DJ Castro’s Top Ten Hip-Hop Albums
Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back - One of the best albums in recording history. Producers The Bomb Squad’s dynamic combination of hot samples and original beats and rappers Chuck D & Flavor- Flav’s urban commentary are a match made in heaven. Songs include Rebel Without A Pause, Night Of The Living Baseheads, Prophets Of Rage. Bring The Noise!!!Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full - Rakim shows why he’s one of the greatest lyricists of all time on songs like I Ain’t No Joke, Paid In Full & Move The Crowd. He only curses once on the album. When was the last hip-hop album you heard that the artist didn’t have to curse to get his point across???
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Mauraders - Where do I start with this one? On their third album Tribe keeps the jazz vibe going with dope-ass samples and tight drums while Q-tip & Phife’s flow mesh so great together. Song include Award Tour and my favorite Electric Relaxation. If you don’t have this album run out and get it NOW!
Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique - Their first album after they split Def Jam is a work of art that still sounds fresh today. This is one of the last albums that got away with sampling without having to pay artists royalties. Sources say they would’ve paid many millions in royalties. Songs include Shake Your Rump, Hey Ladies, Car Thief & Shadrach. Essential to the fullest extent.
NWA - Straight Outta Compton - West coast classic that brought gangsta rap to the mainstream. Dream team lineup of Ice Cube, Eazy E, MC Ren, Yella, & Dr Dre on production show us the strength of street knowledge. Tracks Gangsta Gangsta, Dopeman, & the classic Fuck The Police bring south central L.A. to our hood.
De La Soul – 3 Feet High And Rising – Debut album from De La Soul brings the “daisy” age to hip-hop while producer Prince Paul introduces skits to the world of hip-hop albums. You know the songs so I’m not gonna list any. If you don’t own this you probably don’t have any friends.
Run DMC – Run DMC – Debut album from the Hollis, Queens group is stacked with 12” classics like Sucker MC’s, Rock Box, & It’s Like That. Classic album from a classic era (1983)
A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory – Tribe’s 2nd classic album is filled to the gills with hits. Ali Shaheed Muhammad production is dynamite while Phife & Tip have fun on the mic. Songs include Buggin’ Out, What? , & Scenario. Check The Rhyme Y’all!
Big Daddy Kane – It’s A Big Daddy Thing – Boy! I sure do love old school hip-hop. Big Daddy was one of the finest MC’s in the business. His 2nd LP includes Smooth Operator, Warm It Up Kane, & I Get The Job Done. Kane knows how to show and prove.
Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted – Ice Cube’s debut solo album is classic in so many ways. First of all, this was the 1st time a west coast artist hooks up with east cost producers. (Public Enemy’s Bomb Squad) Cube comes harder than he ever did with NWA on tracks like The Nigga You Love To Hate, Once Upon A Time In The Projects, & You Can’t Fade Me. An album that stands the test of time and surely is most wanted by REAL hip-hip fans.
