The World is Yours (Rap-A-Lot, 1993) by Scarface

Mr. Scarface is Back is a fantastic album, and this album lives up to its predecessor.  In some respects, it even demonstrates growth.  From a production standpoint, it definitely has more of a West Coast/G-funk feel.  And lyrically, it's still dark-but at least, in this case, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  The album's best song, a 7-minute plus record called "Now I Feel Ya", has Face discussing the birth of his son and how he's had to change in order to be a father to him. 

It's On [Dr. Dre] 187um Killa (Ruthless, 1993) by Eazy-E

Dre's "Dre Day" video elevated hip-hop beef by taking diss records and making videos out of them.  However, Eazy responded on this album with "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" and the photo insert of Dre decked out in a doctor's outfit with the shiny stethoscope as part of the World Class Wreckin' Cru.  Eazy was also very good at blending humor with his gangsta appeal and  the humor is certainly apparent on "Gimmie That Nutt."

Midnight Marauders (Jive, 1993) by A Tribe Called Quest

Tribe's third album is fantastic; they're one of the only groups who put out three classic albums in a row (props to Run-D.M.C. and Outkast as well).  This album, though not at widely remembered as The Low End Theory, is just as good.  "Oh My God" is an excellent beat, and "Lyrics to Go" is absolutely amazing.  This is also an album that needs to be played from beginning to end.  It really is an experience listening to this album.  I think it's cool that the Wayans Bros. used "Electric Relaxation"  at the opening of their show too.

Home Invasion (Rhyme $yndicate, 1993) by Ice-T

As of now, I think this is Ice-T's last great album.  For my money, he put out five fantastic albums in a row and he's one of the few to do so.  From the opening line about Charleston Heston, it's clear that Ice-T's is going in on his trademark political raps.  "Gotta Lotta Love" was a great single and I really liked "99 Problems."  Because Rick Rubin is the master of remakes (see also "Hurt" and "Walk This Way"), Jay-Z's 2003 version is a classic.  But that swagger Jay-Z adapted to bring the heat in '03 was all Ice a decade earlier.

Return of the Boom Bap (Jive, 1993) by KRS-One

KRS-One's solo debut is a phenomenal release.  DJ Premier, one of Hip-Hop's greatest producers ever, handles the bulk of the project's production.   And my favorite cut on the album is not even one of the two singles, "Sound of Da Police" or "I Can't Wake Up."  The record that stands outs the most to me on this release is "Outta Here."  In my opinion, along with Jay-Z's "December 4th", they are two of the best autobiographical Hip-Hop records ever made.  I saw an interview with DJ Premier online from a few years ago where Premo hinted at doing a sequel to the album with Mr. Parker.  Hopefully, that's still in the works.

Lethal Injection (Priority, 1993) by Ice Cube

This is an often overlooked album in Cube's catalog.  One legitimate criticism of the album is that it imitated the sound of Dre's Chronic album.  I can see where that comes from, but Cube certainly still brings his signature flow and content to the music.  "You Know How We Do It" was a great laid back joint to ride to and getting George Clinton on Bop Gun [One Nation] was amazing.  "Ghetto Bird" was good.  And B-Real's cameo in the "Really Doe" video was great too.  Overall, the album is descent.  But hip-hop was changing at the time, the profoundness of Cube's west coast street knowledge was now taking a back seat to the revival of east coast rap (e.g. Wu-Tang, Nas, Biggie).  Almost 19 years later, the album still holds up though.

They're All Gonna Laugh At You! (Warner Bros., 1993) by Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler's debut is an excellent mix of songs and skits.  The interesting thing about the album though is the comedy is set up like his teenage demographic films.  However, the content is very blue.  That not a bad thing, but it was unexpected.  The Buffon skits are my favorite and "I'm So Wasted" is hilarious too.  "Lunchlady Land" is the best song, but it does lose something without seeing Chris Farley wearing a hairnet.

You Might Be a Redneck If...(Warner Bros., 1993) by Jeff Foxworthy

The title track is obviously the routine that helped launch the career of one of the greatest comedians of all-time.  However, the album in its entirety really delivers too.  This is a classic album with no filler.  Foxworthy's everyman observations about marriage, fatherhood, and the single life are spot on.  His material is universal, clean, and hilarious.  It's been almost twenty years since its release and it still sounds like it could've been recorded yesterday.

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.

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.

janet. (Virgin, 1993) by Janet Jackson

As the title suggests, this is Janet declaring her independence from the rest of her family (read Janet, period).  The album also continues to show growth in Janet as far as the sexual content of her music.  Control had "Let's Wait a While."  Rhythm Nation had "Someday is Tonight."  And janet has "Throb."  Personal developments aside, Ms. Jackson also covers serious social issues- most notably on "New Agenda" with Public Enemy frontman Chuck D.  The two most popular cuts, "Again" and "That's the Way Love Goes," are both very good.  The former is a great record that also worked well with the promotion of Janet's film Poetic Justice with Tupac and the latter is a chill mellow song that not surprisingly topped the Billboard charts for two months.

Get In Where You Fit In (Jive, 1993) by Too $hort

Get In Where You Fit In is my favorite Too $hort album.  Some claim that if you've heard one Short Dog song, you've heard them all.  True, but if the music is good I don't care.  Gettin' It (Album Number Ten), his "retirement" album, relied a bit too heavy on funk tracks and Life Is… Too Short [a very close second in my opinion] had a bit better lyrics than beats at some points during the album.  However, Get In Where You Fit In is the perfect blend of both music and rhymes.  The introduction is clever and I love how he name drops his previous material.  Mr. Shaw also killed the Kool & The Gang sample on "Money in the Ghetto" years before Ma$e did the same in a Top 40 hit ["Feel So Good"].  And last, but certainly not least, "Blowjob Betty"-the best dirty record of all-time in my opinion!

Diary of a Mad Band (Uptown, 1993) by Jodeci

This album definitely showed a change in image and approach from their debut.  On their debut, Jodeci was simply romancing women.  On this go round though, they were just trying to get them in to bed.  "Feenin" is a prime example.  And "Cry For You (the album's first single), in my opinion, is the best song on the album.  DOAMB was one of the first albums where people were singing over rap beats, and one of the few albums that ever did it well.  I am a bigger fan of K-Ci and Jojo's "All My Life", but at the time, I think Jodeci's sexually-charged material delivered in a slightly more rugged fashion was a good counter-balance to Boyz II Men, who basically said the same things at time, but in a more pop-friendly way.  In other words, Jodeci talked about having sex and Boyz II Men talked about making love.

Enter the Wu-Tang [36 Chambers] (Loud, 1993) by The Wu-Tang Clan

 Enter the Wu-Tang is amazing because it is so original.  There are nine members in the group, and all of them can rap.  The martial arts film interludes and the classic soul samples are timeless.  RZA's dark, cinematic beats give all the emcees space to kick some of the greatest verses in the history of hip-hop (Raekwon on "C.R.E.A.M.", Ol Dirty Bastard on "Protect Ya Neck").  And the greatest testament to this album, in my opinion, is that it still holds up almost twenty years later.  If this album were to come out today, no current album would be able to compete with it.