Transitioning Into HipHop, 10 Albums to Consider Options

[fameONE]

Based on a conversation I was having with a friend of mine the other day, a lot of people don't give hiphop a chance because they simply just don't know any better. I could go on this rant about the radio this and the radio that but beating a dead horse gets old (besides, not all radio rap is horrendous).

In a nutshell, I sat in the back of humvee in Baghdad contemplating how I could make a diverse list of albums that would appeal to potential fans with varying tastes. Below is the end result.

If you're having problems seeing past the obvious (why awhy the entire typical backpacker, conscious, quasi-political, lyrical free-for-all with soulful beats that I generally prefer), then just ask and I'll be sure to drop knowledge on, and provide an explanation for, any album here.

**in no particular order**

1.
Nujabes - Modal Soul (2006)

2.
Eminem - The Slim Shady LP (1999)

3.
FELT 2(Murs and Slug [of Atmosphere]) - A Tribute to Lisa Bonet

4.
The Fugees (Refugee Camp) - The Score (1996)

5.
Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor (2006)

6.
Outkast - Southernplayasticadillacmuzik (1994)

7.
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - The Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992)

8.
Scarface - The Fix (2002)

9.
Timbaland - Timabland Presents: Shock Value (2007)

10.
Busta Rhymes - When Disaster Strikes (1997)

It was hard enough to sort through 14,000 songs and even harder to come up with reasonable justifications for each album, but there it is. Each album offers something different. From A Side to B Side, complete listens of each LP made it clear that, depending on which genre you generally prefer, there is something for everyone.

[brooklyneast05]

i want lauryn hill to be my wife. it's too bad she's a little crazy now, but that's ok ill take her anyway. my love for her is that much she looks good

eminem is always off and on with me. i respect him lyrically but i don't enjoy his "funny" songs at all really. i don't think we share the same humor or something. i don't enjoy the sound of his music much in general either. sometimes though i'll hear a song and be like wow, this guy is crazy, but i've yet to become a very dedicated listener. i would rank him high on a my list of talent, but lower on my list of actual music. if that makes any sense...


umm, i'm gonna say white people, but i know it's not just them. they are my experience with this though. BUT, white people who claim to hate rap often say "but i like eminem" and i never understand that. do they just like him because he's white? does that give them the extra push to be able to listen to what he's actually saying? i mean granted, he's got good lyrics, but it's not like he's 100% unique, amazing, and out does his black counterparts. there are lots of other lyrically talented artists. i don't understand why they won't give them a chance, but they will give eminem one. no one has to try to answer this, i was just thinking out loud about that.