip hop has ever seen!
His lyrics with originality and fresh faced talent brought a side of texture most could only dream of!
The only thing to wonder is did Nas know what he was letting himself in for??
6)A Tribe called Quest-The Low End Theory
Its Jazzy, sweet and fruitful, it just has to be 'ATCQ'!
For most its a toss up between this and 'Midnight Marauders' but i choose 'TLET' because of its perfected beats. For me they fullfilled passion and a rare uniqueness, that most rappers do not get to embark on!
With Q-tips silky 'Old skool' voice and Phife Dawg's added effort, the original native tongues of hip hop (De la Soul) were pushed aside for a brief while! Do not under estimate the power of the Tribe...
7)Wu-tang clan-Enter the Wu (36 chambers)
So now we get to the Gritty part. These 9 vertually unknown Mc's that seem to come from the middle of a Kung-Fu movie were at first disgarded to the rubbish.
But then someone people somewhere (I don't know how) gave them a chance, and what a chance it was!! The Wu-tang must have felt as if they struck gold!! Not only for the record sale's as they began to increase but for the pure recognition they brought with them!
Rza's hard, dirty beats along with sort of front man's Gza, Method Man and Raekwon(who well not surprisingly had better, more popular solo careers) put hip hop in a new state of mind and it certainly was ALL New York...
8)Public Enemy-It takes a nation of a million to hold us back
The voice of not only the 'Ghetto' but of Black America altogether!
Chuck D's lyrical assult on freedom and justice along with Chuck D's humour and Turminator X's beat helter skelter, it's affect on hip hop was outstanding! Not only were MOST middle-class white people affect but some black too!
The 'messanger' was truly here and his voice was not going away...
9)Gangstarr-Step into the Arena
Where mine (and i hope many's) passion for Primo started! With Guru's soft unique voice and Primo's sickingly good beats i had to include this gem!!
'I've been taught like a Muslim preying to the East, and through my lesson's my raps are released'
There's not much to say that hasn't been said before! With ever aspect of making a good hip hop record covered, i feel this is Gangstarr's finest moment!
10)Talib Kweli and Hi Tek-Train of thought
Right my last spot goes to someone i feel thats unexpected! It was between 'Ready to die'-B.I.G, 'Bacdafucup'-Onyx and 'Me against the world'-Tupac!
I know Talib hasn't got the recognition as a lot of those guys, and hasnt been around as long but still i choose this album because i feel its nearly as perfectionate as 'Illmatic'!!
Talib dosn't spit one weak line 'Whats the meaning of ghetto fabulous?? Not riding the back of the bus?? Im a revolutionary Antagonist'
And with Hi Tek's smooth (but at times) energetic beats and guessed apprences from the likes of Mos Def this album literally re-defind my hope is 21st century hip hop!
What more can i say than Talib (for me) is the best lyricist out there at the moment..
Other Konourable mentions:-
Tupac-Me against the world
Onyx-Bacdafucup
B.I.G-Ready to die
Rakim and Eric B-Paid in full
Mos Def and Talib kweli-Blackstarr
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