My Top Ten Hip Hop Albums of 1995

I guess I'm feeling nostalgic. It's not the first time. I was hanging out with a friend recently and we started debating some of the best Hip-Hop albums by year. It was an easy task until we challenged ourselves to limit the list to three albums per year. The task instantly became MUCH harder. Nonetheless, I decided to give it a shot. (Of course, I'll be taking the path of least resistance by adding an honorable mention list.)

THE TOP THREE (in alphabetical order by artist)

Dogg Pound - Dogg Food


















I think Kurupt is one of the most underrated MCs in Hip-Hop. His rhymes schemes and vocal delivery are extremely unique. Also, Daz is one of the most underrated and unsung producers in Hip-Hop. He produced the majority of this album including: "Dogg Pound Gangstaz," "Ridin', Slipin' And Slidin',"Let's Play House," "Some Bomb A**...," "Reality" and "Do What I Feel."

Mobb Deep - The Infamous


















Thirteen years later, this is still one of those albums that I can listen to in its entirety from start to finish. Most of Mobb Deep's songs from this album were of the "macho" variety: "Right Back At You," "Cradle To The Grave," and of course "Shook Ones, Part 2." But this album didn't hit me for its lyrical content (which was fine), but I was taken in by the beats. They should have sold an instrumental version of this album. (If you know of one, please let me know where I can find it.) The piano from "Shook Ones, Part 2" is haunting. The chimes in "The Start of Your Ending (41st Side) are hypnotizing. The horns in "Up North Trip" are mellow and smooth. This album was (and is) a Hip-Hop gem.

2Pac - Me Against The World



















Take your pick of songs with this one: "Me Against The World," "So Many Tears," "Temptations," and of course "Dear Mama." This was 2Pac's first #1 album and first multi-platinum album. His previous albums were solid (especially 2Pacalypse Now), but Me Against The World catapulted Pac to superstardom.

SEVEN HONORABLE MENTIONS

Goodie Mob - Soul Food
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - E. 1999 Eternal
GZA - Liquid Swords
L.L. Cool J - Mr. Smith
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia
Luniz - Operation Stackola

OTHERS HIGHLY WORTHY OF DISCUSSION

8Ball & MJG - On Top Of The World
AZ - Doe Or Die
E-40 - In A Major Way
Masta Ace - Sittin' On Chrome
Twinz - Conversation