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.

[so0o_contagious]

Exactly. You need to already have an understanding of Tech's stance on our society before you listen to his music, or else, well, or else feelings might get hurt.

mhhh touche, touche. i remember the first time i heard immortal....haha. not exactly love at first sight. i had to go back and listen later on. point of no return is one of my faves though.

talib? wu tang? sorry im just throwing things at you. i like what you have to say.

[fameONE]

mhhh touche, touche. i remember the first time i heard immortal....haha. not exactly love at first sight. i had to go back and listen later on. point of no return is one of my faves though.

talib? wu tang? sorry im just throwing things at you. i like what you have to say.

Talib Kweli is gifted. I personally didn't like 'Quality' or 'The Beautiful Struggle' because it sounded like he was forcing it too much. He's not an emcee the gets caught up in 'swagger-rap' but he certainly has enough swagger to go around while keeping in Brooklyn and giving food for thought. 'Ear Drum' is a thorough album, from both a production and lyrical standpoint. It's going to be hard to ever top 'BlackStar' (Mos Def, holla!) and Reflection Eternal (Hi-Tek's production blends well with Talib's flow). Again, for a new-comer to HipHop, particularly if you're not Black, TK might go over people's heads. I don't like playing the race card, but it's true. He's a very pro-Black musician and proud of it.

Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuttin' to f-ck wit'!!!

I don't even know where to start with the infamous Wu. Not to discredit the Wu at all, but has anyone ever noticed that they have a ton of material (collectively) that is just a display of lyricism and punchlines that doesn't go anywhere? Take the track 'Re-United' from 'Wu-Tang Forever.' Ill beat, ill rhymes and verse placement is on point (expect nothing less from The Rza), but the song is all over the place. No one is really on the same page and it's still straight fire.

On the flipside, you have songs like 'Triumph.' Damn, son. Just... damn. Every single emcee spits a verse about how they are going to triumph, how they will triumph, or how they already have. I'll always be a fan of the Wu and the solo projects they have spawned because my knowledge and interest in hiphop as a kid revolved around The Wu and it's affiliates. Raekwon, Method Man, The RZA, The GZA, Ghostface Killah, ODB, Inspectah Deck and even Cappadonna have all had solo success (although some more successful than others).

(**sidenote: I hate how Method Man's been overlooked as emcee throughout his career)

The infamous by mobb deep is my favorite rap album. Tends to be one dimensional but who cares every track is good. Even drink away the pain (which some people say is the weakest track). Prodigy fell off hard though. Hnic 2 and return of the mac are pretty good though. I would like a new mobb deep album minus gunit + alchemist. Thank you.

There is just something about Mobb Deep that never really sat right with me. Not to take anything away from them in their place in hiphop history, I've never really been a fan aside from diggin' a few tracks.

Hip Hop is poetry of the streets :D

HipHop is poetry.

not to rain on anyone's parade , but am i the only one who doesn't necessarily consider immortal tech to be "talented" in a rhyming sense? i mean yeah he's a pretty amazing thinker, and interesting to listen to for that reason but i wouldn't call his music "good music". it's usually pretty badly produced imo and he doesn't have much of a flow at all. it's more like reading an essay to a beat sometimes.


not saying i'm not a fan, i am. i wouldn't ever in a million years present that to a new comer though. that's too much meat to chew on, listening to his music is more work than almost anything i've ever listened to.

Co-sign. In terms of delivery and structured verses, Tech sounds like he's trying to force the non-chalant, run-on, flow (see: MF Doom), with the complexity of Gift of Gab's (Blackalicious) wordplay. It doesn't work. He's found his own niche in the game just by being an angry extremist.

Canibus. you need a dictionary to understand what he says.

Canibus is the rapper that never made it, but held it down in 2nd Round KO.

Oh, that reminds me...

The award for the legendary emcee falling off the most, goes to....

LL COOL J.