Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

[Streets]

The Stats:

Album: The Chronic
Artist: Dr. Dre
Featured Guest: Snoop Doggy Dogg
Released: Dec. 1992
Production: Dr. Dre
Genre: West Coast Rap (Gangsta, G Funk)
Other Guests: The Dogg Pound, Warren G, Nate Dogg, Lady Of Rage, RBX, The D.O.C., Jewell.


Album: Only Built For Cuban Linx
Artist: Raekwon “The Chef”
Featured Guest: Ghostface Killah
Released: Aug. 1995
Producer: RZA
Genre: East Coast Hip Hop (Hardcore, Mafioso)
Other Guests: Nas, Method Man, OBD, RZA, GZA, Cappadonna, U-God, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, 60 Second Assassin

Both of these albums are considered two of the best two-man Hip-Hop albums, despite being credited as "solo efforts". Both feature a guest prominently (Snoop and Ghost), Aside from Verbal Intercourse both use only in-camp guest appearences (Wu-Tang and Death Row). Both used samples heavily when it wasn't prominent in hip-hop. Both defined a "sound" for their respective coasts for years to come including lyrical content, flow, production, and subject matter.

What album had a bigger influence? Which one do you enjoy more, and why?

[Brandwin]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

A bigger influence? I was say The Chronic wins that easily...

[Nivek]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

No contest, the Chronic.

It put the west coast back on the map, plus it introduced the world to Snoop Doggy Dog. Dre's production is flawless, and was the start of the deathrow records run in the mid 90's.

[mgoblue]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

A bigger influence? I was say The Chronic wins that easily...

Just from a "non rap person" point of view...I know who Dr. Dre is and have listened to songs from "The Chronic" (and I appreciate Dre's talent). I have no clue who the other guy is. I think i've heard his name before, but that's about it.

So from a "breaking musical boundaries" aspect I'd go Dre easily.

[Nivek]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Just from a "non rap person" point of view...I know who Dr. Dre is and have listened to songs from "The Chronic" (and I appreciate Dre's talent). I have no clue who the other guy is. I think i've heard his name before, but that's about it.

So from a "breaking musical boundaries" aspect I'd go Dre easily.

Great point, Chronic also had mainstream appeal.

[the_future420]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

fwiw, I think both of these are a bit overrated when it comes to "classic" status, but of these two I gotta take The Chronic.

[Nivek]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

fwiw, I think both of these are a bit overrated when it comes to "classic" status, but of these two I gotta take The Chronic.

Not to stir the pot, but I'd like to know how you feel the Chronic is overrated.

[Graphik]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

If it wasn't for the Chronic, who knows how Hip Hop would be sounding like by now.

[Streets]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

It seems like I'm the only one feeling OB4CL more.

I feel like the Wu sh*ts on Death Row lyrically. I also prefer the subject matter that the Wu was spittin. However, Dre's album was flawless production-wise. And the flow had more of a sing-songy "bounce" to it.

The Chronic had the mainstream appeal and brought back the West, but don't underestimate Linx' impact on the East. The sped-up samples that have basically given Kanye and Dipset their careers was made popular by RZA on Linx. The sudden surge of Mafioso rap (Biggie aka Frank White, Nas aka Nas Escobar, AZ aka SOSA) came after this album. Year's later and the impact is still felt, (see American Gangster).

I figured that Chronic would win, but I didn't think it'd be a landslide.

LOL @ Raekwon being "that other guy", cracked me up because outside of the Hip Hop genre that is pretty much what he is.

[MassNole]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

I don't think there is even a debate, The Chronic.

[Nivek]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

The Chronic had the mainstream appeal and brought back the West, but don't underestimate Linx' impact on the East. The sped-up samples that have basically given Kanye and Dipset their careers was made popular by RZA on Linx. The sudden surge of Mafioso rap (Biggie aka Frank White, Nas aka Nas Escobar, AZ aka SOSA) came after this album. Year's later and the impact is still felt, (see American Gangster).

Gangstarr has been using "sped up" samples since the late 80's. As for the "sudden surge of Mafioso rap":
a) Ready to Die was released before OB4CL
b) Nas used the Alias Nas Escobar BEFORE "Verbal Intercourse", it was on "Eye for an Eye" off of Mobb Deep's Infamous.
c) Ever heard of Kool G Rap's "Live and Let Die "?

[Dice]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Lyrically, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is MAYBE SLIGHTLY better. But the Chronic as an album had so much impact that it changed the landscape of hip hop music. The Chronic was one of the most influential albums in hip hop history. I can still remember right after The Chronic a lot of other artist started making songs about smoking weed. Some artist even made whole albums about smoking weed. Nobody that I knew of wasn't making whole albums about weed smoking before The Chronic.

[the_future420]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Not to stir the pot, but I'd like to know how you feel the Chronic is overrated.

I just feel like people rave about The Chronic as if every track on there us great, when its really not true. I love the CD and it was the first hip-hop CD i ever listened to. Obviously there are some great songs on there, but a lot of the album feels like filler. Still a great album, but I wouldn't say its a top 5-10 album in Hip Hop history. I know it was very influential, and perhaps thats why it gets a bit of a pass, but song for song, it doesnt stand up to other classic albums.

[Kruza]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

The Chronic is certainly the most influential from this pair mainly because no one would dare try to mimic the Wu sound which is far more unconventional. But, I have to go a little off tangent here...

I may be in the minority here, but I don't like most of the whole first half of The Chronic (although the entire second half is dope as hell) and still think it's one of the most overrated albums ever. I didn't understand the "G Funk" craze that came up from The Chronic when there were artists who were heavy into funk grooves before Dr. Dre had come up with for this album (EPMD/Redman, De La Soul, Too $hort, etc.). I think Above The Law's first two albums (Livin' Like Hustlers & Black Mafia Life) were funkier overall, and I actually enjoy listening to them both more than The Chronic even today.

OBFCL on the other hand is a masterpiece. The whole album is bangin'. I favor Liquid Swords as the best overall solo album by a Wu-Tang senior member, but this one is right up there with that one.

Kruza

[Cebby]

Re: Real Talk: The Chronic vs. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

More influential? Not even really a question.

Better album? Also not a question; OB4CL is so much better its not even funny. OB4CL has 4-5 rappers on it who are better than any who appear on The Chronic.