Friday, March 17, 2006



# 8 - Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night

The author has witnessed drug snorting on stage and has heard the gay rumors. All of that aside, this is a hip-hop blaxploitation masterpiece. Ski of Original Flavor/early Rocafella fame produced most if not all of this LP. Every song has it's own personality that they bring to life from lavish (Luchini), to dark (Killin' Em Softly) to hard hitting (Krystal Karrington & Swing), and smooth (Coolie High & Sparklin). Much like Ghostface, their jibberish sounds indecipherable but they come across as fully understanding what they're rapping about. Diamond heists, adventures, women, and 70's black cinema references over all types of hitting production makes for a personal classic.

Friday, March 10, 2006




#9 - MC Paul Barman - Paullelujah

By far the most creative hip-hop album I’ve ever heard (De La Soul is Dead aside) Excellent beats, hilarious rhymes that simultaneously educate and entertain. Storytelling, various voices, spoken word pieces, you name it he does it. Flow and voice aren’t issues to be concerned with in listening to this album, just have fun, catch what you can and love it the 11th time you play it. He rhymed a palindrome of rappers names. (Eve Mika Rza Evil JD Nasir is Osiris and j live AZ, Rakim Cormega, Cage, Mr. O.C), he fantasizes about female celebrities rhyming their names with sex acts, he sings his samples after speaking on the women’s abortion choice issue. He made a whole song about burping and flatulence. Im on a crusade to spread his name online because none of my friends would be openminded enough to check for him. His long overdue followup presently titled “Tears of Joy” needs to be released for the sake of keeping hip-hop interesting. Check this album out, I dare you not to have the time of your life.

Thursday, March 09, 2006


#10 - Little Brother - The Listening

This album came at a time when hip-hop needed something fresh. The first time I heard "Whatever You Say" at thejawn.com (RIP), I practically lost my mind. Most people were so impressed by Phonte that they slept on Big Pooh who showed his ass (in a good way) on their follow-up "The Minstrel Show". 9th Wonder's production made his name one to be closely watched. The stutter drums (AND THE BEAT) on "For You", "Speed" which most everyday people can relate to, the neck snapping knock of "Shorty on The Lookout", Tay G Rap on "So Fabolous" (his voice cracking doing doug e. fresh with "the lyrics on *tracks* that im spittin"), "Nobody But You" on the love tip without coming off as corny. "Nighttime Maneuvers" and the title track. Too many great moments, Im glad they're still around. Their stage show is 2nd to The Roots, Check for the DJ Drama "Separate But Equal" dropping soon.
My top 10 Hip-Hop albums of all time

I dont feel these are the best 10 of all time, they are just my favorites. Whether they hold personal meaning or I just simply love them, they are my picks. This isnt up for debate because it boils down to personal choice. The lot of them arent much older than the past decade, sorry if you have some other standard or time frame that you love.

Honorable Mentions:
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star
Snoop Doggy Dogg - Doggystyle
Main Source - Breakin Atoms
Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
Gang Starr - Moment of Truth
De La Soul is Dead
Clipse - Lord Willin