Shook Ones Pt. II by Mobb Deep (prod. Havoc)

While attending the High School of Art and Design in New York City, Queensbridge natives Havoc and Prodigy would begin making music in 1986. Originally they rapped under the name the Poetical Profits, where Prodigy would MC and Havoc would at times MC, but mostly handled production. The name would soon change to Mobb Deep, a reflection of how large their crew was in the Bridge. At the age of 17 the duo would release their debut Juvenile Hell. But despite the backing of production from DJ Premier and Large Professor, the album was given harsh reviews and did not sell. The criticism came from failure to stand out among other hardcore acts in the city. Upon the release of their second album 1995 however, Mobb Deep managed to leave an impression on their audience with a presentation of the haunting realities of New York City.

It Ain't Hard to Tell by Nas (prod. Large Professor)

It's hard to find anything new to say about the most prolific album in Hip Hop. At the age of 19 the Queensbridge MC began recording his debut classic Illmatic. Despite it's historical significance in Hip Hop, it was in reality a commercial flop. Nas was in fact rejected by Russel Simmons for a contract with Def Jam, claiming that he sounded "Too much like G Rap." Illmatic is in fact a landmark in Hip Hop, bridging the gap between the mid-90s east coast gangster rap and Native Tongues style jazz hop that preceded it. With the aid of such super producers as DJ Premier, Q-Tip, Pete Rock, LES and Large Professor, Nas was provided jazzy soundscapes that were perfect for his effortless flow and intricate vocabulary. Really what makes Illmatic the classic it is today is  Nas' sophisticated street poetry paired with the alliance of some of the greatest producers of the 1990s (or perhaps ever).

I Who Have Nothing by Jedi Mind Tricks (prod. Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind)

Jedi Mind Tricks is a Philadelphia group composed of the MC, Vinnie Paz (once known as Ikon the Verbal Hologram) and the DJ, Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind and then at times, fellow MC Jus Allah. Jedi Minds to me is the perfect balance of anger and intelligence. It all started in 1996 when Stoupe and Vinny, who had been friends since high school, recorded the Amber Probe EP. A year later they would follow it up with The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological, And Electro-Magnetic Manipulation Of Human Consciousness (or The Psycho-Social for short) on Baby Grande records. Through this release, Jedi Mind Tricks gained a cult following among Hip Hop fans. In terms of content, Jedi Mind Tricks has always been known to speak on topics of government conspiracies, politics, war, mythology, science, religion and the paranormal, while usually being aided by Stoupe's classical and latin samples over booming drums.

Enta da Stage by Black Moon (prod. Mr. Walt)

Although it was not fully appreciated at the time of it's 1993 release, Black Moon's Enta da Stage in retrospect encapsulates a turning point in Hip Hop. It all started with members 5ft Accelerator and DJ Evil Dee meeting at Bushwick High School. They formed a duo and called themselves Unique Image, but would soon add Buckshot Shorty from Brownsville (a neighboring section of Brooklyn).

Shortly there after renaming themselves Black Moon (Brothers who Lyrically Act and Combine Kickin Music Out On Nations). DJ Evil Dee and his brother, Mr. Walt, would handle the beats, crediting themselves as da Beatminerz. Pre-production began in the Dewgarde Crib of Hits at Mr. Walt's house. Soon they recorded and released their first single "Who Got da Props?" in 1992. Through the help and exposure of WBLS's DJ Chuck Chillout, the single out of nowhere earned them the 82 spot on the Billboard Top 100 and a record deal with Nervous Records. However, despite the success of their single it would be a year before fans would hear their release.

Stakes Is High by De La Soul (prod. Jay Dee)

 

To say that the Alternative Hip Hop sound of late 1980s was the responsibility of a single group of musicians would only be telling part of the truth. In fact, the Native Tongues Posse as a whole was really responsible for the emergence of the sub-genre. Alternative Hip Hop in its origin would revolve around the ideas of Afrocentrism and the celebration of unity among people of different backgrounds. This was the ethos of the Native Tongues Posse, a collective of different Hip Hop groups which was founded by the groups A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers and De La Soul.

Despite the emergence of the Alternative genre being an effort of all three groups, De La Soul did in fact release their album prior to the Posse's co-founders. Members Posdnuos, Maseo and Trugoy (now known as Dave) released 3 Feet High and Rising in '89, which by some has been described as "the Sgt. Pepper of Hip Hop". The production on the album is a collage of samples taken from cartoons, commercials, and various genres of music; this would also consequentially make them the first musical group to be sued for unauthorized sampling. The lyrics were abstract and strange in a fun loving manner. And while some received the album well, others labeled De La Soul as weirdo Hip Hop hippies due to their bizarre antics and use of peace signs and daisies on their album cover.  Trying to break away from this image, De La retorted with the album De La Soul Is Dead in 1991 declaring the D.A.I.S.Y. Age dead. However in 1996 things had reached a grim point in not only the Hip Hop industry, but society as a whole. The title of their 4th album said it all, Stakes Is High.