Drift & Pots Rec Exchange
I’m admittedly historically pretty bad at checking recs so this will be a fun way of getting better at it. Trading off recs one by one. Will probably be 99% hip hop |
| 1 |  | People Without Shoes
Thoughts Of An Optimist
Drifter's Rec
“A voice that would fit in as a long lost Souls of Mischief member and dank aquatic boom bap beats make this a distinct addition to the “classic rarities” archives of golden age east coast hip hop. Not a bad beat in sight.”
4 |
| 2 |  | Artifacts
That's Them
Pots’ Rec
I appreciate most from this album how it is distinctly boom bap and late 90s but not super dusty. The pretty good production beyond the beats is really attractive for this style. Tame One and El Da Sensei are slightly anonymous to me though which brings this album down a peg. They do have great energy though and play off each other well. The songs just get kinda samey half way through to me with the usual boom bap sounds rotating. I’d probably enjoy this more in smaller bites. Regardless I really enjoyed songs like the bookends and To Ya Chest in particular.
3.5 |
| 3 |  | RBX
The RBX Files
Drifter's Rec
“What happens when you cross an effortlessly charismatic g-funk emcee with a deep love and respect of boom bap? G-funk gets even better. A short middle lull can be excused on an album that is a bit bloated in run time when even the skits seem necessary and the end product is such a unique, innovative, and irreplicable moment of hip hop history that it will likely be forever misunderstood and never garner the respect and celebration it deserves. An easy insta-classic in my books.“
5 |
| 4 |  | The Beatnuts
The Beatnuts: Street Level
Pots’ Rec
Really enjoyed this one. Street Level plays out like a mixtape of loosely connected boom bap gems but the quality is so high it doesn't play as disjointed or confusing. The production is boom bap to the core, but it excels in just how well it's executed and the rapping just the same. I may not be able to identify a Beatnuts song yet without knowing beforehand, but the quality would probably influence my guess to be right. You could just put this on as a boom bap goldies playlist and no one should complain. Great shit.
4 |
| 5 |  | Windmills
Broken Record
Drifter's Rec
“a diamond in the rough of puberty rap. Although frameworks style of suburban middle class cringe-rapping is something I’ve grown weary of since my teens, the trip-hop/downtempo influenced production is compelling and I could see myself spending more time with an instrumental version of this. In another life, this certainly could have been one of my teenage gateway albums into hip-hop.”
3 |
| 6 |  | Dr. Dooom
First Come, First Served
Pots' Rec
In the newest episode of me trying to get into (pots trying to get me into?) Kool Keith I am both inspired and defeated. On one hand this is arguably the best project I've heard so far compared to Sex Style and Pimp To Eat, but I'm also wondering if I should stop altogether and just try again in a few years? The instrumentals to this album are superb, but his voice and lyrics just leave a lot to be desired. And when he's doing the sex stuff it just feels like D12 done Alternative Hip Hop. Will return, but maybe with the instrumental instead for now.
3 |
| 7 |  | Paris
Sleeping with the Enemy
Drifter's Rec
“Sleeping with the enemy benefits from some impressively clear and crisp production on what would generally be a little too far on the political-cheese, ice-t cringe-hard side of things for me, especially for a ‘92 release which would place it pretty firmly at the tail end of this styles relevance. Still, it’s a satisfying victory lap for an era of hip-hop that deserves to be capped off with this amount of style and polish, but when taking my personal preferences into consideration much of this album hinged too much on clear highlights like Thinka Bout It and Days of Old to warrant any complete relistens”
3 |
| 8 |  | Funkdoobiest
Brothas Doobie
Pots' Rec
The vibes on this one are endless. Beyond the christmas bell beats it really does have a very comforting and warm quality to it that is super attractive. The sex songs in the middle stretch are an ignorable dip in quality and Son Doobie's style occasionally bridges on annoying but the package as a whole is wonderful. I had no idea this was gonna sound so jazzy and atmospheric which is an awesome surprise.
4 |
| 9 |  | Fiend
Street Life
Drifter's Rec
“Southern hip-hop historically has been and may always be my biggest genre hurdle. From the beats to the delivery style and lyrical themes there it just something that ~doesn’t do it for me~ the same way east and west coast hip hop does. Over the years I’ve been able to reconcile this a bit and find bits and pieces to enjoy but it’s rare that I find a complete album outside of the distinct styles of Outkast and Goodie Mob that don’t feel a bit like braincell pesticide. Fiend continues to emphatically NOT really do much to unravel these preconceptions, however, it was interesting hearing the origins of Randy Newman’s hip-hop career. WOMP WOMP. HONK HONK.“
3 |
| 10 |  | Organized Konfusion
Stress: The Extinction Agenda
Pots' Rec
I can't really conjure up any words from this other than how essential it sounds. I don't recognize any songs from here but it feels so classic. Oddly colorful for a boom bap record; beyond the cover it's musically quite flavorful. I particularly enjoyed Stress, Let's Organize, and Thirteen.
3.6 |
| 11 |  | P-Folks
Smoke In-Halation Blood, Sweat and Tears
Drifter's Rec
“It took a moment for this to settle as it’s a bit “singular” in sound. This hardly turns out to be to the albums detriment, as the style is so distinct and unsettled that a lack of initial standouts can be forgiven. This is some of the swampiest G-Funk I’ve ever heard, and slogging through the filth becomes more and more rewarding (and horrific) the deeper you get.”
4 |
| 12 |  | Buckwild
Presents: Diggin' in the Crates
Pots' Rec
It's amazing that any of these were at one point unreleased and unknown. This is 2 and a half hours of the finest slab of boom bap you'll hear. Buckwild's production tethers this compilation's wide range of guests which range from superstars Nas and Big L to the slightly lesser known Lord Finesse and OC. It even takes a trip to the west with inclusions from Funkdoobiest and The Alkoholiks. I'm definitely still a novice to east coast hip hop in the grand scheme of things, but this feels so essential. Regardless of how popular it is, it's something everyone needs to add almost every song from into their hip hop playlists.
4.5 |
| 13 |  | Fo' Clips Eclipse
Just Be Thankful
Drifter's Rec
“an earnest love letter to 80’s hip-hop that evolves into a by-the-numbers g-funk album. Considering Fo Clips’s rather generic g-funk drawl and performance, the former becomes the more interesting portion of the record, a polished, respectful, and authentic homage to the genres roots with g-funk rap stylings to freshen it up and bring it into the new era. Consider checking Whip It On Me to hear the worst sex themed hip-hop song ever written.”
3 |
| 14 |  | Gravediggaz
6 Feet Deep
Pot's Rec
This is so raw and grimey it took me a few listens to really sink into it. This shit is goat worthy in the world of boom bap and I only wish I was into the genre more to appreciate it even more. This things got bangers galore Deathtrap to the title track to 1-800 Suicide, even to the interlude Momma, What’s A Gravdigga. It’s so crunchy and maniacal and hopeless and dank. Great shit
4.2 |
| 15 |  | Dubee
Dubee a.k.a Sugawolf
Drifter’s Rec
“Dubee’s southern tinged drawl and layered vocals adequately fill space and ride these epic g-funk beats, but the distinct flavour of his voice doesn’t excite my palate. Instead I find myself caught up in the instrumental hooks and and accompanying guest vocals more than anything and Dubee becomes a footnote to some of the catchiest g-funk production I’ve heard to date.”
4 |
| 16 |  | The Conscious Daughters
Gamers
Pots’ Rec
CMG IS A CASH MAKING GIRL; AN ARTIST AN ARTISTE SO, UH, FUCK THE POLICE. The Conscious Daughters provide energetic street stories on top of Paris provides the bulk of the thicc funk rhythms, emphasizing his legacy as one of the best rapper-producers of the 90s; an even better example than C-Funk's Three Dimensional Ear Pleasure but not all that different. CMG and Special One are so great together; their chemistry and skills are so underrated even on the west coast they deserve some more love and attention.
3.5 |
| 17 |  | Mia X
Good Girl Gone Bad
Drifter’s Rec
“A couple solid stand outs (including an even more horror-ready flip of “Why You Treat Me So Bad” than the Us version of “I’ve Got 5 On It”) sadly aren’t enough to save the rest of the album from the lethargic crawl of its monotonous flows and derpy beats.”
2.5 |
| 18 |  | Saafir
Trigonometry
Pots' Rec
A galactic crossover of Neptunian G-Funk and Mercurial Boom Bap. Saafir rides through the galaxy spitting about different odds and ends with just enough recklessness that it manages to work. His flying saucer squeaks and beeps as he terrorizes the radio waves. Uh, where was I going with this. His debut fights to be superior for its greater focus and more singular sound but Trignometry is arguably a more interesting listen.
3.5 |
| 19 |  | 4 Trey
Prophecy of Profits
Drifter's Rec
“An S-Club 7-ass happy-guitar dick-limpening-shit-beat in the form of Get On Down nearly convinced me otherwise, but this is a solid and otherwise consistent slice of smoked out, sun-bleached, epic chorus g-funk, highlighted by a wonderful interpolation of the 70’s GOAT Everybody Loves the Sunshine by Roy Ayers.”
3.5 |
| 20 |  | Above the Law
Uncle Sam's Curse
Pots' Rec
One of the legendary G-Funk groups that I hadn't listened to beyond their debut because of anti-hype in my weird little Drifter brain. For some reason certain super legendary groups make me scared to jam them but I'm glad you twisted my arm to get me to hear this because it's obviously a treat. In typical Ruthless fashion, the album is almost suffocatingly hard and subdued when it comes to more "bright" compositions but the music perfectly matches the album cover. Cold 187um is one of the greatest treasures in West Coast music but I feel like on this album he sort of declined from some of his pieces on Eazy's EP from the previous year. Regardless this is an essential to any west coast fan and Black Superman is such a hyper classic it's not even funny.
3.5 |
| 21 |  | 909 Boyz
Royal Flush
Drifter's Rec
“certifiably stanky to epic proportions, the first half of this album is near classic material while the second half sadly feels to run at half mast. Despite being front-loaded and featuring bars from the most poindexter-ass non-Caucasian rapper you’ve ever heard (emcee Freeze), this averages out to a fantastic release with a lot of character and charm. In fact, when giga-dork Freeze tucks in his shirt and cleans his glasses lenses to drop a verse the contrast between himself and the other rappers actually becomes an endearing signature for the group after a little acclimation.”
4 |
| 22 |  | Godfather Don
Beats, Bangers and Biscuits...
Pots' Rec
Godfather Don lays down some beautiful marine beats here but to me the raps just didn't live up to the instrumentals. Maybe I was anticipating them more based on the quick scan of the tracklist before jamming but they were strong enough to work as a whole album on their own.
3 |
| 23 |  | Daz Dillinger
R.A.W.
Drifter's Rec
“a celebrated member of the Society of Pinched Nutsack Rappers of America, Daz lays out a thoroughly funky-thicc bass centric g-funk album that’s only real flaw is that some tracks just aren’t nearly as juicy as others.”
3.5 |
| 24 |  | Rampage (Hip-Hop)
Scouts Honor... By Way of Blood
Pots' Rec
Rampage provides the iciest and coolest cover of the entire back and forth so far. This album is hard and this album is in YOUR face as an onslaught (Rampage, etc) of in-your-face-isms of hardcore NY hip hop (I'm tired of saying boom bap).
3.5 |
| 25 |  | Tha Dogg Pound
Dogg Food
Drifter's Rec
“Few G-Funk albums are as relentlessly hard-hitting as Dogg Food, a star-studded insta-classic for the genre and easily one of my personal favs to date. My only minor gripe is that the Snoop Dogg inserts seem inconsequential and unnecessary compared to the other features, making up the majority of the weaker tracks on the album. On the other hand, the fact that Snoop is consistently outshined on Dogg Food just goes to show how strong this duo is, and on a broader note, how talented the rest of the guests from Deaths Row are in general.”
5 |
| 26 |  | A Tribe Called Quest
Beats, Rhymes And Life
Pots' Rec
Fuck this album for making me less of an idiot and realizing Tribe actually rip. Ironically I enjoyed Consequence the most on here and found Phife and Q-Tip to be mostly fine if not grating sometimes. I definitely need to return considering my reevaluation of the two before this going up numerous rating points each.
3.4 |
| 27 |  | Bizzy Bone
Alpha and Omega
Drifter's Rec
“The progenitor of sadboi cringe-rap Bizzward Bonard aka Bizzy Bone is back with his 400th album, a soft-cocked frolic through the daisies with his closest pals, chalk full of Jesus bars and tears.”
3 |
| 28 |  | Heltah Skeltah
Magnum Force
Pots' Rec
Reminds me of The Beatnuts in that damn near every beat feels freestyle cypher worthy. Their back and forths are as good as any of the other classic duos but they don't get the attention the Mobb Deeps and Dogg Pounds of the world though. Speaking of which Who Wants To Be A Dope MC (the title I'll always consider the true one ) is so classic to me and so unexpected it's on here. I always heard how dope Sean Price was and he definitely is and Rock is sick as hell if not better too.
4.5 |
| 29 |  | Roots From The Underground
Roots From The Underground
Drifter's Rec
“The bookends on this album are so powerful they unfortunately eclipse most of the rest of the album on a level that makes it hard to judge them of their own merits. It took me multiple listens to be able to focus on the meat of this album enough to pass this judgement. Unfortunately, even with a slowly growing appreciation for a couple lesser bops in the second half, I cannot find the same flame of ambition that makes Roots Come Down and Crossroads shine so brightly anywhere else on the album.”
3 |
| 30 |  | MF Grimm
Scars & Memories
Pots' Rec
So many of these songs are so perfect and playlist worthy it's crazy. They could totally soundtrack a grimey video game or TV show all on their own. It's so dusty but timeless. The only real gripe with this album is the interviews between most of the songs but that has nothing to do with the quality of the songs or skits themselves.
4 |
| 31 |  | Sean T
Straight From The Streets
Drifter’s Rec
“Biggie Drawls”
2.8 |
| 32 |  | Masta Ace
Sittin' on Chrome
Pots’ Rec
Similar to Artifacts, this has such a nice high production value sound but is still boom bap for the most part. What isn't boom bap is a kind of fusion with more commonly g-funk samples which creates a great variety in sound. The first half of this album is strong but at the moment it seems to accomplish what it sets out for in that time and gets a little redundant in the latter half.
3.5 |
| 33 |  | Suga Free
Smell My Finger
Drifter's Rec
“As cheeky and flamboyant as you’d expect from a rapper who looks like a Real Housewife of New York, Smell My Finger loads up on the personality at the expense of… nothing? The instrumentals here are just as fun and bubbly as Suga Free’s many voices and personalities, resulting in an album that is theatrical enough to make Cee-Lo Green blush. “
3.5 |
| 34 |  | The Pharcyde
Labcabincalifornia
Pots' Rec
Oddly intense Fallout 3 vibes. Not sure if that's a result of what I've jammed while playing or from the jazziness but it gives off the atmosphere so much. Amazing music
4.5 |
| 35 |  | Mac
World War III
Drifter's Rec
"Oddly intense Princess Peach: Showtime! vibes. Not sure if that’s a result of what I’ve jammed while playing or the funkiness but it gives off the atmosphere so much. Amazing music"
3.2/5 |
| 36 |  | TR Love and Ariel Caban
Da Beat Terrorist Vs The Cartel
Pot's Rec
All it took was terrorism to make Kool Keith palatable.
4 |
| 37 |  | Krayzie Bone
Thug Mentality 1999
Drifter's Rec
"All it took was not being Bizzy Bone to make Bizzy Bone palatable."
3.5 |
| 38 |  | Maspyke
The Blackout
Pots' Rec
Dusty as balls (probably more than it should have been because all I could get a hold of was a 192kbps download) but great nonetheless. Not super memorable outside of the Christian orthodox anthem Lost In Belief, but a vibe nonetheless. "She's a feminist so she only likes women" is my new favorite bar of all time.
3.5 |
| 39 |  | Paris
Guerrilla Funk
Drifter’s Rec
"This is so instantly quintessential. A perfect example of all of the best qualities of g-funk, and what isn’t g-funk is kind of a fusion of boom nap samples which creates a great variety in sound otherwise it would have gotten a little redundant in the second half. Truly top shelf west coast album right here."
5 |
| 40 |  | J Dilla
Welcome 2 Detroit
Pots’ Rec
First listens almost never give you the full picture of an album and that was certainly the case with Welcome 2 Detroit. Even just one more jam of it revealed so much color and playful mastery of the genre. If I hadn't already understood why Dilla is so acclaimed, this album punched me in the face with evidence. It's so exquisitely produced it's like precision pinpoint needles and the greater atmosphere of the whole things is sleek but smokey at the same time. So sexy.
4.5 |
| 41 |  | Big Pokey
Hardest Pit In The Litter
Drifter's Rec
"Pokey Smalls"
3.5 |
| 42 |  | Ini
Center of Attention
Pots' Rec
First time I realized what you meant by aquatic beats. Especially on a song like Fakin Jax which is so bubbly and groovy but this album's filled with them. Ini are so smooth and Pete Rock's production is even slicker. Jazzy and cold but filled with color, this reminds me a lot of People Without Shoes, down to the tumultuous release that both albums went through.
3.5 |
| 43 |  | DJ Quik
Balance & Options
Drifter's Rec |
| 44 |  | Deep Rooted
The Second Coming
Pots' Rec |
| 45 |  | Snoop Dogg
Doggumentary
Drifter's Rec |
| 46 |  | Doja Cat
Scarlet
Pots' Rec |
| 47 |  | Richie Rich
Seasoned Veteran
Drifter's Rec |
| 48 |  | Portishead
Dummy
Pots' Rec |
| 49 |  | I.F.A.
International Family Affair
Drifter's Rec |
| 50 |  | Souls of Mischief
93 'til Infinity
Pots' Rec |
| 51 |  | Mystikal
Unpredictable
Drifter's Rec |
| 52 |  | KMD
Bl_ck B_st_rds
Pots' Rec |
| 53 |  | WC
The Shadiest One
Drifter's Rec |
| 54 |  | Jigmastas
Grass Roots "Lyrical Fluctuation"
Pots' Rec |
| 55 |  | Tyrant (Hip Hop)
Separate Me From The Rest
Drifter's Rec |
| 56 |  | Slum Village
Fan-Tas-Tic Vol.1
Pots' Rec |
| 57 |  | Atban Klann
Grass Roots
Drifter's Rec |
| 58 |  | De La Soul
Stakes Is High
Pots' Rec |
| 59 |  | C-Murder
Life Or Death
Drifter's Rec |
| 60 |  | Pete Rock
Soul Survivor
Pots' Rec |
| 61 |  | Eazy-E
Eazy-Duz-It
Drifter's Rec |
| 62 |  | Double XX Posse
Ruff, Rugged & Raw
Pots' Rec |
| 63 |  | 3X Krazy
Stackin' Chips
Drifter's Rec |
| 64 |  | Tha Alkaholiks
21 & Over
Pots' Rec |
| 65 |  | Mr. Serv-On
Life Insurance
Drifter's Rec |
| 66 |  | Flying Lotus
Los Angeles
Pots' Rec |
| 67 |  | Havoc and Prodeje
Kickin Game
Drifter's Rec |
| 68 |  | Cannibal Ox
The Cold Vein
Pots' Rec |
| 69 |  | Master P
Ice Cream Man
Drifter's Rec |
| 70 |  | Massive Attack
Mezzanine
Pots' Rec |
| 71 |  | Spice 1
1990-Sick
Drifter's Rec |
| 72 |  | The Psycho Realm
The Psycho Realm
Pots' Rec |
| 73 |  | Mac Dre
Stupid Doo Doo Dumb
Drifter's Rec |
| 74 |  | Company Flow
Funcrusher Plus
Pots' Rec |
| 75 |  | Mr. Shadow
Born Without a Konscience
Drifter's Rec |
| 76 |  | Busta Rhymes
Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
Pots' Rec |
| 77 |  | E-40
The Mail Man
Drifter's Rec |
| 78 |  | Al' Tariq
God Connections
Pots' Rec |
| 79 |  | Warren G
Take a Look Over Your Shoulder (Reality)
Drifter's Rec |
| 80 |  | Count Bass D
Dwight Spitz
Pots' Rec |
| 81 |  | Snoop Dogg
Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (Tha Mixtape)
Drifter's Rec
[placeholder] |
| 82 |  | Ta'raach
The Fevers (with The Lovelution)
Pots' Rec |
| 83 |  | Snoop Dogg
Coolaid
Drifter's Rec
[placeholder] |
| 84 |  | Dabrye
Two/Three
Pots' Rec |
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