Discovolante's Best of: 1988
The year where rap really came into its own.
From the beginning of the year to the end, via the Sputnik release calendar. |
| 1 |  | Marley Marl
In Control Volume 1
"The Symphony" is one of the all time best posse cuts in hip hop history. |
| 2 |  | The Primitives
Lovely
Mixing light vocals from the enigmatic frontwoman Tracy Tracy and a fuzzy performance from the band, The Primitives' 1988 debut "Lovely" is a buzzing high of an album that ended up being their best by far. |
| 3 |  | MC Lyte
Lyte As A Rock
The album that proved that women could kill on the mic as much as a man. |
| 4 |  | The Dead Milkmen
Beelzebubba
The Dead Milkmen's finest album, fronted by the single "Punk Rock Girl", which is one of the best punk songs of the decade. |
| 5 |  | Public Enemy
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Political hip hop figureheads Public Enemy's "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" is not only probably the best conscious hip hop album ever, but its complex and intricate instrumentals make the album one of the best produced in music history as well. |
| 6 |  | The Sugarcubes
Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes were indie pop sweethearts that are known for being the band that really brought Bjork to the forefront of the music world, and were the most popular and well known Icelandic band before Sigur Ros took over in the early 2000s. It's generally thought of that their finest hour was their debut "Life's Too Good", which I totally agree with. The music on the album is generally straightforward with Bjork's characteristic howls and wails abound and making the music that much more unique. An album definitely worthy of its legacy. |
| 7 |  | EPMD
Strictly Business
"Strictly Business" made EPMD unlikely rap superstars as while it only reached number 80 on the charts upon release, still went gold 4 months after its release. The calm, cool and collected raps of emcees Erick Sermon and Parrish (or PMD) on this, alongside its follow-up "Unfinished Business", never sounded better. |
| 8 |  | Ultramagnetic MCs
Critical Beatdown
An album that has received iconic status due to immense word-of-mouth, "Critical Beatdown" was the album that practically created alternative hip hop, combining strong samples with incredibly dense and complicated lyricism. Absolute brilliance, and possibly my personal favorite rap album of the decade. |
| 9 |  | The Mission
Children
"Children" was the final album from The Mission's original goth era, before they branched off very effectively into more vast alternative territory. A fitting closure to a band about to embark on far greener pastures. |
| 10 |  | DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
The album that made pop music in hip hop a valuable asset. |
| 11 |  | Megadeth
So Far, So Good... So What!
Another thrash classic from one of the big boys of the genre. |
| 12 |  | Boogie Down Productions
By All Means Necessary
With "By All Means Necessary", Boogie Down Productions successfully step away from the street smart topic matter of their amazing debut "Criminal Minded" and evolve to a much more socially aware nature. The album that showed lead emcee KRS-One taking lead as the "hip hop teacher". |
| 13 |  | Jane Wiedlin
Fur
A fun piece of light new wave bubblegum pop from the brains of The Go-Go's. |
| 14 |  | Big Daddy Kane
Long Live The Kane
Big Daddy's Kane's greatest moment, and one of the best rap albums of the 80s bar-none. |
| 15 |  | King Diamond
''Them''
A classic heavy metal opera. |
| 16 |  | Eric B and Rakim
Follow the Leader
A rare occasion where the sophomoric album manages to live up to the hype of an amazing debut, perhaps even more so. |
| 17 |  | Prince
Lovesexy
One of his most underrated efforts, "Lovesexy" has some of Prince's most slept on tracks, including the power opener "Eye No", the glitched-out social commentary of "Dance On" and the brilliant ballad "When 2 R in Love". |
| 18 |  | My Bloody Valentine
You Made Me Realise
The true birth of the brilliance that is My Bloody Valentine and the official birth parent of shoegaze. |
| 19 |  | N.W.A.
Straight Outta Compton
A hip hop classic that helped modernize and change the genre forever. |
| 20 |  | Death
Leprosy
"Scream Bloody Gore" is pretty cool, but "Leprosy", man... that's some great shit. |
|
