Best Ever Albums

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

Skinny — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 04:16:42 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 02/23/2021 09:16

2005 wins, 10-5.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

RoundTheBend — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 12:59:47 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/13/2021 17:59

Fun fact for 1998... not only were all these albums released in the same year, but on the same day:

September 29
Bad Azz Word on tha Streets
Black Star Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star
Brand Nubian Foundation
Jay-Z Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
No Limit Records Mean Green
OutKast Aquemini
A Tribe Called Quest The Love Movement

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

RoundTheBend — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 21:46:11 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/13/2021 02:46

Congrats PossiblyMichigan! Sean Price was a great find for me.

It does look like a good chunk of abstained votes on this group.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

KitchenSink — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 18:28:19 GMT

Author: KitchenSink

Posted: 02/10/2021 23:28

honestly genuinely surprised how uneven this is. I for sure would've thought Black Star alone would've drawn more people to '98. Like I voted for 2005 sure but that '98 is (mostly) super solid and should absolutely not be sitting at a big fat 0

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

Skinny — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:45:30 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 02/10/2021 19:45

Hayden wrote:

Finally gave Monkey Barz a listen. Hitting myself for not getting around to it like... 10 years ago. Or at least when Price passed. Great record.

I cannot speak highly enough of that record. His whole persona is so brilliantly crafted. I think everything he did was worthwhile, and often brilliant, but Monkey Barz in particular is a masterpiece. One of the very best albums nominated in this tournament.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

Hayden — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:34:56 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 02/10/2021 19:34

Finally gave Monkey Barz a listen. Hitting myself for not getting around to it like... 10 years ago. Or at least when Price passed. Great record.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

LedZep — Sun, 7 Feb 2021 19:10:50 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 02/08/2021 00:10

Yeah Cam'ron single is amazing. And I've always liked DangerDoom more than most critics or whoever. It's not Madvillainy but it's great. Probably the best singles pair of this round, it's making me seriously consider voting against Black Star. I'm gonna go with "ratings" system here since it's close.

Black Star - 4.5
Shurik'N - 3.5
Jay Z - 3.5
Tribe - 3.5
(=15)

Little Brother - 3.5
Sean P - 4
Sofa King - 4.5
Cam'ron - 4
(=16)

I do value albums more, but it seems that 2005 will get my vote after all.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

babyBlueSedan — Sun, 7 Feb 2021 12:22:35 GMT

Author: babyBlueSedan

Posted: 02/07/2021 17:22

Pretty easy vote for 2005 here as it has my two favorite albums and singles. Monkey Barz was a great discovery, just great beats and bars. The Minstrel Show is a really fun, thoughtful album that I like despite it never really becoming a personal favorite. On the other side, Black Star is an album that's just never clicked for me, and the Shurik'N album had some good production but again I kind of missed out on the lyrics, which is a much bigger problem with hip hop than other genres for me.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

Skinny — Sun, 7 Feb 2021 08:20:57 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 02/07/2021 13:20

cestuneblague wrote:

I was originally thinking of doing '98 before I saw it was taken, specifically to highlight a french hip hop release for each team as this was when it was really at it's peak, but in all honesty this is not an album I would have chosen. This does really feel like post L'ecole du micro d'argent comfort food, the production is suitably saucy and fluid and the rapping is nice and nimble if lyrically fairly tame (given my comprehension of french is still pretty staid and a bit literal, but still not the highlight of this album), but there were far more vibrant and innovative choices than this one. Still very good, regardless. Black Star is a really colorful and engaging collab but I think the sheen wore off a bit pretty quickly as they instantly put out even more excellent releases and this perhaps doesn't quite feel as I donno magnificent in the long run. Singles are suitably classic... if nothing earth-shattering.

I still need to listen to Monkey Bars before deciding, but The Minstrel Show (Carolina classic) and Dangerdoom (it was still Doom's world in '05) def gives
05' a good shot, even if I'm not a huge fan of the Cam'ron single.

😐

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

cestuneblague — Sun, 7 Feb 2021 04:57:16 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 02/07/2021 09:57

I was originally thinking of doing '98 before I saw it was taken, specifically to highlight a french hip hop release for each team as this was when it was really at it's peak, but in all honesty this is not an album I would have chosen. This does really feel like post L'ecole du micro d'argent comfort food, the production is suitably saucy and fluid and the rapping is nice and nimble if lyrically fairly tame (given my comprehension of french is still pretty staid and a bit literal, but still not the highlight of this album), but there were far more vibrant and innovative choices than this one. Still very good, regardless. Black Star is a really colorful and engaging collab but I think the sheen wore off a bit pretty quickly as they instantly put out even more excellent releases and this perhaps doesn't quite feel as I donno magnificent in the long run. Singles are suitably classic... if nothing earth-shattering.

I still need to listen to Monkey Bars before deciding, but The Minstrel Show (Carolina classic) and Dangerdoom (it was still Doom's world in '05) def gives
05' a good shot, even if I'm not a huge fan of the Cam'ron single.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

baystateoftheart — Sat, 6 Feb 2021 14:32:57 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 02/06/2021 19:32

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star: 4/5
Où Je Vis: 3.5/5
Can I Get A...: 3/5
Find A Way: 4/5

1998 Total: 14.5/20

The Minstrel Show: 4/5
Monkey Barz: 3.5/5
Sofa King: 3.5/5
Down And Out: 3/5

2005 Total: 14/20

The Minstrel Show is my favorite thing here, and a contender for the best satire album ever. But overall, the 1998 team is a bit stronger.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

RoundTheBend — Sat, 6 Feb 2021 01:30:08 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/06/2021 06:30

1998 (captain: RoundTheBend) (11.75)
Black Star - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (3)
This creative style coming out of the underground is catchy thoughts for sure. I love lyricism like this - just clever.
Shurik'N - Où je vis (2.75)
I had never heard this before this tournament, but took a chance on the music and flow. Flow, I think Gabe mentioned, is pretty cool in french. Then the instrumentation on this is really cool. Fell in love really on first listen so I took a chance on it. Glad some of you have too. Although upon 3rd listen I'm feeling like it's novel effect has worn a little.
Jay-Z - Can I Get A... (ft. Ja Rule & Amil) (3)
This is another song from the teenage years which even white girls like. I think it hits hard. Having said that I listened to it on YouTube and in the car and both experiences were kinda shitty - on some THX certified speakers (which almost doesn't mean anything, just happens to be what made it sound "right") it sounds fantastic - next to a hard hitting beat you have some really cool musical ideas. Plus that chorus is fun.
A Tribe Called Quest - Find A Way (3)
I remember this being a hit when I was younger and was a great re-find. Hadn't listened to in years and it's still catchy and smooth as hell. Dilla's story is sad to be cut short but glad groups like ATCQ brought stuff like this to the forefront.

vs.

2005 (captain: PossiblyMichigan) (10.75)
Little Brother - The Minstrel Show (2)
Hmmm - I listened to this a couple times and still couldn't get into it. It's clearly good, just not my jam. "I don't know what rhymes with 15" made me laugh though. 🤣 Actually a good chunk of this was funny/fun. Maybe I should learn how to have fun.
Sean Price - Monkey Barz (2.75)
This on the otherhand was exactly what I love out of hip-hop. Solid rapping, solid tracks (althCould rate higher upon more familiarity or dip - but at first listen I thought this was great.
Dangerdoom - Sofa King (3)
Even the PC police gonna love this jam.
Cam'ron - Down and Out (ft. Kanye West) (3)
Great flow and backing track= solid single

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

Repo — Wed, 3 Feb 2021 00:06:16 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 02/03/2021 05:06

Easy vote for 2005 on the strength of two new amazing discoveries (for me) of Little Brother & Sean Price!

Black Star is a classic though! Love the homage to KRS-One!

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

LedZep — Tue, 2 Feb 2021 18:15:03 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 02/02/2021 23:15

Shurik'n was fire. The beats. THE BEATS. Also this was helpful with the lyrics. Everything else was good too, but Black Star is clearly the best album of the bunch. It's my favourite Mos Def work. Definition and Re:Definition maaaan. Still have the singles to listen to, but I don't think even Danger DOOM masterclass can overtake that 98' team. Unless Cam'ron single is fire and all of the 98 singles are meh. I'll see tomorrow.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

RoundTheBend — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 14:21:13 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 01/30/2021 19:21

Skinny wrote:

RoundTheBend wrote:

Well thanks for the kind words.

Then there's just a solid team from PossiblyMichigan, right? Can't wait to review this one.

@Skinny, as a Jay-Z fan, what makes this track less appealing. By the way I think the YouTube cut of this sounds like garbage - go for the spotify link if you can:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4LGMSdeKOUoy5Wf75Je0Hl?si=-SldtyINRS6wD-L34h5gIw

I think the beat is completely uninteresting - it's trying to capture some of that skittering Timbaland bounce, but it just kind of plods. It then doesn't help that Jay-Z sounds particularly uninspired and unnatural, fumbling around trying to find a flow that works but at the same time forgetting to say anything interesting or even make sure that his verses rhyme. It's a structureless piece of rapping that would be easier to digest if it felt like there was some point trying to be made, but it ends up being all of the things Jay-Z's detractors deride him for: aloof to the point of disinterest, and extremely shallow. Amil and Ja Rule offer nothing, either. If you listen to this song back-to-back with some of the other Jay-Z choices from this round ('Big Pimpin'', 'Feelin' It', his 'Guess Who's Back' feature on The Fix, his writing on 'Still D.R.E.'), this just doesn't stack up. For my money, 'Hard Knock Life' would've been a much better choice.

I was thinking I would've been given shit for it being too pop oriented (hard knock life)... thought about it for sure.

I feel like his opening is pretty hard hitting and the chorus very hip hop. I had completely forgotten about it's ties to Rush Hour. Maybe I'm cliche but I like the man vs woman aspect of this - the relationship "wishes" if you will - reminds me of that Pearl Jam song - can't find a better man... so much settling world wide... hahaha.

I'll have to listen to big pimpin again, but I vaguely remember that track dragging for me. Still D.R.E beats both for sure and I think that has as much to do with the production as it does the ghost writing (which I didn't know he did - thanks for that bit you wrote up on it).

Also for me on Shurk'n it wasn't so much the beats that were great, it was the unique instrumentation. Like I think there's some shamisen going on with a lot of other cool stuff. I think this would be later used in Dr. Dre's 2001 - maybe before then, but it's part of why I like 2001 - unique and good sounds introduced into hip hop.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

Skinny — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 13:57:50 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 01/30/2021 18:57

RoundTheBend wrote:

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

PossiblyMichigan — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 13:12:01 GMT

Author: PossiblyMichigan

Posted: 01/30/2021 18:12

The Shurik'N album really came and went by me to my ears. It's not that the beats aren't good it's just that they feel indistinguishable within the context that they were produced. Maybe if I spent more time paying attention in french. Also Black Star isn't really a project I've been hype for. It's not that Mos Def is not great but he'd go on to do better things. As would Talib but on Black Star Talib always felt to me self aggrandized by a false sense of superiority of what it meant to be to be "conscious" as if all rap isn't. That Tribe single though is banging, very different for them but I actually dig Dilla era Tribe by quite a bit.

But I'm glad people are digging 2005. Sean Price really dropped a masterpiece here. There's not much out there that's as genuinely funny yet grimly realized as Monkey Barz. It's your stoner friend's favorite record. Shamelessly ignorant and inspired production from everyone (9th Wonder's beat is one of the standouts of the year, much less on this album). Y'all finding this shit too dirty must not have any love for Ol' Dirty Bastard, or Cam'ron or Method Man or Slick Rick. At least Sean gives you a warning going in.

And yeah Little Brother is far more generous with their subject matter than that shocking cover would have you believe. It's great De La Soul worship that far more often than not surpasses their influence.

RoundTheBend wrote:

I know nearly nothing about my competition other than PossiblyMichigan is way cooler than me.

Yer too kind Seth

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

kokkinos — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 03:26:37 GMT

Author: kokkinos

Posted: 01/30/2021 08:26

RoundTheBend wrote:

Sounds like the mixed take on the Shurik'N release means I shouldn't have gone for the spice of life and gone for the more obvious Big Pun or even Goodie Mob.

That and PossiblyMichigan is awesome.

Don't wanna make it worse, but as far as I'm concerned either of those two would have swung the balance in your favor. As I already said, though, major props to you for thinking outside the box.

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

RoundTheBend — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 21:46:51 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 01/30/2021 02:46

Well thanks for the kind words.

Then there's just a solid team from PossiblyMichigan, right? Can't wait to review this one.

@Skinny, as a Jay-Z fan, what makes this track less appealing. By the way I think the YouTube cut of this sounds like garbage - go for the spotify link if you can:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4LGMSdeKOUoy5Wf75Je0Hl?si=-SldtyINRS6wD-L34h5gIw

Re: BYHH GW2: Group A - 1998 vs. 2005

KitchenSink — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 02:46:02 GMT

Author: KitchenSink

Posted: 01/29/2021 07:46

yea I'm kinda with Skinny (although I probably could've been swayed by Goodie Mob). just generally appreciate seeing albums I'm unfamiliar with show up (ones I like at least haha, this is the better new find of the tourney for me)