Mr. Flattop (Good Music All Day, 2012) by Fyutch

Three years is a long time.  It's eons in hip-hop-a culture where everything is accelerated.  Therefore, it's a true testament to Fyutch that he has remained a mainstay on the Nashville hip-hop scene between his 2009 releases and now.  And after one listen to Mr. Flattop, it is clear he will be around a while longer.  But unlike many of his contemporaries, Fyutch's longevity has been and will be attributed to sheer skill.  And he wastes no time proving his talents again.  After an intro from Sir Lazenby, similar to J. Prince on some Rap-A-Lot releases, the title track finds Fyutch delivering great rhymes with a standout flow (But you don't get it, this is bigger than my bucks/ It's the same dang story for us all coming up/I struggle as a young'n, cliche and so redundant/ But that still don't change the fact that I grew up with no money).  The next track, "Identity Crisis," addresses the reason for his recent name change from Future to Fyutch with outstanding class.  The mix tape does get slightly repetitive with a few too many club bangers in a row, but scores points for the Spice Girls sample on "My Lover."  The project's next stand out is "Stacey Dash" which is an ode to a car.  But it also makes great use of double entendres.  "Set Me Free" ends everything on a serious note.  However, it is significant because it establishes Fyutch as a well-rounded emcee on this release.  Despite the minor misstep in sequencing, Mr. Flattop is a great mix tape  that showcases a skilled writer and rapper on the verge of stardom.

Download it for free here: http://www.mediafire.com/?y9gcmo6c932mupl  

MP Da Last Don (No Limit, 1998) by Master P

It's no secret that Master P is not the greatest rapper, but this album is the best example of Master P as one of the greatest businessmen.  The pamphlet to the album is filled with promotional pics [as usual], and the album features the best No Limit has to offer.  It has it's best artists (Snoop and Mystikal), top guest appearances (UGK, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony), the best album cover (the actual motion picture), and most expensive samples ("Goodbye to My Homies").  It was a double disc album that went multiplatinum and proved No Limit was a force to be reckoned with.  Unfortunately, with the exception of Top Dogg and Tha Last Meal, it was the beginning of the end of No Limit's reign.

Straight Outta Cashville (G-Unit, 2004) by Young Buck

Proving that current southern hip hop music was more than just crunk at the time, Nashville's Young Buck put a bit of gangsta attitude back into rap below the Mason Dixon.  "Shorty Wanna Ride," the album's second single, is one of Lil Jon's finest productions and embodies a lot of the album in its 4:21 length- the south, the hood and a somewhat rowdy (but still very skilled) approach to rhyming.  "I'm a Soldier" is a great start to the album, and 50's guest appearance helps get the momentum up and running.  Other than that, the other album's highlight is when Ludacris outshines his host on "Stomp" and delivers harsh words for T.I.

Kingdom Come (Roc-A-Fella, 2006) by Jay-Z

Jay-Z's comeback disc after a three-year absence is a bit of a let down.  One of the biggest things for me was that none of his collaborations with Dr. Dre resulted in classic material.  Although that shouldn't come as a surprise (Dre had mediocre results with Nas too), it was still something to get really excited for.  The content in Jay-Z's rhymes also speak to his experiences, but so few listeners have those too and so a lot of the music is not something people can relate to.  However, the album does have some very strong points: "Trouble," "30 Something, "Minority Report," and "Kingdom Come."  Four good songs can't save a set of fourteen though, especially when the artist is capable of making excellent ones.

Don't Sweat the Technique (MCA, 1992) by Eric B. & Rakim

"Dangerous rhymes (are) performed like surgery/Cuts so deep you'll be bleeding burgundy/My intellect wrecks and disconnects your cerebral cortex,your cerebellum is next/Your conscience becomes sub-conscious,soon your response is nonsense/The last words are blurred...mumbled then slurred/Then your verbs are no longer heard/You get your lung fried so good you're tongue-tied,he couldn't swing or hang so he hung 'till he died/Reincarnate him...and kill him again...again and again...again and again…/I leave him in the mausoleum so you can see him/I got a dead-MC'ing museum/When I create 'em, I cremate 'em and complicate 'em/You can't save 'em...there's no ultamatum/Mic's lay around full of ashes, with the victim's name in slashes/Got a long list and I'm a get every one of ya/Beware of The Punisher!"

-Rakim, "The Punisher"

Short Dog's in the House (Jive, 1990) by Too $hort

This is a classic album in Short Dog's catalog.  It has his signature X-rated rhymes over funk inspired tracks. And "Hard on the Boulevard" and  "Ain't Nothin' But a Word to Me" with Ice Cube are the best ones on this release.  However, the album's highlights are "The Ghetto" and "It's Your Life" where Mr. Shaw gets socially-conscious (which he has done before as well) and addresses the plight of people in tough areas and encourages them to make positive choices.  Short Dog's in the House has thought-provoking content and music to ride to.  Over twenty years since its release, it still holds up and that's not surprising to me at all.

The Blueprint 3 (Roc Nation, 2009) by Jay-Z

Sonically, this album is very intriguing.  The beats are diverse and that gives Jay-Z the space to do whatever he wants.  Where the first Blueprint album addressed past sounds and the second one attempted to tap into sounds of the future, the third installment in the trilogy splits the difference.  There are hard beats ("D.O.A. [Death of Auto-Tune]"), experimental ("On to the Next One") and crossover records ("Empire State of Mind").  And in this case, they all work and the same can't be said for The Blueprint 2.  Lyrically, Jay-Z is incredible as always.  However, the album feels a little guest heavy.  But make no mistake, this is still Jay-Z's album and all the guests bring their A-game, especially Kanye West on "Run This Town".  And for as commercially successful as the album was, it was also very artistic.  And judging by the album cover, perhaps that may be a bit of what he was going for.  Mission accomplished.

Beg for Mercy (G-Unit, 2003) by G-Unit

The fact that this album was released before a second major label set from 50 proves that he has great business savvy.  He knew to introduce the world to his crew before his shadow got too large for any of them to get out from under.  And the album is really good.  The formula is simple: tough talk over great beats and catchy hooks.  Some of the better cuts are actually the singles, the Mr. Porter-produced "Stunt 101" and the Joe-assisted  "Wanna Get To Know You".  Other highlights include "My Buddy" which puts a bad boy spin on the doll commercial and "I Smell Pussy."  At 19 tracks, the album runs a bit long.  However, it does give Banks, Buck and Yayo enough space to introduce themselves.  And Nashville's Young Buck brings it full circle on the Dr. Dre-produced "G'd Up" when he says, "But I'm gonna keep this glock on my waist 'til my dyin' days/It's nuttin' but a G thang, G-Unit and Dr. Dre."

Just Tryin' Ta Live (Rap-A-Lot, 2002) by Devin the Dude

This album ranks up there with The Fix, Aquemini and Ridin' Dirty as some of the best music in the history of southern hip hop.  "It's a Shame," with pronounced dark pianos in the beat (production courtesy of Dr. Dre) and a hook from Pooh Bear, is one of the albums early cuts but also one of the greatest in the set.  "R & B" is a very funny song that involves weed, alcohol and a redneck.  Nas and Xzibit make great contributions to "Some of 'Em" and DJ Premier doesn't disappoint behind the boards on "Doobie Ashtray."  Devin is a great writer, rapper, storyteller and singer.  With Just Tryin' Ta Live, he has assembled a great collection of individual songs that also fit together nicely to form a cohesive album.  Not to take anything away from a current artist like Drake who also sings and raps, but Devin did it before him and he did it a little better.

Finest Hour (Comedy Central, 2011) by Patton Oswalt

Patton Oswalt is one of my favorite comedians.  And this album continues his streak of quality releases.  The biggest difference with this release is that it's the first in which he is a father.  Not surprisingly, parenthood has worked its way into his material.  However, his approach to it is unlike any other voice in comedy ( [on how tiring parenting is] "I was wearing sweat pants and a shirt.  And they were the same color").  The best track on the whole album though is "The Circus is in Town"- a bit where Oswalt explains how the circus is an outdated form of family entertainment.

2pacalypse Now (Interscope, 1991) by 2pac

2pac's debut album is an excellent introduction to the complex personality of his that he masterfully expressed throughout his career.  The anger ("I Don't Give a Fuck"), the despair ("Trapped") and the changes around him ("If My Homie Calls"); it's all there.  The highlight is of course though "Brenda's Got a Baby"- a tale about a young girl who becomes unexpectedly pregnant and how that situation affects everyone.  The song proved 2pac was wise beyond his years and on a level that exceeded many of his contemporaries.  The depth of his writing and his passionate delivery made him one of the most compelling figures in all of music and there were signs of those qualities as early his first release which dropped when he was only twenty years old.

Streets Is Watching (Roc-A-Fella, 1998) by various

"I was raised to live, Lord I pray you forgive/If not, I just handle it like Jason Kidd/What you're facin' is official (it's official)/Most cases when I'm blazin' won't miss you (won't miss you)/Case and point mad bullshitted issue/I see it to the end, my writing is so personal/My heart bleedin' out my pen, make no mistake about me/It's only one nigga livin', I got a half a cake about me/I got love, to make a nigga die bleedin' is nothin'/You make a motherfucker die breathin' then you sayin' somthing, beeotch"

-Jay-Z, "You're Only a Customer"

One Hot Minute (Warner Bros., 1995) by Red Hot Chili Peppers

This is a mediocre album at best.  Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro replaced John Frusciante after he quit the band in 1992.  And Navarro is a great guitar player, but his sound is more rooted in metal than funk and rhythm like the Chili Peppers.  The stylistic differences are very apparent on this recording.  Lyrically, the album seems like a step down from Blood Sugar Sex Magik.  And the album's best cut, "My Friends," is ballad that was made solely for the "Under the Bridge" crowd.  Overall, this album is a forced commercial attempt by a group of very talented musicians.

The People's Rapper LP (All Varsity Music, 2012) by Jon Connor

I heard this mix tape for the first time a few months ago and was very impressed.  Jon Connor's rhymes do the beats justice, and that is no easy feat considering who spit to them on the first go-round. "Don't be a target, or a dead artist/Cause in Flint, blood on the floor is the closest we'll ever get to a red carpet," he raps on the "Cold Wind Blows (Intro)" and Connor's version of "Lose Yourself" is just as inspiring and motivating as Eminem's original.  There are a few missteps here, such as "40 Oz" and "You Don't Know"- two posse cuts that feel interchangeable.  However, weak moments on this mix tape don't occur very often at all.  On "When I'm Gone," Connor says, "I spit my life in every line I hope I'm there for somebody/So I'm a spit this shit until there ain't no air in my body."  I hope so.  Because based on this material, Jon Connor shows that he has the potential to be one of the all-time greats.

In 3-D (Scotti Bros., 1984) by Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al beat the sophomore jinx of his "novelty act" with this album.  "Eat It" is a great Michael Jackson parody.  "Rye of the Kaiser" is an excellent take on "Eye of the Tiger" and "Nature Trail to Hell" is a funny spoof song styled around ideas in 80s horror flicks.  And although this album, taken as a whole, isn't Al's best work, he still earns major points for going Gold and getting a Grammy with it.

Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics (Atlantic, 1990) by George Carlin

The highlight of this album is Mr. Carlin's ability to dissect and analyze language.  "Offensive Language," Rape Can Be Funny," "They're Only Words" and "Euphemisms" are all just as thought-provoking as they are humorous.  The latter especially investigates changes in American words and jargon then correlates it to changing sensibilities in people and culture.  Although not as much abut social commentary or even jokes, Parental Advisory still proves that George Carlin is one of the smartest and most well-spoken motherfuckers ever.

Looks Like a Job For... (Cold Chillin', 1993) by Big Daddy Kane

In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated hip hop albums ever.  Kane's beat selection makes a smooth transition into the 90s with the assistance of the then unknown Trackmasters production duo.  "Very Special" is a decent love song, and makes up for the stumbles that Prince of Darkness presented with its more soulful approach to the same subject matter.  The title track and "How U Get a Record Deal?" present a very strong opening to the album and "N****z Never Learn" has one of Kane's most incredible flows at the end of the record. When the beat drops out and one of the G.O.A.T. delivers an a cappella rhyme, it is nothing short of astounding.

Mr. Universe (Comedy Central, 2012) by Jim Gaffigan

Jim Gaffigan's eighth album is very funny, but not as good as his previous two releases.  But don't get me wrong, I think his routines about Disney, hotel pools and working out are great.  Gaffigan's humor about food is still there too, "McDonald's" is especially good, but "Subway" seems to lose some steam and "Domino's Pizza" focuses on a particular dish the same way that Patton Oswalt did with KFC years earlier.  And where his previous sets ended on a high note, this one seemed to gradually conclude.  This is still a good album, and Jim Gaffigan is still a great comedian.  However, this will probably not be remembered as his magnum opus.

Kiss of Death (Ruff Ryders, 2004) by Jadakiss

"Uh, yea, yo/Why Halle have to let a white man pop her to get a Oscar/Why Denzel have to be crooked before he took it/Why they didn't make the CL6 wit a clutch/And if you don't smoke why the hell you reachin' for my dutch/Why rap, cause I need air time/Why be on the curb wit a “Why lie, I need a beer” sign/Why all the young niggaz is dyin'/Cause they moms at work, they pops is gone, they livin' wit iron/Why they ain't give us a cure for aids/Why my diesel have fiends in the spot on the floor for days/Why you screamin' like it's slug, it's only the hawk/Why my buzz in L.A. ain't like it is in New York/Why you forcin' you to be hard/Why ain't you a thug by choice/Why the whole world love my voice/Why try to tell 'em that it's the flow son/And you know why they made the new twenties/Cause I got all my old ones/That's why"

                                                                                      -Jadakiss, "Why"

The Low End Theory (Jive, 1991) by A Tribe Called Quest

The fact that ATCQ got jazz legend Ron Carter to play double bass for "Verses from the Abstract" proves that the group had the intelligence and ambition to take hip hop past the confines of a drum machine.  And it was just that connection, the one between rap and jazz, that ATCQ will forever be remembered for.  However, that is far from all this album has to offer.  "Check the Rhime" is one of the best hip hop singles ever and "Scenario" is one of the greatest collaborations ever put on wax.  Last, but not least, the other thing that is very noticeable about this album, when compared to the group's debut, is that Phife Dawg has much more of a presence this go round.  The interplay between him and Q-Tip is flawless and often times gives off an improvisational feel- much like the jazz culture that this hip hop album so masterfully embraces.

Because of You (Def Jam, 2007) by Ne-Yo

This album, Ne-Yo's second, has an incredible amount of sentimental value to me.  One of the singles, "Go On Girl," was the first single review that I wrote that I saw in print in the pages of Billboard.  I remember the first time that I heard the song and picked it to review, it was the day after I told a girl how I had romantic feelings for her and she didn't feel the same way.  It was a very fitting record, and a catharsis to write the review of it.  There was a lot of filler on this album, but the lead single (and title track) was excellent and the dancing that Ne-Yo did in the video was reminiscent of a young Michael Jackson.  In a music industry that seems to have changed faster than ever before in the past ten years, it still doesn't surprise me that Ne-Yo has lasted as long as he has.  And I'll bet he'll be around for a long time from now as well.

Holy Wood [In the Shadow of the Valley of Death] (Nothing, 2000) by Marilyn Manson

In 2000, Eminem was the king of shock value entertainment, therefore dethroning Manson of the title.  In addition to that, his previous effort, Mechanical Animals, was a bit too glitzy and glamorous (al a David Bowie) for his core fans.  Fortunately, with something to prove, Manson dropped Holy Wood.  It's his best album since Antichrist Superstar, and until Eat Me, Drink Me.  It had great lyrics, solid hooks and an industrial sound which all blended together well- a feat that is almost never achieved successfully.

Murda Muzik (Loud, 1999) by Mobb Deep

Havoc and Prodigy's fourth album lives up to its title.  It's a dark and murky collection of insight, rage and fear.  Mobb Deep has always been a few steps above the stereotypical "gangsta rap" cliches, and this is no exception.  "Spread Love" is a cry for a change for the better in at risk areas, "The Realest" is a phenomenal collaboration with Kool G. Rap and the "Quiet Storm" remix is one of the best songs Lil Kim has ever done.  Production wise, Havoc sounds better than ever and Prodigy's rhymes are great ("P holds the pen tightly, explode nightly/I count on one finger all y'all rap niggaz that excite me/Y'all niggaz is trash rap - wanna fight me?/You shook to death, take breaths and step lightly).  Although not quite as powerful as The Infamous, Murda Muzik is landmark hardcore hip hop album that held its own at time when hip hop was at its commercial peak.

Tha Last Meal (No Limit, 2000) by Snoop Dogg

This album will be remembered as the best album in No Limit's catalog.  As Snoop's last release on Master P's southern label, the material has a decidedly more West coast feel.  After years of searching for his identity as an artist post Doggystyle.  Tha Doggfather recognizes his niche on this album with heavy bass lines and funk.  The epitome of this album is the classic single, "Lay Low," wherein atop a Dr. Dre beat with a Nate Dogg hook, Snoop, Tha Eastsidaz and Master P trade bars- all rapping about what they rap about best.  This album was all about Snoop being his own man and declaring his independence.  Mission accomplished.  He was already a superstar, but his career achievements since have undoubtedly made him one of the most charismatic and recognizable figures in all of hip hop history.

He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper (Jive, 1988) by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

For as monumental as this album is (one of its singles, "Parents Just Don't Understand," was the first song ever to win a Grammy in the Best Hip Hop/Rap Single category), it seems that it is underappreciated.  This is a very good album.  DJ Jazzy Jeff's scratching and cutting is superb, and Will's writing and rapping are uniquely his own.  "Nightmare on My Street" is a clever, light ode to horror films and Charlie Mack [First Out of the Limo] is a great shout out to his body guard ("Apollo Creed is a sucker/Charlie Mack could be Drago").  And "Time to Chill" has a nice mellow vibe.  "Here We Go Again" is an excellent reintroduction of the duo.  The aforementioned "Parents Just Don't Understand," of course, is timeless (and props to Ben Affleck for mentioning the song when talking with Will Smith in Jersey Girl).  Overall, this is a great hip hop album that still holds up almost a quarter of a century since its release.

The Slim Shady LP (Aftermath, 1999) by Eminem

"Slim Shady, brain dead like Jim Brady/I'm a M80, you Lil' like that Kim lady/I'm buzzin, Dirty Dozen, naughty rotten rhymer/Cursin at you players worse than Marty Schottenheimer/You wacker than the motherfucker you bit your style from/You ain't gonna sell two copies if you press a double album/Admit it, fuck it, while we comin out in the open/I'm doin acid, crack, smack, coke and smokin dope then/My name is Marshall Mathers, I'm an alcoholic (Hi Marshall)/I have a disease and they don't know what to call it/Better hide your wallet cause I'm comin up quick to strip your cash/Bought a ticket to your concert just to come and whip your ass/Bitch, I'm comin out swingin, so fast it'll make your eyes spin/You gettin knocked the fuck out like Mike Tyson/The +Proof+ is in the puddin, just ask the Deshaun Holton/I'll slit your motherfuckin throat worse than Ron Goldman"

-Eminem, "Just Don't Give a Fuck"

Titanic (Sony, 1997) by various

For as big of a song as "My Heart Will Go On," the rest of the album (wherein all other tracks are instrumentals) holds up very well too.  Even without the accompaniment of visuals from the film, James Horner's arrangements are superb.  "Rose" and "Hymn to the Sea" are my personal favorites.  They clearly evoke emotion and could be used to score anything accordingly, in addition to one of the biggest movies in the history of film.  Titanic certified James Cameron as a genius, and its soundtrack did the same for James Horner.

Run-D.M.C. (Profile, 1984) by Run-D.M.C.

I know I've said this before regarding landmark albums and it applies here as well: there is nothing that I can say  about this album that hasn't already been said.  In a nutshell, it changed music and culture forever.  And Larry Smith is an outstanding producer.  However, I just watched footage of Run-D.M.C.'s reunion (R.I.P. Jam Master Jay) at the Made in America festival.  And to see classics like "Rock Box," "Sucker M.C.'s" and "It's Like That" still hold up and get a crowd going almost thirty years later is awesome, but not surprising at all.  To see JMJ's sons on the turntables, that was a moment.  I love hip hop, and because I love hip hop, I love Run-D.M.C.  They are to hip hop what the Beatles are to rock.  But to me, they're bigger than The Beatles.  The music Run, D and Jay created not only made me want to be a part of rap, but their success was the first to prove that it was possible to really make something of yourself with it.  They continue to inspire me to this day.  Therefore, I salute Run-D.M.C. - the greatest rap act of all-time.

II Trill (Rap-A-Lot, 2008) by Bun B

Between Bun's first and second solo albums: Pimp C was released from prison, UGK topped the charts with Underground Kingz and then Pimp C died.  However, despite all the drama, he was able to put together a great second set of music.  "That's Gangsta" featuring Sean Kingston was a great single that didn't compromise Bun's swagger and "You're Everything" which samples Jodeci's "Cry for You" pays homage to southern hip hop.  "Get Cha Issue" and If I Die II Night" provide deep lyrics and social commentary.  The most noteworthy record though is "Angel in the Sky"- a very touching song eulogizing his friend, Chad "Pimp C" Butler.

Trill (Rap-A-Lot, 2005) by Bun B

For an album seemingly created out of necessity, this sounds a lot better than something that comes to fruition under those circumstances.  Put simply, at a time when Texas hip hop (i.e. Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Paul Wall) was getting national attention, Bun B proves why he's one of the best rappers from Texas ever.  Even with a large number of guest appearances for a solo album, Bun outshines them all.  The Ludacris assisted "Trill Recognize Trill" finds Bun and Mr. Bridges over one of the best instrumentals that I've ever heard from Lil Jon.  And  "Get Throwed" is an all-star cut with Pimp C, Jay-Z, Z-Ro and Young Jeezy.  However, the album's best moment is "The Story" wherein Bun gives a personal account of UGK's storied history- from their beginning to their mainstream break with Jay-Z to Pimp C's incarceration.  It's as personal as hip hop songs get and who better to record it than one of the game's most respected emcees.

Doggystyle (Death Row, 1993) by Snoop Dogg

This is one of my all-time favorite albums.  In my opinion, it is superior to The Chronic [but that is and always will be a masterpiece of an album that forever changed hip hop and music production].  Dre's trademark flawless G-funk sound is still here, but the lyrics aren't as blatantly aggressive.  Not to say the "parental advisory" sticker isn't warranted, but repeating Snoop's name for a chorus will probably hold up better than "Bitches ain't shit" for one.  Also, as far as rapping flow, Snoop is better than Dre.  It is the perfect party album.  It has gangsta swagger with pop sensibilities.  Snoop's laid back delivery is a great match for Dre's beats; they complement each other well.  "Bitch Please," "Still D.R.E." and "The Next Episode" are all fantastic, but the two of them haven't sounded this good together since.