Unrelated, but I’m a big hip-hop guy and I wanted to put this somewhere.

Every album in my head is a film. Do with this what you will…

1. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan

“Crazy flamboyant for the rap enjoyment
My Clan increase like Black unemployment”

All cultural appropriation should aspire to this. This is the epitome of cultural

appropriation. This is the 12 Angry Men or Seven Samurai of hip-hop.

2. Tha Carter II

Lil Wayne

“Money too long, teachers, put away your rulers”

You can listen to this ten times over and still be impressed. Weezy’s flow is like no other,

and the F really is for phenomenal. He’s the Wolf and this is Wall Street.

3. Illmatic

Nas

“I drink Moët with Medusa, give her shotguns in Hell…”

I grew up in Queensbridge too. Either that, or this album

captures it perfectly. Left me Dazed and Confused.

4. 1999

Joey Bada$$

“Fuck math, teachers should teach us to get Smith & Wesson’s off of the street”

Hardknock at 17 years old deserves a Pulitzer. This dude had to pull up to English

class the next day. Good Will Hunting at its finest.

5. Purple Haze

Cam’ron

“Street mergers, I legislated; the nerve, I never hated
On murders, premeditated — absurd, I hesitated”

The most consistent album I’ve ever heard in my life.

And it’s such a fucking vibe. Really encourages you to Do The Right Thing.

6. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West

“And what's a Black Beatle anyway, a fuckin' roach?
I guess that's why they got me sitting in fuckin' coach”

Maybe because it just has Gorgeous on it. Or maybe it’s just insane enough.

One indeed Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest for this one.

7. Ironman / Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Ghostface Killah / Raekwon

“Seven o'clock, pluckin' roaches out the cereal box”

Didn’t want to do repeats or ties, but come on, we’re talking about the genesis of coke rap.

Ironman is Dog Day Afternoon and OB4CL is Taxi Driver. Together they’re Heat.

8. Aquemini

Outkast

"André, this is André, y'all are just gon' have to make amends"

Ten for storytelling and ten for introspection and ten for mysticality

and ten for rhymes. No notes. I was truly Spirited Away.

9. Midnight Marauders

Tribe Called Quest

“For those who wanna oppose, then take a stand
But for now, just shut your shit and clap your hands”

This feels like leaving the radio on during a long drive through the desert at dusk.

Perfectly curated. ATCQ is Thelma and we’re Louise.

10. Eternal Atake (Deluxe)

Lil Uzi Vert

“I got icebergs on my neck, I can sink a ship
Outer space swag, not regular, Titanic my whip”

Fresh sound. New wave. Bomb features. Myron. Project X.

HONOURABLE MENTION:

Let God Sort Em Out

Clipse

“Over half a mill' we call focaccia, reachin' for Akasha,
Never leavin' home without my piece like I'm Mahatma”

This is on here. It’s only an honourable mention because it’s new.

Verse of the year goes to No Malice. Maybe the Parasite of hip-hop albums.