tkeela13

[tkeela13]

Hip Hop origins beginning in 1979, means this divisive genre is also one of the youngest. Since its inception, while growing into arguably the most popular genre, it has also become one of the most polarizing genres as well.

Hip hop in general, unfortunately, has a lot of negative connotations associated with it. Misogyny, arrogance, as well as materialistic tendencies. While not always true and often exaggerated, they do exist in the genre. It makes the genre unique. These qualities are prominent and will always be a staple, but they’re not the only things that define it.

Now my hip hop knowledge doesn’t extend much before the 1990s, but I’m still very passionate about the genre. In the following text I’ll explain my 10 favorite hip hop albums, with reasoning, favorite cuts, et cetera. There will be no particular order. So let’s begin!

Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury

‘Hell Hath No Fury’ is the second installment of a three album catalogue created by the two brother rap group comprised of Pusha T and No Malice. If one was only familiar with Pusha T then they’d probably assume it was a solo album due to the sometimes seamless transition between the brothers. The two have similar flows, voices, and lyrics - but after a couple of listens the distinctions between them becomes clear. Whenever I think of this album, a line from Nas on ‘Triple Beam Dreams’ always comes to mind. “I remember watching Scarface the first time, look at that big house, that Porsche paid for by crime.” The line shows the infatuation with finer things, by which the means to and end is being a successful drug dealer. This album has some of the most cohesive production I’ve seen, orchestrated by Pharrell of The Neptunes. The braggadocios rhymes coupled with the seemingly infinite synonyms for cocaine you think would get old. They don’t though. They make you wonder how they came up with so many synonyms while simultaneously questioning if the risk of drug dealing is worst the lavish lifestyle. It actually becomes rather tempting. The music never actually convinces you to do so, but I’ll be damned if you listen to the album and don’t think Pusha and Malice epitomize dopeness in more than one way. 

BEST TRACKS: Momma I’m Sorry, Ride Around Shining, Keys Open Doors

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The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die

“It was all a dream, I use to read Word Up Magazine..” You could recite that line and I’d vouch most people recognize it. Hell, go out and recite the first line and see how many people finish the line. ‘Ready to Die’ is the first album of a two album catalogue by Biggie Smalls, famously cut short. Most people know the name, most people know the story, but whether or not this album gets the credit it deserves is debatable. More times than not, 1994 is attributed to being the year of Illmatic, but I think Ready to Die signifies a bigger paradigm shift in hip hop. Biggie’s almost a consensus top five for most hip hop heads but rarely snags the #1 spot, more than likely because of his body of work. His portfolio is too small (technically only one album released while he was alive), but with him the term ‘quality over quantity’ can’t be emphasized enough. The album is a rollercoaster of emotions given to you in such a direct and harsh way, it just gets you intrigued to stay for the whole thing. Biggie had one of the best deliveries and flows in the game by his first album, and it’s at full strength. Classic songs everybody knows such as ‘Juicy’ and ‘Big Poppa’ intertwined with songs contemplating suicide, glorifying robbing, amongst a variety of other topics. It summarizes Biggie’s life while exemplifying the classic 90s East Coast hip hop sound. Despite being 22 years old you could still convince somebody it came out five years ago. The story’s are concise, hard hitting, and to the point. It only requires one listen to fully take in what he’s saying, but you won’t want to put it down after one spin.

BEST TRACKS: The What, Juicy, Suicidal Thoughts

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Kanye West - Late Registration

Kanye West as a person is the definition of a enigma. Kanye West as a musician is a little bit more explainable and probably easier to digest. When it comes to his production and song crafting, he’s one of the best, and he has had an incredibly consistent career from a musical standpoint. Many people choose ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ as his best album, and musically that’s not an off-base choice. Then when people are going for a more lyrical or backpack derived album, they snag College Dropout first and foremost. This is a phenomenal combination of all of his skills. Kanye sort of revolutionized the term ‘backpack rap’ with his first album, and with his third album mastered the top 40 sound while still having quality lyrics. My chose for his best album is sandwiched between the two though. It was a perfect balance of hits, lyrics, soulful production, and sparing - yet on point - features. You get an insight into Kanye’s mind. The ego, the insecurities, the money, everything. For a Kanye fan many have trouble picking a favorite album, but this one’s easy for me.

BEST TRACKS: Drive Slow, Gone, Hey Mama

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Kendrick Lamar - good kid m.A.A.d. city

Often revered for his deft lyricism and impressively sporadic flow, Kendrick Lamar may not be credited enough with his storytelling. Good Kid m.A.A.d City could be called a West Coast version of Illmatic. Not necessarily for the specific subject matter or topics, but for how the artist managed to immerse you in their life and upbringings through their lyrics and comprehensive storytelling. This album brings you through Compton as a kid not interested in gangbanging and drug dealing, but still having to deal with being around it. Another impressive aspect about it, is the quality of the tracks both lyrically and musically. The lyrics are great and on point, but the mixing and production is phenomenal. It has tracks you can play in the club while having tracks that display introspection and social awareness. Not saying those can’t be exclusive, but the combination works amazing here. Hell, his first single Swimming Pools (Drank) was a club smash despite it bringing alcoholism to the surface, not embracing it. Kendrick’s leading the second rejuvenation of the West, and this is the album has made everybody notice.

BEST TRACKS: Sing About Me, m.A.A.d. city, Money Trees

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The Game - The Documentary

Now I mentioned a second rejuvenation of the West on the last album, good kid m.A.A.d city. This infers that the West has had an initial surge, with two later rises. The obvious emergence is in the early 90s when NWAs effect was still prominent, and artists like Snoop Dogg, Tupac, and Dre himself emerged and achieved commercial success. The Game’s major label debut curated by Dr. Dre himself signifies the first rebirth of the West. Personally, it was a difficult choice between this album and his sophomore album to make the list. One could argue that his sophomore album, Doctor’s Advocate, is a better album. It’s more cohesive, still maintains the great features and crisp production - it just didn’t encompass that beautiful West Coast sound that many people were infatuated with from the 90s as well. The production, features, and longevity of this album makes it a timeless classic and also propelled The Game into stardom. He’s still a force in the game, still making quality albums, but this will always be his trademark, his classic album, his magnum opus.

BEST TRACKS: Dreams, How We Do, Start From Scratch

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GZA - Liquid Swords

GZA, the self proclaimed genius. Wu-Tang holistically and individually probably has the best discography of any rap group. The first classic from their discography, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was a massive hit and resulted in classics from Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Method Man, and even GZA himself. This is my personal favorite album from the Wu-Tang tree. The production is gritty as RZA’s ever was, the storytelling is some of the best. The features while all in house do not disappoint in the least. GZA may be the pioneer of diving into lyricism and using it as a weapon as much as production and one liners. Clocking in at only 50 minutes, this album is to the point yet contains so much stuff it requires a lot of listens to truly digest it, but you’ll want to do that anyways after the first listen. 

BEST TRACKS: Shadowboxin’, Duel of the Iron Mic, 4th Chamber

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Dr. Dre - 2001

People had to wait seven years for this after Dre’s initial classic. Fortunately for them at the time, they didn’t know they’d wait another 16 years for his next, and be teased at a mythical album for a majority of that time as well. Both of his first two albums were considered bonafide classics much quicker than they took to release, but I have a certain affinity to this album as I grew up on it. The futuristic production in addition to the well executed features makes this album still sound fresh nearly 20 years later. Showing house hold names like Snoop and Nate Dogg still have it, while thrusting names Eminem and Xzibit onto the scene. I can still listen to this album and I feel as if I’m cruisin’ down the highway in LA on a beautiful day with no care in the world. People may question Dre’s songwriting - or not as most agree he doesn’t do it - but none will question his ability to craft a remarkable album that sustains the test of time. 

BEST TRACKS: The Next Episode, Forgot About Dre, Xxplosive

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Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Piñata