{"id":76,"date":"2003-07-14T14:32:47","date_gmt":"2003-07-14T18:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tradermike.net\/movethecrowd\/2003\/07\/my_favorite_hip-hop_albums\/"},"modified":"2003-07-14T14:32:47","modified_gmt":"2003-07-14T18:32:47","slug":"my_favorite_hip-hop_albums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/2003\/07\/14\/my_favorite_hip-hop_albums\/","title":{"rendered":"My Favorite Hip-Hop Albums"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve been moved to do a few more music posts by some other posts I’ve seen recently. And also as a continuation of my 22 greatest MCs post<\/a>. Many of those posts are on the excellent J-Notes blog<\/a>, which mainly focuses on jazz and R&B (James took me back<\/i> with his recent Flashback Friday on Phyllis Hyman<\/a>). The other being Arbitrary’s Personal Top Ten Favorite Hip-Hop Albums<\/a>. So this post will be my favorite hip-hop albums. Judging by my favorite albums, I may have to move De La Soul up into my top 20 list of MCs. <\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a>Dr. Dre – The Chronic<\/a><\/b>
\nThis is my all-time favorite for many reasons. First and foremost is Dr. Dre’s music\/production. The sound of this CD is amazing – full, booming bass, elements of funk, jazz, classic soul, etc. Add vocals by Snoop, RBX, Rage, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, as well as Dre’s rhymes(which were most likely written by the D.O.C.) Favorite tracks: *&%$ With Dre Day<\/i>, Let Me Ride<\/i> (with the Mothership Connection sample), The Day the Niggaz Took Over<\/i> (haunting track), Nuthin’ But a “G” Thang<\/i>, Lil’ Ghetto Boy<\/i> (Snoop at his best), A Nigga Witta Gun<\/i> (an ill track, ridden to its fullest), Lyrical Gangbang<\/i> (Rage raging, RBX at his finest over a classic Dre track), High Powered<\/i> (the slow-flow, with RBX’s unforgettable line ‘I drop bombs like Hiroshima’), Stranded on Death Row<\/i> (classic posses cut, over one of the illest tracks ever)<\/p>\n

\"Brand<\/a>Brand Nubian – One for All<\/a><\/b>
\nIt doesn’t get much better than this! Grand Puba, Lord Jamar, and Saddat X (Derrick X), caught wreck on this CD. Check out All for One<\/i>, Ragtime<\/i>, To the Right<\/i>, Drop the Bomb<\/i>, Wake Up<\/i>, Step to the Rear<\/i>, Slow Down<\/i> (still packs the dance floor in the club), Who Can Get Busy Like This Man?<\/i>, Grand Puba<\/i>, Positive and L.G.<\/i> (add Positive K to the mix, over that Nobody Can Be You<\/i> sample), Wake Up<\/i> (w\/that classic Everybody Loves the Sunshine<\/i> sample)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>A Tribe Called Quest – Low End Theory<\/a><\/b>
\nThe Tribe at their best. This is when Phife showed his lyrical skills. Innovative music, with all the jazzy samples. Packed with jams: Excursions<\/i>, Buggin’ Out<\/i>, Verses From the Abstract<\/i> (One of the smoothest tracks ever! Ron Carter on the bass. Lines like ‘Girls love the Jim cuz it causes crazy friction\/When it goes up in, it fluctuates their diction.’ And Vinia Mojica<\/a> killing the chorus.), Show Business<\/i> (breaking down the music industry, with Sadat X and Lord Jamar – ‘You’re a million dollar man that ain’t got no dough…’), Check the Rhime<\/i> (if you don’t know… you don’t know hip-hop – ‘You on point Phife?’ – ‘OK if knowledge is the key, then just show me the lock\/got the scrawny legs but I move just like Lou Brock…’ ‘Industry Rule #4080, record company people are shaaady ), and of course the Scenario<\/i> with Leaders of the New School, on which Busta lost his damn mind! (rah, rah, like a dungeon dragon\/change your little draws cuz your pants are saggin’)<\/p>\n

\"Public<\/a>Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back<\/a><\/b>
\nDo I even need to say anything about this album? Chuck dropping knowledge, Flav providing the comic relief, Terminator X speaking with his hands, the Bomb Squad on the production. Classic is an understatement. You can’t tell me that Chuck is not a top 10 all-time MC. Check the lyrics. Bring The Noise<\/i> (‘Bass! How low can you go?’ ‘Now they got me in a cell\/cuz my records, they sell\/cuz a brotha like me said, well…’ ), Don’t Believe The Hype<\/i>, Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic (Bomb Squad at their finest with the noise on this track, that backwards siren from Rebel w\/out a Pause), Night Of The Living Baseheads<\/i>, Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos<\/i> (That funky piano over that beat! ‘I got a letter from the government the other day…’), Rebel Without A Pause<\/i> (I don’t even know what to say about this — it’s the perfect song, the beat, the noise, the lyrics)<\/p>\n

\"N.W.A.<\/a>N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton<\/a><\/b>
\nOnce again Dre’s production work sets this album apart. Combine Dre’s amazing beats with Cube & MC Ren’s lyrics and you can’t go wrong. Favorite tracks: Straight Outta Compton<\/i>, F*&$ tha Police<\/i> (Even without the lyrics, the track is simply amazing. Add the lyrics, and oh boy!), Gangsta Gangsta<\/i>, If It Ain’t Ruff<\/i> (the track! check the bass as it rips from left to right.), Dopeman.<\/p>\n

\"Boogie<\/a>Boogie Down Productions – Live Hardcore Worldwide<\/a><\/b>
\nKRS-ONE live in concert, displaying why he’s #1. Jamalski sets it off on Lick A Shot<\/i>. The Eye Opener over that classic reggae beat (Kris chatting ‘Jesus Christ, a mi say Jesus Christ-a, Jesus Christ was Black\/read and study and know thyself because this too is a fact…’), The freestyle version of Still #1<\/i> (“It’s going, it’s going, it’s going, it’s gone\/Your heart has left because Kris is strong\/and mighty, undefeated, I mean it\/Pick up the album, turn it over and read it\/Written, produced, directed, and mixed\/Get off the tip, or get off the many tips…\/Pick a tip, any tip, get off of it\/I got ridiculous rhymes about bussin’ it\/You sit at home with a pen & a pad\/Going dad… mad… glad… bad… sad\/That style is from ’78\/A little late\/So make a tape of the great\/Blastmaster poetic, your record sounds pathetic\/oh, I mean demo tape\/I’ll give you credit…”), the Reggae Medley w\/9mm Goes Bang<\/i> over a smooth-a$$ reggae beat, Bo Bo Bo<\/i> over another famous reggae beat, Come to the Teacher<\/i> over yet another ill reggae track.<\/p>\n

\"Run-D.M.C.<\/a>Run-D.M.C. – Raising Hell<\/a><\/b>
\nNot much needs to be said about this one. Some of Run-DMC’s best material – Peter Piper, It’s Tricky, My Adidas, Walk This Way, Hit It Run, Raising Hell, You Be Illin’<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\"Poor<\/a>Poor Righteous Teachers – Pure Poverty<\/a><\/b>
\nMany people cite Holy Intellect<\/a><\/i> (with Rock Ds Funky Joint<\/i>) when speaking of PRT. But I this this album is better. Wise Intelligent can flow with the best of them. Check out Shakiyla<\/i>, Easy Star<\/i> (Wise lets loose over an incredible track), Self-Styled Wisdom<\/i> (that beat!), Each One Teach One<\/i> (Wise rides<\/i> that beat), Just Servin’ Justice<\/i>, Freedom or Death<\/i>, Pure Poverty<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\"Mos<\/a>Mos Def – Black on Both Sides<\/a><\/b>
\nOne of the few CDs that’s stayed in my car’s CD player for over a year. It took a minute for this album to grow on me, but when it did… Mos is one of the best lyricists of all time, IMO. Check Hip Hop<\/i>, Ms. Fat Booty<\/i>, Speed Law<\/i>, Do It Now<\/i> (Mos & Busta go at it!), Got<\/i> (Mos tells how fools get got on a daily. Check the lyrics. If you’re “wearing a month’s paycheck around your neck” you’re bound to get got!), Umi Says (Will I Am from the Black Eyed Peas killing the Fender Rhodes), New World Water<\/i>, Rock N Roll<\/i>, Know That<\/i>, Brooklyn<\/i> (done in 3 movements), Mr. Nigga<\/i> (Check the lyrics!<\/a> Q-Tip on the chorus) Here’s just a portion:<\/p>\n

You can laugh and criticize Michael Jackson if you wanna \/ Woody Allen, molested and married his step-daughter \/ Same press kicking dirt on Michael’s name \/ Show Woody and Soon-Ye at the playoff game, holding hands \/ Sit back and just bug, think about that \/ Would he get that type of dap if his name was Woody Black? \/ OJ found innocent by a jury of his peers \/ They been f*cking with that Nigga for last five years \/ Is it fair, is it equal, is it just, is it right? \/ Do they do the same shit when the defendant’s face is white? \/ If white boys doing it, well, it’s success \/ When I start doing, well, it’s suspect \/ Don’t hate me, my folks is poor, I just got money \/ America’s five centuries deep in cotton money<\/b> \/ You see a lot of brothers caked up, yo straight up \/ It’s new, Y’all living off of slave traders paper \/ But I’m a live though, yo I’m a live though \/ Putting up the big swing for my kids yo \/ Got my mom the fat water-front crib yo \/ I’m a get her them pretty bay windows \/ I’m a cop a nice home to provide in \/ A safe environment for seeds to reside in \/ A fresh whip for my whole family to ride in \/ And if I’m still Mr Nigga, I won’t find it surprising<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Eric<\/a>Eric B. & Rakim – Paid in Full<\/a><\/b>
\nPure poetry from Rakim, and some timeless beats from Eric B. This album changed the face of hip-hop. Rakim may have been the first MC that you had to sit down and think about what was just said. Classic joints like: I Ain’t No Joke<\/i>, My Melody<\/i>, I Know You Got Soul<\/i> (talk about someone riding a beat!), Move The Crowd<\/i>, Paid In Full<\/i> (nuff said), Eric B. Is President<\/i>, Chinese Arithmetic<\/i><\/p>\n

OK, that’s the top 10. But I couldn’t stop there, so here are the others (in alphabetical order, more or less) that I have to mention (notes to come later):
\n
\n
\"Big<\/a>Big Pun – Capital Punishment<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Notorious<\/a>Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Notorious<\/a>Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Black<\/a>Black Star – Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Boogie<\/a>Boogie Down Productions – Criminal Minded<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Boogie<\/a>Boogie Down Productions – Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Boogie<\/a>Boogie Down Productions – Edutainment<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Boogie<\/a>Boogie Down Productions – Sex & Violence<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"KRS-ONE<\/a>KRS-ONE – Return of the Boom Bap<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"De<\/a>De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"De<\/a>De La Soul – De La Soul Is Dead<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"De<\/a>De La Soul – Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"D.O.C.<\/a>D.O.C. – No One Can Do It Better<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"EPMD<\/a>EPMD – Strictly Business<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"EPMD<\/a>EPMD – Unfinished Business<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"EPMD<\/a>EPMD – Business as Usual<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"DJ<\/a>DJ Honda – H II<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Ice<\/a>Ice Cube – Predator<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Ice<\/a>Ice Cube – Lethal Injection<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Ice<\/a>Ice Cube – Kill at Will<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Jay-Z<\/a>Jay-Z – The Dynasty: Roc La Familia 2000<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Jay-Z<\/a>Jay-Z – The Blueprint<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Jay-Z<\/a>Jay-Z – MTV Unplugged<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Guru<\/a>Guru – Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality<\/a><\/b>
\nThe best of the Jazzmatazz series – a smooth blend of jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. I was sold when I learned that one of my favorite acid jazz groups, The Solsonics<\/a>, played on several tracks. But the rest of the line-up says it all: Chaka Khan, Ramsey Lewis<\/a>, Meshell Ndegeocello<\/a>, Jamiroquai<\/a>, Patra, Ronny Jordan<\/a>, Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard, Ini Kamoze, Mica Paris, Sharon Nelson, Reuben Wilson, Courtney Pine<\/a>, Kool Keith of Ultramagnetics, Kenny Garrett<\/a>, Bahamadia …<\/p>\n

\"Wyclef<\/a>Wyclef Jean – The Carnival<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Big<\/a>Big Daddy Kane – Long Live the Kane<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Big<\/a>Big Daddy Kane – It’s a Big Daddy Thing<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"L.L.<\/a>L.L. Cool J – Radio<\/a><\/b>
\nClassic L.L. The only thing missing is the original version of Rock the Bells. Remember that? The 7 minute long joint with the cowbells (Rumor has it that you’re tired of my scratchin & drums \/ and of course I wanna span(?) to the maximum…) I always liked that version beter, but it seems to be forgotten.<\/p>\n

\"Malcolm<\/a>Malcolm Mclaren – Buffalo Gals Back to Skool<\/a><\/b>
\nClassic material. I’d been trying to find all the old Malcolm Mclaren & The World Famous Supreme Team material for a long time. Then this great compilation dropped. Talk about someone having a big-ass smile on their face! Check the line-up: Buffalo Gals<\/i>, Hey DJ<\/i>, Do You Like Scratchin?<\/i>, She’s Looking Like a Hobo<\/i> (this is what most people think is the Buffalo Gals<\/i> beat… This is one of the illest tracks of all time!), World Famous<\/i> (that piano!)<\/p>\n

\"Method<\/a>Method Man & Redman – Blackout<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Main<\/a>Main Source – Breaking Atoms<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Kardinal<\/a>Kardinal Offishall – Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"N.W.A.<\/a>N.W.A. – Niggaz4life<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Nas<\/a>Nas – Illmatic<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Naughty<\/a>Naughty By Nature – Naughty By Nature<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Public<\/a>Public Enemy – Yo! Bum Rush the Show<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>The Roots – The Roots Come Alive<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Roots<\/a>Roots Manuva – Run Come Save Me<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Run-D.M.C.<\/a>Run-D.M.C. – Run-D.M.C.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Snoop<\/a>Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle<\/a><\/b>
\nI don’t think anyone has ridden Dre’s (incredible) tracks better than Snoop did on this album. Rage did her thing very well on this album too. (I wonder why we haven’t heard more from her.) And of course there’s Nate Dogg singing the hooks as only he can – witness Ain’t No Fun (If My Homies Can’t Have None)<\/i> \ud83d\ude42 . Again, this is one of those albums that I often forget just how good it is. Dre could have done many of these as just instruments and they’d still rock. <\/p>\n

\"Various<\/a>Various Artists – Soundbombing, Vol. 2<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"2Pac<\/a>2Pac – Greatest Hits<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Whodini<\/a>Whodini – Back in Black<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

\"X-Clan<\/a>X-Clan – To the East, Blackwards<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve been moved to do a few more music posts by some other posts I’ve seen recently. And also as a continuation of my 22 greatest MCs post. Many of those posts are on the excellent J-Notes blog, which mainly focuses on jazz and R&B (James took me back with his recent Flashback Friday on… Continue reading My Favorite Hip-Hop Albums<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":114,"url":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/2003\/07\/27\/ghostwriting_hip-hop\/","url_meta":{"origin":76,"position":0},"title":"Ghostwriting & Hip-Hop","date":"July 27, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday I was having a discussion about whether or not Dr. Dre can be considered a rapper. The discussion quickly digressed into the topic of ghostwriting. For those that don't know, here's a definition of a ghostwriter -- 'One who writes for and gives credit of authorship to another'. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","img":{"alt_text":"Shop at Amazon.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rcm-images.amazon.com\/images\/G\/01\/rcm\/468x240.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":230,"url":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/2003\/10\/24\/uestlove_breaks_it_down\/","url_meta":{"origin":76,"position":1},"title":"?uestlove Breaks it Down","date":"October 24, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"The Believer Magazine has an excellent interview with Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson of the Roots. If you're a hip-hop fan I highly recommend it. Read it to find out: why crack is responsible for hip-hop if ?uest is 'dried out' on hip-hop why he keeps buying the same records multiple times\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","img":{"alt_text":"Shop at Amazon.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rcm-images.amazon.com\/images\/G\/01\/rcm\/468x240.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":464,"url":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/2005\/05\/01\/dvd_freestyle_-_the_art_of_rhyme\/","url_meta":{"origin":76,"position":2},"title":"DVD: Freestyle – The Art of Rhyme","date":"May 1, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm really looking forward to this DVD being released later this month: \"Freestyle - The Art of Rhyme\" (You can watch the trailer on that site.) The film has taken a gang of awards at various film festivals, so it shouldn't disappoint. Explosively documenting the story of a group of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":292,"url":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/2004\/03\/20\/kool_mo_dees_new_book_ranks_the_50_greatest_mcs\/","url_meta":{"origin":76,"position":3},"title":"Kool Mo Dee’s New Book Ranks the 50 Greatest MCs","date":"March 20, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Let the greatest MC argument begin anew. Kool Mo Dee was on Tavis Smiley's show last night promoting his new book, There's a God on the Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs. It seems that Mo Dee, like many of us, was moved to make his own list after seeing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"http:\/\/www.awltovhc.com\/image-1550889-10282364","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":361,"url":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/2004\/07\/23\/diggin_in_the_crates_some_brazilian_music\/","url_meta":{"origin":76,"position":4},"title":"Diggin’ in the Crates: Some Brazilian Music","date":"July 23, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm finally getting around to doing the Radio.Blog post I got inspired to do back when I wrote about the Brazilian music guides. There's a variety of styles here from: Samba Reggae, MPB (Brazilian Popular Music), Ax\u00e9, Samba, Hip Hop, and a little Bossa Nova. Grab a caipirinha and enjoy!.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Radio.Blog"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":435,"url":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/2004\/12\/31\/diggin_in_the_crates_a_dr_dre_production\/","url_meta":{"origin":76,"position":5},"title":"Diggin’ in the Crates: A Dr. Dre Production","date":"December 31, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been sitting on this radio.blog for a while now because I've had radio.blogger's block. It's not that I couldn't think of anything to post, it's that I had too many ideas floating around in my head. At least now I have some good ideas for next year. Anyway, here\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Radio.Blog"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.michaelseneadza.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}