Most quintessential Hip Hop Album

[FreeSpeech]

If I was a "Hip Hop Jehovah's Witness" and went door to door converting people to hip hop, and was only allowed to carry one album with me, it'd be Kanye's Late Registration. Here's why...

-The production is amazing. The beats are classic, it has jazz influences infused throughout, and is one of the most beautiful-sounding albums out.
-It touches on practically every major theme in hip hop. Want socially conscience rap? Listen to Heard Em Say, Crack Music, or Diamonds From Sierra Leonne. Want a banger or radio jam? Gold Digger or Gone. Need to get motivated? Touch The Sky. Want some meaningful personal tracks? Bump some Roses, Hey Mama, or Addiction. Need to chill out? Drive Slow or We Major are great.
-The features are great. Not only do you get to hear, Jay-Z, Common, Nas, Cam'ron, and Lupe Fiasco, but you also can see how rap works well cross-genre by the Jamie Foxx, Brandy and Adam Levine collabs.
-Sampling is a key aspect of hip hop, and Late Registration delivers. The Shirley Bassey sample on Diamonds is eerie and amazing. The Otis Redding sample on Gone is awesome.

[_Steven_]

Reks - Grey Hairs

[WakeUpShow]

It really does depend on who your showing it to.
My dad heard my Jay-Z and Eminem songs and thought it was crap. But overheard my Kid Cudi songs and really loved it because "this guy is good, he actually has some flow, some melody" God knows what would happen if I showed him Paz, or Nas lol.

[Master Chief]

It really does depend on who your showing it to.
My dad heard my Jay-Z and Eminem songs and thought it was crap. But overheard my Kid Cudi songs and really loved it because "this guy is good, he actually has some flow, some melody" God knows what would happen if I showed him Paz, or Nas lol.

So, he's implying that Cudi has a better flow that Jay-Z & Em?

What the hell.

[dead prez]

Melody, that's one of the biggest hurdles non rap fans have to jump over actually.

[Satire]

It really does depend on who your showing it to.
My dad heard my Jay-Z and Eminem songs and thought it was crap. But overheard my Kid Cudi songs and really loved it because "this guy is good, he actually has some flow, some melody" God knows what would happen if I showed him Paz, or Nas lol.

So, he's implying that Cudi has a better flow that Jay-Z & Em?

What the hell.

It's because Cudi basically sing-raps verses. He adds a melody to the rhyming so alot of people say they like his "flow".

[WakeUpShow]

It really does depend on who your showing it to.
My dad heard my Jay-Z and Eminem songs and thought it was crap. But overheard my Kid Cudi songs and really loved it because "this guy is good, he actually has some flow, some melody" God knows what would happen if I showed him Paz, or Nas lol.

So, he's implying that Cudi has a better flow that Jay-Z & Em?

What the hell.

It's because Cudi basically sing-raps verses. He adds a melody to the rhyming so alot of people say they like his "flow".

yeah he doesn't know what flow is rap-wise. But he meant an all-around general flow to his songs, a catchiness if you will.

[Master Chief]

Oh ok, I get it

[GladHeAteHerr]

I would have to go with Illmatic..Shocking yes..

[stillmatic]

First one that came to my mind was JazzMatazz Vol. II by Guru. I think it's one of the best albums I've ever heard in my life. Guru's lyrics and flow are amazing, I think it's too obvious to discuss that, combined with his deep voice, they make this album something that you simply just can't leave out while talking about the essence of hip hop music.
But that's not the only amazing thing about this album - I love the fusion of jazz and hip hop, for me that's one of the things that define hip hop - the ability to blend different styles of music and combining them into something new with the drop of street style. The samples that are used, the instruments in the background, that's what makes this album so special. 'Lifesaver', 'Looking Through The Darkness', 'The Traveler' or that skit where he's talking about hip hop as a way of life - that's the very essence of hip hop, rising above the cultural and individual differences.

WOW!!!! Agreed with so much of what you said, and that album would be in my top 5 as well.

For me it's Illmatic. Even though it's not my favourite Nas album (I still think the album is perfect), it captures everything about hip hop that needs to be addressed, from it's four pillars, to its origins and relevance in the black community, to it's impact on and from the inner city all the way down to it just being a outlet for a lot of people to express their social struggles on tape.

If we had to go to another planet and had one cd had to take on hip hop cd to show them what our music is about and what it represents, it's Illmatic. It's hip hop.

[ThomasJ]

Blu & Exile - Below The Heavens



I think this album fits the "definition" of hip-hop perfectly.

I can't be fucked to give a description...
Just listen to the album, you won't be disappointed.

[Devil'sAdvocate]

Relapse may have a lot of multis but they aren't good multis

how can a multi not be good u imbecile.

its syllables,it either rhymes or it doesnt.

if you dont like relapse's multi,you can stick your fathers dick in your GIGANTIC nostrils while wearing those epic pair of star wars pants.

On-Topic:

Rakim & Eric-B - Paid In Full
Nas - Illmatic
Nas - It Was Written
Eminem - SSLP/MMLP/TES (he will go crazy)
Biggie - Life After Death / Ready to Die
Jay Z - Reasonable Doubt

among others.

[KillahBee]

GZA - Liquid Swords

[Devil'sAdvocate]

Blu & Exile - Below The Heavens



I think this album fits the "definition" of hip-hop perfectly.

I can't be fucked to give a description...
Just listen to the album, you won't be disappointed.

gotta agree,this is a top tier classic,i recommend to anybody,this dude's talent in off the roof.

[classthe_king]

Relapse may have a lot of multis but they aren't good multis

how can a multi not be good u imbecile.

its syllables,it either rhymes or it doesnt.

Thank you for proving once again that not only are you obsessed with me but you know nothing about rap.