Classic Material »
![Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted [1990]](http://www.nappyafro.com/wp-content/themes/Avenue/timthumb.php?src=http://www.nappyafro.com/wp-content/themes/Avenue/images/thumbnail.png&w=290&h=160)
Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted [1990]
This is one of those albums that will grab your attention just with the title: What better way to say America is racist than this? Back 1990, Ice Cube was fresh off of N.W.A.,
Read More »Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill [1998]
I was in college in Atlanta when the semester of Ms. Hill began. You could not turn on the radio, walk outside or go anywhere without hearing something from this album. It owned the
Read More »J Dilla – Donuts [2006]
When speaking about the word classic, terms such as timeless, unforgettable, and lasting come to mind. Just after the 3-year anniversary of the passing of the legendary James Yancey, better known to the Hip-Hop
Read More »Jay-Z – The Black Album [2003]
When talking about whether The Black Album is a classic or not. Allow me to answer that question: Yes. The Black Album is classic. “Michael Jordan hitting the final shot over Byron Russell during
Read More »Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… [1995]
People overuse the word “classic” when talking about albums these days. When 14 years can go by and your album is still fresh to every Hip-Hop head, that my friends, is CLASSIC. When your
Read More »2Pac – Me Against The World [1995]
I was thinking about which album to choose for Classic Week, when it hit me: Pac STILL wasn’t under our Classic Material! What?!? Like Biggie, even though he was cut down in his prime
Read More »Boogie Down Productions – By All Means Necessary [1988]
The Golden Age in Hip-Hop was essentially a Harlem Renaissance of the Hip-Hop community. Hip-Hop wasn’t even 20 years old when we it reached the mastery and embrace of the Golden Age. Creativity, expression,
Read More »Common Sense – Resurrection [1994]
Okay do me a favor and just forget about Common’s latest album Universal Mind Control for a moment. Just act like that album was never released and tell me what you have…one of the
Read More »Classic Week Begins!
If you been riding with us for a minute, you’ll notice that the nappyafro crew loves to show respect to things classic. Sometimes with all the new music that comes out daily in this
Read More »![Dr. Dre – The Chronic [1992]](http://www.nappyafro.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/drdrethechroniccover.jpg)
Dr. Dre – The Chronic [1992]
The year was 1992 and I was a freshman in high school. Little did I know that this CD would forever change the climate of Hip-Hop. Everyone knew who Dr. Dre was, but the
Read More »Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back [1988]
Before Lupe Fiasco & Kanye West, before The Coup & Immortal Technique, and even before Common & Nas, Public Enemy was the first group to mix political/socially conscious lyrics with instrumentals full of samples
Read More »NWA – Straight Outta Compton [1988]
Outside of the very first rap album ever released, this is the most important album in the history of Hip-Hop music and culture. The effects of this monumental album live on not just in
Read More »Nas – Illmatic [1994]
Nas first came into the rap game on his debut single, “Halftime”, which lyrically still blows me away with lines like: “I drop jewels, wear jewels, hope to never run it/With more kicks than
Read More »Jay-Z – The Blueprint [2001]
Reasonable Doubt was Jay’s first classic album, coincidentally his debut, just like Nas, Biggie, and Outkast. But after that, Jigga just wasn’t up to THAT level. Sure, he had Vol. 2 which sold extremely
Read More »Wu-Tang Clan – Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers [1993]
Released in 1993 during the East Coast Renaissance, a time which we saw Das EFX, Black Moon, Nas, Onyx, and many other NY groups were ushering in a new era in Hip-Hop. But no
Read More »A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory [1991]
Since real Hip-Hop music and culture is currently being appreciated with special showings of Yo! MTV Raps episodes, clips, and videos, I thought that this would be the perfect time for me to introduce
Read More »Group Home – Livin’ Proof [1995]
You take one of the all-time greatest music producers in Hip-Hop and add a gritty, street Hip-Hop duo from New York and what do you have? Possibly the greatest underrated Hip-Hop album in history.
Read More »Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt [1996]
We’ve expanded! The redesign isn’t the only thing that we’ve been working on. We also added another member to the squad. I want ya’ll to give it up to the one, the only, SBK!
Read More »Eric B. & Rakim – Paid in Full [1987]
It’s been a long time, we shudnt’a left you, without some Eric B. & Rakim to nod to. How do you have a classic section without arguably the best emcee of all time You
Read More »South Circle – Anotha Day Anotha Balla [1995]
I had to go on down to the old Houston, Texas duo South Circle from Suave House. They released Anotha Day Anotha Balla in 1995 around the time Eightball & MJG released On Top
Read More »dead prez – Revolutionary But Gangsta [2003]
After Outkast, dead prez is my favorite Hip-Hop group of all time. This is mostly based on their 2003/2004 sophomore release Revolutionary But Gangsta (or RBG). Now today, I’m not going talking about the
Read More »Outkast – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik [1994]
You didn’t think we would do Classic Week without Outkast did you? This album came out in 1994, which was one of the greatest years in Hip-Hop and held its weight against some heavyweights
Read More »Ice Cube – Death Certificate [1991]
In 1991, Ice Cube was the best MC in the world. I’m not telling you just my opinion, it’s the truth. Exhibit A: Death Certificate. In 1991, Ice Cube released what I believe to
Read More »![The Notorious B.I.G – Ready to Die [1994]](http://www.nappyafro.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/ready-to-die-updated.jpg)
Nas – It Was Written [1996]
This album was different from Nas’ early material. As you can see, he was merging into that Mafioso rap style which Raekwon & Ghostface Killah mastered. He dropped Large Professor, and the old rugged
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![2Pac – Unreleased & Original (Compilation Vol. 10) [Mixtape]](http://www.nappyafro.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/tupac-unreleased-and-original-cover-vol-10-Front-50x50.jpg)
