Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

[ QUOTE ]
White America (although I can't ever listen to this song again, have a crazy scary story about it)

Nail in the Coffin

Lose Yourself

Hailie's Song

The Way I Am

...all gold, also Go to Sleep gets me hype as [censored].

[/ QUOTE ]

His early "freestyles" on the Wake Up Show and different spots were what sold me on him.

Also, if you want a couple solid hip hop albums, check out:

Soundbombin II - One of the best Hip Hop Mix tapes - all time

Anything by the Beat Junkies - J-Rocc is REDICULOUS on the mix, the selection, and all around the best party rocking DJ AINEC - check out Tasters Choice 1/2/3 for some different flavors. Something Funky for your Walkman is also really good as is One if you can find it (TBH DJ Rectangle's OLD mixes were really good as well - Behind Bars / OG Style, etc)

Also, for some strange hip hop / dance - interesting weirdness - check out Hollertronix. Enjoyable, but odd (I think they are like Baltimore Club Music - but it's much better than you might expect).

Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

Never ever said I think Hard Knock Life is Jay-Z's best work.

I also think you guys might enjoy the whole MTV Unplugged: Jay-Z featuring The Roots album. It's a compilation of them teaming up to do H to the Izzo, Big Pimpin', Can't Knock the Hustle, Girls Girls Girls, Heart of the City, Takeover, Song Cry, Jigga What Jigga Who, etc.

Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

Jay I'd imagine you've never heard of Talib Kweli (he's not hugely recognized in the States) who is featured in the new avatar (ballin). He's unreaaaal though. His new album Eardrum is quite excellent too.

Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

Is Talib really not that well heard of? Kinda figured he's pretty much mainstream now, especially after working with Kanye.

Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

I like the black album better than hard knock life.

Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

coming of age and a week ago are both good tracks though.

Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

[ QUOTE ]
Never ever said I think Hard Knock Life is Jay-Z's best work.

[/ QUOTE ]
Okay, fair enough, but you named it as the one and only "must download" track in your list there. Not sure how else I'm supposed to interpret that.

Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

Weird.

nath, it sounds like we have pretty similar taste in music (I also went through a phase where I listened to Dylan exclusively for around half a year, then progressed onto mostly pitchfork style indie rock) and I've listened to the Kortedala album probably 5 or 6 times now and I'm still having trouble getting into it. My friends love it for the most part, and while I really appreciate the lyrics the music still hasn't done much for me. I usually have to listen to an album a few times before making an assessment, so maybe it just needs to sink in some more.

Is it weird that his lyrics remind me of The Streets? Polar opposite music styles but they both have this odd way of describing bizzare details of seemingly inconsequential stuff so well that it really places you in the scene.

Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

the roots are really good. i also liked the last chamillionaire album alot.

Re: ***SSNL LIFE THREAD NOV***
 

survey for best lyricist of all time?
Eminem is good. So was Shakespeare and Locke.
I think Atmosphere is REALLY good.
I keep hearing about how good Nas was, but I wasn't a fan.