Another Level (Interscope, 1996) by Blackstreet

I was probably around 9 or 10 years old when I first got this album, and so a lot of its qualities went unappreciated until later.  To me, at the time of purchase, the album was all about the smash single "No Diggity" with Dr. Dre.  However, in hindsight, I am able to recognize Teddy Riley's amazing abilities as a songwriter as well as a performer.  The addition of the two new members to Blackstreet was also successful on this album too.

Jesus Piece (Interscope, 2012) by The Game

Game's fifth LP is his strongest in years.  It's a much more cohesive body of work than last year's R.E.D. Album.  The album is a bit too feature heavy, but fortunately Game is never really outshinned on his own project.  Production-wise, the LP is quite creative.  The D'Angelo sample on All That (Lady) is dope, as well as the Bone Thugs one on "Celebration."  Conceptually, the album as a whole is definitely a step up, but the songs by themselves aren't-but they're very close.  Very few rappers have remained relevant five albums deep like this, and so Game deserves a lot of credit.  The only thing Game needs now to bring everything full-circle is a real working reunion with Dr. Dre that goes beyond a few tracks and interludes.  But between this, Wiz's new project, and T.I.'s new album, set to drop next week, Hip-Hop should have a very happy holiday season.

Volume 1 (Interscope, 1994) by Thug Life

This a very good album that complements Tupac's idea of "Thug Life" very well.  There is definitely a raw quality about the delivery of a lot of the material on this project.  However, there is certainly social commentary woven into it too.  "How Long Will They Mourn Me?" is a stand out and props to Warren G for the production on it as well.  Other highlights are "Pour Out a Little Liquor" and the somber "Cradle to the Grave."  Volume 1 is great and it makes me wish that more were made when Pac was still alive.

You Can't Stop the Reign (Interscope, 1996) by Shaquille O'Neal

"A lime to a lemon, my D.C. women, bringin in to G-minumums to condos with elevators in them/vehicles with telivision's in them/watch they entoruage turn your's to just mirages, disaperin acts, strictly nines and macs/killers be sureal, Copperfeild material, my dreams is vivid, work hard to live it/any place I visit I got land there/how can players stand there and say I sound like them/hello, push wigs and back and push six coup's that's yellow/bust clips to expand some hand to elbow/spray up your days in, any teller you win/crack ?? to ?? is how I may be drivin/??? of street sweepers beside the beamer wagon/I rely on Bigs status, surely down if I die/put that on my diamond bezil/you're messin with the Devil/why"

- Notorious B.I.G., "You Can't Stop the Reign"

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.

Eat Me, Drink Me (Interscope, 2007) by Marilyn Manson

The songwriting for this album, in my opinion, is its highpoint.  Manson discusses love, in his own unique way, but that is still far from the bizarre antics of Smells Like Children.  Conceptually, "If I Was Your Vampire" is a deep record.  Just the idea of drawing blood from the one you love and connecting on that level, it is very intense.  The production isn't as loud and inconsistent as some of his earlier efforts.  The use of keyboards seems to outweigh heavy guitar riffs.  And the fact that Spin magazine reached out to adult film star Janine Lindemulder for her take on the sex between Manson and Evan Rachael Wood in the clip for "Heart-Shaped Glasses" is really cool.  I was a fan of Janine before, but this made me an even bigger one.