zeppy111

Hey guys, not sure if this should go in the recommendations thread so if it should, apologies mods.

Can anyone help me out with 5 essential hip-hop albums (any style, decade, ect..) for an absolute newb to the genre as I would like to explore it further and have no idea where to start.?

So far I have heard:

A Tribe Called Quest - Low-End Theory
Aesop Rock - Music For Earthworms
Public Enemy - He Got Game
Digable Planets - Reachin'

Appreciate any help, Guy.

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Jester

Blah, well you definitely got the wrong Public Enemy and Aesop Rock work. I'm going to give you more than 5, and you can get around to them whenever you want.

Nas - Illmatic
Great length, no filler, probably the best produced album ever. It's as good as everyone says it is.



Aceyalone - All Balls Don't Bounce
Everyone sleeps on this album, don't miss out on it. Seriously, trust me on this. Aceyalone is perfect for getting people into hip hop.



Common - Be
It's one of the better albums with the neo-soul sound. Another album that's great for getting people into hip hop.



Aesop Rock - Labor Days
Music For Earthworms is okay, but its sound is not as fulfilled as Labor Days. The production here is infinitely better, and Aesop Rock has only gotten better. Possibly Aesop Rock's most diverse album.



Masta Ace - Disposable Arts
Probably my favorite concept album. Masta Ace is slept on, too, but he's one of the best there is. Plus, he's the only rapper from the 80's who is still relevant today.



Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Go through their discography in order. This isn't their best album, but I think it's the best start. That, and it IS a fantastic album in its own right - the vibes are nice.



Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
There's no way around missing this. It's a classic. However, don't expect to like this on your first listen. The production is rough, minimal, and lo-fi, so it might be a bit hard to get into at first.



Freestyle Fellowship - Innercity Griots
They were actually doing what Wu-Tang Clan was before Wu-Tang Clan. Mikah 9 is one of the most stylistically advanced rappers ever, Aceyalone is one of the most interesting, and P.E.A.C.E. is also great. This is also really slept on, don't miss it.



Blu & Exile - Below the Heavens
This is a (relatively) new album. (It's from 2007.) Blu & Exile are worth keeping your eye on, they're going to be a big deal in the underground. This album is probably one of my favorite hip hop albums. Blu leaves no room between the listener with his lyrics; they're personal, and his storytelling is great. The production is also incredibly fitting here.



Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots
Another personal favorite that's slept on. (Why are the things that are slept on always the best?) Charizma is really, really energetic, and Peanut Butter Wolf's production is on par with DJ Premier. Kind of similar principles, too.



Let me know if you have any questions about anything.

zeppy111

Jester dude, that post was really awesome.

I already got the Nas album on download and lining the other ones up, great post.

Thanks alot, will swing you a message if I have any questions. Cheers

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Jason86

Jester's list was great, some others:

Outkast - Stankonia
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
The Roots - Things Fall Apart
Wu-Tang - 36 Chambers

loveissucide

Maxinquaye-Tricky
Boy In Da Corner-Dizzee Rascal
Paul's Boutique-Beastie Boys
The Chronic-Dr Dre
Fear Of A Black Planet-Public Enemy

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Rickenbacker

Aesop Rock - Labor Days
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Arrested Development - 3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in the Life Of...
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnite Marauders
OutKast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

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Talk About the Passion - R.E.M.'s Discography Reviewed

Inuzuka Skysword

The essentials of hip-hop, and I mean the bare essentials:

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions
De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
Nas - Illmatic
NWA - Straight Outta' Compton

I think all of these albums have been said, but I think that if you don't have these five in your collection then you cannot talk hip-hop. You may not like the gangsta' image, but you have to appreciate Straight Outta' Compton. These aren't my favorite or best albums. They are simply albums that you have to listen to and know in order to know hip-hop.

Jester

Nice list, I meant to mention Public Enemy in my list, (I did mention that he got the wrong album).

Zeppy, with Outkast, Public Enemy and A Tribe Called Quest, just go in chronological order for their albums. Outkast's first four albums, Public Enemy's first four albums, and A Tribe Called Quest's first three albums.

As right as you are, the only reason I didn't recommend those right off the bat was because he'd come across them undoubtedly if he's deciding to explore hip hop, you know? That, and with everyone I've helped get into hip hop, those didn't seem like the best entry points.

That said: Inuzuka is absolutely right, zeppy.

By the way, if you have MSN, you can just add me on it. (Same goes for anyone else.) - travis.is.lame@live.com

zeppy111

Noted all suggestions.

Got quite a list going now, keen!

Im suprised I actually already had one of those albums,Tricky-Maxinquaye, it seems like a blend of trip-hop and hip-hop but just associated it more often with trip-hop.

Wu-Tang Clan on the download. I think I am gonna post some thoughts on each of the albums I download in hear when I get some time later.

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Rickenbacker

Make sure you get Labor Days soon...

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Talk About the Passion - R.E.M.'s Discography Reviewed