I’ve said it before, this is a lifestyle blog. Art is well within our theoretical boundaries. Practically, we have no walls anyhow. Let’s talk music.

Any true fan of hip-hop digs the activity of ranking their top ten albums of all time. Clearly, this is a subjective activity. Music is art. We love what we love and cannot be wrong.

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know we have a no judgment policy. That said, if you take the liberty of creating a list and in your top ten you don’t include at least 3 of the following records (in no particular order), we will judge you (wink).

• Jay Z- Reasonable Doubt
• Nas- Illmatic
• Biggie- Ready to Die
• Ice Cube- Death Certificate or AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
• Dre- The Chronic
• Snoop- Doggystyle
• 2pac- Me Against the World or All Eyes on Me
• NWA- Straight Outta Compton
• Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
• Wu Tang- Enter the Wu Tang 36 Chambers
• Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP
• A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory
• Outkast- Aquemini

So as not to be lambasted by the KL community, we gave you plenty to choose from. There is and should be plenty of variance outside the staples, however. I figured I’d throw out a few that are deserving of being on many more top ten lists and are frequently overlooked in an effort to hear what you’ve got on your list.

• Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique — This offering was initially considered to be a failure by the Beastie Boys’ record label, Capitol Records. Figures. The tracks are chalk full of experimentation through the implementation of spectacular sonic beats and passionate, unique deliveries. Go back and listen again if it’s been a while. It’ll hit you hard.
• Method Man and Redman Blackout — Sure, these two knuckleheads have collaborated on a not insignificant number of occasions over the years, but this is their best. My workouts in the early 2000’s were so very enhanced through analyzing the innovative, imaginative lyrics Red and Meth spit. Poetry.

I was gone too but we roam, cellular phones, Doc-Meth back in the flesh, blood and bones, don’t condone, spent bank loans and homegrown, suckers break like Turbo and Ozone, when I, grab the broom moon-walk platoon hawk, my goons bark leave you in a blue lagoon lost (true), three nines and a glove with mad soul, D-Die in the car right behind on the bus, Haters don’t touch, weigh us both up, now my neighbor doped up got the cable hooked up. All channels lift my shirt all mammal, you ship off keys and we ship grand pianos. Sawed off shotgun hand on the pump, sipping on a forty smoking on a blunt, bust my gun and Red and Meth didn’t jump, la la la la, la la la la.

• 2pac The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory –– This record is Pac’s strongest for me. Haunting and angry, I place high value on emphatic delivery. Oh yeah, and Pac’s track, “Me and My Girlfriend” came many years before Jay-Z’s version, which was never clearly identified as the cover it was (at least publicly). Sure, hip-hop’s culture is about stealing material and making it better, when possible (see Ice Cube’s Jackin’ for Beats). But sorry, Hov, yours is a distant second.

I could go on and on. Let me know which records aren’t on most, but are on your list.

Strong mind,

Kap