Official Rap/Hip Hop Thread 2.0

[Fury]

Yeah, good to hear. I kinda expected this to be really good. Gonna download it soon.

[Manhattan Project]

Wale was your typical Wale mixtape, your getting mostly good stuff.

[Bigmo5246]

Meek's album was just bleh. Not too impressed with it (I think it's just that his voice is too annoying). My favortie songs from it though are Won't Stop, Ima Boss and Dreamchasers.

[Fury]

Both Meek Mill and Ace Hood are aight but only in doses.

[Bigmo5246]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXUFlwyBE4Y[/youtube]

[emo]

I really enjoyed The Game's new album.

Same.. I have that song Ricky (the one based off Boyz n the Hood) on repeat at the moment, great song.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPQUvt1hsqI[/youtube]

My neck roll started getting reaaal ignorant the further along this track got, I could feel the heat coming up out the speakers...


"RATHER FACE GOD THAN 25 WITH NO OPTIONS!"

[defjux21]

Interesting sound from Primo with Apathy and Celph
http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/08/08/apa ... j-premier/

Great post.

[Manhattan Project]

Another installment from the Penny Series from Skyzoo
http://hulkshare.com/46v1m7jaijc3

[j4remi]

Whattup ya'll? I'm not a Knicks fan (from NJ, a Nets fan, although I respect the Knicks), but I'm always lurking on this board, which is the best on the entire site, and has the best hip-hop thread.

So, a few hours ago I downloaded Game's R.E.D album, burnt it onto a CD, and went to the car to ride around and bump it (the only way to truly appreciate an album IMO). My verdict...

Instant classic (or very, very close to it).

The album is excellent. Keep in mind that I am a very, very tough critic when it comes to rap, and this album really took me off-guard and impressed me in a way that no other album has in the last few years (besides Distant Relatives, which isn't pure rap..this blows Watch the Throne way out of the water). First off, Game's lyrics are top-notch, and he goes through a bunch of different ideas and themes throughout the album. The production for 90% of the songs is crazy, and has kind of a darker Documentary feel to it. Most of the guest appearences are very good, although there's 1 or 2 chorus' that I'm not a fan of. Even the Dre skits where he narrarates the album fit very well and definitely add to the whole concept.

I hate making quick decisions after a first listen-thru, but I really can't recall the last time I took to an album quite like this one. Must-listen.

Favorite songs:

Martians vs. Goblins
Heavy Artillery
Born in the Trap

Welcome to the knicks forum and appreciate the respect given man. This isn't the first review of Game's work that gives him a lot of props and I've been putting off checking it out for too long. I'll have to get on top of it because I haven't heard any complaints about it, just compliments.

[kane2021]

I decided to check a few more joints out. I really liked the Kendrick Lamar cuts in the thread a lot. So I grabbed the album and a few mix tapes. As has become the norm, the mixtape stuff seemed better than the album. Not to say the album was weak. I was just expecting a bit more.

All in all this Kendrick Lamar is someone I like. And im going to continue to bump the tracks I like and keep a eye out. I think putting so much work into promoting a album on mixtapes, really hurts artists. A lot of the times you dont even get those songs on the official release. To put so much ill stuff out on the free, kind of drains your resources.

While it does benefit you in building a buzz, it can cut your life span. And really benefits the so called DJ more IMO. I like mixtapes but they are difficult to listen to sometimes. The way they are mixed and all of the talking the host does. Many times the host scales back the volume of the track and ups the volume on his own voice making for poor listening quality. I hate getting into a song only to have a DJ scream and nearly blow my tweeters. I hate it even more when I never get a clean copy of the song on the official release.

Anyway I do like that kid.

I also grabbed up the red album. Not really a game fan at all. Dude is so skittish. SO many personalities it almost seems like he is pretending. And I think thats what he is doing. Can never get a read on who this dude is.

His album though is very good. Hard to deny it. Takes a hard turn for R&B at the end it seems. So those tracks got ignored a bit for the time being. Still on Dre's dick. Still talking **** to sell a album. Still placing himself way too high in this imaginary greatest rapper list everyone loves to talk about. Still name dropping. But the album is dope. Got a few songs that catch me and make me repeat for 10 miles while I ride around north carolina racking up miles and draining that liquid car crack that is killing my finances this summer.

I get bored of the song and move on. Only to find another song that gets stuck on repeat. 40 dollars in gas. Have not been to the gym yet today. And had 2 slices of pizza from a new local family pizza shop I just found. Natives from BK. So it was nice to get a taste of home. But I am slightly ashamed to eat junk. lol. At least it wasnt overly greasy and was a fairly clean. Thin sliced big slice. (s)

So thanks to the game I spent 40 bucks in gas I didnt plan on. Cheated on my diet. And have crept ever so closer 85k on the odometer. And have yet to hit the gym. Ass hole.

Then I found the spite full chant. Its sunny. About 92 outside. And I love me some slow military style marching flow. So heres to making thursday the new friday.

That Kanye Jay z joint of off rotation permanently. It just fell of the table and died. I felt embarrassed bumping it. Never felt the lyrics. Kanyes irritating mannerisms succeeded. (HUHHHH?!!) Jay Z is just boring. The album has no foundation underneath it. The album is early similar to those blinder shade sun glasses. That BTW I never owned because their stupid looking and serve no purpose outside of being some kind of trend at its time. Thats what that album was for its moment. A trendy accessory that was cheaply made and did not serve its original intended purpose. After it fades it leaves you feeling foolish.

Sadly its the 2 west coast dudes that caught my attention and lead me on a day I suddenly discovered real NY pizza in the south. While I ate, my mind wandered off to mask the guilt of empty fatty calories. And began to think why the originators and innovators of my once beloved culture are having such a hard time keeping my attention.

[Manhattan Project]

It's harder to find guys that sound like the 90's, but there are still plenty of rappers out there that are still damn good. I mean West Coast guys got talent, Kendrick, Dom, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Ab Soul, Crooked all of em got talent. Detroit got a lot of talent that's coming out of there, some serious beats coming from there. The South has a bunch of guys that are talented as hell, Big K.R.I.T. is essentially the saving grace down there IMO. I mean Florida got some talent these days as well, there finally emerging out of the Khaled shadow. Then of course there is NY, I mean NY got so many guys that are good it's easy to overlook guys.

I mean you just gotta read some reviews and take a chance on mixtapes some times. Eventually you will find a ton of artist that are easy to follow.

[Fury]

Yelawolf's Radioactive is now coming out on October 25th. So another 2 months.

[j4remi]

I decided to check a few more joints out. I really liked the Kendrick Lamar cuts in the thread a lot. So I grabbed the album and a few mix tapes. As has become the norm, the mixtape stuff seemed better than the album. Not to say the album was weak. I was just expecting a bit more.

All in all this Kendrick Lamar is someone I like. And im going to continue to bump the tracks I like and keep a eye out. I think putting so much work into promoting a album on mixtapes, really hurts artists. A lot of the times you dont even get those songs on the official release. To put so much ill stuff out on the free, kind of drains your resources.

While it does benefit you in building a buzz, it can cut your life span. And really benefits the so called DJ more IMO. I like mixtapes but they are difficult to listen to sometimes. The way they are mixed and all of the talking the host does. Many times the host scales back the volume of the track and ups the volume on his own voice making for poor listening quality. I hate getting into a song only to have a DJ scream and nearly blow my tweeters. I hate it even more when I never get a clean copy of the song on the official release.

Anyway I do like that kid.

I also grabbed up the red album. Not really a game fan at all. Dude is so skittish. SO many personalities it almost seems like he is pretending. And I think thats what he is doing. Can never get a read on who this dude is.

His album though is very good. Hard to deny it. Takes a hard turn for R&B at the end it seems. So those tracks got ignored a bit for the time being. Still on Dre's dick. Still talking **** to sell a album. Still placing himself way too high in this imaginary greatest rapper list everyone loves to talk about. Still name dropping. But the album is dope. Got a few songs that catch me and make me repeat for 10 miles while I ride around north carolina racking up miles and draining that liquid car crack that is killing my finances this summer.

I get bored of the song and move on. Only to find another song that gets stuck on repeat. 40 dollars in gas. Have not been to the gym yet today. And had 2 slices of pizza from a new local family pizza shop I just found. Natives from BK. So it was nice to get a taste of home. But I am slightly ashamed to eat junk. lol. At least it wasnt overly greasy and was a fairly clean. Thin sliced big slice. (s)

So thanks to the game I spent 40 bucks in gas I didnt plan on. Cheated on my diet. And have crept ever so closer 85k on the odometer. And have yet to hit the gym. Ass hole.

Then I found the spite full chant. Its sunny. About 92 outside. And I love me some slow military style marching flow. So heres to making thursday the new friday.

That Kanye Jay z joint of off rotation permanently. It just fell of the table and died. I felt embarrassed bumping it. Never felt the lyrics. Kanyes irritating mannerisms succeeded. (HUHHHH?!!) Jay Z is just boring. The album has no foundation underneath it. The album is early similar to those blinder shade sun glasses. That BTW I never owned because their stupid looking and serve no purpose outside of being some kind of trend at its time. Thats what that album was for its moment. A trendy accessory that was cheaply made and did not serve its original intended purpose. After it fades it leaves you feeling foolish.

Sadly its the 2 west coast dudes that caught my attention and lead me on a day I suddenly discovered real NY pizza in the south. While I ate, my mind wandered off to mask the guilt of empty fatty calories. And began to think why the originators and innovators of my once beloved culture are having such a hard time keeping my attention.

This post was so on point and epic. I def gotta peep that Red album. Kendrick Lamar is a beast, I'm a big fan! Kanye and Jay joint is definitely worthless and will be forgotten on the long term. I like mixtapes though, they really help build exposure and the artists just seem more comfortable and effective.

Good for you finding real NY pizza.

[Mecca]

I think Wale's new mixtape, elevenoneeleven kinda sucks.. Doesn't feel like the old Wale. I miss the old Wale. I can't see myself keeping any of these songs in rotation. Like it's kinda shallow, and I can't relate to it at all. Also, this is coming from one of Wale's biggest fans, back in early 08.

[Manhattan Project]

Preview from Complex on Cole's album
http://www.complex.com/music/2011/08/al ... ne-story#1

Novel and Joell Ortiz
http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/08/19/nov ... ell-ortiz/

SchoolBoy Q
http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/08/19/sch ... alchemist/

Evidence 5 song sampler
http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/08/19/evi ... m-sampler/

Grafh-Buddens-Shalone Music Video
http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/08/19/gra ... one-video/

Wale over Sugar Hill
http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/08/19/wal ... freestyle/

New Big Krit Mixtape
http://hulkshare.com/8vbza3xbe98m

The Weeknd Mixtape
http://hulkshare.com/yfvhirjay6zm

[SonOfMars]

GREAT LINKS^^^


That Complex/Cole article was the biggest tease of all time, glad to hear that the album would be mostly the deeper side of Cole, and many songs seem to be personal, which always brings out the best in Cole..

Dissapointed to hear that Lights Plz/InTheMorning will be on the album, those have been out for too long....plus workout/cant get enough/lost ones, by the of the release i'd know half the album...

---

I thought the Wale mixtape was good...dissapointing from Wale, but good nonetheless

[StumptheSlob]

That Complex/Cole article was the biggest tease of all time, glad to hear that the album would be mostly the deeper side of Cole, and many songs seem to be personal, which always brings out the best in Cole..

Dissapointed to hear that Lights Plz/InTheMorning will be on the album, those have been out for too long....plus workout/cant get enough/lost ones, by the of the release i'd know half the album...

+1. It sounds like "Track 13" is "Lost Ones" too, which has been out for a little while. I'm disappointed that Return of Simba doesn't seem to be on here, but at the same time, I'm glad we'll be getting another new song instead.

[Bigmo5246]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ19PJ7-SWc[/youtube]

Sick beat. Good to see Mac Miller drop something like this. I'm a fan of his, but lately he's been releasing terrible stuff. This however, is something I can definitely have on replay.

[SpReEfOrAlL]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6voHeEa3ig[/youtube]
Too classic for words

[kane2021]

I have spent weeks going through my collection. Nearing tears at times. Nearly 40 years of hip hop. From 12 inch wax, tape, to CD. I have purchased thousands of albums. DJed. I MCed. I produced. I ran a record label from the housing projects for 10 years. I may not know whats hot today. But I was there in the beginning. And I remember.

This wasnt easy. I had to ignore the popular albums. I had to ignore the albums I liked and pay respect to the ones I didnt. I came up with 5 albums. These 5 albums are properly albums you never heard of.

Now there are hundreds that deserve to be on this list. And I fought with myself. The point of this list is not just good music. In fact, one of these albums was named to be the worst of the artists career. What this list is about is albums that changed times. People who had the guts to do something different. People who decided to stand up. As I said I found hundreds that deserved recognition. But these are the ones that I feel need to be mentioned. Because they are forgotten or never known.

Again it took me a long time to come up with this. Yes its based on opinion some what. But I will provide reasons as to why they are on the list. Part of what was used is what was going on at the time the album was released. These are not necessarily classic or great albums. They are albums that changed the culture or fought back at times. Leading the way to change.

In the case of these albums, someone did it better after. Copy cats. So these albums get forgotten. Because at its time, this change was somewhat rejected. In the case of one, it was a wicked lash out. So wicked it was denounced by not only mainstream america, but hip hop itself.

these albums are placed in no particular order.

First.



Public Enemy-Apocalypse 91 the enemy strikes black

October 1991

Why?

This album is a viscous attack on america. The media. The radio. The ghetto. Whites. Blacks. North south east west. This album was revenge. It was retaliation. It was a warning. And to be frank it scared this **** out of some people.

Many people tried to copy public enemy. Many tried to copy terminators X's aggressive transformer style of DJing. Many people tried to copy the bomb squad style of production after ice cube came east, and after the success of the previous albums. Many tried to copy chuck and flav. And many lashed out at them. This album was not a **** you. This album was the equivalent of the shock and awe tactics employed by the US military in the desert storm war that had just ended the year this came out.

This album was loud. Hostile. Violent. And in your face.

This track is simple. Its a **** you to the copy cats. Its a revenge song. Its also a song that signifies the death of the old sound that was copied and criticized.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qohQIGEPE0[/youtube]

Rebirth. Its simple. The birth of the new public enemy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wcf3JbZEyo[/youtube]

This is a metaphor. Night train was a popular wine drank by bums in the 80s. The other meaning is the danger of riding the subway at night. Remaining true to the point of the album. Danger.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R5Vu1kpSdc[/youtube]

This was the main release on the album. It was loud. Violent. And its message was one that touched a nerve. It was controversial but still a hit.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHLnv--a9kA[/youtube]

The word is spelled wrong. And its for a reason. Its easy to dismiss this as weak. Or funny. But its hard to deny the passion Flav puts into this. He means it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKQuL-RC1-4[/youtube]

This one kind of speaks for itself. Public enemy lashes out at DJs. Radio stations and the artists that make a name for themselves allowing themselves to be exploited by the business. A lot of name calling in this track.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stBkQQwGGP8[/youtube]

This track is what you might call epic. First of all, its sarcastic guitar riff sample. Watch how chuck freaks it. Then how its goes hard into hip hop then back to the riff. This track is a straight attack on racism. This track is just hardcore.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRW6K5CvLFs[/youtube]

Maybe the weakest track on the album. Still has the same feeling. Same message. But its difficult to listen to.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efxfrFzW0BU[/youtube]

This track is about the use and marketing of alcohol in the ghetto. Not a great song. But a strong message.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyVeP5aov18[/youtube]

Flav does it again. Not really a rapper. But you hear his passion as he attacks the local news and talks about crime in the ghetto.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9jtQ3rdLrE[/youtube]

This is the hardest song in the history of hip hop. And behind lodi dodi the most sampled. This is hard core. Another attack song. And they had the balls to put it out in a video.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB4D-GbQ9A4[/youtube]

Here goes flavor again. This time attacking the NY post. This is personal. This has to do with the reports of flav beating his girl up.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DMo3uQpd40[/youtube]

A dark and powerful song about police brutality

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lmh4kCNlWo[/youtube]

And just in case you thought it was a racist album, PE and anthrax. It just supports what the album is about. Rebelling, fighting back.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBA-xi8WuCU[/youtube]



Kool G rap and DJ Polo. Live and let die.

Late 1992

Why?

Gangster rap. Thats why. NWA. Dr Dre. Ice T and Cube. G rap wanted to let the world know something with this album.

It was known as a west coast thing. Well rap was a east coast thing. And so was gangster in the US. It was a NY thing. And Kool G Rap wanted to make sure the world knew. This is a classic and original example of NY gangster rap as NY looked to take back the crown. G Rap did not disappoint. This was the duos last album. It also introduced trackmasters production crew.

What it did was piss people off. This is not for the faint of heart. And train robbery was questioned as being authentic. "a bullet grazed my shorties face" says g rap on MTV quoting train robbery the song with a young man who has a severely scared face.

Not for everyone. But why it makes this list is because it was a east coast answer to the new west coast wave of gangster rap.

NY street ****. Ny city. And the god father theme. Not much more to say.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4WNxn_W2W0[/youtube]

This song was remixed 3 times. Once by trackmasters and that remix was famous. But the original was straight NY gangster music. This is the original. And to me the best of the 3.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neHHZGFvsig[/youtube]

Its a setup. Under cover police. Then it turns into a life story of the streets in NY as a child raised by NY gangsters.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jiu9_oNW7c[/youtube]

A short song. Raw flow sticking to the theme.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO0D5qFl9n0[/youtube]

Another story about the streets of NY. Covers all bases. Drugs, girls. Murder. Everything. G rap is all over the place but on point.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39f7oWM-Aa8&feature=related[/youtube]

This was the most controversial song on the album. It was to detailed. Some felt it was fake. But G rap went out of his way to prove it authentic. Again, not for the faint of heart. This song is rated x. Just like the hit off the last album.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dhhBsDKt0E&feature=related[/youtube]

More stories. Not a great song.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCtri_0w9bU[/youtube]

If you wonder what CB stands for just listen

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTBdMVy6JIQ[/youtube]

This joint has that NY gangster feeling. Good story also

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvIWLE0rMqY[/youtube]

This was the official single on the album. And the song that made trackmaster famous.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxysgIzX3Ps[/youtube]

This track is ill.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z7ImbTMlxU[/youtube]

Just like Poison. G rap wants people to know that while he is a street nicca, he has skills. This is about flowing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvNafB4yn-Q[/youtube]

This is a filler track on par with the albums theme

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf0Bo2B9RaQ[/youtube]

This is one of my favs on this album. I think everyone has gone through these type of dark feelings before. Question is how far have you taken it? In case you have not taken that far, listen to this. Maybe it keeps you straight.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmEn3-fhgQA[/youtube]

Really part 2 to talk like sex. Ehhh. Beat is dope.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgJnSDwwxDg[/youtube]

Another filler track

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5gNhjNjgQ8[/youtube]

This track is wicked. Scarface, Ice Cube, Bushwick.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDxa0ze_AfI[/youtube]



Big Daddy Kane

Long Live the Kane

1987

Why?

It didnt come out until 1988 but was started in 1986. Big Daddy Kane was known as a writer for Biz Markie. He had a look. A voice and a style. He could also dance.

But this album did something major for hip hop at this time. While it wasnt the first to do it, with albums like paid in full and criminal minded out, it was the first to really appeal to streets, radio and video.

What this album did was kill the yes yes yall bizzy bee style most felt hip hop was. And introduce lyrics. And when I say lyrics, im talking lyrics. Dude was what canibus should have been, 12 years later. Yes the 2 albums mentioned before are better. But this one was forgotten by many. It also contains a track that rivals LL Coll J's I need love. And only came up short because of a weak vocalist.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7KXAHl9vbE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SarGAZlS50&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYgxCcqxcG8&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1sUDwihR8Y[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrs2m5KP25Y[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Bx7R0LKx0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47iDDFYndUQ[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5i87R3R0Oo[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVZWLEqeHik[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96KOe99gO7M[/youtube]

Common Sense One day it will all make sense

1997



Why?

Lost in the queens push and in the glamor rap of the times was Common senses 3rd album. And it was a master piece. Unique style and sound. Not afraid to be himself. The lyrical content of the album was top of the line. The beats were top of the line. The subjects and stories kept your interest. This is the rare album that catches you from beginning to end and is very hard to skip through.

Sure there are other albums. But this one is special. Its not a album that will ever get brought up in conversations. It gets forgotten because its soo smooth from beginning to end. And no one track really sticks out over another. A rare album that just flows with one song connecting to the other. Really the track placement is perfectly alighted. Its a personal album. Just a master piece.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyQDEoZ8DQU[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHcHUeuV5to[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOWBPzXDV38[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmDybzfNBG0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ06kt_0K6o[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrSpE4Mkruo[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bWQT_vjRKI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17BlhQRyNyI[/youtube]

This **** is so ill

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_faSOVXaN1U[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiB2yR3sI9o[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hspa2yC3x24[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWmQ8So1E-8&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmelRxSeL50[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GINhYNeR15Y[/youtube]

This joint is raw lyrical

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BDZCKTothc[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQfq62N_Jxs[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ej94GcQqLM[/youtube]




LL Cool J

Walking with a Panther

1989

Why?

At the time was considered a flop. Considered the worst album of his long career. I furiously disagree. This is the album that bridged the 80's sound into the 90s sound. This is the album that introduced MPC style beats, more than just break beat loops. Beats changed containing multiple samples. Multiple tempos.

This album was experimental. And marked the death of Cool J at the time during his well known feud with Moe Dee. And it contained a bonus track "jack the ripper" LL Cool Js alter ego answering Moe.

2 things about this other wise known weak album. Number 1. It introduced the 90s sound style to hip hop. Though most feel it didnt do well at all. And 2,.. it motivated Cool J for a epic follow up album. Mama Said Knock you out.

It was also the first 20 track hip hop album. Very long album with many experimental tracks.

So while this album is not a fav among many. It was its failed experiments that helped introduce a new sound into hip hop that many feel is the golder era of hip hop. And its failure was a motivating factor to a classic follow up album from cool J that might have single handily saved cool Js career.

Because Moe Dee ripped him.

Sadly not all of the songs are available on youtube to be posted here

Dropin em (not available)

Smokin Dopin (not available)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-1pfv6MC0M[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYgIp06nFh4[/youtube]

Nitro (not available)

You're My Heart (not available)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZlxvn_jWgM[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_yxHHNtXDY[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdizL4on-Rc[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV_QIho04PQ[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XErX8bqgyC8[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84LUpG6ieis[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyV7iddP1EQ[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMnA2LSPWh0[/youtube]

Two Different Worlds (not available)

Jealous (not available)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU5lQsV0L6s[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmzOC04Nvm0[/youtube]

Change your Ways (not available)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nI2hKo8lAA[/youtube]

I had to force myself to include the cool J album. And finding the tracks on youtube was so difficult I almost excluded it. But listening to it in my collection made me remember the school yard debates over the album. And its hard to deny the change it marked in hip hop.

This is the one album that I really felt was more deserving. So I will add it and make it 6 albums.



Schoolly D

Schoolly D

1984

From Philly. Did a lot of work with BDP. The original gangster rapper. Yes the first. Hard core. He was important to hip hop early on because he was one of the first to tell it like it was without censorship. This album was also heavily sampled.

Many give credit to Ice T for creating gangster rap. But Ice T gives the credit to Schooly D. And he was the original gangster rapper. I had to put this album on my list. I strongly feel had it not been for him, west coast rappers would not have been able to speak as freely as they did when they did.

I feel that way. And so does Ice T. So its kind of hard to argue. And it shows how important this album was to hip hop. This was the first hard core cut throat gangster rap album. While it wasnt really a NY MC, it was east coast hip hop with a lot of help from NYC.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MtXvtZAPWY[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mouBZm1V5c[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UG993rcJZ0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4478SMAc2qM[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcYll5fqgYo&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gmAtDeQ1KY[/youtube]

Honorable mention.

EPMD

Strictly Business

1988

Why it didnt make it?

Style wise it was similar to Eric B and Rakim. Hard core slow flow. And its not necessarily a forgotten album. First rap group to ever have every single album to go gold.

Master Ace Inc

SlaughtaHouse

Released right after the chronic. This album is a over looked classic hip hop album. And I was tempted to give it the nod over walking with a panther. Its one of my all time favs. So I didnt want to make a biased choice.

No ID

Accept Your Own and Be Yourself (The Black Album)

1997

Another hip hop classic that will be forgotten. Why it didnt make it? Because it just sounded like everything else at the time. While it was much better than most at the time, if not way better, and is a forgotten classic, it never really did anything to change hip hop, and never really had any type of meaning outside of just being a really dope hip hop album. This is a album I highly recommend you check out still.

Show Biz and AG

Goodfellas

1995

Same as no ID. A dope album. But really just fit into the times and sounds.

MC Shan

Down By Law

1987

Why it didnt make it? The bridge and kill that noise. These are well known songs that will never be forgotten in the bridge war battles between the Juice crew and BDP. After the bridge war battles Shan and many of the juice crew fell off hard. Shan himself fell into crack addiction.

So while the album is forgotten those songs are not. Shan never had any real success after those songs. And a lot of that can be put onto the crack addiction.

MC Hammer

Let's Get It Started

1987

Yeah. Thats right. MC Hammer. This album is not Hammer. Its not cant touch this. This album had a edge. It was sold out of the trunk of his car. It was hand delivered to clubs and radio stations by himself to get play. This was a good album. And one of the first were you heard a MC starting beef on records to make a name for himself. (Cool J and Moe Dee name dropping regularly)

It does not make it because it accomplished its goal. He sold out hard. Listen to this album. And hear karma in action. Be careful what you wish for and how you go about doing it.

Das EFX

Dead Serious

1992

2 guys who hung out in a sewer drinking beer. Who went stinking to talent shows and got booed off of stages regularly. Parish Smith discovered them. And gave them a shot with the hit squad. And this album fueled a new style as everyone went and bit off of them.

Why it doesnt make it? Everyone biting off of them killed them. Everyone wanted to sound like Das EFX. When the style died, so did they.

Redman

Whut thee album

1992

Also on the hit squad. The album is just raw. I dont think its really a forgotten album. Just not one fresh on people memories as they remember his later success better.


So there it is. Many many albums can be listed honestly. I just picked the 5 that I felt had a huge influence on the culture at the time. Regardless of success. These albums have been unfairly forgotten.