I agree with him for the most part especially the part about balance. I've always felt like hip hop is very much like jazz but back in the jazz era, all of it's parts and different styles were represented and celebrated. Not so much with hip hop especially in terms of region.
There was a time when callabs were seldom and I would be so excited about different artist collaborating that I really liked anticipating they would make an interestingly dope track together. But now it's all too common place and these features are more motivated by popularity rather than coming...
Luda - Theater of the Mind
Bubba S - Deliverance
Nelly - Country Grammer
Tech N9ne - Anghellic
Ras Kass - Rassassination
Slick Rick - Art of Storytelling
E-40 - Grit & Grind
Xzibit - Restless
Foxy Brown - Broken Silence
All I can think of now but there's more.
I know most of you might not be familiar but this is a fucking classic people. I couldn't stop playing this in 01 till Stillmatic came out. I was gonna vote Stillmatic then I realized this came out in 01 (originally).
There were some good albums came out in 98. Jay, Pun, Juvy, Devin, Blackstar, Red, Meth, Eightball, Face, C-Bo, Ras Kass to name a few but not many classics and Feind and Young Bleed were the only two I liked on NoLimit besides Mystical, both had solid albums come out. Kast and DMX had the only...
If you asking just str8 up raw speed rap it's Twista hands down but I chose Tech cause he's the most diverse at it. There's too many honorable mentions to name but I'll say if the Midwest can claim anything it's choppin' or speed rap.
If only Bizzy was on this the top four would have blessed...
These Vatos are from around my way (KC), hardest chicano rap group I've heard. This whole album is an underground classic. Empire- Grant Rice, Mr. Luna, Panic and S.G.
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Am I the only one who appreciates the difference in style, sound, and subject matter of every region and every hood. Comin up I used get excited to see an emcee reppin a place and style I was not exposed to yet. Black/urban music has always been like that only with funk, blues, and jazz peeps...
I understand the impact of Wu-Tang but niggas where I'm from wasn't checkin for them till Meth solo shit. Album wise Doggystyle was way more dominant in the middle of this left coast gangsta era. Here some more from the nine-trey...