Remember when rap albums had lyric sheets?

[achewon87]

You mean song lyrics in the album artwork?

Hell yeah that's still going on. I think Kendrick's last joint had his song lyrics in the album artwork if I'm not mistaken unless the T/S doesn't buy physical albums

Even buying it digitally u still get the booklet in pdf...

I have a PE cassette and it has the lyrics in the liner notes...

 

[THE_R_]

ROC MARCY: RELOADED

 

[THE_R_]

BADBADNOTGOOD X GHOSTFACE KILLAH: SOUR SOUL

 

[SneakDZA]

Remember when rap albums had lyrics?

 

[dj pre-k]

riff raff - neon icon

 

[water ur seeds]

Interesting thread... I used to LOVE getting a CD, braking the wrapping,putting the CD on and then reading the booklet checking the artwork and reading the credits and who they shout out... It was almost religious like...

There was once a time when you would buy a single and get a remix or two ... a bonus track that's not even on the album .... this is one reason why De La Soul is my favourite group .... they put in work and gave you more than expected ....

You know you can find lyrics online ... they're not always accurate .... but .... I'm just saying ..... I know what you mean .... it was cool to check out the liner notes to see lyrics, pic's, and shout outs ....

I bet all that stopped when artist found out how much labels were taxing them for that stuff

Shit ain't fun no more ... it's business

Yeah real talk, I used to get my pocket money and go cop a CD single and sometimes it would have like 4 tracks on there!!!

Shit lyric sheets? Nigga, I can barely remember seeing album art! You barely see that anymore, even when you cop an album legally.

You are right there, Im so underwhelmed with most album art work these days, its basically the same standard as throwaway mixtape artwork in the 90s or the free CDs you used to get with Hip Hop magazines back in the day!!! Like a piece of paper folded in half...

I miss lyric sheets too. They taught me how to write and structure words in hip hop setting. If it wasn't for PE lyric sheet talking about africa, panthers, farrakhan and malcolm x I would have never learned because I was not taught that in school. Also another neat thing about lyric sheets is they often had original lyrics to songs before they were censored mastered and hit press. Ice T and PE lyrics sheets have alternate lyrics to a lot of their songs that's on the album.

Another part of tape packaging I miss is the questionaire and fan club info. The BMG labels like arista and jive had surveys in tape fold asking for best songs and feedback for album. In 90s I used to write to the labels and fan clubs to send me any free records or tapes they had laying around. Most didn't respond but suprisingly a few did (no limit sent me a big box of promo 12" for free at height of popularity p and boz goats).

I also miss ordering merchandise. I had a black spice 1 baseball jersey and weed hat in 5th grade. I used to wear that shit on fridays and early outs.I used to rocK pre death DJ Screw, UGK and fat pat shirts in 95 96. Rappers used to offer chance to purchase now rare items

Haha daum I forgot about fan clubs and ordering merch!!! The last time I ordered from CD was from 'Death Row, Too Gangsta for Radio' album, I ordered a Death Row hoodie and key ring, plus Daz's 'Revenge, Retaliation and Get Back' album... Plus I got some free 'Death Row' stickers so I was buzzin haha

 

[THE_R_]

THE ROOTS USED TO HAVE THE ILLEST LINER NOTES...

THEY STOPPED AFTER GAME THEORY THOUGH...

ITS A SHAME..

 

[kzzl]

It you buy digital, you still get cover art and such. But it's usually just one or two images at most.

I remember back in the day when Bone Thugs "Tha Crossroads" track took the world by storm, some dude tried to sell me printed out lyrics of the song. Asking for $5 per verse. I was a kid back then and really wanted to know the lyrics since it was my favorite song at the time. I asked my dad for $30 and he slapped me behind my head.

One of the best things about Heavens Movie was that the whole album was texted out in the cassette booklet. First, I think only, Bone album to do that.

 

[moyo]

I remember Ridin dirty by UGK had the lyrics on the liner notes of that album. Jus another reason y it's one of the greatest albums ever!!!