Your Top 3 Hip-Hop Albums?

[Lex Diamonds]

This is so much harder to do than a top 5. I don't even know if I could make a definitive list but let's all give it a try.

1. Illmatic
2. The Blueprint
3. Ready To Die

Number 3 was so nearly Ironman/Midnight Marauders/Paid In Full/Slim Shady LP/2001.

[Guy Incognito]

1. 3 Feet High & Rising - De La Soul
2. 2001 - Dr Dre
3. So Hows Your Girl - Handsome Boy Modelling School

[Lex Diamonds]

I meant Jay-Z's The Blueprint, by the way.

Nice list Guy, although I can't see how HBMS belong in the top 3 albums of all time. While it is a nice LP, it would struggle to get top 50 in my list.

3 Feet would be another contender for my 4th place. (y)

[Otis Driftwood]

Wu Tang Clan - 36 Chamber
Aesop Rock - None shall pass

I consider these the top 2 'cause they have far more killer than filler. Can't decide on #3
It takes a nation of millions, 19Naughty3, Natures Fin3 Feet high and rising, The New World Order or Midnight Marauders

[camo]

Bboys - Pauls Boutique
Brother Ali - The undisputed truth
P.E - It takes a nation... or Lyrics Born- Later that day.

I can't decide. Maybe those four could equally be my number one?

[Rock]

The Low End Theory - Tribe
Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill
Bizarre Ryde to the Pharcyde - The Pharcyde

i'm sure it will change next time a thread like this comes up.

[Guy Incognito]

I meant Jay-Z's The Blueprint, by the way.

Nice list Guy, although I can't see how HBMS belong in the top 3 albums of all time. While it is a nice LP, it would struggle to get top 50 in my list.

3 Feet would be another contender for my 4th place. (y)

I wasnt sure as soon as i posted it! I suppose its cos i dont see myself as a tru hip hop fan and like the slightly stranger stuff.
If i had to pick a fourth it would be

Raising Hell - Run DMC

just cos it was my first.

[MC Moot]

today at this moment...

Beatnuts "Street Level"

Blackalicious "The Craft"

Del "I Wish My Brother George Was Here"

[Lex Diamonds]

Yeah, The Craft is a sick album. I'd call it top 20 material.

[Kid Presentable]

I like Nia better than anything else Blackalicious did. And I put the first Handsome Boy disc in my top 25 of any genre.

[Randetica]

dont know but stankonia should be in there

[adam_f]

1. Common- Like Water For Chocolate
2. The Roots- Things Fall Apart
3. Pharoahe Monch- Internal Affairs

It changes, but those three are always in rotation.

[nypb]

I'm having a hard time with this too; in no particular order:

-Licensed to Ill/Paul's Boutique (1A and B)
-The Low End Theory

I can't pick # 3, I actually listened to Raising Hell today on the way to work and I sang/rapped the whole thing in my car on the way to work.

I need more time. My criteria is what hip hop cd, once inserted into your cd player, has to be played to the end with no interruptions?

I'm thinking Deltron 3030 for #3.

[paul jones]

' Fear Of A Black Planet' - Public Enemy
'Paul's Boutique' - Beastie Boys
'Nigga Please' - O.D.B.

[Tzar]

36 chambers
black album
paid in full

hmm.. they aren't really "my" top 3. they're just the 3 albums i'd first recommend to anyone who knows shit all about hip hop. i'd love to recommend liquid swords, cuban linx or anything ghostface has done - but i get the feeling they wouldn't "get" them w/o listening to 36 chambers first. i'd make them listen to LTI before paul's boutique as well. to me, LTI is better than a lot of rap albums; now and before... that'd be fourth.

[balohna]

Paul's Boutique
Black Star
Illmatic

[Lex Diamonds]

The Best of Vanilla Ice
MC Hammer: Greatest Hits
Rappin Duke - Rappin Duke 12"

[checkyourprez]

36 chambers
pauls boutique
deltron 3030

[Planetary]

of all time:

36 chambers
2001
illmatic

at the moment:

tha infamous
ironman
can't think of a third

[Lex Diamonds]

If it was a top 3 of what I'm feeling right now I'd say

1. Ironman
2. Hell Hath No Fury
3. The Big Picture

[@water]

1. Government Music - Promoe
2. The Mouse and The Mask - Danger Doom
3. Quality Control - Jurassic 5

[Whatitis]

Pauls Boutique - Beasties
Strickly Business - EPMD
OG - Ice T

[easy 3]

I've been thinking about this for days and really can't narrow it down.

I guess I'd have to say -

Paul's Boutique
Nation of Millions
Raising Hell

I was obsessed with PE in my early teenage years and was obsessed with PB for ages (still am to be honest but I stopped playing it EVERY day about 2 years ago).

Sorry folks - honourable mentions have to go to - 3 feet high, 36 Chambers, Bizarre Ride, Enta da Stage, Breaking Atoms, Stunts Blunts & Hip Hop, Low End Theory, Return of the Boom Bap, Illmatic, Things Fall Apart, Midnight Marauders, and So how's your girl?

There's definitely more greats that I've forgotten - personally I'd like to mention T.I.M.E. by Leaders of the New School - it's a chewy little number but that's what I like about it - it's density (like PB). Plus L.O.N.S. like the 'boys are one of the few groups to have really worked the multiple MCs thing through to some logical conclusion - I've often thought it's an under-rated classic - but the cover artwork's a bit dodgy I guess?

Also, 6 Feet Deep by the Gravediggaz - great, great album.

And thats not to mention LTI, CYH and IC - huge personal favourites.

I think IC is under-rated and, yes, I do think CYH is a Hip Hop album (in style and attitude if not entirely in practice)

OK - I think I'm done.

[Lex Diamonds]

I've been thinking about this for days and really can't narrow it down.

I guess I'd have to say -

Paul's Boutique
Nation of Millions
Raising Hell

I was obsessed with PE in my early teenage years and was obsessed with PB for ages (still am to be honest but I stopped playing it EVERY day about 2 years ago).

Sorry folks - honourable mentions have to go to - 3 feet high, 36 Chambers, Bizarre Ride, Enta da Stage, Breaking Atoms, Stunts Blunts & Hip Hop, Low End Theory, Return of the Boom Bap, Illmatic, Things Fall Apart, Midnight Marauders, and So how's your girl?

There's definitely more greats that I've forgotten - personally I'd like to mention T.I.M.E. by Leaders of the New School - it's a chewy little number but that's what I like about it - it's density (like PB). Plus L.O.N.S. like the 'boys are one of the few groups to have really worked the multiple MCs thing through to some logical conclusion - I've often thought it's an under-rated classic - but the cover artwork's a bit dodgy I guess?

Also, 6 Feet Deep by the Gravediggaz - great, great album.

And thats not to mention LTI, CYH and IC - huge personal favourites.

I think IC is under-rated and, yes, I do think CYH is a Hip Hop album (in style and attitude if not entirely in practice)

OK - I think I'm done.
Very solid choices, I dig them all except Enta Da Stage. I heard a lot of good things about it but when I got hold of it I just didn't feel it at all. Maybe I just don't "get it".

Oh yeah and I'd just like to point out the irony of your indecisiveness given your screen name. LOL

[easy 3]

Yo Pads.

Yeah, Enta da Stage is more of a personal one. I love the warm, fuzzy atmosphere of the production and the basslines and stuff and loved Buckshot's swagger and wordplay when it first came out (although I love that Chemistry joint he did with 9th Wonder too).

I realized I forgot Funcrusher Plus by Company Flow too, but that might be quite personal also?

While Paddy's around he can help me rep for the UK too.

I'm saying London Posse's Gangster Chronicle and Task Force's New Mic Order (although that 2nd one could have been a little more consistent it represents an exciting time in my life). I prefer Roots Manuva's Brand New Second Hand to Run Come save Me personally.

easy 15.7!