billyjerome

I was looking through my collection of hip-hop and realized that it is still quite an untapped genre for critical albums. Some may disagree but to me, hip-hop has been full of artists who have a hit here and there, yet, never release an entire LPs worth of solid material. Of course this is common in any genre. For me, it appeared more so for hip-hop. The following list I compiled is limited to 25 albums, which, is subject to change any day of the week. This just happens to be my "at the current moment" version. Each album will have a short rambling and include my favorite tracks. I am not a music critic so the short ramblings will be just that, ramblings. Whatever comes to mind about each album is what you get. Let's start the show!


I was considering separating this into 2 solo efforts during the listing process but decided to keep it together as the artists intended. Speakerboxxx might not have been included had I have done that but together as a whole unit, this album stays consistent. ...That doesn't make sense now that I wrote that but hopefully you understand where I am trying to go with it. Honestly, I have nothing else to write about this...just another example of why this list is subjective. I already want to swap this album out for another :P

Favorite Tracks: The Way You Move, Church, Love Hater Trilogy, Hey Ya!

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billyjerome

This album cover fits the mood of the album much better than the original, in my opinion. Especially in the sense of the track 'Kim'. My goodness...everytime I hear it..I get chills throughout my entire being. I have not heard ANYTHING so emotional from any other hip-hop artist. Plus, 'Stan' is right behind 'Kim' in terms of emotion. I once sang 'Stan' for karaoke one night...woah. I emoted the same as Em did...there was a very eerie hush over the crowd. It isn't exactly a song you can dance or have a good time to. Luckily my buddy was there and stood up after a few seconds and delivered the best slow clap I have witnessed to date. HAH!

Favorite Tracks: Stan, The Way I Am, Marshall Mathers, Kim

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billyjerome

After listening to this album, how could 9th Wonder NOT be one of my favorite producers? This is one of the best one-two punches to grace hip-hop, what with Murs' dope-ass flow over 9th Wonder's incredibly catchy beats. For some reason, I remember finding out about this album way back in the day from PureVolume. Which I thought was strange, seeing as great hip-hop was uncommon to find amongst all the shitty bands that littered that website.

Favorite Tracks: Murs Day, Silly Girl, L.A., D.S.W.G. (Dark Skinned White Girls)

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billyjerome

Biggie, Biggie, Biggie....you are quite notorious... One of the best concept albums of all time is a hip-hop album. Fuckin' A! Not only was it a huge success monetarily, it was a huge critical success! I love the way it flows from 'Ready to Die' seamlessly into a massive double album. Street poetry at its finest! One more thing that MUST be mentioned; 'Notorious Thugs'. Who'da thunk a rap artist could dream up Beach Boy-esque intertwining layers? Every time I listen to that high, I SWEAR I hear a new element that went unprocessed the time before.

Favorite Tracks: Hypnotize, Mo Money Mo Problems, Notorious Thugs, Ten Crack Commandments, You're Nobody ('Til Somebody Kills You)

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Scarlett O'Hara

This is a great album, I totally agree with you.

Love slow claps!

Oh and the Biggie album, love it, particularly You're Nobody (Till Somebody Kills You) -> my favourite song of his.

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billyjerome

Man, when I first heard this album, 'Definition' stood out to me the most. Not just because the song blew my mind, lyrically and audibly, but because of the interpolation of Boogie Down Production's 'Stop the Violence'.

WhoSampled

I always get an old school vibe from this album. The beats have golden age tendencies as well as the newer school spin the lyricists involved spit.

Overall, great message put across throughout "Black Star".

Favorite Tracks: Definition, K.O.S. (Determination), Hater Players

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billyjerome

Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest band in late night television! This album is what got me into The Roots, and was the first time I had heard of them. The mixture of rock, jazz, R&B, and well, just plain experimentation, all while keeping it funky and catchy, is straight genius. Check this one out!!

By the way, I would write more about this but I am super pissed because I spent too long on the reply page and it timed out so I lost everything I already had.

Favorite Tracks: Rock You, Sacrifice, The Seed 2.0, Water Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 (I couldn't find it all-in-one), Complexity

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billyjerome

I'm just going to let you play this song. DJ Premier...producer extraordinaire..

Long live Guru. 1 year gone, yesterday.

Favorite Tracks: Werdz From the Ghetto Child, Rite Where You Stand, Skills, Deadly Habitz, Peace of Mine, Riot Akt

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billyjerome

But Billy! How could you place MBDTF on your top 25 hip-hop albums list after being released less than 6 months ago?!? My response...how could I not? Have you listened to this album???!!! My LORD is it phenomenal. EVERY TIME Kanye releases a new LP, I find it so intriguing. Even without the Runaway video, I always imagine a movie being played out in my mind. What pisses me off, though, is the fact that my buddy went to school and grew up with a bunch of people that are famous and are making something of their lives. Here is an example of one of those people:

M$M Speaks on Producing "Lost In The World" with Kanye West on Vimeo

All bitterness aside, I shall leave you with a beautiful summary of the entire album.


Favorite Tracks: Dark Fantasy, Power, Monster, Runaway, Blame Game, Lost in the World / Who Will Survive in America (works best as one)

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Phantom Limb

How is Black Star not better than My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy?!?!?!?! Thats a MISTAKE!