Welcome back to day 2 of the Panama Extravaganza that is the journey of my life. Man, that sounds so monumental doesn’t it?

Yes, it does.

We’re going to jump right into numbers 5 through 1 of Panama’s 10 Favorite hip hop albums.

For you boho’s that missed numbers 10 thru 6, please feel free to click here.

Onto the rest…

5. Dr. Dre The Chronic (released 1992)

Where I First Heard It: There is a story behind this, but I this guy gave me this random mixtape he made back in like early 1993 and the song “Fuck With Dre Day” was on there. I remember popping in the tape on the bus on the way home. I must have rewound that tape way too many times because I ended up popping the tape ON THAT BUS RIDE home. I hated myself for a while, but he made me another copy.

Why I Love It: One of the most important part of any listening experience for me is the clarity and crispness of sound. I’m not a huge fan of gritty sounding music which is largely why I never really got into the Wu. Which means the Wu won’t show up on this list. The Chronic? One of the most beautiful sounding albums, from a technical sonic standpoint ever. It sounds as good now as it did then. There isn’t one bad song on the entire album. Even the song I like the least, “Little Ghetto Boy” knocks hard as hell. Plus it introduced us to Snoop Doggy Dogg. Even know, I’m amazed at how well put together the album is from the song sequencing to the quality of each song…hell even RBX sounds like somebody who’s album I’d buy after hearing him on this. I never did get an RBX album cuz he really did suck, but still. They don’t call this album a hip-hop classic for no reason. Plus, with the ignorance factor straight up on 10, with classic song “Bitches Ain’t Shit”, well, I was sold from day one.

Stand-Out Tracks: “Nothin’ But A G Thang”, “Bitches Ain’t Shit”, “Let Me Ride”, “Fuck With Dre Day”, “Rat-tat-tat-tat” (seriously, I play that song in my car JUST to hear the drums come in and I turn it up as loud as my car speakers can handle just to feel the impact)

The Chronic Related Story: I didn’t realize until the other day, but since middle school, I’ve been kind of able to get everything WAY earlier than everybody else music wise. I don’t know how I settled into the groove of being the guy who knows the right people to being the right guy in the first place. I get most albums a good two weeks early right now, and back in middle school, I always had stuff early. I was in Germany so we always got shit late, but I always knew the right people who would go back to the states and bring stuff back and they’d always make me tapes much like the dude did with the Chronic samples he put on the mixtape. However, there is one song I’ve been trying to find for something like 13 years now. I used to think it was by Above The Law, but I’m not sure…maybe it’s a remix to “Livin’ Like Hustlers” but the intro goes:

“four niggas up on a roof/gettin’ down just for the fuck of it/four niggas we’re on the move/nothing can stop us now…” which is clearly the rip from the Parliament Funkadelic, “One Nation” joint. If anybody can help me with that, I’ll give you my first child.

Another More Recent Chronic Related Story: I must be getting old, because I threw this CD into the car on Monday and was WAY to conscious of the profanity, even going so far as to turn the shit down at stop lights as to not offend anybody with my drug-induced, sex-crazed, profanity-laden music, which is SO not like I used to be. I wanted everybody to hear what the fuck I was listening too. I’m afraid. If I keep going at this rate (I do this with other albums too), I’ll be a Republican Right-wing Christian conservative by Christmas.

Hold me.

One Last Chronic Story: So, you know how I was getting shit early? Well, that translated into folks being somewhat impressed with my ability to memorize lyrics so quickly. I didn’t realize they didn’t know I was getting shit early. I thought everybody was. But I bought The Chronic album on the way to Italy for a week long trip with a group I was part of called Club Beyond, which was a religious based fellowship organization. Go figure. Anyway, I bought it, sans adult (federal laws my ass), and knew the words from the moment I popped it in. So many people were impressed with how quick I memorized the words, not knowing I’d had most of the album for months. See, I’ve been the sexxy choice for years. Non-sequitur? You bet your ass it is.

4. Outkast ATLiens (released 1996)

Sorry T…not Aquemini here.

“fat titties turn to teardrops as fat ass turns to flab…growing old…” - “Growing Old”

Where I First Heard It: Though I was an Outkast fan from the first time I heard “Player’s Ball” nothing prepared me for hearing “Elevators” for the first time. I was sitting in the parking lot of K-Mart while one of my boys was robbing the joint. No lie. Not with gat in hand. He had a system, but I won’t go into that. Let’s just say I’ve been an accomlice more times in life than I care to share. Trust me. But I was sitting there and the song came on the radio and I lost my mind. That shit is STILL one of the songs I love the most EVER. I kept thinking, are them niggas playing ping-pong in the studio and threw the shit onto the song. ‘Kast fan cemented FO LIFE.

Why I Love It: I know Southernplaya… is most southerner’s favorite, and Aquemini gets all the acclaim, but ATLiens is the album I love the most hand’s down. Something about this album just gets into my soul. That’s the only word I can use to describe the album, soulful. More nuanced than Goodie Mob’s Soul Food, not quite as funky as Aquemini, and less street than Southernplaya…It was right there in the middle of all of those, and in some ways I think thats why I like it, because I am in the middle of all those things. You know, especially with me being a gangsta and all. The only song I don’t really like on this album is one of the albums most popular, “Jazzy Belle.” I’ve never liked that, but I still listen to it because it just meshes so well with the album. This is also the album where we all realized Dre was about to go to the moon, and he didn’t disappoint. He was on some next level shit here and I think I was probably going through my own growing finding phase and shit so it worked. Plus, I don’t know about your city, but this nigga Dre had EVERYBODY rockin’ them little old woman hair hats/turbins. That my friends, is influence.

Stand-Out Tracks: “Elevators”, “Babylon”, “Two Dope Boys In A Cadillac”, “ATLiens”, “Decatur Psalm”, “Mainstream”, “Growing Old”

ATLiens Related Story: For the longest time, this was the longest running debate between me and one of my boys Johnny Kwest, about which album was better, Southernplaya or ATLiens. We ultimately ended up just realizing that we would agree to disagree probably after a few years. I also think that is the point where I realized that me and this particular friend almost NEVER agree on songs or albums, but love all the same artists. It never fails. If I love a song on an album, he won’t like it as much, and vice versa. That’s how you know somebody is your boy, when you can tell them straight up every song they’ll like or album they’ll like from jump.

Also, that K-Mart that got robbed, well, let’s just say that our system included store employees. We were thorough.

Now, we’re getting to the cream of the crop. Are you experienced?

3. Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt (released 1996)

Where I First Heard It: I remember when this album came out, but I didn’t actually hear until like a year later when I was at my sister’s apartment in Atlanta and she threw on “Can I Live”. And since I LOVE that Isaac Hayes sample so much, I was stuck. Then I started listening and was amazed at how well he was putting his puns and shit together. Im like, yo, dude is tight. My sister quickly turned to me and said the black national confirmation statement, “I tried to told ya.” My sister is going to come into this later because as far as rap goes, she’s really how I got into most of it. And she unknowingly put me onto the most important discovery of my life.

Why I Love It: Because there are only two songs that I don’t like on this album, one of which I don’t even really count as an album cut, “Ain’t No Nigga”. That is a throwaway “we need a single” track. Jay’s lyrical wizadry was on full display on this album. He’s still as witty and lyrical, but nowhere near like he was on this album. Smart business man that he is, he figured out how to make his flow equal dollars, and that wasn’t the Reasonable Doubt flow. Jay has so many one liners on this album, and this was before he started quoting Big in his rhymes. On the song “Brooklyn’s Finest”, good God, them two went at it . I just love the production, the wordplay, the wittiness, the raw discussions of the good life. Hell, he still has me convinced that in 1996, he was still spending money from 88…what! This is one of the most played albums in my entire CD collection. And it travels with me everywhere.

Stand-Out Tracks: “Dead Presidents”, “Can I Live”, “Feelin’ It”, “Coming of Age”, “Bring It On”, “Can’t Knock The Hustle”

Reasonable Doubt Storty: Though I give my sister credit for introducing me to Jay, that isn’t the whole truth. In high school, my boy Johnny Kwest (who is also the same dude I’ve been arguing about Outkast first two albums with for years) couldn’t quit talking about Jay Z. He’s been a fan since day one, for real. In our AP Calculus class, everyday this dude would tell me I needed to check for Jay and specifically “Politics As Usual”. That was his favorite song for a straight year, it seemed. I never did listen to the album during our senior year in high school and it was probably because my boy JK wouldn’t stop talking about it. Little did I know he was right. And to continue in our disagreement, Reasonable Doubt is my favorite, The Blueprint is his favorite, and we argue about that too. ALWAYS.

Just to add some backstory here, me and JK went to the same high school and pretty much had all of the same classes together in senior year because we were 2 of the 3 black students in all the AP classes, from Physics to Calculus to English. And we’ve been discussing, arguing, dissecting music since. I’m talking almost 10 years strong at this point. In fact, I’d say one of the strongest elements of bonding amongst all my boys is all of our sometimes obsessive love for music. It continued through Morehouse (we both went there and roomed together for almost the duration of our “matriculation”

2. NWA EFIL4ZAGGIN (released 1991)

Where I First Heard It: So remember my sister put me onto Jay? Well, she unknowingly put me onto NWA as well. I used to sneak into her room and steal all of her tapes, make a copy, and then sneak them back in. I got quite good at it too. But one day, I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to hear. I put in the tape, and all the cussing and murdering and raping and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I got so scared that my mom was going to come in and beat my ass that I turned it down AS low as I could, closed my door, and fell in love with this album. I was like 12 and for a straight year, took this album with me everywhere, until The Chronic came out. And you know how that one went.

Why I Love It: To be quite honest, because it’s one of the most ignorantly constructed albums in history. But it’s also one of the most entertaining albums ever. People claim that Straight Outta Compton is a classic, and it is, but for three songs. Most people can’t even name another song off of that album outside of “Gangsta, Gangsta”, “Fuck Da Police,” and “Straight Outta Compton.” The production that Dre is known for now, started on EFIL4ZAGGIN. That is where he came into his own. The beats are so hot on this album you can’t help but to like them. And despite the utter impossibility of the lyrics, MC Ren stood out as one hell of a rapper. There is humor in the skits as well. Why they have a Motherfuckers Against Drunk Driving skit where they tell you to smoke weed instead is beyond me, especially since we now know you can run over little girls on bikes in busy intersections at fast food restaurants. This albums flows so well from the beginning and even underneath all of the violence and mayhem, does carry somewhat of a message, even if it does get lost. But hands down, this is, in my opinion, one of the best hip hop albums EVER. And I will stand by that. And it’s almost easy to get past the violence because most of it seems so ridiculously over the top, as opposed to on their first album where Cube dealt more with reality. Hell, on this album, Ren is talking about killilng millions of people. Yeah…right. Thing is, there ain’t even much drug talk on this album, it’s just murder and rape and overall female devaluation…and yes that’s ignorant and not exactly to be aspired too, but man, they made it sound so harmonious. Like I said, ignorance is my oyster. It’s as sonically sound as The Chronic, but way more entertaining. It is, a masterpiece.

Stand-Out Tracks: “Alwayz Into Something”, “Real Niggaz”, “Appetite For Destruction”, “She Swallowed It”, “Automobile”

EFIL4ZAGGIN Trivia: I remember when Life After Death came out and folks were so enthralled by Biggie’s singing on the song “Playa Hata”. Well, Eazy-E and them started that shit (maybe Biz did actually, but that’s neither here nor there). On this album, the song “Automobile” is NWA just singing their asses off about what they’d do with a chick in their automobiles. It’s a full 4 minutes song. You really should hear this song, it’s that bad, but its that funny. Me and my boy Tre, used to make up our own versions in high school.

NWA Related Story: I don’t know if I conveyd it properly uptop, but I was deathly afraid of my parents finding out I was listening to this album. I loved it so much, but I love my life more. My parents were pretty liberal on things and would often buy me albums with explicit lyrics (well, my dad would), but something about this album told me I was clearly crossing the line. Which always made me wonder…how in the FUCK did my sister get away with listening to all of the shit she was listening too? She put me onto 2 Live Crew, DJ Jimi, NWA, Ice T, and basically any hot new shit from the USA that one of her friends would bring back for her to listen too. She is also responsible for my first exposure to a porno flick. I walked in while her friends were watching one and they couldn’t kick me out because me and my other sister threatened to tell. We were 6. Talk about positive role models. I probably got exposed to everything my parents wanted to keep from me through her. See, that is how a sister is supposed to be, making sure you know the rest of the shit your parents ain’t telling you. I love my sister.

And finally, my favorite album of all time:

1. De La Soul de la soul is dead (released 1991)

Where I First Heard It: On a bus trip somewhere, I think to Holiday Park or something, some field trip in 6th grade. A young lady friend of mine (this was in Germany by the way), had this tape that one of her cousins from the U.S. sent her. She let me listen to it and I liked it so much, I had to get my own copy. I think this came out in like May of 1991 so it was probably the last field trip of 6th grade. I sat next to her the whole trip. I think she caught a crush on me that day and I think I liked her too because she let me listen to her De La Soul tape for the whole day.

Why I Love It: Have you ever heard an album that you just have to listen to the whole way through? That is this album for me. I can’t skip around on it. It is one of two albums I will listen to straight through the entire way, with the other being #2. Even today, I marvel at Prince Paul’s production and how well he helped them put this album together. It goes from party songs to serious songs and is woven together perfectly with a skit of some kids listening and trying to determine how good it is, ultimately coming up with the notion that de la soul is dead, since their first album was so good, but this one was not. It’s a full fledged concept album taking on critics and all of the backlash they caught for just making happy music and their success with 3 Feet High and Rising. And they succeeded in their attempts. It had the uber popular, “A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday”, but that isn’t even the best song on the album. And I honestly can’t think of a best song, I like the whole thing. I just enjoy this album immensely and any woman in my life must like it as well. NWA I can give a pass on, I mean its one of the least woman friendly albums ever, but this…is poetry in motion and a music masterpiece that doesn’t stray too far from the path, nor does it get limited by the bounds of happy rap. It is 4 fellows from Long Island trying to deal with success and coming up with one hell of a concept to do it. All they had to do was execute, and they exceed expectations. It’s one of the original 5 mic Source albums (back when they had credibility) and was critically acclaimed everywhere, and still is. Just didn’t sell worth a shit. Oh well, I love it.

Stand-Out Tracks: really the whole album but, “A Roller Skating Jam…”, “Pass The Peas”, “Let Me In”, “Oodles of O’s”, “Ring, Ring, Ring”

De La Soul Related Story: So I was like 11 or 12 in 6th grade. The girl who gave me the tape, ended up dating the guy who made me the mixtapes by the time we were in 8th grade. They dated for quite sometime, even taking the relationship back the U.S. with them when their parents got stationed back stateside. Well, in 1997, me and her magically found eachother in Atlanta again, through one of my sisters I think, and started dating. She was my first girlfriend in college as a matter of fact. I give credit to De La Soul for bringing us together. She also managed get “reacquainted” with the dude who made me the mixtapes while were dating of which she told me some 2 years later. She ALSO tried to holler at my boy JK to try to piss me off while we were in college. She also showed up at my house unannounced one day to tell me she was married and seemed VERY upset that I was happy for her recent marriage.

So you see, music can bring people together, tear people apart, and ultimately piss people off. It can also create the smallest circle of ridiculousness ever. Thank you De La Soul, for making so many great memories me and my friends can laugh at today.

Just like music…

By the way, this was a lot harder than you might thing. This may have been the most difficult thing I’ve done in my life, next to learning how to walk.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 11th, 2006 at 9:34 am and is filed under Learn Ya Somethin', Musicology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.