Rolling Stones Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time - Daytona by Pusha t

I received number 108 from the random number generator which happens to be Daytona by Pusha-T.  Like many hip-hop-heads I know of my generations, we are not as conversant in the last decade or so as the previous 4, so I am interested in listening to this one.

First Track:  If You Know You Know

Start:  Not a really strong start as this song just keeps ending line-after-line-after-line with "boy."  But, the song gathers steam after the first verse and is actually quite good.

Best Attribute:  Production, especially the incorporation of the drums and horns.

Worst Attribute:  The length of the album; 7 songs and 21 minutes long.

Best Song:  Infrared - Easily the best song on the album - best lyricism and flow, with a nice beat.

Worst Song:  If You Know You Know - I still can't get past that first verse.

Most Interesting Song:  The Games We Play - This song incorporates a sitar!

Most Interesting Quality:  A SITAR!

Would I listen again: For sure, especially if I just had a limited amount of time.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Post Malone.  His rapping vibe would be true to the album, but his rock sound and presence would make this album different and interesting.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  108

My Current Ranking:  4

Projected Final Ranking: 108

Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time

1.  Illmatic, Nas

2.  Room 25, Noname

3.  400 Degreez, Juvenile

4.  Daytona, Pusha T

5.  Bandana, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib

6.  Enta Da Stage, Black Moon

Rolling Stones Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time - ROOM 25 by Noname

The number generator gave me number 56, which is Room 25 by Noname.  I know nothing of Noname (which isn't uncommon for me of the last 10 years of rap - except Kendrick and a few others).  I don't know if it is a group or a solo artist, but I am game.  Let's go...

First Track:  Self

Start:  OK, so I was caught off-guard.  My first initial thought - other than I love the cover art - is that, Whoa, this is a female artists.  Not because females can't rap, but just the percentages are low.  And I mention this because this song contains a line, "And ya'll thought a bitch couldn't rap, huh?  Maybe this your answer for that."  This is a very smooth song - and the piano addition is amazing!

Best Attribute:  Her flow.  Right up there with the best of all time.  For the record by flow I mean the rhythm in which she raps.

Worst Attribute:  This album only has 10 - mostly short - songs.  Would love to hear more.

Best Song:  Ace! - This song features Smino and Saba, her cohorts in the group Ghetto Stage.  Their musical chemistry is fantastic.

Worst Song:  Window - This is actually a really good song, as I am just splitting hairs for consistency among my reviews.  This one is worst because it just takes a while to get moving.  The ending is fire, though.

Most Interesting Song:  Montego Bay - This one is the most interesting because of the upright bass, which I love.

Most Interesting Quality:  The jazziness, and the quality and feel of the production.  And, as stated earlier, her flow!!!

Would I listen again: Hell Yeah!!!  In fact, I have a weekend of listening to more Noname and Ghetto Stage ahead of me.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  So a little bit of a story here, My first instinct was D'Angelo (RIP), but then during the album Noname literally raps, "Somebody get D'Angelo.  I think I need him on this one!"  So apparently Noname thinks he would work on her songs also.  So, I have three others:  The first person I thought of was Doechii, who  might give it an edgier feel - but I didn't want to get caught up in the fact that I have to find a female rapper to remake this album. Then I thought De La Soul because of the jazz, social-conscious rap type of feel.  But in reality, to re-imagine this album, but keep some of its feel and intent, the answer for me is Nas.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  56

My Current Ranking:  2

Projected Final Ranking: 31

Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time

1.  Illmatic, Nas

2.  Room 25, Noname

3.  400 Degreez, Juvenile

4.  Bandana, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib

5.  Enta Da Stage, Black Moon

Rolling Stones Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time - 400 DEGREEZ by Juvenile

  

Number 68 popped out of the random number generator, and that is 1998's 400 Degreez by Juvenile.  I know this album; I love this album; I have not listend to this album in a long time.

First Track:  Intro

Start:  Catchy beat, 2:13 long, but still really just an introduction to Juvenile.

Real First Track:  Ha!

Real Start:  Great song to kick-off this album.

Best Attribute:  Fun beats that match Juvenile's lyrical style to a "T".

Worst Attribute:  Some of the songs can seem pretty monotonous at times.

Best Song:  Flossin' Season - I know you thought I was going to put Back That Azz Up here, but Flossin' Season is great all around; the lyrical flow (more than the lyrics themselves) with great production.

Worst Song:  "U.P.T." - It is really hard to ignore the video games (probably from Qbert?) sounds in the background.

Most Interesting Song:  Gone Ride With Me - Great use of the piano, of all things!

Most Interesting Quality:  Three different versions of Ha!  All with different features and styles.

Would I listen again: Definitely!  Been too long since the last listen already.  Forgot just how good Juvenile is.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  If I wanted it smoothed out - Nelly; If I wanted it harder - DMX

Rolling Stone Ranking:  68

My Current Ranking:  2

Projected Final Ranking: 47

Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time

1.  Illmatic, Nas

2.  400 Degreez, Juvenile

3.  Bandana, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib

4.  Enta Da Stage, Black Moon

Rolling Stones Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time - BANDANA by Freddie Gibbs and Madlibs

 

This time I was rocking with 197, Bandana Freddie Gibbs and Madlib.  I had heard of Freddie Gibbs, but honestly don't know much about his music.  Some serious criticial acclaim so I am interested..

First Track:  Obrigado, Solid start.  I am intrigued.

Start:  Really smooth guitar riff!

Best Attribute:  Like the backgrounds, so Madlib really producing this.  Some of the lyrics seem simplistic.

Worst Attribute:  Some cheesy lyrics.

Best Song:  Flat Tummy Treat - Has soul.

Worst Song:  Half Manne Half Cocaine - Easily for me the low point of this album.

Most Interesting Song:  Crime Pays - Trippy 70's vibe with guitar and synthesizer (It works).

Most Interesting Quality:  Lots of pop-culture references like "Walter White," "Tinashe," and "Jeff Sessions"

Would I listen again: Probably would yes.  Very unique compared to what I would normally choose in rap, but I enjoyed it.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Bone Thuggs-N-Harmony

Rolling Stone Ranking:  197

My Current Ranking:  2

Projected Final Ranking: 156

Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time

1.  Illmatic, Nas

2.  Bandana, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib

3.  Enta Da Stage, Black Moon

Rolling Stones Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time - IlLMATIC by Nas

I received the number 24 from the random number generator, which happens to be Illmatic by Nas.  Frankly, I am shocked that this album is that low.  More like 24 of all-time albums, not just rap albums.  I absolutely love, love, love this album, and was really jamming out to it while doing some work.  Interested in seeing how long this one stays at number 1 in my list.

First Track:  The Genesis, which isn't so much a song, but an intro with small samples of other songs.  Almost a pre-intro as an homage to hat he is going to be doing with this album.

Start:  Honestly, this might be the worst part of the album.

Best Attribute:  Lyricism and flow.  If I am limiting myself to only one "best attribute" (OK - two).

Worst Attribute:  Only 9 tracks outside of The Genesis

Best Song:  The World is Yours - Honestly, this answer probably changes each time I listen, with N.Y. State of Mind, Life's a Bitch, and One Love all taking turns.  This time, it was The World is Yours.

Worst Song:  One Time for Your Mind - Not a bad song at all; this is just the parameters I have chose for my listing that I have to categorize something as "Worst Song."

Most Interesting Song:  Memory Lane (Sittin' in the Park) - A little haunting, maybe?  Just always found it interesting, but indescribable

Most Interesting Quality:  The xylophone in One Love

Would I listen again: Hell Yeah!  Probably even this week!

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Naughty by Nature

Rolling Stone Ranking:  24

My Current Ranking:  1

Projected Final Ranking:  No worse that 4 or 5

Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time

1.  Illmatic, Nas

2.  Enta Da Stage, Black Moon

Rolling Stones Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time - ENTA DA STAGE by Black Moon

 

The number generator spit out #141, which is Enta Da Stage by Black Moon, released in 1993.  I was in college then, and loving the Hip-Hop/R&B scene that was coming out, and I somehow had missed this one, so I was sooo looking forward to hearing it for the first time.  To me, it sounds very much like a product of its time.  Just listening to it and you would never have to tell me in what era it was released.

First Track:  Powaful Impak!

Start:  A very strong start.  Sounds akin to something the Fu-Schnickens would put out.

Best Attribute:  Strong beats - again very reminiscent of the early 90s jazz/fusion rap, or conscious rap.

Worst Attribute:  Some very trite, boring lines, like "I'm a full course meal ur a one dollar hero."

Best Song:  Niguz Talk Shit - I loved the trumpet on this song, along with the entire background.

Worst Song:  Buck Em Down - It sounds exactly like the title makes you think it would sound

Most Interesting Song:  U Da Man - I thought that I was listening to the Lost Boyz

Most Interesting Quality:  The interplay between Buckshot and Smif-n-Wessun on Black Smif-n-Wessun

Would I listen again: Probably, but only after I grew tired of other time period conscious rap

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  A Tribe Called Quest

Rolling Stone Ranking:  141

My Current Ranking:  1 (Since it is the first!)

Projected Final Ranking:  Not knowing what is coming next, maybe 160

Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time

1.  Enta Da Stage, Black Moon