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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > ok RAP / HIP HOP has seen some crazy lows this decade, but the amount of classics is crazy
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Thread started 09/08/18 4:43pm

Shawy89

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ok RAP / HIP HOP has seen some crazy lows this decade, but the amount of classics is crazy

Ok i think we can all agree on 3 certified classics:

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kanye-banned-album-cover_320.jpg?w=320320x320.jpg

in addition to these compact, coneptualized LPs that certainly had an influence one way or another on hip hop and rappers.

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5d549a79.jpge0491b02.pngtyler-the-creator-flower-boy-cover-1.jpga2fb43da.jpg

any additions are welcomed

but over all don't this look like a much better decade for hip hop than the 00s or the 90s?? The evolution is crazy, everyone is embracing this particular medium as an unapologetic, uncompromising form of self-expression. Tyler the Creator basically created the very first LGBT Rap album with Flower Boy, The Death Grips inspired a whole generation of industrial hip hop musicians, including Kanye himself... The art form never had a better cultural and social exposure than in the last 8 years.

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Reply #1 posted 09/10/18 3:26am

RJOrion

those might be YOUR favorites, but theres no "classics" in that list...
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Reply #2 posted 09/10/18 5:16am

Dakarai

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Hip-Hop has at most 2 or 3 classic albums this decade. 4:44 ain't one of them. GKMC and TF for sure. TPAB, maybe. Everything else is just stuff you like.

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Reply #3 posted 09/10/18 5:29am

Purplegarden

The best album by a rapper this decade does not count, because he decided to sing and thank God he did. Awaken my love by Childish Gambino was the greatest thing done since Prince's untimely passing. And come on, his America joint is all that.

I got plenty good loving for ya baby
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Reply #4 posted 09/10/18 10:49am

namepeace

RJOrion said:

those might be YOUR favorites, but theres no "classics" in that list...


Agree to disagree; GKMC is a classic and as good or better than many "classics" from years past. I feel TYFYS could be too.

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 #5 posted 09/10/18 12:26pm

Cinny

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No classics here, especially for the legacy artists who already have real classics.

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Reply #6 posted 09/10/18 1:05pm

RJOrion

the meaning of "classic album" seems to have changed over the years....especially as it pertains to hiphop lps...

albums like "Illmatic", or "Only Built 4 Cuban Links", or "Blueprint" are the hiphop standards for classics...hasnt been a hiphop lp with the same sort of universal acclaim (critical & commercial) in several years
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Reply #7 posted 09/10/18 9:44pm

Purplegarden

yeahthat

But you need to add the following - Straight outta Compton, Strictly 4 my Niggaz, Doggystyle, the Chronic and the best rap album of all time - Ready to Die, biggie baby baby.

I got plenty good loving for ya baby
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Reply #8 posted 09/11/18 8:14am

Cinny

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what the hell is Money Store lol

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Reply #9 posted 09/11/18 8:45am

RJOrion

Purplegarden said:

yeahthat



But you need to add the following - Straight outta Compton, Strictly 4 my Niggaz, Doggystyle, the Chronic and the best rap album of all time - Ready to Die, biggie baby baby.




for sure... therss more of course, but u know already know...
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Reply #10 posted 09/11/18 9:41am

namepeace

RJOrion said:

the meaning of "classic album" seems to have changed over the years....especially as it pertains to hiphop lps... albums like "Illmatic", or "Only Built 4 Cuban Links", or "Blueprint" are the hiphop standards for classics...hasnt been a hiphop lp with the same sort of universal acclaim (critical & commercial) in several years



Seems to me that this thread reveals a generational split.

Many albums, like Illmatic and Cuban Linx, were instant classics when they dropped in the 90's, while many of the heads that revere them were in their teens and 20s. We're harder on the albums that come along now.

Even though it's only 5 years old, GKMC has been universally acclaimed, sold well, launched K.Dot into superstardom, and stacks up well against a lot of the "classics" any of us could name. As an older head who doesn't listen to much of the product these days, I can hear K-Dot's first album and say that he would be a great MC in any era.

[Edited 9/11/18 9:46am]

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 09/11/18 10:46am

Cinny

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Cinny said:

what the hell is Money Store lol


oh. Death Grips. (Snore)


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Reply #12 posted 09/11/18 10:51am

Cinny

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I basically skipped right over Freddie Gibbs' Pinata too, and bought Madlib's Pinata Beats.

I enjoyed Tribe. Not their worst, not their best.

I don't go back and listen to Kanye's albums like a normal classic. I don't find there is much to chew on. Zero mystique in his beats. They were anticipated and eventful at the time, but they are disposable. I liked his 2000s albums more than any of those.

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Reply #13 posted 09/11/18 10:52am

Cinny

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Tyler the Creator basically created the very first LGBT Rap album with Flower Boy


Unfortunately, he did very little to appeal to LGBT listeners. (I would know!)

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Reply #14 posted 09/11/18 3:57pm

Purplegarden

Cinny said:

I basically skipped right over Freddie Gibbs' Pinata too, and bought Madlib's Pinata Beats.

I enjoyed Tribe. Not their worst, not their best.

I don't go back and listen to Kanye's albums like a normal classic. I don't find there is much to chew on. Zero mystique in his beats. They were anticipated and eventful at the time, but they are disposable. I liked his 2000s albums more than any of those.

Agree, College Dropout and Late registration are amazing stuff, so much promise (I'll never flip sides like Annikin).

I got plenty good loving for ya baby
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Reply #15 posted 09/11/18 4:05pm

RJOrion

Colleg Dropout & Late Registration are great albums...Late Registration is arguably a "classic"

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Reply #16 posted 09/11/18 4:18pm

uPtoWnNY

Purplegarden said:

yeahthat

But you need to add the following - Straight outta Compton, Strictly 4 my Niggaz, Doggystyle, the Chronic and the best rap album of all time - Ready to Die, biggie baby baby.

For me, it's "36 Chambers" & "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"

Nothing I've heard post-2000 comes close.

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Reply #17 posted 09/11/18 5:38pm

RJOrion

uPtoWnNY said:



Purplegarden said:


yeahthat



But you need to add the following - Straight outta Compton, Strictly 4 my Niggaz, Doggystyle, the Chronic and the best rap album of all time - Ready to Die, biggie baby baby.




For me, it's "36 Chambers" & "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"



Nothing I've heard post-2000 comes close.



most definitely those 2 as well...IMO Supreme Clientele, too...some would even say "Liquid Swordz" too
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Reply #18 posted 09/11/18 5:47pm

namepeace

uPtoWnNY said:

Purplegarden said:

yeahthat

But you need to add the following - Straight outta Compton, Strictly 4 my Niggaz, Doggystyle, the Chronic and the best rap album of all time - Ready to Die, biggie baby baby.

For me, it's "36 Chambers" & "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"

Nothing I've heard post-2000 comes close.


Nation of Millions is the greatest hip-hop album ever made.

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 #19 posted 09/11/18 6:14pm

Purplegarden

uPtoWnNY said:

Purplegarden said:

yeahthat

But you need to add the following - Straight outta Compton, Strictly 4 my Niggaz, Doggystyle, the Chronic and the best rap album of all time - Ready to Die, biggie baby baby.

For me, it's "36 Chambers" & "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"

Nothing I've heard post-2000 comes close.

I agree, and just remember that "Fear of a Black Planet" is nothing to be sneezed at either.

I got plenty good loving for ya baby
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Reply #20 posted 09/12/18 3:47am

Dakarai

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RJOrion said:

the meaning of "classic album" seems to have changed over the years....especially as it pertains to hiphop lps... albums like "Illmatic", or "Only Built 4 Cuban Links", or "Blueprint" are the hiphop standards for classics...hasnt been a hiphop lp with the same sort of universal acclaim (critical & commercial) in several years

Um, where were you when TF, GKMC, and TPAB released?? Each one of those albums is sitting at over 90 on metacritic for both user and critic scores. With TPAB actually being the highest rated album in rap history on the site. Acclaim aside, each one of those albums significantly impacted the game, with Kendrick re-introducing the idea that a mainstream rapper can be technically impressive, have mass appeal, but still release conceptual albums to touch people.

Sure, you may like Illmatic, OB4CL, etc more, but to say TF and TPAB, which are on the list, aren't classics, is crazy when they meet the standards of quality, acclaim, impact, and longevity.

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Reply #21 posted 09/12/18 7:17pm

datdude

i don't know some of these by the album covers alone. so help please. and some of u didn't pay attention to the time period being discussed. PE of course still tops my list but this isn't an "all time" thread. again, help identifying the non-obvious albums. thx

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Reply #22 posted 09/13/18 5:55pm

spacedolphin

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Yeah what happened, did lazy lyrics lead to forgetting to put names and titles on the covers too? biggrin

music I'm afraid of Americans. I'm afraid of the world. music
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Reply #23 posted 09/13/18 6:10pm

RJOrion

Dakarai said:



RJOrion said:


the meaning of "classic album" seems to have changed over the years....especially as it pertains to hiphop lps... albums like "Illmatic", or "Only Built 4 Cuban Links", or "Blueprint" are the hiphop standards for classics...hasnt been a hiphop lp with the same sort of universal acclaim (critical & commercial) in several years

Um, where were you when TF, GKMC, and TPAB released?? Each one of those albums is sitting at over 90 on metacritic for both user and critic scores. With TPAB actually being the highest rated album in rap history on the site. Acclaim aside, each one of those albums significantly impacted the game, with Kendrick re-introducing the idea that a mainstream rapper can be technically impressive, have mass appeal, but still release conceptual albums to touch people.



Sure, you may like Illmatic, OB4CL, etc more, but to say TF and TPAB, which are on the list, aren't classics, is crazy when they meet the standards of quality, acclaim, impact, and longevity.




im very familiar with all those joints u listed...theyre not bad albums...they have moments of goodness and maybe even a few moments of greatness...but the critics u reference are just reflecting what is obvious to the time tested hiphop scholars and students...the bar has CLEARLY been lowered...
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Reply #24 posted 09/14/18 8:48am

Cinny

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Purplegarden said:

Cinny said:

I basically skipped right over Freddie Gibbs' Pinata too, and bought Madlib's Pinata Beats.

I enjoyed Tribe. Not their worst, not their best.

I don't go back and listen to Kanye's albums like a normal classic. I don't find there is much to chew on. Zero mystique in his beats. They were anticipated and eventful at the time, but they are disposable. I liked his 2000s albums more than any of those.

Agree, College Dropout and Late registration are amazing stuff, so much promise (I'll never flip sides like Annikin).


I lump Graduation and 808s & Heartbreaks in there too. I see why people wanted to get into the next one (My Beautiful....), but to me it is severely overrated. Perhaps it is just aesthetically easier to argue.

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Reply #25 posted 09/14/18 9:32am

namepeace

RJOrion said:

Dakarai said:

Um, where were you when TF, GKMC, and TPAB released?? Each one of those albums is sitting at over 90 on metacritic for both user and critic scores. With TPAB actually being the highest rated album in rap history on the site. Acclaim aside, each one of those albums significantly impacted the game, with Kendrick re-introducing the idea that a mainstream rapper can be technically impressive, have mass appeal, but still release conceptual albums to touch people.

Sure, you may like Illmatic, OB4CL, etc more, but to say TF and TPAB, which are on the list, aren't classics, is crazy when they meet the standards of quality, acclaim, impact, and longevity.

im very familiar with all those joints u listed...theyre not bad albums...they have moments of goodness and maybe even a few moments of greatness...but the critics u reference are just reflecting what is obvious to the time tested hiphop scholars and students...the bar has CLEARLY been lowered...


The flip side is also true. Let's not overrate the albums that came before.

Take, for example, what used to be considered the bible of hip-hop, The Source. They had published their 100 greatest albums of all time around the end of the 90's. Variations of that list have been published online, but let's take this one.

https://www.listchallenge...rap-albums

Do you really think that all 100 albums on this (dated) list, most of which are considered classics, are superior to GKMC or TPAB? Or even MBDTF? I can't. It's quite possible that the old heads are overvaluing the albums of the past at the expense of the new standouts.


I don't think the bar has been lowered. I just think fewer acts out there have cleared it this decade.

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 #26 posted 09/14/18 10:16am

Cinny

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I fucking love that Source list. Those are all still classics, especially regionally.

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Reply #27 posted 09/14/18 10:49am

RJOrion

namepeace says

"I don't think the bar has been lowered. I just think fewer acts out there have cleared it this decade"

--------------------------------

i can definitely soften my stance to agree with this, but that Source list is loaded up with classic joints...i aint mad at it at all...

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Reply #28 posted 09/14/18 11:16am

namepeace

Cinny said:

I fucking love that Source list. Those are all still classics, especially regionally.


As an old head whose wheelhouse is about 1984-1998, I agree.

I think a few of the albums Shawy listed, though, would beat out at least some of these albums on a 2018 list.

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 #29 posted 09/23/18 8:51pm

purplepolitici
an

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I go back n forth w/ Yeezus, but a few tracks from it r out of this world dope nod, in fact every song has their "charms". I've been revisiting it as of most recently (am bumping I'm In It atm music) n don't know if it's a "classic", but I think it's damn good shrug. DAMN by Kendrick is awesome also, don't forget that 1 biggrin.

For all time I am with you, you are with me.
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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > ok RAP / HIP HOP has seen some crazy lows this decade, but the amount of classics is crazy