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.

Power (Sire, 1988) by Ice-T

In my opinion, Ice-T's sophomore album is his greatest to date.  It's has Ice's signature storytelling and cautionary tales ("Drama," High Rollers").  "I'm Your Pusher" makes great use of Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman" with a double entendre.  "Soul on Ice" pays homage to Iceberg Slim and "Radio Suckers" provides his opinion on radio programming and censorship.  Before "ganagsta rap" became filled with cliches of violence, drugs, and sex- raps about hard living were strongly rooted in reality.  And the people that lived it knew it was nothing to glorify, and Ice-T and Power are the perfect examples of that much more mature approach to rhyming through a microphone.

O.G. Original Gangster (Sire, 1991) by Ice-T

When gangsta rap is mentioned, this is one of the first albums that comes to mind and rightfully so.  My favorite thing about it is that it is a well-rounded gangsta rap album.  Lots of them are strictly graphic and profane depictions of violence and sex.  This, however, is much more.  There is Ice's trademark story-telling, insight into shortcomings in America's ghettos, anger, and crass humor.  Ice-T is a very smart individual whose perspective and educated opinions are highly valued by many.  Hip-hop is very lucky to have him and this album because Ice-T did not just reflect the chaos of the streets by yelling and cursing.  He told the truth about its harsh realities in hopes that a change for the better would occur.

The Black Album (Roc-A-Fella, 2003) by Jay-Z

Jay-Z is arguably one of the best emcees in the history of hip-hop.  However, since he returned from his "retirement" in 2006, he has never sounded quite as strong as he did on his "last album" from three years earlier.  Minus two tracks, this album is a masterpiece ("Justify My Thug" isn't bad, it just feels out of place and "Change Clothes" does sound a bit forced).  "99 Problems" is a classic (props to Ice-T as well) and "December 4th" is one of the best songs in Jay-Z's entire catalogue.  The versatile production is not only top notch, but it also illustrates Jay's wide range as an emcee.  The way this album coincided with his legendary sold-out Madison Square Garden show was astonishing.  Now, if only Jay-Z's "My 1st Song" would have been his last.

Rhyme Pays (Sire, 1987) by Ice-T

Ice-T is an incredibly underrated emcee.  He is a fantastic storyteller.  "6 in the Mornin'" is one of the best records in hip-hop history and one of the first gangsta rap records ever.  And never mind the "Cop Killer" controversy, I'm not surprised Body Count, Ice-T's rock band, came about because Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" is sampled at the beginning of Ice's debut hip-hop album, Rhyme Pays.  Rhyme Pays was ahead of its time. And when analyzing the cultural significance of acts like hardcore rappers such as N.W.A or the fusion of rap and rock, i.e. Limp Bizkit, it is foolish to not acknowledge Ice-T and Rhyme Pays and how they helped shape the sound of so many acts that followed.