Brendan’s Top Ten Hip-Hop Albums of All Time
Big hip-hop guy. Do with this what you will…
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.
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 just doesn’t stop, and the F really is for phenomenal.
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. Not really sure which anymore…
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.
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.
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.
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.
Give it up for the genesis of coke rap.
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.
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.
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.
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.
But it’ll be on here soon. Also, verse of the year goes to No Malice.
