Album that you think is a masterpiece

[momentsgolden]

i feel you on Chronic 2001 because yes, i dont think its REALLY exceptional. The reason i gave the Monalisa as an example is because it COULD be considered one yet million of potraits were painted during that time period yet it stood out because of a certain level of execution (rumor has it its great only because Leonardo called it the greatest though lmao)

As such, an album like... The Eminem Show for example does not ooze originality yet is musically magnificant and could be considered one... if it wasnt for drips

[dead prez]

Anyways, I guess it's time to let loose my Mobb Deep stanism and let it run free like a caged dog that's been pent up in my mind the past few days, but couldn't for the life of me conjure up a decent "review".

I tried to think of albums that may be held in high regard, but aren't exactly my favorite albums, but it would seem superficial and seem like I was trying too hard to be objective and eclectic, besides I doubt there's 100 percent objectivity in analyzing music, and basing it off technicalities is mundane and just simply put, boring.

I guess I'll go with the Infamous, predictable choice, but I believe this is Mobb Deep's magnum opus, with HOE merely being a "good" album, even though Prodigy stepped up his pengame in that album. Either way I haven't extolled Mobb Deep in quite a while, so here's a summation of my feelings for this album.

If you're looking for an album that encapsulated the gritty noir sound of the mid 90s, than no other group did it better than Mobb Deep. Quite simply, they were the go to guys, if you wanted an album that would evoke sinister emotions and would take you to a totally new atmosphere, devoid of hedonism or tongue in cheek horrocore that Big L was reknowned for. No, quite simply put, expect despair and the feeling of a man being gunned down and his decaying carcass thrown into the trunk of a camaro while being driven off in the night. This is the vibe the album gives, in that you feel a sense of uneasiness while listening to it, and boy did they do their job.

As an mc, Prodigy isn't a breathtaking lyricist who can jampack his verses with internals and multies, nor is he a punchline practician, quite simply put he was a stand up guy. You could feel the serious sobering delivery that he had with simple, but beautiful lines that give the tracks life. Lines like "As long as I send your maggot ass to the essence, I don't give a fuck about my presence", is what gave him this aura of being a stand up guy that wouldn't hesitate to talk smack to your face, and would gun you down on a whim. There's a reason P is (probably) the most sampled rapper of all time, which I'll get into later.

Havoc also does a decent job with his performance on the album, and his style compliments Prodigy's quite nicely, in that they make a perfect duo. Though Prodigy is still the one who drops the memorable verses, what Havoc really contributes to this album is his prouction. He has a signature sound that defines the noir era in NY Hip Hop, and was able to make a dope beat through just a few piano loops.

As for the songs, the intro may be one of the best in Hip Hop, and sets the stage ablaze for an album that you know is going too be dark and dreary. Havoc opens it up with a fine verse, and P ends it with a verse that just oozes swag (lol). The apex of the album is, and quite possibly Hip Hop's most reknowned anthem isn't even until the near end, which only accentuates the consistancy of the album and how coherent it was. It ends off on a song with a title that ironically closes it off nicely.

As for the contributions to the genre well, Prodigy's voice has been sampled to death. A ton of classic songs have P's classic lines in them, and some of them only helped elevate the songs to a classic because of the samples. It feels like I'm listening to a plethora of Hip Hop just because I know how often he's sampled. It's an estoric feeling that one gets when listening to a song not having any ties to Mobb Deep and instantly recognizing P's voice as the sample. For whatever reason he's sampled so much, whether it be because of the dopeness of the lyrics themselves or his voice which was great for sampling, I think it's safe to say Mobb Deep has cemented their legacy in Hip Hop off this album alone, despite how horrid their current music may be when compared to their mid 90s releases.

I was plan on doing other albums, but fuck it, plus it devalues me placing this album in such a high pedestal if I list more than two albums. And yes I tried to make this post as long as possible just for the fuck off it.