The DJ Premier remix is so much better, I always thought that was the main version. Also such a funny thing to look back and think how much pre-Pitchfork Kanye was universally hated back in his commercial peak to the point where a "NO Kanye" edit of this song is currently the most popular version uploaded on YouTube by far, even though his verse was probably better than KRS.

Too many people are judging this as like an instrumental hip hop album with beats, when really it's more of an experimental turntablism/turntable music album. Self-indulgent but very fun and technically impressive.

I hate fan mashups in general, but not only do the vocals not fit the instrumental whatsoever thematically or rhythmically, the beat is a completely lazy recreation of another dude's beat... (Rob Viktum - Progress 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uhYYnf7kUw

Such a great fucking beat-ready sample tho

"super spiritual lyrical mathematical rhythmical miracle subtracting through infinitesimal" rap over buzzing bargain bin basement beats.... unfortunately I'm a sucker for this type of stuff

Just listened to this, good shit, first half is way stronger than second on first impression. The production is definitely much more eclectic than I thought, was anticipating some outdated rap rock, some pretty experimental stuff. Someone compared it to Tech N9ne which is ridiculous, it's much closer to like Czarface' beats. Dude also proves why he's still easily the best rapper on a technical level in the history of the genre. The rhyme schemes are insanely dense but never overwhelming or ... read more

If you take the first 5 tracks and make an EP, this would be one of the best pop rap releases of all time. Such fantastically detailed production and well written eccentric pop tunes that it's very obvious this dude is not exactly as "indie" as other artists who come out the gate.

The beats are pretty great, the rapping is slightly below average, but goddamn are their voices annoying

Leaf/Take 1 is still one of the best songs of its decade

One thing that Migos don't get enough credit for (I'm not actually sure, just making this up, haven't actually checked) is their incredibly versatile flows that manage to expertly balance technical ability and rhythmic variation with catchiness and other pop sensibilities. For whatever reason, a lot of people categorise them as "mumble rap" or pigeon-hole them as being repetitive for their heavy use of triplets in their flows especially early in their career. But honestly at their ... read more

A non-conceptual pre-written freestyle over a gargantuan Childish Gambino beat hilariously released in promotion for Dr. Dre's third album that never saw the light of day is still one of the best and my personal favorite Kendrick Lamar song by a large margin. It just goes to show that you can have all the deepest concepts and intricate narratives in the world, but at the end of the day your true lyrical and especially rhythmic dexterity (which is what is truly most unique to the artform of rap ... read more

Fans of Pink Siifu, Coin locker kid, MIKE, Slauson Malone 1 NEED to peep this..

Also spiritual sequel to Blu's NoYork.

Great rapping and eccentric vocal stylings. But goddamn the production, while obviously Public Enemy inspired, is insanely well detailed. Extremely creative sampling and progression in the beats.

They did an excellent job on remastering for the 30th anniversary edition.

Man, I'm conflicted on this one. On paper, Denzel stepped up almost every technical aspect of his shit: songwriting, instrumental diversity, concept, rapping, all that shit. Only thing that keeps me from loving this is the fucking singing.. I generally have a personal bias against rappers who sing, sure, but the singing here is just ehh.. Not sure why he decided to go down this route, especially since he was so good at the hardcore trap shit.

Snapback Back is pretty fucking incredible, only acceptable way to consume Tyga is chopped and screwed, slathered in reverb with an ethereal, trunk-knocking beat.

This was such a massive let down after the instant modern classic XXX. Meh beats, wack hooks. So funny and ironic how he got popular for his EDM trap and turn-up shit, given the twisted and sobering messages of his music. The EDM stuff sounds insanely outdated now.

Admittedly, I haven't listened to a huge variety of music, but I genuinely think this is one of the most unique albums of all time. Shit sounds like an auditory cry for help.

I know it's a fan project, but the audio quality is really bad. The super heartfelt and soulful beats do not match the comedic and villainous verses whatsoever, it sounds like one long bass jam session, gets super tired.

Criminally underrated dude and album. Some of the best, most well-made abstract hip hop out. This guy raps from the perspective of a misanthropic God on a track (song: "Divine Disappointment," off another album, but still). As far as anticon. goes, he falls sorta in between Sole and Slug. He avoids end rhymes quite often, but still has a strong sense of rhythm independent from the tempo of the song. Love that shit.

I always forget how awesome the highlight songs are... and how forgettable the other tracks are. I remember loving this album but looking back it's a real mixed bag and quite bloated, some fantastic songs but the second half is so mediocre. Still, great mix of regional hip hop genres, Leaf/Take 1 is a modern classic.

One of the worst albums I've had the misfortune of listening to back to front; insane levels of cringe and total lack of self-awareness. "OMG rap today suxx look at me I'm so quirky and different and alternative, I wear short shorts and pronounce the hard R, too black for the white kids too white for the black kids... now let me rip off Drake, Kanye and Wayne, some of the most popular hip hop artists at the time for an hour: I f*ck asi*n b*tches in the p*ssy and c*m in their f*ce with my ... read more

This is somehow simultaneously one of my fave albums but is also very bloated and inconsistent. Every time I hear one song I have to listen to the whole tape including the not-so-good tracks.