Did you give him the finger? Haha. Yeah that was always one of my favorite albums (and still is actually). Too bad that second album wasn't as good (non-fiction).

I would have been more impressed if you said Chi-Ali came out during the show! A gold star for anyone who remembers Chi-Ali.

It was funny cuz I saw Dres earlier when we were outside waiting to get in, he was standing next to one of the tour busses smoking a cigarette, and I thought "Damn, that kid looks just like Dres". Dumbass that I am, the thought that it WAS Dres didn't occur to me until he came out on stage later.

Chi-Ali, didn't he have to do a bid for murder? Or some other crime?

Back on subject, I love the choices people have been bringing up - also want to add a special nomination (I know someone said "any Outkast album") for Outkast - ATLiens. Even the instrumental version cracks my top 50.

It's available for download on eMusic.com, along with many other MF Doom albums. In general, eMusic.com is a great source for underground hip-hop.

I'd also add:

The Perceptionists - Black Dialogue

Akrobatik - Balance

Mr. Lif - Emergency Rations

Dangerdoom - The Mouse & The Mask (it's not officially out yet, but it's a great album)

Non Phixion - The Future Is Now

Dilated Peoples - The Platform

Dilated Peoples - Expansion Team

Dilated Peoples - Neighborhood Watch

Jurassic 5 - Quality Control

Jurassic 5 - Power In Numbers


... and many of the albums already mentioned.

Well, I see many suggestions for underground rap, so I'll throw out some more common "mainstream" stuff, but first, my underground favorites...

Louis Logic - Sin O' Matic
Felt (Murs & Slug) - Volume 1, Tribute To Christina Ricci
Felt (Murs & Slug) - Volume 2, Tribute To Lisa Bonet
Eyedea - The Many Faces Of Oliver Heart

More mainstream...

Boyz 'N Da Hood - Boyz 'N Da Hood - Good background music, some standout songs (Gangstas f. Eazy E, Look, Felonies...some good tracks)...
Mannie Fresh - The Mind Of Mannie Fresh - Mannie never fails with great beats...
Too $hort - Cocktales - Classic rap album from the master of nastiness...
E-40 - The Best Of Yesterday, Today, And Tomorrow - A best of, a great way to get aquainted with the Vallejo great...
Daz - Anything from the 90's (he produced most of 2Pac's beats)...
Nas - Anything. One of the best rappers ever.

= J

Necro and the entire Psychological camp. Non Phixion (consisting of Goretex, Sabac, and Ill Bill) He has produced around 7 albums in the past year and a half. All of them include average to amazing beats. I wouldn't call any of them wack. The lyrics aren't for the weak though, some can get brutal.

I forgot one of the greatest rap albums of all time: Gravediggaz - Six Feet Deep

Tarantino, Murs mentions my brother in the song, LIFE VEGAS.

" Headed to the octagon for some UFC, me and the homeboy D-U-S-T. 3G's cash and it's all on me. We 'bout to blow it up for the 213. "

He and my bro ( Dustin ) are good friends. They usually get together for MMA shit. They say blow it up when they go anywhere. ( I'm gonna blow it up at the movies tonight. etc. )

Surprised nobody's mentioned Sage Francis, especially since I seem to remember a thread or two about him in the past. Both Personal Journals and A Healthy Distrust are great.

There is a new Ghostface album that is slotted to come out towards the end of Feb (though watch it get pushed back) that is slated to have some MF Doom production on it. That probably is going to be really hot. Actually I would go so far as to say all of Ghost's albums are good. Some are great, some good, but none of them are bad. They aren't the type of albums that blow you away upon first listenings though but they grow on you.

I would also say Furthermore is pretty good. They have an interesting sound.

Fish Scale is the title, right?

Yeah there is supposed to be a new Ghostface solo called "Fish Scale" but also a whole Ghostface & MF Doom album called "Swift & Changeable" in the summer.

Wow. Those are two of my favorite rappers of all time....

Ghost and MF , it's like PB and J man.

Anyways, am off to see Doom and Little Brother blow it up @ the Nokia NYC in a bit, anyone else going? Am actually kinda surprised he's headlining that big of a venue unless Nokia ain't that big.

With a big jar of half and half on the side. I thought the MF Doom/Ghost project was scrapped with the leftover tracks showing up on Fishscale (since that was suppossed to come out in the fall). Glad to see thats still coming out. Doom seems to be a great cat to collab with and I wish he would get with Q-Tip next. Tip came nicely on the Black Eyed Peas song "Like That" and I bet a Q-Tip helmed cd with production by Doom would be insane.

None of that Vibrant Thing bullish (even if that song was fun to party to).

Doom tore it up to a packed Nokia Theatre last night, the place is actually smaller than I thought, smaller than roseland but bigger than bowery.

1st time I saw MF live and he didn't disappoint, Little Brother came through with a shortish set, but the surprise of the night, aside from Talib and MF for an encore was Big Daddy Kane. Everybody was just feelin his vibe, good times man.

There should be a Raekwon album coming out in a couple of months too. I think its being produced by Rza and Busta Rhymes. The first single is called "State of Grace".

Glad someone mentioned 2Pac. You cannot talk about rap, and not include him in the discussion.

Someone else mentioned E-40 and that is another great pick by someone who is widely unknown outside of the West Coast.

A few others that have not been mentioned.

Too $hort
Scarface
Luniz, (if nothing else for the I Got 5 on it Remix)

Turns out, I hate you. Lucky bastard.

What did Kane do? One of my favorite song's is "Warm it up, Kane!". Dude just got all up into that beat and tore it to shreds. Sure "Wrath of Kane" gets more love, but Warm it up had that smooth Kane seal of quality on it, y'know?

The Fugees - The Score

DanagerDoom ? here is a video http://www.dangerdoom.com/video/athf.mov

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and the last one whatever it was called

Spearhead - Chocolate Supa Highway

Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II = Passing me by is on this which on my top 10 list of greatest raps songs.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

A three-disc set of MF Doom's Special Herbs was released this past Tuesday.

Along with Ghostface's new album, I'm also looking forward to these upcoming albums (I've included links for samples):

Aceyalone & RJD2 - Magnificent City 2/7
Five Deez - Kommunicator 2/21
J Dilla (aka Jay Dee) - Donuts 2/7
Madlib - Beat Konducta Vol. 1-2: Movie Scenes 3/21

lets not forget this classic

tommyp007, yes SEX PACKETS is without a doubt one of (if not my #1) favorite rap albums of all time. Its too bad they had great tracks on the cassette that weren't on the cd. I bought the tape around 1990 and listened to it for years. When I finally got the CD years later, it was missing like 3-4 tracks. I don't know if a different version exists (maybe an import) but I have yet to find one.

I did "The Humpty Dance" kareoke at my wedding reception and brought the house down! Ok, i'm embarrased now. I'll move along.......

Feb. 28th. Same day as the Wu-Tang reunion concert in Phoenix. Hot damn!

Here is one of the Mf Doom/Ghostface tracks off Fishscale. Its called Charlie Brown.

Some other good hip-hop:

Golden Arms Redemption -U-God

Bobby Digital In Stereo - Rza