I have just started listening to rap and need some ideas on what to buy on iTunes. Please no Eminem, I already know he rocks. My Top albums (more than 10)
Illmatic - Nas
Paid in Full - Eric B & Rakim
Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z
Aquemini - Outkast
Operation: Doomsday - MF Doom
The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor - Lupe Fiasco
ATLiens - Outkast
Midnight Marauders - A Tribe Called Quest
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chanbers) - Wu-Tang Clan
Things Fall Apart - The Roots
Fantastic, Vol. 2 - Slum Village
The Tipping point - The Roots
Lupe Fiasco's The Cool - Lupe Fiasco
The Blueprint - Jay-Z
Like Water for Chocolate - Common
Atlantis: Hymns for Disco - K-OS
Soul Food - Goodie Mob
Stankonia - Outkast
Stillmatic - Nas
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde - The Pharcyde
All Eyes on Me - 2Pac
Still Standing - Goodie Mob
People's Instinctive Travels - A Tribe Called Quest
Ready 2 Die - The Notorious B.I.G.
Resurrection - Common Here's some good stuff.
~Artist - Album~
Nas - Illmatic
2Pac - All Eyez on Me
Common - Be
Chamillionaire - Ultimate Victory
Bun-B - Trill
The Game - The Documentary
Fabolous - Real Talk
Big Tymers - Big Money Heavyweight
Mannie Fresh - The Mind of Mannie Fresh
T.I. - T.I. Vs. T.I.P.
Joell Ortiz - The Brick
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I'm probably forgetting some good albums, but these albums would be a good place to start. Welcome to Hip-Hop! first... eminem sucks.
tribe called qwest
jay-z
nas
outkast
talib kweli
common
black star
atmosphere
brother ali
nwa
wu-tang
beastie boys
binary star
k-os
mia
213
mos def
styles p
wyclef
lupe fiasco...
or listen to the underground stations on i-tunes radio Albums:
01. Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.
02. Illmatic - Nas
03. Paid in Full - Eric B. & Rakim
04. Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G.
05. Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers - Wu-Tang Clan
06. Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z
07. Raising Hell - Run-D.M.C.
08. AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted - Ice Cube
09. Get Rich or Die Tryin' - 50 Cent
10. Life After Death - The Notorious B.I.G.
11. The Chronic - Dr. Dre
12. Doggystyle - Snoop Doggy Dogg
13. Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
14. Liquid Swords - GZA
15. The Fix -Scarface
16. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx - Raekwon
17. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
18. No One Can Do It Better - The D.O.C.
19. Aquemini - Outkast
20. The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick - Slick Rick
21. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
22. The Infamous - Mobb Deep
23. Capital Punishment - Big Pun
24. Me Against the World - 2Pac
25. The Documentary - The Game Bone thugs n harmony-- E. 1999 Eternal
Wu-tang clan-- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Nate Dogg-- Music & Me Albums:
The Listening by Little Brother
Amerikkka Most Wanted by Ice Cube
Midnight Mirader by A Tribe Called Quest
Enta Da Stage by Black Moon
Only Built for Cuban Links by Raekwon
KRS-One by KRS ONE
Labcabincalifornia by Pharcyde
Dirty 30 by CRU
N*ggaz for Life by NWA
Hard to Earn by Gang Starr
Songs:
Nature of the Threat by Ras Kass
10 Crack Commandment by BIGGIE
Nappy Heads by Fugees
Nas is Like by NAS
A Million and One by Jay Z
Intergalactic by Beastie Boys
Break of Dawn by De La Soul
Luchini by Camp Lo
2nd Round Knock Out by Canibus
F*ck a War by Ghetto Boys
Honorable Mention:
Swing by Camp Lo
No Escapin by Beat Nuts
Strees by Organized Konfusion
Steppin to the AM by 3rd Bass
You're a Gangsta by DJ Quick
Cuss Words by Too Short
Don't Fight the Feelin by Too Short
Mad Izm by Channel Live ft KRS-One
Militia by Big Shug, Guru, Freddie Foxxx & DJ Premier
Proceed by Roots ft Bahamedia
1-900-dial-a-crook by convicts
Flava in Ya Ear (regular and remix) by Craig Mack
Chief Rocka by Lords of the Underground
Pronto by CRU
Worse comes to worse by Dialated Peoples
Go On Girl by Roxanne Shante
Latifahs Had it up to Here by Queen Latifah
As you can read I can keep going given the time frame. 1993, 94 & 95 were the best years lyrically for Rap based upon the number of talented artist out simutaneously. If you are new, start there or as early as 1988 and work your way forward. The new stuff is catchy club joints, but at the end of the day can you see yourself doing the Soulja Boy when your 65 years old? Point being, you can bob your head to Run DMC's Peter Piper from the grave. sorry I don't listen to rap...good luck, you'll find some | 