Such as Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, etc....
2007-05-19 17:45:50 · 14 answers · asked by jtpnwa 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Rap and Hip-Hop
Picasso with the pen and a politician with the pad.
Initially for a rap artist to be good, they have to have personality, style, and must be unique. The artist must be able to convey his views and opinions as well as his emotions in a way that demonstrates his intelligence and ability to rap. He must also be able to paint a picture with his words.
Some elements of a classic hip hop album are as follows:
- The 4 C's, Controversy, Compatability, Collaboration, and Climate.
Controversy: The ability to grab the attention of the public, and put the artist's views, opinions, and ideas in question, in order to get positive and negative responces which clash and allow debates on whether or not the artist in question is justified. (Example: Eminem)
Compatability: The ability to appeal to music listeners in general, and satisfy almost all fans of the rap/hip-hop genre. Whether the listener prefers east coast, west coast, southern, gangster rap, ect. (Example: Jay-Z)
Collaboration: The artist must have some verification of his authenticity. The album should feature a few well respected and liked artists, as well as a feature from a good up and coming artist. This will also demonstrate the artists diversity to combine, conform, and categorize hip hop as an individual and to make his pressence known. (Example: 2Pac)
Climate: The artists background and the time in which the album is released. The artist must be respected and the time in which the artist releases his music must have a significant impact on the music industry. The album must be recognized and remembered as great. (Example: N.W.A.)
Note: 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Jay-Z, Eminem, the members of N.W.A., LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, and last but definately not least, Rakim are all greats and above all, classics. Each is unique and has a classic hip hop album, and recognized as one of the greatest of all time.
2007-05-19 20:57:11 · answer #1 · answered by Hieroglyphic Graffitti! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beats and lyrical content that is original, crafty, and catchy. Creativity and true love of the artform by taking you musically wherever the artist is at or has been while making the record. A classic hip hop album should impress and inspire you at the same time, not saying that it is easy to flow like the best of the best, but because you can listen to an album when it drops and it stays relevant regardless of the age of its debut, classic means timeless....
2007-05-21 00:09:45 · answer #2 · answered by Cone 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
familiar hooks, raps that do not only rhyme but tell a story like old school rap used to be. like old tribe called quest albums they told a story not just said i ran up in this b***h or whatever.
great producing helps, but you want to listen to an album that you can just put on and let play. you don't want to have to skip through all the tracks to one or two fav songs.
a great classic hip hop album is one that you can play from start to finish, songs that have a good hook, with songs that will entertain you and tell a story - not just talk about impressive sexual conquests or flosisin with money in the bank. that sh*t is so tired...
i miss artists like biggie, tribe, EPMD, and NWA. Eminem has come close even though i am not a huge fan of his, he tells a story in a way that makes me want to listen to what he will say next...
2007-05-20 01:00:38 · answer #3 · answered by i_lovenewyorkjcd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good beats and lyrics that stick and you know what the best albums are never as good the first time you hear them but the more you listen to it the more you understand ie illmatic, resurrection, paid in full a good top 3 not in any order
2007-05-20 07:07:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know what.. hip hop sux now. Most songs don't even have meaning.. it's all about what everyone else is talking about. Leaning back, 2 stepping, whispering bla bla. Songs don't tell stories anymore, it's all about catchy club beats and simple pathetic repetive chorus. An album has to be original and can't sound like everyone elses. I don't know.. hip hop sucks now. If you ain't got R Kelly, Lil Wayne, Luda, Kanye, or TI on your album.. ain't nobody gonna give you any airplay.
2007-05-20 00:57:27 · answer #5 · answered by crazylatinoguy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A classic has no hooks, original beats or samples so mundane, you can't even recognize it. Also original lyrics and a different flow and delivery, something that doesn't sound like somebody else.
The best example is Public Enemys Chuck D, his flow was so original, nobody before or since can copy it, and Public Enemys beats blew you away because you never saw it coming.
2007-05-20 21:00:44 · answer #6 · answered by WestCoastin4Life 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good beats and lyrics. You need some songs to tell a story abou the ghetto and you need like 2 songs that you can dance 2. Not to much woman, bling, and drugs in there either.
2007-05-20 13:05:39 · answer #7 · answered by dunhate235 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Originality.
Creativity.
Quality Lyrics.
Most of these are missing today, because rap has taken over and hip hop had taken a back seat.
2007-05-20 07:23:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vulgarity, sexism, grunts, crotch grabbing, lots of chains with $$ sign medallions, etc. This is the essence of "classic hip hop" and cRap music.
2007-05-20 08:04:42 · answer #9 · answered by ana2rosa2003 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this excludes most "artists" on the radio now. no over produced crap or people who are out for 5 min, are the biggest thing for the moment then you never hear from them again.
good albums come from good artists with something to say. the problem now is that artists seem to all have the same s*it to say. and it is a lot of crap about money or screwing chicks.
what we are lacking is artists with real life experience and something to say.
2007-05-20 02:05:39 · answer #10 · answered by sexy_town_usa 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋