How do you define a classic album?

[I'm Blackman]

What's a classic album to you? How do you judge it? Impact, sales, longevity, culture significance, how it changes the game, the quality, no skipables?




Some albums I consider classics sold a LOT of records

Some weren't really big commercially at all

Some albums I considered classics were media/critic favorites.

Some of my classics were political/social commentary heavy

Some of my classics were "glorification" of street shyt

Some were heavy about the downside of street shyt

Some were either heavily slept on or I'm the only person I know who think it's a classic

The only commonality I see with the above albums and other albums I consider classics are that damn near every song/beat was fire, lyrics was on a point, and each song (both content/sonically) pointed towards a larger cohesive album message/theme.

 

[old boy]

1. cultural impact - did it create an obvious shift in the culture either in terms of rhyme style, content, or production?

2. replay value - i don't believe blassics have to have zero skips. straight outta compton, nation of millions and unfinished business got skips and no one cares. just how much did you wear that tape out period

3. influence - pras & tracey lee were derivative of 1993-95 method man. redman built his debut whut thee album on the same exact formula that cube used for amerikkka's most and created a blassic too. so basically, are there artists who either blatantly bite or chip pieces of this rappers style on that blassic LP?

4. quotables - ALL blassics have stand out quotables. the song comes on and you all grin and look at each other while saying that line in unison hella loud ".....STICKIN UP WHITE BOYS ON BALLCOURTS!"

5. time definition & memory association - "aww shyt yo, the cold vein! my second year of undergrad when i was like fukk ja rule and bumpin raspberry fields in my dorm room eating chicken strips and playing dreamcast..."

 

[CrimsonTider]

Impact.

what albums defined, the year, the culture the artists

it has to mean something to fans other than your stans

4:44 and untitled are not classics

the other are

 

[I'm Blackman]

1. cultural impact - did it create an obvious shift in the culture either in terms of rhyme style, content, or production?

2. replay value - i don't believe blassics have to have zero skips. straight outta compton, nation of millions and unfinished business got skips and no one cares. just how much did you wear that tape out period

3. influence - pras & tracey lee were derivative of 1993-95 method man. redman built his debut whut thee album on the same exact formula that cube used for amerikkka's most and created a blassic too. so basically, are there artists who either blatantly bite or chip pieces of this rappers style on that blassic LP?

4. quotables - ALL blassics have stand out quotables. the song comes on and you all grin and look at each other while saying that line in unison hella loud ".....STICKIN UP WHITE BOYS ON BALLCOURTS!"

5. time definition & memory association - "aww shyt yo, the cold vein! my second year of undergrad when i was like fukk ja rule and bumpin raspberry fields in my dorm room eating chicken strips and playing dreamcast..."

Dope breakdown bruh. Salute. I usually say I have to "live" with an album for a while to see if it's a classic. I'm not a hot take guy. But number 2 on your list got me thinking, I've been listening to King Disease so much it got me to thinking how good do I think this album is. It also checks #4 and #5 for me.

 

[I'm Blackman]

Impact.

what albums defined, the year, the culture the artists

4:44 and untitled are not classics

the other are

Are there any albums that you loved front to back, but didnt define the year or the culture? How do you view those albums?

 

[I'm Blackman]

@FreshAIG @mobbinfms

 

[CrimsonTider]

Are there any albums that you loved front to back, but didnt define the year or the culture? How do you view those albums?

They’re just great albums. There’s plenty of albums that fit that criteria.

There’s a difference between Untitled and Illmatic

there’s difference between the Blueprint 4:44

 

[Cloud McFly]

The quality of the album is first and foremost for me. Unlike others, a classic album can have a couple skips, as long as the rest of the songs strong enough for them to be forgiven.

How much they sell don’t really matter much at all, as there have been plenty of shytty albums that have sold a ton.

Cultural impact is where it gets tricky. While it’s definitely a major plus to be an album that changed the landscape, some albums didn’t do the same because they were slept on, lack of promo, or whatever the case may have been, but are of higher quality than some that did.

Another factor I value highly is replay value. If I can’t play an album 5 or more years later, and feel it’s as dope as it was when I initially heard it, it’s not classic.

 

[FreshAIG]

Universal classic, it has to hit 3 out of 4 of the following qualifications:

Highest of quality music: It has to be generally accepted that the music is upper echelon in actual quality.

Anticipation: Either sold a lot of records or it was widely discussed by the media and fans.

Longevity/Replay value. This plays an important role and differentiates between a "Bangin' album" and a "Timeless" album.

Changed the landscape of the music. The music impacted how other people created music after it was released. They followed you formula whether it be sound of production, rhyming style, etc. But it had to have influenced the way music was made afterward.


Personal classic:
Just had to be a really amazing album and have replay value.

 

[mathematik]

Classic albums definitely can have skippable tracks! The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick has 2 weak songs on it. Still one of the best albums in hip hop history.

Great beats & ryhmes plus creativity for the majority of the album is how a define a classic!

peace

 

[semicko82]

Great production, cohesiveness of the songs, sequencing.