Huh I just had this high school memory come back about how there was this girl in my school who was considered something of a hip-hop talent, and I was vaguely friendly with her in the way that a high schooler can be with someone who is popular and well-liked and not a jerk. Anyway she was all into biggie at the time and I really didn't *get* biggie yet at all. But I was listening to Blowout Comb all the time, and I gave her my walkman to listen to it once, and she said it was "cute." I was kind of bummed but in retrospect yeah of course biggie is way better than blowout comb what the fuck are you even talking about shakey?!
― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Monday, 16 July 2012 18:39 (twelve years ago) link
lol
― some dude, Monday, 16 July 2012 18:40 (twelve years ago) link
After looking at this list, it's striking just how regionally divided hip-hop was in '94. Tical aside, I think rankings will generally fluctuate wildly based on one's location in 1994. At least for that subjective part of your evaluation based on nostalgia. I mean, how many New York/Boston folks were listening to the Odd Squad, UGK, or even Outkast at the time?
NYC and Boston radio certainly wasn't giving these artists any burn. You had to be a pretty die-hard Source reader and/or have a fairly large music budget to gamble on some of these quite excellent regional releases. Most of these were not Tower/HMV listening booth material either. I realize that now we've all heard these records, but I feel like these polls are not just an objective evaluation of the best albums in a given year, but also which albums have that essential "1994-ness", or whatever the year which comes from listening to the albums in the context of their respective release year.
That said, I am not a super-frequent poster, so what do I know?
My picks:Outkast - SouthernplayalisticadillacmuzikMethod Man - TicalGravediggaz - 6 Feet DeepArtifacts - Between a Rock & A Hard PlaceThe Coup - Genocide & JuiceBone Thugs-n-Harmony - Creepin On Ah Come Up EPJeru the Damaja - The Sun Rises In The EastMC Eiht - We Come Strapped
― Playoff Starts Here (san lazaro), Monday, 16 July 2012 18:45 (twelve years ago) link
goddamn
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 18:46 (twelve years ago) link
what a year
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 18:47 (twelve years ago) link
I'm only 19 years old but music was definitely better back then, not like the crap they play on the radio now
― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Monday, 16 July 2012 18:47 (twelve years ago) link
shrugs
― sisilafami, Monday, 16 July 2012 18:51 (twelve years ago) link
my top ten in no order
Big Mike - Somethin' SeriousBone Thugs-n-Harmony - Creepin On Ah Come Up EPGang Starr - Hard To EarnO.C. - Word...LifeOrganized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction AgendaOutkast - SouthernplayalisticadillacmuzikRedman - Dare Iz A DarksideScarface - The DiarySpice 1 - AmeriKKKa's NightmareUGK - Super Tight
― google deeznuts (D-40), Monday, 16 July 2012 18:53 (twelve years ago) link
my #1 is a very tough choice between gang starr & scarface
also really wanted to put the beatnuts & common in there but what can you do
― google deeznuts (D-40), Monday, 16 July 2012 18:54 (twelve years ago) link
might switch big mike out for common idk
im kind of an o.c. stan, i feel like there's no reason that it should be ahead of a few of the records i left off but i think its a great lp & underrated
― google deeznuts (D-40), Monday, 16 July 2012 18:55 (twelve years ago) link
Gravediggaz, Method Man and Organized Konfusion basically impossible to choose.
― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Monday, 16 July 2012 18:57 (twelve years ago) link
The Diary
― heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 16 July 2012 19:04 (twelve years ago) link
I like the beats on Blowout Comb a lot but there really isn't a whole lot going on lyrically.
― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Monday, 16 July 2012 19:06 (twelve years ago) link
Jeru is a classic too imo
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 19:07 (twelve years ago) link
organized konfusion, outkast, tical, or jeru
gonna throw a vote to o.k. cuz i'm afraid no on else will
― me so fat (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Monday, 16 July 2012 19:17 (twelve years ago) link
creepin on ah come up is great too
this is all great! we used to have it so good
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 19:30 (twelve years ago) link
Ah, it's not just me weighing up Jeru then. Love that album. In fact my top four are the same as strongo's.
― Get wolves (DL), Monday, 16 July 2012 19:32 (twelve years ago) link
control the mic like Fidel Castro IMO
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 19:39 (twelve years ago) link
Casual - Fear Itself was a good Heiro album....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svGt7XeBwkw
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 19:46 (twelve years ago) link
Close call between Scarface and Jeru The Damaja. Gang Starr and Gravediggaz would be up there too.
― Kitchen Person, Monday, 16 July 2012 19:50 (twelve years ago) link
jt the bigga figga was good too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RZVNOfylBU
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 19:51 (twelve years ago) link
Organized Konfusion
― Clarke B., Monday, 16 July 2012 20:16 (twelve years ago) link
Weak spot for jeru, brand nubian, and Scarface, but I've always loved 6ft Deep.
― Regional Tug (irrational), Monday, 16 July 2012 20:33 (twelve years ago) link
I Didn't Mean To Remix is so hardhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Enh-_ZpHQ
― Jean-Luc Poncey (lpz), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:08 (twelve years ago) link
damn paris on the list too
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:11 (twelve years ago) link
gotta go Hard to Earn
― dmr, Monday, 16 July 2012 21:13 (twelve years ago) link
^^
― am0n, Monday, 16 July 2012 21:14 (twelve years ago) link
actually no im going w/ tical but hard to earn gets more listens these days
― am0n, Monday, 16 July 2012 21:20 (twelve years ago) link
top 10 (not in order) would be .... Hard to Earn, Tical, Beatnuts, Blowout Comb, Brand Nubian, Gravediggaz, Jeru, Organized Konfusion, OC Word...Life, Outkast
― dmr, Monday, 16 July 2012 21:26 (twelve years ago) link
would also stan for:
TicalDon't Fight the Feelin'The Main IngredientSouthernplayalisticadillacmuzikAmeriKKKa's Nightmare
don't think I've ever heard the Mailman
― the alternate vision continues his vision quest! (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, July 16, 2012 2:08 PM (3 hours ago)
shakey you've heard the coup right?
― Al S. Burr! (k3vin k.), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:27 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TNXoH7EYWY
was disappointed to find out Kam's records were '93 and '95, i love both those
― google deeznuts (D-40), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:31 (twelve years ago) link
ha yes speaking of shakeybait
just listened to neva again this morning
― Al S. Burr! (k3vin k.), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:32 (twelve years ago) link
I don't think I've heard that particular Coup album, no
Kam was underrated!
xp
― the alternate vision continues his vision quest! (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:32 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf68J5iqK6g
O.C. had a lot more depth than just 'times up'
― google deeznuts (D-40), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:33 (twelve years ago) link
also dunno why I left Hard to Earn off my list, just an oversight
― the alternate vision continues his vision quest! (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:34 (twelve years ago) link
Close call between Jeru/Method Man/Gravediggaz for me.
― Gavin, Leeds, Monday, 16 July 2012 21:37 (twelve years ago) link
im surpried to hear tical is so acclaimed round here i never liked it much past the singles & a few select traxxx.
― google deeznuts (D-40), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:46 (twelve years ago) link
maybe that's an overstatement. but its def a kind of low-key record to me idk
i like jeru & always will altho i def feel like his rap style has aged kinda poorly. the guys he inspired were so much worse than him. i still remember ethan calling afu ra "jeru's jeru" lol
― google deeznuts (D-40), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:47 (twelve years ago) link
well you DO remember how absurdly wu-centric that all-time rap albums poll we did was, right? this is how it ranked 94:
84. Organized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction Agenda [4 votes, 134 points, 1994]51. Jeru the Damaja - The Sun Rises In The East [8 votes, 204 points, 1994]47. Method Man - Tical [8 votes, 208 points, 1994]25. Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep / Niggamortis [10 votes, 317 points, 1994]5. The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die [21 votes, 749 points, 1994]2. Nas - Illmatic [24 votes, 3 #1 votes, 901 points, 5 mics, 1994]
xpost
― some dude, Monday, 16 July 2012 21:48 (twelve years ago) link
ha wow. alrighthen
― google deeznuts (D-40), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:52 (twelve years ago) link
still pissed about that poll
― the alternate vision continues his vision quest! (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:54 (twelve years ago) link
yeah deej i feel you, i think it's weird that ppl are acting like OH OF COURSE tical is the runaway winner...
tbh at the time it seemed like it was perceived as a relative dud compared to the rest of the first round of Wu Tang solo albums
i guess i've always thought of it as underrated, but maybe it's overrated.
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:57 (twelve years ago) link
fuckin a that keith murray album is fucking great too i listened to that so much
i think i'm gonna vote for keith so it gets one vote
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 21:58 (twelve years ago) link
My top 5
Outkast - SouthernplayalisticadillacmuzikDigable Planets - Blowout CombUGK - Super TightGang Starr - Hard To EarnRedman - Dare Iz A Darkside
smh at Whiney hating on SPCM
― chain the color of am0n (The Reverend), Monday, 16 July 2012 22:49 (twelve years ago) link
actually, wait, put Bone at #5
― chain the color of am0n (The Reverend), Monday, 16 July 2012 22:52 (twelve years ago) link
dare iz a darkside is a stong contender....i think ppl got used to redman as sort of a snoop/willie nelson/ludacris/busta "welcome guest appearance" guy for so long that they forget the first two albums are super powerful dark funk with red rhyming his ass off
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 16 July 2012 22:55 (twelve years ago) link
Surprised Super Tight didn't get a vote.
― n00bs on my damn chain (Spottie_Ottie_Dope), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 20:55 (twelve years ago) link
what is whineys fav album
― lag∞n, Wednesday, July 25, 2012 3:56 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
like ever or of 1994 or rap album or on this list or
― camp lo magellan (Whiney G. Weingarten), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 21:06 (twelve years ago) link
idk just wondering re the nme v source zing upthread
― lag∞n, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 21:22 (twelve years ago) link
Gravediggaz
― camp lo magellan (Whiney G. Weingarten), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 22:02 (twelve years ago) link
iirc whiney prefers the Grave Ferris mashup album
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 22:10 (twelve years ago) link
hoping this is the point of the clusterfuck where we all start making puns
― google deeznuts (D-40), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 22:17 (twelve years ago) link
but before it devolves into accusations of custos
― google deeznuts (D-40), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 22:18 (twelve years ago) link
― n00bs on my damn chain (Spottie_Ottie_Dope), Wednesday, 25 July 2012 21:55 (Yesterday) Bookmark
i wavered
― Number None, Thursday, 26 July 2012 00:58 (twelve years ago) link
― lag∞n, Wednesday, July 25, 2012 5:22 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark
lol i was referencing the list of Gravediggaz reviews YOU posted upthread
― nakhchi little van (some dude), Thursday, 26 July 2012 01:00 (twelve years ago) link
oh hah
― lag∞n, Thursday, 26 July 2012 01:36 (twelve years ago) link
I wouldn't take Source reviews as damning, they've been wrong about a lot of things.
― The Reverend, Thursday, 26 July 2012 01:49 (twelve years ago) link
oh obv their word doesn't really mean anything and anyway they gave it 3 1/2 stars. i just thought the "white european max tundra fans calling deltron 3030 the truth" line was bullshit coming from someone who picked a UK critical darling like Gravediggaz over Gang Starr/UGK/Scarface/etc.
― nakhchi little van (some dude), Thursday, 26 July 2012 01:58 (twelve years ago) link
3 1/2 stars was a good review score back then
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 26 July 2012 18:53 (twelve years ago) link
lol stars
― Dunn O)))))))) (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 26 July 2012 19:16 (twelve years ago) link
haha mics sorry
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 26 July 2012 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
what u do w/half a mic
― lag∞n, Thursday, 26 July 2012 20:31 (twelve years ago) link
all i need is one half mic
― am0n, Thursday, 26 July 2012 20:35 (twelve years ago) link
― lag∞n, Thursday, 26 July 2012 22:00 (twelve years ago) link