Game changing albums

[Brolic Scholar]

Cypress Hill (self titled) 1991

Made weed an official part of hip hop with tracks like "Stoned Is the Way of the Walk" "Light Another" and "Something for the Blunted".

The Pharcyde "Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde" 1992

Broke the LA gangster rap norm and introduced the backpack era. They were rapping about failed relationships "Otha Fish" and having no game "Passing Me By" making it ok to not be a banged out super player in LA.

Jay-Z "Reasonable Doubt" 1996

While other drug dealing MCs were trying to convince you how tough they were and how exciting the drug game was, Jay-Z gave a reflective and cautionary look into the life of a successful dealer trying to leave the game. Unlike Biggie's "Ready to Die" where he talked about the desperation and struggle of the hustle, Jay-Z seemed sure he would lose it all if he didn't give up the game. Money wasn't a problem on this album. Living to spend it was.

 

[Yehuda]

 

[Larry Lambo]

Mafioso Rap - Kool G did it earlier but this put it at the forefront

Sped up Soul Samples. Yeah it was done before this but, this album made everybody hop that wave

 

[ManBearPig]

Carter 3 comes to mind

 

[Yagirlcheatinonus]

DMX it's Dark and Hell is Hot

Dude really brought hardcore rap back to mainstream.

 

[Damnshow]

 

[UpAndComing]

As much as I love Illmatic I cant really agree that it changed the game. It might be the best album ever but it didn't really change anything

I agree. It Was Written changed the game more than Illmatic did

 

[Mike the Executioner]

"We took the beat from the street and put it on TV"

Inspired a whole generation of artists, innovative production that hadn't been seen in the genre before.

 

[BmoreGorilla]

I agree. It Was Written changed the game more than Illmatic did

I know that album almost from front to back but it didn’t change anything it just perfected what there already was

 

[smokeurobinson]

Some are on point but there's a whole lotta bullshyt in this thread. And OP is way off on a lot of shyt.

 

[BmoreGorilla]

There's a whole lotta bullshyt in this thread. And OP is way off on a lot of shyt.

Like?

 

[BmoreGorilla]

in terms of what concept albums are now a days in hip hop, I consider this to have started it all in terms of sticking with the story arc throughout the whole album.

Love this album. Prince Paul is a beast with concept albums from his work with De La and Da Gravediggas

 

[UpAndComing]

I know that album almost from front to back but it didn’t change anything it just perfected what there already was

Yeah perfect way to put it. Cause Illmatic perfected what was already there years prior. Funny how Illmatic and It Was Written sound completely different from each other. Illmatic sounds like a time capsule that could be in an era 10 years prior in 1984. But It Was Written sounds like an album can could be in an era 10 years later in 2006. Nas really is the GOAT

 

[BmoreGorilla]

This one changed everything.

This album defined the way rappers are supposed to look and carry themselves

 

[Lord Mecca]

Here comes @smokeurobinson

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