Welcome To H-Town: The Best Albums To Come From Houston

What's the deal folks!  Lately, we've been highlighting some of the very best albums to emerge from major cities such as Compton and Chicago, as well as the largest projects on Earth, Queensbridge in Queens, NY.  Now, we will take it down south.  While Atlanta may be the most notewrothy city in the south and perhaps in the entire game, they're not the only city that can hold it down, in fact before Atlanta was the big city in the south, Houston was.  In fact, acts like The Geto Boys and UGK really helped Houston become an established threat to the major cities of Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, L.A. and Compton during the very early nineties.  Sure Miami was holding it down due to Luther Campbell and memphis was gtetting a buzz due to Three 6 Mafia, but artists like the aformentioned as well as Crime Boss, South Circle, Choice (think of her as Lil' Lim, Foxy, and Nicky before Lil' Kim, Foxy, and Nicky), and the 5th Ward Boyz were repping H-Town quite heavily.  Let's get into the dopest efforts to emerge from this huge city.

20. Chamillionaire- Ultimate Victory

Who was a bigger underdog from H-town with a major deal than Chamillionaire?  Originally down with Swishahouse and Michael "5000" Watts, he and fellow Houstonite Paul Wall were the CCC (Color Changing Click).  Their album, Get Ya Mind Correct, was a southern underground gem, and officially put them as notables in the game.  They soon broke up and he delivered his debut, The Sound Of Revenge.  Although a decent debut that garnered him a platinum plaque and Grammy nomination for his collaboration with the legendary Krayzie Bone in "Ridin'", it was that was more critically favorable.  Harder production and a more cohesive project overall, Chamillionaire varied his topics from the government to dropping jewels for the kids.  What was also a very apparent change was that he limited his use of profanity and cussing, which was practically unheard of.  While not as commercially successful as his prior album, he still achieved a "victory" in his own right with this dope album.

19. Trae- Restless

Longtime Houston vet Trae (now known as Trae Tha Truth) delivered what many felt was the album of his career with Restless.  Unapologetically gangsta, the album is filled with street odes to drugs and hustling, and is as vivid as any album you would encounter during this time period.  Grittiness at its finest, this album made Trae more of a star than before and officially pout him in the mainstream eyes of the game with this certified banger of an album.

 

18. Lecrae- Church Clothes (mixtape)

Never before had a Gospel emcee been put in such a high regard within the secular hip-hop community, but Lecrae completely changed the game for the Christian emcees out here. Aiming to bring a sense of Christian morality to the secular game even more than he had done previously, he presented his Church Clothes mixtape, which was easily mentioned among the hip-hop projects all year regardless of genre or style.  Rather than going overtly preachy, Lecrae told his story as a means of knowing like to be saved as well as the sinner, which made his appeal so delightful, and Church Clothes was one very fine example of it all.

17. Z-Ro- Let The Truth Be Told

By 2005, Z-Ro had continued to obtain a fairly decent fan base in the underground south.  His true stories of drugs and hustling had more than resonated with fans and was becoming a certified made man in H-town.  He delivered his album, Let The Truth Be Told, during this time (which by the way made album number nine) and he stuck to his tried and true formula, which was "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".  Bluesy, yet hard-hitting, production and appearances by the likes of Ashanti, Devin The Dude, and Paul Wall made for an intriguing listen, and through it all, Z-Ro emerged with another collection of hits catered for the heart of a hustler.

16. Slim Thug- Already Platinum

Within Houston's underground scene, Stavye "Slim Thug" Thomas was a known fixture.  Known for numerous mixtapes and his own group, Boss Hogg Outlawz, Thugga was already gaining fans via his buzz in the streets.  By 2004, he had obtained a deal with Pharrell Williams' Star Trak label and after numerous delays due to excessive bootlegging, dropped his major label debut, Already Platinum.  Filled with very juicy and delectable production from The Neptunes, Jazze Pha, and Mr. Lee, the album certainly banged almost from top to bottom, and by the end of the album, you had a feeling that although he was "already platinum", more actual platinum plaques would definitely be in his future.

15. Paul Wall- The People's Champ

Another graduate of the Swishahouse makes their way onto the list with longtime affiliate, Paul Wall.  His former tag team partner, Chamillionaire, was already successful with his major label projects of Sound Of Revenge and the aforementioned Ultimate Victory.  However, it was time for Paul Wall to get his shine, and thanks to the hit by Mike Jones "Still Tippin'" alongside fellow Swishahouse vet Slim Thug, Paul was finally getting his exposure on a national level.  When his debut, The People's Champ, hit, we knew Mr. Wall had a sure shot future being commercially successful in the game, as this had a vintage Houston sound about it that would make 5000 Watts and even the late great DJ Screw very pleased.  This debut made him among the new, fresh voices for mainstream Houston hip-hop.

14. Devin- The Dude

Former Odd Squad member, Devin The Dude, was a known fixture due to his affiliation with his former Odd Squad mates and being a part of Scarface's collective, Facemob.  His oft-times blunted humor and lazy drawl made him an instant favorite, and his debut album The Dude, was evidenced of the talent he possesses to this day.  A beloved album, primarily within the underground, Devin doesn't take himself too seriously, as cuts like "Ligole Bips" and the cult classic "Boo Boo'n" pushed this album into becoming a treasure for H-town.  One of the most consistent and prolific artists to come from Houston, this was the start of quite a career, even if he's never hit gold or platinum before.

13. Lecrae- Rehab

Christian/Gospel Rap had always been scrutinized and stigmatized.  Artists like Gospel Gangstas came off as gimmicky, while others like Grits and Boogiemonsters invaded shows like Rap City with spiritual gems while not sounding overtly churchy or preachy.  Hoping to totally eliminate any type of stigmas or pre-attached judgements was Lecrae, and although he was pretty known within the Gospel Hip-Hop community, mainstream secular hip-hop fairly much slept on him.  With his album, Rehab, the secular hip-hop world started to take notice, due to not just fairly decent and dope production, but the true heartfelt honesty of his lyrics and his message.  His ability to relate to the everyman and the struggling Christian was admirable and showed vulnerability and transparency.  It was from here where Lecrae was finally on mainstream hip-hop's radar.

12. Scarface- Deeply Rooted

After a long seven year absence since Emeritus, the legendary Brad Jordan returned with Deeply Rooted in 2016, and in many instances sounded better than he had in years.  Not since The Fix had we heard him sound this focused and this fresh on the mic while tackling subjects such as spirituality, the streets, hustling, and redemption.  This was a true return to form by Scarface with cuts like "Mental Exorcism", "All Bad", and "Steer", all vintage face cuts.  As definite Face classic, if this was his final album, he deserves to take a bow with this memorable effort.

11. Devin The Dude- Just Tryin' Ta Live

After the release of the aforementioned The Dude, Devin (now officially going by Devin The Dude) was out to conquer the world, one project at a time, and the closest he came was his dynamite sophomore effort, Just Tryin' Ta Live.  Obtaining help from legendary producers Dr. Dre, as well as DJ Premier, he brought both the west and east coasts to H-Town while keeping that bluesy, southern feel.  Still a blunted out weirdo with his own bit of crass, misogynistic toilet humor, Devin was riding a wave that was quickly making him among the most checked for talents to emerge from the entire south as a whole.

10. Bun B- Trill

With partner in rhyme Pimp C incarcerated during this time, it was up to Bernard "Bun B" Freeman to hold down UGK, and with his debut solo album, Trill, he absolutely did just that.  With guests all over this album from Jeezy to Paul Wall, Scarface, the Screwed Up Click, and even Jay-Z, the album was loaded with that UGK signature hustling aura and was an instant smash with any UGK fan.  To this day, it's highly regarded as quite an impressive body of work for a debut from anyone out the south over the past decade.

9. Scarface- The Untouchable

It was no easy task to follow the masterwork known as The Diary, but Scarface definitely attempted for lightning to strike twice with The Untouchable, and honestly, it came close to the same acclaim.  Occasionally hard-hitting yet also just as much redemptive, this album foir Face followed his formula of honest hip-hop with very vivid storytelling.  Chilling cuts like "Faith" and "Ya Money Or Ya Life" are classic Face, but he cracked the biggest moment of his career with the 2Pac-assisted "Smile", and ended up having the album go platinum.  An album regard as an instant classic, Face had already proven he was a future legend with The Diary, but The Untouchable got him a step closer to that distinction.

8. Geto Boys- Grip It! On That Other Level

Who knew that in the era of N.W.A. that there would be another group of guys that were easily as shocking if not more so?  Enter The Geto Boys.  The fellas of DJ Reddy Red, Bushwick Bill, Scarface, and Willie D first presented themselves with their mostly slept-on debut Making Trouble, but it was their debut that came out that next year that made much bigger noise.  Their sophomore album, Grip It! On That Other Level was draped in mayhem, drugs, and enough shocking lyrics at that time to have the government almost shut the album and the Geto Boys themselves down.  Considered their breakout effort, this was just the start of one of hip-hop's most controversial, yet highly revered groups.

7. Scarface- The Fix

After delivering some of the most compelling hip-hop albums to ever exist, Mr. Jordan wanted to keep his momentum going with his Def Jam debut, The Fix.  If The Diary was the beginning of his transition from hardcore, unapologetic psychopath to introspective complexity, The Fix was the final product of it.  Never abandoning his streets, he blends his tried and true gangsta with someone trying to find more of a peace with God and wanting a better life for himself and the duality of the two.  This is nothing short of a classic, as he delivered some of his all-time best work on this project, and had many debating that this was his best project ever.

6. UGK- Underground Kingz

After a prison stint that put Pimp C behind bars for a while, the Pimp and Bun reunited for would end up being their final effort together, Underground Kingz.  Their finest overall effort since their absolutely stellar album, Ridin' Dirty, this sounded like a return to the old and true UGK.  It was almost like they picked up where they left off at and then added new elements that still maintained the UGK sound and style.  A momentous double album, the album presented their biggest hit, the Outkast-assisted "Int'l Players Anthem", and another gold plaque for the legends themselves.  The Pimp could rest well with the legacy they had earned and this was one exelmpary reason.

5. Bun B- Trill O.G.

After the unexpected and tragic passing of longtime partner and rhyme brother Pimp C, Bun was left to hold it down on his own to uphold the UGK name.  While his debut album, the aforementioned Trill, showed that he could in fact hold it down himself, and the follow-up II Trill was every bit as hard, it was the third installment in the Trill series, Trill O.G. where he truly saw his identity as one of the best to do it from the south.  This project had him mixing up different styles over different sounds but still showed his lyrical firepower.  He shows that he can burn with the best of them over a fire DJ Premier (another H-Town native) track "Let 'Em Know", while going ten toes in with megastar Drake on the cuts "Put It Down" and "It's Been A Pleasure", over tracks that sound like vintage UGK cuts.  This was without question his most lyrical and most cohesive album and we have all the faith that it made the Pimp proud.

4. Geto Boys- We Can't Be Stopped

After causing trouble with their previously mentioned Grip It! On That Other Level, the Geto Boys were starting to be on a roll, but they hit national paydirt with the timeless piece "My Mind's Playin' Tricks On Me", and before we knew it, Bushwick, Face, and Willie were the talk of the hip-hop world.  With their third full-length album, We Can't Be Stopped, they give us more of the same disturbing, yet vivid, tales of revenge, nihilism, paranoia and dark fantasies while also addressing detractors that always had something to say about them.  Widely known for being controversial, this didn't do anything but piss the uppity Black people and ultra consservatives off even more, but served as their most commercially successful album.  Let's not foget to mention the graphic, yet memorable, album cover.  It didn't get more real than that.

3. Scarface- Mr. Scarface Is Back

Widely regarded as the hardest record ever recorded, Scarface's solo debut, Mr. Scarface Is Back, is a brutal, graphic, and at times deeply distrubing album covering nihilism, drugs, suicide, depression, and mayhem.  It made for the type of album that, although it may have offended and shocked you at various points in the album, you were also deeply intrigued based on cuts such as "A Minute To pray, A Second To Die", "Murder By Reason Of Insanity", and "Diary Of A Madman".  This is a look inside the mind of a psychotic human being with tons of issues, but it also was among the most fascinating albums to come out during the early nineties.  A legend was born.

2. UGK- Ridin' Dirty

One of the most impeccable breakout albums the south has ever been blessed to hear was the third album from UGK in the form of Ridin' Dirty.  This was the perfect UGK album, as it contained soul, blues, and street thumping production, as we finally saw Pimp and Bun come into their own.  This album was a masterpiece from top to bottom, and was cold, it went nearly platinum with no mainstream radio airplay.  This album was the soundtrack for your cadillac on a Saturday evening on the late night when just cruisin the ave, and helped the change the landscape of hip-hop from not just Houston, but the South as a whole.

1. Scarface- The Diary

There was never an album that made as much of an impact from Houston and the south as a whole as Scarface's breathtaking third solo album, The Diary.  A true game-changer, this was a macabre masterpiece.  Dark and filled with vicious threats, Face also faced and reflected on human mortality on the epuc "I Never Seen A Man Cry", and that became the turning point of his career.  Face has come close on a few different occasions to repeat the acclaim of this album, but there will never be another Diary from Brad Jordan.  THis was THAT album from him.  His legacy had started to officially began to be cemented.

Honorable Mentions

Scarface- The World Is Yours

Scarface- Last Of A Dying Breed

Scarface- Made

Z-Ro- The Life Of Joseph W. McVey

Devin The Dude- Waitin' To Inhale

5th Ward Boyz- Rated G
5th Ward Boyz- Ghetto Dope

Mr. Mike- Rhapsody

Slim Thug- Boss Of All Bosses

Z-Ro- Heroin

UGK- Super Tight

UGK- Too Hard To Swallow

Geto Boys- Til Death Do Us Part

Geto Boys- The Resurrection

Chamillionaire- The Sound Of Revenge
Odd Squad- Fadanuf Fa Erybody
Convicts- Convicts
Blac Monks- Secrets Of The Hidden Temple
Facemob- The Other Side Of The Law
Pimp C- Pimpalation
Pimp C- The Naked Soul Of Sweet Jones
Pimp C- Long Live The Pimp
Lil' Keke- Loved By Few, Hated By Many
Lil' Keke- Don't Mess With Texas

As you can see, Houston contains some of the most respected hip-hop there is, regardless of region or section.  The city's contribution proves that without Houston, the southern renaissance wouldn't have even begun.  Most well known and respected southern artists such as T.I., Ludacris, Jeezy and Rick Ross were all influenced by Scarface, Geto Boys, or UGK, who are all from Houston (technically UGK are from Port Arthur, which is about ninety miles from Houston).  Also, regrettably, I accidentally omitted Odd Squad from the top list but I did include them in Honorable Mentions, as the album was among the most slept-on Houston albums ever.  Respect the legacy of H-Town and its widely regarded influence, especially towards the success of southern hip-hop.  Until next time!

From Motor City To Rock City: The Best Albums From Detroit

What's the science my good people?!  We've lately covered major hip-hop cities or sections within cities that have made significant and in some cases landmark and breakout impacts within the game.  From Compton to Queensbridge, many historic efforts have emerged from these areas and have forever shaped hip-hop as we know it today.  This time, we'll highlight the might D, as in Detroit.  Known around the world for years as the "motor city", as it was the place where car companies such as Ford flourished with making cars, it also became known for its rich, groundbreaking music.  The city that housed Motown, acts like Smoky Robinson, The Temptations, The Supremes, and Eddie Ruffin became icons in Detroit, as well as other historic musical figures such as Aretha Franklin.  However, in the mid-nineties, hip-hop started to make its name known with acts like Slum Village and nearby Flint, Michigan acts The Dayton Family and the late MC Breed, who became widely known for his cut with 2Pac, "Gotta Get Mine".  From there, Slum Village came into the mix and we got introduced to what became known as the "Dilla" sound with beatmaker extraordinaire James "J Dilla" Yancey.  However, it was in '99 when we got introduced to a bleached-blonde, blue-eyed Caucasian emcee that was lyrically insane and had a captivating persona about him named Marshall Mathers, or Eminem, that turned the world completely around.  Detroit had officially arrived on the hip-hop map.  Since then, acts such as Royce Da 5'9", Big Sean, Black Milk, Trick-Trick, Danny Brown, and D-12 have exploded onto the scene and made their presences felt while repping the legacy of the D.  With that said, let's get into the best albums to come from this historic musical city, in hip-hop that is.

20. D-12- D-12 World

After dropping their decent, yet shock value worthy, debut, Devil'z Night in '01, Eminem and his crew D-12 returned three years later with D12 World, which was a little more focused and relied a little less on shock value.  That's not to say it wasn't there, but the center piece was more so on being a cohesive unit and not as much comical, espcially on cuts like "How Come" and the somber dedication to former Bugs, "Good Die Young".  The tragic irony of this was member Proof was murdered two years later.  A more serious D12 made for the listener to start taking them more seriously as well.

19. Black Milk- No Poison, No Paradise

Since the heartbreaking passing of Dilla, the closest one who could ever come close to furthering the trail Mr. Yancey established has been Black Milk.  A very decent rhymer in his own right, the story was even more so his incredible production skills.  Every album he had done had been critically acclaimed and made him more and more of a known fixture.  With his fifth album, No Poison, No Paradise, he went the conceptual route the story of Sonny and how he faces everyday life growing up as an adolescent, in spite of challenges and obstacles that stand to get in his way of succeeding.  Top notched production and a cohesive, put together story has Black Milk continuing to come of age and this was one of his strongest projects.

18. Big Sean- Dark Sky Paradise

GOOD Music's own Big Sean has had to get out of his own way to see the fruits of labor.  Although a promising act, lyrically, he wasn't up to par as much as many felt he could be with his first couple of albums, Finally Famous and Hall Of Fame.  That changed with his third album, Dark Sky Paradise, as we saw more focus and a better pen game than before.  He also expanded his sound and hitting on personal areas such as the saddening passing of a loved one on "One Man Could Change The World".  This was the Big Sean we had been waiting on, and we finally started to see him break out of his shell.

17. J Dilla- Welcome 2 Detroit

The first inclination of how fantastic he could be on his own without his Slum Village brethren was on his '01 solo debut, Welcome 2 Detroit.  Under his (then) name of Jay Dee, this album was a great highlight of the different types of sounds Dilla can construct and how good he can sound over them.  Covering everything from standard boom bap to Brazilian music and African rhythms, Dilla presented a promising and ambitious album that would only serve as an inkling to the greatness we would progressively see.

16. Obie Trice- Cheers

From seemingly out of nowhere came this rhyme animal known as Obie Trice, who had been signed to Shady/Aftermath, and we saw and heard why.  After spitting on an interlude on D12's Devil'z Night album, the buzz grew quite highly.  He dropped the cut, "Got Some Teeth", and the album Cheers was here.  With knocking production from Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Timbaland, this album made Obie a star, selling double platinum units.  

15. Black Milk- Popular Demand

A heavy and deep void was evident when J Dilla passed.  Since then, people had been looking to see who his next in line would be.  Enter Curtis Cross, otherwise known as Black Milk.  The drummer-turned-producer/emcee first showed his talents on his debut, Sound Of The City Vol. 1, but it was his second album, Popular Demand, that people really started to take notice.  Garnering a bunch of support from Detroit artists such as Phat Kat, Slum Village, and Guilty Simpson on the album, this thumps from top to bottom.  This became the start of a critically successful career for Mr. Milk.

14. Eminem- The Eminem Show

How in God's name could Marshall follow his unbelievable Marshall Mathers LP?  One of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful hip-hop albums of all-time?  His answer came in the form of his third effort, The Eminem Show.  While not quite as nihilistic or even quite as misogynistic as his prior effort, he still presents his brutal honesty and even gets even more personal than before.  Some view this as his best work, with cuts like "White America", "Cleaning Out My Closet", and "Square Dance" are clearly some of Em's finest cuts ever.  Selling eight million units, it was one of the best and highest selling albums of the decade and was an excellent follow-up to MMLP.

13. Elzhi- The Preface

One of the D's most fantastic emcees that doesn't get as much credit as he deserves is Elzhi.  Previously known for his work as part of Slum Village after Dilla left the group, he had also been known for mixtapes that had caught some buzz.  However, it was his album, The Preface, when people really saw just how lyrically gifted this cat was.  Backed by some of the most incredible Black Milk production heard to this very day, standouts are all over the place, if not one after another.  Elzhi was officially on the radar, and even though he has delivered other efforts in Elmatic and the most recent Lead Poison, this serves as his absolute best gem.

12. Royce Da 5'9"- Tabernacle: Trust The Shooter EP

Perhaps there's no more complete of an emcee to come out of the D than Royce Da 5'9".  Technically sharp and systematically a beast, the man known as Ryan Montgomery is among the most respected and feared lyricists to exist in all of  ip-hop.  In 2016, he dlievered his sixth album, Layers to pretty decent acclaim.  Before he officially dropped it, he delivered a thunderous EP entitled Tabernacle: Trust The Shooter in preparation.  In many aspects, this EP easily outshined Layers.  Although it did contain a few of Layers cuts such as the impactful "Tabernacle" and "Wait", but others such as the blazing "Black History" as well as the blistering "Dead President Heads" and the slick "Which Is Cool" made this project one of the ones to be rotated over and over within his discography.

11. Eminem- The Slim Shady LP

In '98, we heard there was a Caucasian emcee that Dr. Dre had gotten his hands on that was a complete rhyme terrorist.  Previously seen nationwide in the Unsigned Hype section of The Source, there was some small buzz about this up-and-coming emcee, but then we heard "Just Don't Give A Fuck".  It was a wrap from there.  A few months later in '99, he dropped The Slim Shady LP, which was considered among the most controversial albums released in recent memory due to avid charges of homophobia, misogyny, and encouragement of drug use.  In any case, this album ultimately sold upwards of six million units and officially made Eminem a global phenomenon.  

10. Slum Village- Yes!

This is the Slum Village album we had been waiting for years for.  Not since, Fantastic Vol. 2 has there been a Slum Village this cohesive, smooth flowing, and yes Dilla influenced.  In fact, Dilla's posthumous hands were all over this album, and it was phenomenal.  While it would've been damn near perfection if Dilla and Baatin were still alive to assist T3 on this album instead of Dilla's little brother Illa J, in all due respect of course because he does an admirable job holding it down with T3.  In any case, this album satisfied every true SV fan to the utmost and made Dilla proud.

9. Obie Trice- Second Round's On Me

The former Shady artist had earned a well-deserved name in the mainstream with his double platinum debut Cheers.  He had shown that he deserved to be in the house that Em and Dre built.  However, the pressure was on to deliver the goods yet another time, and in '06, he delivered Second Round's On Me to even more acclaim.  While Dre, Em, and Timbaland basically dominated his debut, this album was more about him and it hit hard.  The album was done by Em and then-hot producer J.R. Rotem supplying him some very impressive production to spit over.  Obie wasn't playing any games with cuts like the Emile-crafted scorcher "Wanna Know" and "Cry Now".  Although the album didn't hit platinum, it did mark a gold album for him and proved he had the skills to hang and bang in the Shady empire.

8. Black Milk- If There's A Hell Below

If there's one thing Black Milk has done over the years and that's show growth, both lyrically and musically.  Each album shows more and more upward momentum since his already impressive Popular Demand.  His albums of Tronic, Album Of The Year and No Poison, No Paradise were all damn impressive outings that showed that he could be Dilla's heir apparent.  However, he hit his apex with If There's A Hell Below.  Darker in texture and production, this album continues where he left off with No Poison, No Paradise and turns it a little more bleak in nature.  This album flows along almost perfectly due to the interludes and its consistency in impeccable.  This album showed just how incredible Milk continues to be and let's really hope he didn't hang up the mic for good.

7. J Dilla- The Shining

We've been blessed with quite a number of posthumous DIlla projects since his passing.  Arguably the most heralded studio album he has delivered has been The Shining.  This was a virtual all-star assemblage of talent that have all collaborated with Dilla in some sort of fashion during his highly influential career.  Names such as Black Thought, Guilty Simpson, Common, Busta Rhymes, and Pharoahe Monch deliver their own brand of goods over some of the most delectable production one could ask for from DIlla.  We even managed to get a solo cut from him on the breezy "Won't Do".  With only eleven tracks, there was no room for extra fat, and there wasn't any, as this was an amazing example of how Dilla was truly among the best to ever do it behind the boards, and he had help from some highly talented friends to further push that sentiment.

6. Danny Brown- Atrocity Exhibition

The one word that comes to mind when mentioning Danny Brown is...well...quirky.  His eccentric sense of being a hip-hop rock star has garnered him a cult like following over the years.  Starting his very impressive debut, XXX, Mr. Brown has been a notable fixture in the underground and has progressively been building a steady fan base.  However, it was 2016 when he dropped arguably the album of his career with Atrocity Exhibition.  Although this album shows and highlights his obsession with drugs and his downward spiral into the abyss, he brilliantly does so with a sense of a method to his madness.  Eccentric mixed with ambitious, Brown has reached a new level of acclaim and his star power is growing more and more, especially with this unforgettable album.

5. Royce Da 5'9"- Death Is Certain

Royce Da 5'9" is among the true lyrical heavyweights of the game.  This was apparent since the late nineties with Eminem as Bad Meets Evil.  As Em blew up in historic fashion, Royce started to get his own name out there as well, as he dropped his long overdue debut, Rock City, to acclaim and notability.  There were lots of hits on the album and it showed Royce  had the potential to be a star.  However, dealing with drugs, alcohol, and depression (not to mention beefs with D12 and eventually his own homie Em), led him to drop his sophomore effort, Death Is Certain.  A noticeably bleaker and angrier project than Rock City, Royce gets a lot off his chest about revenge, depression, and just his trouble mind and soul out on wax.  Although very dark, it also served as his magnum opus in terms of consistency and continuity.  This was our true first look into the mind of Ryan Montgomery, and it was beyond fantastic.

4. Slum Village- Fantastic Vol. 1

Our first taste of SV was with Fantastic Vol. 1, a collection of demos, unmastered tracks, freestyles, and a few finished cuts.  This was SV in raw form, as we got a glimpse of the chemistry between T3, Dilla (then Jay Dee), and Baatin.  Musically, this was rich with instrumentation thanks to Dilla, and we saw how they were almost seen as the next Tribe Called Quest to a degree.  One of the most highly sought after albums in all of Detroit during the mid to late nineties, most of the cuts would get reworked and mastered to appear on Fantastic Vol. 2, but this was where it all started, and to be honest, srtill sounds every bit as fresh.

3. J Dilla- Donuts

When Dilla died, it was said that he left behind a ton of instrumentals and unreleased recordings, as he was working nonstop until he dies, even in his hospital bed and at home trying to recover.  He was a producer's producer.  An undeterred workaholic.  The album was the last true album he made while he was alive, as he succumbed to his sickness three days later.  Considered one of the most influential instrumental albums of all-time, this was the best example of Dilla's impeccable talent on the boards, and why he was so beloved.  While he was already one of the most touted producers in hip-hop, as evidenced with his work on albums from Tribe and Keith Murray, this made him one of the very best ever, like legendary status.  Since this album, there have been other albums amazingly showing his truly God-given musical talents such as Jay Stay Paid, Dillatroit, and Rebirth Of Detroit, but Donuts laid the blueprint for the rest of his legacy.

2. Slum Village- Fantastic Vol. 2

This was seen as the "official" debut of Slum Village, as their Vol. 1 was their rough cut, or rough draft  If that was the case, Vol. 2 was their final product, as it took the exemplary cuts from Vol. 1 and got fine tuned, mastered, and mixed properly.  Therefore, this became a classic from Detroit.  This album was a breath of fresh air as this came out during the height of the "shiny suit" era, as well as the decline of the mafioso era in hip-hop.  This was a taste of what neo soul in hip-hop sounded like, as Dilla and the boys delivered fresh and authentic hip-hop for the masses, even though it was mostly an underground treasure.  Highly influential in the sub-terrain, this became one of the most sought after albums to ever emerge from the city, and SV's most prized effort is something we can still learn from today.  This has grown into one of hip-hop's most true classics, and should be remembered as an album that helped to change the sound of hip-hop during its time.

1. Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP

We had already been rocked by the talents and vision of Dr. Dre's newest protege Eminem.  His debut, The Slim Shady LP, had sold upwards of six million units and earned him several different awards.  His toilet humor and his uncanny ability to be the asshole class clown of hip-hop won a ton of people over while not ignoring the fact that this dude could rip a mic in two lyrically.  However, he pushed his level of shock value to new heights and got a ton more personal on his sophomore effort, The Marshall Mathers LP.  He increased everything except his level of actually giving a damn what any of his critics think of him.  His utterly violent fantasies on the psychotic cut "Kim", the self-affirming "The Way I Am", and especially the ingenious ode to fan stalking "Stan" made this album a masterwork that is a combination of misery and sobering realities.  Say what you will about how sexist, misogynistic, drug celebrating, homophobic and violent this album is, whatever your opinion, this album rattled your insides and got a rouse out of you, whether you wanted it to happen or not. Did I mention the album sold upwards of thirty million units worldwide, with twelve million sold domestically, thus making it one of the biggest selling hip-hop albums of all-time?  Call him King Mathers!

Honorable Mentions

Black Milk- Tronic

Black Milk- Album Of The Year

Slum Village- Detroit Deli

Slum Village- Villa Manifesto

Elzhi- Lead Poison

Elzhi- Elmatic

Guilty Simpson- Ode To The Ghetto

Apollo Brown- Grandeur

Guilty Simpson & Madlib- OJ Simpson

J Dilla- Ruff Draft

J Dilla- Dillatronic

J DIlla- Jay Stay Paid

Eminem- Recovery

Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP 2

D12- Devil'z Night

Proof- Searching For Jerry Garcia

Danny Brown- XXX

Danny Brown & Black Milk- Black & Brown EP

Danny Brown- Old 

Phat Kat- Carte Blanche

Royce Da 5'9"- Rock City

Royce Da 5'9"- Success Is Certain

Royce Da 5'9"- Street Hop

Royce Da 5'9"- Layers

Bad Meets Evil- Hell: The Sequel

It's clear Detroit has a rich history of music, but one can now add hip-hop to its historic musical legacy.  In the midst of poverty, unemployment, and the water crisis in nearby Flint, the D can still stand on the fact that they're one of the most in control cities in all of hip-hop, and that alone is worth something to brag about.  Until next time folks!

 

It's A Compton Thang: The Best Albums To Come From Compton

What's the deal folks?!  In giving props to Queensbridge and all the greatness that particular section of Queens, NY presented, it was only right to travel across the country to the left coast and a salute to arguably the most legendary city outside of Los Angeles in Cali, and that's Compton.  For a fairly small town in contrast to bigger cities like San Francisco, Oakland, and San Diego, Compton is home to many celebs and dignitaries such as the iconic Williams sisters, actor Anthony Anderson, actress/comedienne Niecey Nash, actor/comedian Paul Rodriguez, legendary professional wrestler Leon White (aka Big Van Vader), and a slew of others.  However, it wasn't until a group of six men were determined to put on for their city in '88 called N.W.A. and with one album, the world knew all about that Compton life.  There were, on the other hand, a bunch of other outstanding and landmark releases to emerge from this city.  With that in mind, let's take a look at the twenty best albums with the Compton stamp of approval on them.

20. MC Eiht- We Come Strapped

With the break up of Compton's Most Wanted, lead emcee MC Eiht was still on the lips of all gangsta lovers, especially after his tremendous role on the riveting classic movie, Menace II Society as the ruthless hustler  A-Wax.  With his officially risen with the role as well as with his breakout solo cut, the exceptional "Streiht Up Menace", it was time to drop his debut album, We Come Strapped, and it definitely delivered all of what made him such a regarded emcee within the gangsta genre.  Draped with gangsta lyrics and fairly menacing production, the album went gold and showed that MC Eiht would keep the CMW name going strong all by himself.

19. The Game- 1992

If there was one person that has a very consistent catalog of tremendous music to come from the west, you better put The Game in the conversation quickly.  Following up that monster of an album, The Documentary 2/2.5 (see later) wasn't an easy task, but damn if he didn't do it with excellence on the album, 1992.  As noted, this was a pivotal year in the life of Jayceon Taylor, as he not only grew to fully accept hip-hop into his life, but he also embraced the streets and thus getting into the gang culture.  Balancing gang life with his love of hip-hop, Game does a great job blending the two, and with no true filler on this album, you strike it as not only just another smash for him, but truly one of his finest offerings.

18. DJ Quik- Safe + Sound

One of the most heralded producing emcees ever in the game is the legendary DJ Quik.  Known for his penchant of creating distinctive melodies and a love of funk and soul, Quik had started a rabid fan base by the time '95 came around, as he had delivered two outstanding releases in Way Too Fonky and Quik Is The Name (see both later).  For his third album, Safe + Sound, he got up with Deathrow Records CEO Suge Knight to have him executive produce this album, and it ended up being among his truly best efforts.  The album includes his contribution to the Murder Was The Case soundtrack, "Dollaz & Sense", as well as the title track, and the carefree "Summer Breeze".  At this time, he was also at the height of his beef with aforementioned fellow Compton native MC Eiht on the cut "Sucka Free".  As a whole, this album was rock solid and he officially became a household name if he wasn't before.

17. King Tee- At Your Own Risk

Arguably the most under-appreciated legend to emerge from the CPT is King Tee.  Among the forefathers to rep the Compton banner, King Tee generated an early buzz with his debut of '88, Act A Fool.  It was his second album, however, that got his name out more nationally and with just as much, if not more, acclaim with At Your Own Risk.  Filled with syrup-thick funk for your ass, King Tee had the sound strictly for your Impalas while cruising the strip on a Saturday night in the summer.  Doesn't get any better than that in any time of the year.

16. The Game- Doctor's Advocate

There was no album from the west that was even coming close to touching The Game's stellar debut, The Documentary in '05.  Hoping to continue that momentum, he dropped his sophomore effort Doctor's Advocate, just over a year later.  After a highly notable falling out with 50 Cent and G-Unit, plus not being on good terms with mentor Dr. Dre, he went at it without help from either, as opposed to his debut album.  The results were almost just as fantastic.  Pound for pound, this is his best album not named Documentary, as every cut is well constructed and focused.  Even without 50 and Dre, Jayceon Taylor's sophomore effort fared more than okay.

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

After being away from the booth for over a decade, the mighty Dr. Dre returned in quite the surprising fashion.  Around the time of the release of the Straight Outta Compton movie, Dre dropped his third, and reportedly final, solo album, Compton: A Soundtrack By Dr. Dre.  Critics were dying to see if this was the highly talked about and discussed Detox that had been promised to us for as long as he had been away.  According to the good doctor himself, Detox never could come together, but that this was a way better project.  The album itself shattered any notion questioning whether or not he still had it in today's time.  The near billion dollar man showed that he was still more than capable of holding down an album within today's generation.  Plus we saw the emergence of a star in Anderson.Paak with this release as well.

14. DJ Quik- Way Too Fonky

After the tremendous critical acclaim of his debut, Quik Is The Name, he came back in '92 with his follow-up, Way Too Fonky.  Easily just a compatible with the listeners speakers as the debut album, Way Too Fonky was a smooth, although sometimes aggressive, ride through Compton and the soulful grooves of the album made the trip hotter than Phoenix in the peak of Summer.  The album produced one of his most known singles, "Just Like Compton" and also resulted in a gold plaque for the highly talented emcee/producer.

13. Compton's Most Wanted- It's A Compton Thang

In '90, while the east coast was simply infatuated with the Nubian grooves of the Native Tongues click and their respective releases, the west had seen the emergence of an up-and-coming crew known as Compton's Most Wanted.  Emcees Boom Bam, Tha Chill, and MC Eiht, along with DJ Mike T, had provided a gritty and vivid soundtrack of the brutal streets of Compton with their debut, It's A Compton Thang.  Unforgiving and as real as you can get during those days, C.M.-dubb made you believe you were on the streets with them and you were in their world of violence and robberies.  

12.MC Ren- Shock Of The Hour

After the unfortunate breakup of N.W.A., the one member people were a little concerned about in terms of his future in the game was MC Ren.  Seen as the most underrated member of the group, Ren is the only one of the group (along with DJ Yella) to remain with Eazy-E and Ruthless Records.  His debut EP, Kizz My Black Azz, was an in-your-face lyrical assault to those that doubted his strength within N.W.A.  The EP was met with much acclaim, but many wondered how it would be with a full-length album.  The question was answered with Shock Of The Hour, and it was every bit of a critical smash as was predicted.  There was a different tone for half the album, as Ren had been converted to Islam and much of the ideologies of the Muslim faith are shown on the album, while balancing his loyalty and love of the streets that raised him.  The first half of the album was aggressive and full of angst, where the other half was cautionary and full of jewels.  It's a conflicting album, but one that made Ren a breakout emcee.  This album is a very important piece to the puzzle of the formation of Compton hip-hop in the early nineties.

13. Compton's Most Wanted- Music To Drive By

A seminal release within the gangsta genre, C.M.W.'s Music To Driveby was unrelenting and unabashed.  Continuing the momentum off their aforementioned debut, It's A Compton Thang, and their very decent follow-up Straight Check'n 'Em, this album was another level for them and provided shot after shot, especially disses to DJ Quik and Tim Dog on "Def Wish II" and "Who's Fuckin; Who" respectively.  Most known for the hit "Hood Took Me Under", Music To Driveby was a true gangsta's paradise.

10. DJ Quik- Quik Is The Name

A young man named David Blake had been making noise in Compton with his mixtapes in Compton and his production abilities.  After enough buzz, he was signed to a major label and the young man known as DJ Quik released his debut album, Quik Is The Name to big time acclaim.  In a year where we were blessed with esteemed classics such as De La Soul Is Dead, The Low End Theory, and Niggaz4Life, Quik Is The Name could easily be right up there with them, with classics like "Tonite" and the anthemic "Born & Raised In Compton".  This album established Quik in the game and was the start of a legendary career.

9. Eazy-E- Eazy Duz It

Many regarded him as the unofficial mayor of Compton.  He was definitely as charismatic as he was a visionary for his time within the gangsta genre.  The late, great Eric "Eazy-E" Wright was the epitome of a hip-hop rock star in the late eighties.  The mastermind behind the timeless album, Straight Outta Compton with N.W.A., Eazy delivered his debut solo album Eazy-Duz-It the same year.  Every bit as popular as Straight Outta Compton, the album sold double platinum units and Eazy became a worldwide star.  A knack for compelling, sometimes hilarious, stories of the streets, Eazy became known as one of the true godfathers of the gangsta genre, and Eazy-Duz-It remains one of the most appropriate examples of the heights of the genre.

8. The Game- The Documentary 2/2.5

In a year that saw some of the most stunning and breathtaking hip-hop releases in over a decade om 2015, The Game's exceptional double album was every bit on that list.  Not since his debut, The Documentary, had we heard Game sound this hungry, fresh, and innovative.  Although two separate discs were released within a week of each other, this was unquestionably a double album, and should be in the conversation of perhaps greatest overall double album of all-time in hip-hop (yes it's that serious).  Incredibly consistent, both production-wise and lyrically, this is the best album Jayceon Taylor has presented in many years, and that's saying a mouthful considering how good his albums in between had been for the most part.  Say what you will about Game, but one can't deny the consistency Game has brought over the years, and this one is definitely in the talks of his best effort ever.

7. N.W.A.- Niggaz4Life

With Straight Outta Compton establishing them a certified superstars, N.W.A. was riding a super wave of momentum.  That is until the departure and subsequent beef with member Ice Cube, which threw the energy of the group way off for a bit.  However, undeterred, they came back with Niggaz4Life.  Many have said that the group without its strongest and most notable lyricist made the album not as dazzling, however as the years have gone by, some have actually stated that the album might be even better than Straight Outta Compton.  It can be highly argued that Dre's production stepped up quite a few levels with this album, but so did the misogyny and violence within the album.  More of a shock value album than a cultural statement, this would be the group's last album together, but with Niggaz4Life, they went out in superb fashion.

6. Kendrick Lamar- good kid, M.A.A.D. city

One of the strongest debuts, not just to come out of Compton, not just out the west, but in hip-hop as a whole in many years came in the form of Kendrick Lamar's good kid, M.A.A.D. City in 2012.  Already achieving a ton of buzz with his simply dazzling underground album, Section.80, as well as earlier works like The Kendrick Lamar EP and Overly Dedicated, he signed a major label deal with Aftermath, but the beauty is that the album didn't have, nor did it need, and Dre influence.  It stuck to the sound of TDE, with the exception of Just Blaze and Hit-Boy.  The album shows a young man dealing with the conflicts of his environment while trying to come into his own as a young man as well.  A classic coming of age story very similar to albums like Illmatic and Fashawn's Boy Meets World (DON'T SLEEP), Kendrick became the next big thing from Compton, however we had no idea what was to come just three years later.

5. Dr. Dre- 2001

As if we couldn't get enough of the game-changer that was The Chronic, Dr. Dre took seemingly close to a decade to deliver his follow-up, 2001 (originally Chronic 2001).  A more updated version of The Chronic sonic-wise, 2001 was an amazing example of Dre's knack to not only construct some of the most monumental production of our time but can produce new stars as well.  On this album, we saw reunite with Snoop Dogg, exhibit the out of this world talent of Eminem, and show us new talent such as Hittman.  Who doesn't know cuts like "XXplosion", "The Next Episode" and "Still D-R-E"?  Really, who doesn't??  This is greatness from the good doctor and showed that he was still one of the greatest to ever do it.

4. The Game- The Documentary

If we were to be honest, the city of Compton had been in a lull quite a number of years in terms of anything fresh emerging.  In comes a young G-Unit associate named The Game.  Co-signed by both 50 Cent and Dr. Dre, his future was bright.  Very damn bright.  While nothing was really touching 50's classic debut, Get Rich Or Die Tryin' at this time, the anticipation of Game's Documentary was off the page, and many speculated that this would be that album to challenge it for best album of the year.  When the album dropped, we knew a star was officially born, as this album was just the new classic the west needed and hip-hop as a whole needed too.  A memorable debut to say the least, The Game had arrived, and with his debut selling upwards of five million units, he was going away anytime soon.

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

The album that put Compton on the map.  One of the most landmark albums of any genre in history, gangsta had officially got appealed to the suburbs.  Five guys of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella (shouts to original sixth member Arabian Knight) came together to make some noise and let the world know where they were from and how cold the world was from their perspective in Compton.  From nihilism (the title track) to freedom of expression ("Express Yourself") to corrupt police ("Fuck The Police"), N.W.A. covered ground that hadn't been walked on before so boldly, yet so universally accepted.  One of the most influential albums to ever exist, Straight Outta Compton still stands the test of time.

2. Dr. Dre- The Chronic

All of the west coast owes its prominence, especially in the early to mid-nineties to this album.  No other album from the west had established this kind of new sound and new direction in hip-hop.  His first solo album away from N.W.A., Dr. Dre changed the entire axis of the music world with The Chronic and set a new standard in gangsta rap.  Using soul samples as Funkadelic samples to help with his already impeccable production, this was an album that would stand the test of time and become subsequently the album to beat throughout the nineties that wasn't named Illmatic.  We saw new stars emerge such as Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, Lady Of Rage, and RBX, and each represented incredibly.  A game changer that forever changed hip-hop.

1. Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp A Butterfly

The new standard of excellence, creativity, and musicianship within hip-hop.  There hasn't been an album like this is well over a decade.  Kendrick's second major label effort, To Pimp A Butterfly, not only surpassed his debut, which was a feat in itself considering how incredible it was, but it became a cultural and musical experience the likes of which only got rivaled by timeless epics such as The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Marvin Gaye's Here My Dear, and The Low End Theory.  Conceptually, lyrically, musically, and technically, this album is light years beyond anything this current generation is exposed to currently, and if there were any doubts as to his aim for the crown in hip-hop, this landmark piece of art shattered them all.


Honorable Mentions

DJ Quik- Rhythm-al-ism
2nd II None- The Shit
MC Eiht- Death Threatz
MC Ren- The Villain In Black
Kendrick Lamar- Section.80
The Game- Jesus Piece
Compton's Most Wanted- Straight Check'n 'Em
King Tee- Act A Fool
King Tee- Thy Kingdom Come
YG- My Krazy Life
YG- Still Brazy


As you can see, Compton is not just a notable city based upon who came from there in terms of athletics and film/screen, but some of the most revered albums ever recorded came from the city as well.  True game-shifters originated from the notorious CPT, and there's even more to come from this city.  Until next time homies!