NFL
By Steve Rogers
Hip-Hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Let’s take a minute and give props to five of the debut albums that helped pave the way for Hip-Hop to get here. Hip-Hop has seen thousands of groups and solo artists come through over the years. Most only create a local buzz. Some even make some national noise. Then there’s the rarest of those who are so raw they become worldwide household names “Overnight celebrities”. Becoming an international star with your first shot makes you “Something Like A Phenomenon”. It also makes you a legend in the game. When you release an instant classic it puts respect on your name. These are just five examples of freshmen’ flawlessness. From unknown to unforgettable. The House of Hip-Hop is built on these game-changing albums.
Dr. Dre-The Chronic
First Up is undoubtedly one of the most iconic albums in the history of Hip-Hop. If not all of music period. Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” has been ranked in the Top 500 Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone on two separate occasions. The first it was ranked #138. They just did the list again and “The Chronic” jumped 101 spots to now #37.
Yes, Dr. Dre had already been in studios making albums with the group N.W.A… However, this is HIS solo debut. This album is where Dr. Dre perfected his iconic “G-Funk” sound. Not only did the “Chronic” establish Dre as the best producer in the game, but it also started the rap careers of several West Coast artists like Daz, Kurupt, Warren G, and of course none other than Snoop Doggy Dogg.
There are several Hip-Hop classics on this album. Dr. Dre taught us that it was “Nuthin But a “G” Thang”. “I’m just rollin’ in my 64 with everybody sayin’ “Let me ride!” literally had everybody saying “Let Me Ride”. The “Chronic” made it clear “Dre Day” was here to stay.
The Wu-Tang Clan- Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Next on this list is possibly the greatest group in Hip-Hop history and also possibly the biggest. That’s right I’m talking about the Wu-Tang Clan. “Straight from the slums of Shaolin”. The original members of the “Wu” are Rza, Gza, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Inspecta Deck, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killa, and M-E-T-H-O-D MAN. They have created one of the most interesting stories of success in the Hip-Hop industry.
They dropped their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) on November 9, 1993. The 36 Chambers is Hip-Hop at its purest. This album gives us so much from “Da Mystery of Chessboxin'”. Then they ask “Can It All Be So Simple”. We all know that “Cash Rules Everything Around Me”. As long as “Clan in da Front”. If you “Bring da Ruckus”. You better “Protect Ya Neck”. Because “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit”! In the end “After the laughter comes “Tearz”. The complex lyricism and sophistication in their rhymes all well blending a clear depiction of life on the streets with uncanny intelligence. The Wu-Tang entered Hip-Hop as a group then spread through the game with dozens of solo projects and formed groups with other artists as well along the way. If you are not down with the Wu then maybe Hip-Hop isn’t for you.
The Notorious B.I.G.- Ready To Die
Just ten months later New York would give us yet another classic debut and introduce the world to one of the greatest lyricists of all time. Of course, I’m talking about Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious BIG aka Christopher Wallace. The album is Ready To Die. This album burst Biggie onto the scene and into our lives forever. This album is stacked through and through with production from the likes of DJ Premier, Lord Finesse, as well as Bad Boy founder Sean “Puffy” Combs to name a few.
That helped create the blend of raw hard drug dealing in the street life mentality of Biggie with smoother polished production. The combination changed the game and set it on fire at the same time. Ironically it was not immediately a smash success in its first week of release “Ready to Die” only sold 57,000 copies. This technically hits twice as it is also the first album released by the at the time brand new Bad Boy label. Biggie delivers 15 of the most flawlessly executed songs in the history of Hip-Hop.
He does 14 of them solo making this a true solo album. the only outside guest appearance is none other than one of the best MCs from the Wu-Tang Clan Method Man on the classic “The What”. The only other feature is actually with Biggie himself as he trades bars with himself on the crazy ride of the hit “Gimme the Loot”. The introspective nature of Big and being so openly vulnerable to talk about the struggles of how perilous street life is and the toll it takes on him mentally. He takes us on a full-circle journey from wanting to “live” by asking for “One More Chance” and then he explains how “Things Done Changed”.
Next, he ushers a “Warning” for those who think about coming for him. Followed by him being “Ready to Die” and lastly sharing his own “Suicidal Thoughts”. This album is considered among the Holy Grails of the Hip-Hop genre. Even to this day no matter when where or how I feel if “Juicy” comes on instantly my vibe is lifted and you best believe the volume is getting maxed even in the cold of MN winter in the car I’m rolling windows down so everybody gets the “Went from negative to positive and it’s still all good” vibes! One thing’s for sure we will always love you “Big Poppa”.
DMX-It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot
The next debut that dropped the game on its head is “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” by DMX. The year was 1998. This album hit when Shiny Suits and Champagne were running the game. Here comes X rolling in on ATVs wearing Timberlands, bandanas, and dog chains.
Then he starts growling and barking and instantly you know this is something different something rougher darker. In a time when albums were becoming one or two singles and not much else “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” is anything but that. The opening intro is a song itself and sets the tone for what’s to come on the album. You just put this album on and press play no need to skip tracks or silly skits. This album had four Billboard singles and could’ve been five or six.
“Ruff Riders Anthem” is exactly that an anthem that to this day gets people amped up. This album is more than just hits it portrays the real struggle of a man wanting to live a positive life in the light but is constantly faced with the easy access to the dark side with the world in such darkness all around him. DMX is another one of hip-hop’s best storytellers. It doesn’t get much darker than “X is Coming” or “Crime Story” which he balances beautifully with songs like “The Convo” and “Prayer” that show X trying to embrace the light. This album is so raw and real that it allows everyone to relate to it. This is truly one of the best albums debut or not in the history of Hip-Hop.
Eminem-The Slim Shady LP
Finishing this five-pack is the epic debut of Eminem’s “The Slim Shady LP”. It had been five or six years since Hip-Hop spit out Vanilla Ice. Ironically Eminem was inspired by Ice. Eminem saw that Ice was able to do it so could he. During the mid 90’s Eminem created a buzz in the underground battling scene.
It wasn’t until Dr. Dre stepped up took a chance and signed the whiteboy from Detroit to his Aftermath label. No one was ready or prepared for the verbal annihilation that was set to be unleashed upon us. It also doesn’t hurt having one of the biggest and best producers in the game publically and privately backing you but producing the majority of your tracks too. “The Slim Shady LP” would be released on February 23, 1999. The album would sell 283,000 copies in the first week of release, and spend 100 weeks on the Billboard 200.
The lead single “My Name Is” basically went viral before there was enough WWW to do so! The second single introduced us to possibly the most dynamic due in Hip-Hop when Dr. Dre featured on “Guilty Conscience”. Eminem stirred the pot on the track “Role Model” where he goes about as far opposite of being any kind of role model as possible while the chorus offers a sarcastic “Don’t you want to grow up to be just like me?!”. When nothing he is saying should be identified as anything to role model. Although one of his best lines is “Will someone please explain to my brain that I just severed a main vein with a chainsaw and that I’m in pain”.
The album concludes with “Still Don’t Give a F**k”. On which Eminem kills the alphabet. He spits “I wanted an album so rugged nobody could touch it spent a million a track n went over the budget. Now how in the F am I supposed to get out of debt I can’t rap anymore I just murdeered the alphabet?”. In his own words Eminem “Hit the earth like an asteroid and done nothing but shoot for the moon since.” on the song “Rap God”. Well, “The Slim Shady LP” is that asteroid. In doing so he elevated Hip-Hop to the stratosphere that without him may not have occurred. Eminem is widely considered the G.O.A.T. of Hip-Hop now. It all started here when he went “Slim Shady” on us.
This is just five of the greatest debut albums that changed the game of Hip-Hop for the better and forever. Not saying these are THE five most important albums in Hip-Hop. The impact of these albums lays the foundation and sets the tone for which the majority of artists now look up to and are inspired by. So Hip-Hop as we now know it owes itself to these classics and legends of the game.
