MrCrookedLetter
New member
Q Tip
With his group A Tribe Called Quest disbanding, Q-Tip’s career took another direction altogether. His solo debut Amplified pleased his fan base while introducing him to a modern, younger generation thanks to “Breathe and Stop” and “Vivrant Thing.” Record label politics would cause an eight-year delay before his soulful formal return with The Renaissance, during which time Q-Tip recorded music that has still gone unreleased to this day. Six years since this seminal release — during which time he has worked with Kanye West — his next anticipated album is reportedly entitled The Last Zulu.
Rakim
Considered nearly the pinnacle emcee of the late ‘80s, Rakim fell out of the spotlight as hip-hop became commercialized. In the midst of Bad Boy’s reign, The 18th Letter ushered Rakim into the new scene thanks to the aptly titled lead single “Guess Who’s Back.” Collaborations with the likes of Pete Rock and DJ Premier proved the God emcee hadn’t lost a step with his smooth voice and battle rhymes sounding as commanding as ever. While his future releases wouldn’t fare as well, in 1997, it was a rarity for golden age talent to still keep the pace the way Rakim did.
Tupac
Turning to Death Row at his darkest hours, 2Pac released his some of his most sinister, yet beloved work. Spearheaded by his smash single “California Love,” the double LP All Eyez On Me took his infamy to a new level. Having a well-earned reputation as a public menace, listeners with no clue of what to expect were given 2Pac at his most relentless. Fearless, sensitive and brash all at once, his dichotomy was on full display, evidenced by oppositional views of “I Ain’t Mad At Cha” and “How Do U Want It.”
De La Soul
At a later point in their career, The Grind Date was one of De La Soul’s most revered collections of songs. Showing love to newcomer 9th Wonder and an increasingly popular J Dilla, who had done the title track to Stakes Is High, their seventh album stuck to their legacy of maturity, offering little in the way of compromise. Dedicated to the strength of their work ethic, this project proved Posdnuos, Trugoy and Maseo still had it with MF Doom’s appearance on the frantic “Rock Co. Kane Flow” being the perfect match for their grown up approach.
Ghostface killah
Taking a break after his 1996 debut, Supreme Clientele found Ghostface Killah more confident than ever. Breaking out of his shell, the mysterious character found on his group’s cherished LP Enter The Wu was no longer. Developing quite a knack for entertainment, this album’s raps and skits showed that he had come into his own as a fully realized entity apart from his crew. Although he shared billing on Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, from this point on, it was Ghostface Killah to carry the Wu-Tang brand on his shoulders at a time when the unit appeared to lack strength.
With his group A Tribe Called Quest disbanding, Q-Tip’s career took another direction altogether. His solo debut Amplified pleased his fan base while introducing him to a modern, younger generation thanks to “Breathe and Stop” and “Vivrant Thing.” Record label politics would cause an eight-year delay before his soulful formal return with The Renaissance, during which time Q-Tip recorded music that has still gone unreleased to this day. Six years since this seminal release — during which time he has worked with Kanye West — his next anticipated album is reportedly entitled The Last Zulu.
Rakim
Considered nearly the pinnacle emcee of the late ‘80s, Rakim fell out of the spotlight as hip-hop became commercialized. In the midst of Bad Boy’s reign, The 18th Letter ushered Rakim into the new scene thanks to the aptly titled lead single “Guess Who’s Back.” Collaborations with the likes of Pete Rock and DJ Premier proved the God emcee hadn’t lost a step with his smooth voice and battle rhymes sounding as commanding as ever. While his future releases wouldn’t fare as well, in 1997, it was a rarity for golden age talent to still keep the pace the way Rakim did.
Tupac
Turning to Death Row at his darkest hours, 2Pac released his some of his most sinister, yet beloved work. Spearheaded by his smash single “California Love,” the double LP All Eyez On Me took his infamy to a new level. Having a well-earned reputation as a public menace, listeners with no clue of what to expect were given 2Pac at his most relentless. Fearless, sensitive and brash all at once, his dichotomy was on full display, evidenced by oppositional views of “I Ain’t Mad At Cha” and “How Do U Want It.”
De La Soul
At a later point in their career, The Grind Date was one of De La Soul’s most revered collections of songs. Showing love to newcomer 9th Wonder and an increasingly popular J Dilla, who had done the title track to Stakes Is High, their seventh album stuck to their legacy of maturity, offering little in the way of compromise. Dedicated to the strength of their work ethic, this project proved Posdnuos, Trugoy and Maseo still had it with MF Doom’s appearance on the frantic “Rock Co. Kane Flow” being the perfect match for their grown up approach.
Ghostface killah
Taking a break after his 1996 debut, Supreme Clientele found Ghostface Killah more confident than ever. Breaking out of his shell, the mysterious character found on his group’s cherished LP Enter The Wu was no longer. Developing quite a knack for entertainment, this album’s raps and skits showed that he had come into his own as a fully realized entity apart from his crew. Although he shared billing on Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, from this point on, it was Ghostface Killah to carry the Wu-Tang brand on his shoulders at a time when the unit appeared to lack strength.
