I mean more in terms of Jay-Z and Kanye being commercial successes AND keeping their cred within hip-hop more or less. And although Jay certainly rolled with Puff for a bit, he still pretty much made his way up the commercial ladder on his own accord. It was Hard Knock Life, post-No Way Out/In My Lifetime Vol. 1, that…

I mean more in terms of Jay-Z and Kanye being commercial successes AND keeping their cred within hip-hop more or less. And although Jay certainly rolled with Puff for a bit, he still pretty much made his way up the commercial ladder on his own accord. It was Hard Knock Life, post-No Way Out/In My Lifetime Vol. 1, that…

Sex Packets was 1990, sucka!

Sex Packets was 1990, sucka!

I remember a previous AV Club article written on Please Hammer… that while it didn't exactly praise the record and noted explicitly its artistic failings also seemed to question why the album isn't talked about in the "history books" as it were. I think the fact that it has nothing to offer beyond its commercial…

I remember a previous AV Club article written on Please Hammer… that while it didn't exactly praise the record and noted explicitly its artistic failings also seemed to question why the album isn't talked about in the "history books" as it were. I think the fact that it has nothing to offer beyond its commercial…

In praise of Rabin…

In praise of Rabin…

Uhhhhh, dude, you realize that "Pray" blatantly and heavily samples "When Doves Cry," right?

Uhhhhh, dude, you realize that "Pray" blatantly and heavily samples "When Doves Cry," right?

EPMD's Business Never Personal (from '92) is severely underrated and probably their best album. Erick Sermon's production from that period gets heavily slept-on. From 92-94, he was creating some insanely dense, near-avant beatscapes.

EPMD's Business Never Personal (from '92) is severely underrated and probably their best album. Erick Sermon's production from that period gets heavily slept-on. From 92-94, he was creating some insanely dense, near-avant beatscapes.

"Favorite rap group in the world is EPMD" - Phife ("Clap Your Hands")

"Favorite rap group in the world is EPMD" - Phife ("Clap Your Hands")

I'm still scratching my head over P.M. Dawn being included on that list. They and Arrested Development were the most overrated token hip-hop groups that rock critics at the time LOOOOOVED to fawn over even though their albums weren't very good. At least AD had some great singles.

I'm still scratching my head over P.M. Dawn being included on that list. They and Arrested Development were the most overrated token hip-hop groups that rock critics at the time LOOOOOVED to fawn over even though their albums weren't very good. At least AD had some great singles.

I find it rather disconcerting that you include P.M. Dawn's first album in your 1991 list, and not Breaking Atoms or Derelicts Of Dialect. Are you out of your mind, Rabin??

I find it rather disconcerting that you include P.M. Dawn's first album in your 1991 list, and not Breaking Atoms or Derelicts Of Dialect. Are you out of your mind, Rabin??

He totally stole that first line from Redman:

He totally stole that first line from Redman: