Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

[J.R. Locke]

So I am exhausting my collection of music that I listen to regularly. So now I plan on going through an evolution of Hip Hop/Rap. I was hoping those of you that are well versed could give me some albums that are must listens to, artists to listen through their catalog etc....

I am looking for originators. The cats that really defined when new eras or styles started/ended. Any explanation to why and what to listen for is also much appreciated. Also I don't really care what was popular. I don't really care about how successful the artist was either. Underground or less known artists are much appreciated.

Thanks fellas.

[Kruza]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Here are a few of my recommendations if you want to know about trendsetting Hip-Hop albums:

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
KRS-One and Scott La Rock dropped a groundbreaking album in terms of lyrics and production. Before Criminal Minded dropped, no one took the politically and/or socially conscious approach that KRS had. This album also included the two legendary battle tracks of all time coming from the Blastmaster’s beef with MC Shan at the time in "South Bronx" and "The Bridge Is Over." Many of the breakbeats on Criminal Minded were considered ahead of its time and laid the direction of how hip-hop albums that focused more on boom-bap style of production would be created. There were also many contributions from Ced-Gee, although he wasn't officially credited for them.

Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown
Now let's go over Ced-Gee's own personal project which comprised of his group -- Ultramagnetic MCs. Critical Beatdown is hailed for being created by Ultra, who used production techniques that were ahead of time back when this album made its debut. Plus it showcased the trailblazer and father of the abstract rhyming style, Kool Keith. For those who crave rugged, thumping bass and boom-bap type beats that would rattle any stereo system along with being laced with some bizarre rhyme styles from Kool Keith and crew, it doesn't get much better than this.

Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
"Organized chaos" is what I would call this album. From some ill guitar riffs, to bizarre sound effects looped in to thumping boom-bap beats, this album hits listeners from all angles. Just pure sonic brilliance. And don't overlook the militant lyrics from the always social-conscious Chuck D that still proves relevant. To this day many regard Nation Of Millions as the best hip-hop album of all time -- and with good reason.

EPMD - Strictly Business
Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith formed the first act to incorporate varied bass-heavy funk grooves into their production. They're also the first group to help popularize samples from Zapp & Roger records. Strictly Business may not be EPMD's best overall album, but this one is easily the most influential one that E-Double and The Mic Doc created.

Just-Ice - Kool & Deadly
Just-Ice is the true pioneer of gangster rap. Granted, there were artists before him who touched on hardships like Melle Mel. But Just-Ice is the first to rap explicitly and exclusively about his lifestyle without glorifying where he came from or what he did – and dropped a quality album going over it to boot.

Stetsasonic - In Full Gear
Stet was the first hip-hop group to incorporate elements and samples from jazz tunes, which was a popular trend at the time. Some of the tracks on this album still sound mind-blowin' to me.

Heavy D & The Boyz - Big Tyme
Heavy D was the first rap artist to effectively blend R&B elements into hip-hop music in a creative manner without sounding lackluster or watered down (courtesy of the criminally underrated producer Teddy Riley in terms of his hip-hop contributions), and this is one of his group's very best albums. A listener could also hear sprinkles of the New Jack Swing style, which was emerging at that time.

Ice-T - Power
Ice-T was the first artist to make his home out on the west coast and claim that region on his records. Now this isn't Ice-T’s first album by any means (he dabbed into some techno joints earlier in the decade and also brought out Rhyme Pays a year before), or his greatest album (O.G. Original Gangster has that honor), but Power is Ice’s first cohesive album that goes into the gangster theme Just-Ice established, but goes into that subject more vividly than he did.

Kruza

[BlueNGold]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Nas - Illmatic

&

2Pac - All Eyez On Me (Lyrically, Me Against The World was better though, imo)

[dopeboy206]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Nas - Illmatic

&

2Pac - All Eyez On Me (Lyrically, Me Against The World was better though, imo)

Pac was never lyrical in my books. I think the Makaveli The Don Killuminati album was more lyrical than me against the world.

[sportsdude]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

So I am exhausting my collection of music that I listen to regularly. So now I plan on going through an evolution of Hip Hop/Rap. I was hoping those of you that are well versed could give me some albums that are must listens to, artists to listen through their catalog etc....

I am looking for originators. The cats that really defined when new eras or styles started/ended. Any explanation to why and what to listen for is also much appreciated. Also I don't really care what was popular. I don't really care about how successful the artist was either. Underground or less known artists are much appreciated.

Thanks fellas.

you looking for originators of rap in general or just different styles of it?

[Po Pimp]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Pac was never lyrical in my books. I think the Makaveli The Don Killuminati album was more lyrical than me against the world.

Define lyrical. Pac was plenty lyrical in my opinion. He was just a more straightforward MC than those you deem as lyrical. Pac had the vocabulary, he just wasn't much of a metaphorical rapper. He didn't kill u with hot lines...he had poignant verses nonetheless though.

[KingV2k3]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Outkast and Pharcyde for the 90's 'psychedelic' funk...

Slick Rick and Blowfly for the late 70's into the 80's early / dirty party rap is fun too...

Anything on Sugarhill...

Paul's Boutique by the Beasties...

[500bloc]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Pac was never lyrical in my books. I think the Makaveli The Don Killuminati album was more lyrical than me against the world.

Wow, I'm speechless.

The greatest rapper of all time wasn't lyrical?

2Pacalypse Now & Strictly 4 My N.I.*.*.*.Z both were damn good albums also.

[J Don x]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Lyrical = Eminem

Have we left off the most lyrical aritst in the history of rap?

[trobinson97]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Define lyrical. Pac was plenty lyrical in my opinion. He was just a more straightforward MC than those you deem as lyrical. Pac had the vocabulary, he just wasn't much of a metaphorical rapper. He didn't kill u with hot lines...he had poignant verses nonetheless though.

Agreed. Pac not lyrical? I've done heard it all now.

[500bloc]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Okay Here is a List


Nas (It Was Written)
Jay-Z (Reasonable Doubt)
Big L (Lifestyles Ov Da Poor & Dangerous)
Big Pun (Capital Punishment)
Notorious B.I.G. (Life After Death)
Wu Tang - (36 Chambers)
Outkast - (Aquemini)
Goodie Mob - (Soul Food)
Scarface - (The Diary, The Untouchable, Emeritus, Made)
Cee-Lo - (Perfect Imperfections, The Soul Machine)
2Pac - (2Pacalypse Now, Better Dayz, Makaveli, Me Against The World, R U Still Down?, Strictly 4 My Niggaz)

Ice Cube - (Lethal Injection)
Bone Thugz N' Harmony (The Art of War)

Added:
Mac Mall - (Illegal Business)
Devin The Dude (Devin The Dude, To Tha X-Treme)
Mos Def & Talib Kweli (Black Star)

[dopeboy206]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Don't get me wrong Pac IMO is the greatest but he wasn't lyrical buy any means. I grew up a big 2Pac fan but he isn't as lyrical as Nas, B.I.G., Jay-Z, Eminem, ect. If you consider great concepts as lyrical then yes he is lyrical because Pac had great concepts and versitility. He can get political, gangsta, pimpish, positive, ect. That I can't deny.

The man knew how to make great music I can't deny it. But anyone who thinks Pac is a lyrical emcee is a fool. My definition of lyrical is punchlines, metaphor, vocabularies all in one.

I am a big 2Pac fan has every single one of his albums even the bootlegg Makaveli CD's. But anyone who says 2Pac was lyrical must never listened to Pac untill he passed away.

Here are my favorite 2Pac Albums:

1. Makaveli: The 7 Day Theory
2. All Eyez On Me
3. Me Against The World
4. Still I Rise
5. Untill The End Of Time
6. Better Dayz

I wasn't really feeling his first tow albums as much. Dont get it twisted I aint a Pac *****.

[J.R. Locke]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Thanks fellas. Especially Kruza for the breakdown. Much appreciated.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Don't get me wrong Pac IMO is the greatest but he wasn't lyrical buy any means. I grew up a big 2Pac fan but he isn't as lyrical as Nas, B.I.G., Jay-Z, Eminem, ect. If you consider great concepts as lyrical then yes he is lyrical because Pac had great concepts and versitility. He can get political, gangsta, pimpish, positive, ect. That I can't deny.

The man knew how to make great music I can't deny it. But anyone who thinks Pac is a lyrical emcee is a fool. My definition of lyrical is punchlines, metaphor, vocabularies all in one.

I am a big 2Pac fan has every single one of his albums even the bootlegg Makaveli CD's. But anyone who says 2Pac was lyrical must never listened to Pac untill he passed away.

Here are my favorite 2Pac Albums:

1. Makaveli: The 7 Day Theory
2. All Eyez On Me
3. Me Against The World
4. Still I Rise
5. Untill The End Of Time
6. Better Dayz

I wasn't really feeling his first tow albums as much. Dont get it twisted I aint a Pac *****.

So by this you mean to say Lil Wayne is a better lyricist than Pac was because he spits a bunch of metaphors and punchlines in his raps?

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: Help From Hip Hop/Rap Heads

Lyrical = Eminem

Have we left off the most lyrical aritst in the history of rap?

Canibus is the most lyrical artist in the history of rap.