The 5 intro albums..

[,-,'-{Bar}-',-,]

ok if you were goin to introduce someone to hip hop, what would be the first 5 albums you would use to break them into the genre.

you can list just 5 albums or actually go in depth and put them in order and tell why you would use this. imma do the latter





Number 1 - Eminem - The Eminem Show -

the beats are all classic, and its not to hardcore for a new comer to the genre, but it also displays all the skills you want them to get into, with pop singles it has something for everyone, but the more you listen you goin to start appreciating tracks like "till i collapse" and "cleaning out my closet" so tis perfect for a new comer to the music.

Number 2 - The Game - The Documentary -

again the beats are all great, and it moves them over to a different artist while being familiar, its a great album and would get the person into the more constant style of hip hop to open there mind more from the eminem style, but they wouldnt feel out od depth coz of the aftermath affliate.

Number 3 - Nas - Stillmatic -

after having the different concept on the 2 previous albums, id dive them stillmatic for a blend in both great beats, sick conepts and great rapping skill through-out the album, grab any other nas albums there weak tracks but not on this, so its a great way to get into nas and very strong and different concept tracks.

Number 4 - Rakim - The 18th Letter -

after tha strong concepts of stillmatic, id hand them 18th letter, theyd be able to appreciate the concepts witch are now on a metaphorical level, wile being well used to strong rhyming witch is prominit everywere on the album, with good beats but not as great as documentary or eminem show, although the step down from them to illmatic the beats are steppign down again but hopefully by this time they can appreciate it.

Number 5 - Jin - The emcee's Propaganda -

id hand them this as the last album to truly open up there mind, a unkown produer handing down excellent beats the whole way through the album and a diverse mc giving excellent concepts and strong rapping on every track, giving them a taste and showing independant rap is just as strong as the mainstream stuff.



imo that would give anyone coming into hip hop the tools and mindframe to go on and discover all the great music with a open mind, being able to appreciate all types of hip hop for what they are.



discuss

[DrRapid]

I quite agree with the albums on top though I've never listened to the last one. I haven't provided pictures since I'm not on my computer and the copy and paste doesn't work.

1. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

Considering this his best album (my opinion) I'd like to show that person some catchy Eminem songs like The Real Slim Shady, Bitch Please II or Under The Influence which might give him/her a laugh but then show them something a bit more serious with more of a meaning to it like Stan or The Way I Am. After show him/her that anger can be put into these Hip Hop songs like Kim or Kill You.

2. 2Pac - All Eyez On Me

Even though I think Me Against The World is his best I'd choose this for having songs which had more of commercial success like How Do U Want It, All About U or 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted. Then you have Life Goes On and I Ain't Mad At Cha in which the lyrics go deeper than the previous. All of these including some catchy beats makes it a reasonable album to listen when new in this genre.

3. Gang Starr - Full Clip: A Decade Of Gang Starr

I know this is a Greatest Hits but it has all the right tracks. This album will show him/her that not all Rap is similar. Gang Starr uses instruments coming from the Jazz genre which makes their songs have a different sound but including DJ Premier's beats and scratching it makes it perfect. With Mass Appeal, You Know My Steez, Full Clip, Betrayal feat. Scarface and Above The Clouds feat. Inspectah Deck from Wu-Tang Clan.

4. Nas - Illmatic

As to me, not greater but not worse than Stillmatic, Illmatic was Nas's first album with raw lyrics, "no famous guest appearances, the outcome he's crowned the best lyricist." Just with AZ showing how good they both can be in Life's A Bitch. With some great production, 3 songs by DJ Premier, this is the right "street" album. It Ain't Hard To Tell...

5. 50 Cent - Get Rich Or Die Tryin'

Why did I put this? You can't make someone just listen to the music from the streets with dope lyrics. You got to show them that there's Hip Hop which is also for clubs, parties and discos. In Da Club, P.I.M.P, If I Can't or Wanksta (bonus track). With some producing by Dr. Dre and Eminem, this album is catchy. Not all songs are partyish like Patiently Waiting feat. Eminem, Many Men and 21 Questions. You can call this a decent album. NO HATERS


I would of liked to add in some others like Run DMC, Notorious B.I.G or even Grandmaster Flash.

[Dark Blue]

just to name a quick 5--)
1.50 cent-get rich or die trying
2.2pac-Loyal to the Game
3.eminem-the eminem show
4.dmx-(any album)
5.dr.dre-2001

[DrRapid]

just to name a quick 5--)
1.50 cent-get rich or die trying
2.2pac-Loyal to the Game
3.eminem-the eminem show
4.dmx-(any album)
5.dr.dre-2001

Disagree with Loyal To The Game. It has all been remixed.

[Emadyville]

I have to agree with Shadybaby101 for the most part, and I like how you both chose Eminem to lead it off because I think it's easier to grasp and understand with Em's shit on rap, especially in some songs such as "say what you say" on tes because you see how passionate he is about rap. The only substitution i'd make is put Tupac in exhange for the the game, just because it's a hip-hop legend (not that nas and em aren't) but at the same time it's old school shit that is timeless. Good post, both of you had good lists.

[Tornado]

wow Bar's probably got it spot on if it was me (damm cant think of any others)

[ShadyMathers]

Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Rock The House

[Lil Pimp Tell 'Em]

1.
2.
3.
make em say uhhhhhh
4.
5.

that should do it for now.. if you need me to post some more classics i gladly will

[Throwback24]

1. Mood Muzik 2
2. The Eminem Show
3. God Loves Ugly
4. We The People (Flipsyde)
5. Rip The Jacker to RIP these Rappers

[KrazyKane]

1.
2.
3.
make em say uhhhhhh
4.
5.

that should do it for now.. if you need me to post some more classics i gladly will

WOW

1. The Eminem Show
2. The Documentary
3. All Eyes On Me
4. Get Rich or Die Tryin
5. The Ultimate Victory

[Tash8]

agree with ur first 3 not too sure about the second 2, rakim will probably be up there but i dont think if ur trying to get people into rap, he wont be a great one to choose from.

[Tash8]

lol most people dont go the hardcore real core roots of hip hop route in 5 years. you expect them to in 5 albums? lol. Nice idea tho.

it's called transitiong them to like hip hop, so u give them one album, if they like it, they'll ask for another album, u give them that... ur not trying to get non rap fans to listen to rap, but rather a non music listener to listen to rap.

[,-,'-{Bar}-',-,]

like tash said its people who have never listened to the genre ever lol


also eminem to game imo is a steady jump, its dre and eminem beats, its got afftermath affliate all through-out it, it has eminem on it, and its getting them away from the eminem style so they wouldnt become "eminem only" hip hop listeners. plus if you never listened to hip hop eminem is alot eisier to get into than most people, give them rakim, or tupac or biggie to a person who never listened to hip hop they would be overwhelmed, but give them eminem and they got pop influence in there, remember its to break people into the genre to give them a standing to go on and discover the genre for themselves and imo, people like pac cube pun wu tang, need to be discovered and enjoyed by you own doin not by people handing it to you, the thread is just what youd give someone to get them want to looks for more.

[Hadez]

1. Me Against The World - Tupac
-- it's got many different vibes. you go from "If I Die Tonight" to the more smoother "Temptations". this can help the listener find out which kind of song they like to listen to

2. Release Therapy - Ludacris
-- Luda's best album in my opinion. completely different style from Pac, so if they didn't like Pac's style they can try Luda's. some pretty nice concepts on this album too.

3. Death Is Certain - Royce da 5'9"
-- again it's a different style (see the pattern here?). again good concepts and a mostly completely serious album to let them know rap isn't about booties and boobies.

4. Intinite - Eminem
-- different style. to let them taste great rhyming ability. i don't want to put Rakim here because i think Rakim should be discovered. not recommended out on a whim.

5. The Cool - Lupe Fiasco
-- different style. great concepts up the ass with this one. the complexity of the lyrics is unreal. letting them taste a more intelligent style of rap.

i think introducing different styles every time is the best way to introduce somebody to a genre. it shows them they have options. and plus, with such a large amount of styles out there you can narrow it down to there favorite style when you know which ones they like most.

[,-,'-{Bar}-',-,]

right ok honestly people, its just a thread, i think we all know you cant teach music, or force someone to like music, the concept of the thread is if someone sayed "i want to get into hip hop music, could you recomend me 5 albums to get a foothold in the genre ?" then witch 5 would you give them.

do i really need to spell everything out so like answer the question or make a point that hasnt already been made.


@hadez, nice approach man and good list