10 cds a music lover should own: hip hop (part 2)

Moving right along….

• 6.  Criminal Minded (Boogie Down Productions)-Victors of the Bronx vs. Queens War fro bragging rights, MC KRS-One and DJ Scott LaRock dropped Ciminal Minded  to high acclaim in 1987. Classics such as “Criminal Minded” and “South Bronx” moved the crowd and raised rap to a new consciousness. Sadly, LaRock was murdered in August of that year and even though BDP continued to turn out a steady stream of hits throughout the late ’80′s and early ’90′s one can’t help but wonder what further heights could they have attained if La Rock had lived.
• 7.  Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life (Jay-Z)-Yeah, yeah, yeah you can argue with me until the end of days that “Resonable Doubt” should be at this spot instead of Vol. 2. But, while few would disagree that the former solidified Jay’s status as rap’s heir apparent, no one would deny that the latter turned Jay into a rap superstar. Every track is solid and on point and it still sounds as fresh today as it did when it was released in 1998. Vol 2 also won the Grammy for Best Rap album. So there!
• 8.  The Chronic (Dr. Dre)-Call this Dr. Dre’s freedom song if you will. The Chronic was his declaration of independence from the looming shadows of Easy-E and Ice Cube. With this cd, Dre completely reconfigured West Coast Hip Hop and as a result, it became one of the best selling cd’s of the genre. Showcasing his extraordinary production skills, Dre tapped up and coming artists such as Snoop Doog, The Dogg Pound, and Lady of Rage to create some of the banginest hits in rap history. The Chronic is a true classic.
• 9.  Miss E…So Addictive (Missy Elliott)-Missy Elliott’s third solo outing is certainly her best. With her partner in crime Timbaland, Missy had always pushed the envelope. She might have been the first singer who could rap to break the charts, but she was and still is, the best. What she lacked in pure rap skill, she always made up with tantalizing beats and danceable melodies. Tell me that, “Old Skool Joint” or “Get Ur Freak On” won’t make you move something.
• 10. License to Ill (The Beastie Boys)-No this isn’t an Affirmative Action pick. If it was, I would have thrown Vanilla Ice up in this piece. License To Ill is one of the best rap cds ever made, period. Under the helm of Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, Mike D, Ad Rock and MCA rapped about broads, beats, and booze with wry wit coupled with a touch of rock. It appealled to everyone from urban youth to frat boys. This was the cd that truly placed rap in the mainstream without losing an ounce of it’s edge. The Beastie Boys were never a parody, they were true hip hop artists and this cd shows why.

10 cds a music lover should own: hip hop/rap (part 1)

Ever get tired of reading an article or watching a news story about a list of what music you just have to have? Well have no fear; here’s another list. I make no secret that I love music. I upload a song everyday on my Facebook page. I listen to my IPOD anytime I’m out of the office and I have my ITunes bumping when I’m in it. My love for music crosses all genres, subgenre’s, ages, space, time, etc..etc.. What I’ve noticed is that most music addicts like me have a core set of CD’s/albums/mp3′s as part of their collections. I’ve decided to share mine with the world. If you agree, then you are indeed a real music lover. If you don’t, well these lists will help you get there. Let’s start off with Hip Hop/Rap.

1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Lauryn Hill)-When the indelible Ms. Hill dropped her solo debut in 1998, no one was prepared for the near flawless fusion of R &B and Rap that this CD delivered. Highly personal, fiercely artistic, and perfectly produced Miseducation showed who the real MVP of the Fugees was. Standout tracks such as “Lost Ones”, “Ex-Factor”, and “Everything Is Everything” make this CD a bonafide classic and a must have for any hip hop head.
2. Death Certificate (Ice Cube)-By the time Death Certificate dropped in 1991, Ice Cube had already been hailed as a premiere MC, but his second solo outing solidified that label. One of the first concept rap cd’s, Ice Cube spit tales of hope, despair, anger, and resignation with vivid imagery and rapid fire delivery. And without a doubt , “No Vaseline” is still one of the best dis records ever.
3. Mama Said Knock You Out (LL Cool J)-LL came back hard on his 4th cd released in 1990. While hip hop was becoming more militant and introspective, LL delivered more braggadocio and sex appeal and it completely worked. Cuts like “Boomin’ System” and “Round the Way Girl” became hip hop anthems. Mama Said truly gave LL a reason to call himself the G.O.A.T.
4. Doggstyle (Snoop Dogg)-No debut was as highly anticipated nor delivered on its promise as well as Snoop Dogg’s. Moving from Dr. Dre’s sidekick to premiere MC, Snoop rode the wave of West Coast Rap’s growing popularity to superstardom. Snoop was cut a unique figure with his languid cadence, clever wordplay, braids, and kahkis. Backed by Dr. Dre’s beats and guest appearances by the Dogg Pound, Nate Dogg and Lady of Rage, Doggystyle is the best solo rap debut ever.
5. Fear of a Black Planet (Public Enemy)- In the spring of 1990, “Fight The Power” was bumping through every stereo from New York to Los Angeles. Hip Hop fans finally had their own theme song  by way of Chuck D and his invenerate sideman Flava Flav. Fear of A Black Planetwas the cornerstone of political hip hop. Melding street knowledge with the philosophy of Nation of Islam, “Welcome to the Terrordome” and “911 Is A Joke” voiced the fear and frustration that  Reagan era politics inflicted upon the inner cities and small towns. With sparse drum beats and intelligent rhymes, Chuck and Flav didn’t rap for the sake of rhyming. They truly had something to say, and everyone listened.