The Top 20 West Coast Albums...Of All-Time

What's happening folks!  Glad to have you back with me once again.  Hopefully you all survived the East Coast snowstorm over the weekend, and that now reality is back to normal for this new week.  I've gotten a lot of feedback and responses with some of my most recent lists.  Well guess what folks? I have yet another list for you.  The West Coast has always been a very pivotal section in hip-hop.  Those that don't think so are GREATLY playing themselves.  There would be no icons like Dre, Cube, NWA, and some of today's favorites like Kendrick, Game, and Vince Staples without the movement and influence of the west coast.  Some very influential landmarks and highly regarded masterpieces haver come from the west, and this is that list devoted to them.  As usual, this will likely be up for debate and conversation, but by all means, let's begin.

20. Dr. Dre- Compton: A Soundtrack By Dr. Dre

This list begins with one of 2015's most triumphant albums.  It marked the return of the almighty D-R-E, after a fourteen year absence.  With the overwhelming success of the N.W.A. biopic, Straight Outta Compton, Dre decided to make his own unofficial soundtrack to the movie and double it as his final recording as an artist.  This album showed that he still had the Midas touch, both for his hand in producing and in establishing new stars.  From vets like Eminem, Cube, Kendrick, Game, and Xzibit to new jacks like Anderson.Paak, King Mez, and Justus, Dre had lots of assistance in this retirement album, and sonically this album stands as a giant among albums of today.

19. Cypress Hill- Black Sunday

The kings of brooding, blunted hip-hop became official stars with their monstrous sophomore album, which was the follow-up to their very impressive self-titled debut.  Bobo, DJ Muggs, Sen Dog, and B-Real had smashes upon smashes on this one and they also appealed to White suburban kids to further their star appeal.  This new brooding sound provided by Muggs was appropriate to the aura of this album, and the results were crazy and also resulted in nearly quadruple platinum status.

18. The Game- The Documentary 2/2.5

One of the more vital contributors in the renaissance of the west was Jayceon Taylor, otherwise known as The Game.  His debut, which will be covered later, served as a big glimpse into the future he would have, but after a few decent albums, the need for him to return to his hungry beast mode was evident, and it returned in spades with this double release.  Seen as one of 2015's hottest releases, The Game went back to the drawing board and crafted one of the best west coast albums in years.  Production-wise, it was very hard to find an album that was as wall-to-wall potent as this one was, but with cuts like the 2Pac dedication with Scarface "When's The Last Time" and the insane title track, this was Mr. Taylor at his finest since his debut.

17. Ice-T- Power

Seen as a very pivotal piece in early "gangsta rap", Ice provided a gritty, gripping piece of work that still holds up today.  With major hits like "I'm Your Pusher", "High Rollers", and the subtle LL dis "Girls L.G.B.N.A.F.", this ranks very high in the discography of Ice (not to mention the provocative cover with then-girlfriend Darlene Ortiz didn't hurt matters).

16. Too $hort- Life Is...Too $hort

The residential pimp himself had a breakout album in '89 with this one, which to this day is his best selling album, hitting double platinum units.  Not lacking at all in funky instrumentals, this album also contained his signature rhymes of women, money, hood life, and his ever eloquent choice of words (peep the ever wonderful "Cusswords" for an example).  This album became the signature album to which all other $hort Dawg records would be based and officially put Oakland on a worldwide level.

15. The Game- The Documentary

When we first were introduced to the Compton native, he was riding with 50 and G-Unit, but Dr. Dre was so very high on this kid that we knew there was something about him.  When he finally dropped his G-Unit/Aftermath debut, not only did it meet our expectations, it surpassed them.  This album single-handedly put the West as a big threat again to counter the bubbling South.  While his aforementioned sequal is a highly enjoyable companion, this still remains his most complete album to date.  Hit after hit after hit, this was an album that has developed into certainly classic status.

14. 2Pac- All Eyez On Me

Okay, okay, okay.  Let the heat come towards me due to the placement of this album.  I don't truthfully see the problem, especially what's to come on the list.  Regardless, this was THE album for the iconic Shakur.  We already heavily intrigued and compelled by the man, but once he got let out of jail and signed with Deathrow, we knew we were in for his official crossover mega smash.  We were completely right.  Obviously, the anthemic "California Love" was the spark for what would become the explosion All Eyez On Me.  Way too many hits to name, this may not be critically considered his magnum opus (stay tuned), but this was commercially his highest selling effort, and this album became the start of his immortal status in hip-hop.

13. Ras Kass- Soul On Ice

This is sincerely one of hip-hop's true lyrical masterpieces.  When this treasure dropped in '96, he already caught a buzz with underground cuts "Remain Anonymous" and "Won't Catch Me Runnin'", but when this album was released, he achieved immediate acclaim for his groundbreaking, intricate and incredibly intelligent rhymes.  While not considered one of the most stellar production works ever heard on a consistent level, it's also not a total waste of MPC equipment.  There are moments like "Reelishymn" and "Evil That Men Do" that are especially dope and in the latter's case, paints a true story of when he was involved in a fatal car accident that took the life of the other car and the jail sentence he had to serve. The climax is "Nature Of The Threat", which is still considered one of the most talked about and controversial records ever heard on wax. This is one of the most revered, yet slept-on, releases to ever emerge from the left coast and in all of the game, and deserves its place in history.

12. 2Pac- Me Against The World

If there was ever a soul-baring, confessional, depressing album that was so incredible to deny, it was this one.  Seen as the most pivotal and revered album in his discography, the late icon pinned a melancholy, dark masterpiece with Me Against The World.  Released while in jail on a sexual assault charge, Shakur gave us his soul in all its pain and blues on this album.  Of course we're familiar with hip-hop's most touching ode to mothers "Dear Mama", but the extremely powerful and gripping "So Many Tears" and the cautionary "Death Around The Corner" feel like we got a glimpse of his morbid diary.  A very influential album, this album still remains not just his best, one of the music's truly special moments.

11. Kendrick Lamar- good kid, M.A.A.D. City

Compton's prodigy, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, was widely knwon in the underground and the indie scene with celebrated releases like Overly Dedicated and especially the incredible Section.80.  He later caught the eyes and ears of the good Doctor and signed him through TDE to Aftermath.  The buzz was immediate for him to drop his Aftermath debut, and MAN did it deliver.  Not since The Documentary had a debut been this amazing to hail from the left coast.  From the concept of the album to lyrics to instant head-nodding production, this album became an immediate classic and we saw hip-hop's new star.  

10. Ice-T- O.G.: Original Gangster

While Iceman was steadily increasing his star power within hip-hop with his first three albums, including the aforementioned The Iceberg album, this was the album that firmly solidified his position in the game.  Brutal, unrelenting, and in your face, this album became Ice-T's benchmark, an album that he would never be able to outdo or even duplicate.  Grittier than anything he had done prior to this, Ice showed that he truly was an O.G.

9. Ice Cube- AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

When N.W.A. lost its most lyrical member, buzz was reaching climatic levels about Cube's solo album, and when it hit, it did just that, HIT.  Every bit as socio-political and gangsta as we thought it would be, this was the official birth of O' Shea Jackson.  Linking up with Public Enemy's production team, The Bomb Squad, for the majority of the album, this sounded like a more gangsta Public Enemy album, with just as much rage and authority as anything he was doing his groupmates.  Widely acclaimed for his content and the lyrical venom of it all, Cube went platinum after only two weeks, thus showing his importance to the group he left behind and the hip-hop scene at large.  With cuts like the title track, "The Nigga You Love To Hate", and the Chuck D-featured "Endangered Species", the west legitimately caught its first complete glimpse of its next power mover.

8. N.W.A.- Niggaz4Life

Two years after their trailblazing debut, an Ice Cube-less N.W.A. dropped a more vicious and misogynistic album that aimed to shock more than educate and anger.  There are many that consider this album better than their debut, but in any case, everyone will agree Dr. Dre's production stepped up even more with this release.  This was a monster release, and it became their last group album.  With Cube gone, Ren and Dre stepped up their game, to fairly favorable results.  One can only imagine what would have happened if Cube would've remained.

7. Ice Cube- Death Certificate

If it was even possible to be even more angry, hostile and vicious than AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Cube accomplished it, and then some, with this effort.  There were no filters with this one folks.  This was one of the most raw album to ever get released to our ears.  Filled with angst, this album covers everything from racism, gang violence, anti-establishment views, and even sexually transmitted diseases on the cautionary, yet hilarious, cut "Look Who's Burnin".  Even the cover is controversial with a body covered with an American flag with the toe tag naming the body as "Uncle Sam", which was filled with symbolism.  This album also contained the legendary N.W.A. diss "No Vaseline".  In times like these, this is one of the most important albums of our current state of affairs.

6. Dr. Dre- 2001

After the landmark smash of The Chronic, the pressure was on for him to repeat that performance, even if it was damn near impossible to do. Once we heard his reunion with Snoop on "Still D-R-E", we knew he was back, and that was an understatement.  Almost packing as big of a punch as his debut, he took his distinctive brand of G-funk to that eras level of sound.  Also much like his debut, he showed off new stars like Eminem and others that were supposed to be stars such as Knoc-Turnal and Hittman.  Despite the long list on tracks and the occasionally unnecessary skits, this was another home run for the infamous Doctor.

5. D.O.C.- No One Can Do It Better

Dr. Dre's protege D.O.C. was hyped by Dre in the months leading up to his debut, and there was a lot of pressure as N.W.A.'s first outside artist.  The result: one of the most influential and eponymous debuts ever heard.  While not really a "gangsta" album, this was every bit a lyrical album that showed how impressive he could be.  Cuts like "The Formula", "Lend Me An Ear", and the hellacious N.W.A.- collab "Grand Finale" exceeded every expectations placed upon him and his debut.  Although a tragic accident halted what was sure to be an exceptional career, he can lay claim to having one of the game's most fantastic moments.

4. Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp A Butterfly

In this current age of trapping, incoherent/indecipherable lyrics, and pointless rap music, along came an album in 2015 that completely rewrote the rules of being a hip-hop artist in terms of creativity and longevity.  When King Kendrick dropped his aforementioned good kid, M.A.A.D. City, we had an instant gratification of superb hip-hop and artistic vision.  We didn't know it was possible to outdo that album.  We were wrong on so many levels.  Seen and regarded as the most important and soulfully conceptual hip-hop album of the past decade, Kendrick tapped into the Black experience in such a proud yet vulnerable and introspective way that he may very well be the leader of the new school of intelligent, conscious, important hip-hop.  Using elements of live instrumentation, funk, jazz, soul and world music, this is an album that will be remembered for the next twenty years and over.  The best word for it: generational.

3. Snoop (Doggy) Dogg- Doggystyle

There wasn't a more anticipated debut around '92-'93 than the debut of Dre protege Snoop Dogg (then known as Snoop Doggy Dogg).  His super dope lyrics and style a big part in what made Dre's The Chronic such a worldwide smash, and then the hype was on.  Once we hear his first single "What's My Name", the hydro smoke was in the air, and we knew it was coming, and it became a game changer.  As close to a flawless album as you will hear even in today's standards, Snoop's album sold over eight hundred thousand units in a week, which at the time was the fastest selling album for a hip-hop album ever.  Dre elevated his G-funk style of production previously heard on The Chronic and went to another level, as the album was heaavily textured and layered. This was an album that some say was even better than his mentor's debut, but regardless, there's no denying that this album is truly one of the most essential releases of all-time and helped redefine the entire west.

2. N.W.A.- Straight Outta Compton

This album became an entire movement in itself.  Deemed one of the most important albums of any generation, five young cats (six if you include Arabian Knight) set out to start a revolution and it was like something we as a culture and as America would never recover from, and that's a good thing.  Dre, Cube, Ren, Eazy, and Yella constructed an album that shook and rocked the music industry down to its uncomfortable core.  Tackling everything from racism to freedom of speech to police brutality, this caught the attention of the FBI for the highly flammatory "Fuck The Police" due to the rash string of police brutality incidents not just in Cali but everywhere.  Iconic careers emerged from this album and they became "The world's most dangerous group" to boot.  As powerful as anything Public Enemy would release during this time period, N.W.A. were the bad guys in the eyes of the upper class, stuck up middle class, the police, and the government.  In short, they became the ghetto journalists of our time.

1. Dr. Dre- The Chronic

Behold the official breakout west coast album.  The game was never the same from the moment this album dropped.  Blending laid-back funk with easy riding melodies, the debut from Andre Young became the legitimate blueprint for all west coast albums to follows.  Although there was no real deep content, there didn't need to be.  This was a party.  The kind that could turn violent if cats got out of line, but otherwise folks was getting high and groupies were getting smashed before all was said and done.  The new benchmark for "gangsta rap", Dre delivered an album that would etched into hip-hop history and if there was a Mount Rushmore of hip-hop albums, this would be on it.  he showed not only did he not need N.W.A., but that he would soar without them, and this was the proof.  This one album took the power away from New York for many years and officially made the west equally as powerful and dominating.  We haven't seen any west coast album like it since.

Honorable Mentions

The Pharcyde- Bizarre Ryde To The Pharcyde

Very unique, yet very lighthearted, album that still is among the most respected albums to this day

Xzibit- 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz

Excellent sophomore album that further propelled X's career and is still seen as his overall best work

Ice-T- The Iceberg: Freedom Of Speech

Sorely slept and underappreciated, Iceman went deep with this one on many levels

DJ Quik- Quik Is The Name

Innovator David Blake branded his own G-funk sound and put the game on notice with this classic debut

Warren G- Regulate: G-Funk Era

We knew this album would be big, but nobody expected it to be this big, and continued to increase the west's dominance

Westside Connection- Bow Down

Flammable and riotous, this highly divisive album was also one of Cube's biggest and most superb moments, and with the assistance of WC and Mack 10, this was a monster album and showed NY that they had a lot to say too

King Tee- At Your Own Risk

Underappreciated O.G. King tee had a west coast show stealer with this album that's as funky as wekk old grits

Compton's Most Wanted- Music To Drive By

Vicious and unforgiving, MC Eiht and the boys took us on an unrelenting ride through the bloody Compton streets in menacing yet excellent fashion

Daz Dillinger- Retaliation, Revenge, and Getback

The last significant Deathrow album that immediately became a smash critically.  Very reminiscent of the Chronic/Doggystyle days

Souls Of Mischief- '93 Til Infinity

Refreshing and relaxed debut from three Oakland boys that created quite the cult following, though never getting the just due they deserved

Casual- Fear Itself

Another Hieroglyphics member with an incredible album that largely went slept on

2Pac- Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.

Breakout album from Mr. Shakur and with hits like "I Get Around" and "Papa'z Song", we knew he was on his way to becoming a big star.  We had no idea...

Tha Dogg Pound- Dogg Food

Daz & Kurupt's very solid debut was among the most heralded albums in all of '95 and was another album that waged war against the entire east coast, plus a few others in the process

E-40- Tha Hall Of Game

His most known and acclaimed work, one of the forefathers of the bay area constructed a very personal, yet very stylish, album that made him more noticed on a commercial level

Vince Staples- Summertime '06

Amazing debut from Long Beach's next to blow

YG- My Krazy Life

Arguably the hottest "gangsta" record from the west in years

Aceyalone- Book Of Human Language

Complex, yet astounding piece of work

This was actually another hard list to compile, but much like my others, this was fun to construct.  The west has produced some major players and icons in the industry.  Here's to the new up-and-comers such as Vince Staples, YG, and of course TDE.  Keep waving the west coast flag proudly.  Other acts such as Dilated peoples, Tha Alkaholiks, Spice 1, Above The Law, and Freestyle Fellowship greatly contribute to the west coast's legacy, whether commercial stars or underground, they're still a mighty big force after all these years.  Until next time, everyone take it easy.

The Top Southern Hip-Hop Albums Of All-Time

What's good peeps?!  You know what time it is.  Hip-Hop all the time.  Thanks for kicking it with me as usual.  For real, I appreciate all the feedback that I get, whether you agree or disagree with my views or my lists, it's made for healthy debates that's needed for those of us who live, eat, and breathe hip-hop like myself.  This is essential.  With that, this particular list gives homage to the hottest section of the country over the past fifteen or so years: the South.  While many blame the South for the downward spiral of hip-hop right now, let's not forget that this sector was, and still somewhat is, responsible for some outstanding music and ground-breaking albums just as much as the East or West.  Had it not been for the South, there would no icons like Scarface, The geto Boys, Eightball & MJG, UGK, Outkast, or Uncle Luke.  There would be no game changers like Lil' Wayne, T.I., Ludacris, or Z-Ro.  These acts shattered the notion that "country" cats can't rhyme.  Don't let what's going on the radio nowadays shun you away.  Outkast boldly said, in front of a heavily defiant New York crowd during The Source Awards, that "The South got something to say", and over the years, they ended up taking over.  This is a look at fifteen of the most impactful and influential albums the South has ever released to our ears.  Ready???  Set??? Let's go!!!

15. Bun B

Trill

All props due to one of the true godfathers of southern hip-hop.  Bernard Freeman, otherwise known as Bun B, released this album just after his late partner-in-rhyme, Pimp C, was incarcerated.  Although disheartened, this only served to make his album that much more potent, and with the Pimp in his mind and heart, he dropped one of the grittiest southern hip-hop albums in years with his debut.  From track to track, Bun and friends bring that trademarked Houston (by way of Port Arthur) sound and proved Bun was quite legit on his own.

14. Goodie Mob

Still Standing

How do you follow-up a sure-fire classic like their debut, Soul Food?  You deliver Still Standing, a fifteen track musical endeavor which many have called Soul Food Pt. 2.  While their debut was more down home, with soul, heart, God-sprinkled flavor, this was more social commentary and spiritual, more so than Soul Food.  With the exception of a rock-infused cut on there ("Just About Over"), there's so many similarities that this deserves as much acclaim as their wonderful debut.

13. Geto Boys

Grip It! On That Other Level

With this sophomore effort from the Geto Boys, they went extra miles to ensure shock and hardcore gangsta themes into their music.  Considered one of the single hardest releases ever heard on wax, this album marked the debuts of MC Akshun, whom later became the icon we know as Scarface, and the notorious "Gangster of love" Willie D, and officially placed them as a very formidable group within the business.  

12. T.I.

Trap Muzik

Fresh off the disappointing sales of his debut, I'm Serious, Clifford Harris wanted to make another stance at bringing his own form of hood hop to the masses.  Clearly very talented, he knew he needed a major label to help support him, so he took his Grand Hustle imprint to Arista, and it helped heads to get more of T.I., and we definitely appreciated it.  This album showed that he had what it took to be a star with highly infectious singles and an album that is honest with drug tales and the struglles of hood living (very cliche I know, but it least sounded good).  We knew this was his takeoff album, it did just that-took off.

11. Young Jeezy

Let Get It: Thug Motivation 101

While 'trap rap' was established by the likes of T.I., Yo Gotti, and Gucci Mane, a guy that really brought it to commercial levels was ATLien Young Jeezy.  His Def Jam debut, Let Get It: Thug Motivation 101, was trapping at its finest.  Considered as one of the best coke albums in years, this album made Jeezy get into everyone's car speakers from all directions of the nation.  From top to bottom, this was a turning page in the life of "the Snowman".  This is an album that still stands head and shoulders above anything he's done since.

11. Scarface

The Untouchable

This album from Brad Jordan officially put him into the platinum spotlight, primarily because of his major crossover hit with a posthumous 2Pac appearance, "Smile".  This was a very formidable follow-up to his all-time magnum opus The Diary, and while there was a lot of pressure to deliver, he did just that and then some.  Every bit as dark, murky, and reflective as The Diary, The Untouchable furthered his status as one of the greats in the game.

10. Eightball & MJG

On Top Of The World

Memphis legends Eightball & MJG are considered as influential in the early South as the Geto Boys and UGK, and rightfully so.  While we had gotten exposure of the talent in Houston, and Florida at that time with 2 Live Crew and Uncle Luke, we took an equally ominous walk through Memphis with these hustlas.  This album became a darling to them and the South as we saw their talent as a duo breakout with an album that became a strong statement to their building star power. 

9. Outkast

ATLiens

After the runaway success of their classic debut, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, they went a slightly different direction with their phenomenal sophomore effort, ATLiens.  This spaced-out, yet painfully soulful, album touches areas such as the uplifting of the Black woman ("Jazzy Belle"), the euphoria of gaining more self and worldly knowledge ("13th Floor/Growing Old"), and even extra-terrestrial space travel through hip-hop.  This is truly a unique, yet exceptional, album that officially made Dre and Big Boi stars, as they went double platinum with this release.  Many consider this album even better than their debut, and there's a decent argument with that one.

8. Juvenile

400 Degreez

The marked the mainstream spotlight of Cash Money Records, and this was the album that did it.  Naw'lins own Juvi presented an album full of anthems, but none more so than the booty-glorified, "Back That Azz Up" that remains an all-time club classic.  This also introduced us to the Big Tymers and the Hot Boy$, which included a very young yet verbally nice Lil' Wayne.  A turning point to the sound of contemporary southern hip-hop, Juvenile became a smash, as he sold over four million units and officially taking over the New Orleans sound previously owned by No Limit.

7. Geto Boys

We Can't Be Stopped

After following the gold success of their previous album, Grip It! On That Other Level, they come back with the biggest album of their careers, We Can't Be Stopped.  This album was even more violent, vicious, and macabre, only this time they also injected some crass and misogynistic humor in the mix as well.  The album is more widely known for two specific things: the controversial album cover (which has a real photo of Bushwick getting stretchered in the hospital after his eye got shot) and the chilling, yet brilliant, cut about paranoia, their seminal "Mind's Playing Tricks On Me".  This platinum effort marked their rise to stardom and they cemented their stance as the N.W.A. of the south.

6. Outkast

Aquemini

This follow up to ATLiens in a word: MASTERPIECE.  This album is among the greatest hip-hop albums ever recorded and wonderfully displayed the chemistry Dre and Big Boi contain within them as a duo.  Artistically, creatively, and musically, this album went far and beyond anything that was out during this time, incorporating live instrumentation, elements of funk, soul, gospel, and world music, and an overall eclectic mix of styles and sounds, making this one an album ahead of its time.  While Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was more funk, and ATLiens was more spacey soul, this album was filled with incredible lush arrangement and lyrical poignancy the likes of which they haven't repeated since.  With the prior two albums, they arrived commercially, but with this one, they arrived artistically.  This album served as a predecessor to albums like Kendrick's modern masterpiece, To Pimp A Butterfly, and may very well be the greatest Outkast album of all-time.

5. Goodie Mob

Soul Food

We got pleasantly introduced to this four-man crew on Outkast's debut album, and the anticipation for an album grew quickly.  What followed was the apocalyptic and cautionary "Cell Therapy", to serve as a warning shot to what would become one of the most influential albums not just in southern hip-hop but all of hip-hop.  Their debut, Soul Food, continued what Southernplayalistcadillacmuzik established and put more raw, poignant, heartfelt lyricism on top of very soulful production from Organized Noize.  Considered a classic by many, Cee-Lo, T-Mo, Khujo, and Big Gipp became ambassadors for the "soulful South" and presented of work of honest art and one that still gets highly rotated and discussed in acclaim twenty years after its release.

4. Scarface

Mr. Scarface Is Back

After bringing his trademark brand of macabre, raw, and halfway insane lyrics with the Geto Boys for two albums (Grip It! On That Other Level and We Can't Be Stopped), he stepped out on his own to present his debut, and it's littered with tales of grisly violence, drugs, mysogyny, depression, and suicide.  This debut is considered a milestone in southern hip-hop, as we saw Scarface as a dark, bipolar Dr. Seuss, only with no green eggs and ham.  There's no filter here folks.  This is brutality as its finest, but this also saw the emergence of a future icon on this auspicious debut.

3. Outkast

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

This was a game changer for the south.  This album marked an entire new era for hip-hop as we saw the emergence of Andre and Big Boi, two late teens who had talent all over their bodies.  Their blend of funk and soul was enough to garner the attention of an intrigued nationwide hip-hop audience, and was enough to help them win Best New Artist at The Source Awards, despite a very bitter New York crowd.  Outkast became the hip-hop voices of Atlanta, and ushered in the dawn of a new day in hip-hop with this very release.  One that saw a third coast if you will.  It was no longer East vs. West.  The South had finally found a legit, commercial voice that worked and worked profoundly.  Although this album centered on getting high, partying, and hanging with the homies, they also found time to tell you to "Get up, get out and do something/don't let the days of your life pass by" on the knocking "Git Up, Git Out".  Outkast's debut will forever be cemented in history as the album that put them on the map and created the "Dirty South" sound and feeling.  

2. UGK

Ridin' Dirty

OMG!!!  This third effort by Port Arthur, Texas' favorite sons, UGK, is nothing short of a game changer.  While their first two albums of Too Hard To Swallow and Super Tight were funky and explicit introductions to Bun B and the late Pimp C, it was this album that provided a bluesy, soulful, and raw look in the streets of P.A. and nearby Houston in ways we hadn't heard since the Geto Boys' We Can't Be Stopped.  Without question, this album served as their magnum opus, and served as inspiration to not just southern acts like Outkast and Goodie Mob, but to even the likes of Jay-Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, and Ice Cube.  While not a contender for the most artistic album ever, this album makes up for it with some of the best production to ever emerge from the south, or anywhere for that matter.  Plus the honest and vivid lyrics from these two made them indeed kings of the underground.  No album from them has come close to the stellar work this was, but there's no shame in that.  Subsequent albums like Dirty Money and Underground Kingz were both very dope releases that continued to expand the legacy of UGK.  However, it was this album that made them share the title of kings of the south with Outkast.  Here's to one of hip-hop's all time best duos, regardless what section you rep.  This was the album that put them in that category.  Did I mention that this album was nearly platinum with no radio or commercial single?

1. Scarface

The Diary

What can you say about the icon Scarface?  Besides being one of hip-hop's greatest storytellers, he's also among the most raw and honest.  After breaking away from the Geto Boys, he dropped incredible material after incredible material.  However, it was this haunting epic of an album that marked a new plateau for this man.  With his prior albums of Mr. Scarface Is Back and his sophomore effort, The World Is Yours, he begins to balance his macabre story-telling and dark humor with spirituality and the conflicting duality of instinct versus consciousness.  This is Scarface at his unparalleled, untouched apex, and we saw the dawn of his influence as most revered emcee to ever come from the South, and more importantly, one of the entire game's most respected emcees.  Although he will never humbly take the title of "king of the South", this album is the album that deserves that claim.  Although noticeably nihilistic at times, there's a method to his madness when it's carefully explored.  Regardless, Scarface delivered the South's brightest gem of grit and rawness, and should be considered the greatest album to ever emerge from below the Mason-Dixon line.

Honorable Mentions

UGK- Underground Kingz

Their final album serves as a reminder to their older fans of their legacy and to introduce new fans as to why they are the kings!

Scarface- The Fix

A more grown-up lyrically and content-wise Mr. Jordan gave us a blueprint in looking into your soul for redemption and trying to balance the streets with the human consciousness

Ludacris- Back For The First Time

We get introduced to Chris Bridges' zany yet highly lyrical stylings over trunk-rattling, above average production.  The south would never be the same.

Bun B- Trill O.G.

Mr. Freeman's most complete album to date, and his first post the death of his partner-in-rhyme Pimp C.  Made for incredible results, including his beasting a cut produced by fellow Texas native DJ Premier.

2 Live Crew- As Nasty As They Wanna Be

They can still turn the party out with any booty bass cut on their infamous yet trail blazing album

Cunninlynguists- A Piece Of Strange

Criminally slept-on group from ATL by way of Kentucky, these three cats presented an album filled with creative storytelling and personal content

Big K.R.I.T.- Cadillactica

This Jackson, Mississippi native brought back the soulful sound of the South with his major label debut, Live From The Underground, but was more expansive lyrically and musically with this tremendous album

Devin- The Dude

Houston's residential rapping/singing stoner gave us quite the amusing debut solo album and became a flag bearer for Rap-A-Lot

Lil' Wayne- The Carter III

This album firmly established DeWayne Carter as one of the most checked for emcees in the game, thus selling a million units in a week.

Three 6 Mafia- Chapter 2: World Domination

The breakout album from Three 6 Mafia made a mainstream buzz with this album, filled with dark, hypnotic beats and content that makes one ready for war

Mystikal- Unpredictable

The former No Limit soldier's breakout album gave him an entire new audience and made him an official general of the south

T.I.- Paper Trail

Tip Harris' crossover album gave him even more fans and a Grammy nod

Outkast- Speakerboxx/The Love Below

One of the biggest hip-hop albums in history, this became the final album of hip-hop's most prolific duo

Hot Boy$- Guerilla Warfare

This wasn't your typical bling, shiny Lambo-esque album from them.  Sure it was in there, but this was also just as much a raw look in the bloody streets of the Magnolia

Nappy Roots- Watermelon, Chicken, & Grits

One of the more feel good albums to come out the South, these Kentucky boys surprised everybody with their dose of down home soulful hip-hop

Youngbloodz- Against The Grain

Sean Paul and J-Bo delivered an album that put them on the map and truthfully had groups like Outkast and Goodie Mob playing very close attention to these boys.    Widely considered one of the most underappreciated albums out the A.

UGK- Too Hard To Swallow

Our first introduction to UGK, and with the southern classic, "Pocket Full Of Stones", and the ever soulful "Something Good", this was the beginning of legendary things to come

Outkast- Stankonia

Unquestionably a legendary album, Dre and Big Boi further solidified their status as the greatest hip-hop duo of all-time with this classic

Killer Mike- R.A.P. Music

The beginning of the game's most in-your-face duo, Run The Jewels, began with this outstanding release.  The game still hasn't recovered from this one

Boosie Badazz- Touch Down 2 Raise Hell

Brutally honest and vivid, Boosie has had it rougher than most rappers these days with prison and his cancer scare, but through it all persevered, and this album showed he's not afraid to be transparent

Master P- Ghetto D

No Limit's crowning commercial jewel.  While the No Limit sound was very formulaic, it had the whole nation under its spell.  This album from Percy Miller officially made everyone stand up and take notice if they already didn't before

Crooked Lettaz- Grey Skies

Before David Banner became the star he is today, he was part of a duo with then partner Kamakazi to present a highly slept-on album that balanced ghetto gospel with street redemption

Trick Daddy- Book Of Thugs: Chapter AK, Verse 47
Before Rick Ross ruled Miami, there was this guy, and with this album, he established his stardom with a very gutter, yet accessible, album

Paul Wall- The People's Champ
This Houston native dropped an album so draped in the influence of the late DJ Screw, one would think he would be more than proud of this very dope release

Outkast- Idlewild
The soundtrack to the movie was very musically rich and fit with the sounds of old 50s juke joint bars, and the results were outstanding

As you can see, there are a lot of highly influential and important albums to surface from this acclaimed region of the country.  The South did indeed have something to say, and is still doing so.  Don't be misguided by lazy, talentless music that has been forced into your subconscious, there's room to have more impactful, genre-bending talent to further staple the South as not only the most dominant, but also as the most musically rich and soulful.  

The Most Anticipated Albums of 2016

What's good everyone?!  Glad to see you hanging with me yet again.  These lists have been controversial, yet engaging and I definitely feel this is good for us hip-hop lovers and junkies to be involved in healthy discussions concerning these lists.  This week, the list will be the most anticipated albums of the year.  There are lots of projects that we've been waiting on for years that may actually see the light of day.  These are albums that are either confirmed or pretty much confirmed.  With that being said, let's get to it all shall we?

Lupe Fiasco

DROGAS, SKULLS, and ROY

2016

After releasing one of the year's single best albums, and his best album in years with Tetsuo & Youth, he's getting prepped to released not one, not two, but THREE albums this year before releasing his final studio album The Cool 2 in 2017.  One can hope that he'll continue the momentum left over from his mesmerizing album of 2015.

De La Soul

And To The Anonymous Nobody

April 2016

Still going strong after nearly thirty years non-stop, the legends of De La Soul will releases their Kickstarter-funded ninth new album, And To the Anonymous Nobody, and it's slated to be the biggest album of their illustrious careers.  With reported guests such as Usher, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and others, De La will attempt to recreate another wonderful album that will make them as important they were when they released prior classics like 3 Feet High & Rising and De La Soul Is Dead.

Isaiah Rashad

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

The only representative to rep the South from the TDE camp delivered a very damn good album with his "EP", Cilvia Demo.  With this promising debut, eyes are now on this young Tennessee native to deliver a very formidable debut full-length album, and with the high level success his team is having, who's going to bet against him?

J. Cole

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

Within a span of a year and a half, Jermaine Cole went from a very dope emcee on the Roc Nation label to one of the most important fixtures in all of the game.  Although hitting Gold with his first two releases of Cole World and Born Sinner, he made history with 2014 Forest Hills Drive, as he went Platinum with no features, and considering how grossly under-promoted it was, this was something very magical and special.  He and good friend, Kendrick Lamar, put out a "Black Friday" mixtape that hinted at him dropping this year and this is very true.  While there's no truth to the highly awaited Cole & Kendrick collab album, we can still rejoice to the return of one of the game's true lyrical leaders.

Nas

The Lost Tapes 2 and As-Yet-Untitled album

2016

The legend himself returns in 2016 with two projects.  Later this year, he'll drop his final Def Jam full-length album before focusing all of his energy on his new label Mass Appeal, which hosts the likes of Fashawn, Run The Jewels, and Dave East.  His last effort, Life Is Good, was strictly for the grown folks, and showed the maturity we knew Nas was growing towards as an artist approaching the big four (that's forty years of age for those that don't know).  He continued to show why he was and is the best.  Once he leaves Def Jam, he'll FINALLY be able to put out his long-awaited sequel to his very highly acclaimed Lost Tapes album, which will surely be filled with unreleased, unheard jewels that continue to show why Nas is far and away one of the single greatest emcees ever seen and heard.

ScHoolboy Q

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

TDE's ScHoolboy Q delivered his long overdue commercial effort, with his nearly platinum major label debut, Oxymoron.  Now in 2016, the pressure is on for him to present a thorough follow-up to that very good album, but based on prior releases like Habits & Contradictions, that really shouldn't be too hard of a challenge.

Run The Jewels

RTJ3

2016

Uh-oh!!!  The most vicious tag team in hip-hop right now is El-P and Killer Mike, and they're on their way back.  After delivering some of hip-hop's most unbelievable releases in a decade or two, the socially commenting, anti-establishment duo is getting set to drop yet another exceptional piece of angry, fuck you hip-hop.  This may be a task after dropping two undisputed classic in their self-titled debut and RTJ2, but knowing these two, this will be another mission that will be successful.

Ghostface Killah & MF DOOM/DOOMStarks

GhostDOOM or Swift & Changeable

Feb. 2016

Talk about an album we've been highly anticipating, this has been in the works since just before Ghost's Fishscales album, and that was back in 2006.  The combo of Ghost's off-the-wall rhymes with DOOM's equally off-the-wall yet strangely melodic production made for possibly hip-hop's newest formidable tag team.  However, with the exception of two released songs by them, nothing surfaced.  Things may have changed now, as Ghost recently stated that DOOM is willing to put the album in February.  Let's really hope that surfaces, as we've hit the ten year mark since the first announcement of the collaboration.

Slaughterhouse

Glass House

2016

The Four Horsemen of hip-hop are putting the final touches to their highly awaited follow-up to their Shady Records debut, Welcome 2: Our House.  Seen industry-wide as the most feared lyrical supergroup in all of hip-hop, this album will pack an even harder punch than their dope, yet slightly underwhelming debut.  This will not only be executive produced by label boss, Eminem, but also DJ/producer extraordinaire Just Blaze as well.  With each doing their own projects leading up to this, the stage is set for a monstrous album, and quite possibly one of the most insane projects all year.

Ab-Soul

As-yet-Untitled

2016

TDE's residential conscious thinker (besides Kendrick) will be dropping his follow-up to his 2014 effort, These Days, which spawned the excellent cut with Action Bronson, "Stigmata".  Known for deep beneath the surface-type tracks, hopefully this will be a better project than the blatant urge to go more commercial like These Days attempted to do.  While his album, Control System, stands as his best effort to date, there's no reason why Soulo won't attempt to make an album as good if not better.

Missy Elliot

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

Overcoming health issues and bouts of depression, the Grammy Award winner is finally returning with her first album in eleven years.  Delivering the funky, uptempo cut with Pharrell, "WTF", it's good to see the innovator back in the game again, and here's to her reinventing the game once again.  

Ghostface Killah

Supreme Clientele 2: The Blue & Cream Era

2016

Wu-Tang's most prolific emcee is returning with quite possibly another very busy year.  Besides dropping the aforementioned collab album with MF DOOM in February, he's also finishing up the much anticipated sequel to his undisputed best album ever, the Gold-selling Supreme Clientele.  Attempting to recreate the unmatched magic that the first one presented, hopefully all his samples are able to be cleared and we'll have an album that, much like the first, will be talked about another twenty years from now.

AZ

Doe Or Die 2

Spring 2016

One of hip-hop's most underrated lyricists on the planet dropped one of the most underrated albums of the entire nineties with his near platinum debut, Doe Or Die.  Since then, he's dropped dope albums such as Aziatic, A.W.O.L., and Pieces Of A Man.  All of which have been decent to fantastic, but none have had the fluidity and cohesiveness as his debut.  On the twentieth anniversary of his debut, he attempts to recreate the essence of his debut, and as talented as he is, my odds are on him to do it.

Drake

Views From The 6

January 2016 (tentative)

On a commercial level, nobody in hip-hop is hotter than Aubrey Drake Graham.  No matter how you see him, even if he is one of hip-hop's more polarizing fixtures, he's the IT guy of the game.  Never selling less than platinum in his brief yet impressive career, he has made history and broken records with his success.  Last year's mixtape, If You're Reading This, It's Too Late, went platinum in no time and spawned hit after hit after hit.  He later dropped a collab mixtape with Future with What A Time To Be Alive, which just hit gold status.  While subsequently slowing down the career of rival Meek Mill and having issues with label boss Birdman as well as with Lil' Wayne, he found time to record his much anticipated full-length follow-up to his Grammy-nominated Nothing Was The Same.  Expected tro drop any time now, here's to possibly another incredible year for the young Canadian.

Kanye West

SWISH

Feb. 2016

The almighty Yeezus himself is finally ready to drop his next album and take hip-hop to yet another level.  Regardless on how you feel about the man and his ego, he's one of the single top stars in all of music, and the anticipation of this album is reaching climax levels. He recently dropped the Ty Dollar Sign-assisted "Real Friends", which is being heralded as one of his best cuts in years, and a brief tease of his collab with Kendrick Lamar "No More Partying In LA" (over an AMAZING Madlib beat).  As to whether or not this makes the final version of the album, along with prior released singles such as "All In" with Thelonious Martin remains to be seen.  What is known is Mr. West is back, which means the year could very likely belong to him.

Pusha T

King Push

April 2016

What a hell of a way to end 2015 then when Pusha dropped the "prelude" to his forthcoming King Push album then his ten track monster, Darkest Before Dawn.  Heralded everywhere, the newly crowned President of G.O.O.D. Music is set to drop the real thing in April and Darkest Before Dawn was ANY indication as to what we'll be seeing, expect one of the year's most formidable releases, bar none.

Redman

Muddy Waters 2

Spring 2016

The Brick City native is back to his hungry self.  He dropped his Mudface EP near the end of 2015 and showed that he was lyrically focused now as he was when he broke in the game in '92.  He has stated that this was virtually a tease for the sequel of the album that is considered the magnum opus of his discography.  It's good to hear ol' Reggie again, and we can be assured that this will be a firestarter and a return to his gutter greatness.

Danny Brown

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

Detroit's quirky, yet very talented, Danny Brown last dropped a project in 2013, which was the fairly enjoyable Old.  Now in 2016, D-Brown is primed and ready to push the envelope with sexually exploitative, drug-infested, occasionally introspective rhymes.  There's no doubt the D will be aiming to dominate, with rumored releases from Eminem, Royce Da 5'9, and Black Milk, this cat here is sure to be among the ones looking to do the ass kicking.

Treach, Bumpy Knuckles, and Trick-Trick

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

This supergroup is scary.  The brutality of Bumpy, the viciousness of Trick, and the in-your-face aggression of Treach (mixed with the entire album produced by super underrated producer Nottz) makes for one of the game's most intriguing projects.  All three men are vets of this industry and you can expect some of the most hard hitting hip-hop all year with this one release.  The thought of this gives me chills, and I can't wait, and neither should you.  

Torae

Entitled

Jan. 2016

Coney Island's Torae Carr is seen as one of the brightest stars in the underground but based upon his cult like following, he may not stay in the underground much longer.  Last seen with Skyzoo dropping the excellent album, Barrel Brothers, it's once again his time to shine, and with help from Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and Jahlil Beats, this is another step in the positive direction for the highly talented emcee.

Rumored releases for 2016

MF DOOM- untitled

Black Thought- The Talented Mr. Trotter

NYGz- Hustlas Union

A-F-R-O- untitled

GZA- Dark Matter

Mobb Deep- untitled

Sean Price- untitled

9th Wonder- The Dream Merchant Vol. 3

M.O.P.- untitled

T.I.- untitled

Andre 3000- untitled

Lauryn Hill- untitled

Chance The Rapper- untitled

Saigon- untitled

Cormega- untitled

Tragedy Khadafi- Magnum Opus

50 Cent- Street King Immortal

Eminem- untitled

Royce Da 5'9- untitled

Rapsody- untitled

Boldy James- untitled

Apathy- untitled

D.I.T.C.- untitled

This will clearly be another monumental year of hip-hop.  It'll be hard to follow the past two years, but I'm optimistic just based on this list alone that this will be a year that will we'll be talking about many years and eras from now.  Who are you looking forward to hearing this year?  There are lots of projects we hope will drop, but I would regardless put my money on an interesting year.  Strap up and get ready for the ride.