Legacy Of An Icon: Twenty Years Since The Passing Of Tupac

What's going on folks?!  Glad to have you back with me one more time.  Forgive me for my inconsistencies, as real life tends to take up more of my time these days.  However, today is an especially poignant day in hip-hop.  Twenty years ago today, we lost a genius.  A prophet. An icon.  Tupac Amaru Shakur was gunned down on September 6th in Las Vegas after a fight at the MGM, and finally was pronounced dead seven days later on the 13th, a Friday much less.  I can remember that day all too well.  I was a high school sophomore, and it was high school football going on that night.  I was supposed to be in attendance for a game, but I was slightly under the weather so I decided to stay home and listen to the radio.  All throughout the evening, there were news reports saying he was in grave condition, as doctors had removed a lung and other disturbing details looking less likely of survival.  Suddenly, it was just past eight o' clock and the music was interrupted by the announcement of 2Pac officially being declared dead.  The DJ was obviously saddened and shaken up, and within no time, my phone was ringing.  Friends of mine were either in a state of shock or were literally crying like they lost their homeboy.  I, too, was greatly impacted by his death, as I was greatly in shock.  Tears came to my eyes before too long, as I was a fan of his.  Even though I wasn't a fan of how he was acting during his beef with Biggie during this time, and how he was going after so many people unnecessarily like De La Soul, Nas, Jay, and others.  Nonetheless, he was a powerful figure within the game and he was the creator of timeless cuts.  I remember the radio station playing the statement and press release from the hospital from the chief surgeon confirming his death.  Quickly, the station started playing "If My Homie Calls", and it became an all evening ode to, now, the late 2Pac.  Just the sound of "the late" Tupac Shakur was almost nauseating. Then, MTV aired two days later "I Ain't Mad At Cha", which had tears falling from my eyes as I watched it.  The video was the most surreal thing I had ever seen up to that point, as the video had him murdered and in Heaven with greats like Redd Foxx and Nat King Cole. Calls kept coming in.  Again, a few in shock, others actually had cracked voices.  It dawned on me that Pac had a deeply impactful presence within peoples lives, as many young men especially felt that Pac spoke for them.

All weekend there were tributes to Pac, on BET and MTV, plus hip-hop radio stations were playing non-stop Pac.  It became all so surreal.  I could not believe that this man was gone.  At first, my natural instinct was that he would pull through.  Most of us were familiar with the shooting in a Manhattan recording studio literally just before he was to get sentenced for sexual assault.  He took numerous bullets in that robbery, but survived.  We just knew he would pull through this time as well.  Unfortunately this was not the case.  I started playing every Pac album I had, which was every album he had put out, as well soundtracks he had appeared on like Above The Rim and The Show (his cut "My Block" remains one of single all-time favorite cuts from him to this day).  The more the tributes and solemn commentary was being seen and heard, the more overwhelming it was starting to be for me.  In school, of course I was the hip-hop guy, even more so I was one of only a couple dozen Black kids that attended this school so I was asked all day Monday how I was feeling and "Did I hear that Tupac died", like I seriously didn't know that hip-hop's most impactful star hadn't just gotten murdered.

I remember the Rap City that aired that afternoon, and as you would imagine, it was very melancholy and somber.  It was two hours of Pac videos and interviews.  This basically became the remainder of the week.  In February of '97, Biggie's interview with Rap City was aired, in which he stated how shocked he was that Pac had died and in spite of their beef, he never wished death upon him.  Ironically, his death came a month later.  I remember that once the hoopla surrounding Pac's death slowly started to fade, most of my people were ready for the new Biggie album, Life After Death, and I'm thinking to myself, "That didn't take long at all did it?"  However, the hood started getting all these Makaveli bootleg tapes.  Keep in mind, his Makaveli album, Don Kiluminati: The 7 Day Theory, had just been released and it was his most aggressive and forward album within his discography, and still remains that to this day.  The album was recorded in seven days and I was thinking that no album this good was recorded in seven days.  I remember the Makaveli tapes were huge in the hood because all the cuts were unreleased cuts and of course overtime you have something nobody else has musically, you think you're the man.  I ended up owning Makaveli's one through six, plus I believe I owned nine and ten.  I've been told there were up to twenty but that's unconfirmed.  Of course as time went along, I would hear most or all of these cuts on later releases such as R U Still Down? Remember Me, his album with Tha Outlawz, Still I Rise, and the Gang Related soundtrack.

In the years since his death, we've heard so many people influenced by his music and his words.  Artists like The Game and Kendrick Lamar have openly stated on many occasions that Pac was the greatest that ever lived in their opinions.  In fact, Kendrick's masterwork of an album, To Pimp A Butterfly, was a highly vivid conceptual album that ended with him reciting a poem to 2Pac and having an "interview" with him, only for him to find out he was dreaming.  In fact, the original title of the album was Tu Pimp A Caterpillar (Tu.P.A.C.)  How crazy would that have been?  Also, many people have dedicated cuts to him such as the aforementioned Game, Nas, Scarface, Master P, and many others.  However, in this current era, a lot of the younger artists seemingly disrespect his legacy like Kodak Black, saying he's better than Pac or Biggie.  There are also some that never even listened to his music, nor do they care to.  Thus, this is one of many reasons why there's such a gap between eras and generations in hip-hop today: disrespect to the era before them.  If one wants to be considered great, one must study the greats.  That doesn't exist anymore but you can peep my blog piece that explains the generational gap.

Tupac is often considered the greatest of all-time by many, just in terms of influence and impact alone.  Poetic and prophetic, Shakur was as passionate about the Black community as one could be.  While often times contradicted, as it showed on cuts like "Brenda's Got A Baby" and "Keep Ya Head Up" and would get followed up by "Hit 'Em Up" and "I Get Around", he LOVED the children, as he often never considered himself a role model, but would often let kids know how to act and how not to act.  Go to school.  Change the system.  Be an individual.  Stand up for injustice.  Arguably the most polarizing figure hip-hop has ever known, one thing is for certain, Shakur is missed, whether passively or passionately. In hip-hop, he was our Michael, Whitney, and Prince.  An icon.  A game changer.  A Revolutionary. One has to wonder in terms of music, is he sleeping comfortably or is he constantly rolling over?  That's probably a subjective question, but it's a valid and important one.  Long live the great Tupac Amaru Shakur, as now his mother has joined him in the gates of Heaven.  We will always remember Mr. Shakur.

A Legacy Unparalleled: The Best Albums From Def Jam

What's going on folks?!  I've really enjoyed doing these label salutes highlighting some of the best and influential hip-hop labels ever.  We've covered labels such as Roc-A-Fella, Ruff Ryders, Aftermath, and Deathrow.  All these labels plus others have definitely impacted the game in  major ways, and in some cases historic ways.  However, there would be no major hip-hop label (post-Sugar Hill Records) without the vision of Russell Simmons and a young Jewish NY college student named Rick Rubin.  Together, they created, what would be, the most impactful and celebrated label in the history of hip-hop.  With that being said, let's highlight the best projects to emerge from this label from over the years.

30. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West is an anomaly, a cleverly orchestrated genius to some.  To others, he's halfway indecipherable and walking the lines of needing some help.  Whatever your stance is on Mr. West, one thing you must say about him is he's the epitome of the word 'star'.  After delivering one of the classic debuts of our times with The College Dropout (see later), he conintued with exceptional releases like Late Registration, Graduation, and his most recent The Life Of Pablo.  After dropping the depressing 808s & Heartbreaks,he dropped out of sight for a minute, he returned with an album that's widely considered nothing short of a masterpiece.  With My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, this celebrates his star status and enjoying the fame, while also tackling his desire to help change humanity and pointing out stress points through music.  Incredibly lush and dramatic production throughout the album and impactful arrangements, this album has been considered his magnum opus, which considering Dropout and Registration is not an easy task.

29. Jay-Z- The Black Album

For the majority of the Def Jam era, in it's prime, there were two rulers: LL and Jay-Z.  We'll get more into LL later, but this is the first one a few incredible albums from Shawn Carter.  This album was billed as his retirement album, and was a concept bitten off his late friend Biggie to have ten tracks with different producers for each track.  Among the best albums within his catalogue, Jay blisters cuts such as "Lucifer", "Threat", and more radio-happy cuts like "Change Clothes".  Many out this album up with most noted albums, The Blueprint (see later) and his magnum opus Reasonable Doubt.  After peeping this, it's not hard to see why.

28. The Roots- How I Got Over

When it was announced that the legendary Roots crew was coming to Def Jam thanks to then-label president Jay-Z, heads were slightly worried that The Roots would adapt a more commercial sound for radio accessibility.  Fortunately this was far from the case, in fact they remained incredibly consistent.  While their albums of Game Theory, Rising Down, and Undun were certainly outstanding albums within their discography under Def Jam, none were more heavy and more brooding than the exquisite How I Got Over.  Widely considered as their best overall work since Things Fall Apart, this album beautifully covered the despair and depressive state of the working class in today's times.  Not a single flaw on this release, if you didn't believe they were legendary before, best believe after peeping this, you're definitely a believer.

27. Redman- Muddy Waters

After overcoming his dark days with Dare Iz A Darkside, Redman reemerged with perhaps his most complete work to date, his third effort, Muddy Waters.  Heralded now as a classic, this album showed a more confident and shoulder-chipped emcee with no more time to play around, and boy did he deliver.  So many inescapable hits on this album like "Rock Da Spot" or the insane duet with one-time brother-in-arms K-Solo "It's Like Dat" make this album a constant rotator, plus with excellent production from Erick Sermon and Rockwilder, this album became the most defining album of his career from a critical standpoint.

26. MC Serch- Return Of The Product

All hail MC Serch.  The emcee responsible for discovering a certain young nasty emcee from Queensbridge was also a decent emcee on the mic.  As one half of 3rd Bass, along with Prime Minister Pete Nice, Serch was that white boy that BLED hip-hop and everything within it.  This solo debut from Serch was a knocker and was one of the most slept-on solo debuts of its time period, although heads that really were checking for him knew he had quite a dope one on his hands.  Don't believe me, peep cuts like "Social Narcotics" and the Nas-assisted "Back To The Grill".  Enough said.

25. Ghostface Killah- Fishscale

The most prolific members of the mighty legendary Wu-Tang Clan is Mr. Tony Starks himself, Ghostface Killah.  When he left Epic Records to head to Def Jam, the fear was much like other artists such as The Roots and Nas, in which the switch would compromise the "Ghost" sound we were accustomed to on such amazing albums such as his thrilling debut Ironman and his stunning classic Supreme Clientele.  Not the case whatsoever.  In fact, his material went right in line with he rest and in some cases even improved.  His most acclaimed Def Jam album was Fishscale, a twenty-four track (including skits) headcaracker that was noticeably RZA-less in terms of production.  Did it need it? Nah.  Beatsmiths like Pete Rock, MF Doom, and the late Dilla more than made up for it, and this immediately got the term 'classic' based upon how lyrically sharp GFK was and how the production sounded like vintage Wu.  The master criminal storyteller, cuts like the INSANE Wu-collab track "9 Milli Brothers", "Jelly fish", and "Dogs Of War" blended perfectly with other soulful cuts like "Big Girl" and the excellent "Whip ME With A Strap".  While people would automatically say Ironman or Supreme Clientele in terms of his best album, Fishscale needs to be next in line for that title.

24. Method Man & Redman- Blackout

If there was more fitting tag team in the early millennium and near the end of the nineties, it was Redman and Method Man.  Affectionately known as America's Most Blunted, these two had been collaborating since their anthemic "How High" single, as well as the cult classic movie of the same name.  Their long-awaited album finally hit and was definitely worth the wait.  There was hit after hit on this album, and it was hard to actually state what the best cut on this album was, which is always a good thing.  Over some of the knocking Erick Sermon and Rockwilder production heard in the game, Blackout was an instant favorite, and still stands as a benchmark for both men and their respective careers.

23. Nas- Life Is Good

One of the true greats within all of hip-hop is Nasir Jones.  Many actually consider him as the G.O.A.T., which is a valid argument as well.  When he buried the hatchet with Jay-Z after their game-changing beef on wax, Nas joined Def Jam and his results haven't been too bad.  His Def Jam debut, the much controversially titled Hip-Hop Is Dead, was a decent debut that was met with lots of acclaim.  Later releases like Untitled (see later) and his breathtaking collab album with Damien Marley, Distant Relatives, solidified that he belonged in the iconic Def Jam family.  As incredible as these albums were, it was Life Is Good that was a complete package for him.  More of a celebratory album than Hip-Hop Is Dead and Untitled, he affirmed that he had returned and stands as one of his best efforts.  With cuts like "A Queens Story", the BANGIN' "The Don", and the beyond wonderful collaboration with the late, great Amy Whinehouse, Life Is Good isn't just good, it's absolutely great.

22. 3rd Bass- Derelicts Of Dialect

Prime Minister Pete Nice, Richie Rich, and MC Serch had tasted acclaim and success with their ambitious debut, The Cactus Album (see later).  These cats has sparked a buzz in the game with fairly hard-hitting, speaker-shortening beats from the likes of The Bomb Squad, and definitely earned a formidable place in the game.  As is the case with basically every follow-up album that was preceded by a very nuts album, 3rd Bass brought forth the sophomore album, Derelicts Of Dialect.  It was a test to meet the expectations of their first album, but they absolutely did it.  The album was notable for the fairly huge hit "Pop Goes The Weasel", which had a hilarious video dissing Vanilla Ice and showed him getting his ass kicked.  This was far from the only bit of niceness on this album, as other cuts like "No Master Plan, No Master Race", the Nice & Smooth-assisted "Microphone Techniques", and the attention-grabbing "Green Eggs and Swine" made this album a must have, albeit it stands as one of Def Jam's most under appreciated albums to date.

21. Nas- Untitled

If there was a more socially conscious album that Nasir Jones has delivered to our ears, I would like for you folks to point it out to me.  Originally titled Nigger, the pressures of retail made him succumb to their demand, and instead just left it without a title.  However, one still can't front on the awesome album cover.  Highly emphasizing the pride and struggles of the Black community in a "bigger than hip-hop" way, this is a damn impressive look at our history and our future.  He rips up the controversial Fox News Network on "Sly Fox", highlights stereotypes within the Black community involving nutrition or lack thereof with "Fried Chicken", and celebrates the empowerment of the notorious N-word on "Y'all My Niggas".  This is part tough love, part celebration, part education.  In other words, another Nas victory.

20. EPMD- Business As Usual

Long Island's illest duo came ready for war with their Def Jam debut (third overall), Business As Usual.  Following up two classics like Strictly Business and Unfinished Business isn't easy, but they did a very vaialnt job with this one. Yes you'll notice (for those late cats) there are quite a few cuts that have been sampled from this album for later hip-hop anthems such as "How Mane Emcees" and "Daytona 500", which shows the craziness of the production from this album. Who can front on the neck snapping effects of cuts like "Rap Is Outta Control", "Give The People", the superb LL Cool J-assisted "Rampage", and the ode to the thirsty women of the land "Gold Diggers"?  This was another smack to the head of all so-called nice duos in hip-hop, and showed that they still reigned supreme.  Yes, this was also another Gold album for them as well.

19. Jay-Z- Vol.2...Hard Knock Life

Jay's official Def Jam debut was the half decent In My Lifetime Vol. 1, which was a blatant attempt at radio accessibility and crossover appeal.  It did just that, but heads in the street that were crowning him as NY's next legend with Reasonable Doubt wanted that kind of Jay as well.  The result was Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life, which mixed the best of Vol. 1 and Reasonable Doubt for outstanding results.  Basically every song was a hit, and about ninety percent was already played heavily across radio airwaves anyways.  From "Jigga What, Jigga Who" to "Can I Get A..." and "Money, Cash, Hoes", there was no escaping Jay, but other cuts like "A Week Ago" and "Ride Or Die" were just as hard-hitting.  Along with the fact that the album sold upwards of five million units, this album officially made Hovi Baby a star.

18. Method Man- Tical

In '94, besides Illmatic and Ready To Die, you tell me a better debut album.  Go ahead, I'll wait.  The Wu's original solo star delivered his dark, blunted out album Tical to high acclaim.  Capitalizing off the game changing momentum of his Wu brothers, his brothers incorporated much of the same elements that made Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) such an iconic record.  While we're all familiar with his Grammy-winning collaboration with Mary J. Blige on "All I Need" (unfortunately that version is not on the album, but the original isn't anything to sneeze at whatsoever) and his other singles of "Release Yo' Delf" and the searing "Bring The Pain", there were several other notable cuts like the lyrical sparring between he and Wu brother Raekwon "Meth vs. Chef" and "Biscuits".  This album stands as one of the Wu's most beloved treasures and will continue to do so for years to come.

17. DMX- It's Dark & Hell Is Hot

Speaking of impactful debuts, a certain Yonkers, NY emcee struck hip-hop with the appetite of ten thousand pit bulls.  Earl Simmons, otherwise known as DMX, knocked the game on its ass with his much heralded debut, It's Dark & Hell Is Hot.  In that particular era of shiny suits and materialism, X brought forth a grittier, ugly sound to show that shit still ain't sweet out here.  Often times riot-inducing, It's Dark...stands as X's most acclaimed album and with anthems like "Ruff Ryders Anthem", "Stop Being Greedy", and "Get At Me Dog", this album established a star in X, and the game wouldn't be the same afterwards.

16. Redman- Whut? Thee Album

Let's continue with momentous debuts and highlight the debut album from Brick City's finest.  A young emcee named Reggie Noble, otherwise known as Redman, brought a distinctive sound and rhyme formula with him that was animated, gritty, blunted, and witty.  First heard on EPMD's aforementioned Business As Usual, he dropped his debut, Whut? Thee Album to high acclaim and definite praise.  Combining elements of funk, reggae, and hardcore, Redman came for cats' throats with cuts like "Time 4 Sum Akshion", "Mid Blown", and "Redman Meets Reggie Noble".  Essentially more light hearted than his follow-up effort, the aforementioned Dare Iz A Darkside, this is still gutter enough to wile out to, while cool enough to know that this cat's hilarious and bugged out.  Regardless, this was the entertaining start of a great career and a very respectable legacy.

15. Scarface- The Fix

When you mention southern hip-hop, there's one name that will immediately come to mind in terms of true king status, and that's the legendary Scarface.  Considered one of the most influential and compelling storytellers of any generation, Face commands respect from all walks of hip-hop.  In '02, he started Def Jam South, which would feature more southern artists for the Def Jam empire.  His debut artist was Ludacris and we all know how much his career took off.  However, Face dropped his Def Jam South debut, The Fix, which was more of a spiritual coming of age for the great emcee.  Although still containing street parables and cautionary tales, he also balanced them out with highly introspective cuts like "Heaven" and "Someday" that showed the growth of the emcee known for classics like "Hand Of The Dead Body", "Mind Of A Lunatic", and "I Seen A Man Die".  Rightfully given a five-mic rating by a then-credible Source magazine, this album is a treasure for all Face fans, both casual and hardcore.

14. EPMD- Business Never Personal

In '92, EPMD were on a roll.  They had two of the strongest back-to-back albums in all of hip-hop with Strictly Business and Unfinished Business, but also had a formidable follow-up with the aforementioned Business As Usual.  They continued their strong momentum with their fourth effort, Business Never Personal.  More aggressive and rugged than albums in the past, this was also the last album from them for five years due to the much publicized beef between the two emcees.  Before the break up and beef, this album was a hard-hitter, with incredible cuts like the anti-commercial rap ode "Crossover", the rather dope "Chill", and especially the classic posse cut with K-Solo and Redman "Headbanger".  Some have even stated that this is the best album they've ever put out.  Regardless of where this ranks on your best-of-EPMD list, this album is sincere and solidified them as one of the most influential duos in history.

13. Warren G- Regulate...G Funk Era

Straight outta LBC comes a young emcee/DJ/producer named Warren Griffin, affectionately and professionally known as Warren G.  Coming up with close friends Snoop and the late Nate Dogg, he was also the stepbrother of the iconic Dr. Dre.  Originally getting reportedly rejected by Deathrow Records, he snagged a Def Jam contract to release his debut album, Regulate...G Funk Era.  Establisher and co-creator of the "G funk sound", his sound was way more mellow and laid-back than the hard-hitting funk of his stepbrother.  In fact, his sound is very reminiscent of fellow west coast legend, DJ Quik.  Already widely known for his classic single with Nate "Regulate", he continued his momentum with the HOT coming of age single, the Grammy-nominated "This DJ", as well as other cuts like "And Ya Don't Stop", "Recognize" and "Do You See".  This was heavily considered a wet coast classic, and for good reason.  Unfortunately he was never able to duplicate the triple platinum success of this album, but in spite of this fact, this remains one of the west's best debut albums, and the world officially knew that Warren was no longer under his friends' shadow.

12. Beanie Sigel- The Truth

During the late nineties/early millennium, the Roc was arguably the strongest label family in the game.  There was truthfully no stopping Jay and company.  There was one cat outta Philly that had the entire rap world heavily buzzing.  This cat's name was Beanie Sigel.  After appearing on cuts by Jay and Memph Bleek, the anticipation was strong for Beans, and the result was one of the grittiest debuts ever recorded in The Truth.  Regarded as the best Roc-A-Fella album not done by Jay-Z, this was as raw and unfiltered as any album you'll hear to this day.  While his thunderous debut single, named after his album, is still considered one of his premier singles, others packed a wallop like the video-game sampled "Mac Man", the cautionary "Stop, Chill", and the album's climax, the brilliant "Whatcha Life Like".  During this time period, there wasn't a more brutal and honest debut anywhere, and belongs up there with such classic albums as The Infamous, Illmatic, Mr. Scarface Is Back, and his mentor's Reasonable Doubt.

11. Kanye West- The College Dropout

Every so often, an album comes out that rearranges the structure of the game as we know it.  A landmark release if you will.  Albums like Illmatic, Madvillainy, The Low End Theory, and Aquemini come to mind.  In '05, Roc-A-Fella producer turned emcee Kanye West delivered what is still considered one of the game's most golden releases, The College Dropout.  Based around the concept of finding yourself in life and establishing your coming of age story, Kanye excellently handled subjects such as religion, school, struggle, near-death experiences, and the quest for stardom.  Tracks like "Jesus Walks", "Two Words", "Through The Wire", and "All Falls Down" were crafted in genius-like fashion, yet was relatable to club hoppers, church goers, and backpackers alike.  The production introduced a new level of soul sampling not quite heard before and as a result, he sold upwards of three million units and won him some Grammy Awards.  Needless to say, this was the start of an iconic career.

10. LL Cool J- Mama Said Knock You Out

After a less-than-stellar album called Walking With A Panther, LL Cool J started getting somewhat clowned for soft, bubble gum cuts that were missing the firepower cuts like "Radio", "I'm Bad", and "My Rhyme Ain't Done".  Not to mention, cats like Hammer and Ice-T were gunning for him lyrically.  All that ended abruptly with the release of his fourth album Mama Said Knock You Out.  If cuts like the answer dis to his haters, specifically the aforementioned and Kool Moe Dee, "To The Break Of Dawn", the KNOCKING "Boomin' System", and the overall dope "Around The Way Girl", it was the title track that showed LL still had it.  It didn't go anywhere, but James Todd Smith had to remind people just who he was.  The album, produced by legend Marley Marl, was a formidable return to greatness for Ladies Love Cool James, and became his biggest album to date.

9. Jay-Z- The Blueprint

If there was a pivotal moment in the discography of Hov, it would be this album.  Everyone was waiting on that album that would match the instant classic feel of Reasonable Doubt, and while albums like Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3: Life & Times Of S. Carter, and The Dynasty: Roc La Familia were all notable albums, it as this album that filled in that gap.  His album, The Blueprint, had taken the formula of Vol. 2's radio smashes meets superb lyricism and occasional street delight to another level.  Of course the album was highlighted by one of the most venomous dis records ever recorded in "The Takeover", directed at Prodigy and Nas, but he had other smashed like "Girls, Girls', Girls" and "Heart Of The City" as well, in which with only twelve tracks, there was no room for error, and there wasn't.  This was his most complete album since Reasonable Doubt and should be rightfully regarded as one of hip-hop's greatest albums.

8. 3rd Bass- The Cactus Album

Straight from NYC came two emcees and one DJ and they called themselves 3rd Bass.  The emcees of MC Serch and Prime Minister Pete Nice were two white boys with chips on their shoulders.  Their debut, The Cactus Album, is often heralded as a forgotten about epic release that showed the skills of these young emcees.  Going after everyone from The Beastie Boys to MC Hammer and even X-Clan, these cats pulled no punches with cuts like "Sons Of 3rd Bass" (a pretty brutal dis cut to the Beasties) and "The Gas Face", which featured KMD- a crew that included a young MF Doom.  For the period this album was released in, this was a hell of an album and one that tends to be overlooked in terms of classic releases of the golden era.  Do yourself a favor: recognize one of the illest debuts one could ask for.

7. Public Enemy- Yo! Bulrush The Show

In '87, we were introduced to a group of highly charged activists that put their message of anti-establishment to wax in a way the music world would never recover from.  The group was Public Enemy, and the boys of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and DJ Terminator X presented their volatile debut album, Yo! Bumrush The Show to high acclaim.  While not considered in the same class as Fear Of A Black Planet and definitely incomparable to the perhaps the most important hip-hop record of all time in It Takes A Nation Of Millions... (see both later), this was by no means a sleeper album, in fact cuts like "My Uzi Weighs A Ton", "Public Enemy No. 1" and "You're Gonna Get Yours" set the standard for what would be a fantastic album in its own right.  We had no idea what the hip-hop world was getting itself into from this album on.

6. Slick Rick- The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick

All hail the ruler!  That's what we still say to this day whenever MC Ricky D, otherwise Slick Rick, enters the stage.  Considered one of hip-hop's greatest storytellers, Slick Rick had lit the world on fire with his mega classic with Doug E. Fresh "The Show" and its b-side "Ladi Dadi".  You already know the stage was set for a masterful debut, and that it was. His debut, The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick, is as close to a perfect album as you'll get, and many would say it is subsequently that perfect hip-hop record.  His ability to narrate some of the most creative and innovative stories during the early stages of the golden age of hip-hop was something to behold.  Nothing but classics appeared on this seminal release, as cuts like "Children's Story" and "Hey Young World" laid the path for a Hall Of Fame legacy.  While his follow-up The Ruler's Back and his third effort The Art Of Storytelling were both very impressive albums (don't sleep on his Behind Bars album as well), he'll always be known for his game-changing debut, and hopefully that's just fine with him.

5. LL Cool J- Bigger & Deffer (BAD)

The king of Def Jam became a household name by the time '87 was here.  Establishing his spot in the game with his mighty debut, Radio (see later), he had to step it up one more level, and dude did he ever.  His sophomore effort, Bigger and Deffer, was even more focused, and even more fluid than his debut.  Not to mention there were anthems the entire album's worth.  This album had HARD cuts like the timeless "I'm Bad"and the lyrically hungry "The Breakthrough", but also contained the first commercially successful hip-hop ballad, the lovely "I Need Love".  James Todd Smith officially became the new jack in charge with this release.

4. Beastie Boys- Licensed To Ill

Three young Jewish kids from NYC came upon the scene with a partying-rock star-meets-hip-hop culture edge that got them a ton of notoriety.  In '86, Mike D, Ad-Rock, and the late MCA released Licensed To Ill, which contained anthems such as "Hold It Now, Hit IT", "Fight For Your Right To Party", and "Brass Monkey" anti became a staple during the early formative years of Def Jam.  It was clear these guys had talent, and while attempting to break down a wall that seemingly didn't want to own white people in hip-hop, with this album, the Beasties became very loved and was up there with Run-DMC as biggest group in hip-hop.  While many claim their follow-up, Paul's Boutique, as their far and away magnum opus, this was the album that started them on their way to immortal status, and we're very satisfied with it.

3. Public Enemy- Fear Of A Black Planet

How in God's name do you follow-up what many consider the greatest hip-hop album to ever exist that's not named Illmatic?  Public Enemy answered that in spades, capitalizing off the monstrous success and acclaim with It Takes A Nation Of Millions... with Fear of A Black Planet. Easily as well received as their prior album, this was every bit as afrocentric, anti-establishment, and aggressive, only with a slightly more accessible and commercial sound.  Also much like its predecessor, it became a platinum plus smash, and was in heavy and constant rotation with cuts like the comical Flavor Flav cut "Can't Do Nothin' For Ya" and the POWERFUL collab with Big Daddy Kane and Ice Cube, "Burn Hollywood Burn", which was one of PE's most controversial cuts from the album.  This album is heavy and is easily one of the single greatest hip-hop albums ever released.  PE was here to stay!

2. LL Cool J- Radio

This became the album that put Def Jam on the map.  A young Queens kid named James Todd Smith was rhyming in his grandmother's basement and the rest was history.  It was clear, with cuts like the title track, "I Need A Beat", and "Rock The Bells" that the Def Jam's first official star was here and with his boyish good looks and ferocious rhyme style, this was the future of hip-hop.  A landmark album to say the least, this album became the stamp the label needed to be officially recognized in the game, and his debut, Radio, became, other than Mama Said Knock You Out, his most noted album.

1. Public Enemy- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

The argument has been made over the years as to which album is legitimately the greatest hip-hop album to ever be released would be: Illmatic or this monumental album?  Public enemy's masterful second album, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, is to hip-hop what Metallica's self-titled "black album" is to rock/metal music: iconic.  They pumped the aggression and angst from Yo! Bumrush The Show and turned it up by a thousand.  This is anti-establishment at its best and threw a distinctive middle finger to all right wing conservatives, oppressive racists, and upper-class snobbish Black people who were ignorant or in denial of the plight within the Black community.  The pro-Black album ever recorded, this was THE game changer during the golden era.  With massive cuts like "Night Of The Living Bassheads", "Don't Believe The Hype", and "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos", this album hit like a sonic missile and it destroyed every hip-hop album in its path that was previously content with party records and records with no substance.  The most politically charged album ever made, it laid the groundwork for other important albums like Straight Outta Compton and Let's Get Free.  Never had one album inspired an entire movement for its day.  This was that album that was bigger than hip-hop culture.  This was an album for Black culture,period.  Chuck, Flav, and X had officially arrived.  Whatever your stance, the fact is that this is the most important and essential hip-hop album you'll ever need in your discography.  While Illmatic changed the way we saw hip-hop, It Takes A Nation Of Millions...changed the way we saw our community, or should I say woke us up even more.

Honorable Mentions

Kanye West- Late Registration

Kanye West- Graduation

Nice & Smooth- Ain't A Damn Thang Changed

Redman- Dare Iz A Darkside

Ludacris- Chicken & Beer

Ludacris- Word Of Mouf

Ghostface Killah- The Pretty Tony Story

The Roots- Game Theory

The Roots- Undun

The Roots- Rising Down

Various Artists- The Show OST

Onyx- Bacdafucup

Public Enemy- Apocalypse '91...The Enemy Strikes Back

Foxy Brown- Ill Na Na

Redman- Doc's Da Name 2000

Method Man- Tical 2000: Judgement Day

DMX- And Then There Was X

Jay-Z- Vol. 3: Life & Times Of S. Carter

Jay-Z- American Gangster

Slick Rick- The Art Of Storytelling

Young Jeezy- Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101

Big Boi- Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son OF Chico Dusty

Beanie Sigel- The Reason

Ludacris- Theater Of The Mind

Freeway- Philadelphia Freeway

Jay-Z & Kanye West- Watch The Throne

Big K.R.I.T.- Cadillactica

Big K.R.I.T.- Live From The Underground

Logic- Under Pressure

Vince Staples- Summertime '06

Nas & Damian Marley- Distant Relatives

As you can see there are tons of stellar and classic albums that Def Jam has produced.  No other label has done more for hp-hop than Def Jam and no other label has made more stars.  If it wasn't for Def Jam, none of these other labels that I've been giving props to would ever exist.  This is why Def Jam is the perfect label to close my label salutes on, and this was fun to do.  Stay tuned as I resume more lists and topics within the world of hip-hop.  Until next time, one love!