If, by some tragic turn of fate, all rap released prior to the year 2000 was somehow obliterated from the face of the earth and you were given the opportunity to take twenty CD’s to pass the time while I wasted away in exile on some deserted island (stay with me here), then what would you take? I considered the options this afternoon and devised the following list of hip-hop platters to bring along.
Killa Sha – GOD Walk On Water
Sha Lumi finally established himself as a heavy hitter solo artist after paying dues for decades. If ‘Come On’ doesn’t move you, seek professional help immediately.
Big Twins – The Project Kid
This album snuck up and juxed me on some sneak attack shit. Who knew that a member of Infamous Mobb has capable of delivering a modern day QB classic?
Prodigy – H.N.I.C. 2
Sure, the rapping was technically better on the first one, but the combination of Prodigy‘s ‘zero fux or effort given’ style on display is still compelling, akin to witnesses sing a gruesome car crash and rubber necking as you pass by. Plus the combination of Sid Roams and ALC on the boards make this the best sounding Conspiracy Theory Rap ever made.
Roc Marciano – Marcberg
The day I got my advance copy of this album I went to see Raekwon perform live. The whole time I was at the show I was wishing it would hurry up and finish just so I could get back in my car and listen to Marcberg again. Not that The Chef didn’t do his thing, but Roc served up something that brought back that Only Built 4 Cuban Linx feeling a lot more effectively than the actual sequel that Rae was hawking at the time.
Sadat X – Experience and Education
The Great Dot X still has his moments but this has been his most consistent solo album since Wild Cowboys.
Boldy James – My 1st Chemistry Set
I haven’t heard anything Boldy did after this but I liked this enough to actually buy the CD (secondhand, natch).
Ka – Grief Pedigree
This guy has zero sense of humor and takes himself very seriously. I can appreciate that on occasion.
Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele
I’d pretty much just put ‘Nutmeg’ on repeat because Mr. Stark’s rapping on that song is so good that it makes Big Baby Jeebus cry tears of gully joy.
DOOM – Born Like This
That song about teh ghey superheroes cracks me up every time.
Screwball – Y2K
Everything about this album is great. ‘Who Shot Rudy?’, ‘F.A.Y.B.A.N.’, ‘Seen It All’ and ‘H.O.S.T.Y.L.E’ all show and prove the strength of this Queensbridge super group.
Prodigy – Product of the 80’s
Strong supporting turns from Big Twins and Un Pacino result in another Dirt Class sure shot.
Victor Vaughn – Vaudeville Villain
This stands as Doom’s most focused lyrical display since ‘Doomsday’, despite the fact that it was essentially a commissioned piece. Any rap record that discusses time travel in order to retrieve a stolen Donkey Kong Game & Watch and still come off is more than worthy of any playlist.
Q-Tip – The Renaissance
Since I don’t care for modern R&B, The Abstract‘s 2008 collection is punk smoove shit done right.
Quasimoto – The Unseen
The one exception to my strict ‘no wacky voices’ policy, this record won me over on account of catching mad Forbidden Planet flashbacks and Madlib’s best loop selections to date. The follow ups left me cold though, let’s face it – the persona peaked with ‘Hittin’ Hookers’.
M.O.P. – Warriorz
First Family 4 Life is my favorite Mash Out LP, but there’s no denying that Bill and Fame did the damn thing on this triumphant display of Brooklyn Hardrock Rap taken to it’s logical conclusion.
Roc Marciano – Reloaded
Incredibly sparse and stripped back production only serves to highlight Roc’s stream-of-consciousness vocabulary spill in it’s best light.
The UN – UN Or U Out
‘Golden Grail’ and ‘Mind Blowin’ continue to smash speakers eleven years later. Plus that Laku dude was nice.
P Brothers – The Gas
Stellar line-up of under-appreciated New York rap talent combined with loud drums. What more could you ask for?
Blaq Poet – Rewind: Deja Screw
Somehow this precursor to The Blaqprint turned out to be a lot better than the official album. Excellent contributions from Alchemist and Easy Moe Bee sure didn’t hurt the cause, either.
K-Def – Willie Boo Boo: The Fool
Escapes from the ‘dull instrumental album’ pit thanks to the numerous vocal samples that provide a loose narrative which is ideal to zone out to.
p, sha, twinz, un pacino & screwball, this is why unkut >>
co-sign.dope selection.i would add the b.coming dr.lecter and fishscale or another starks release.
Surprised there’s no Sean Price
Nice selection. Surprised Kendrick Lamar’s new album isn’t on there. He raps in funny voices and has a conversation with Tupac.
Little Brother – The Listening (2003)
The Foreign Exchange – Connected (2004)
Big Pooh – Sleepers (2005)
Oh, Rob, I forgot to add,
People Under the Stairs – O.S.T. (2002)
Jedi Mind Tricks “Violent By Design” is most def missing in this list…!!
Pete and CL’s Mecca & The Soul Brother and The Main Ingedient, Gang Starr’s Moment Of Truth, Chill Rob G’s Ride The Rhythm, Ultra’s Critical Beatdown and Grvediggaz’ 6 Feet Deep…
@oska: This is only for albums released from 2000 onwards.
King Kunta!
Great list, for the most part.. i would add Dead Prez first album “Let’s Get Free” to the list.
@Robbie
Oops, my bad…
Bubba Sparxxx-Deliverance (Criminally slept on album. Youtube it…)
Pete Rock-Petestrumentals & NY’s Finest
Jay-Z-American Gangster
Nas-The Lost Tapes & Life Is Good
Common-Like Water For Chocolate & Be
Redman-Red Gone Wild
Gang Starr-The Ownerz (Not their best but I gotta have some Premo representation)
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek-Train Of Thought
Slum Village-Fantastic, vol. 2
and…D’Angelo-Voodoo just on some different shit…
Im a go left…
Cannibal Ox-The Cold Vein
Killer Mike-Rap Music
Meyhem Lauren-Self Induced Illness
Action Bronson-Blue Chips2
Kendrick Lamar-Section 80
Ab Soul- Comtrol System
Madvillin
Ghostface-Supreme Clientel
J-Zone-Peter Pan Syndrom
Kendrick Lamar-To Pimp. A Butterfly
Danny Brown-XXX
Run The Jewels
Q Unique-Between Heaven n Hell
GDP-Useless Eaters
Rast RFC-Across from West 3rd
KA-Grief Pedigree
Chance the Rapper-Acid Rap
Cormega-The Realness
MOP-Warriors
Tragedy-Against All Odds
not really feeling the q-tip album, quasimoto, “born like this” or big twinz.
instead of these, i’d add o.c. “trophies”, freddie foxxx “kollexion”, ka “grief pedigree” plus the last pharoahe monch album. “between heaven & hell” would be a good choice, too.
good list however im quite sure there are a lot of choices that could have been made other than all that QB rap. After a while they all start to sound the same and with Roc and Boldy included on the list, this makes for a lot of boring rap. Too much monotone emceeing. Now this is not saying Roc of all ppl is boring. Just seems like you may have been in I love Queens mode for this edition. (this is not a diss. You know I got love for you robbie)
I definitely go along with the majority of your choices Robbie. Q-Tip’s “The Renaissance” definitely sounds like a future classic to me.
Others I would have included are:
Blu & Exile – Below the heavens
John Robinson – Who is this man?
Elzhi & Will Sessions – Elmatic
King Gheedorah – Take me to your leader
Oska, you gonna starve of malnutrition living with that Jay-Z dogshit no amount of coconut juice can save. I can live with Robbie’s list– might put in Sean Prince “Mic Tyson” for one of the QB sides– but otherwise props for NOT including Kool G. Rap, since Nathaniel hasn’t made even one good album since DJ Polo took the dookie ropes away. Too bad Big Noyd hasn’t been able to put together a classic. Kendrick Lamar is dogshit btw, like a west coast Pumpkinhead (who?) except even more annoying.
i’m not good at following rules so only bringing 20 ain’t happening.
p bros: the gas
o.c.: trophies
afu-ra: body of the life force
redman: red gone wild
m.o.p.: warriorz
cannibal ox: the cold vein
madvillain: madvillany
mf doom: born like this/mmm food
king geedorah: take me to your leader
ghostface killah: supreme clientele
planet asia: black belt theatre
roc marciano: marcberg/ strength & honor
d.i.t.c.: s/t
de la soul: impossible mission
deltron 3030: s/t
dj js-1: ground original 1
edan: beauty & the beat
gangstarr: the ownerz
immortal technique: the 3rd world
large professor: professor @ large
non phixion: the future is now
quasimoto: the unseen/ further adventures
reks: straight, no chaser
sean price: monkey barz/ mic tyson
top shelf 8/8/88 comp
viktor vaughn: vaudille villain/ venemous villain
cormega: born & raised
blaq poet: rewind deja screw
people under the stairs: carried away
Dope list but I think I would take it this way:-
Below the Heavens – Blu and Exile
Champion Sound – Jaylib
Fantastic Vol.2 – Slum Village
Like Water for Chocolate – Common
The Minstrel Show – Little Brother
The Ecstatic – Mos Def
The Show – eMC
Montezumas Revenge – Souls of Mischief
Blazing Arrow – Blackalicious
Madvilliany – Madvillian
Run Come Save Me – Roots Manuva
The Unseen – Quasimoto
Donuts – J Dilla
Game Theory – The Roots
The Renaissance – Q Tip
Boy Meets World – Fashawn
War – Pharoahe Monche
Makin’ Dollas – DTMD
The Best Part – J Live
Trophies – OC and Apollo Brown
No Kreayshawn? I kid. I kid.
Maybe this is not the appropriate place but I have tried to rack my brain for years to remember this one goofy rap song. If anyone could help it would be appreciated it. Some of the scattered lines I remember were: “Fags at the club wearing wigs and mascara/I’m at home eating Mom’s mussel’s marinara.” Another line was: “Check it, Check it/Punk you catch torture/Messing with the la cosa nostra.” This may be a long shot but I am desperate this song has been driving me nuts.
@Hollow. Pretty sure you are talking about the Crusaders for Real Hip-Hop: La Cosa Nostra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuHzWlfCE74
Rest in power Tony D
Pimp’s don’t pay taxes has to be there. For me the greatest dollar bin samples album since Operation Doomsday and also the funniest album I have heard.
Aside from Prodigy’s little protective custody ass, that list is SOLID! I gotta check out Boldy James tho, haven’t heard him yet.
Great list Rob, particularly with the inclusion of The Project Kid and The Gas.
I’d include Non Phixion – The Future Is Now, Cormega – The Realness, Jay’s The Blueprint and Evidence’s Cats & Dogs.
I have listened to UN or U out about half a million times and will continue to do so until I am in the dirt
gonna pretend like I can’t see bubba sparxx mentioned up there.
MARCO POLO & TORAE: DOUBLE BARREL
THE UN: UN OR U OUT
PUBLIC ENEMY: NEW WHIRL ODOR
BUCKWILD & CELPH TITLED: NINETEEN NIGHTY NOW
LORD JAMAR: THE FIVE PERCENT ALBUM
CANIBUS: 2000 BC
CANIBUS:MIC CLUB THE CURRICULUM
CANIBUS: LYRICAL LAW
PARIS: ACID REFLEX
LARGE PROFESSOR: PROFESSOR@LARGE
NON PHIXON: THE FUTURE IS NOW
CRAIG G & MARLEY MARL: OPERATION TAKE BACK HIP HOP
DEL& TAME ONE: PARALLEL UNI-VERSES
KRS ONE: KRIS STYLES
KRS ONE & MARLY MARL: HIP HOP LIVES
BLACK MOON: TOTAL ECLIPSE
DEAD PREZ: LET’S GET FREE
DJ PREMIER & BUMMPY KNUCKLES: KOLEXXION
BUT THE 5 BEST FROM THIS LIST I LISTEN TO THE MOST ARE UN OR U OUT DOUBLE BARREL, HIP HOP LIVES, NINETEEN NINTY NOW,AN KOLEXXION ANY THING THAT HAS THAT RUGGED BOOMBAP SOUND
Petestrumentals for the three UN tracks and Pete’s Jazz alone,
Pop Brown Hornet,
Would actually include the Dead Prez debut as there’s not much like it in the last 15 years.
Post 2000 I would probably take singles if forced to take rap.
lol @ the sadat x album title and cover
MF Grimm – dowmfall of iblyss
Elzhi – the Preface
Raekwon – OB4CLII
Souls of Mischief -Montezumas revenge
Black Market Militia – S/T
GTFOH with that wack list! 80% trash.
Good lookin Rob! But Id rather see Monkey Bars instead og Boldy James, yeah its som good Alc beats, but not hes strongest though. And what about The Nights Gambit, KA in fine form here. Illa Ghee Social Grafitti, Pure CRC shit! Had to toss Quasi 4 that!
My album collection is sorted according to artist/crews and not chronological. Fingers-crossed these are all post-2000 releases. If not, who cares? It’s not as if anybody’s gonna actually kidnap me and dump me on a desert island right? Right?
Fleapit “Music from The Ditch”
The Aspects “Correct English”
MOP “Warriorz”
Dangerdoom “The Mouse and The Mask”
Pip Skid Friends 4Ever
Tech N9ne “Special Effects”
KMD “Mr Hood” (Do reissues count?)
Ayentee “The manual”
Buck 65 “Synaesthesia”
Random “Mega Ran”
That^ is the first ten rap albums that spring to mind. If this was a real situation I’d obviously give it more/deeper thought (or in fact focus my efforts on not being kidnapped/marooned).
Over a year after the fact, I’m just now deeing the shots at my list, lol…
@Vaginator X/Ejaculation Munson/whatever other bullshit aliases you can come up with…
I see you’re still on that “Nathaniel” shit. You’re quite the gold medalist in the scrotum surfing event…
@doughjoe
Yes, you saw it. I put it there. And???…
*seeing the…