“Shoot The 5…”
GENERAL By Gotty™ on August 10, 2008 at 10:13 pmAll of this talk of 1998, greatness & classics, it lead me to do some thinking and digging. We’re all consciously aware that most Hip-Hop periodicals have lost quite a bit of their relevancy & credibility. But there was indeed a time when what they said mattered. When they rated albums, you were hard-pressed to argue against them because, before payola & scandal beset them, the periodicals & their respective staffs showed a keen knowledge for was/wasn’t that knock.
Looking back left me wondering, where are you on the The Source’s list of 5 Mic Albums?
Where did The Source miss the mark? Which ones were they dead-on with? How many have/do you own? Regardless of when they were released, how many still make appearances in your listening rotation? Which ones have you never heard in full…or perhaps never heard anything more than the casual radio single(s) that was released with the album?
* Run-D.M.C. — Run-D.M.C.
* Radio — LL Cool J
* Licensed to Ill — The Beastie Boys
* Raising Hell — Run-D.M.C.
* Criminal Minded — Boogie Down Productions
* Paid in Full — Eric B. & Rakim
* Long Live the Kane — Big Daddy Kane
* By All Means Necessary — Boogie Down Productions
* Strictly Business — EPMD
* Straight Out the Jungle — The Jungle Brothers
* Straight Outta Compton — N.W.A.
* It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back — Public Enemy
* The Great Adventures of Slick Rick — Slick Rick
* Critical Beatdown — Ultramagnetic MCs
* No One Can Do It Better — The D.O.C.
* Grip It! On That Other Level — Geto Boys
* People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm — A Tribe Called Quest
* One for All — Brand Nubian
* Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em — Eric B. & Rakim
* AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted — Ice Cube
* Edutainment — Boogie Down Productions
* Breaking Atoms — Main Source
* The Low End Theory — A Tribe Called Quest
* De La Soul Is Dead — De La Soul
* Death Certificate — Ice Cube
* The Chronic — Dr. Dre
* Doggystyle — Snoop Doggy Dogg
* Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) — Wu-Tang Clan
* Illmatic — Nas
* Ready to Die — The Notorious B.I.G.
* The Diary — Scarface
* The Infamous — Mobb Deep
* Only Built 4 Cuban Linx — Raekwon
* Me Against the World — 2Pac
* The Score — The Fugees
* Reasonable Doubt — Jay-Z
* All Eyez on Me — 2Pac
* Life After Death — The Notorious B.I.G.
* Aquemini — Outkast
* 2001 — Dr. Dre
* Stillmatic — Nas
* The Blueprint — Jay-Z
* The Fix — Scarface
* The Naked Truth — Lil’ Kim
Just randomly scanning the list, I can say that…
– Illmatic helped shape my daily existence in ‘94.
– Amerikkka’s Most Wanted was the cherry on top of the pie that PE created with It Takes A Nation….
– Put me on a karoake, give me Paid In Full & BAMN & let me roll.
– I’ve owned Grip It! on wax, tape & CD…and would still buy it again in all three incarnations if I felt the need.
– I’ve never listened to The Naked Truth and…Done By The Forces Of Nature. Out of the Native Tongue fam, JB’s just weren’t my steez. Don’t Lupe me for that one.
The Source’s Five Mic Albums [Wiki]
Previously Posted — “100 To 3″
Posted in GENERAL — Tags: 5 Mics, Magazines, Ratings, The Source, XXL
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70 Comments
how about posting links to download all the albums???
Naked Truth is VERY SHAKY if you ask me. I prefer Scarface’s debut album to The Diary and The Fix.
Now the curveball album — Please Hammer Don’t Hurt Em - Mc Hammer. Musically this album would not be CLOSE to classic - album is average musically and that’s being kind. However, that album launched hip hop into the mainstream. Pepsi commericals, hammertime cartoon, hammer clothes, hammer lunch boxes….the commericalization of hip hop started here if you ask me. Rappers went doing commericals, endorsements, etc until this album dropped. Hate to say it but honestly how can one not say this album paved the way for rappers to make commerical money in the business world outside of hip hop. Just my take
I think it’s worthy to note that most of these were upgraded to 5 Mics years after their initial reviews. What bothers me the most is not the 5 Mic list, or all the arguables that been left out, but all the bullshit that received 4 and 4.5 Mics that YOU KNEW were bought, even after they swore they didn’t sell Mics.
Murda Muzik, College Dropout, and American Gangster were shafted.
Radio, One For All, Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em…, Edutainment were all gifts.
On paper, The Naked Truth, Stillmatic, Me Against The World and De La Soul Is Dead aren’t really 5’s musically but their song content and influence give ‘em the pass. Well maybe not the Kim.
Can’t wait til’ TSS starts building their list…
*looks @ industry…puts head down*
BLUEPRINT 3!!!
Damn, I didn’t know The Fix was 5 mics… that’s my favorite album of all time.
lol i’ll wait on somebody else to amass all those dl links. they can’t be that hard to come across w/a little Googling.
Stakes is High > De La Soul is Dead
it’s kinda fucked up that the only southern shit on the list is geto boys/scarface and one outkast album…i could see soul food and atliens on that list right off the top of my head…i’m sure if i sat here and thought about it i could come up with at least a few more…why’s errybody always hatin’ on the south??? and i ain’t even from there
cuz the south doesnt put out any quality music..or to be a bit more fair…not as much quality as the east or west
so outkast, goodie mob, ludacris, T.I., 3-6 mafia, 8-ball & mjg, etc., etc. don’t put out quality music? that’s the kinda hate i’m talkin about…i mean i realize the music industry (magazines included) were a little slow to accept that the south had some serious talent goin on…so i’m sure that’s part of the reason, but if they retroactively go back and award 5 mics to people who didn’t get them to begin with, why not show some love to dirty south classics too…i’m just sayin
Early on, the O.G. Source Mind Squad set the bar high for hip-hop journalism….so many names, off the top, I couldn’t name ‘em all…
Miss Info did the write ups for Illmatic AND Ready To Die…I believe she graduated from Columbia U….if you follow her current blog, you’ll see her pen game ain’t nuthin’ ta fuck wit….but i digress…
44 5 Mic Albums
I can proudly say I have purchased and own (mostly on CD, a few on tape) 38 of ‘em
so, to make it short, from top to bottom, here’s what I DON’T have:
* Run-D.M.C. — Run-D.M.C.
* Radio — LL Cool J
* Grip It! On That Other Level — Geto Boys
* The Diary — Scarface
* Me Against the World — 2Pac
* The Naked Truth — Lil’ Kim
I HAD Raising Hell & Licensed To Ill at some point a long time ago…pretty familiar with the material on those 2, as well as all the others I own, so no need to replace ‘em now…
I concur w/ Gotty on the JB’s not being my cup of tea either…
and Lil Kim? As far as The Source is/was concerned,
that album getting 5 mics was the nail on the coffin for me
how do I explain away not owning the others? well….
as far as Radio & Run-D.M.C. - I ain’t THAT old, lol
Geto Boys & The Diary - hate to admit it, my anti-Southern bias (which is pretty much non-existent, by the way, lol) started with the ultra-violent subject matter on Grip It! being a bit of a tough pill to swallow for me…not so much what they were talking about, but the manner in which they delivered it
and when Me Against The World came out, Pac was blaring out of speakers everywhere, so I figured I wasn’t missing out on anything
Outkast is on the list. Look at those albums that are on the list. TI, Luda, even Goodie have not made albums like those.
Oh yeah, The Naked Truth I haven’t listened to, probably wont. Anyone, does it really deserve the 5 mic status or is it just bs. I’m guessin bs.
so…I might be a bit of a hypocrite for having and loving “Straight Outta Compton” by N.W.A., but not Geto Boys or ‘Face…
2 words: Andre Young
2 more: Ice Cube
2 more: Eazy & Ren
nobody want to touch me calling please hammer dont hurt em CLASSIC? again, not for the music but for what it did for the BUSINESS of hip hop.
Soul Food is 5 mics in my book…so is Atliens and Coming Out Hard…these are groundbreaking albums that helped to define their era…they were great from front to back
^ cosignature
@ Sherm
No one’s disputing that they put out quality but CLASSICS???? It doesn’t happen often for anybody but for the South, well… you hear the candy paint and swangin’ in most of the songs.
The thing to understand is 5 Mics and “classics” don’t always go hand and hand.
Albums like Soul Food (4.5) ATLiens (4..) and Liquid Swords (4) may be classic in terms of legacy but when you weigh their pros and cons, they fall a little short on that rating scale. It really doesn’t matter @ the end of the day though. If we’re talking 4 or higher, they definitely deserve recognition
Yeah Daddy (none) Dont hurt em Hammer actually screwed hip hop up because then niggaz just started doing it for THE BUSINESS, I never remember hearing soundscan numbers for Ice Cube Amerikkas Most, or Death Certificate and those albums shaped my life, back them they just focused on making good music…
bushwick bill, willie d, scarface. SOLID. I BLAST the sh*t out of that old rap-a-lot music…..
this list makes me think albums like amg - bitch better have my money are highly under-rated
@ Daddy
The album as a whole? HELL NO. “Can’t Touch This” brought that album into the limelight. If this was now, he’d have the hottest ringtone out…nothing more. Back then, it wasn’t outta the ordinary to buy an album in hopes of more songs like the single. That’s the only reason that album sold. No difference than Lil’ Mama hosting that dance shit or Souljaboy being an international celebrity. One song.
I just saw an add for KRS-One ringtones on TSS. I love life.
i guess once you grant an album the “classic” tag, the decision to give it 5 mics (or 5 cigs or an XXL) is based on the personal opinions of the editors, which is fine…but the post is about what albums you agree/disagree with and what might have been left off that should have been there…in my opinion there are some omissions based on either ignorance or plain prejudice against southern music…but then i’d probably put liquid swords and bulletproof wallets on the list…and i don’t think college dropout or american gangster are 5 mic-worthy
Turn This Mutha Out was my JAM
Pump It Up
They Put Me In The Mix
Hammer & 2 Bigg MC rocked the fuck out of some Cazals
Let’s Get It Started homeboy
Yay Area shit
lol
^^^ my bad i meant supreme clientele, not bulletproof wallets…BW is a slept-on classic tho
Oochie Coochie is my favorite MC Brains song
my homie just said he saw a doom imposter @ rock the bells…i dunno how that cat has any fans.
i heard the 5 mics for kim’s “the naked truth” was due to the ass dave mays was getting at the time from someone in kim’s camp… her bizness manager i believe… of course i can’t confirm that, but i first heard about the 5 mic rating on a website before it actually came out in the magazine, which makes me believe that there may be some truth behind the rumor…
^^^ i wouldn’t doubt it…the sauce is crooked as hell
@ wit-e - they’ve been sayin that shit about doom for years…maybe it was this guy:
http://bp1.blogger.com/_CJ_3M7×7dFc/R31iPLUKoGI/AAAAAAAAAFA/QtdK6Q8DniU/s1600-h/fakedoom.jpg
Yeah I heard he employs them on some Santa lil’ helper shit.
Buckshot - I Ain’t No Joke 12″
01 I Ain’t No Joke(Funk Flex Version)
02 No Joke(Clean)
03 No Joke(Instrumental)
04 Follow Me(Clean)
05 Follow Me(Instrumental)
06 Broadway - Freestyle
http://www.zshare.net/download/16368190e338628f/
yall dont think thats foul to do to ur fans?
Large Pro - Main Source 2008
http://rapidshare.com/files/136376239/Large_Pro-Main_Source-2008.rar
holla back
Tracklisting:
01. The Entrance 2:15
02. Hot: Sizzling, Scorching, Torching, Blazing 2:57
03. Maica Living Feat. Killah Sha & Guardian Leep 3:47
04. Pump Ya Fist Feat. Mikey D Lotto 3:13
05. Party Time 2:44
06. In The Ghetto 2:49
07. Hardcore Hip Hop 3:18
08. Frantic Barz 3:02
09. Swein’ Love 2:58
10. Ru Dope Feat. Jeru Tha Damaja 1:01
11. Dap Feat. Lil Dap 0:41
12. Noyd Feat. Big Noyd 0:47
13. Classic Emergency 2:31
14. Rockin’ Hip Hop 3:22
15. Large Pro Says 2:02
16. To The Meadows 1:46
17. The Hardest Feat. Styles P & AZ 4:42
I’m bout to cop that now.
^ ahh yeah, that’s what’s up holmes
And Anotha one……
Elzhi - The Preface
http://rapidshare.com/files/136197326/Elzhi_-_The_Preface__2008_.rar
01. Intro (The Preface) 01:03
02. The Leak (feat. Ayah) 03:32
03. Guessing Game 05:39
04. Motown 25 (feat. Royce Da 5′9″) 03:57
05. Brag Swag 02:41
06. Colors 03:16
07. Fire Rmx 04:06
(feat. Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Fatt Father, Danny Brown,
08. D.E.M.O.N.S. 04:12
09. Save Ya (feat. T3) 04:00
10. Yeah (feat. Phat Kat) 04:14
11. Transitional Joint 04:57
12. Talking In My Sleep 04:20
13. The Science (Feat. Fes Roc) 03:04
14. Hands Up 04:14
15. What I Write 03:40
16. Growing Up (feat. A.B.) 05:02
^ The Source never had free downloads like this! haha
good lookin’ out
Don’t know if anyone posted this yet or not:
Delicious Vinyl - Rmxxology
http://rapidshare.com/files/134440508/va-delicious_vinyl_all_stars_rmxxology_2008-cms.zip
01-Bobby Evans- Freak-A-Zoid Robotz (Rmxxology Theme) [05:34]
02-Young MC- Bust A Move (Don Rimini Ravekid Extended Rmx) [05:32]
03-Tone-Loc Feat Peaches- Wild Thing (Peaches Extended Rmx) [06:05]
04-The Brand New Heavies- Never Stop (Pink Energy Rmx) [04:32]
05-The Pharcyde- Runnin (Philippians Rmx) [05:31]
06-Fatlip- What’s Up Fatlip? (Breakbox Rmx) [03:01]
07-Masta Ace- Slaughterhouse (Eminem Rmx) [03:39]
08-Young MC- Know How Theme (Aaron LacrateDebonair Samir Rmx) [03:46]
09-Masta Ace- Sittin on Chrome (Mr. Flash Sittin on Cr02 Rmx) [04:00]
10-The Pharcyde- Passin’ Me by (Hot Chip Rmx) [05:57]
11-Fatlip- What’s Up Fatlip? (Breakbox Rmx)(Inst) [03:01]
12-The Brand New Heavies- Never Stop (Pink Energy Rmx)(Inst) [04:33]
13-The Pharcyde- Runnin (Phillippians Rmx)(Inst) [05:32]
14-Masta Ace- Sittin on Chrome (Mr. Flash Sittin on Cr02 Rmx)(Inst) [04:01]
15-The Pharcyde- Passin Me by (Hot Chip Rmx)(Inst) [05:57]
MF Doom’s just a weird cat man… prolific, too. But he’s not the first cat to be running out fakes.
UGK - The Southern Way
http://sharebee.com/337b77a4
I think Doom & homie be doing
that to be in separate places
simultaneously…
i mean, why else would U do that ???
anywayz though…on the other subject matter
Pun first jaint( Capitol Punishment)
was all wayz the DOPEST 2 me.
& i aint southern neither but Nappy Roots
Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz
was one of my Favorites.
ATCQ:The Low End Theory
SHIIIIIIIIIT…..in ‘91 that had errie-Buddy frum BK 2 KweenZ
rocking that album beginning 2 end wit out no pauses .
& i dont know if sound trx should be on this list ??
but if they was ??
then im a def. have ta say Belly snd trk
& Above the Rim…..or sunset park
sum of ya’ll talk ’bout muzik frum da’ south…
i also must admit to listening to and really enjoying
The Greatest Story Ever Told frum David Banner,
which is a recent release but still sound good.
and lets not forgit UGK
Too Hard to Swallow
i picked up on it frum my Haitian homie frum lil Haiti
round ’bout 94 or 95
but it opened my mind up to the south.
i mean nigguhs was talkin ’bout the same shit under ground hard core rappers was talkin ’bout..
but they sounded different..
geto boys of course, but they all reddy on the list…
so on & so forth…
but this a good ass topic..
i gots to go to bed ..but cha’ll nikkas got my mind racing
in a franticly nostalgic manner…
ya’ll f*cken me up….LOL
1 !!!
I am going to have to pull out my old Source issues and scan some stuff for the TSS fam.
Looking at the Redman issue right now (November 1994)!
Get mad Source’s here
http://thimk.wordpress.com
@ TC
WOW!!!
Guess I do not have to scan anything… lol!
The Internet… if something is not already on it…
It does not exist.
(Or has not yet been created!)
P.S. Thanks - I think he has some issues that I do not have.
midnight marauders (tribe) didnt get 5 mics?
neither did things fall apart (roots)?
only built for cuban linx (rae)…no 5 mics?
supreme clientele (ghost)…no 5 either?
WORD…
thats not right in my opinion…
^^^Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is clearly up there.
The other 3 not so lucky.
In retrospect, Low End Theory is a tough album to follow and while Midnight Maruaders has signs of greatness, it didn’t measure up completely. I even heard people *coughronnie* say “Award Tour” wasn’t a classic song…
Can anyone name the tracklist of Things Fall Apart off the top of their heads?
Ghost is my top 5 all-time but trying to convert a non-Ghost listener is like trying to teach em’ Spanish. It just ain’t happening. If he really indeed have an ultimate classic, it shouldn’t be so hard. 4.5 ain’t too shabby though.
Where did The Source miss the mark?
Easy…. they didn’t give Paris 5 mics for “The Devil Made Me Do It”
how they could miss out on an album of such importance is a mystery to me…
Ridin’ Dirty-UGK
ATLiens-Outkast
Adrenaline Rush-Twista
Off the top of my head^^
I think the point is to judge what is ON the list not what we believe SHOULD be on there. That in mind
The J B’s, The ATCQ and the The Blueprint never made it into my purchased list. The Lil’ Kim Never happened
The J.B’s - were so not my style and while I have heard some of that album it just won’t get purchased unless I am going to complete a Source 5 Mic set. Period.
The ATCQ - .. I missed the beginning of the boat and never looked to go back.. weird since I own all the others including Love Movement. Ehh
and
The Blueprint - simply said I was being an asshole because at the time I never liked his steelo. Plus I had a cousin that rocked that album all the time so I never needed to own it.
The Naked Truth - I listened to it in the store.. I think Circuit City .. and I was like — its good.. but not 5 mic good. And that was one time I let the rating dictate what I bought and it was a negative reaction. Plus .. to me at that point it was common knowledge that the rating was a gift. I remember this was when they (the Source) were going back and re-accessing the ratings that everyone said they screwed. It was too late by then and to toss Lil Kim out there was just too much for the kid. In a twist of fate it was the 1st time my ex-wife had ever purchased me music and she bought that album based on the fact I didn’t have it. … Ehh
* Run-D.M.C. — Run-D.M.C. (4)
* Radio — LL Cool J (4)
* Licensed to Ill — The Beastie Boys (5)
* Raising Hell — Run-D.M.C. (5)
* Criminal Minded — Boogie Down Productions (4)
* Paid in Full — Eric B. & Rakim (4.5)
* Long Live the Kane — Big Daddy Kane (5)
* By All Means Necessary — Boogie Down Productions (4)
* Strictly Business — EPMD (5)
* Straight Out the Jungle — The Jungle Brothers (4.5)
* Straight Outta Compton — N.W.A. (5)
* It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back — Public Enemy (5)
* The Great Adventures of Slick Rick — Slick Rick (5)
* Critical Beatdown — Ultramagnetic MCs (5)
* No One Can Do It Better — The D.O.C. (5)
* Grip It! On That Other Level — Geto Boys (3.5)
* People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm — A Tribe Called Quest (5)
* One for All — Brand Nubian (5)
* Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em — Eric B. & Rakim (4.5)
* AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted — Ice Cube (5)
* Edutainment — Boogie Down Productions (4)
* Breaking Atoms — Main Source (5)
* The Low End Theory — A Tribe Called Quest (5)
* De La Soul Is Dead — De La Soul (5)
* Death Certificate — Ice Cube (5)
* The Chronic — Dr. Dre (5)
* Doggystyle — Snoop Doggy Dogg (5)
* Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) — Wu-Tang Clan (5)
* Illmatic — Nas (5)
* Ready to Die — The Notorious B.I.G.(5)
* The Diary — Scarface (5)
* The Infamous — Mobb Deep (5)
* Only Built 4 Cuban Linx — Raekwon (5)
* Me Against the World — 2Pac (5)
* The Score — The Fugees (4.5)
* Reasonable Doubt — Jay-Z (5)
* All Eyez on Me — 2Pac (4)
* Life After Death — The Notorious B.I.G. (4)
* Aquemini — Outkast (4.5)
* 2001 — Dr. Dre (4)
* Stillmatic — Nas (4)
* The Blueprint — Jay-Z (5)
* The Fix — Scarface (5)
* The Naked Truth — Lil’ Kim ($$$$)
now although all these albums have great replay value, the ones that got less than a 5 from me simply were either too long OR had more than a couple joints that i always skip over when listening to again.
UGK “Ridin Dirty” is a classic! Just ask Jay-Z he will tell you. IMO “Dirty Money” is a classic too! I can play that from end to end no problem. The first 3 Eightball and MJG albums are classic as well. Maybe its just regional, but you couldnt go to anybody’s house, ride in someone’s car, or listen to there cd walkman and not hear these albums. Around my way “The Best of C-Bo”, The Hall of Fame”, and “Untouchable” all go major play too. I’m probably the reverse of a lot of people on here being that while I gave East Coast music burn, I’m more or less a Southern Rap head. Being in Milwaukee back then, and quite frankly now too is like living down south.
if UGK - Ridin’ Dirty is not up there it is hard to take the list seriously. at the same time, its tough to rate shit especially with all the money and politics involved with a zine. with this in mind, the list of 5 mic albums is actually pretty solid.
RE: the doom shit. i am definitely a doom fan. he is my fav MC and i own every release he done (recently i just lost the madvillain CD i’m fucking pissed). i even got doomsday on vinyl. anyways, the point is, i am a fan. i’m not offended by doom doing this shit, even though it is not ideal. this is doom. when approached about these allegations, he didn’t douse the fire, but rather fanned the flames. its the mystique of a superhero who never shows his face. how do we know what we are seeing is real or not. and, if it looks the same, and sounds the same, then does it matter that what is beneath the surface is different? MF doom wears a metal face. i can understand how some fans may be angry though. also, i think dumile might be seriously ill or some shit cos he ain’t releasing shit and also it would help to explain this impersonating shit a bit.
Lil Kim getting 5 mics is like me getting 5 mics…and I don’t even rhyme. What a joke. That was a sad day for The Source and their Benzino politics (he was screwing her manager, right?). There’s quite a few more on that list that would be closer to 3.5’s or 4’s than 5’s, IMO. But opinion isn’t fact. I’m just about to post that Ready to Die (4.5 mic) review, too, so keep checking.
thimk.wordpress.com
Over half those albums didn’t originally receive 5 Mics Then the when the Source needed to sell some Mags they when back and rated albums that released prior to the existence of The Source and rerated Albums they fucked up on like Ready to Die & Reasonable Doubt. Kinda Lame
Let me give you some albums from the south that should get 5 mics. If you are above the Mason - Dixon line, then you won’t understand.
Outkast - Atliens
Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Master P -Ghetto Dope
Devin - The Dude
Goodie Mob - Soul Food
8Ball & MJG - Coming out Hard
8Ball & MJG - On Top Of The World
UGK - Riding Dirty
Prove me Wrong
still get regular spins:
Illmatic, Ready To Die, Reasonable Doubt, The Infamous, Aquemini, Me Against The World, The Score, The Blueprint, The Chronic, Let The Rhythm Hit Em…
I always thought Life After Death didn’t deserve 5, maybe 4.5 but not 5…
The Fix gets slept on bad…(even by me) but whenever I put it on I just zone out and chill to it…
It Takes A Nation Of Millions…doesn’t get as much play cause its reserved for those special occasions when u just need to get hype as hell…(same goes for 36 Chambers)
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… used to get more spins from me (but theres just so many Wu-Tang releases that they all kinda get less spins as a result of how much selection there is)
Albums that should be on the list:
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, All We Got Iz Us, Atliens, Black On Both Sides, Black Star, Capital Punishment, Moment Of Truth, Liquid Swords, Mecca & The Soul Brother, The Main Ingredient, Soul Food, Supreme Clientele, & The True Meaning
Needs Off the list:
The Naked Truth, Life After Death, 2001, All Eyez On Me (any Tupac record other than Me Against The World gets mad skips from me)
Southside King Says:
Let me give you some albums from the south that should get 5 mics. If you are above the Mason - Dixon line, then you won’t understand.
———————————————————————————————————
why dudes always gotta play the region card…i can’t stand that shit…the south got some classics (a lot) and so does the west…5 stars/mics though? i dunno…
i’ll co sign Ridin Dirty though…of course as i said Atliens and Soul Food…
for the record…i’m from the south…texas to be exact…
IT WOULD B REAL HOT IF YALL POSTED THE LINKS TO ALL THESE ALBUMS
The Roots Illadelph Halflife > Things Fall Apart and should of been a 5 Mic. Theres many albums I believe deserved the classic status, but this one got shafted more than most.
@tres - I agree with you on The Roots. That was the best album of ‘96, IMO, but the Fugees blew up (from an R&B song) and overshadowed almost everyone that year.
I’ve never heard the ultramagnetic joint, “Breaking Atoms”, or “Stillmatic”, and I’m, uh, *well* into my thirties.
I still think “Supertight” > “Ridin’ Dirty”, but that’s like saying 5 > 4.5. the track selection and sequencing on that joint is perfect, “Ridin..” has a couple of filler tracks.
The Def American release “The Geto Boys” is pretty much the same as “Grip It…” but the mix is 100% better…I swear Rap-A-Lot cuts so many corners in the production and mixing
I’ve never got the appeal of “The Fix”, and I’m from Houston…
The Blueprint is the closest thing to perfect. There shouldn’t have been any sequels. Maybe “Ready To Die” is a close second.
How does everyone manage to ignore The Beastie Boys? Paul’s Boutique/Check Your Head/Ill Communication is arguably the best 3-album streak…oops Outkast never mind
gw
Southside I’m from the Illadelph I own all of those infact I’m probably one of the few people that owns every album on the list and the ones that are mentioned in this post.
I agree on all those Albums except Ghetto Dope. It was over produced even by BBTP standards. The Album actually lame. It’s not even the best P Album see Mr. Ice Cream Man or True or True to the da game. But Ghetto Dope nah. So of course this was the most poplar P album because it took most people a few years to catch on to No Limit (especially most people up here). But songs like Gansta’s Need Love and I Miss My Homies. C’mon man
But as this was the peak fo No Limit it was also the Valley because it was pretty much downhill after this soon after time. From Ca$h Money Startin to bubblin to P and No Limit were losin Soldiers left and Right for various reasons. P even started wrestling on WCW, tried for the NBA and then he got real desperate and started biting Outkast (Hootie Hoo) and Aaliyah (Rock The Boat), Damn near destroying Snoop He eventually filed for Bankruptcy. Game Over
7 outta 8 ain’t bad You could put Soul Food or Face’s Diary of a Mad Man in there
“The Blueprint is the closest thing to perfect.”
I have to disagree, IMO I could never stand the sappiness of “Song Cry” and “Never Change,”
“Girls, Girls, Girls” was coo’ but not banger material,
“Jigga That Nigga” and “Hola Hovito” always get skipped cause they sound like filler,
“Momma Loves Me” get skipped as well.
Everything else is pretty much crack, but I find those six tracks either average or sub par, so on a personal note, I wouldn’t call Blueprint a classic.
I mean it’s not for everyone to understand in full…and like I said, you can’t put too much emphasis on the 5 Mic/Cig argument if its quality it’s quality…BUT…people should have at least a general understanding on why their favorite albums didn’t get a perfect 5…
‘Specially the South. All that swangin’, candy paint, simple life talk, gets pretty redundant. U.G.K. albums? Seriously? Musically and artistically is that fuckin’ with any of the vivid pictures Face and Kast put in their music?
You have to ask yourself: what type of fan am I? Are you content with something that sounds smooth or hard; something you can just turn it up loud in your whip and go, or do you require your artists to balance themselves out a little bit? The standard’s been set by some of the great albums and some artists just aren’t capable of meeting that level. Does that mean they’re best albums are bad? C’mon now. But when submitting your opinion on matters like this, are you considering the big picture, or just your picture?
Its not hard to see how albums like 2001, Life After Death, and The Score transcended across the nation and were able to reach even non-Hip-Hop fans without compromising their art. (How anyone can discredit any of those is beyond me, but then again, it says alot for your musical preferences)
Same goes for the obviously dope albums like Illadelph…, Muddy Waters, ‘93 Til’ Infinity…etc…etc… I mean if you was blasting those non-stop for 3 straight years, is it safe to say that you may have missed out on other forms of Hip-Hop that are different but equally dope. Would anyone be afraid to admit that albums like these may be a little too…much? Like overkill…just a tad?
I dunno, just some thoughts people.
Lil Kim - The Naked Truth
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In the words of the late great Pimp C: “Take that monkey shit off. You’re embarrassing us!”
Big Fonz: Thanks for the Large Pro and Elzhi.
ready to die is a classic and tops blueprint by a ways IMO which is a 4 mic for me. I’d argue for OB4CL being a 5 mic classic also, that album is incredible. never was big on pac. kim’s album was pretty good but classic? Hmmm. Most other stuff on there is cool. It’s so subjective. Some great albums there I’d forgotten about and will now revisit. Thanks.
P.S Madvilliany is a 5 mic album!
Okay I’m done.
Okay. Well first off, its kinda pointless to argue over what you think “deserves” a 5. All that stuff is based off straight opinion. That’s why I always thought reviews were kinda pointless. I mean at best I agree with you, at worst I don’t, but I never let a review sway me one way or the other ’cause you might end up missin out on some tight shit. I mean, every now and again something comes along that just rub you the wrong way and shit but you can still recognize the quality in it, but let’s be real—that’s shit is too too rare.
Anyway….in 98 I was 10 years old so I ain’t have none of these albums. Since then tho…
* Paid in Full — Eric B. & Rakim
* Long Live the Kane — Big Daddy Kane
* Straight Outta Compton — N.W.A.
* AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted — Ice Cube
* The Chronic — Dr. Dre
* Doggystyle — Snoop Doggy Dogg
* Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) — Wu-Tang Clan
* Illmatic — Nas
* Only Built 4 Cuban Linx — Raekwon
* The Score — The Fugees
* Reasonable Doubt — Jay-Z
My friend let me cop The Chronic back when I was in Junior High, so like ‘01 or something. That was my joint for at least ’bout…3 years.
I got Straight Outta Compton when I first got a computer back in 04. Even though by then I was getting like a CD a day I kept that in my CD player for almost a year.
The rest I all got sometime this summer/year so naturally they still get plays.
Oh yeah….Li’l Kim?? Five mics? GTFO. Even for pussy I wouldn’t give that chick a perfect 5.