Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

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Ice Cube-Death Certificate

In my mind, the perfect west coast album. The right touches of humor, politics, anger, and also just technical precision. Amazingly solid, and in a way depressing given how Cube fell off and some of the subsequent choices he made.

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dids - how does this make it and straight outta compton doesn't? this is akin to liking a sammy haggar album better than a vh album. at least choose a dre album!

Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

always a volatile discussion, 'best' vs 'favorite.'

Very hard to include something by Atmosphere in a best list, for lack of impact and resonance. That's to say nothing of its merits.

Trying to be objective, as Da Shinin' is one of my favorite records of all time. But again, I can't in good conscience include it in a 'top' list. Too much backpacker stuff on here. Incidentally, nice personal choices, Suiteness

In no particular order, and as always, subject to change:

Paid in Full: How does no one include a record by the GOAT?
Aquemini: Perhaps the most complete record ever compiled
Ready to Die: self explanatory
Illmatic: ditto
Straight Outta Compton: ushered in the versimilitude of gangsta rap
Reasonable Doubt: smooth, swaggering, emphasis on the superficial
All Eyez on Me (not a Tupac fan in the least, but respect for his status)
The Chronic: anthemic
It Takes a Nation of Millions: classic wake-up record
Raisin Hell: have to give kudos to the originators

Um, and fit Low End Theory (pretty damn close to perfect hip hop) Daily Operation, The Score, AmeriKKKA's Most Wanted, and possibly The Fix in there somewhere

It's ironic. Seems like every time I'm in a recording studio, Tribe is played during down periods. Everyone sits, nodding their heads, remarking: 'that's how hip-hop should sound." Hard to argue

Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

Disclaimer: I'm not nearly an expert in hip-hop, so take this with a grain of salt.

1. Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
Most people know how awesome this album is. I love it for its production, its intensity, its lyrics, and Chuck D's unparalleled rap style. "War at 33 1/3" is probably the most diesel rap song of all time.

2. Ice-T - O.G. Original Ganster
Ice has the best vocabulary of any gangster rapper, and his rhyme style with syncopation and rhythm is both original and infectious. I love almost every track on this epic album and I listen to it all the time.

3. Mr. Lif - I Phantom
The only recent hip-hop album I like. The story on this is so deep and complex I almost want to adapt it into a screenplay. A great socialist diatribe against corpocracy and greed.

4. Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill
Their self-titled debut is still their best. What a fun album full of surprises, from the Spanglish to the weed to everything in between. And the best thing about Cypress Hill is that they leave women and gays alone; in a genre full of misogyny and homophobia, CH only target cops as the villains. They like booze, sex, and most of all mary jane. Doesn't get any better than "Hand on the Pump."

5. Ice Cube - The Predator
It's close between this and Death Certificate, but I think here Cube really refined his style. It's aggressive but focused.

6. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Samples galore make this thing pop like nobody's business. The boys really found their sound on this one, mixing youthful comedy with some exciting musical experimentation. Who doesn't like this album?

7. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
One of my favorite production gimmicks in rap history is the vocal on "Party For Your Right to Fight," where Chuck sings in the left speaker and Flav sings in the right, and even though they're doing the same lyrics their style is so different and the rhythm is so distinct that it sounds like two different verses. Combined it becomes this enchanting power speech that I've never heard anywhere else. Remarkable song. (And not even the best one on the album).

8. N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
Pretty much speaks for itself.

9. Sir Mix-a-Lot - Mack Daddy
Lost in the hype of the disposable single "Baby Got Back" is a lot of brilliant dance-happy production on this record. There's also a hilarious violent anti-KKK anthem called "The Jack Back" which I really adore. This is mostly a guilty pleasure but damn is it awesome.

10. Ice-T - The Iceberg: Freedom of Speech (Just Watch What You Say)
Politically charged, funny, sexy, mean, and clever. They don't make 'em like they used to.

Honorable Mention: Tribe Called Quest's "Low End Theory," Eric B. & Rakim's "Follow The Leader"

Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

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Dids,
Could you at all give me an explanation preferably with examples of the difference between hip hop and rap?

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I'm going to assume that this is a joke playing on the many times this question came up in OOT.

Short answer there is no functional difference and anybody telling you otherwise is a child of MTV or pop radio.

Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ice Cube-Death Certificate

In my mind, the perfect west coast album. The right touches of humor, politics, anger, and also just technical precision. Amazingly solid, and in a way depressing given how Cube fell off and some of the subsequent choices he made.

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dids - how does this make it and straight outta compton doesn't? this is akin to liking a sammy haggar album better than a vh album. at least choose a dre album!

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I'm not a big NWA fan. Their best stuff was all written by Cube anyway, and Death Cert has better production, less filler, better quality lyrics.

I like Chronic a lot, but not top 10 a lot.

Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

the problem with compiling such lists is putting fandom aside to properly appraise the impact of each album.

Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

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the problem with compiling such lists is putting fandom aside to properly appraise the impact of each album.

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Why is that a problem? Since when do "my 10 favorite albums" = "the 10 albums with the most significant impact?"

If top 10 lists were about impact, they would be so boring I would die. Every top ten movie list would have The Godfather, Citizen Kane, and Rashomon on it. You'd never get to see films like Naked, The Conformist, and Barry Lyndon.

Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

my response was to Dids, not you. It's not a problem per se, but to write off NWA for not being a fan of theirs is being myopic. Upon reviewing his initial post, I see he offered that caveat anyway re: favorites, so I guess the point is somewhat moot. I addressed the problem with my begrudging inclusion of Tupac.

And, I don't want to see any movie top 10 list sans GF I and II, anyway.

Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

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Digital Underground - Sex Packets
Nas- Illmatic
EPMD
De La Soul - De La Soul is Dead

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Good calls. Add in the first gangsta rapper, Schooly D with Gangsta Boogie/Maniac/P.S.K. and his debut Schooly D EP.
EPMD - Strictly Business
Eric B is President and Paid in Full.
Enter the Wu-Tang and Liquid Swords.
It Takes a Nation of Millions.

These all have great beats and had a big impact both then and today.

Re: The Hip-Hop Thread, or Dids\'s Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums
 

Ignoring Atmosphere impact is silly. They're a huge gateway band for white indie kinds into hip-hop.

Now those kids all love Ghostface.

They're also pretty notable because they make ridic $ for an indie band/lable.

Also, "impact" is a silly way to judge art. If I was judging "best" I wouldn't do it on impact, that's how I'd judge "important".