And for the sake of perspective...Based on several conversations that I have had with different rap fans, there are a few universal classics that most fans can agree on. Here is a short list:
Nas - Illmatic
Raekwon - Cuban Links
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
Wu-Tang CLan - 36 Chambers
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
BIG - Ready to Die
Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt
DMX - It's Dark and Hell is Hot
NWA - Straight Outta Compton
Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions...
Just to name a few. All of the albums mentioned above are ones that you would find on many "Classics" lists from Hip Hop Fans all over. What they have in Common is that each of those albums has "Stood The Test of TIme" for nearly 20 years (Some Longer) and are both accepted by new rap fans and revered by Hip Hop Senior Citizens like myself. So with that said, I now introduce the Rap Snob's New Classics. New classics have not been around long enough to be considered classics (Less than 10 years) but are well on their way. And now the list...
Little Brother - The Minstrel Show (2005)
Rap Snob Review:
The essence of Pure MC'ing and soulful production on this album, is reminiscent of Pete Rock and Tribe Called Quest in their prime. Phonte, Pooh and 9th WOnder followed up their Debut and perfected their craft to release a soon to be classic Sophomore effort. Unfortunately, this would be the last album with the group in tact. (9th GOt the Boot) Leaving Pooh in Rap Oblivion, Phonte is now an R&B SInger, and 9th signed to Duck Down and revitalized Boot Camp Click, one of the most influential crews of 90's Hip Hop.
Stand Out Tracks:
Lovin' It, Watch Me, Sincerely Yours
Downside:
The Percy Miracles Skit is lame and very very not funny. Also The guest MC's are clearly out of their League (Mainly Chanudon and Joe Scudda) and they almost ruin the flow of some of the great tracks.
50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Trying (2003)
Rap Snob Review:
After all the hype, anticipation, gunshot wounds and the legendary mixtape massacre from 50, Banks and Yayo...this album truly met and exceeded all expectations. CLub Bangers, chill songs, gangsta sh*t and the vintage tough talk that made 50 famous, all flowed seamlessly from track to track through this damn near perfectly produced album. Another Dr. Dre Masterpiece.
Stand Out Tracks:
Many Men, Whattup Gangsta, In Da Club
Downside:
Nearly half of the album's songs were released as singles which caused it to get played for a bit, but years later it still sounds fresh.
Kanye West - Late Registration (2005)
Rap Snob Review:
Most people consider College Dropout to be Kanye's best album, mainly due to the fact that after a few years of lacing Jay-Z and others with some of the best beats of the decade, Kanye proved that he was a legitimate MC. To Me LAte Registration was the album where he took that solidification and threw it through the glass ceiling that blocked Producer/Rappers from joining the ranks of elite MC Status. Because most importantly, he proved that College Dropout wasn't a fluke. And musically, Late Registration was much more sophisticated and orchestrated compared to the previous album. He also developed his identity as an MC and came with sharper, wittier lines.
Stand Out Tracks:
Diamonds from Sierra Leon, On My Way Home, Touch The Sky, Drive Slow, We Major
Downside:
The Fact that Kanye did not provide a verse for "On My Way Home" and even more disappointing, the fact that Game didn't spit a verse on Crack Music. Lastly, Golddigger was completely raped by the radio, movies, commercials, etc. ruining it forever.
Jay-Z - American Gangster (2007)
Rap Snob Review:
Musically, this is Jay-Z's best album. Many would say Blueprint or maybe even Black Album, but the way the beats fit the themes and content of each album is demonstrated this perfect on very few albums. The 70's samples provide a beautiful backdrop for Jay's story telling and make you feel and see the images as vividly as Jay resorted back to his hustler days for this one. Which was very refreshing for fans like myself considering the fact that he vowed never to return to those days due to his tremendous commercial success. If you ask me, This album could have easily been released as a Jay-Z album under a different name instead of a soundtrack and been equally as good, but Jay has never been one to run away from money and marketability.
Stand Out Tracks:
Ignorant Sh*t, I Know, Fallin', Say Hello, Roc Boys
Downside:
The fact that Jay-Z only did this album as a soundtrack to the American Gangster film always left a bad taste in my mouth. Especially since this was the type of album I had been wishing he released since reasonable doubt. The fact that it is a soundtrack also makes the rhymes less authentic to me. Oh and...Nas murdered Jay on his own sh*t (Success).
Game - The Documentary (2005)
Rap Snob Review:
To this day, Game still has the best album of all of the G-Unit goons. Unfortunately, it would be his last album as a G-Unit goon, but he went out on a high note. Game's sharp wordplay and gang-affiliated story telling brought west coast rap back to a place it hadn't been since Snoop dropped Doggy Style. The production from heavy weights such as Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Just Blaze and Timbaland made this album amazing with no skips. Dreams is still one of my favorite Rap songs ever recorded.
Stand Out Tracks:
West Side Story, Dreams, Put you on the Game, Higher
Downside:
The Name Dropping is almost unbearable at times. Game knows a lot of people in the Rap business and he wants to make sure that everybody knows that. There are at least 5 name drops in each track which can get annoying. Also, sometimes Game sounds like Nas...other times he sounds like Dr. Dre.
LOX - We Are The Streets (2000)
Rap Snob Review:
The LOX finally burned their shiny suits and dropped the album that they were born to record with We R The Streets. Hardcore East Coast Rap was in a state of decline when this album dropped, and it came back hard like a back alley brawl. The LOX spit violence and drugs with the authenticity and entertainment quality of a Martin Scorsese flick. The album asle established Swizz Beatz as an elite Producer and Jadakiss established himself as one of the Top 5 Dead or Alive.
Stand Out Tracks:
Blood PRessure, Breathe Easy, Felony N*ggas, We Are The Streets
Downside:
Perhaps the biggest downside to this album is the fact that 10 years later it is the most Recent LOX group album. Sure there are plenty of Solo albums from Sheek, Styles and Jada, but this is the last Solo Album and there doesn't seem to be another coming any time soon.
Common - Be (2005)
Rap Snob Review:
Hands Down Be is Common's best album. I have been a fan since Resurrection and bought every album, but it wasn't until Common hooked up with Kanye West where he finally reached his peak as a top tier MC. The album is very very soulful musically and Common drops intelligent, thought-provoking lines and vivid stories as is his skill.
Stand Out Tracks:
Faithful, Real People, They Say, Be, Go
Downside:
it's too short. Most times when an album has too many songs, it has a lot of filler, but this combination could give me a double CD and I would be happy. Thank God they did Finding Forever a few years later.
Raekwon - Cuban Links 2 (2009)
Rap Snob Review:
I waited for nearly 15 years for this album to drop and once it finally did it didn't disappoint one bit. The Chef and the Ghost revisited the kitchen and cooked up another classic. It had that classic Wu-Sound from the hard hitting beats to the even harder hitting lyrics. It won't ever be on the same level as the original but it's pretty damn close.
Stand Out Tracks:
Broken Safety, Canal Street, Surgical Gloves, House of Flying Daggers
Downside:
Fatal Flaw #1 - No Nas! Also, the album has a lot of the beats were recycled beats and taken from other rap songs. ie. Pyrex Vision shared the same beat as OC's Jewels, Canal Street Shares the same beat as It's Time I See You (LOX), Fat Lady Sings has the same Beat as Memphis Bleek's Sleping on Bleek. But that is a small annoyance. the rhymes make it irreleveant to the overall listening experience. But the other downside, perhaps the mort important, is the fact that JADAKISS has the hardest verse on the entire album. Jada is nice, but he's not even a Wu Affiliate! How you let him outshine the whole album with one 1-minute verse??? But in Rae's Defense, it's not hard to get out-shined by Kiss. Still a great album.
Honorable Mention:
Torae & Marco Polo - Double Barrell
Curren$y - Pilot Talk
Common - Finding Forever
Talib Kweli - Eardrum
Young Jeezy - The Inspiration
Lil Wayne - Carter II
Skyzoo - Salvation
Prodigy - H.N.I.C.
And that concludes the list. Leave comments on any omissions, props or differences of opinions.
Peace.
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3 comments:
Damn good list Droog!! However, I do have a substitution. I am a Jay-Z fan like the rest of the world but to choose American Gangster as a classic album over The Black Album is blasphemy. I am not going to argue the fact that it was an amazing album. The music seemed to take this 80's baby back to the 70's were funk and soul music ruled the radio, to be more specific, music such as the late great Curtis Mayfield, the elements Earth, Wind and Fire and so on. But as a listen to it, I do not feel the aura of "classic" radiate out of my speakers as it does when The Black Album is playing. It would have be the perfect last bow if only he kept that mediocre Kingdome Come to himself lol
F Kanye.
Damn, Zo...I'm late as hell but you make a damn good point. Black Album is a very very solid album. Might be a little too Pop to be a "Rap Snob" classic...but I definitely overlooked that one.
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