(2xCD, 2007) this is the best hip-hop compilation of all time. Buckwild is my favorite producer of all time. everything about this is all-time. happy to be able to own a physical copy of this masterpiece.

someone already said this but yeah Breakin' Combs is the most east coast sounding west coast album ever, next to Lyfe N' Tyme by the B.U.M.S. and anything Homeliss Derilex put out. Dred Scott is originally from NY if that makes it make sense for you... either way this album is jazzy and fun and dope and it has aged really well. very much worth listening to.

(CD, 2000) this album means a lot to me, since Looptroop is what got me into hip-hop. its pretty weird given im from the USA and these guys are Swedish, but "Don't Hate the Player" from that old phoon Counter-Strike bhopping video (IYKYK) changed my taste in music completely. even though DHTP is not from this album, I listened to Modern Day City Symphony before I listened to The Struggle Continues (the album DHTP is from), so THIS is the first hip-hop album I listened to ... read more

(cassette, 1994) IDK who wrote these cats' rhymes but they did a pretty good job. or maybe they wrote their own... either way, the beats carry No Mercy to previously unforeseen heights. nothing less is to be expected from the duo of Marley Marl and K-Def. its worth listening to for the production alone.

(cassette, 1992) perfectly encapsulates the sound of the early 90s.

(2xLP, 1995) leaving a review just to flex my ownership of an original pressing of this masterpiece... I can't say much else that hasn't already been said. it's the greatest collection of beats ever assembled. the rapping is very good, don't get me wrong, but it isn't the main draw (for me). the infamous' production has never, and will never, be touched.

(vinyl LP, '94 promo) This is strictly a party record, which is fine. The production carries Rottin Ta Da Core, thanks to Naughty By Nature's DJ Kay Gee. The lyrics can be mostly ignored outside of the lone introspective track on the album- Life of a Bastard (which is arguably the best track here). The emphasis is clearly on catchy hooks and flows. If you don't take Rottin Ta Da Core seriously, it's an enjoyable listen.

1019 is an intriguing late 90's underground hip-hop release from the Brooklyn duo, Ex-Prez (rappers Boe and Villanova). I originally discovered Ex-Prez while crate digging at a record shop in Austin, TX (Breakaway Records, excellent 90s hip-hop selection), where I picked up a quite rare copy of their first single, Peeps In Da Ground, which I will get to later. They formed in 1995, originally known as Double L, and both are still active today, albeit in a solo fashion. Ex-Prez/Double L ... read more

(vinyl 2xLP, 2023 RE) in a stacked year, Jewelz still manages to be one of the best hip-hop albums of 1997. O.C. was ripping mics left and right around this time. he has all that you could want in an MC. dope production from some of the greatest to ever do it. sick features. everything is on point. no skips.

(cassette, 1994) the dead has arisen is my personal favorite G-funk album. the production is phenomenal, with great samples from start to finish. lil 1/2 dead is a good enough rapper to make the hour long runtime not become a total slog. overall, there isnt much to be unpacked with this album. its sole goal is listening pleasure, and it certainly succeeded.

(vinyl LP, 2024 RE) the only thing holding episodes of a hustla back is the short tracklist once the skits are removed (except for the intro, which is dope). big noyd is a skilled rapper who holds his own on an album containing multiple verses from prodigy. he has a high-pitched, energetic delivery which plays really well off of P's more laid-back style. the beats, provided by havoc, sound like they couldve come from hell on earth (hence the hell on earth 2 moniker). they dont sound like ... read more

(CD, 1994) big ill and al skratch really caught lightning in a bottle here. while neither are super skilled on the mic (although I love al skratch's voice), they do about enough to carry the album with barely any features. the production is the reason why this record popped. the LG experience was making shit that sounded like '97 in '94!!! LG is crazy underrated in producer conversations... because folks havent heard this album. he manages to find the perfect balance between the ... read more

choclair is a canadian hip-hop legend that pretty much nobody in the states knows. he's got a smooth but relentless flow, straightforward delivery, and monotone voice. he's got bars, punchlines, metaphors, rhyme schemes, you name it. choclair is definitely a skilled MC. his sound (at least on this album) is pretty underground, which may explain why he never popped in the US. the beats he raps over on here sound like something from a k-otix or binary star album. its good stuff. my demo ... read more

bad boy records certainly allowed biggie to reach his commercial ceiling, but holy FUCK did they do him dirty with the production on life after death. puff is easily my least favorite figure in the history of hip-hop. he contributed so much to the pop-ification of the genre, helping the late 90s and early 00s feel sterile and hollow. not to mention, most of the beats from this era have aged horrendously. he helped kill real hip-hop. I WOULD HATE THIS DUDE WITH MY ENTIRE BEING EVEN IF HE ... read more

(cassette, 1993) despite the name and cover, there are only a couple sex joints on vagina diner. what a nice surprise! production is on point throughout (thank you large pro), and akinyele is a unique rapper with a deep bag of clever punchlines. ak's defining feature is how he sometimes drops the pitch of words to put emphasis on them. also, his deep, gravelly voice is reminiscent of freddie foxxx. I think there is more than enough novelty in his rapping to warrant a listen, if the album ... read more

(vinyl LP, '97 RE) whenever someone asks for a hip-hop recommendation, this is my go-to. its remains accessible while exemplifying all the pillars of real hip-hop. for me, it was the best album to drop in 1994, regardless of genre. illmatic is awesome, but resurrection has more content, IN MY OPINION the better beats, and IN MY OPINION the better rhymes. this album sits next to the infamous as one of my two favorite albums of all time, representing the playful side of the genre.

on the ... read more

this thing is SO MUCH FUCKING BETTER than its score suggests. for those unaware, this was long island group horror city's 1995 demo tape produced by prince paul. as you would expect, the beats are stupid good. not only that, but everyone in the group brought the bars and flows to match. MC hustler is a classic track, the sample on tattles tale is fucking awesome, everyone's verse on take it how you want it was fire... could go on. this is one of the best demo tapes from this era!!!

THANK YOU to whoever put this album on streaming just a few weeks ago!!! ive been wanting to listen to this project for a while. killa instinct was meant to release in 1996, but was shelved for being too hardcore (or so ive heard). its a bit odd since lifestylez ov da poor and dangerous came out only a year earlier and was equally as depraved.

in terms of the music, it hits hard as fuck. killa instinct is filled front to back with murderous posse cuts over dope instrumentals. pretty much every ... read more

half of the reason im writing this review is because this album is nowhere near bad as its rating would suggest. give em the finger is pretty good! i will say, though, it sounds like the average from every new york hip-hop release of the early 90s. its not like pudgee is a bad MC- he has a nice flow, strong delivery, and some good bars. the production is nice too. in my expert opinion, this album is worth a listen. just because it isnt groundbreaking or pushing the envelope doesnt mean its a ... read more

(vinyl 2xLP, 2024 RE) the first few times I listened to ghetto millionaire, I didn't find royal flush to be all that distinctive of an MC. he was good, sure, but not someone that I was seeking out. the more I listen, though, the more I appreciate his butter-smooth flow. he rides the beat in an effortless manner; his mic presence can be felt without being too in-your-face. with how many people claim him to be average, I can confidently say that royal flush is an underrated MC.

in terms of ... read more