My Secret Public Journal Live (Comedy Central, 2007) by Mike Birbiglia

This is a really funny album.  Birbiglia is just as much a story teller as he is a comedian.  Wether discussing a celebrity golf tournament where he was surprised to be the celebrity or his parents accidentally downloading pornography, Mike doesn't miss a beat.  His delivery is very unique and he presents himself as an oddball in a very good way.  To some degree, this album is a bit self-indulgent.  However, its okay because that doesn't happen too often and it doesn't overshadow his talents as a writer, performer, and comedian.

Laugh at my Pain (Codeblack, 2011) by Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart is my new favorite comedian.  He has an unbelievable knack for telling detailed stories about his own life instead of relying on more common topics like sex, race, and politics.  Like the title suggests, Kevin takes pain from his own experiences-most noticeably his father's drug addiction, and turns them into funny anecdotes while injecting his very laid-back, humble, and friendly personality into near flawless comedic timing and delivery.  The only thing with audio recordings of his stand-up is that some of his humor is sight-driven, and obviously that is missing on an album as opposed to a DVD or Blu-Ray.

Rap Phenomenon II (N/A, 2004) by 2Pac

Personally, I put this right up there with The Don Kiluminati and Me Against the World, in terms of my favorite material from Pac.  Obviously, his raps are timeless, but, in some cases, production sounds dated.  But DJs- Vlad, Dirty Harry, and Green Lantern do a superb job of blending Pac's rhymes over more modern beats.  The numerous interludes (Sway's was especially cool) shows the unconditional admiration that Hip-Hop will forever have for Tupac Shakur- one of the genre's most memorable figures ever.

Guess Who's Back? (Full Clip, 2002) by 50 Cent

"Niggas wanna shine like me (me), rhyme like me (me)/Then walk around with a 9 like me (me)/They don't wanna do it, 3 to 9 like me/And they ain't strong enough to take 9 like me/Aiyoo, you think about shittin' on 50... save it/My songs belong in the Bible with King David/I teach niggas sign language, that ain't def son/[click, click] you heard that? That mean RUN/Ask around, I ain't the one you wanna stun on, pa/Pull through, I'll throw a fucking cocktail at ya' car/From the last shootout, I got a demple on my face/It's nothin', I could go after Mase's fanbase/Shell hit my jaw, I ain't wait for doctor to get it out/Hit my wisdom tooth *huck-too* spit it out/I don't smile a lot, cause ain't nothin' pretty/Got a purple heart for war, and I ain't never left the City/Hos be like "Fitty, you so witty"/On the dick like they heard I ghostwrite for P.Diddy/You got fat while we starve, it's my turn/I done felt how the shells burn, I still won't learn/Won't learn"

-50 Cent, "U Not Like Me"

Street's Disciple (Columbia, 2004) by Nas

This double album is considered by many (myself included) as one of the weaker points in Nas' extensive catalogue.  However, because it is Nas, there are still some very strong records.  "These Are Our Heroes" and "Virgo" featuring Doug E. Fresh and Ludacris are great.  "Thief's Theme" is also a standout and wise choice for a single.  The cons unfortunately outweigh the pros on this album though as a lot of the production comes across and mediocre.  And just like every double rap album of all original material not called Life After Death, the set could easily be cut in half.  Personally, I prefer quality over quantity.

Back at One (Motown, 1999) by Brian McKnight

Now Brian McKnight is kind of weird with his 2012 risqué single, his news about about releasing and then not releasing his "adult mixtape."  What makes this all particularly interesting is that instead of singing about graphic sex, he used to sing great love songs like the ones featured on this album.  The standout, in my opinion, is the title track and "6,8, 12" is a really gripping heartbreak song.  Long story short, Brian sounds a lot better singing about passion than he does singing about pussy.

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.