From an article in the May 2003 issue of Remix Magazine

Beastie Boys, Licensed to Ill (Def Jam, 1986)
Boogie Down Productions, Criminal Minded (Sugar Hill, 1987)
Brand Nubian, One for All (Elektra/Asylum, 1990)
D.O.C., No One Can Do It Better (Ruthless, 1989)
Eazy E, Eazy-Duz-It (Priority, 1988)
EPMD, Strictly Business (Priority, 1988)
Eric B & Rakim, Paid in Full (4th & Broadway, 1987)
Ice Cube, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (Priority, 1990)
Jungle Brothers, Straight out the Jungle (Warlock, 1988)
LL Cool J, Radio (Def Jam, 1985)
MC Lyte, Lyte As a Rock (Atlantic, 1988)
NWA, Straight Outta Compton (Priority, 1988)
Public Enemy, Yo! Bum Rush the Show (Def Jam, 1987)
Run-DMC, Run-DMC (Def Jam, Profile/Arista, 1984)
Slick Rick, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (Def Jam, 1988)
Special Ed, Youngest in Charge (Profile, 1989)
Stetsasonic, In Full Gear (Tommy Boy, 1988)
Super Lover Cee and Casanova Rud, Girls I Got 'Em Locked (Elektra, 1988)
A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory (Jive, 1991)
Ultramagnetic MCs, Critical Beatdown (Next Plateau, 1988)


Bless 'im for not listing a Gang Starr album humble man

Special Ed, Youngest in Charge (Profile, 1989)

I never saw this album on CD ever. I just have "I Got It Made" on a couple dozen compilations.

good choices very old school. jus' like me

Super Lover Cee and Casanova Rud, Girls I Got 'Em Locked (Elektra, 1988)

Pleased that this one is on the list... Paul C was an amazing producer

CinisterCee said:

What? No 3rd Bass???

True

his list gets the Gas Face for that one

That's a great list, especially coming from a cat who is arguably the greatest DJ/producer in hip-hop history. The fact that the albums on that list were all made by 1991 speaks volumes.

namepeace said:

What does it say if my personal list is almost identical? Premo and I are both stuck in a time warp!

namepeace said:

Exactly!!! The bulk of those records were released in '88. THE BEST YEAR IN HIP HOP EVER!!!!!

CinisterCee said:

The same, since you're a certified hip-hop head.

gvnblkr said:

It's hard to argue with 1988, the year of Strictly Business, Nation of Millions, Straight Outta Compton, 3 Feet High, et al. IMHO, the last 3 I mentioned are 3 of the top 10 of all time.

But, I have repeatedly argued that 1994 was the greatest year in hip-hop ever for the scope, depth and breadth of ill joints dropped that year.

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/108995

I am not alone . . . for what it's worth, check this out.

http://www.mtv.com/bands/...re_010504/
http://www.mtv.com/bands/...re_010504/

namepeace said:

Yeah, I have to say I find it odd that Premier would list Yo! Bum Rush the Show here instead of Nation Of Millions, or even Fear Of A Black Planet for that matter.

My list would have Nation of Millions instead, Eyes On This instead of Lyte As A Rock, and how bout a Big Daddy Kane record instead of Special Ed (not fair since I admitted to not owning Special Ed).

CinisterCee said:

( i gave three people at the office the gas face today....)

Correction Criminal Minded was on B-boy Recrods

namepeace said:

CinisterCee said:

I've seen it on CD. Goddamn, was he pretty.

namepeace said:

Sorry 'bout that. What I meant to say was that I checked out that thread and I'll give it you, 93-94 was cool, but if you're gonna go that route you have to include Organized Konfunsion's "Extinction Agenda".

gvnblkr said:

Duly noted.

CinisterCee said:

I must be stuck in that time warp with y'all. It also explains why I dig Gangstarr. Take out Eazy-E, Brand Nubians, BDP (sorry never liked KRS-one),Stetsasonic and MC Lyte throw in Step In The Arena-- Gangstarr, Nas- Illmatic, Method Man-- the one with Bring the Pain , Kool Moe Dee-- How Ya Like Me Now and Whodini-- Escape and you've pretty much got my favorites. I'm not mentioning the Too Short and CMW tapes I used to love, but don't listen to anymore.
[Edited 3/24/05 13:14pm]

To be honest I wasn't the biggest fan of the Ultramagnetic MCs, Super Lover Cee, or the Jungle Brothers either but it's rare when somebody hits the nail on the head that many times. Hell that's 12 out of 20 of my all-time favorite hip-hop albums. I would throw Aquemini (Outkast) in there somewhere.

whodknee said:

whodknee said:

For really really real??

Man, Ultramagnetic MCs and Jungle Brothers (the whole Native Tongues family) are so emblematic of what I loved about late-80s/early 90s hip-hop.

whodknee said:

What?

Really?

Why?

I would add Whodini's and UTFO's first lp. These are definately more essential than Special Ed or Ultramagnetic.

jbchavez said:

I can agree with you there...



But not here.

Yikes, that list is sexist. Only MC Lyte cracked the top 20? Please.

WhamBamGlamSlam said:

How many other albums would you add? I could think of a boatload of essential singles, but how many ESSENTIAL albums other than The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Queen Latifah's All Hail The Queen are there? I am really asking.

namepeace said:

good call

CinisterCee said: