Stranded-What Would I Bring? Check this list for help...
Apr 18 '00 (Updated Apr 25 '00)
I first started getting into the hip hop thing around 1985, when I heard KinG of Rock for the first time. I'm still a huge fan despite the progressive erosion of the artform in recent years. Enough, let's get to my picks. (Best bets=cuts you must hear from the album)
10. No One Can Do it Better - D.O.C.
This album is one of the few that I ever bought that you can put in the CD and not even think about hitting the skip button. A masterpiece in terms of production by none other than Dr. Dre and the sharp vocals of the D.o.C. What a tragedy that this guy lost his voice in a car accident, he may have been considered one of the best of alltime had this not happened. Lots of braggadocious (Spelling?) rhymes on here, but they all hit, with the DOC's trademark harsh voice. Best Bets: Funky Enough, Mind Blowin', No One can Do it Better.
9. Leaders of The New School - T.I.M.E
Most of you so called 'true' hip hop heads probably never heard of Busta Rhymes before 'The Coming' was released. Leaders of the New School's, (Busta Rhymes, Charlie Brown, Dinco D and Milo) second release is a heavily slept upon album. I beleive this material is such (released in 1993) that if it were released today, it would still sound like new, innovative hip-hop (not hard, considering the state of hip-hop today).
Complex production and abstract lyrics smother this album. Those of you who know would be hard pressed to disagree with me that this album is a true (if underrated) classic. Best Bets: Time will Tell, A Quarter to Cutthroat, Daily Reminder.
8. De La Soul - Buhloone Mind State
Another album that gets no mention when naming "Best of-artist" category.
I see a lot of you consider "Three Feet High and Rising" as De La's best material. While I respect your opinion, I disagree and replace your selection with mine. This album is highlited by the appearance of former James Brown and Parliament saxophonist Maceo Parker and also showcases Posdunous' lyrical style.
Bets Bets: Breakadawn, Ego Trippin', Area
7. Run DMC - Greatest Hits
I shouldn't even have to break this down to anybody, how could you go out on a desert island deprived of hearing the KINgs of Rock? The first rap group to have a crossover hit (w/ Aerosmith on Walk This Way), Dj Run and DMC (future Rock and roll hall of famers)along with Jam Master Jay rock the house.
Bets Bets: Peter Piper, Run's House, My Adidas.
6. Digable Planets - Blowout Comb
By now, some of you must be like "This list is effed up, I never heard of half this stuff" To tell the truth, after hearing Digable's first record, i wasn't too impressed. I first heard Blowout Comb at a record shop, and I rushed out to buy it hours later. Since that day in '94, that CD hasnt spent too much time outside of my CD player. This album is filled with jazzy beats and live instrumentation. The trio of doddlebug, Ishmael and Butterfly complement each other very well. Guest appearances include Guru and Jeru.
Best Bets: Jettin', Blowing Out, Track #14 (can't remember the name)
5. Eric B & Rakim - Paid in Full
The First time I heard "I know You got Soul" on the radio, I said to myself "Who is This, this is dope as hell" Although I may be biased here placing my favorite artist on this list, few would disagree with my selection. This was the first time anyone had been introduced to the microphone fiend himself, Rakim. Who can forget the "21 MC's" line from My Melody? "I'll take 7 MC's and put them in a line. I'll take 7 more brothers who think they can rhyme, it'll take 7 more before I go for mines, now that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time" I was sold after that point. Upon my first few listens of the track "Paid in Full", I was initially disappointed with how brief Rakim's verses were, but upon review, this is actually a duet betweer Eric B. (scratching segment) and Rakim. Some of you may even remember 'the masses' giving respect to the duo when Miller ran some beer ads using the Chinese Arithmetic song.
Best Bets: I Know You Got Soul, Paid In Full, Chinese Arithmetic
4. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
This is a classic example of a duo that perfectly complements one another. Phife And Tip did this so well, that the questions never popped inmy head "Which MC is superior". Another album with very litte fast forward content. Guest appearances include Dove from De LA soul on the Track "Award Tour" and Busta Rhymes whyles out on "Oh My God".
Bets Bets: We Can Get Down, Electric Relaxation, Lyrics to Go
3. A Tribe called Quest - The Low End Theory
Back-to-Back for the kids from Brooklyn. One of the first albums to rely solely on jazz samples. Who can forget the stand up bass driven "Buggin Out" featuring some of Phife's best lines. Those mellow horns in "We've Got the Jazz" take me right back to '91, when the video was played daily on Rap City. One of the best posse cuts in the history of hip-hop introduced most of the world to the artist known as Busta Rhymes. "The Scenario" still packs the dance floors when played in the clubs.
Best Bets: Buggin' Out, Vibes and Stuff, Butter
2. Follow The Leader - Eric B. & Rakim
A good of an album as Paid In Full was, I am one of few who believe Rakim topped himself with his sophomore effort. Using butter samples from such artists as Average White Band and Rufus Thomas, Eric B. holds the listener hostage while Rakim keeps you hypnotized with his articulate lyrics. This album solidified Rakim's place in my book as the greatest rapper who ever lived. I can remember back to my second year of high school just being preoccupied with trying to memorize the lyrics to Microphone Fiend.
Best Bets: Microphone Fiend, Follow The Leader, Lyrics of Fury
1. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
A lot of these list will reveal when the author started to get into hip-hop. This is evident on some lists my the inclusion of "Fear of a Black Planet". While a good album in its own right, it does not come close to the level of 'Nation of Millions". From top to bottom, this is an incredible album. Produced entirely by the bomb squad (Eric Sadler and Hank Shocklee), they never really got their due respect for the excellent job they did with this album. Chuck D. was a pioneer of 'consciousness rap' that was a trend towards the late '80 and early nineties, perhaps directly responsible for the careers of such acts like X-Clan, the Goats and even Rage against the Machine (Zach De La Rocha-can you say 'Heavy Influence'?). Chuck D. and Flavor Flav were another group that complemeted each other very well. After the seriousness of a Chuck D. verse, Flav would come in to lighten the mood by throwing in one of his trademark "Silly Phrases" As I like to call them. All Topics are touched on in this album from Racism, prison life, sampling and drug use to name a few. A must have for any hip hop fan. Who can forget probably the best hip hop video ever made for "Night of the Living Baseheads" when that camera crew breaks into a Wall Street office only to find baseheads in designer suits?
Best Bets: Rebel Without a Pause, Terminator X to the Edge Of Panic, Black Steel inthe Hour of Chaos
Honorable Mention
Del- No Need For Alarm
GZA-Liquid Swords
Dr. Octagon- Octagonacolagyst
Above the Law-Black Mafia Life
Hieroglyphics-3rd Eye Vision
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
acp3
|
|
Location: Cheyenne, WY
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 1 member
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.