Hip Hop Prophets I Think You Oughta Listen To. Jul 02 '06    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet The Bottom Line Listen to these. I admit that I held off on writing this for a long time. Not because I feared getting flamed or having people disagree with my choices (hey, possibly the next best thing to enjoying music is debating it). But because I saw that many of the previous posters to this category had already offered up pretty good takes that mine is bound to pale in comparison to. I mention those takes because I highly recommend reading them if you are new to hip hop and are looking for a guide to truly essential albums. If that's the case then the lists posted by Madtheory and DVON will fit the bill. The list I'm posting here is more of a listing of my personal favorites (although some of them are also regulars on other lists here as well). I formed most of my rap taste between 1991 and 1993 when I was in my early-mid teens. Hence the heavy amount of Old school on this list. After 1993, when the gangstas appeared to be taking over I moved away from rap and focused my musical energy primarily on alternative and classic rock. Then the likes of Common and The Roots re-awakened my interest in the genre and today I'd maintain that Rap and Rock are about equal (along with soul) in genres of music I love. On to the list. 10: 2Pac-Strictly 4 My N I G G A Z: Easily my favorite 2Pac album, this one shows off all sides of the man from the tough guy ("Holler If Ya Hear Me") to the compassionate ("Keep Your Head Up") to the player ("I Get Around"). The production may not be up there with that on "Me Against The World". But he never surpassed the rhymes except in limited spots. The album may be getting harder to find these days. But definitely pick it up when you get your hands on it. 9: NWA-Straight Outta Compton: Wait a minute!!! Why am I putting such an influential album so low? Because while it is a very good album, it has also become somewhat dated by the passage of time. Not saying that it's bad, just that certain parts haven't held up as well. But when it comes down to it, Straight Outta Compton is still deserving of its classic status. "Fuck The Police" "Gangsta Gangsta" and "Express Yourself" remain hip hop classics to this day. Definitely a must-own 8: Ice Cube-Death Certificate: Most lists of this type would pick Amerikkka's Most Wanted as their selection from the Cube. But me, I always preferred this one. It's loud, angry and political and it makes its intentions clear from the beginning. 7: Run-DMC-Greatest Hits: Of course any list of this type must have some Run-DMC on it; otherwise it's not a hip-hop list. This superb anthology covers the group’s whole career, making it the ideal album for a party or even just to listen to on your own. If you're working tech support crank "It's Tricky" when you get the urge to doze off. Need a rap song for that Christmas party. Can't beat "Christmas in Hollis". Of course that's just scratching the tip of the iceberg. So go buy this if you don't already own it. 6: Pete Rock And CL Smooth-Mecca And The Soul Brother: One of rap's most underrated masterpieces; it's a shame that this 1992 classic has been forgotten by so many people today. No misogyny, bling or gangsta shit just heartfelt lyrics and tight yet smooth beats. "T.R.O.Y" is one of the most touching songs ever recorded and is the one most well remembered. But the whole album is essential. 5: Common-One Day It'll All Make Sense: Since he debuted (as Common Sense) in 1992 with "Can I Borrow a Dollar?" Common has not made one bad album. "Resurrection" and "Like Water For Chocolate" are superb. But this is my personal favorite. Superb beats, great storytelling and philosophizing. A perfect example of how truly wonderful hip-hop can be. 4: Dr Dre-The Chronic: Sure this album opened the floodgates for one million generic gangstas. But blaming Dr Dre for that would be like blaming Pearl Jam for Creed or Led Zeppelin for icky 80s hair metal. Patently unfair. Not to mention that it would do a disservice to this great album. You want an album to throw on at any party and everyone (aside from maybe a few squares) will get down? This is that album. No point in listing highlights as all the tracks are great. Even the skits, which have become interminable on recent hip-hop albums (you hear that Kanye?), are good. 3: Eric B and Rakim-Don't Sweat the Technique: Okay I know a few eyebrows are going to raise at this one. But personally this is my favorite Eric B and Rakim. Not necessarily their best. But easily my fave. Maybe it's because when I listen to it now, it takes me back to the summer of 1992 (when I first heard it). Maybe it's simply that it's a great album. From the jazzy yet lyrically hard-hitting title track (appropriated not too long ago by Target for a commercial) to the social commentary of "Casualties Of War" and "Know The Ledge" to the great make-out song "Keep The Beat" this album has a song for every mood. 2: Boogie Down Productions-Criminal Minded: A toss-up between this one and "By All Means Necessary". I lean towards this one mainly because it has my favorite BDP song "The Bridge Is Over". This is the album that helped make rap hardcore, that helped raise it above simply being party music. For that alone it's essential. But it's also a damn good album to listen to and enjoy. 1: Public Enemy-It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back: I could just leave a blank space after writing that title or simply say "go buy it now if you don't already have it". But the rules say you need to explain why so I will simply state the obvious that if it is not necessarily the greatest rap album ever (and it is from my perspective as this placing should indicate) it's definitely in the top 4 (not 5). Great beats, great lyrics, great social commentary. Makes you think, yet you can still party to it. No need to list highlights as every song is superb. So I will just reiterate what I said at the beginning: Go buy it now if you don't already own it. If this was a Top 30 list other albums that would've been on it...AKA Honorable Mentions LL Cool J-Mama Said Knock You Out PE-Fear of a Black Planet and Apocalypse 91 Digable Planets-Reachin De La Soul-3 Feet High And Rising Run-DMC-Raising Hell Ice Cube-Amerikka's Most Wanted and The Predator Common-The Resurrection Ice-T-OG Original Gangster Eric B and Rakim-Paid In Full and Follow the Leader And a whole host of others.

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