By Jake Corbin
When it comes to writing about music, the “top 10 list” is a recipe for failure.
With a plethora of albums to pick from spanning multiple genres, how can one human—one brain—possibly narrow down any “best of” list? The task seems virtually impossible. There will always be a deserving band or song left off the list.
Die-hard music critics, however, don’t let insurmountable odds get in the way of categorizing music. Sometimes people need to be told what albums are supposed to be in their collection.
With that thought in mind, here are five albums every hip-hop fan should burn, download or buy as soon as possible.
A Tribe Called Quest “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm”
From the moment you hit play to the time the album ends, Tribe’s debut album is full of jazzy samples and head nodding beats that every DJ has spun to get bodies moving on the dance floor.
Although the album dropped in 1990, “People’s Instinctive Travels…” outshines most hip-hop albums coming out today. Jams like “Bonita Applebum,” “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo” and “Can I Kick It?” will always be party-starters.
Everything A Tribe Called Quest has put out is worth owning (multiple copies, in fact). Start with this album and buy in order. You won’t be disappointed.
De La Soul “De La Soul is Dead”
Another group whose entire catalog is hip-hop gold; De La Soul’s popularity started in 1989 with the release of “3 Feet High and Rising.” It was the first single on that album, “Me, Myself and I,” that sparked people’s interest, including “Yo MTV Raps.”
Although De La Soul’s debut is a classic, it was the group’s second album that let people know they weren’t fooling around.
“De La Soul is Dead” is packed with lyrical content ranging from silly to thought provoking—one moment the trio will talk about working at Burger King, the next about falling prey to illicit drug use.
Regardless of what De La is rapping about, every song is filled with danceable, sample-heavy beats.
Producer Prince Paul’s work on this album could never be done today with the current sample laws. Listen to this album and rejoice in what hip-hop sounded like before the government stepped in and tried to ruin it.
Beastie Boys “Ill Communication”
The Beastie Boys don’t get enough credit.
The trio from New York has been holding it down since the ‘80s (when they toured with other notable Def Jam artists Run DMC and Public Enemy).
Whether fighting for their right to party or getting funky as a three-piece band, the Beasties have always been an eclectic group of rap-rockers whose sole purpose was to have a good time.
It’s hard to pick a best Beastie Boys album, but the group’s fourth studio release “Ill Communication” might be it. Why? Because this album embraces all sides of the Beastie’s: It’s a three-way split between hip-hop, funk and punk.
There will be no complaints of “all the songs sound the same” with this album.
Jurassic 5 “Quality Control”
Hip-hop is the art of storytelling set to a beat. Sometimes that story is about spreading a “feel good” vibe, engulfing everyone within earshot. Other times, it’s all about the message.
Jurassic 5 understands this wholeheartedly.
After gaining a large fan base from the strength of their self-titled E.P., J5 put out “Quality Control”—an album melding clever wordplay with the funkiest beats heard in years.
The group’s gang vocals and tag-team rhyming are reminiscent of the Cold Crush Brothers, but the excellent production of DJs Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark give J5 a sound all their own.
Play this album and your ears will thank you.
Public Enemy “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back”
Public Enemy may be the most important hip-hop group ever.
Others may argue there have been greater MCs than Chuck D and Flavor Flav, but no one group has had such an impact musically.
Public Enemy birthed hip-hop as protest music. Songs on this album like “Bring the Noise,” “Rebel Without a Pause” and “Don’t Believe the Hype” have a power in the lyrics that make you want to stand up and join the struggle.
This album should be listened to at full blast before going to the polls Nov. 4.
[Photo courtesy of Sabine01 on Flickr]
4 comments:
Music columns are a problem for me, not because of the writing but becase I am out of touch with what the latest music is.
Then, there they are, the Beastie Boys, hardly a group I would ever rush out to listen to - or a group whose albums I ever purchased.
But still. To see that name.
Nice beginning - talking about how top ten listings are a problem.
But top five? A more manageable number.
Beastie Boys rule!
You are in serious danger of being uncool. There are albums you mention here that I have in my collection ... and I'm old. I loved PE back in the day when hip-hop (in my day it was called rap) had a message and that message was anger. Once it lost that edge it lost me. Shockingly I have four of the five albums you mention in my collection of about a dozen rap albums.
I've never been good at that desert-island disc thing. My music taste changes too often. My desert-island disc today is much different than it was yesterday.
'High Fidelity' fan at all? Love that the B Boys made the list!!
Dan... I don't think it's a matter of me being "in serious danger of being uncool." I think it just goes to show that YOU are much cooler than you give yourself credit for.
You have a good album collection -- be happy!
Katharine... "High Fidelity" is one of my favorites. I watch it at least a few times a year!
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