Best hip hop album ever? Yeah… to me at least. I know I need to listen to more albums and stack them againt Illmatic, but I think I’m already too biased for that.

And I’ve gotten into MF recently as well. But his sh-t is really consistent. Instant classics to me.

Bruh, yeah, this was definitely an ambitious undertakin’. I can’t imagine trying to give a top ten. even if i did, i know i could provide such intersting backdrops in my rationales. it’s so funny about the disagreeing about the joints to check for on a cd. hell, it’s gotten to the pt. now where i cant even get you to LISTEN to most contemporary r&b.

and it never ends…blueprint vs. reasonable doubt; late registration vs. college dropout; my all time favorite, voodoo (the best album in our lifetime) vs. brown sugar; outkast vs. andre3000 and the other dude; big’s “greatness”; heads vs. fans…i really could go on w/ this all night…entertaining read, as always. what’s up on the weekend playa!

These are also albums that I loved from the first time I heard them. None of them had to grow on me. So yeah, it will be the same.

As far as the other part, I feel you on the not being able to appreciate recent classics as much and choosing older stuff, I RACKED my brain for a post-2001 album that I could say impacted me like any of these albums and came up with nada. The closest to that might be The Blueprint or maybe Chronic 2001, but they just don’t resonate with me like the albums i have on here. And I’d be willing to argue with you about whether or not The Black Album is really a classic or not. I think it was way too uneven. Now for Eminem, I do think that album is his best, but after song 11 (Marshall Mathers), it just drops off horribly. And I could make a case for The College Dropout, but I just don’t think it fits into my top 10. Maybe top 15. Maybe.

@T: Geminis aren’t different, everybody else is just the same.

@Mr. Clemens: Which double standard would this be? Cuz let’s be clear, I like Nas, and I recognize that Illmatic is classic, but it ain’t even CLOSE to being a favorite album of mine. And Ill even go this far:

Jay’s catalog > Nas’s catalog. PERIOD.

Besides these are favorites, not best albums. Though I do think Reasonable Doubt is better than all of Nas’s albums.

@afrochelle: Glad to see you got so much Jay love. I think the Blueprint might crack my Top 15…definitely the Top 20.

@Brick: You know, I didn’t even notice how much of a West Coast bias I have. Not that I didn’t ever realize it, but I’ve always been way more into West Coast stuff than East Coast. And BDP/KRS-One wouldn’t even crack my top 50.

@Jules: Yeah, there’s no way in Hades Illmatic is cracking my top 10. And are you saying it’s your favorite album ever or that is would stand up against all other albums in hiphop as the BEST HIPHOP ALBUM EVER? Cuz if so, though its preference based, I’d argue against that one to the death. And I got into MF Doom kind of late, but none of the albums I’ve heard resonate like that with me. I love the recent Madvillainy joint and i liked MM…Food a lot.

You know what…the most recent album that I’ve heard to REALLY hit me from jump is Zion I’s album “True and Livin” That might make into my Top 11.

Kanye… hmmm… nope.

Black Album=disappointment. Hell, Reasonable Doubt was amazing and Blueprint is right behind it.

But I agree with you MONK, my lists changes often. But it is usually the same few albums and how I’m feeling.

No MF DOOM on the list Panama?

I do congratulate you on making such a diverse list AND narrowing it down to such an elite level. I do pose a question though, will this list be the same next year? Personally, when I make such a list, it flutuates from day-to-day or month-to-month…all depends on how I’m feelin’ at the time.

Thanks for giving feedback on the first time you heard songs from the album and other stories because I think that determines our “love” factor immensely for albums and tracks.

IMHO, “Marshall Mather’s L.P.”-Eminem, “College Dropout”-Kanye, “Chronic 2001″-Dr. Dre, “Black Album”-Jay-Z are undeniable and we tend to favor ‘older’ joints when making lists like this, but ignore the more recent CLASSICS…

I’ll just leave you with what I consider one of the best descriptions of Outkast I’ve ever read (by your friend at http://ghettouprising.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_ghettouprising_archive.html btw, hope he doesn’t mind the quote) :

“Outkast…The most creative team ever. A gumbo of southern booty music, ‚Äò70s funk and soul, West Coast gangsta shit, East Coast lyricism, jazz, black militancy, pimpin‚Äô, intoxicated astrology, existential ruminations, closet feminism, free love, baby mamma drama, hard rock, every day nigga frustrations, and a bunch of other shit that shouldn‚Äôt combine to make good music, but does in this case. The only group to manage crossing over without selling out, to make honest music that sells. The only rap artists to never make a sub par album after more than two tries. Boasts one of the 5 best MCs of the ‚Äò90s in Andre 3000. 3 classics (SouthernPlayalistic, Atliens, Aquemini) and 2 sleeper classics. Put Atlanta on the map.”

(Maybe that’s why their music gets in your soul)
T