bigted

Here's my top 10 r&b albums at this moment even though I rarely listen to r&b these days, it actually took me a minute to figure out what I've been listening to lately: 1-Aaliyah "Age Ain't Nothin' But A Number" 2-Jaheim "Ghetto Love" 3- New Edition "One Love" 4-Boyz II Men "NathanMichaelShawnWanya" 5-New Edition "Home Again" 6-Boyz II Men "Evolution" 7-Dru Hill "Dru Hill" 8- Joe "My Name Is Joe" 9-Mariah Carey "Butterfly" 10-Keith Sweat "Rebirth" Well I like to balance it out by listening to other artists but JJFP are in a class by themselves to me and I don't have to pick my brain to figure out where I put those albums while my other albums get rearranged all the time in my music cabinet(except those other favorites I mentioned too on my previous lists).

Well this is a serious topic 'cause ranking mcs that pioneering this culture/took it to the next level get ranked lower than those who're currently toppin' the charts now, damn what Chuck D said in Dec. 2001 on his terrordome is still true today, things haven't changed yet: "THE NEED FOR A HIP HOP HALL OF FAME December 11, 2001 BET ran a show on their RAPCITY segment last month, listing the 50 greatest emcees of all time. I’d heard about this through the Enemy Board and I sat down mid-afternoon and began to watch it. I should’ve known better, but this is the business I’ve been in for over 20 years and this is what I’m known to do. Tigger, the host of the show, said that the voting was compiled from a consensus of voting by staff, fans e-mail, executives and other artists. Right off the bat, when I caught them putting MELLE MEL of GRANDMASTER FLASH and the FURIOUS FIVE waaaaay down the list at 48, I called my friend and peer KOOL MO DEE ( he’s dropped the ‘E’ in MOE ) who happens to be writing a book called ‘THE 100 GREATEST EMCEES,’ due out next year. MO’s amazing career has spanned 3 rhyme generations. First as a member of the TREACHEROUS THREE, with LA SUNSHINE and SPECIAL K, creating incredible verbal poly-rhythms. Then re-inventing himself as a soloist in 1987, and then as the conscious spokesperson of the art in 1990 –1991. He is usually SISKEL to my EBERT, or vice versa, or the two of us go into commentary ala the sports reporters on ESPN, critiquing the rap game with analogies that go well beyond the American teenager’s take on the art. I envy the sports world for their organization, building their structure on the fact that mere mortals cannot do what is done on the field, ice or court. It’s what keeps it amazing, and keeps a fan a spectator. In art criteria it’s no different, you have to be knowledgeable in all aspects of the art to pass critical mass judgement. When the history of what we do is constantly dictated back in the name of commerce, you have a distorted total picture of what it really is. Anyway, so I’m on the phone with MO and embarrassed to tell him that he was BET’s 41st best rapper of all time. He’s on the West Coast continuing a film career, so he was on a 3 hour time difference. (Now HE was the first cat to judge rappers... period... with his rappers report card which he broke down into various categories of skill.) It was laughable as we got to RUN DMC at #35, SLICK RICK at #24 (behind EVE at #20), KRS ONE at #17 , and pound for pound the most talented rhymer ever BIG DADDY KANE at #14. Like I said, I should’ve known better. I came in at #9 which beats the hell outta me because those cats I just named created the styles that are used today. This is the third list of major note, with other lists being BLAZE magazine’s Top 50 , and the incredible EGO TRIP BOOK OF RAP LISTS which came out a couple years ago, and I came in at a surprised #4. These contests don’t mean much to me as I’m more insulted at the slighting of my peers and others who I’ve seen and heard with my own eyes and ears create phenomenal artistic tasks that have inspired me to do better. I first came involved with hip hop because I found it a competitive outlet for creativity, and since I played a bit of sports I foresaw this new rap thing getting organized like such. All other genres of music seem to have been organized to at least fold all the myths into a respected timeline. The participants, however, end up as debris, but their place is historically preserved by writers, filmmakers and fan bases who know what they’re talking about. In the rap game a cat can’t even come out with his rhyme legacy intact. We live in such ‘out of sight out of mind’ times that RUN–DMC’s efforts are seen as miniscule compared to NELLY. Today’s youth who are fanatical about hip hop to the bone marrow not only don’t know their rap history, but lack in the musical knowledge that created the artform in the first place. Thus the need for a hip hop HALL OF FAME, to collect data and artifacts, and to be a standard bearer so that some of these writing, and invisible, empire judges will stop freestyling myths off the top of their d-zomes. Be it in the Bronx or Manhattan, or even Philly or London, online before physical, although the way that this neglect is flowing we’ll take it wherever. Seriously, the Bronx is the obvious location but with NYC in 911 aftermath turmoil this will now have to be a privately raised project. There were talks about the mayor of MOUNT VERNON, a NY suburb and HEAVY D and PUFFY COMB’S hometown, being a key spot but there were too many purist naysayers. HARRY ALLEN has been proposing the idea ever since the 80s, and the ZULU NATION, an organization just starting to get the respect its deserved, will structure itself first before taking on the whole hip hop picture this new century. The deal is that hip hop needs more organization, and true structure from within. Thus I am in talks with the Schomburg Museum on 135th street in HARLEM to recruit, organize and galvanize this project. I think my contribution to the culture is warranted enough to add legitimacy, as I’ve been involved in the CLEVELAND Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Exhibit as well as the JIMI HENDRIX Museum in SEATTLE archiving of the form. As a people who are artistically judged by our quantity instead of our quality, corporate capitalism doesn’t give a damn. Why would they give a damn about the art, if they never gave a damn about the people it came out of? They continue with the audacity to think that a billion dollar purchase means they’ve bought a culture, and can hire any Uncle Tom, Dick, or Dick to lay crucial word upon it in order to sell it across the earth like detergent. The altering of history has crippled our contributions forever, its no surprise that it would happen in the rap game only 22 years after the first ‘official recordings’. In sports, accommodations are considered when events take place for the ‘greats’ that came before. In hip hop cats like EDDIE CHEBA, JAZZY JAY, and FEARLESS FOUR cant get to the BET or HOT 97 door. Now that’s sad , and something that cats like myself dedicate to turn around as best I can while informing you that even in hip hop the television will tell lies to your vision. " Now if I ever won a Grammy I'd probably give it to Chuck D and he'd probably give that to Melle Mel 'cause you see as an artist you should give props to those who inspire you but I see cats like 50 and Em spittin' on the hip-hop history it seems by actin' like they're bigger than hip-hop itself, I have nothin' against Common 'cause he has respect for hip-hop and wouldn't rank himself ahead of the greats.

Oh damn my 'Jers homeboy Redman musta murdered Beanie on his own s***! :hilarious: btw, I found this quote from Chuck D a couple months back on Beanie: "Beanie Siegal does 5 videos on his way in, to keep the streets hot so he can be celebrated when he gets out. 1.8 million folks in jail, but should the have nots support rappers or celebrities that do short bids, when many dont have the opportunity or clarity to see it for what it is? Like who gives a f*ck really....? The entourages become bigger as times become harder, cats show off their excesses more, and bodyguard security gets more massive. Cats are saying all the worst sht about each other in the press, tv, magazines, recordings, while never doing eye to eye anything because theyre buffered by their well paid personal armies. You will never see JA RULE, 50,or JD in your local supermarket picking up some milk for the family, yet they supposed to represent the increasing havenots, while showing off what they got?" :ali:

I like that song, you had some strong points in there that we all need to think about in all levels of life where we have to improve ourselves, nice job! :thumb:

100,000 is great, f them haters, they listen to 50 Cent anyway and this s*** is too over their head for them but they can't front on this album, "Tell Me Why" has to be released, he has to end that pop rap image that Columbia left him with 1st and foremost! :poke: Worst case scenrio would be going gold and getting hip-hop cred back would still be mission accomplished 'cause he has over 30 million sales already and got plenty of paper from his movies to feed his great-grandchildren, he's just doing it for respect now! :thumb:

Sisqo- It's a shame that people only talk about him with the "Thong Song" and don't refer to the great work he's done with Dru Hill, his solo albums are kinda sub-par and watered down though I admit Dennis Rodman- One great rebounder, I bet those bad teams like the Knicks and Lakers would be better if they signed him even though he's washed up now, he could help sell tickets so what do they have to lose? :hilarious: He might be a lil' crazy but he was married to Carmen Elektra longer than I'll ever be and I give him props for that. :cwm: Chingy- A Nelly wannabe, I never bought any of his albums and wouldn't consider doing so.

Russell Simmons is still in charge of Def Jam and they dumped Slick Rick and named Jay-Z president, wow I lost some respect for Russell now, that's low! Why wouldn't Russell name Rev. Run or Chuck D president of Def Jam? I thought these are the guys he's down with the most, Chuck's always giving Russell props in his terrordomes and they were involved in quite a few Rap To Vote promotions together. :mad8: How could Russell talk about how much value LL has on Def Jam and then turn to dump both PE and Slick Rick by giving 'em s*** contracts, they deserve control of their catologs just like LL does! Oh Russell left Def Jam? My bad, I didn't notice, nevermind, nuff props to Russell and f*** Def Scam! btw, "Feel It In The Air" is garbage compared to the mcs I listen to, it's aight for him but he raps like he's older than FP, FP got better flow than that, and FP is the king of Philly and actually the king of hip-hop so I will not pay Beanie's album any mind and I'm gonna buy more Slick Rick albums instead! :poke: : :cya:

Like I said before Fresh Prince forever but there ain't nothin' wrong with callin' himself by his real name 'cause Nas has his real name on his albums now too: Nasir Jones, actually I think that's kinda cool to do it that way too in a sense 'cause it's about being yourself and you could use your real name if you want to, but he should definately refer himself to Fresh Prince 'cause that's who he is too! :peace:

LL Cool J Feat. R. Kelly "I'm About To Get Her", what a collab, Teddy Riley did a hell of a job producing this track too, I wish he'd produce another one for FP again in the future :kool: I don't understand how peeps could say LL fell off, this is heat! :ali:

FP "Ms. Holy Roller"

LL ain't gonna re-make "Mama Said Knock You Out" over and over again 'cause he evolves, some ol' school heads might diss KRS 'cause he made a gospel rap album instead of continuing making hardcore rap even though he made some tracks on that album with his usual aggressive edge, people diss "Born To Reign" too 'cause FP didn't have the lyricism like "Code Red" and "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper", as an artist you have to evolve and try different things, look at Jay-Z and Eminem they stay too safe and try remaking "Reasonable Doubt" and "Marshall Mathers LP" over and over again, I mean how many songs do we have to hear about Jay-Z talkin' about hustlin' in the projects like it's 1988 when he really lives in a mansion now and Eminem talk about his wife Kim when they divorced a few years ago, now that's what I called played out. Anyway my beef ain't with Kanye 'cause I like that he's positive but to compare him with LL gets me mad 'cause I look up to FP, KRS, and LL more than any other mcs since I've been listening to hip-hop, I'm trying to keep their legacy alive, even when I make an album, it ain't trying to be better than they are and always been since they started, let's just enjoy the music! :peace:

I would say that even if kanye only rapped about 5 years (not 2.5 as you said) he's still better then LL. LL was good back in the day but the guy has fallen off badly. COllege dropout is straight up knowledge and the truth. God, listen to the lyrics... that ill.

Yeah I'm surprised he hasn't written a book yet, maybe everything else he does has occupied him a lil' bit over the years. :speechless: Maybe when he slows down one day he'll write a book about his life, I'd rather hear more albums with him telling his life though, "Lost and Found" sounds pretty autobiographical to me.

I think Kanye is a solid producer even though his beats don't blow me away as much as some people might say it does, but it's a step above most mediocre production out on a lot of hip-hop tracks, I think the state of hip-hop is weak though if he wins a Grammy for his rap skills when he never stepped on the mic before 2.5 years ago, that's a disgrace to a lot of great mcs like KRS, 2Pac, Rakim, Slick Rick, Chuck D, and Nas who never won a Grammy before and still putting out solid releases(except Pac since he's dead, I think it'd been a lil' better if Kanye produced the last unreleased album instead of Em), I think LL deserved the Grammy more last year even though it wasn't his best work, it was still a strong LP, and he's only been an mc for 20 years now, come on, give respect where respect's due, that's not knocking Kanye at all but should stick to producing where he's at his best and I wouldn't mind if he produced FP, thanks for posting that. :kool:

This song has really come to life now! :cwm: :hilarious:

It's hard to compare mcs from different eras but it seems the best ones keep up with the times and/or their music is timeless for any era(that's why KRS, Chuck D, LL, FP, Run-Dmc, Rakim, and 2Pac are above everyone else), it remains to be seen if Common could be as powerful when he's 40 as he is now as an mc, but I think Nas will always be ranked above him as the best mc that came out in the mid-90s unless Nas starts puttin' out wack albums and Common continues puttin' out solid releases(I think it's a stretch to put Nas in the top 5 even though I'm a big fan of his, but he deserves top 10, which is still a realistic stretch 'cause I don't think he'd deserved to be ranked above Slick Rick or Big Daddy Kane who were his childhood idols, and I wouldn't deserved to be put ahead of him 'cause I look up to him, Common probably top 30, well Kool Moe Dee says that Melle Mel is #1 'cause Melle inspired him, the debate is endless), but of course they'll still be ranked below the mcs I mentioned, unless those I mentioned above start slipping lyrically and creatively, then at that point they'd just retire, but would have 30 years of consistancy that new mcs would have to spend a long time trying to top, and like FP said "Damn it, I expanded this platform", these kiddies need to realise who the real legends are, I have no problem with anyone sayin' Common's one the 5 best mcs at this moment, he does deserves Eminem's and Jay-Z' platinum status more than Eminem and Jay-Z do with their inconsistancy and being overrated, but KRS deserves the platinum status more than any of them but he doesn't care, he just stays consistant on a low but he'll be recognized for being on top eventually, and if they're ever dumb enough to address him, their careers will be cut short and lose all cred like Nelly did(if he ever had any).

My Top 10 Most Played Hip-Hop Albums Besides JJFP have changed, even though I haven't played much besides "Lost and Found" in the last week, these ain't my all time favs, just my current ones: 1-KRS-ONE "Kristyles" 2-LL Cool J "The Definition" 3-Nas "Street's Disciple" 4-Talib Kweli "Beautiful Struggle" 5- Rakim "The 18th Letter" 6- Slick Rick "The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick" 7-Wyclef Jean "The Masquerade" 8-Queen Latifah "She's A Queen: Greatest Hits" 9-Naughty By Nature "Nineteen Naughy Nine: Nautre's Fury" 10-The Roots "Phrenology" Wild Card: These Hieroglyphics Mixtapes that Tim introduced me too

Rakim "Who Is God?"(The Mystery)

Wow I just went to the okayplayer forum where they're having this huge debate where they're saying that Common's one of the top 5 mcs all time, damn these kids don't know their history, I was the only one to mention that FP, LL Cool J, Rakim, Chuck D, and Queen Latifah are better than Common, and a lot of others were sayin' that Common's a better mc than Slick Rick and Common spit better verses than De La Soul when they collab, ignorant motherf****s, I mean how stupid can people be, Common's dope but not that dope, I don't think he'd even say he's a better mc than Slick Rick, De La Soul, LL, KRS, or FP, damn these kiddies are on the Kanye West bandwagon! :nono:

If you look at hip-hop back in the mid-90s everyone was samplin' '80s tracks it seems(especially Puff Daddy), FP wasn't the only one doing that, I'd take "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" over most other sampled tracks back then anyday even though it ain't one of my favorite songs. To say that "Lost and Found" is FP's best album is a bit of a stretch 'cause he's put out many classic albums before, that's not knocking it, but that's like sayin' KRS recent albums are better than "Criminal Minded", ain't nothin' toppin' that, but it's nice to see them keep on putting out classic albums at this age better than those half their ages comin' in.

I decided to bring this topic back since there's a lot of new members, what are some of your favorite albums you like bumping from hip-hop/r&b/other genre artists other than JJFP? :dunno:

I wanna hear the Timbaland joints more than any of the other ones, he's a legendary producer.

FP "Loretta"

Well this rhyme has a special place in my heart 'cause it's about my main inspiration to do this that's in the hip-hop industry now since they rep their artistry, I'm just trying to keep the legacy alive too. :afro:

Thanks for the props, people are always gonna talk about you no matter what you do, it's just important to be yourself then things'll come out the way you want them to, I actually wrote that a couple years ago when I was in high school and thinking about all the peer pressure and people trying to change me back then but I'm glad I didn't 'cause a lot come and go and in the end you only have yourself and new friends come along, just be you! :peace: