Mr B's Incredible Performing Hip Hop Show and Emporium!!!

[Rated B]

Ok, I was asked to do this by a poster here, and it's turned into a bit of a project...

First things first this is not supposed to be definite, a "best of" list or anything like that. The 20s are my favourite records. So it's open to debate. And it was hard to choose, hence each section has a list of albums that very, very nearly made it, too.

I've tried to pick less well-known examples from each record, so hopefully, something to listen to as well. So, put on your baggy pants and your boogie shoes and let's go...

1980s

Kurtis Blow - Kurtis



Before Hip Hop was really about albums, Kurtis Blow released one... the first on a major label and the first to really be commercially successful.



Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full



Do I really need to say anything about this record? The best MC skills ever on display as Rakim Allah hit every single awesome beat that Eric dropped. Magic.



Schoolly D - Saturday Night



Philadephia gangsterism and street life, with a little bit of party



MC Shan - Down By Law



Looked to be an early contender for NY's favourite MC... but quickly went off the boil.



Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded



KRS used gangsta imagery and themes to sell his records, but the message was different. Stop all that and be something more. Superb beats, cuts and samples from Scott La Rock

[Rated B]

Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back



"Freedom is a road seldom travelled by the multitude..."

Again, it doesn't really need a lead from me, it's a justifiably famous record. If you don't like this, then hip hop probably isn't for you.



Run-D.M.C. - Run-D.M.C.



Perhaps not the record everyone would have chosen, but for me, the debut is the start of hip hop growing up and becoming more than just spinning breaks at block parties. Run-D.M.C. had a huge hand in that... Guitars, samples no one would have thought of before. Landmark record.



The DOC - No One Can Do it Better



Criminally underheard, this belongs in the collection of any West Coast rap fan. He's from Texas, mind. Nothing short of a virtuoso MC, whose career was cruelly cut short by a car crash which destroyed his ability to perform.



N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton



Fuck the Police made the headlines and kids from various backgrounds have been trying to pretend they were NWA ever since. But few have ever managed to harness the authenticity of Ren, Dre, Eazy and Cube's second record. Scary and spellbinding in equal doses.



De La Soul - 3ft. High and Rising



The original daisy-age, crossover rap record. The hippy schtick didn't last long, but whilst it did, it made one of the most accessible, summery hip hop records ever.

[Rated B]

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[Rated B]

LL Cool J - Radio



17. He was 17 years old when this was released. It's a downhill sprial from here, but this is a superb record, full of clever rhymes, cutting beats and youthful verve and swagger.



Ice-T - The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say



The original gangsta. It's not always nice, but you buy it. And it's hard not to like Ice. P-A-Y, B-A-C-K, motherfuckers.



Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock



Kraftwerk, James Brown, John Lydon... techno, bass and sequences. It almost doesn't sound like a hip hop record these days, but this is roots hip hop.



Jungle Brothers - Straight Out the Jungle



Probably (unfairly) the most forgotten nowadays, but this is actually the first Native Tongues record and the blueprint for what came after.



Biz Markie - The Biz Never Sleeps



Striving for humour and not always hitting, but still worthwhile. Produced and MC'd by the man himself.



And the bubblers...

Krown Rulers - Paper Chase
Just-Ice - Back to the Old School
Newcleus - Jam on Revenge
Whodini - Whodini
2 Live Crew - As Nasty As They Wanna Be
BDP - By All Means Necessary
Run DMC - Raising Hell
Eric B & Rakim - Follow the Leader
PE - Yo! Bum Rush the Show
Ice-T - Power
LL Cool J - BAD: Bigger and Deffer
Big Daddy Kane - It's a Big Daddy Thing
Too $hort - Born to Mack
Cash Crew - Cash Crew
EPMD - Unfinished Business
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (because if I don't put it in, I'll get skinned, innit...)

[Rated B]

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[Rated B]

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[Jumper k]

Wrong Schooly D homie.

[Rated B]

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[Leg of lamb]

Oh wow, I can't wait to read through this, B!

[Rated B]

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[Rated B]

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[Rated B]

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[Rated B]

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[Rated B]

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Sorry about the rather fractured nature of this. I was hoping it would go into 3 posts - one for the 80s, one for the 90s, and one for the 00s.

However, the board appears to crash if I try and post more than a few images or videos together (and creak mightily if I post anything more than a couple of words!).

Part 3 of the 80s is the same length as part 2, but at this point, there's no fucking way this board is letting me post it.

And I have more work to do. Actual work that pays me. So, I've got the lists reading for argument (Mr Balls!) and I'll attempt to get this put up later on.

We shall see...

[Qube]

The 80s-part 2 will be hard to beat! Some of my favourites in there but I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with

On the Eric B. & Rakim album I love the lyric "You scream I'm lazy, you must be crazy, Thought I was a donut, you tried to glaze me" on Eric B is President.

[sloopjohnc]

Somehow Kurtis Blow has gotten lost in the dust in history. He was definitely rap's first superstar.

I wouldn't stop at that Rakim album either. His recent ones are good. I really recommend the two-fer, the 18th Letter and The Book of Life. It can be had for very cheap.

[Rated B]

Definitely, on both points. I bought Kurtis on CD last year for £3 and despite a lot of hip hop having aged rather, it still sounds a fresh, interesting record. He really did have something quite special, imo. Which got swallowed up in the explosion that came after.

And yeah, there's not much bad stuff in Rakim's career. A few odd guest slots, but the biggest complaint I've seen levelled is that he's all MC and not really a writer. But when he's that good an MC, who really cares?

[Rated B]

Wrong Schooly D homie.

Pshaw. "Wrong".

Presumably, you'd have chosen Schoolly D (the album)?

Or would it have been Smoke Some Kill?

[Phenomenal Cat]

I've tried to post on this thread four times, and the spam filter has kicked me out each time.

Here goes:

Can't wait until this is done. Don't forget Ul***tra***mag***net***ic M***Cs (and forget about K9 P**oss**e and Shin**ehea**d)

Will it work this time?

[Nolamike]

The DOC - No One Can Do it Better



Criminally underheard, this belongs in the collection of any West Coast rap fan. He's from Texas, mind. Nothing short of a virtuoso MC, whose career was cruelly cut short by a car crash which destroyed his ability to perform.

That is one of my all-time favorite hip-hop albums. He was so good. His voice just had this great tone, and he had a great, distinctive delivery. A true lost classic!