#50 In My Lifetime: Vol 1 - Jay-Z (1997)
After having his debut considered an instant classic, his sophomore album was Jay-Z's first venture into making true "mainstream" hip-hop. Biggie died between the new releases, and Jay was eager to take up the throne as the new King of New York, even going so far as to enlist Puffy. The production is flashier and covered in a distinct layer of polish compared to Reasonable Doubt. The album suffers from a bit of an identity crisis, though. Jay made his name with gritty, hood-friendly content and that bleeds over somewhat into Vol. 1. The glossy radio beats don't compliment them as well.
#49 No Need for Alarm - Del the Funky Homosapien (1993)
Del got his opportunity to venture out on his own, without Ice Cube's shadow looming over him, for the first time with No Need for Alarm. Not having that established presence looking over his shoulder was a double edged sword for Del. He was able to abandon the G-funk conventions that held back Brother George and create his own style, clearly influenced by some of his New York underground contemporaries. On the other hand, No Need for Alarm sometimes feels aimless. There's little rhyme or reason as to why these tracks are being put on an album together, most of them are just braggadocio tracks with no real substance behind them. Del excels in this facet, though. I don't know if there's anybody in the world who could come up with a more effective hour's worth of rhyming compliments for themself.
#48 Enta Da Stage - Black Moon (1993)
Enta Da Stage tends to get overshadowed by fellow 1993 release Enter the Wu-Tang, as far as it's impact in reviving the East Coast hip-hop scene after America became enamored with G-funk in the late 80's and early 90's. While it definitely didn't see the same level of sales as Enter the Wu-Tang did, I would argue that it's better withstood the test of time.
Buckshot is an MC that I can't believe didn't get more famous in the 90's He was only 18 when Enta Da Stage was being recorded, and while his subject matter was limited, it was a more cynical and personal look at hood life than what most other MCs were putting out. The dark, grimy production accents the cynical, angry lyrics perfectly.
#47 Funcrusher Plus - Company Flow (1997)
This album has the distinction of being the launching pad for two separate record labels. It was the first release by Rawkus Records, which would shortly after make a name for itself as the the home of Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and Mos Def. A couple years down the road, Company Flow's front man El-P would launch Definitive Jux, and proceed to dominate the early 2000's underground scene.
Funcrusher Plus is a definitely rough around the edges, but it shakes so many conventions that I'd definitely believe that it's intentional. The beats are jagged and arrhythmic, and the lyrics are dense and erratically delivered. It's just weird enough to work, though, and if you're a fan of the Def Jux style, it's a must listen.
#46 Bizarre Ryde 2 The Pharcyde - The Pharcyde (1992)
The Pharcyde ere clearly cut from the same cloth as their fellow West Coast underground notables from the early 90's. Sonically, it'd be hard to differentiate it from an early Hieroglyphics release. The production style is similar, and they feature a similar style of seamlessly trading braggadocios verses between the multiple MCs. Bizarre Ryde gets a bit bogged down in immature humor at times, but overall it's an album that is a fun listen, with a few moments are legitimately worth a laugh the first few times you hear them.
Also, it scores bonus points because the carver art features the least discrete depiction of a vagina to ever make it by censors.
#45 The Diary - Scarface (1994)
Scarface was clearly the most talented member of Geto Boys. When the group fell apart after We Can't Be Stopped, he showed quickly after that he was competent as a solo MC with 1991's Mr. Scarface Is Back. He came out with a unique blending of East Coast and West Coast styles that made him one of the most influential gangsta rappers of all time. He perfected that style with 1994's "The Diary". What makes this such a strong release aren't standout tracks or really anything exceptional from a technical point of view, but the consistency of it. I, honestly, couldn't name a single track on this album because I listen to it end to end without skipping a track every time.
#44 The Main Ingredient - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth (1994)
The theme of The Main Ingredient is that Pete and C.L. were scaling back their sound; distilling it down to it's most basic key component, a main ingredient, if you will. Pete Rock's slow, smooth beats are the primary appeal here. They're full-bodied and satisfying without ever being imposing. C.L. Smooth holds his own, too. It's kind of unfortunate that he doesn't get more credit, to be honest. He's got a narrative style of rhyming that was on par with anybody else out at the time.
#43 Step In The Arena -Gang Starr (1991)
It sounds a bit dated now, but relative to what else was coming out at the time, Step in the Arena was a pinnacle of both subject matter and production. Guru's got a much more mature perspective of what was going on in the ghetto than anybody else at the time had. Premo is his typical, outstanding, self. He flexes his scratching muscles here, creating a style which would eventually become his signature sound.
#42 The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill (1998)
Another hip-hop hybrid album from another former Fugee, Lauryn Hill made her solo debut in 1998 to rave reviews, and absurd sales. She promptly exiled herself from the music community, and has yet to produce another record. It still stands as the highest selling hip-hop album by a female artist by a tremendous margin.
The production is heavily R&B and Reggae influenced. The lyrics focus heavily on the concept of love, not surprising given that the album came in the wake of the birth of her first child, and her breakup with Wyclef Jean and the Fugees, in general. The first handful of tracks really outshine the rest of the album, unfortunately.
#41 93 'til Infinity - Souls of Mischief (1993)
'93 til Infinity stands out to me as the strongest release of the early California underground scene. Listening to the four of them effortlessly trade verses back and forth is a real treat, very reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest's great albums. The beats don't really stand out, but the rolling basslines and jazzy samples serve as a great backdrop to Souls' freestyle rhymes.
