1. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

The rest are in no particular order

2. A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory
3. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
4. Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full
5. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang/36 Chambers
6. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
7. Nas - Illmatic
8. Common - Resurrection
9. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
10. Mobb Deep - The Infamous
11. GZA - Liquid Swords

I know I'm leaving off some other great ones... Yeah, I realize this message board isn't full of hip-hop heads and this post is probably a waste of time.

I can't believe that Pharcyde isn't listed...

I believe that Wu-Tang is one of the most overrated hiphop groups of all time. Their albums have way too much filler and their live shows are atrocious. But, what do I know? I didn't even enjoy Snoop Dogg when I saw him at Lollapalooza.

somebody obviously hasn't asked big baby jesus to be his personal savior...oh wait, is he called something else now? yeah, i don't like wu-tang.

(Edited by damon at 9:04 am on Jul. 31, 2003)

I still like Ludacris.

(Edited by DigsySlattery at 10:30 am on Jul. 31, 2003)

a. I like Wu-Tang. Some of the solo albums are great, too.

b. In general, I think that rap/hip-hop is not very good live. In a live context, rappers continue to rely on the same old MC cliches - "Yeah...yeah...throw your hands up, throw your hands up..." It's ten guys on stage shouting over a pre-recorded track. There are exceptions to this, though. I generally like live hip-hop a lot better when they use a band (the Roots, Lauryn Hill).

Jamie Carroll's top 10 hip-hop albums:

Honorable Mention: the Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever, Ice Cube - Predator, Snoop Doggy Dogg - Doggystyle, Public Enemy - Apocolypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black, Run DMC - Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique

10. OutKast - Stankonia
9. the Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
8. 2Pac - All Eyez on Me
7. Notorius B.I.G. - Ready to Die
6. OutKast - Aquemini
5. Dr. Dre - The Chronic
4. OutKast - AtLiens
3. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
2. The Beastie Boys - Check Your Head
1. A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

Admittedly, you can take this list with a grain of salt. I am hardly an authority on hip-hop, and have only heard the tip of the iceburg. But this is what I like.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 11:08 am on Jul. 31, 2003)

i am a little upset that gangstar, mos def, jurrasic 5, and digital underground have not even been mentioned. and what about diggable planets and grand master flash.

I love me some mos def.

Carl, you are waaay too white to have an opinion on this topic, especially when you are going to go and disrespect Wu-Tang's "36 Chambers". And where's the love for Northern State!? Just kidding.

Digable Planets is on the list, yo. That one album has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I still want to hear Blow Out Comb, though.

I like what I've heard of Mos Def and Digital Underground, but don't own any of their albums.

I have not heard Gangstar, Jurassic 5, or Grand Master Flash.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 12:29 pm on Jul. 31, 2003)

One exception in my opinion is the Nappy Roots. They were particularly "krunk" at Vandy's spring concert.

Stankonia, The Chronic, Fear of a Black Planet, Apocalypse 91, Midnight Marauders...and I think Madlib's new Shades of Blue will be up there, if you consider that hip hop. What about Endtroducing (DJ Shadow), does that count? And you gotta admit Quality Control is a classic.

blow out comb is absolutely off the friggin hook.
i will accept dj shadow on any list of great albums - he transcends genre

Perhaps the U.N.K.L.E. project should be taken into consideration? Psyence Fiction is a grand album.

I won't rank them, but I can think of many that I consider essential.

Blackalicious - Nia
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II
Common - Like Water for Chocolate
Talib Kweli and Dj Hi Tek - Reflection Eternal
Black Star - Black Star
Rawkus Records - Soundbombing compliation #2
Solesides - Solesides Greatest Bumps compilation
The Roots - Things Fall Apart
Outkast - Stankonia

Madlib and Aesop Rock are amazing, too.

I used to love going to hip hop shows more than anything, but the last Talib Kweli show I saw was a little disappointing. While I generally agree that they are way more enjoyable when live bands are involved, I think the skills of the DJ and the MC, especially their improvisational skills, and the energy of the crowd make it hard to compare to other live shows. I think they offer a nice break from the restrained head-bopping. But I also agree with JC about the cliches. The last time I saw J5, I had to suffer the misfortune of seeing the terrible group that opened for them spend the whole time screaming "Any of ya'll like to drink alcohol?" "Throw your hands up if you like to smoke the chronic" over some Neptunes-produced samples. How old school.

NWA - Straight Outta Compton

I can't get into Gangstarr. I like DJ Premier, but Guru's flow is just really bland.

CB4- Straight Outta LoCash.

honorable mention: cannibal ox, dr. octagon, antipop consortium, and slick rick

Hell yeah!

Dr. Octagon -- Dr. Octagonecologyst

I'm too white to know if he's hip hop or not.

CB4 and Fear of a Black Hat have been my favorite movies lately..........

Too many rappers have their own beverage

http://nme.com/news/105934.htm

(Edited by ray davies at 10:19 am on Aug. 20, 2003)

Maketing genius! I gotta try some "Pimp Juice". Wait, would that make me gay?

only if the seller made you his bitch.....

the miseducation of Lauryn Hill