Joshua Gibson

Great listen, it shows you like their previous albums, P Funk can experiment with all kinds of sounds. I also like maggot brain because they have the original five musicians playing on here, which is my favorite version of funkadelic. Hazel's guitar solo is considered the stand out but there are a lot of other good moments here too, ("can you get to that", "armageddon", "me and your folks") etc and what a distinctive album cover (though bassist Bill nelson hated it). Bernie Worrell sounds great on the keys and I always respected the raw drumming style of Tiki, I definitely would recommend this to any rock/psychedelic fan (or any music fan for that matter).

As Mobb's beat master Havoc quotes in the first track "Animal Instinct ", he and the late great Prodigy continue the dark street vibe that was so acclaimed on their breakout Infamous (1995, Loud). The tracks are so threatening, violent and in your face with their lyrics being more braggadocious opposed to the more story oriented themes on their previous LP. Though the Infamous is a bit more cohesive as far as topics, P and Hav defenitely still hold it down, even defending themselves against Rap titan Tupac (RIP) on "Drop a Gem on em". May Prodigy rest in eternal peace.

They say this was to be intended as a "underground type" album and I see why: it's Pac at his most serious. Though always wearing his heart on his sleeve, he spazzes with hardcore raw emotion. Going at Rap foes and former real life friends, he also has traits of reflection on "Hold ya Head" and "White manz world". The production, far cry from All Eyez on Me is more intense and moody, and fit perfectly with his provoking content. With his Outlawz riding shotgun with Shakur, he defenitely released a banger, a eerie one, but its very impressive to be recorded in such a short time. The feel of Makaveli is almost as if he knew he was running out of time. RIP 2PAC.

Great debut which led to a even greater Rap career. Jay Z made one of, not only East Coast, but all the round best Hip hop debuts. Versatile with the witty street/Hustler vibe, mixed with brutal honesty, danger , betrayal etc. This is probably Jay's more serious LP's (if not the most) , as he's more braggadocious and celebratory in his later work and RD is more cloudy/cinematic. Def 10/10

Heard this for the first time at 14, and it's still a dope record. BIG really came with a lot of diversity for a debut: wit, talent and humor, but also seriousness, violence and depression. Thematically, this is honestly one of Hip hop's most well put together albums, and defenitely lived up to Wallace's buzz at the time. I'm pretty sure critics of rap only see it as gangster and street, but when you hear lines such as : "My momma got -Cancer in her breast, don't ask me why I'm mother ****in stressed " ( Things done changed ) or the even more darker final track, you will find after following the intro to Biggie''s childhood all the way through, this was a clear representation of a "Black male misunderstood " (as he quotes in the hit "Juicy"), and who was at times angry at the world despite the boasting and bragging. After almost 30 years into its release, It's really bittersweet considering how BIG was assassinated in March of 1997, leading me to at times believing art imitates life and vice versa. Though the Hip hop artform did not get much more Notorious (with his legendary posthumous sophomore released weeks after his young demise), this, though intense at times, was/is an amazing classic. RIP Biggie Smalls

A great elevation from their southernplayalistic debut, ATLiens is imo the beginning stages for their later experimental sound. Not just a change musically with the space influenced production but 3000 and Big boi's lyrical growth they would master in the Aquemini era. ATLiens is a defenite stand out in their discography.