Classic Albums

Has the classic hip-hop album become a thing of the past? I remember growing up in the eighties listening to one of the first albums I considered to be a classic, Bigger and Deffer by LL. Cool J. What made this album a classic was that every song had well thought out production and lyrical content, style and charisma. The song that I didn't care for,"I need love", which I later learned to appreciated, was one of the greatest hits in hip-hop music. Later that summer Eric B and Rakim's "Paid in Full" was released. Rakim took lyricism in a different direction from what it was heading in. Instead of telling a story, Rakim would paint you a portrait of what he was rhyming about. Both albums were complete. Each song living as an individual united to speak to your soul. We need more of this. Remembering the summer of 87 takes me to a place of joy, pure satisfaction. The albums, the whole album had to be worthy of the fans. In comparison to today's Ipod generation where one song is .99, that time was priceless. Here are some albums that I consider classics. Not in any order.

Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back
Common, Be
Lupe Fiasco, The Cool
Game, The Documentary
DJ QUIK, Quik is the Name and Rhythmalism
EPMD,Strictly Business
Kanye West, College Dropout
Eminem, The Slim Shady LP
Nas, Stillmatic
Notorious B.I.G, Life After Death
Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown and Nature presents the Firm
Foxy Brown, Ill Na Na and Broken Silence
Raekwon, Only built for Cuban links
Will Smith, believe it or not, Willenium
Boogie Down Productions, Criminal Minded
Ice Cube, Amerikkka's Most Wanted
Eazy-E, Eazy Does It