DMX - It's Dark and Hell is Hot
Def Jam (1998)
Dark Man X bullied the scene, becoming a furious presence with one scathing hardcore rap album that scorched a summer so saturated with sugary pop, even Marilyn Manson spent it pouting, glammed up. Hell is Hot was long and exhausting, every cut an abrasive assault on the ears accented by DMX's now-signature canine howls.
X's convict physique and charge-riddled past made him a cred-carrying cash cow during gangsta rap's hey day; lyrical threats like "If you got a daughter older than 15, I'm gonna rape her" seemed bluntly uncalled for. Yet for three back-to-back albums, the outcast, born Earl Simmons, traversed a delicate balance between unlicensed weapon-boasting crook and personal demon-exorcising poet. He's been properly dubbed the "hip-hop Johnny Cash," despite his recent artistic irrelevance.
- Ramon Ramirez
Busta Rhymes - Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front
Elektra (1998)
When Extinction Level Event dropped at the end of 1998, it opened up a new era of sheer, unbridled lyricism and raw power. And while tracks like "Iz They Wildin Wit Us & Gettin' Rowdy Wit Us?" and "Tear da Roof Off" are undeniably legendary, the real value of this album is its coherence and flawless sequencing. Skits claim that "Oprah does my laundry," while the video for "Gimme Some More" stands among the best ever made in terms of unfiltered, spastic creativity. Busta Rhymes had (and still has) a crazy kind of power that stands apart from the coke raps and backpackers of the time, and on E.L.E., the signature apocalypse-forecasting end-of-the-millenium work, his incredible intensity shines.
- Cass 'Money' Luskin
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter, Vol. 2
Cash Money (2005)
Many argue that Tha Carter or The Block Is Hot are stronger albums, but with allegations of ghost writing from Philadelphia's Gillie Da Kid, their reputations are forever tarnished with an asterisk. The fact that Gillie has appeared in many Cash Money videos and that Lil Wayne publicly wore Gillie's chain adds credibility to those accusations.
Tha Carter II is packed full of high-intensity beats, and the lyrical content might be the best the South has produced in the past five years. Weezy displayed major growth and maturity; especially noteworthy considering Carter II was his first album without a track from departed superstar producer, Mannie Fresh.
- Jerod Couch
Wyclef Jean - Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee Allstars
Sony (1997)
With The Score, hip-hop trio The Fugees were firmly established as one of the most talented and innovative rap acts of the post-Native Tongues era. But it wasn't until rapper/producer/guitarist Wyclef Jean released his first solo album, with special guest spots from the other two refugees - Lauryn Hill and Pras, that the creative brilliance peppered throughout Score was given its full due. The Carnival, at 24 tracks, is a tour-de-force, showcasing Jean's originality and prowess better than any of his work before or since. The cinematic skits, international influence and eclectic instrumentation give the album enough humor and color for a thoroughly sound listening experience. The songwriting is by turns off-beat and on-message, as evidenced by the earnest "Gone 'till November," the silly "Bubblegoose" and the meditative and poignant "Gunpowder." The Neville Brothers reunion on "Mona Lisa" is representative of Jean's willingness to take risks. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill may have gobbled up all the Grammys, but The Carnival's depth and creativity make it the superior Fugees ambassador to this list.
- Reggie Ugwu
Big L Priority - The Big
Picture (2000)
Big L was a dark-horse challenger to the "King of New York" throne after Biggie's death. In fact, during an unreleased radio freestyle session, Big L left eventual crown-wearer Jay-Z outta rhymes, looking foolish. Shortly after, Big L went the way of many rap greats - fatally gunned down outside his Harlem residence. The Big Picture stands as one of the finest posthumously released albums in this, or any, genre. It features a wealth of classic bangers such as "Ebonics" and "Tres Leches" but is anchored by the mashed-up Pac collaboration on "Deadly Combination" and "98 Freestyle," the best tangible example of Lamont Coleman's raw talent.
- Eddie Strait
Coming tommorrow: Albums 20-16
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