Essential Albums

Makaveli · 25-05-2005 1:47pm #1

I have a lot of Hip-Hop albums, and I do mean a lot. However I'm still missing a load of old stuff and recent stuff so there is still a massive scope to grow.

So, I'm asking what in your opinion are essential albums to have. All suggestions welcome, and please don't flame other peoples choices. For once it would be nice to keep a thread clean and on topic. If you want to throw in a little synopsis for each album even better.

To get the ball rolling, here is a few I think should be in everyone's collection.

A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders / Low End Theory
Boogie Down Productions - Edutainment
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Biggie - Ready To Die
Binary Star - Masters of the Universe
Blackalicious - Nia
Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein
Common - Ressurrection
De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead
Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full
Gravediggaz - Niggamortis
Gang Starr - Step In The Arena
GZA/Genius - Liquid Swords
Jurassic 5 - Quality Control
Lexicon - It's The L
Masta Ace - Disposable Arts
MF Doom - Operation Doomsday
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
Mr Lif - I Phantom
Nas - Illmatic
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Mecca & The Soul Brother
Pharcyde - Bizare Ryde II Da Pharcyde
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
RJD2 - Dead Ringer
Slick Rick - The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Souls of Mischief - 93 Til Infinity
Soul Position - 8 Million Stories
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek - Reflection Eternal
The Roots - Things Fall Apart
The Perceptionists - Black Dialogue
Ugly Duckling - Journey To Anywhere
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Jarlath · 25-05-2005 2:41pm

Lamar you twat, banned again.

Tha Gopher · 25-05-2005 2:48pm

Jarlath wrote:

Congratulations on havin a lot of albums! wish i was like you! heres a few essentials which ya probably already have in your MASSIVE collection!
D12 - Devils night
Chingy- Jackpot
Nelly-suit+sweat, Both masterpieces!
J-kwon-hood hop
Ja Rule-The last temptation

Is your dick as big as your collection?.. Nah didnt think so, better luck next time

Ah jaysus

Either its "oh god not another one" or Lamar has returned with vengence

Cannibal Ox, do ya still have those Cyanide Pills about the place? Or did Ay Cee munch the lot during the last infiltration?

Sweet jaysus Jarlath, Devils Night is the only decent one there (tbh ive never understood its detractors, Eminem and Swifty were at their best on that album)

Anyway, Doggystyle, The Chronic and Cuban Linx are essentials imo, as well as the aforementioned Ready to Die and Illmatic of course

But aye, no collection is credible without doggystyle, fook me what an album

And no, me lad isnt bigger than my collection, even Ron Jeremy would have trouble sizin up to 80-90 odd CDs stacked on top of each other

hiphopfanno1 · 25-05-2005 3:38pm

Sweat and Suit are good albums but even though I am a big Nelly fan, I would consider them more R'N'B and rap than anything else.
My best albums are
Nas-Street Disciple Disc 1 and 2.
Tupac- Greatest Hits-It has all of his best work.
Kanye West- College Dropout
And now this I AM going to be mocked for
City Highs album-if you listen to it its actually very good even though they split up because the girl got pregnant with one of them!Its more R'N'B and rap like Nellys too but I think its decent anyway!
I was trying to think of a new hip-hop album to buy but there are so many out at the moment its hard to choose.I'll probably just gt the Black Eyed Peas new one even though I kind of want a classic...

Makaveli · 25-05-2005 3:59pm

Jarlath wrote:

Is your dick as big as your collection?.. Nah didnt think so, better luck next time

Actually it's far bigger.
Don't feel bad about it though.

ogy · 25-05-2005 4:02pm

My favourite is De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
I think power in numbers is better than quality contorl as far as j5 goes but the first ep/mini album is still there best stuff i think
Jungle Brothers - Raw Deluxe is pretty great i think
Handsome Boy Modelling School - White People for something modern
I love abs stuff on the dj format album too (though i was took fucking dumb to realise what day the gig was)
Cyprus Hill - Black Sunday is great even if only for the daftness of it all (and those loops that have high squeaky things in every single song)
Cant think of much more to add to makavelis list
oh yeh, and that freshest of cuts: house of pain - jump around

bombidol · 25-05-2005 5:33pm

Jarlath wrote:

Congratulations on havin a lot of albums! wish i was like you! heres a few essentials which ya probably already have in your MASSIVE collection!
D12 - Devils night
Chingy- Jackpot
Nelly-suit+sweat, Both masterpieces!
J-kwon-hood hop
Ja Rule-The last temptation

Is your dick as big as your collection?.. Nah didnt think so, better luck next time

Are you serious?

deisedolly · 25-05-2005 8:53pm

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Kanye West - The College Dropout
Dr Dre - 2001
Obie Trice - Cheers

some of my faves :-P

ubu · 25-05-2005 10:33pm

Jarlath wrote:

Congratulations on havin a lot of albums! wish i was like you! heres a few essentials which ya probably already have in your MASSIVE collection!
D12 - Devils night
Chingy- Jackpot
Nelly-suit+sweat, Both masterpieces!
J-kwon-hood hop
Ja Rule-The last temptation

Is your dick as big as your collection?.. Nah didnt think so, better luck next time

Thats some of the funniest shít ive read in a long while, those albums will probably go down as some of the worst albums ever. anyway on topic,

You've most of the bases covered there but id make the following additions:
Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol. 2
id probably throw in BDP - Criminal Minded aswell
Brother Ali - Shadows on the Sun
Jedi Mind Tricks - Violent By Design is a savage album
Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol.2
Mos Def & Talib Kweli - Blackstar

Did I Mention Immortal Technique?

Evzer · 26-05-2005 1:26am

So good ya put it twice wha?

Heres a few i think are Essential

Gza- Liquid swords
Mobb deep- The infamous
Reakwon- Only built 4 cuban linx
Sage Francis- Personal journals
J5- Power in Numbers
Talib Kweli and Hi-tek-Train of thought
Gangstarr- Moment of truth
Outkast-Aquemini
Ice cube- Death certificate

Makaveli · 26-05-2005 1:31am

Do you all rate Power in Numbers ahead of Quality Control?
I find it quite lacking when compared to the latter.

Cannibal Ox · 26-05-2005 12:34pm

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message
Ultramagneitc MCs - Critical Beatdown
Afrika Bambatta....dunno where to start with him, maybe Planet Rock?

Anyway, three decent old school hip hop. If your really interested in Old School it's worth checking out old Funk stuff and some Mo-Town, even if just to see where all the samples came from.

Cannibal Ox, do ya still have those Cyanide Pills about the place? Or did Ay Cee munch the lot during the last infiltration?

That rappin' bastard ate them all
*shakes fist*
Damn kids...

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 26-05-2005 1:23pm

Makaveli wrote:

The Perceptionists - Black Dialogue

got this last night. What a great album. What a great, great album.

Makaveli · 26-05-2005 1:26pm

Get Mr. Lif - I Phantom too. You wont be disappointed.

ThE_IVIAcIVIAIV · 26-05-2005 1:51pm

dead prez : Revolutionary But Gangsta is better than the one you named i think

Orizio · 02-06-2005 10:27pm

Gangstarr-Step into the Arena.
Wu Tang Clan-Enter the 36 Chambers.
Nas-Illmatic
Eric B and Rakim-Paid in Full.
AZ-Doe or Die.
Ice Cube-Death certificate.

There is a helluva of a lot of other essential albums of course but those are the first albums anybody that wants to get into rap should buy.

Ay Cee · 03-06-2005 7:33pm

Cannibal Ox wrote:

That rappin' bastard ate them all
*shakes fist*
Damn kids...

You'll have to move fast to beat me to them when there's so much sh"te talking goin on boys

Any way I'm not gonna list the Illmatic's etc. But here's a few off the beaten track to consider.

OC - Jewelz, Primo with some bangers!
Smif N Wessin - Dah Shinin, if you like your hip hop underground and bassy
Black Moon - Enta Da Stage, see above
Ice Cube - Death Certificate, nice to see this in a few lists
Jedi Mind Tricks - Visions of Ghandi, Blood In Blood Out...nuff said
Louis Logic - Blame It On The Hooch, a newbie sneaking in
Cee Lo Green - The Soul Machine, great tracks on this album
Bumpy Knuckles/ Freddie Foxxx - Industry Shakedown, one of the rawest MC's...ever
Gift Of Gab - 4th Dimensional Rocketships, incredible MC
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow- see above
Showbiz & AG - Full Scale - banger, follows banger, follows banger

That'll do yis for now

P O'Neill · 04-06-2005 8:15pm

OutKast - Aquemini
OutKast - Southernplayalisticaddillacmusick
Devin the Dude - Jus' Tryin' Ta Live
Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle
Wu Tang Clan - Enter The 36 Chambers
Twista - Kamikaze

me and the biz · 06-06-2005 2:05pm

******DX CLASSICS LIST *******
1- raekwon - only built for cuban linx --
2- jay-z - reasonable doubt
3 -eric b and rakim - paid in full
4- Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back ï¿½
5- Nas - Illmatic ---
6- Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chamber ï¿½
7- Ready 2 Die - Notorious B.I.G ï¿½
8- GZA - Liquid Swords ï¿½
9- Brother Ali - Shadows on the sun. ï¿½
10- Raising Hell - Run DMC ï¿½
11- Resurrection ï¿½ Common ï¿½
12- Dr. Dre - The Chronic ï¿½
13- jay-z the blueprint ---
14- Doggystyle - Snoop ï¿½
15- The Cold Vein - Cannibal Ox ï¿½
16 -A tribe called quest - Low end theroy ï¿½
17 -Great Adventures of Slick Rick -
18- Madvillainy ï¿½ Madvillain ï¿½
19- The Marshall Mathers LP ï¿½ Eminem , --
20- eminem - Slim Shady LP ï¿½
21- bone thugs- e 1999 eternal ï¿½
22- Big L ï¿½ lifestylez
23- Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A --
24- Pac- All Eyez on Me ï¿½
25- Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill ï¿½
26 -mob deep ï¿½ the infamous ï¿½
27 -Scarface - The Diary ï¿½
28- jay-z - Black Album ï¿½
29- Beastie Boys-Paul's Boutique --
30- Ice Cube - Amerikkkas Most Wanted ï¿½
31-- Big Pun - Captial Punishement ï¿½
32- Mos Def ï¿½ Black on Both Sides ï¿½
33- - Atmosphere - Lucy Ford ï¿½
34- talib kwali- reflection eternal ï¿½
35- Redman - Whut? The Albumï¿½
36 -Ghostface Killah - Ironman --
37- dela soul-3 feet high and rising ï¿½
38- lauryn hill - miseducation of...
39- Methodman - Tical ï¿½
40- Daily Operation - Gang Starr ï¿½
41- aesop rock - labor days --
42- Outkast- Atliens ï¿½
43- blackstar-blackstar --
44- Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders. ï¿½
45- No One Can Do It Better-Doc ,

a couple others off top of my head: mop - firing squad, cormega, realness, mega - true meaning, jean grae - attack of the attacking things, redman - muddy waters, capone n noreaga - war report, kool g rap - road to riches, g rap - wanted: dead or alive, epmd - business as usual, ditc - worldwide, immortal technique - revolutionary vol 1

Intox · 06-06-2005 4:00pm

sage francis - a healthy distrust
apathy - wheres your album
atmosphere - god loves ugly
c-rayz-walz - ravipops
jedi mind tricks - visions of ghandi / violent by design
biggie - ready to die
taskforce - music from the corner vol 2
aesop rock - labour days
jakki da motamouth - built to last
dj shadow - entroducing
the streets - a grand dont come for free
blacklicious - blazing arrow / nia
immortal technique - revolutionary vol 1 / vol 2
eminem - the slim shady LP
the fugees - the score
big l - lifestylez of the poor and dangerous
mjex - whats confusing you?
jehst - falling down
krs-one - prophets vs profits
mc supernatural - the lost freestyle files
nas - it was written
non phixion - the future is now
outkast - aquemini
mobb deep - hell on earth

dont get sucked in

Intox · 06-06-2005 4:04pm

Evzer, did you like power in numbers yeh? i was a bit disapointed

2 or 3 good choons imo, that one with nelly flurtardo is a gem

ubu · 06-06-2005 6:30pm

Intox wrote:

nas - it was written

One of NaS's weaker albums in fairness, nowhere near illmatic, Stillmatic, God's son, Lost Tapes or even Streets Disciple and definatly not an essential album, a few good songs alright but no classic

Orizio · 06-06-2005 11:36pm

ubu wrote:

One of NaS's weaker albums in fairness, nowhere near illmatic, Stillmatic, God's son, Lost Tapes or even Streets Disciple and definatly not an essential album, a few good songs alright but no classic

The Message,Street dreams,Watch dem niggas,take it in blood,affirmative action,the set up,shootouts,live nigga rap,if i ruled the world,silent murder are hardly a few good songs.If he had done what he did in Illmatic(keep the album tight with no more then 10 songs)then it would have been another classic not far off his incredible debut imo.It was his second best album lyrically although maybe not production wise.

bondiballer · 07-06-2005 5:27pm

No offence guys but 1 and a half pages of posts and no1 put in:

NWA - Straight Outta Compton ,,, thats the essential hip hop album.

Do any of you guys collect mixtapes ( I'm not talking about tapes u made yourself but ones from pro DJs like DJ Whoo Kid www.mixunit.com www.mixtapemurder.com) . If so there are loads more you need to add to this list. The very first of which would be:

Jay-z feat The Beatles - The Grey Album ( mixed by Dj Danger Mouse)

Nate Dogg · 07-06-2005 5:35pm

To add 2 what’s already been mentioned

Cormega The Realness
Cormega True meaning
Cormega The True Meaning (pitty it was released nearly 10 years late)
Gza Liquid Swords
Rza Birth of the Prince
Madvillian Madvillainy
Dead Prez RBG
CNN War Report
The Roots The Phrenology
Chino XL – Here To Save You All
Canibus Mic Club
Canibus Can-I-bus
Shyne - Shyne
Foxy Brown ill na na
Celly Cell – Killa Kali
Richie Rich – Seasoned Veteran
X-Raided – Psycho Active
Luniz Operation Stackola
2pac Makaveli
Westside Connection Bow Down
Snoop Dogg Doggystyle
Ras Kass Soul On Ice
Del – The 11th Hour
DJ Quik Dollaz + Sense
Tha Dogg Pound Dogg Food
Kurupt Streets Iz A MuthaF*****
Easy-E – It’s on 187um Killa
Easy-E – Easy-Duz-It
Alcoholics – 21 & Over
Warren G Regulator
Warren G Return Of The Regulator
Twista Adrenalin Rush
Psycho Drama Time Vs Life The Neverending Story
Common Resurrection
Common Be
Killer Mike Monster
Devin Just Tryin To Live
Scarface The Fix
Hot Boys Let Em Burn
Kool G Rap – Greatest Hits
Pharoahe Monch – Internal Affairs
Paris – Sonic Jihad
Masta Killa – No Said Date
Necro – Glory Days
Slick Rick – The Art Of Story Telling
Masta Ace – A Long Hot Summer
Saigon – Warning Shots
Vakill – Darkest Cloud
Brother Ali – Shadows On The Sun
Diamond D – Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop
Kool G Rap – Best Of Cold Chillin
Kool G Rap – Giancana Story

I don’t care if u don’t think some of these albums are essential albums in Hip-hop, cause each one of them is essential to me.

bondiballer · 07-06-2005 5:37pm

Nate Dogg wrote:

To add 2 what’s already been mentioned

Cormega The Realness
Cormega True meaning
Cormega The True Meaning (pitty it was released nearly 10 years late)
Gza Liquid Swords
Rza Birth of the Prince
Madvillian Madvillainy
Dead Prez RBG
CNN War Report
The Roots The Phrenology
Chino XL – Here To Save You All
Canibus Mic Club
Canibus Can-I-bus
Shyne - Shyne
Foxy Brown ill na na
Celly Cell – Killa Kali
Richie Rich – Seasoned Veteran
X-Raided – Psycho Active
Luniz Operation Stackola
2pac Makaveli
Westside Connection Bow Down
Snoop Dogg Doggystyle
Ras Kass Soul On Ice
Del – The 11th Hour
DJ Quik Dollaz + Sense
Tha Dogg Pound Dogg Food
Kurupt Streets Iz A MuthaF*****
Easy-E – It’s on 187um Killa
Easy-E – Easy-Duz-It
Alcoholics – 21 & Over
Warren G Regulator
Warren G Return Of The Regulator
Twista Adrenalin Rush
Psycho Drama Time Vs Life The Neverending Story
Common Resurrection
Common Be
Killer Mike Monster
Devin Just Tryin To Live
Scarface The Fix
Hot Boys Let Em Burn
Kool G Rap – Greatest Hits
Pharoahe Monch – Internal Affairs
Paris – Sonic Jihad
Masta Killa – No Said Date
Necro – Glory Days
Slick Rick – The Art Of Story Telling
Masta Ace – A Long Hot Summer
Saigon – Warning Shots
Vakill – Darkest Cloud
Brother Ali – Shadows On The Sun
Diamond D – Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop
Kool G Rap – Best Of Cold Chillin
Kool G Rap – Giancana Story

I don’t care if u don’t think some of these albums are essential albums in Hip-hop, cause each one of them is essential to me.

Thts a farily good list. ciouple ao mixtapes in there.... I think. cudn't be too sure some of them r pretty obscure

Orizio · 07-06-2005 5:52pm

bondiballer wrote:

NWA - Straight Outta Compton ,,, thats the essential hip hop album.

Er no i don't think so.The essential would be something that doesn't age but Dre's basic beats,the juvenile lyrics and the fact that Eazy and Dre are weak rappers means it sounds pretty poor nowadays.Even when it was realised it only had 4 good songs.Compare it to Wu's Enter the 36 chambers or dozens of albums from the 80s.

big syke · 08-06-2005 12:26pm

Jay-z - reasonable doubt
2pac - Me Against The World
Various - above the rim o.s.t (althought some good songs where left out from that where in the movie e.g pain etc)
O.D.B - o.d.b.e.p
Biggie - Ready To Die
Outkast - Aquemini
Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full

bondiballer · 08-06-2005 8:25pm

You ask any pro rapper whast the most influential hip hop album of all time is and at least 7 out of 10 will say straight outta compton. It's what started everything off.

David19 · 08-06-2005 8:45pm

bondiballer wrote:

You ask any pro rapper whast the most influential hip hop album of all time is and at least 7 out of 10 will say straight outta compton. It's what started everything off.

Proof to back this up. Links?

Ice2900 · 08-06-2005 8:46pm

Jay z the black album
Dr. Dre the chronic
Eminem The eminem show
Outkast southernplayalistic
Outkast Speakerboxx/ love below

Makaveli · 08-06-2005 8:47pm

It never ceases to amaze me where people pull these figures out of the air.
So 70% of all rappers will say Straight outta Compton is the most influential album of all time? Please back this statement up with some actual fact.

Straight Outta Compton released 1988.

Run-D.M.C. / Run-D.M.C. - 1984
Run-D.M.C. / Raising Hell - 1986
Eric B. & Rakim / Paid in Full - 1987
EPMD / Strictly Business - 1988
Big Daddy Kane / Long Live The Kane - 1988
LL Cool J / Bigger And Deffer - 1987
Boogie Down Productions / Criminal Minded - 1987
Boogie Down Productions / By All Means Necessary - 1988
The Beastie Boys / Licensed To Ill - 1986

Started everything off my ass.

Ay Cee · 09-06-2005 10:37am

bondiballer wrote:

You ask any pro rapper whast the most influential hip hop album of all time is and at least 7 out of 10 will say straight outta compton. It's what started everything off.

Gerrup Ourra Dat!

Kali · 09-06-2005 11:07am

Everything has pretty much been mentioned apart from Lyrics Born - Later That Day which is easily the best original release on the Quannum label (not by Quannum members.. that'd be Nia/Endtroducing).

hiphopfanno1 · 09-06-2005 12:43pm

So does anyone/everyone agree with the list on mtv.com of the top 10 Hip-hop albums?? I don't remeber the correct order but I remember that Eric +Rakim -Paid and Full was No 1.
Then I think Nas-Illuminatic was 2) and I can't remeber the rest!
Anyway what does anyone who has seen the list think of it?

Makaveli · 09-06-2005 12:54pm

01. Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full
02. Nas - Illmatic
03. Dr. Dre - The Chronic
04. Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
05. Run-DMC - Raising Hell
06. Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt
07. N.W.A - N---az4life
08. Ice Cube - Death Certificate
09. Tupac - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
10. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2005/greatest_albums_0505/

No BDP? What's up with that?

Nate Dogg · 09-06-2005 5:46pm

Orginally posted by me
Cormega The True Meaning (pitty it was released nearly 10 years late)

Sorry I meant Cormega The Testament

Orizio · 09-06-2005 11:14pm

Makaveli wrote:

01. Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full
02. Nas - Illmatic
03. Dr. Dre - The Chronic
04. Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
05. Run-DMC - Raising Hell
06. Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt
07. N.W.A - N---az4life
08. Ice Cube - Death Certificate
09. Tupac - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
10. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2005/greatest_albums_0505/

No BDP? What's up with that?

Typically safe list from MTV but niggaz4life?Jesus... :rolleyes:

You ask any pro rapper whast the most influential hip hop album of all time is and at least 7 out of 10 will say straight outta compton. It's what started everything off.

NWA started off crap lyrics and swearing in every sentence.Truth is if you ask the decent rappers in the 90's and 00's the greatest infleunce on there music the answer will probably be Rakim.He's the GOAT...the godfather of proper rap.

popinfresh · 10-06-2005 7:05pm

Every-one seems to be forgetting

50cent - Get Rich or die Tryin

Orizio · 10-06-2005 9:05pm

popinfresh wrote:

Every-one seems to be forgetting

50cent - Get Rich or die Tryin

Hate it or Love it was good but in general 50 is an average rapper elevated by brilliant beats.

Essential Albums

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