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Thread started 07/06/16 12:00pm

CoolMF

Greatest Sophomore Album In Hip Hop?

So, at one point over the holiday weekend, I was reading a "tribute" piece on a hip hop site about Nas' "It Was Written" album, which apparently celebrated it's 20th anniversary within the last few days. The writer was waxing about each song, what he (yes, the writer was male) liked about each song and what he though stood out, and wrapped up with his argument about how underrated the album is, how it's one of his favorite hip hop albums ever, yada, yada, yada, and then he hit me with the line "While it can be argued that It Was Written is the greatest sophomore album in the history of rap music,...".

Hold up. What? I recall enjoying quite a few songs on the album when it came out- yes, the cd got a lot of play in my ride back then. But greatest sophomore album ever? I can't give "It Was Written" those kind of props. Can you? If not, what do you nominate as the "greatest sophomore album in hip hop"?

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Reply #1 posted 07/06/16 12:10pm

peedub

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Reply #2 posted 07/06/16 1:22pm

duccichucka

When it comes to anything "great" in a positive light, the answer should usually be
NAS.

Good lord can that dude rap.

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Reply #3 posted 07/06/16 1:41pm

namepeace

My choice is . . . Public Enemy -- It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Because IMHO t's the GOAT for hip-hop albums. Other candidates . . .

A Tribe Called Quest -- The Low End Theory

Digable Planets -- Blowout Comb


Ice Cube (solo) -- Death Certificate


2Pac -- Strictly for My N.I.G.G.A.Z.


De La Soul -- De La Soul Is Dead

Redman -- Dare Iz A Darkside

Q-Tip (solo) -- The Renaissance (counting this as a sophomore effort b/c it's an official release)

EPMD -- Unfinished Business

Run-DMC -- King of Rock

Gang Starr -- Step In The Arena

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth -- The Main Ingredient

OutKast -- Aquemini

LL Cool J -- Bigger And Deffer

Kanye West -- Late Registration

Ice-T -- Power

Ghostface Killah -- Supreme Clientele

[Edited 7/6/16 13:41pm]

[Edited 7/6/16 13:41pm]

[Edited 7/6/16 13:43pm]

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #4 posted 07/06/16 8:47pm

MD431Madcat

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^^^^^^^^^

Many Great Albums!

This Sure Was Funky Back in The Day...

Off EPMD's - (Unfinished Business - sophomore album)

[Edited 7/6/16 20:49pm]

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Reply #5 posted 07/06/16 9:14pm

MotownSubdivis
ion

Outkast- ATLiens
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Reply #6 posted 07/08/16 10:23am

CoolMF

namepeace said:

My choice is . . . Public Enemy -- It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Because IMHO t's the GOAT for hip-hop albums. Other candidates . . .

A Tribe Called Quest -- The Low End Theory

Digable Planets -- Blowout Comb


Ice Cube (solo) -- Death Certificate


2Pac -- Strictly for My N.I.G.G.A.Z.


De La Soul -- De La Soul Is Dead

Redman -- Dare Iz A Darkside

Q-Tip (solo) -- The Renaissance (counting this as a sophomore effort b/c it's an official release)

EPMD -- Unfinished Business

Run-DMC -- King of Rock

Gang Starr -- Step In The Arena

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth -- The Main Ingredient

OutKast -- Aquemini

LL Cool J -- Bigger And Deffer

Kanye West -- Late Registration

Ice-T -- Power

Ghostface Killah -- Supreme Clientele

[Edited 7/6/16 13:41pm]

[Edited 7/6/16 13:41pm]

[Edited 7/6/16 13:43pm]

I agree with all of this although I'm sure the poster meant Outkast's ATLiens instead of Aquemini.

I'd also add Biggie's "Life After Death" and K. Dot's "To Pimp A Butterfly".

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Reply #7 posted 07/08/16 10:28am

KoolEaze

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I seem to be the only one who still thinks that Ice-T´s debut album is better than any other album he´s ever released. Yes, better than Power, bettern than The Iceberg, better than anything he´s ever done after Rhyme Pays.

.

Public Enemy´s sophomore album was great.

.

EMPD´s sophomore album was great.

.

Whodini´s sophomore album was , in my opinion, so much better than their debut album.

.

And yes, King of Rock had more depth than Run DMC´s debut album.

.

But speaking of Nas, I really liked his sophomore album. Was it better than his first one?

I don´t know. But it is still a great album.

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #8 posted 07/08/16 11:37am

purplepolitici
an

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Life after death lock

I love doing that but yes
[Edited 7/8/16 11:37am]
For all time I am with you, you are with me.
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Reply #9 posted 07/08/16 11:48am

bobzilla77

I'm going for Nation Of Millions, which is also about my favorite hip hop record ever, so it fits the bill.

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Reply #10 posted 07/08/16 12:31pm

namepeace

KoolEaze said:

I seem to be the only one who still thinks that Ice-T´s debut album is better than any other album he´s ever released. Yes, better than Power, bettern than The Iceberg, better than anything he´s ever done after Rhyme Pays.

He had a good run.

.

Public Enemy´s sophomore album was great.

.
IMHO, the GOAT.



EMPD´s sophomore album was great.


It had one of the best first tracks of any hip-hop album, ever.

But speaking of Nas, I really liked his sophomore album. Was it better than his first one? I don´t know. But it is still a great album.

Illmatic remains his best, but It Was Written is overlooked. A little more filler but still better than the majority of hip-hop albums. Especially with tracks like "I Gave You Power" and "Take It In Blood."

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #11 posted 07/08/16 12:34pm

namepeace

CoolMF said:

I agree with all of this although I'm sure the poster meant Outkast's ATLiens instead of Aquemini.

That's my bad. But ATLiens makes the list all the same.

I'd also add Biggie's "Life After Death" and K. Dot's "To Pimp A Butterfly".

Almost put both on there. Can't argue. Especially with TPAB. featuring a new national anthem, "Alright,"

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #12 posted 07/08/16 4:54pm

datdude

Good choices but for me its PE (the GOAT indeed) with Digable a close 2nd, the content on those is just mmmmm!
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Reply #13 posted 07/08/16 5:12pm

KoolEaze

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According to Prince, Stillmatic is better than Illmatic. wink

http://wallywaves.com/pos...nic-monday

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #14 posted 07/08/16 8:44pm

UncleJam

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Hands down..."It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"

Make it so, Number One...
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Reply #15 posted 07/09/16 7:20pm

derrick31

Publice Enemy: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

[Edited 7/9/16 19:20pm]

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Reply #16 posted 07/10/16 6:01am

RJOrion

Wu Tang Forever - wutang clan
it takes a nation of millions - P.E.
late registration - Kanye West
supreme clientele - ghostface
take care - Drake
sports, drugs, & entertainment - Cam'ron
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Reply #17 posted 07/10/16 11:32pm

thetimefan

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My vote has to be for PE. I think their sophomore album is a landmark hip hop album. I have mostly all of Nas albums and whilst It was Written is very good and has some strong tracks on, Illmatic is his #1 album, no question.
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Reply #18 posted 07/11/16 5:00am

MD431Madcat

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BASS

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO!!! cool

UncleJam said:

Hands down..."It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"

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Reply #19 posted 07/11/16 5:18pm

LittleBLUECorv
ette

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GZA Liquid Swords.

While it was his first as a member of Wu-Tang, he put one out an album a year before the group was formed.

PRINCE: Always and Forever
MICHAEL JACKSON: Always and Forever
-----
Live Your Life How U Wanna Live It
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Reply #20 posted 07/12/16 3:35pm

BlackCandle

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T.I. - Trap Muzik was better than I'm Serious.

But yeah, you can't trump PE's It Takes A Nation...
"Had to get off the boat so I could walk on water..."
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Reply #21 posted 07/12/16 8:17pm

UncleJam

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MD431Madcat said:

BASS

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO!!! cool

UncleJam said:

Hands down..."It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"

I got a letter from the governement the other day...I opened and read it, it said they were SUCKAS! nod

Make it so, Number One...
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Reply #22 posted 07/12/16 11:33pm

Goddess4Real

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A Salt With A Deadly Peppa 1988 by Salt & Peppa....come on Push It https://www.youtube.com/w...leXlgHI1oM and Spinderella's Not a Fella (But a Girl D.J.) https://www.youtube.com/w...Z76YaPr6Sc and Shaka Your Thang https://www.youtube.com/w...7G0drdJPqs are classics!

[Edited 7/12/16 23:35pm]

[Edited 7/12/16 23:37pm]

[Edited 7/12/16 23:38pm]

[Edited 7/12/16 23:39pm]

Keep Calm & Listen To Prince
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Reply #23 posted 07/13/16 10:59am

Cinny

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[img:$uid]http://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/cp0/e15/q65/p320x320/58098_10152999244480133_1984912311_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoiYiJ9&oh=427d49817739ca3e328859066a0dc58a&oe=58376C56[/img:$uid]

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Reply #24 posted 07/13/16 11:12am

Cinny

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peedub said:

I don't have a triple threat for Paul's Boutique but YEAH. And I actually carried this CD into work with me today.

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Reply #25 posted 07/13/16 12:43pm

Abdul

I wouldn't call it the greatest sophomore album but "Hard Knock Life" by Jay-Z is one of the best ones IMO

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Reply #26 posted 07/13/16 2:57pm

Cinny

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Abdul said:

I wouldn't call it the greatest sophomore album but "Hard Knock Life" by Jay-Z is one of the best ones IMO

"Hard Knock Life" was a song on Jay-Z's third album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 2.

I would agree that it is worth mentioning Jay-Z's second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, containing "Who You Wit", "(Always Be My) Sunshine" featuring Foxy Brown, "The City Is Mine" featuring BLACKstreet, and "A Million And One Questions".

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Reply #27 posted 07/13/16 3:53pm

BlackCandle

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Cinny said:



Abdul said:


I wouldn't call it the greatest sophomore album but "Hard Knock Life" by Jay-Z is one of the best ones IMO



"Hard Knock Life" was a song on Jay-Z's third album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 2.

I would agree that it is worth mentioning Jay-Z's second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, containing "Who You Wit", "(Always Be My) Sunshine" featuring Foxy Brown, "The City Is Mine" featuring BLACKstreet, and "A Million And One Questions".



...but it's not on a par with Reasonable Doubt...
"Had to get off the boat so I could walk on water..."
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Reply #28 posted 07/13/16 6:26pm

Abdul

Cinny said:



Abdul said:


I wouldn't call it the greatest sophomore album but "Hard Knock Life" by Jay-Z is one of the best ones IMO



"Hard Knock Life" was a song on Jay-Z's third album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 2.

I would agree that it is worth mentioning Jay-Z's second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, containing "Who You Wit", "(Always Be My) Sunshine" featuring Foxy Brown, "The City Is Mine" featuring BLACKstreet, and "A Million And One Questions".



I forgot all about Reasonable Doubt biggrin
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Reply #29 posted 07/14/16 7:15am

Cinny

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BlackCandle said:

Cinny said:

"Hard Knock Life" was a song on Jay-Z's third album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 2.

I would agree that it is worth mentioning Jay-Z's second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, containing "Who You Wit", "(Always Be My) Sunshine" featuring Foxy Brown, "The City Is Mine" featuring BLACKstreet, and "A Million And One Questions".

...but it's not on a par with Reasonable Doubt...

I probably listen to Vol.1 more than Reasonable Doubt! The album tracks are very memorable and quotable, IMO. "Imaginary Player", "Streets Is Watching", "Friend Or Foe `98", "Rap Game", "Where I'm From".

The Streets Is Watching MOVIE was built on songs from Vol.1 and his book Decoded featured most of the second album.

[Edited 7/14/16 7:15am]

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