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 500 Albums of All-Time - BEYONCE' by Beyonce'

  

This review is number 81, Beyonce's Self-titled album Beyonce', released in 2013.  I can honestly tell  you I have not heard this album in its entirety, although of course I have heard the hits before.

First Track:  Pretty Hearts
Start:  Interesting little musical crescendo into the start of the lyrical opening lines.

Best Attribute:  Lots of variations of styles and tempos within many of the songs.  Production is amazing.

Worst Attribute:  Some very boring, worn-out trite lyrics and sayings.

Best Song:  Mine - Her voice is amazing, the beats are great, and the background vocals are outstanding.  I also really enjoyed Heaven.

Worst Song:  Angel - Very breathy and weird.

Most Interesting Song:  Jealous - With all of the production in this album, this song emphasizes Beyonce's voice.

Most Interesting Quality:  The production - beats, instruments, etc.   That is what makes this album.

Would I listen again: Yes, not often, but yes.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Total.  Imagine Beyonce, but three of them.  (Not saying everyone on Total is Beyonce, but the trio should put an extra something into this album that Beyonce' physically cannot as one person.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  81

My Current Ranking:  3

Projected Final Ranking:  399

Top 500 Albums of All-Time

1.  Love Deluxe, Sade

2.  Ramones, The Ramones

3.  Beyonce, Beyonce

4.  John Prine, John Prine

Rolling Stones Top 500 Songs of All-Time - "I Wanna Be Your Dog" by the Stooges

 

I now get to listen to song number 314, which is "I Wanna Be Your Dog" by the Stooges from 1969.  Honestly, this will be a brand new one for me.  If it's new or old for you, here it is: I Wanna Be Your Dog

Best Attribute:  Guitar play. maybe.
Worst Attribute:  The entire song.

Best Line:  Hardly any different lyrics at all

Worst Line:  "And now I wanna be your dog!?"

Would I listen again: Hell No!

Rolling Stone Ranking:  314

My Current Ranking:  3

Projected Final Ranking:  500

Top 500 Songs of All-Time

1.  Goodbye Earl, The Dixie Chicks

2.  Rapper's Delight, Sugar Hill Gang

3. I Wanna Be Your Dog, The Stooges

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 500 Albums of All-Time - LOVE DELUXE by Sade

 

The random number generator gave my number 247, which is Love Deluxe by Sade from 1992.  This album is fantastic, and I am so excited to listen to it again.  This came out in college, and I loved it then, and have listened to it in its entirety dozens of times.

First Track:  No Ordinary Love
Start:  An amazing start to the album.  A sensual, rhythmic beat, with equal lyrics, and Sade's sultry voice.  Think Enigma, but with soft guitar and drum.

Best Attribute:  Lots of songs with beats that seem equally fast, and slow - at the same time.  

Worst Attribute:  I couldn't really pick one out.

Best Song:  No Ordinry Love - Other songs are great, but there is a reason this is the defining track of this album.

Worst Song:  Pearls - Not a bad song, just the worst of this album.  I did really like the cymbals in this song, though.

Most Interesting Song:  I Couldn't Love You More - The clapping in the background was very interesting, and a differing characteristic of the rest of the songs on the album.

Most Interesting Quality:  The mix of instrumentation in the various songs; drums, cymbals, piano, guitar, clapping.

Would I listen again: Hell Yeah!

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Alicia Keys

Rolling Stone Ranking:  247

My Current Ranking:  1

Projected Final Ranking:  98

Top 500 Albums of All-Time

1.  Love Deluxe, Sade

2.  Ramones, The Ramones

3  John Prine, John Prine

Rolling Stones Top 500 Songs of All-Time - "Goodbye Earl" by Dixie Chicks (Now the Chicks)

 

I was given number 469 by the number generator, and that song is Goodbye Earl by The Dixie Chicks, now The Chicks.  The song was released in 2000.  I have never heard this song before, or at least not that I remember.  I know The Chicks nee The Dixie Chicks, but can't recall this song.  I gave it a listen and you can to:  Goodbye Earl

Best Attribute:  Super sing-songy way to address several serious topics.  And the video stars Dennis Franz, of NYPD Blue fame.
Worst Attribute:  Maybe that it makes light of several various topics, but most listeners will understand the literary devices used and that the happiness and joy in the sound of the song and the lyrics is ironic and serious at the same time.

Best Line:  "Well she finally got the nerve to file for divorce.  She let the law take it from there.  But Earl walked through that restraining order and put her in intensive care."

Worst Line:  "Ain't it dark wrapped up in that tarp, Earl?"

Would I listen again: Yes.  I really liked the song!

Rolling Stone Ranking:  469

My Current Ranking:  1

Projected Final Ranking:  312

Top 500 Songs of All-Time

1.  Goodbye Earl, The Dixie Chicks

2.  Rapper's Delight, Sugar Hill Gang

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