Top 90 Albums of the 90's: 70-61

#70 The War Report - Capone-N-Noreaga (1997)

Even with Capone serving jail time for a decent percentage of the recording, The War Report still wound up as a surprisingly great album.  I'm not one who generally is a huge fan of "hardcore" hip-hop, but I can't help but bob my head to this album. Tragedy Khadafi turns up on probably half the tracks on the album, including the standout "Calm Down" alongside Nas. This album often gets credited with more or less killing mafioso rap and bringing hardcore back to hip-hop's forefront.

#69 One For All - Brand Nubian (1990)

One For All has all the strongest qualities of In God We Trust, without the Islamic extremest rhetoric weighing it down.  That's not to say there aren't definite Five Percenter themes here, quite the contrary, they're everywhere.  Grand Puba's Brand Nubian just aren't as overtly militant or inflammatory.  This album is actually pretty light and fun.

#68 Stakes is High - De La Soul (1996)

Stakes is High showing up this high will probably be a surprise to some, but I maintain that this album gets underrated.  Prince Paul leaving the group was definitely a major blow, but it by no means mortally injured De La.  Stakes is High is a great album because De La was one of the groups to recognize that the popular hip-hop at the time wasn't healthy for the listeners, the artists, or the genre, and that hip-hop would soon be faced with an identity crisis, and a choice would need to be made as to what direction the genre would go.  The model of just having not particularly skilled MCs throw violent threats at each other from across the country wasn't sustainable.  Stakes is High is an album that put the whole hip-hop and general music industry on blast, and they were completely right.  The context is what makes this album great more so than the actual technical aspects.

Oh, and this is also Mos Def's debut.

#67 The Carnival - Wyclef Jean (1997)

This release feels a little out of place on the list, since it incorporates so many of the non-traditional hip-hop influences.  It probably dedicates less time to rapping than any other album on the list.  The Carnival often times feels like... well, a carnival with all the different musical influences it's trying to incorporate.  I wouldn't be surprised if Wyclef had wanted this album to be significantly longer than it ended up being, there's almost too much variety here.

#66 Tical - Method Man (1994)

Method Man was dubbed the member of Wu-Tang who had the most popular appeal in the wake of Enter the Wu-Tang.  As such, he was tasked with being the first member to put out a solo release.  Even though it's not held in quite the esteem as some of the other Wu solo albums that followed it, it'd be hard to argue that Tical wasn't a smashing success.  This record features some of RZA's best beats, which Meth attacks with a level of ferocity that you wouldn't expect given his public persona.

#65 Word... Life - O.C. (1994)

As you read through this list you'll probably start to notice a theme.  A lot of the lesser known albums are from 1994.  A glut of extremely popular and acclaimed albums being released that year made it so there are a handful of great albums that tend to not get much recognition, simply because they were and still are overshadowed by the likes of Tical, Illmatic, Ready to Die, Resurrection, and The Diary.

D.I.T.C's O.C. is one of the artists who saw probably their best work fall through the cracks somewhat.  O.C. is a very solid MC, and the production is outstanding.  Unfortunately, the track "Time's Up" is really all Word... Life get's remembered for these days.


#64 I Wish My Brother George Was Here - Del the Funky Homosapien (1991)

First off, I'd just like to thank Ice Cube for making this album possible.  Del is Cube's cousin, and the knowledge that he'd be looking over Del's shoulder during the production is what got Del his first record deal, at the tender age of 18.

Now that that's out of the way... I feel like this would have been a better album if Ice Cube hadn't been involved.  While Brother George is still significantly wittier, funkier, and funnier than anything the West Coast was producing at the time, it still comes off as a fairly conservative release when compared to future releases by Del and his crew.

#63 Don't Sweat the Technique - Eric B. & Rakim (1992)

Out of the Rakim releases that actually get talked about, Don't Sweat the Technique seems to be considered the weakest.  I wholeheartedly agree, Rakim just isn't quite on the same level here as he was on Paid in Full or Follow the Leader, he's still great, just not quite legendary.  It's important to note that there were two members of Eric B and Rakim, though.  Despite getting top billing, Eric B's contributions are often overlooked.  I would argue that this is Eric B's best album.  That is enough to put it above 18th Letter and Let the Rhythm Hit Em.

#62 Live and Let Die - Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (1992)

Kool G Rap is a guy that shows up in most top 10 MC of all time lists, and I still think he's underrated.  His rhyme schemes were years ahead of their time and, as such, his music holds up way better to the modern ear than does that of his late 80's and early 90's peers.  His biggest weakness is that he wound up being too influential to future MCs.  Vivid depictions of committing felonies became a hip-hop cliche, and extensive use of internal rhymes became the norm by the mid 90's.  Live and Let Die falls a little bit on the list because of how long it runs, the shtick starts to wear a bit thin by the end.


#61 Stress: The Extinction Agenda - Organized Konfusion (1994)

Oh, look, another underrated 1994 release.  Stress is a noticeably darker album than Organized Konfusion's debut.  During my first couple listens of Stress, I really did miss the lighter, poppier tracks, but going back and listening to it now, I have no idea why.  Part of what makes Stress great is that little it of extra grit, it keeps OK from straying too far into weird just for the sake of weird territory.  This is really that earned Pharoahe Monch his reputation as one of  hip-hop's premier lyricists, he's downright jaw dropping at times.  In fact, my biggest complaint about Stress would probably be that next to Monch, Prince Po's verses feel very amateurish.  The disparity in their abilities is too apparent; it's distracting.

Top 90 Albums of the 90's: 80-71

#80 Soul on Ice - Ras Kass (1995)

Before he had even released an album, Ras Kass had already made a name for himself via a series of standout features.  He brought a level of lyricism to the table that nobody else who was popular on the West Coast really had at that point, so his debut album, Soul on Ice was highly anticipated.  Long story short, it didn't really sell and Kass's career wound up being a flop.  Despite poor sales, Soul on Ice is still an album held in high esteem by lyrical purists, with good reason.  You can only do so much with barely serviceable beats, though.

#79 Hard to Earn - Gang Starr (1994)

For whatever reason, Gang Starr decided to abandon the level-headed thoughtful themes that got them such acclaim n their first couple releases, and instead make an album with a significantly harsher tone.  Personally, I like Gang Starr a lot better when they're not trying to act hard.  DJ Premier absolutely carries this album, though.  I don't know if he's ever been better than he is on Hard to Earn.  Listening to his beats is more than enough reason to give this album several listens.

#78 A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - Black Sheep (1991)

Black Sheep is a group that often gets overlooked because of the company they kept.  It's hard to stand out when you're crew-mates with De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.  Nevertheless, while the MC's of Black Sheep weren't really exceptional from a technical standpoint, they brought a lot of energy and smart, humor to their tracks, kind of like an early 90's Little Brother.  Self-depreciation is a major running theme, even on the intro skit, they go out of their way to point out that they're the least popular members of their crew.

#77 The 18th Letter - Rakim (1997)

This was the first time Rakim had released an album since 1992's Don't Sweat the Technique, it signals a significant change in tone from his previous releases.  Ra sounds noticably more aggressive than on his 80's classics, likely due to this being the first time he was recording an album without long time collaborator Eric B.  Eric B's presence isn't really missed, and getting to hear an MC of Ra's caliber work with the likes of DJ Premier and Pete Rock is a treat.

#76 People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm - A Tribe Called Quest (1990)

Before The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders catapulted Tribe into hip-hop legend status, there was People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, their exceptionally long-titled debut album.  It's a light-hearted, positive affair that didn't get much fanfare at the time because the listening public wanted to hear gangsta stuff.  It's a smooth, jazzy affair that features Q-Tip and Phife trading verses back and forth with the occasional guest stopping by to add their $0.02.

#75 Stunts, Blunts, & Hip-Hop - Diamond D (1992)

Stunts is one of the early classics from Lord Finesse's Diggin' in the Crates Crew.  Most of the rapping is nothing to right home about, and a handful of the tracks probably could have been left off, but the production is excellent end-to-end.

#74 Runaway Slave - Showbiz & A.G. (1992)

.... and released on the same day, from the same crew is Showbiz & A.G.'s Runaway Slave.  A.G. is really what elevates this album above Stunts.  He rhymes effortlessly over Showbiz's sometimes cacophonous beats.  Showbiz himself isn't a slouch on the mic, either.


#73 Buhloone Mindstate - De La Soul (1993)

Buhloone Mindstate falls in a weird spot spot where it is so universally considered under-rated, that I would argue that it's a bit over-rated.  It's a tighter, more focused effort than their iconic debut and sophomore albums, but in doing so, they lost a bit of what had made De La unique and interesting. Nonetheless, it makes great background music, and "Ego Trippin' Part 2" is an iconic track.

#72 Doggystyle - Snoop Doggy Dogg (1993)

Much like Dogg Food, Doggystyle's biggest flaw is that it doesn't bring much to the table that we hadn't already seen on The Chronic.  The beats are what Doggystyle is most known for, while the lyrics are generally considered to be a weakness.  I can't entirely disagree with that assessment, I don't feel like adding Talib Kweli caliber lyricism to Doggystyle would have added much.  It's an album that's meant to be felt rather than listened to critically.

#71 All Balls Don't Bounce - Aceyalone (1995)

What do you know? Another Aceyalone project with outstanding vocals and decidedly mediocre production.  However, unlike on Haiku D'Etat, All Ball Don't Bounce's production at least features plenty of variety, so it doesn't turn into quite as much of a drag by the end.  

Top 90 Albums of the 90's: 90-81

Despite the mid to late 80's commonly receiving the title of hip-hop's "Golden Age", I've found that the vast majority of people who consider themselves to be hip-hop heads consider the 90's to be the strongest time period in hip-hop's history. The 90's is sacred territory in hip-hop, so making a list of the "best" albums is going to inevitably lead to at least some controversy. Someone's favorite album undoubtedly won't make the cut; I'm sure there are a few albums on here that I like way more than most. By the time this whole thing is over, I'm sure no one will be satisfied. On that note, let's get to ranking shall we?

#90 It's Dark and Hell is Hot - DMX (1998)

He's mostly of a punch-line now, but early DMX had an energy about him that I don't think anybody has ever managed to successfully replicate. He was intimidating and imposing on a level that nobody else in the rap industry ever really has been. It's Dark and Hell is Hot is all about anger and violent impulses. It's an album that I rarely find myself sitting down and listening to cover-to-cover, but individual tracks turn up on my playlists pretty regularly.

#89 Dogg Food - The Dogg Pound (1995)

This is one that most probably would have expected to see a bit higher on the list. It's considered one of the essential G-Funk albums, right alongside the likes of Doggystyle, and The Chronic. So what lands it in the late 80's rather than further up, alongside its compatriots (spoiler alert)? Basically, that it came later. The Chronic was revolutionary, Doggystyle epitomized the genre, by the time Dogg Food comes out in 1995, it just starts to feel like the west coast is recycling old material. It's still a good album, it's just hard to give it much credit when all Kurupt and Daz needed to do was follow a format already laid out for them.

#88 Business As Usual - EPMD (1990)

Business as Usual is an album that gets kind of a bad rap sometimes for not being good as their debut, Strictly Business. I can't argue with that sentiment. Strictly Business could make a strong argument for being the best album of the 80's, though. The defining characteristic of Business as Usual is the number of samples it uses. I don't think there's a track on this album that doesn't feature at least one, several feature five or more. Also, Redman makes his debut on the album's second track, so there's that.

#87 Ridin' Dirty - UGK (1996)

Any album that came out the South in the mid 90's deserves to be recognized. Other than Geto Boys, there really hadn't been any artists from the region that had scene much success, at the time. Ridin' Dirty is one of a handful of albums that came out the South all around the same time, that managed to catapult a relatively unknown scene onto the national stage at a time when East Coast - Wast Coast rivalries were dominating the headlines. While other prominent southern acts at the time were making names for themselves by being weird, UGK took a more traditional approach; some minimalist, groovy beats, with two MCs trading verses about money, clothes. and hoes.

#86 Haiku D'Etat - Haiku D'Etat (1999)

Aceyalone is an MC who will never get enough credit. He's a stronger rapper than almost all of his west coast underground compatriots, but has never seen the same level of success or acclaim as guys like Del the Funky Homosapien or Gift of Gab. Haiku D'Etat is a super group consisting of Acey, and fellow MCs Mikah 9 and Abstract Rude. It features some of the most technically adept rapping to be found on this list but, much like pretty much everything else Aceyalone has ever been a part of, it kind of falls on it's face from a production standpoint. It tries to carry a relaxed, floaty vibe throughout the whole album, by the end it just winds up being more boring than anything.

#85 Do You Want More?!!!?! - The Roots (1995)

Black Thought, ?uestlove, and co. have been putting out great albums for so long at this point that it's kind of bizarre to imagine them as young upstarts needing to prove their worth to their label. The pressure didn't seem to get to them, though. In fact, my biggest criticism would be that they spend too much time just nonchalantly grooving with no real rhyme or reason.

#84 In God We Trust - Brand Nubian (1993)

Grand Puba leaving Brand Nubian signaled a major gear shift for them. In God We Trust carries a decidedly more militant tone than their first release, and laced throughout are references to Five Percenter rhetoric that will be seen as extreme by most listeners. Even if the inflammatory lyrical content doesn't suit your fancy, In God We Trust is worth a spin just for the fun, jazzy beats.

#83 Let the Rhythm Hit Em - Eric B. & Rakim (1990)

It doesn't get quite the acclaim that Eric B. & Rakim's 80's releases did, but Let the Rhythm Hit Em is still commonly regarded as an all-time classic. Honestly, the biggest thing holding this album back is that there aren't any tracks that really stand out from the crowd. It's a good cover-to-cover listen, but no one track is going to be stuck in your head after.

#82 Return to 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version - Ol' Dirty Bastard (1995)

It often gets overshadowed by the other great 90's Wu-Tang releases, but Return to 36 Chambers is a personal favorite of mine. RZA really outdoes himself with the production, but ODB is the unquestioned star of the album. His distinctive half-sung, half-rapped delivery is what ODB is most known for, unfortunately is lyrical prowess often gets overlooked.

#81 Steal This Album - The Coup (1998)

If you've never heard the track "Me and Jesus the Pimp in a '79 Grenada Last Night", go do that as soon as possible, you can thank me later.

While "'79 Grenada" is the clear standout track from Steal This Album, the rest of the album is fantastic, as well. Boots Riley will probably rub some the wrong way with his Communist political beliefs, but even the coldest of Cold Warriors will find themselves bobbing their heads for most of this album". The Coup has always has a penchant for riding the line between humor & entertainment value, and scathing social commentary, or even openly militant rhetoric. It takes a master of his craft to make violent political upheavel sound this fun.