I know this is considered a true hip hop classic album. I'm thinking of picking it up. What do you all think of this album? I know "the bridge is over" is the shit! Howz the rest?? Does it have good beats?

dancerella said:

It sounds like it was recorded in somebody's bedroom on a $49 casio synthesizer.

Not a big fan.

You need to get "Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip-hop". The best BDP LP by far, IMO.

dancerella said:

Anybody that says NOT to get this album has absolutely no concept of what Hip Hop is (COUGH*thorntonmellon*COUGH).

Bangers like: "The Bridge Is Over" - "Super-Hoe" - "Criminal Minded" - "Elementary" - "South Bronx"

Make sure you cop that.

thorntonmellon said:

really? wow i think that's actually cool but i'm surprised you say that. so many people sy that'sa classic album.

Afronomical said:

now that's more like it. thanks for your input! are there hot beats too?

dancerella said:

Ya welcome. And yup, they have some nice beats on there as they should.

Actually, I take some of that back. I forgot "The Bridge is Over" is on there and I guess I am not a fan of that production style ONLY BECAUSE their "later" sound was so much superior to it to my ears - more fully developed and fully realized. Used live instruments and shit which really suits Kris well, to me. I don't think Kris had any money when he was making the first album, so he was somewhat limited in what he could do production-wise, although granted that's probably EXACTLY what so many people LIKE about "Criminal Minded". The raw sound. I do think GMTBOHH is their best work, although I am pretty sure I will be in the minority. Same way I think "Body-Hat Syndrome" is far and away the best thing Digital Underground ever did. No accounting for taste.

thorntonmellon said:

See, I was all set to give you a pass" until I read: Same way I think "Body-Hat Syndrome" is far and away the best thing Digital Underground ever did.

- I won't even comment on how overly dope Sex Packets is. Nope. Not gonna do it. Nope. Sure won't. Uh-uh. Nope.

thorntonmellon said:

how can you forget about the bridge is over? that track was too hot! i tried looking for the cd at lunchtime and no one had it i was looking for some classic old skool hip hop and i know that one was rated pretty high. thanks for letting me know your thoughts. to each his own....

Afronomical said:

Co sign. BDP Criminal Minded and Digital Underground's Tracks like the following: Sex Packets, Dowatchalike, Freaks In The Industry, epitomize classic hip hop jams. The producers who worked on these albums were masterminds with beats hands down. Its undeniable.

MsLegs said:

so you also dig this album? what are some of your faves?

Get the album. Pure street poetry by one of the greatest rappers of all time.

Afronomical said:

Absolutely. The following ones you mentioned were the cuts that put Scott Le Rock KRS 1 on the map.

MsLegs said:

and i think he still gives props to scott le rock til this day!

MsLegs said:

Marry me.

Afronomical said:

I'm all yours.

MsLegs said:

Yum

B-boy Records was ran by this cat named "Dolla-Bill" broke ass cat too, would bum cigs off cats, just be all bugged out all the time, B-boy records tried to ride thew wave when BDP Left B-boy and went to Jive/RCA and they came out with a Remix album.

It is one of my top-ten Hip Hop lps of all-time.

9 MM goes bang and Poetry are my two faves.

It takes concentration for fresh communication

bobsteezy said:

damn, now only if i could find the bloody thing in a store some where.

dancerella said:

This album is timeless. My brother lent me his copy of Criminal Minded in high school and I've been blasting it ever since. I used to sneak in his room and take this album out of his collection -- he does not know this.

"Remix for the P is Free" is my favorite track. I love the drum machine beats, it's so simple yet so effective. The whole song feels like a short film. It feels like I'm in New York, Summer 1987. I can totally feel the energies and the politics of that time when I play it, the urban decay intensfied after Reaganomics, the crack trade, etc. And the rhyming on top of it is really what makes hip hop work and how it stands apart from other genres for me. Just how immediate it gets. I know the whole song -- and pretty much the whole album -- by heart. "9mm Goes Bang" -- WOW. It's so simple, yet deadly.

This is one of those albums I can just blast in a car and I'm GOOD.

My favorite moment: We walked in the spot, she said she want a rocc
I looked in mah pocket didn't have a lot (I said, uh)
'ya better get cha self a job'
She tried to tell me that times were hard
:drum machine assault: Look, I TOLD THE HO, I SAID YO... --->THAT'S NOT MY FAULT.<--- *DEAD*

I LOVE IT.

Mara said:

hey mara, you know we have very simlar tastes in music so i totally trust your opinion. i'm getting sad because i can't find this shit anywhere. i may have to order from amazon. i need some dope ass old skool 80's hip hop.

'Criminal Minded by BDP' straight CLASSIC!!

One of the 10 best hip-hop albums of all time. And KRS is one of the top five rappers of all time.