Rules, Essential Listening, Current Listening Discussion

[ATM]

(Scroll down for Essentials List)

The Hip-Hop forum is attempting to be a source of actual discussion of music unlike most of sputnikmusic.com's forums. If you feel out of the loop check the stickied threads as they provide more information for people just getting into the genre. Please try to keep spamming to a minimum. Granted there is going to be a lot of discussion of awesome lyrics and great beats so extended discussions are encouraged just try to keep them somewhat on focus. Otherwise feel free to post about your favorite rap artists whether it be Freddie Foxxx or Dose One.

Current Moderators: kingsoby1, pixiesfanyo, Wish


Rules:

1. Discussion of Illmatic and 36 Chambers is solely reserved for the "what have you been listening to lately" thread.

2. No criticizing taste. You're welcome to say you don't like something... or to discuss why you don't like something... in fact we WANT you to discuss these things. But none of this "you're a backpacker lol" or "mainstream sux" jibber-jabber. It's played.

3. We don't care about crusaders trying to tell us about "real rap" or how all good rap is dead. This is a topic that only matters to people who don't know anything about the genre and we could really care less.



Essential Listening - aka, the only albums you absolutely need...

[2008] Black Milk - Tronic
[2008] Elzhi - The Preface
[2007] Pharoahe Monch - Desire
[2007] UGK - Underground Kings
[2006] Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
[2005] Lil Wayne - Tha Carter II
[2004] Kanye West - College Dropout
[2004] Madvillain - Madvillainy
[2004] MF Doom - MM.. Food
[2003] Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots
[2002] Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
[2001] Jay-Z - The Blueprint
[2001] Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein
[2000] Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
[2000] Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
[2000] Quasimoto - The Unseen
[1999] Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
[1999] The Roots - Things Fall Apart
[1999] Pharoahe Monch - Internal Affairs
[1998] Black Star - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
[1998] Outkast - Aquemini



Honorable Mention - Stuff people liked, but not absolute genre necessities...

[2008] Guilty Simpson - Ode to the Ghetto
[2008] Prolyphic and Reanimator - The Ugly Truth
[2007] Blue Sky Black Death & Hell Razah - Razah's Ladder
[2007] CunninLynguists - Dirty Acres
[2007] Dälek - Abandoned Language
[2007] El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
[2006] Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
[2006] Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor
[2006] T.I. - King
[2006] The Roots - Game Theory
[2005] Common - Be
[2005] CunninLynguists - A Piece of Strange
[2005] Edan - Beauty and the Beat
[2004] Masta Ace - A Long Hot Summer
[2003] 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin'
[2003] Brother Ali - Shadows on the Sun
[2003] Dizzee Rascal - Boy in da Corner
[2003] Immortal Technique - Revolutionary, Vol. 2
[2003] INI - Center of Attention
[2003] Jay-Z - The Black Album
[2003] Jaylib - Champion Sound
[2003] Ludacris - Chicken and Beer
[2003] Outkast - Speakerboxx / The Love Below
[2003] Viktor Vaughn - Vaudeville Villain
[2002] Atmosphere - God Loves Ugly
[2002] Count Bass D - Dwight Spitz
[2002] El-P - Fantastic Damage
[2002] Scarface - The Fix
[2002] The Streets - Original Pirate Material
[2001] cLOUDDEAD - cLOUDDEAD
[2001] J Live - The Best Part
[2001] Nas - Stillmatic
[2000] Common - Like Water for Chocolate
[2000] Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
[2000] Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
[2000] Outkast - Stankonia
[2000] Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi Tek) - Train of Thought
[1999] Dr. Dre - 2001
[1999] MF Doom - Operation: Doomsday
[1998] Big Pun - Capital Punishment
[1998] Devin the Dude - The Dude
[1998] Gang Starr - Moment of Truth
[1998] Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
[1998] The Coup - Steal This Album

The old "essentials" list. Credits go to Eliminator and Apocalyptic Raids:

East Coast
Gang Starr - Step in the Arena
Jeru The Damaja - The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja - Wrath of The Math
Big L - Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Big L - The Big Picture
Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full
Slick Rick - The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
EPMD - Strictly Business
Run DMC - Raising Hell
Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock: The Album
Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Mantronix - The Album
LL Cool J - Radios
De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
Gang Starr - Daily Operation
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Genius/GZA - Liquid Swords
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing...
Black Moon - Enta Da Stage
KRS-One - Return of the Boom Bap
Diamond D - Stunts, Blunts and Hip-Hop
Black Star - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst
Ghostface Killah - Ironman
Organized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction Agenda
Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
Guru - Jazzmatazz
Brand Nubian - One for All
Nas - Illmatic

West Coast
Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots
Quasimoto - The Unseen
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
NWA - Straight Outta Compton
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Snoop Dogg- Doggystyle
Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
Too $hort - Cocktails

Midwest
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Common - Resurrection
Slum Village - Fantastic Vol. 2
JayDee - Donuts
Kanye West - College Dropout
Proof - Searching for Jerry Garcia
Binary Star - Masters of the Universe
Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
Bronze Nazareth - The Great Migration

South
UGK - Ridin' Dirty
Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
Dead Prez - Revolutionary But Gangsta
Scarface - The Diary
Outkast - Aquemini
T.I. - Trap Muzik
Devin the Dude - The Dude
Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
CunninLynguists - A Piece of Strange
Count Bass D - Dwight Spitz








In a desperate attempt to expand my limited horizons, I'm slowly worming my way into the world of hip hop. Right now I'm liking El-P and Massive Attack, and would like to hear more.

So I was hoping you all could suggest the undisputed absolute best best hip hop albums.

[illmitch]

Classic of the Minute Archive:

Jeru the Damaja - The Sun Rises in the East [1994]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572812
Outkast - Aquemini [1998]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573084
Slum Village - Fantastic Vol. 2 [2000]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573286
Dizzee Rascal - Boy in da Corner [2003]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573467
Scarface - The Diary [1994]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573729
Lords of the Underground - Here Come The Lords [1993]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574009
Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein [2001]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574187
Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell [1986]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574852
Gang Starr - Daily Operation [1992]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574994
Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus [1997]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575216
The Congos - Heart of the Congos [1977]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576243
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Umsindo [2009]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576441
Flying Lotus - 1983 [2006]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576658
Pharoahe Monch - Internal Affairs [1999]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=577531
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - The Main Ingredient [1994]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578079
Z-Ro - Let the Truth Be Told [2005]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578324
Jehst - The Return of the Drifter [2002] - http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578525
Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt [1996] and The Black Album [2003] - http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578856
Proof - Searching for Jerry Garcia [2005] - http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=579032

8Ball and MJG - On the Outside Looking In, amazing classic southern rap

[ATM]

I love 8Ball and MJG. Never heard that album though.

[Txus]

Dr. Who Dat?
Deerhunter
Luke Vibert
Cyne

I've been listening to the ones above the past 2 days.

[illmitch]

Dr. Who Dat?
Deerhunter
Luke Vibert
Cyne

I've been listening to the ones above the past 2 days.

never heard of any of those, where are they from/what kind of hip hop are they?

[Txus]

Dr. Who Dat? is kindof like Flying Lotus, instrumental hip hop with glitches and stuff.
Deerhunter is not Hip Hop, more like Animal Collective-ish stuff.
Luke Vibert is weird electronica music, with some Hip Hop beats, lots of acid jazz stuff etc.
Cyne are a group of Mc's, they kinda sound like Binary Star or On Be Lo IMO.

[niobium]

deerhunter is some heavey ****

[Amit]

slim thuggggga mutha ****kaaaa

[CaptainWaits]

A lot of Biggie and Nas.

[mariotroise]

Mostly Metaform

[ATM]

Dr. Who Dat?
Deerhunter
Luke Vibert
Cyne

I've been listening to the ones above the past 2 days.

Hell yeah.

[kingsoby1]

Del - Funk Man
Finale - A Pipe Dream and a Promise
Bronze Nazareth - The Great Migration
Charizma & PB Wolf - Big Shots
Bats for Lashes - Two Suns (Indie/Folk Pop - really not even close to as good as the review here claims)
Long Distance Calling - Avoid the Light (Very awesome post rock)

[Flagjacket]

Gucci Mane has been on constant rotation for a week now

Gucci Tarrantiinooooo

[illmitch]

"i stay high like giraffe pussy" - gucci mane

[pixiesfanyo]

Phat Kat - Carte Blanche
Slum Village - Fantastic Vol. 2
Pharoahe Monch - Internal Affairs

[Time]

GZA - Liquid Swords
Quasimoto - The Unseen

[pixiesfanyo]

you guys actually like that Dr. Who Dat? record?

[kingsoby1]

i really couldn't get into it.

[pixiesfanyo]

its just real derivative.

[ATM]

I like it, but I like his stuff as Jneiro Jarel better

[pixiesfanyo]

i think i just don't like his style of rapping and his beats are just lesser versions of someone like Doom or Count Bass D.

i used to be really into the SBM album.. but now, i hardly listen.

[andyneverstoppingmachine]

it was a diss track tuesday for me today

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Devin the Dude - Just Tryin' Ta Live
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Live and Let Die

[illmitch]

that Kool G Rap and DJ Polo album is sick

[Apocalyptic Raids]

it is. the track with scarface, bushwick bill and cube is awesome.

[ATM]

Recommended if you like stuff like Cool Kids:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/575623680917c831/

Pacific Divison - Shut Up

http://www.myspace.com/pacdiv

[ATM]

This is pretty sick:

http://www.myspace.com/shapeofbroadminds

[Pwntendo]

ugk

aint no nigga like an undaground nigga

[Already_Taken]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-_IFAt8ka0

favorite song this week, and the video is classic as well

[illmitch]

(oops wrong Nas song!!!)

[CoOpCity]

ive been on that Drake for a minute, Illmatic is always on the cycle ALREADY TAKEN good looks on it aint hard to tell, but Congratulations by Drake is whats really good

[Already_Taken]

i almost threw up listening to that. thanks dude, thanks a lot

[Amit]

i like the idea of nas but i never really like his music

common also falls into this same sentiment

[Led_Zep_Bonham]

Hiero Live on the car stereo today.

[Txus]

Binary Star

[Apocalyptic Raids]

been listening to Reasonable Doubt today. It's better than I remember it being, but The Blueprint is still Jay's best.

[ATM]

http://www.timec.net/ninjatune/images/lex/Shape_Of_Broad_Minds-Craft_Of_The_Lost_Art_b.jpg

Shape of Broad Minds - Craft of the Lost Art

this is dope as ****.

[Txus]

Great album.

[pixiesfanyo]

i used to be really into the SBM album.. but now, i hardly listen.

yerp.

[illmitch]

bumping my two rich boy mixtapes

[pixiesfanyo]

Getoboys

[horseypie]

dan le sac vs. scroobius pip - angles

this guy is a ridiculously good lyricist

[kingsoby1]

my buddy gave me that some time last year, and i never listened to it.

Some Black Milk (Tronic) right now, then Asher Roth's terrible upcoming debut for review.

[horseypie]

definitely check it out
its nearly spoken word but its got some cool beats behind it. but yeah his lyrics are amazing

[niobium]

madlib vol 1-2 movie scenes

[Txus]

flying lotus (as always, haha)
Boxcutter
Arrested Development
Benga

[Correction]

flying lotus
dabrye
charizma & peanut butter wolf

[griftadan]

people under the stairs, no album in particularly just pandora it

also POS is pretty ****ing legit

[Time]

madlib vol 1-2 movie scenes

my friend lent me this but I haven't listened, how is it? albums with 30+ tracks are just so daunting to me

[illmitch]

goodie mob

[kingsoby1]

people under the stairs, no album in particularly just pandora it

also POS is pretty ****ing legit

Not a big fan of west coast, but I'll check it out. New POS is definitely pretty tight.

[nevertoolate]

Paris - The Devil Made Me Do It

[illmitch]

does nobody else here listen to Goodie Mob? i'm the only person who has a rating on the album Soul Food

[Txus]

Right now I'm listening to lots of Oh No and DangerDoom.

[jrowa001]

Cyne - Pretty Dark Things

[pixiesfanyo]

The Roots - Things Fall Apart

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

mostly john mclaughlin, coltrane, thelonoius monk, hendrix and with hip hop..
flylo and dilla as always.

listening to dabrye insrtmntl this morn very closely

[Txus]

instrmntl is a great album!

I've been listening to Yo La Tengo, Manu Chao and Dela today.

[niobium]

my friend lent me this but I haven't listened, how is it? albums with 30+ tracks are just so daunting to mebasically when one track ends something else that's just as good replaces it. a little daunting at first but just put it on and listen as one track

[kingsoby1]

The Roots - Things Fall Apart

first serious listen? curious to know what you think.

im doin up the new rick ross. it's okay.

[pixiesfanyo]

first serious listen? curious to know what you think.

not really, but coming back to it after a long time. i like it, but i can understand why i thought it was forgettable.

[Meatplow]

Del the Funky Homosapien - Both Sides of The Brain

having a lot of fun with this

[nevertoolate]

Del the Funky Homosapien - Both Sides of The Brain

having a lot of fun with this

Yeah it's good stuff indeed. Have you listened to I Wish My Brother George Was Here?? Twas his first solo in 91.
I think he may be related to icecube or someone like that.... yeah I just wiki'd it , his cousin.

[Meatplow]

i've been reading up on his history, i'll definitely look into it

[Meatplow]

Run D.M.C. - Raising Hell is quite awesome

[Already_Taken]

mr dobalina mr bob dobalina

[pixiesfanyo]

D'Angelo - Voodoo

you can totally tell Dilla influenced the drums.

[jrowa001]

finally got my hands on J Dilla's Donuts. will be listening to it after i get done with another album

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

D'Angelo - Voodoo

you can totally tell Dilla influenced the drums.
yeah quest helped worked the production, the guys consciously went towards that groove, ?love is like jds biggest fan

i think all music needs to have that album's groove even metal, especially metal tbh

[illmitch]

three 6 mafia and gucci mane

[Time]

Illmatic

my favorite song from this keeps changing, I think I've settled on One Love though. Q-Tip's production is so damn sick

[Already_Taken]

i definitely like the one love remix better than the original. i've been listening to illmatic too, 3 times today wtf lol.

halftime is my current favorite. the bass groove and the horns oh man

[Time]

i dont have the anniversary edition so I haven't heard the remixes, I should get on that.

I love the part in Halftime where he goes:
It's like that, you know it's like that
I got it hemmed, now you never get the mic back
When I attack, there ain't an army that could strike back
So I react never calmly on a hype track

the flow in that part kinda reminds me of ATCQ

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

i heard this sick live alicia keys version of new york state of mind

[horseypie]

dangerdoom - the mouse and the mask
steinski - what does it all mean?

[Apocalyptic Raids]

halftime is probably one of my least favourites off illmatic, but it's still a good track. i think ny state of mind will always be my favourite.

the remixes on the anniversary edition aren't that good. life's a bitch is the better one though.

[illmitch]

one love is probably one of the dopest tracks on illmatic. just the mad storytelling, i love it, plus that ill minimalistic beat.

[kingsoby1]

three 6 mafia and gucci mane

a new gucci mane is supposed to drop on 5/5... keep looking for leaks and cant find any :(

[illmitch]

ohhhhh ****! i didn't even know about that. i'll get my detective on.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

the gucci mane i've heard... does nothing for me.

[illmitch]

lol yeah, i can definitely see why people might not like him, but i love gucci mane

[Already_Taken]

halftime is probably one of my least favourites off illmatic, but it's still a good track. i think ny state of mind will always be my favourite.

the remixes on the anniversary edition aren't that good. life's a bitch is the better one though.

i think the one love remix was a radio single... i don't know man the electric piano in the original just eats at me :( i'm sayin' one love remix is better than the original :p

Time: in halftime, that's my favorite part as well, when the horn loop happens in the middle of the verse after the lyric you posted.

[Time]

Lil Wayne - Da Drought 3

such a fun album

[illmitch]

da drought 3 is straight fire

[Led_Zep_Bonham]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRsd3XS

infinitely

[illmitch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRsd3XS

infinitely

The URL contained a malformed video ID.

:confused:

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

haha once i got a a present that contained a malformed video ID

[Apocalyptic Raids]

been listening to Straight Outta Compton this afternoon. Opening three tracks are godly.

am now listening to The Unseen.

[illmitch]

that was like the first hip hop album i ever got into.


mostly because i wore all black, was in 9th grade, and liked to be ironic listening to hardcore gangsta rap.

[Led_Zep_Bonham]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRsd3XSeoMA

I cut off a few letters on accident . . . it's a good highlight off the quannum album.

[illmitch]

pretty cool. not what i'd listen to on a regular basis, but i def enjoyed it

[Meatplow]

People Under The Stairs - FUN DMC is a might fine rap album

[Txus]

De La Soul

[kingsoby1]

they came out with a new mixtape yesterday for nike... it's like a workout tape or something.

i've been listening to abstract rude's may 5th joint and spires (emo).

[pixiesfanyo]

Jay Dee - Ruff Draft
The Heliocentrics - Sirius B

[team_racket]

Dr. Who Dat?

[illmitch]

now relistening to MF Doom - Born Like This, it's gotten a lot better the second time around

[kingsoby1]

np: True Live - Found Lost

and holy poop, wtf is up with our australian reviewers not even talking about these guys?... album dropped on the 10th and is excellent.

[Brownnotes24]

i don't know why but i just cant stop listening to the wu tang clan especially gza liquid swords, beneath the surface, and pro tools great stuff other that hip hop im listening to
j dilla
prefuse73
why?
P.O.S.
blackstarr
the roots
camp lo
people under stairs

[niobium]

Welcome to Hip Hop
you've reached the tip top

[horseypie]

dangerdoom - the mouse and the mask
this album is so good

[Meatplow]

http://i39.tinypic.com/fylpg2.jpg

this was damn good

[kingsoby1]

yeah, all of insight's discog is solid.

[pixiesfanyo]

Cam'Ron - Purple Haze

[team_racket]

this was damn good

I need to pick this up, the myspace tracks are blazing.

[illmitch]

Cam'Ron - Purple Haze

i get the boosters boostin, i get computers putin
yall get shot at? call me, i do the shootin

[pixiesfanyo]

i be like move
bitch, get out the way
'cus i move bricks
get out the ye

[easylee]

purple haze is fun, 2 man h8ers

canary burgundy
i call it lemon red
yellow diamonds in my ear
call em lemonheads
end up dead, ice like winnipeg
jem stones flinstones u could say im friends with fred

[illmitch]

you got pets? me too, mines are dead

[pixiesfanyo]

your budget on my neck,
your spouse on my dick
posters on the wall,
posted on my balls
dick in her mouth, i tell her

i'm gettin' money nigga

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

winnipegwinnipeg

[illmitch]

wanted to hit it from the back - she agreed that i'm loony
but proceeded to moon me

i'm gettin' money nigga

[ilikemusic]

currently listening to: lifestylez ov da poor and dangerous - Big L

[illmitch]

excellent record

interestingly enough killa cam has a verse on there

[Amit]

i love the chorus in this song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0F4iXEzOqY

[kingsoby1]

camron is decent imo, definitely above average.

[illmitch]

cam is one of my favorite rappers ever easily

[Led_Zep_Bonham]

A couple rounds of Living Legends - Classic around town today.

[Time]

i want to check out some Cam'ron after hearing Kanye's awesome beats for him that were remixed on Da Drought 3

[illmitch]

get his album Purple Haze plus the debut album of his group The Diplomats, Diplomatic Immunity 1. look up the thread 40 Cal, i put megaupload links for both up.

[Meatplow]

I listened to De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising, not bad. I preferred the Clear Lake Audiotorium EP though

[niobium]

strictly business
paid in full
mayer hawthorne

[kingsoby1]

Group Home - Livin' Proof

[pixiesfanyo]

(Scroll down for Essentials List)

The Hip-Hop forum is attempting to be a source of actual discussion of music unlike most of sputnikmusic.com's forums. If you feel out of the loop check the stickied threads as they provide more information for people just getting into the genre. Please try to keep spamming to a minimum. Granted there is going to be a lot of discussion of awesome lyrics and great beats so extended discussions are encouraged just try to keep them somewhat on focus. Otherwise feel free to post about your favorite rap artists whether it be Freddie Foxxx or Dose One.

Current Moderators: kingsoby1, pixiesfanyo, Wish


Rules:

1. Discussion of Illmatic and 36 Chambers is solely reserved for the "what have you been listening to lately" thread.

2. No criticizing taste. You're welcome to say you don't like something... or to discuss why you don't like something... in fact we WANT you to discuss these things. But none of this "you're a backpacker lol" or "mainstream sux" jibber-jabber. It's played.

3. We don't care about crusaders trying to tell us about "real rap" or how all good rap is dead. This is a topic that only matters to people who don't know anything about the genre and we could really care less.



Essential Listening - aka, the only albums you absolutely need...

[2008] Black Milk - Tronic
[2008] Elzhi - The Preface
[2007] Pharoahe Monch - Desire
[2007] UGK - Underground Kings
[2006] Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
[2005] Lil Wayne - Tha Carter II
[2004] Kanye West - College Dropout
[2004] Madvillain - Madvillainy
[2004] MF Doom - MM.. Food
[2003] Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots
[2002] Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
[2001] Jay-Z - The Blueprint
[2001] Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein
[2000] Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
[2000] Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
[2000] Quasimoto - The Unseen
[1999] Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
[1999] The Roots - Things Fall Apart
[1999] Pharoahe Monch - Internal Affairs
[1998] Black Star - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
[1998] Outkast - Aquemini



Honorable Mention - Stuff people liked, but not absolute genre necessities...

[2008] Guilty Simpson - Ode to the Ghetto
[2008] Prolyphic and Reanimator - The Ugly Truth
[2007] Blue Sky Black Death & Hell Razah - Razah's Ladder
[2007] CunninLynguists - Dirty Acres
[2007] Dälek - Abandoned Language
[2007] El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
[2006] Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
[2006] Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor
[2006] T.I. - King
[2006] The Roots - Game Theory
[2005] Common - Be
[2005] CunninLynguists - A Piece of Strange
[2005] Edan - Beauty and the Beat
[2004] Masta Ace - A Long Hot Summer
[2003] 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin'
[2003] Brother Ali - Shadows on the Sun
[2003] Dizzee Rascal - Boy in da Corner
[2003] Immortal Technique - Revolutionary, Vol. 2
[2003] INI - Center of Attention
[2003] Jay-Z - The Black Album
[2003] Jaylib - Champion Sound
[2003] Ludacris - Chicken and Beer
[2003] Outkast - Speakerboxx / The Love Below
[2003] Viktor Vaughn - Vaudeville Villain
[2002] Atmosphere - God Loves Ugly
[2002] Count Bass D - Dwight Spitz
[2002] El-P - Fantastic Damage
[2002] Scarface - The Fix
[2002] The Streets - Original Pirate Material
[2001] cLOUDDEAD - cLOUDDEAD
[2001] J Live - The Best Part
[2001] Nas - Stillmatic
[2000] Common - Like Water for Chocolate
[2000] Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
[2000] Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
[2000] Outkast - Stankonia
[2000] Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi Tek) - Train of Thought
[1999] Dr. Dre - 2001
[1999] MF Doom - Operation: Doomsday
[1998] Big Pun - Capital Punishment
[1998] Devin the Dude - The Dude
[1998] Gang Starr - Moment of Truth
[1998] Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
[1998] The Coup - Steal This Album



Classic of the Minute Archive:

Jeru the Damaja - The Sun Rises in the East [1994]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572812
Outkast - Aquemini [1998]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573084
Slum Village - Fantastic Vol. 2 [2000]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573286
Dizzee Rascal - Boy in da Corner [2003]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573467
Scarface - The Diary [1994]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573729
Lords of the Underground - Here Come The Lords [1993]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574009
Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein [2001]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574187
Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell [1986]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574852
Gang Starr - Daily Operation [1992]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574994
Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus [1997]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575216
The Congos - Heart of the Congos [1977]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576243
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Umsindo [2009]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576441
Flying Lotus - 1983 [2006]: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576658



The old "essentials" list. Credits go to Eliminator and Apocalyptic Raids.

East Coast
Gang Starr - Step in the Arena
Jeru The Damaja - The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja - Wrath of The Math
Big L - Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Big L - The Big Picture
Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full
Slick Rick - The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
EPMD - Strictly Business
Run DMC - Raising Hell
Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock: The Album
Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Mantronix - The Album
LL Cool J - Radios
De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
Gang Starr - Daily Operation
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Genius/GZA - Liquid Swords
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing...
Black Moon - Enta Da Stage
KRS-One - Return of the Boom Bap
Diamond D - Stunts, Blunts and Hip-Hop
Black Star - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst
Ghostface Killah - Ironman
Organized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction Agenda
Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
Guru - Jazzmatazz
Brand Nubian - One for All
Nas - Illmatic

West Coast
Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots
Quasimoto - The Unseen
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
NWA - Straight Outta Compton
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Snoop Dogg- Doggystyle
Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
Too $hort - Cocktails

Midwest
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Common - Resurrection
Slum Village - Fantastic Vol. 2
JayDee - Donuts
Kanye West - College Dropout
Proof - Searching for Jerry Garcia
Binary Star - Masters of the Universe
Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
Bronze Nazareth - The Great Migration

South
UGK - Ridin' Dirty
Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
Dead Prez - Revolutionary But Gangsta
Scarface - The Diary
Outkast - Aquemini
T.I. - Trap Muzik
Devin the Dude - The Dude
Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
CunninLynguists - A Piece of Strange
Count Bass D - Dwight Spitz








In a desperate attempt to expand my limited horizons, I'm slowly worming my way into the world of hip hop. Right now I'm liking El-P and Massive Attack, and would like to hear more.

So I was hoping you all could suggest the undisputed absolute best best hip hop albums.

[kingsoby1]

signed

[pixiesfanyo]

**** THAT
**** THAT
**** THAT
**** THAT
**** THAT
**** THAT
**** THAT

probably my favorite beat of all time.

[niobium]

love that. tho i put on the instrumental version to avoid lil dap sometimes

[pixiesfanyo]

i dig his verse on that track.

[Amit]

smka - caddys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcxwlK97YV4

personally this was best hip hop song of 2008 but that's understandable considering the tight goodie mob vocal hook which was sampled in this tune

[kingsoby1]

smka is pretty cool.

my fav track of 08 is Losing Out (Black Milk + Royce)

[Amit]

long story short by black milk had ridiculously awesome production but it really needed an awesome chorus to seal the deal

which is surprising/disappointing considering dwele did the production for the track

[ATM]

smka - caddys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcxwlK97YV4

personally this was best hip hop song of 2008 but that's understandable considering the tight goodie mob vocal hook which was sampled in this tune

:)

I see you took my suggestion.

[Amit]

was it you who recommended it? i can't remember if i got it from here or on waffles

[ATM]

I've whored it all over the forum.

[Amit]

yeah it's a shame the album starts off so ridiculously strong with the outkast samplin instrumental intro and then caddys and then alien and then it kind of drops off :[

[ATM]

Yeah, it does drop off a bit.

Have you heard the Proton - Red and Purple?


http://www.mediafire.com/?ondyzyytjly

[Amit]

*downloading now*

[ATM]

Let me know your thoughts. It's more ATL ****.

[ATM]

You guys should all **** with Opus Akoben:

http://www.myspace.com/opusakoben

[Wish]

Farma G's It's a Funny Old Game mixtape. http://taskforce.bandcamp.com/

[ATM]

Song is so dope, check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDQ49tLg5w0

[Jawaharal]

big l

dude is ****ing good.

[Meatplow]

Black Milk's Tronic, production is dope

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Tronic does nothing for me outside of the opener and the track with Monch.

[kingsoby1]

Mingus... completely obsessed today.

Black Sinner Lady orgasm.

I think tronic is love it or meh it pretty much... at least I haven't heard of anyone hating it. Personally, it was tied for my favorite record of 08 with Guilty Simpson's Ode to the Ghetto (BM also produces some tracks there, along with Madlib, Oh No, Mr Porter, etc)

[pixiesfanyo]

i don't see how you can love hip-hop and not love 'Tronic'. it is such a great example of what rap should be in 2008.

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

where do you guys mostly get music, i cant download at waffles anymore i used to be a power user :-| my hd broke,

[ATM]

Google blog search.

[kingsoby1]

yeah just use google blog search... search "artist" "album" "download" or "mediafire" or whatever. i also torrent through isohunt and what.cd... i'd give invites, but i dont have any.

[niobium]

where do you guys mostly get music, i cant download at waffles anymore i used to be a power user :-| my hd broke,aw man i risked so much

what waffles soulseek for me

[DannyBrighteyes]

J-Live - Then What Happened?

and DangerDoom - The Mouse And The Mask

[Apocalyptic Raids]

ratatat remixes vol 2

[Interstate]

Nas - Illmatic
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Live & Let Die - This is awesome.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Live & Let Die - This is awesome.
yesssss

last track is probably the highlight for me

[Led_Zep_Bonham]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxNHZZwSqgg

[Interstate]

yesssss

last track is probably the highlight for me

The whole album is awesome, the last track and the title track are two of my favourites so far.

[Jawaharal]

ratatat remixes vol 2

the three kings remix is so dope

[Already_Taken]

damn i love the mule.

that's the reason why his broads be trippin'
don't want him to be with no other women
cuz i hit em with the mule

[illmitch]

juiceman and gucci mane, make the trap AYE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5SyhLHnyqY

[jaydenhoward87]

drake & lil wayne

[Txus]

Dabrye - One/Three
Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come
MF Doom - Operation: Doomsday

[griftadan]

ratatat remixes vol 2

yes

i just got celestial clockwork by illogic, so far it's really good. i might do a review they don't have any of their stuff up on sputnik

[ATM]

Forgot how dope this was:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvQdwDZwk7c

[Apocalyptic Raids]

the three kings remix is so dope
party and bullshit and we gon ride are probably my favourites but there are like 5 or 6 on that album that are really great.

The whole album is awesome, the last track and the title track are two of my favourites so far.
yeah, i'd say two to the head and on the run are my highlights.

operation cb is also hilarious.

[kingsoby1]

yes

i just got celestial clockwork by illogic, so far it's really good. i might do a review they don't have any of their stuff up on sputnik

illogic is solid. i'd probably put celestial clockwork above his recent diabolical fun... some of the beats just annoy me.

[DannyBrighteyes]

Damu The Fudgemunk - Spare Time

Can anyone suggest anything similar to this?

[ATM]

Have you heard his stuff with with Insight called Y Society?

If you dig him, check out Kev Brown.

[DannyBrighteyes]

Have you heard his stuff with with Insight called Y Society?

If you dig him, check out Kev Brown.

Yeah I love Y Society. I'm youtubing Kev Brown now I like what I hear, I just got Elzhi - The Preface, dunno if it's any good though.

[kingsoby1]

the preface is sick... black milk produced the whole thing. check out tronic if you get a chance too. detroit is the illest right now.

yeah y society is tight.

[Txus]

Black Milk - Tronic
Nas - Illmatic

and lots of Sun Ra

[StalkingButler]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jP1PliAiuc

Maybe Cuban Linx II will be good after all. Damn, how I love Method Man.

[niobium]

oh no - exodus into unheard rhythms

[kingsoby1]

pretty awesome album.

joe, new method/red men album is coming out.

[DannyBrighteyes]

Q Tip - The Renaissance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWHDoP5uwh8

[kingsoby1]

never could get into q-tip... or even tribe.

wow, the new de la soul nike collab is pretty awesome so far. <3 young rj

[Already_Taken]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMdJr4YGI0s

yeah i love this song makes me wanna do it, which normally makes a song awesome in my book

[kingsoby1]

Guilty Simpson

Black Milk

Dirty Projectors

K.

[kingsoby1]

qtip's album from last year sucks so bad ouch

[pixiesfanyo]

hey just so you know on The Preface T3 produced 'Save Ya'

[kingsoby1]

interesting

i need to listen to the preface more - it's definitely awesome, but i have to be in the mood for more lyrical hiphop

[pixiesfanyo]

one of my favs. i love that album. Crime Pays leaked.

[kingsoby1]

word was just gonna say. so did the new gucci mane, finally, 2 days after the official release date -_-

[illmitch]

i heard the clean version linked, did the dirty one?

[kingsoby1]

dunno, didn't bother DLing, too much other stuff to listen to right now.

[pixiesfanyo]

i have the dirty version. got it off waffles.

[illmitch]

awesome! could you upload it to a megaupload or one of them sites?

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Mobb Deep - The Infamous...

beats are so good. nas and wu guest spots are also ace.

[horseypie]

aesop rock - none shall pass
i think this could grow on me more than labour days. i love labour days but the beats on this one are so much better i think. definitely gunna listen more

ghostface killah - fishscale
pretty good, i enjoyed it. only problem is too many skits

[Apocalyptic Raids]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRcamEx7EmA

[illmitch]

listening to the new Cam'ron....dooope

[Correction]

new eminem
it's pretty meh, some pretty solid stuff but a lot of crap

[kingsoby1]

hip-hop: eminem, company flow remaster, de la soul's new joint, new camron soon

other: mingus, dirty projectors, sabbath, anaal nathrakh, spires, new dredg

all at the same time.

[horseypie]

just got cLOUDDEAD and listening to it now...not too sure about it

[kingsoby1]

ya, i dont get the praise for them.

new CYNE leaked... "water for mars"

[niobium]

count bass d - dwight spitz
dabrye - instrmntl
beastie boys - hello nasty

[Txus]

Hip Hop: Elzhi, Slum Village, InI and Mr. Lif

Others: Clouds, Don Cherry, Cecil Taylor, Dredg, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Afrirampo and Melt Banana.

[illmitch]

i'm listening to that dizzee rascal album finally. i thought it was really really weird when i first started it, but i'm starting to kinda like it. too soon to say though.

[kingsoby1]

Lose Yourself... i wish eminem made a whole album like this.

[illmitch]

old three 6 mafia...some amazing stuff there

[fatkidzonmopedz]

eminem's new album relapse, ive been listening to it for the past couple days and its pretty good, better than eminem show/encore to me at least.

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

dime piece - dilla n dangelo

mmmmmm a n g e lllll

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

http://www.last.fm/user/NoonwardRace/tracks?page=1
its been on for 3 hours

ps ppl from the future: it was

[Apocalyptic Raids]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35w_uPX6JHQ

[RoshanC]

The Prodigy Remix of Method Man's Release Yo Delf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6YjY8SCxDY

First time in ages i sat and listened to the same song over and over again for 2 hours

[illmitch]

juicy j - the realest nigga in the game

this mixtape is amazing, sounds totally just like old-school three 6 mafia, like from Chapter 1 or Chapter 2

read about it here
http://www.cocaineblunts.com/blunts/?p=2645

[kingsoby1]

New record slightly pimped out by Atmophere's Ant:

Prof & St. Paul Slim present: Recession Music

http://www.recessionmusic.com/

[horseypie]

man none shall pass by aesop is so good
catacomb kids, none shall pass and the harbor is yours are ridiculous

[kingsoby1]

i love all the tracks involving el-p on that record... plus the title track is amazing.

[horseypie]

its better than labour days i think...labour days had kinda samey beats, whereas this one is heaps more uptempo and interesting

[ATM]

Blackout 2

[illmitch]

z-ro
8ball & MJG

[pixiesfanyo]

Psycho Realm!!!

[Led_Zep_Bonham]

Andre Nickatina and Mac Dre - Tale of II Andrés

[Kamikaze]

Some mixtapes from daftpiff.com
:naughty:

Right now Kayne West- Homecomming.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

AZ - Doe or Die

pete rock's stuff on this... awesome.

non hip-hop:
Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Dirty Three - Ocean Songs

[kingsoby1]

C-Rayz Walz - Year of the Beast (wow this is so underrated)
Slow Suicide Stimulus (another ridiculously underrated gem)

also found both in the 75% off LP bins at Rhymsayers' 5th Element store here in mpls. they had like 20 copies of Beanie Siegel's the B. Coming ha

[illmitch]

is the c-rayz any better than his other stuff? i got an earlier album from him and wasn't feeling it at all.

[niobium]

oh no - "action"
makes me want to listen to exodus instrumentals

[Interstate]

Listening to Criminal Minded by BDP at the moment. Haven't heard this in a long long time and I thought I'd give it a spin. Old skool hip hop at it's finest.

[pixiesfanyo]

C-Rayz Walz - Year of the Beast

I really dug Year of the Beast a lot whenever I first heard it. Ravipops I think is his best record, though.

[kingsoby1]

will have to check it out.

man, all i've been listening to lately is Secret Chiefs 3, Estradasphere, and Jay-Z... the first 2 would make excellent sampling material.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Los Angeles

i think this is my favourite flylo. but i'll probably change my mind again next week.

[ATM]

I'm seeing C-Rayz Walz next month.

I've been listening to Outkast, Gucci Mane, Method Man and Redman, and Jay Electronica.

[kingsoby1]

jay electronica really really really needs to come out with an album. him and erykah badu probably just smoke all day. new gucci mane is really good, blackout 2 was okay.

[ATM]

Yeah I really like what I've heard from Jay Electronica. The new Gucci Mane is hilarious. My friend has Stoopid as his ringtone haha. Blbackout 2 has some badass songs but overall its just okay, I agree. I love that song Dangerous Emcees though.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Guilty Simpson - Ode to the Ghetto
Dilla - The Shining

[niobium]

guilty simpson for me too

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

yeah ive been lsitening to the shining the last few daysss

[Time]

i was just listening to that in the car as i drove to mcd's

[niobium]

mcdillas
mickey j d's

[Apocalyptic Raids]

i like e=mc2 a lot.

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Ghostface Killah - Fishscale

if ghost had halved the amount of tracks here and got rid of all the unnecessary **** this would be amazing.

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

let's take it back on my 1000watt personal pa system with studio monitors from 180 gram vinyl bass up woooooo0000o0o0o0o0o0oo

[guitarded_chuck]

the game

some west coast flavor, fun, and cocky as ****

plus we have the same name that's a bonus

[Apocalyptic Raids]

Madvillainy
AZ - Doe or Die

[horseypie]

the new couple of tracks the hilltop hoods have been playing are really good, maybe better than their old stuff

[Woosah]

I just discovered Hell's Winter by Cage for myself recently. Really intense stuff.

[FattyKnee]

NWA, GZA, wu-tang, notorious BIG etc. good stuff

[niobium]

organised confusion

[nevertoolate]

seriously one of the best ever groups, just so good. Lord Help Me Out Now!!!

the new couple of tracks the hilltop hoods have been playing are really good, maybe better than their old stuff

Haven't heard em yet, if better than their earlier stuff then it's all good. Do you like Pegz horse??

[horseypie]

pegz?
or do you mean pez? the guy that does the festival song...if so, not that much. i mean the festival song is heaps cool but i couldnt really get into the rest of his album at all

[illmitch]

any of you guys listen to three 6 mafia? i havent seen much love for them yet

[nevertoolate]

pegz?
or do you mean pez? the guy that does the festival song...if so, not that much. i mean the festival song is heaps cool but i couldnt really get into the rest of his album at all

No the Aussie MC called Pegz.

[Txus]

flylo

[horseypie]

No the Aussie MC called Pegz.

never heard of him soz

[nevertoolate]

never heard of him soz

wot Aussie hip hop do you like??

[Apocalyptic Raids]

any of you guys listen to three 6 mafia? i havent seen much love for them yet
they have some great songs

[illmitch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3xFQdHQ2ek

ive been listening to this on repeat for the past half hour i think

[ATM]

Yeah I love 3 6, although lately I've just been listening to the new Project Pat album.

[Jawaharal]

3 6 is really popular in TN, so ya I like em.