They were 2 of the 1st platinum rappers, if they didn't have success Eminem wouldn't blow up, gotta pay respect to those who opened the doors and were the originators, you know Em musta studied those albums along with "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper" :lolsign: . That "Slim Shady LP" was probably Em's best commercial effort but I wouldn't call it game changing either, I don't think people are gonna say that it is years later like they do with "Paid In Full". Beastie Boys' "Licensed To Ill" also changed the game since they were the 1st rap artists to have a triple platinum LP, the 1st white rap artists to blow up commercially, it had a unique punk rock/rap sound to it that was never done before. BDP's "Criminal Minded" was KRS-ONE's most known album, his only platinum album, it was co-produced by the late great Scott LaRock, they put political minded hip-hop on the map. A few more game changing albums I say would be Fugees' "The Score", Wyclef's "The Carnival", and Lauryn Hill's "Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill", these were the albums that were an alternative to the gangsta rap in the mid-90s and brought back hip-hop versatility. Queen Latifah's "Black Reign" was the most successful album by any female rapper and the way she flowed on that album showed that she's one of the greatest rappers ever, male or female. Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" changed the game, maybe for the worst some might say, but regardless was artistic genious, a lot of gangsta rap artists came along since tryin' to immitate that but can't put up the genius that Dre did there. Now as far as Jay-Z, I think "Blueprint" is a lil' overrated, I think his best commercial effort was "Volume 2: Hard Knock Life", that's the album I'd say is his best after "Reasonable Doubt", this is when Jay-Z was on top of his game in my opinion, so many different styles on that album. I'm gonna say that Common's "Like Water For Chocolate" was one of the game changing albums in recent years, it's still his most successful album so I gotta make a case for this one, he brought a lot of soul there and his lyricism was top notch. Nas' "It Was Written" and "Stillmatic" both changed the game too, you could say "Illmatic" but it wasn't commercially successful.
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I'm not denying that Ted, but who do you seriously think the people of today would know more and be more familiar with the works of?? Em or Slick rick/rakim?? :stickpoke: