The infallible list of classic albums.
One thing I noticed on the internet is that the word classic gets throw alot. According to most people damn near every album that is likeable is a classic. I've heard everything from get rich or die trying, to all eyez on me. I even heard one dude say that young jeezy has two classics. I'll tell you one thing if I wake up one day and Young Jeezy has to classic albums, I'll jump out the fucking window of a 12 story building, and poke my poke my eyes out on the way down.
If you leave it up to most people there are over 100 classic albums, if there really were that many classics I wouldn't have a job right now. So I made it my personal duty to create the diffinitive list of classic albums in this post. I would like to say ahead of time, that these are not just albums that I like. I took alot of time and really thought about which albums deserve to be labeled classics. I think most people think a classic album is just an album that you can listen to all the way through, not true I can listen to the massacre all the way through and that album sure as hell isn't a classic.
To start off I first want to give a definition of the word classic.
1. of the first or highest quality, class, or rank: a classic piece of work. serving as a standard, model, or guide of enduring interest, quality, or style. Keep that in mind as I go on, granted I'm sure that this definition was pertaining to architecture or some shit, it can still be applied to Hip Hop.
Also I broke the criteria down into 3 basic catergories. Impact: How much of an impact the album made to Hip Hop then and now. Influence: Are people still following the guidelines of this album. Test of time: Probably the most important, If its still not good after all these year then its not classic.
Eric B. and Rakim-Paid in full.
Eric B. and Rakim-Dont sweat the technique
Nas- Illmatic
Jay-z- Reasonable Doubt: This album vividly painted the picture of a hustler, from such and honest perspective. Every up and coming rapper from New York will be attempting to recreate this album for years to come.
Jay-z- The blueprint: The production was flawless, this was jay-z at his peak. The production on this album completely changed the game.
Notorious B.I.G.- Ready to Die
Notorious B.I.G.- Life After Death: I had to think pretty hard about putting this one on. There are a few soft spots on this album, but the classics far outweight the slight missteps. Lyrically its incredible, great production, many timeless songs.You cant deny this album.
A Tribe Called Quest- The low end theory.
A Tribe Called Quest- Midnight Mauraders.
Dr Dre- The Chronic.
Common Sense- Ressurection: Never was there a lyricist outside of New York that was this agile. Lyrically this album is not to be fucked with, plus it has one of the greatest song of all times "I used to love H.E.R."
Talib Kweli and Hi Tek-Reflection Eternal: This is the most beautiful Hip Hop album ever created. The production, the lyrics, incredible all the way through. there will never be another album this fluid.
Outkast-Southernplayalisticcadilacmuzik.
Outkast-Aquemini
Mf Doom and Madlib-Madvillany: Man this album is so ahead of its time. I think some of you young guys are just not going to get this. This is what a modern day Hip Hop album should be, creative, groundbreaking and original.
N.W.A- Straight Outta Compton.
U.G.K.- Riding Dirty: The blueprint to trap rap (sorry T.I.)
B.D.P.- Criminal Minded.
EPMD- Strictly Buisness.
Wu-Tang- Enter the 36 chambers.
Raekwon- Only built for cuban linx.
Gza/Genius- This album is often overlooked, It kind of in the shadows of cuban linx but i think its superior. The theme, the production, Gza's lyrics classic.
Gangstar- Daily Operations.
Gangstar- Step in the arena.
Scarface- The Diary.
Scarface- Last of a Dying Breed: Many people hail the fix as face's best album, but i think this is superior. This is scarface at his peak, the fix was more of face being reflective. Granted the production on the fix is better but the stories on this album are far better.
Pete Rock and CL Smooth- Mecca And The Soul Brother.
Black Mood- Enta Da Stage: Another album that gets overlooked, this was the blueprint to grimey New York Hip Hop. If someone wants to know what its like to be a grimey kid in the inner city, I would just give them this album and the infamous.
Mobb Deep- The Infamous.
Ice Cube- Amerikkkas Most Wanted.
Ice Cube- The predator.
Public Enemy- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back.
The D.O.C. No one can do it better.
Slick Rick- The Great Adventures of Slick.
Eminem- The Marshal Mathers LP.
De La Soul- 3 feet high and rising
De La Soul- De la Soul is dead.
Bone Thugs and Harmony-E1999 Eternal
Albums that just missed the cut:
Outkast- Atlien: it was great but just wasnt groundbreaking enough to make the cut.
Scarface- The fix: As i said before I just feel like this album had great production, but didn't quite have that playabiltiy that LOADB has. Any 2pac album: Sorry guys but he just didn't have it in him.
Dr Dre-2001: Alot of this didn't age very well, there's a good 2-3 songs on there that are just not good anymore.
Nas- It Was Written: The production toward the end grew stale, there is 2 songs on the end that sound almost the same.
Snoop Doggy Dogg- Doggystyle: This album came down a few notches over the years, the production is kinda similar, (the shiznit and pump pump are damn near the same beat) plus the constant "deez nuts" jokes just dont seem as funny as they did when I was 13.
The Game- The Documentary: HA!
Kanye West- Late Registration: Great album, production was groundbreaking. One thing that hurts Mr West is all the damn skits he has on the album, Totally kills the playability.
Lupe Fiasco- Food and Liquor: I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this, I'm going to wait 2 years before I label this one classic.
Ice Cube- Lethal Injections.
Public Enemy- Fear of a Black Planet.
Gangstar- Hard to Earn.
Brand Nubian- All for One.
Mos Def- Black on Both Sides: Some of the "R-n-B" songs hurt it.
N.W.A.-Niggaz4life.
Juvenile-400 degreez.
Kool G. Rap and DJ Polo- Road to Riches.
Big Daddy Kane- Long Live The Kane.
Big Daddy Kane- Its a Big Daddy Thing.
EL-P-I'll Sleep When Your Dead- wanted to add this one, granted it just came out this year but this shit is far to groundbreaking to overlook. The production takes Hip Hop to the next level, the lyrics are nothing short of incredible. If you don't have this please pick it up.
Loading Comments…