The Essential Rap Albums - The Short List
Submitted by lbangs on Sat, 05/08/2004 - 05:28
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- Boogie Down Productions – Criminal Minded (1987)
- Cypress Hill – Cypress Hill (1991)
- De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
- Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
- Eric B. & Rakim – Paid in Full (1987)
- Freestyle Fellowship – Inner City Griots (1993)
- Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (1990)
- The Last Poets – The Last Poets (1970)
- LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)
- Main Source – Breaking Atoms (1991)
- OutKast – Stankonia (2000)
- Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
- Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995)
- Run-D.M.C. – Greatest Hits (2002)
- A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory (1991)
- Ultramagnetic MC’s – Critical Beatdown (1988)
- Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
I think that Cypress Hill is an amazing album, start to finish. With Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet remains my favorite.
Great list
Thanks!
I certainly mean no slight against Black Planet, even if I do dig Nation a bit more.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
... and the best is: Doggystyle by Snoop Doggy Dogg.
Ah, I already have this one on my larger list. You can find it listed under, Dr. Dre - The Chronic.
OK, I admit, that isn't quite fair. I do like that album, but I couldn't find room for it on my other list, which means it really didn't have a chance for this one. Forgive me.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
... but it's the best - unforgiven :)
I am suprised not to see Dr. Dre - The Chronic on this list, surely one of my favorite rap albums. And where are the Beastie Boys?
I would recommend Kanye West - The College Dropout from this year. 2 or 3 years from now people in the know will say it changed rap.
Tizzy-o
:?)
If this list was selected by influence, it would certainly be here (heck, it may be the most influential album of the last decade!). This, however, reflects my personal taste, and while The Chronic was good enough to hit my larger list, I just don't enjoy it quite as much as the others on this exclusive list.
I compromised on The Beastie Boys; unable to decide if they were more of a alternative rock or rap artist, I put them on the other list but kept them from this more elite Rap list. If that rubs the wrong way, imagine Paul's Boutique above. It is certainly good enough to be included.
The Kanye West album certainly sold well, but do you think this album is really going to change rap, especially more than his earlier productions, of which the album just seems a natural extension?
We'll see. I cut this list off at 2003, so Mr. West might certainly join in an updated version at some point...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs