Support NeoGAF

[VPhys]

A year or two ago there was a great thread on this. Lets see what's changed (if anything) since then.

My top 5 (though it was very tough) in no particular order.

Actually had to make a slight change (thanks FP for remiding me).

Barely missed it:

Dr Dre - 2001

 

[Hellraizah]

 

[Ill Saint]

Leaving out a ton of classics. But as my train of thought guides me, I pick;

Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
GZA - Liquid Swords
Gravediggaz - Niggamortis
Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet

 

[AntoneM]

I'm not really into hip-hop but I gotta give respect to this album.

 

[bjork]

Not sure what counts as "hip hop", but here goes:

1. Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
2. Ol Dirty Bastard - Return to the 36 Chambers (dirty version)
3. Black Sheep - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
4. Ice-T - OG: Original Gangster
5. Dr. Dre - Chronic

Haven't heard a lot of the newer stuff, but this list is always subject to change.

 

[Fresh Prince]

5 Favourite Albums at this moment in time:

Talid Kweli & Hi-Tek - Train of Thought
Mos Def- Black on Both Sides
A Tribe called Quest- Low End Thoery
Nas- Illmatic
Big Punisher- Capitol Punishment

 

[The Interrobanger]

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

 

[Teddman]

Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.

The Chronic & Snoop's Doggystyle
Dr. Dre

Illmatic
Nas

All Eyez on Me
2Pac'

Paul's Boutique (it is a Hip-Hop album)
Beastie Boys

 

[teepo]

pauls botique

endtroducing

36 chambers

midnight virtues

3 feet and rising.

 

[LuckyBrand]

juvenile - 400 degreez

anything by three 6 mafia

frayser boy - gone on that bay

master p - ghetto d

those are my faves...

 

[Mumbles]

Um...of all time? Ah, what the hell...

Run-DMC - Raising Hell
Aceyalone - A book of Human Language
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions...
Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
Eric B and Rakim : Paid in Full

But then again, it's easy to pick out the classics from 10-20 years ago - basically, it's anything I still listen to.

Of the more recent stuff.

Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
Co Flow - Funcrusher Plus
Del - Both Sides of the Brain
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
Bumpy Knuckles - Industry Shakedown

 

[Bat]

Outkast - Aquemini
Tupac Shakur - All Eyez On Me (or Me Against the World)
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
Eric B. and Rakim - Paid In Full
Jay Z - The Blueprint

 

[kablooey]

Hmm...I've grown tired of gangsta rap over the years. Nice production, and gritty lyrics, but I don't like it anymore. :\

(No order)
Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions...
Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Quasimoto - Unseen
Jurassic 5 - Jurassic 5 LP

I should have some Outkast on there, but I haven't heard any of their albums. It's my dirty little secret. I've been putting it off for far too long...

 

[The Interrobanger]

DJ Shadow isn't Hip-Hop.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

 

[tmdorsey]

Outkast-Southernplayastic
Public Enemy-It Takes a Nation of Millions
Ice Cube-Amerikkkas Most Wanted (Ice Cube was ahead of his time)
Wu Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
Tie(Redman-Dare is a Darkside/Outkast-Atliens)

 

[Guzim]

Honorable mention:

Just kidding

 

[The Faceless Master]

the chronic
mr smith
36 chambers
illmatic
black album

 

[kablooey]

DJ Shadow isn't Hip-Hop.

What is he then? Electronica? I think not.

 

[Mason]

5. RJD2 - Dead Ringer

4. Del the Funky Homosapien - Both Sides of the Brain

3. Big Boi - Speakerboxxx (not The Love Below)

2. Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle

1. Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030

I know it seems like I'm really into the new school stuff, but I think some of those artists (like Del and Outkast) have released more solid albums as time has gone on. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, ATLiens, and Aquemini are great, but I think Speakerboxxx is a better all-around album.

 

[tmdorsey]

I know it seems like I'm really into the new school stuff, but I think some of those artists (like Del and Outkast) have released more solid albums as time has gone on. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, ATLiens, and Aquemini are great, but I think Speakerboxxx is a better all-around album.

Whoa. I know everybody's entitled to their own opinion, but Speakerboxxx over those other Outkast albums!!???


I thought Speakerboxxx was pretty terrible myself.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban Linx
Tu Pac - All Eyez On Me
Wu Tang Clan - Enter the 36 Chambers
Bone Thugs In Harmony - E 1999
Too Short - Cocktails

 

[Blackie]

Nas - Illmatic

 

[RedDwarf]

Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions...
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
NWA - Straight Outta Compton
Ice Cube - Amerikkka's Most Wanted
De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising

 

[The Interrobanger]

What is he then? Electronica? I think not.

I would classify him as Electronica, more specifically, "Trip-Hop". I've never heard anyone rap over any of his beats (and I have every one of his CDs) so there's no way he's in the Hip-Hop genre.

I wouldn't classify RJD2 as Hip-Hop either, even though he's on a label that is filled with mostly Hip-Hop artists and he has a few artists rap on Deadringer. If you include RJD2, then add Deadringer to my top 5 list too.

 

[spangler]

As far as the genre DJ Shadow rightfully should be filed under, I recall reading about Shadow himself moving his albums from any sort of "electronica" section to the hip-hop section whenever he encountered this situation in a record store. Whether this is true or not is hard to say and the whole idea of getting hung up on genre classification is pretty silly all on its own. I do think DJ Shadow considers himself to be a hip-hop artist, though. The DJ is a huge part of b-boy culture independent from any sort of MC.

 

[Flynn]

DJ Shadow isn't Hip-Hop.

He sure is hell is, but until we invent light speed we're not gonna catch up to him.


EDIT:

I've never heard anyone rap over any of his beats (and I have every one of his CDs) so there's no way he's in the Hip-Hop genre.

Check out Solesides, Quannum and Blackalicious to hear people rapping over his beats.

 

[ZootedGranny]

SHADOW: I'm constantly confused by people who suggest that what I do is anything other than fourteen years of hip-hop culture. I've never shut my ears to other things but hip-hop was always ninety five percent of what would come into my brain. Hip-hop music. All sorts. That's why to me, my album represents what hip-hop is capable of being

It's funny that basically the term "trip hop" was originated after someone heard his track Influx, and decided to label it something new.

 

[Fresh Prince]

The truth is Hip-Hop was started by an one DJ Kool Herc.
MC'ing came later (shame on those saying rapping makes what is defined as hip-hop)hence:
Dj Shadow started as Hip-Hop DJ.
Now he is probably known as a pioneer of trip-hop.
Trip-hop is a part of Hip-Hop, like gangsta rap hence to paraphrase Krs-One:
Dj Shadow is Hip-Hop.

 

[Substance]

1. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
2. DJ Shadow - Entroducing (now that we have established Shadow is hip-hop)
3. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
4. Ultramagnetic Mcs - Critical Beatdown
5. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Close in making the list
Dr Octagon - Dr Octagonacologist
Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
Eric B and Rakim - Paid in Full
Binary Star - Masters of the Universe

Honorable Mentions
Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride to the Pharcyde
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton

One smart gentleman made an essential hip-hop list from a previous hip-hop album thread, I forget his name, but he listed as Critical Beatdown as his favourite, and well, its a damn good list. He should repost it.

 

[VPhys]

the chronic
mr smith
36 chambers
illmatic
black album

I have to agree that the Black Album is hot. Jay's best work and I listen to it more now then when I first purchased the album. Much like the Kanye West alumb (well actually better than the KW album) you can almost listen to it from start to finish.