No doubt that between nineteen ninety through ninety eight, hip-hop went on a tremendous ride. Wide open, exploring all surrounding it and at times ridiculous. We will all miss those days for our own reason. Certain cuts affected me more now than then, such as:AHMAD'S-BACK IN THE DAY=1994= , BRAND NUBIANS CUTS FROM SLOW DOWN AND LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME ALONE, DONT FORGRT THE FIRST COLLAB'=WHAT'S THE 411 FEAT;MARY J. BLIDGE. AND A TRIBE CALLED QUEST'S BEATS RHYMES & LIFE WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE WITH ME. 8-4-04

Nobody gave a shout out to the Beasties? "Licenced To Ill"? That's a d*mn classic if I ever heard one. Good call on the Biz Markie album. It's called "Goin' Off". Also, "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" by Public Enemy should be noted. "Illmatic" is definitely a classic, man. It needs to be put in a time capsule. It bookended the golden era of hip-hop. Right after "36 Chambers". P.Diddy hadn't sprinkled his glitter on it yet.

Some more classics...

Outkast - Southernplayalistcadillacmuzik
The Roots - Do You Want More?!?!
The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II
Wyclef Jean - The Carnival
The Fugees - The Score
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of...
(Sorry - None for Pras)
Run DMC - King of Rock and Rasing ****
De La Soul - 3ft High and Rising
Tribe Called Quest - 1st three cds (5 mikes each!)
Digable Planets - Blowout Comb
Nas- Illmatic
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head
Thr Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
Dr Dre - The Chronic
Wu Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Special Ed - The Youngest In Charge
Jurassic 5 - Power in Numbers
Gang Starr - Hard to Earn

some (for me) that haven't been listed yet:

cypress hill "cypress hill"
the d.o.c. "no one can do it better"
ice cube "death certificate"
n.w.a "straight outta compton"
organized konfusion "the extinction agenda"
public enemy - their first 3 albums

and more i can't think of

classics? here are the classics for me.

digable planets- blowout comb
guru's jazzmatazz-volume 1
us3-hand in the torch
red,hot & cool-stolen moments

Sir Duke,

Illmatic is the debut to top all, the birth of a don.

That Slick Rick shout is a blast from the past but put Childrens story on any time and you can see Nas' roots.

Peace and English love

BB

no Jigga Reasonable Doubt?!.. **** that's one of my recent fav's (tops illmatic?)... and good call on the Mos Def BOBS, certainly a classic..

Now for an English perspective-

Jungle Brothers - Done by the forces of nature
Bahamadia - Bahamadia
Pete Rock - Soul Survivor
Pharcyde - Bizarre ride...
I agree on the sylk 130, de la, tribe and pete rock classics but what about the recent Jay Lib plate a future classic??

Makes me hungry for more...Do you want more (queue the bagpipes ...)

BB

Everybody forgot Souls of Mischief's 93 til infinity album - the title track has to be my fav hip hop joint ever.
Mos Def's Black on both sides and the Blackstar album were hella tight classics too.

love, love, love

Monie Love
Jungle Brothers
De La Soul
Digital Underground
Chubb Rock