Best RAP album of all time.....

Mkopec1 · 11-29-2005, 10:27 AM

I used to be heavily into rap during the late 80's and into the early 90's when metal music finally caught my ear and rap was taking a turn for the worse with the "Gangsta" generation of rap.

Just this weekend I was going through some of my rap tapes (CD's were not popular yet during those times) and just reminescing about the good old high-school days. Anyways, I was missing one of my favorites of that time so I went out and purchased a CD of it.

IMO this has to be one of, if not the greatest, rap albums of all time. Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back. I was shocked at how fresh this CD sounded after nearly being out 2 decades. Nothing currently in hip-hop even comes close to the musical and lyrical aspects of this album.

You really have to go back in time to see what an impact this album had on rap itself. Back in the early days of rap, most if not all rap usually consisted of a couple of samples of James Brown or Barry White, base line, and generalized lyrics about how bad/cool the rapper was.

And here comes Public Enemy in 88' With their sophmore offering which was nothing like the rap albums which came before it. Intricately woven layers of samples, bits and pieces of samples which were ingenously woven together and formed into sort of music background which was unheard of at the time. And then you had Chuck D laying down some serious lyrics, tackling issues like racism, empowernment, politics, drugs, all with a ferrocity of a bulldog. Along his side, comic relief side kick Flava Flave chirping in every once in a while.

Even if you do not like rap, I would suggest getting this one, its pure musical joy. It fills your ears with old school hip-hop which really has not been matched since.

Samus Aran · 12-03-2005, 10:49 AM

My vote has to go with The Blueprint. Shit's hot.

btw: can you upload that CD to yousendit.com or rapidshare or something? I wanna hear that.

Hateyou · 12-03-2005, 11:04 AM

Wu Tang Clan: 36 Chambers.
Gravediggaz: 6 feet deep.

Those are the only 2 rap albums I've ever owned or ever actually listened to all the way through. Rap is fucking horrible. I may even hate it worse than country.

Eomer · 12-03-2005, 11:18 AM

MC Hammer: Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
Kool Moe Dee: Knowledge is King

Spare Oom and War Drobe · 12-03-2005, 11:38 AM

Biggie - Ready to Die / Life After Death
Nas - Illmatic / Stillmatic

Nas is probably the best lyricist. Biggie inspired a generation of kids into loving rap though.

Cryptin · 12-03-2005, 12:52 PM

For me it's a tie. The Chronic and Straight Outta Compton.

Tingteng · 12-03-2005, 01:35 PM

Depends on what you define rap as. Personally I'd make Paul's Boutique my favorite of all time since it's one of my favorites period.

MC Hammer has the biggest selling rap album of all time.
Can't touch that.

Zinke · 12-03-2005, 06:43 PM

The Streets.. I keed, I keed.

I don't like naming 'best' albums. But, I'd probably go with either an OutKast (Stankonia or Aquemini), Biggie or Jay-Z (Blueprint) album.

Kan · 12-03-2005, 07:57 PM

Wu-Tang 36 Chambers
Method Man Tical

haven't listened to either in years since i got out of listening to rap but i still think those two are the best still since any rap i have heard lately is shit.

Ham n Cheese · 12-03-2005, 08:04 PM

Nas - illmatic
Dizzee Rascal - Boyd in Da Corner
outkast - stankonia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spare Oom and War Drobe

Nas is the best lyricist.

Guvnah · 12-03-2005, 08:08 PM

Wu Tang (JFC, so good), Public Enemy (Apocalypse 91), and Ice Cube are all top notch. Been listening to Cypress Hill quite a bit too.

Grimble · 12-03-2005, 10:48 PM

My Top Ten (for now):

1. Nas - Illmatic
2. Public Enemy - If you are counting greatest hits than I'd pick that, if not then It Takes a Nation
3. Dr. Dre - The Chronic
4. Jay Z - The Blueprint
5. Biggie - Ready to Die
6. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
7. Eminem - The Marshall Matters LP (most of the rest is crap)
8. NWA - Straight Outta Compton
9. A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
10. Wu Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Honorable Mention
- Dre - Chronic 2001
- Pretty much anything else by Jay-Z
- DMX - Its Dark and Hell is Hot
- Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
- Beastie Boys - License to Ill
- KRS One - Return of the Boom Bap
- Outkast - Stankonia
- Kanye West - College Dropout
- Ghetto Boys - We Can't Be Stopped

That's all I got right now.

BruuceWarduck · 12-03-2005, 11:58 PM

The Rza - Bobby Digital
Too Short - everything by him
2 Live Crew - everything
Beastie Boyz - everything

I loathe thee6mafia, gravediggaz(f u naiko), brotha lynch, and all the rap groups like them. stupid

Hateyou · 12-04-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruuceWarduck

I loathe gravediggaz(f u naiko)

I'm not gona try to defend rap of any sort. I haven't listened to either CD for 7 or 8 years now. Was just sayin' that's the only rap I could stand back in the day.

BruuceWarduck · 12-04-2005, 12:07 AM

same i havent listened to a single rap song unless it was against my will since highschool. when me and my homeyz used to cruiez the streetz and blayze that phat chronic i would be forced to listen to rap because apparently punk/hardcore isnt smokin music. holler

11-29-2005, 10:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mkopec1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Detroit Posts: 5,003	Best RAP album of all time..... I used to be heavily into rap during the late 80's and into the early 90's when metal music finally caught my ear and rap was taking a turn for the worse with the "Gangsta" generation of rap. Just this weekend I was going through some of my rap tapes (CD's were not popular yet during those times) and just reminescing about the good old high-school days. Anyways, I was missing one of my favorites of that time so I went out and purchased a CD of it. IMO this has to be one of, if not the greatest, rap albums of all time. Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back. I was shocked at how fresh this CD sounded after nearly being out 2 decades. Nothing currently in hip-hop even comes close to the musical and lyrical aspects of this album. You really have to go back in time to see what an impact this album had on rap itself. Back in the early days of rap, most if not all rap usually consisted of a couple of samples of James Brown or Barry White, base line, and generalized lyrics about how bad/cool the rapper was. And here comes Public Enemy in 88' With their sophmore offering which was nothing like the rap albums which came before it. Intricately woven layers of samples, bits and pieces of samples which were ingenously woven together and formed into sort of music background which was unheard of at the time. And then you had Chuck D laying down some serious lyrics, tackling issues like racism, empowernment, politics, drugs, all with a ferrocity of a bulldog. Along his side, comic relief side kick Flava Flave chirping in every once in a while. Even if you do not like rap, I would suggest getting this one, its pure musical joy. It fills your ears with old school hip-hop which really has not been matched since. __________________ When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong. Last edited by Mkopec1 : 11-29-2005 at 10:34 AM.

12-03-2005, 11:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Hateyou Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,908 +1 Internets	Wu Tang Clan: 36 Chambers. Gravediggaz: 6 feet deep. Those are the only 2 rap albums I've ever owned or ever actually listened to all the way through. Rap is fucking horrible. I may even hate it worse than country. __________________ NaikoHatezyou.

12-03-2005, 01:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tingteng Thread Killer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Portland,OR Posts: 1,189 -4 Internets	Depends on what you define rap as. Personally I'd make Paul's Boutique my favorite of all time since it's one of my favorites period. MC Hammer has the biggest selling rap album of all time. Can't touch that. __________________

12-03-2005, 10:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
Grimble Caveman Lawyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: DC Posts: 519 -2 Internets	My Top Ten (for now): 1. Nas - Illmatic 2. Public Enemy - If you are counting greatest hits than I'd pick that, if not then It Takes a Nation 3. Dr. Dre - The Chronic 4. Jay Z - The Blueprint 5. Biggie - Ready to Die 6. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique 7. Eminem - The Marshall Matters LP (most of the rest is crap) 8. NWA - Straight Outta Compton 9. A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory 10. Wu Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Honorable Mention - Dre - Chronic 2001 - Pretty much anything else by Jay-Z - DMX - Its Dark and Hell is Hot - Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted - Beastie Boys - License to Ill - KRS One - Return of the Boom Bap - Outkast - Stankonia - Kanye West - College Dropout - Ghetto Boys - We Can't Be Stopped That's all I got right now. __________________ Free MP3 Player or $275!

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12-03-2005, 10:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
Samus Aran Sons of the Storm Heal Bitch Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 771 +1 Internets	My vote has to go with The Blueprint. Shit's hot. btw: can you upload that CD to yousendit.com or rapidshare or something? I wanna hear that.

12-03-2005, 11:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
Eomer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 9,497 +25 Internets	MC Hammer: Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em Kool Moe Dee: Knowledge is King

12-03-2005, 12:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cryptin ^ X-box live gamertag and PSN ID Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New Orleans Posts: 616 -9 Internets	For me it's a tie. The Chronic and Straight Outta Compton.

12-03-2005, 06:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
Zinke I think I'm drunk enough to drive you home. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: What is, is. Posts: 2,458 +0 Internets	The Streets.. I keed, I keed. I don't like naming 'best' albums. But, I'd probably go with either an OutKast (Stankonia or Aquemini), Biggie or Jay-Z (Blueprint) album.

12-03-2005, 07:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kan Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,909 +0 Internets	Wu-Tang 36 Chambers Method Man Tical haven't listened to either in years since i got out of listening to rap but i still think those two are the best still since any rap i have heard lately is shit.

12-03-2005, 08:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
Guvnah Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 21 +0 Internets	Wu Tang (JFC, so good), Public Enemy (Apocalypse 91), and Ice Cube are all top notch. Been listening to Cypress Hill quite a bit too.

12-03-2005, 11:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
BruuceWarduck Banned Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Banned.... SIKE! Posts: 811 +0 Internets	The Rza - Bobby Digital Too Short - everything by him 2 Live Crew - everything Beastie Boyz - everything I loathe thee6mafia, gravediggaz(f u naiko), brotha lynch, and all the rap groups like them. stupid

12-04-2005, 12:07 AM	#15 (permalink)
BruuceWarduck Banned Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Banned.... SIKE! Posts: 811 +0 Internets	same i havent listened to a single rap song unless it was against my will since highschool. when me and my homeyz used to cruiez the streetz and blayze that phat chronic i would be forced to listen to rap because apparently punk/hardcore isnt smokin music. holler