Top 10 Hip-Hop LPs of The 00s

[Lex Diamonds]

Now that it's over and has been for a while, we can (try to) look back and pick our favourites of the decade.

In no particular order:

Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Jay-Z - The Blueprint
Kanye West - Late Registration
Scarface - The Fix
Army of the Pharaohs - The Torture Papers
Consequence - Don't Quit Your Day Job
Common - Basement Evolution
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2

[Sir SkratchaLot]

D-Styles - "Phantazmagorea"
Edan - "Beauty and the Beat"
Ricci Rucker & Mike Boo - "Sketchbook"
EL P - "Fantastic Damage"
Del the Funky Homosapien - "Both Sides of the Brain"
Jurrassic 5 - "Quality Control"
DJ Shadow - "Private Press"
Toadstyle - "Switchblade Sermons"
Third Sight – "Symbionese Liberation Album"
J-Live - "The Best Part" (I know this was supposed to drop in 99 but . . .)

[Lex Diamonds]

Are they seriously your top 10? There's at least 2 in there that I personally thought were garbage.

[Planetary]

haha that's the worst top ten ever

[cubsfirstplace]

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Kanye West -The College Dropout
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
Nas - God's Son
Nas - Stillmatic
The Roots - Phrenology
Raekwon - Only Built for the Cuban Linx II
Jay - The Blueprint
Outkast - Stankonia
Eminem - Relapse

[Kid Presentable]

Hmm....can only put down the ones I like, shit's so changeable and it would be lame if everybody just put the same stuff

Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
Clipse - Lord Willin
Dilla - Donuts
Common - Be
El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
Eminem - Relapse
Nas - God's Son
Ghost - Supreme Clientele
M.O.P - Warriorz
Can I put down Hot Sauce Committee 2? If not then slap one of Jay-Z's better albums in there (nobody cares which one they're all the same as long as its BP or Black Album)

[Kid Presentable]

D-Styles - "Phantazmagorea"
Edan - "Beauty and the Beat"
Ricci Rucker & Mike Boo - "Sketchbook"
EL P - "Fantastic Damage"
Del the Funky Homosapien - "Both Sides of the Brain"
Jurrassic 5 - "Quality Control"
DJ Shadow - "Private Press"
Toadstyle - "Switchblade Sermons"
Third Sight – "Symbionese Liberation Album"
J-Live - "The Best Part" (I know this was supposed to drop in 99 but . . .)

Interesting list. I like lots of these ones. (y)

[camo]

El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead

It took me a good few listens to get into that record, but it's a fantastically detailed and layered listen (y)

There'll be some that'll get disputed here;

El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
P.O.S - Never better
Eyedea & Abilities - E&A
Outkast - Stankonia
Cage - Hells Winter
Ludacris - Word of Mouf
Sage francis - Human death dance
Akala - It's Not a Rumour
Talib Kweli - Quality
Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance....yes yes I know but I love the sound of that album.

[Kid Presentable]

Ludacris - Word of Mouf
Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance.

I wish I'd given more time to these, the latter in particular.

[Monsieur Decuts]

Madvillian - Madvillany
Ghostface - Supreme Clientele
Johnson and Jonson - J and J
PUTS - OST
The Mouse and the Mask - DANGERDOOM
Expansion Team - Dilated Peoples
The Blueprint - Jay-Z
Del - Both Sides of the Brain
N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo
Egoclapper - MC Esoteric

honorable mention : HSCSII, Deltron 3030
This list definitely mutates but these have been and will always will be in heavy rotation round here

[Micodin]

Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
J Dilla - Donuts
DangerDoom - The Mouse And The Mask
Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
Common - Be
Action Bronson - Dr. Lecter
Jaylib - Champion Sound
Kanye West - The College Dropout
Eminem - The Eminem Show
KRS-One - Keep Right

[Sir SkratchaLot]

Are they seriously your top 10? There's at least 2 in there that I personally thought were garbage.

I don't get my musical tastes from reading Rolling Stone and reading rap blogs bluhd. Personally, the way I see it, by the time 2000 came around shit was seriously falling apart in the rap game. "Underground" was turning wack and commercial was turning really wack. Meanwile, in the early 2000s DJs were breaking all sorts of new ground. As far as I'm concerned Phantazmagorea and Scetchbook were, by far, the freshest albums to come out in that decade. I couldn't have cared less about Jay Z in that decade.

[Lex Diamonds]

I don't get my musical tastes from reading Rolling Stone and reading rap blogs bluhd.
Never said you did... neither do I, man. Just seems like in your quest to be unique you forgot about a lot of better albums.

It just seems funny to me that you "couldn't care less" about The Blueprint, an album which eschewed the emerging electronic production style in favour of creative use of soul samples, launched the career of one of the best producers of the decade (as well as featuring a few others), sparked one of the biggest hip-hop feuds of all time and featured possibly the greatest verses ever written by one of the deepest lyricists to ever touch mics (Em). It's a significant album to hip-hop in nearly every way, musically, culturally and personnel-wise.

Yet you say El-Producto's album was top 10 of the decade. It's only an opinion, obviously, but I honestly don't understand how someone could think it's a better LP.

[camo]

I wish I'd given more time to these, the latter in particular.

You really should. It's a criminally overlooked album.

[Lex Diamonds]

It's a good 'un alright. I remember Steve Merchant going on about it on XFM back in '02 or something, haha.

[synch]

Yeah, I've definitely stopped listening to new hip-hop sometime in the mid-nineties.

The only album in this thread from anyone's list that I've listened to back to back and multiple times is Phrenology.

[camo]

It's a good 'un alright. I remember Steve Merchant going on about it on XFM back in '02 or something, haha.

Really? What was he saying?

i love this track from it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeuuB2lQPOw)

[Sir SkratchaLot]

Never said you did... neither do I, man. Just seems like in your quest to be unique you forgot about a lot of better albums.

It just seems funny to me that you "couldn't care less" about The Blueprint, an album which eschewed the emerging electronic production style in favour of creative use of soul samples, launched the career of one of the best producers of the decade (as well as featuring a few others), sparked one of the biggest hip-hop feuds of all time and featured possibly the greatest verses ever written by one of the deepest lyricists to ever touch mics (Em). It's a significant album to hip-hop in nearly every way, musically, culturally and personnel-wise.

Yet you say El-Producto's album was top 10 of the decade. It's only an opinion, obviously, but I honestly don't understand how someone could think it's a better LP.

I was just listing albums that I personally rotate from that era. Fantastic Damage was no Funcrusher, but it peaked my interest because it sounded fresh. El P was actually still connected. The whole Linda Trip thing was way more interesting to me than beef between Nas and Jay Z. How is a motherfucker supposed to relate to drinking Krystal?

By the time 2000 rolled around I was so deep into the scratch thing that I lost interest in a lot of rap. It just seemed stagnant in comparrison. I didn't like the direction that mainstream hip hop took during that area. Lyrically and production wise. It has nothing to do with trying to be unique for the sake of being unique, its that the deeper I got into things the more abstract my tastes got. Commericial hip hop seemed like it was pandering by that point. Production in general took a nose-dive because everybody thought they could compose. Cats were making wack beats and trying to diss sampling. I was more likely to buy a Freddie Hubbard LP than a rap LP in that decade.

That's not to diss what Jay Z or Eminem or Scarface was doing during that time period. They just fell behind my personal individual hip hop curve. The problem with these later albums from my own perspective is that they have to live up to the earlier shit, which is almost unversally better. Blueprint might be the exception when you look at the whole album. That being said, I've got a lot more 12"s off Jay-Z's earlier LPs, usually because of the beats. When you start looking at the Wu I couldn't keep interest after the RZA blew his wad. I did buy legend of the liquid swords, which was okay, but when you compare it to liquid swords there's just no question which one is doper. So, if I'm going to listen to Wu, it's going to be one of those early albums. That's not to say Supreme Clientele isn't a dope album, I guess I just have a soft spot for Ironmnan so, it's just not getting the rotation from me. Same thing with Army of the Pharoahs. When I first heard them (along with Jedi Mind tricks, the whole Brick Records thing in general) it sounded really fresh. The later albums just couldn't live up to that high standard for me so I lost interest. I guess it's not fair to judge that way but that's how it goes.

I wasn't trying to list the most popular albums. I was just listing shit off the top of my head that I actually listen to from that era. What I listed was what stuck out at the time. I rarely even buy rap LPs anyway. When you DJ its all about 12"s and mixtapes.

I don't know how I left Deltron off my list. That was crazy shit. The whole concept was cool. Like a fucked up movie soundtrack with no movie.

[Lex Diamonds]

Ironman's my favourite Ghost album too, but that don't stop SC being one of the finest albums of the last decade. The AOTP album I named was their first album, too. The list wasn't supposed to be about what gets the most spins- that doesn't equate to overall quality, just look at the charts- it was about which albums you think were genuinely the most seminal and perfectly rounded, even if you don't listen to them on the regular anymore.

I could make a list of the top ten 2000s albums I have listened to in the last year, it wouldn't make them the best LPs though.

[Lyman Zerga]

Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Jay-Z - The Blueprint
Kanye West - Late Registration
Scarface - The Fix
Army of the Pharaohs - The Torture Papers
Consequence - Don't Quit Your Day Job
Common - Basement Evolution
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2

[Lex Diamonds]

Your list sucks, all those albums are garbage, what you tryina kick knowledge? Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it?

[Sir SkratchaLot]

Hey, if you haven't already, check out this garbage

http://www.discogs.com/Army-Of-The-Pharaohs-The-Five-Perfect-Exertions-War-Ensemble/release/255816

http://www.discogs.com/Jedi-Mind-Tricks-The-Amber-Probe-EP/release/358709

http://www.discogs.com/Jedi-Mind-Tricks-The-Psycho-Social-Chemical-Biological-And-Electro-Magnetic-Manipulation-Of-Human-Co/release/240536

http://www.discogs.com/7L-Esoteric-Protocol-Touch-The-Mic-Be-Alert/master/68912

[Lex Diamonds]

Yeah man I got those, quality shit. I almost prefer 00s Vinnie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIIh9arMzqQ) to his early JMT shit, although he got a bit carried away with the whole gangsta image- Season of the Assassin was pretty weak despite the promising guest spots.

The 7L & Esoteric shit is fire too. (y)

[p-branez]

Man, "The College Dropout" is way above "Late Registration."

To add to the Def Jux discussion, one of the two following:

"The Cold Vein" by Cannibal Ox
"Labor Days" by Aesop Rock

Of those two, I like Can Ox more.

[Lex Diamonds]

Really? What was he saying?

i love this track from it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeuuB2lQPOw)
http://www.pilkipedia.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Bubba_Sparxxx

[camo]

haha awesome!

[MC Moot]

The fact that no one hit on Blackalicious "The Craft" makes all these lists...well...moot...

[MC Moot]

Eminem records and no Handsome Boy Modeling School mention?...gawd...

[Sir SkratchaLot]

The fact that no one hit on Blackalicious "The Craft" makes all these lists...well...moot...

Man, I know the reasoning behind my list isn't really logical, but I just can't put the Craft in a top 10 list knowing that Melodica was so much better. After that I felt like Blackalicious had some really dope stand out tracks but that their albums as a whole were not up to snuff.

At least the first Handsomeboy was in the 90s. I never listened to the later one. How is it?

[Kid Presentable]

Eminem records and no Handsome Boy Modeling School mention?...gawd...

The one worth mentioning came out in 99.


At least the first Handsomeboy was in the 90s. I never listened to the later one. How is it?

Average.

I would have an alt list with Madvillainy on it.

[Lex Diamonds]

The fact that no one hit on Blackalicious "The Craft" makes all these lists...well...moot...
I love that album but it's not Top 10.

I could also put together an alt list with some of this shit on it. But I'm going for all round indisputable greats, not personal quirks.

[The Notorious LOL]

lol@The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness

I put that record on ebay a few years ago and someone paid $90 for it. Its good but its not THAT good. Its funny listening to Vinnie Paz on that and comparing it to the follow up record where hes all "I SHOOT MUFUCKAS!!!"

I dunno if its top 10...but a really solid frequently overlooked LP is "No Said Date" by Masta Killa.

Also my favorite album of the 2000s is The Cold Vein by Cannibal Ox

[MC Moot]

Nobody said Dilated Peoples,Dead Prez or People Under the Stairs...so I will...

[Lex Diamonds]

Eminem records and no Handsome Boy Modeling School mention?...gawd...
Are you even trying to compare Handsome Boy Modelling School to MMLP Eminem? That's a joke, right?

[MC Moot]

I'm not trying to compare shite...which however,is what Eminem is to me...that's all...

[Lex Diamonds]

Have you even listened to the album?

[checkyourprez]

I'm not trying to compare shite...which however,is what Eminem is to me...that's all...

poor response. first couple albums are very good. unequivocally. its one of those things not up for debate.

[MC Moot]

Have you even listened to the album?

Sure I found it to be inorganic,repetitive,simple and ugly...little to no merit for me...that's how I find his entire catalogue...I don't dig his style,substance,beats or delivery...

[Sir SkratchaLot]

lol@The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness

I put that record on ebay a few years ago and someone paid $90 for it. Its good but its not THAT good. Its funny listening to Vinnie Paz on that and comparing it to the follow up record where hes all "I SHOOT MUFUCKAS!!!"

I dunno if its top 10...but a really solid frequently overlooked LP is "No Said Date" by Masta Killa.

Also my favorite album of the 2000s is The Cold Vein by Cannibal Ox

I ALMOST put the Can Ox on the list but album as a whole didn't live up to that first 12" they put out which was crazy dope.

[Sir SkratchaLot]

Sure I found it to be inorganic,repetitive,simple and ugly...little to no merit for me...that's how I find his entire catalogue...I don't dig his style,substance,beats or delivery...

I actually feel you on this, to an extent. Em does have some crazy shit though. His verse on that Shabam Shadeeq 12" is what got me buying his early 12"s.

But he DID fall vicitim to the same shit that frustrated me about hip hop in the 2000s. It just seemed to lose it's cultural relevance and became more and more about feeding the apetites of suburbanites living out their fantasies of gangsterism. Not that this wasn't happening in the 80s and 90s, but shit got really lopsided around 2000 on. That's what happens when money grabs hold though. You've got Jay Z boycotting cristal instead of Chuck D dissing Arizona.

In the mid to late 90s underground was a response to the commercial pandering. All of those underground records were focused inward on other MCs and DJs instead of being focused on mass audiences. Rappers on TV were talking about Bentleys and underground cats were mostly kicking battle rhymes. But then a lot of those underground rappers fell vicitim to same the bullshit as they began making desperate grabs for street cred and album sales. Being underground stopped being cool because you'd get associated with Anticon or whathaveyou. The whole shit fell off in my opinion.

At the time most most of these mentioned albums were dropping commercial rap just felt poisonous to me. I really didn't want anything to do with anything but cutting it up over loopers and break records and listening to jazz and sould records.

Anyway, who cares really. "Best of" is kind of stupid to be arguing about since everything is subjective. Except for that "Bed Intruder" song on youtube. That shit is undisputable heaters.

[MC Moot]

You've got Jay Z boycotting cristal instead of Chuck D dissing Arizona...

Word...(y)

At the time most most of these mentioned albums were dropping commercial rap just felt poisonous to me. I really didn't want anything to do with anything but cutting it up over loopers and break records and listening to jazz and sould records...

yes,yes...(y)

[DJ Pioneer]

Man, "The College Dropout" is way above "Late Registration."

To add to the Def Jux discussion, one of the two following:

"The Cold Vein" by Cannibal Ox
"Labor Days" by Aesop Rock

Of those two, I like Can Ox more.

Aesop Rock's Labor Days is one of the top 10 albums of the last decade? Really? By chance, I was just listening to it yesterday. A lot of the things he says just don't make sense. No, I'm not an idiot who can't figure out his "complex rhymes." In my opinion, that album had maybe two excellent songs, a few pretty good ones, and many that are skippable. As much as I prefer the underground to the mainstream, I don't think you can compare this album to Jay-Z's Blueprint or an early Eminem album.

[checkyourprez]

Aesop Rock's Labor Days is one of the top 10 albums of the last decade? Really? By chance, I was just listening to it yesterday. A lot of the things he says just don't make sense. No, I'm not an idiot who can't figure out his "complex rhymes." In my opinion, that album had maybe two excellent songs, a few pretty good ones, and many that are skippable. As much as I prefer the underground to the mainstream, I don't think you can compare this album to Jay-Z's Blueprint or an early Eminem album.

four shore, no aesop rock album belongs on any top ten list.

[p-branez]

Ok, sure. I actually said "one of the two" and picked The Cold Vein. So I agree.

[Monsieur Decuts]

Nobody said Dilated Peoples,Dead Prez or People Under the Stairs...so I will...

did you even read the lists?

[DJ Pioneer]

Ok, sure. I actually said "one of the two" and picked The Cold Vein. So I agree.

Yeah, I would agree that they're definitely cool albums. They're unique in their own ways. In retrospect, I actually prefer Cannibal Ox. No Regrets was a standout song for Aesop Rock on that album.