CD-Charts Position 11
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American Gangster: Parental Advisory

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: Jay-Z

Release Date November 05, 2007
After the pretty disapointing Kingdom Come album 1 or 2 people questioned whether Jay still had the hunger to make classic albums and whether now it was just about collecting a paycheck, But on this album he came hard and made one of his best albums, if not his best.

Brought out when the film American Gangster dropped, you can definetly see the similar aspects in the two, in this album Jay has done something he hasn't done before and made every song a story like chapters in the film.

The album kicks off with the song Pray which features the voiceover of wife Beyonce, this song explains about him starting to build his empire through street hustling and hoping not to get caught by the police.

Overall a great ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 12
Average Rating:

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Before I Self-Destruct

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: 50 Cent

Release Date December 09, 2008
After the pretty disapointing Kingdom Come album 1 or 2 people questioned whether Jay still had the hunger to make classic albums and whether now it was just about collecting a paycheck, But on this album he came hard and made one of his best albums, if not his best.

Brought out when the film American Gangster dropped, you can definetly see the similar aspects in the two, in this album Jay has done something he hasn't done before and made every song a story like chapters in the film.

The album kicks off with the song Pray which features the voiceover of wife Beyonce, this song explains about him starting to build his empire through street hustling and hoping not to get caught by the police.

Overall a great ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 13
Average Rating:

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Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: Wu-Tang Clan

Release Date May 02, 1994
Producer and rapper RZA told a Danish interviewer that the album he's the most proud of is this one, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)", and it is hard to disagree with him.
What is there to say about such an essential hip hop album that hasn't been said? One classic track leads to another on this 1993 release, and today, in the year of 2008, the price is so low there are no excuses on not owning it. Even if you hate hip hop, this record may be the one to start out with, combining primarily simple and catchy beats with the funny, yet hardcore, lyrical masterpieces each member presents us with in each track.
I can try to point of my favorite tracks, but it is kinda hard. "Bring da ruckus", "Shame on a nigga", "Da mystery of chessboxin'", "C.R.E.A.M.", ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 14
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Reasonable Doubt

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: Jay-Z

Release Date May 01, 1999
if you though that jay z just made popcorn rap, and never really thought he was worth your time, or just thought he was an overrated commercialized rapper, listen to it, because it proves how talented he actually is, this album is a classic in every sense of the word, it has something most rap albums nowadays lack, subject matter, lyrics, beats, meaning and originality, this album is basically chronicling the ups and downs, regrets and joys of being a hustler, the beats to start off with are great, this album was mostly produced by dj premiere, and he did a fantastic job, the production is clean, crisp, and fit jay zs flow and lyrics, my next point, the lyrics, the lyrics are some of the best rap lyrics ever, jay z has a great mutli-syllable rhyming scheme, it is ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 15
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Curtis

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: 50 Cent

Release Date September 10, 2007
50's third album has received a lot of negative press. From the delays, to the dud singles, to losing the sales race to Kanye's "Graduation". In fact the writing was on the wall on this album long before, when G-Unit releases (Mobb Deep, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck) started flopping. Tony Yayo beating on young kids did not help the G-Unit cause either. One could even argue that the split with Game which resulted in Dr. Dre's semi-retirement; or even Eminem's Kim inspired semi-retirement (Note that both Dre & Eminem are missing from the executive producer credits) all conspired to doom the album before it came out. That is if you consider 600K in your 1st week a failure.

On to the album. 50 Cent really outdoes himself on this one. The album has a perfect balance ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 16
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Late Orchestration

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: Kanye West

Release Date May 01, 2006
This is Kanye's fifth album, there were two freshman adjustments and the two proper studio albums, and it is one of the best. The live performances are brilliant. Kanyes voice may be simmalar to how he is on the albums, but the orchestra is an excellent addition to the songs.
Kanye west is the future of hip hop. All of these songs are brilliant. The best tracks are propbably touch the sky and through the wire. Although only thirteen tracks long this album definately impresses. Gold Digger shouldn't really be on here but still it is an excellent song.
You have to get this as Kanye is an excellent performer judging by this and his Brits performance, was that hot ao what? I haven't seen him live yet but am hoping to when he next comes to England.
So, this is ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 17
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Paid In Full

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: Eric B. & Rakim

Release Date May 24, 1989
This album is, undeniably, a classic. It is my favourite hip-hop album ever. If you're expecting something that sounds up to date, then you'll be disappointed, but who cares - this album was made in 1987 and sounds EXACTLY like it was made in that year. Rakim's lyrics and flow are second to none in my opinion, and from his opening line of "I ain't no joke, I used to let the mic smoke, now I slam it when it's done and make sure it's broke" he rhymes effortlessly through this entire album. In comparison he makes most other MCs sound like they are struggling (the only other MCs who have achieved considerable mainstream success who are up there with him in terms of effortless flow, in my opinion, are Nas and Gza). Eric B's beats - pretty minimal and tidy, are fully reminiscent of the 80's ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 18
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Power To The People And The Beats - Public Enemy's Greatest Hits

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: Public Enemy

Release Date August 01, 2005
This really is a great greatest hits album, the old schoolstyle of rapping used here is really effective to the great beats.
Frequent use of the words ' sucker mc' shows the old skool style.
This is better than a lot of the new skool playas and hip hop legends like these will help save the game.
Tracks like public enemy no.1 show chucky d's great style of rapping, and you really have to get this.

CD-Charts Position 19
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Illmatic: Parental Advisory

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: Nas

Release Date February 10, 1997
If there is one album in hip-hop history that should be heard by every music fan then it is Nasir Jones' Illmatic, released in 1994. Although this album is over a decade old, it still stands head and shoulders above anything that is being released today. Why? It has the two key components of a great rap album, fantastic production and incredible lyricism.
Some people may be put off by the short track listing, only 10 tracks (1 of which is an intro) but don't be. Although the album is only about 40 minutes long, it is 40 unforgettable minutes that you will want to hear over and over again.
From a lyrical perspective, this album has probably never been equaled. Whether it is multi's, wordplay, internal rhyming, story-telling, whatever you are after, it is on here, hence why after ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 20
Average Rating:

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The Low End Theory

CD-Charts > Music > East Coast
by: Tribe Called Quest

Release Date November 05, 1993
One of the first "real" hip hop albums I listened to and it continues to sound fresh after all these years. They took everything great about their debut and maximised it; throwing in experimental touches and a subtle use of live instrumentation into the mix, creating what is, in my humble opinion, the greatest jazz-rap album we'll ever hear. Q-Tip and Phife aren't the greatest rappers, but they sound so suitably relaxed and eloquent over the beats that it's easy to understand their lofty status in the world of hip hop. Everything works on The Low End Theory and there's never been a more perfectly suitable closer than "Scenario", the greatest posse cut of all time. Has Busta ever sounded more crazy than when he's roooaaaarrring like a dungeon dragon? This record is way more than historical significance ... Read More: