Empathy's Top 10 Favorite Albums of All Time

MF DOOM- Mm...Food. (2004)
This is one of the most entertaining listens you'll ever stumble upon. MF DOOM is a producer/rapper. He has produced mostly for Ghostface Killah and he remixed an Erykah Badu song, "On and On(Lovage)". This album samples Frank Zappa, Zapp, Anita Baker, Sesame Street and a lot of excerpts from The Fantastic 4. DOOM wears a mask on stage and when he takes pictures. He used to be in rap group, KMD with his brother, who died in a car accident, and rapper Onyx. Every track on this album is named after either food or drink. It's a classic in my opinion, the skits are funny and the Fantastic 4 excerpts are chopped so they are taken in a different context than what was meant to be. If you can get over DOOM's monotone delivery, you'll enjoy this joint.

Raekwon the Chef- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx(1995)
Produced entirely by RZA, possibly his nicest set of beats for a Wu project, this feature is often acclaimed as one of Hip Hop's best albums. Raekwon, who offered one of the best deliveries in Wu-Tang, didn't have very many thought provoking lyrics, but he made up for it by following the rhythm of RZA's beats effortlessly. The album features Ghostface Killah, who basically was on every track. This album spawned "Ice Cream'' and "Glaciers of Ice" as its singles, both very good records, I might add. This is a classic, front to back. The comedic lyrics of Ghostface, the first non Wu appearance from NaS, and its soundtrack is what made this a solid project. "Wu-Gambinos" and "Guillotine(Swordz)" go down as my favorites on this one. The sequel has been talked about since the first album's release in '95. Word is, the long awaited sequel is due in 2009, we'll see.

GZA/The Genius- Liquid Swords(1995)
One of the most underrated Wu-Tang albums byfar. I wouldn't go as far to say this one is a classic, but it's pretty damn decent. GZA is often accused of a monotone delivery, but I think he gets pretty hype when it's time to. This album also offers some of RZA's finest production as well as rapping. RZA murders "4th Chamber". Method Man does a duet with GZA on "Shadowboxin'". The hottest track on this one.....I'd have to say, "Investigative Reports", the beat is too dark and every emcee held his own on it. Ask your dad about this one.

Eminem- Infinite(1996)
This one might come as a surprise to you like, what the hell is this? Haha, headbussa...Anyhow, this is actually Eminem's first recorded project. It features 11 tracks of a very different Marshall Mathers. Em raps closely to NaS on this one, many haters on the 'Net say, Eminem bit his style from NaS or AZ on this one. I totally disagree, everything Eminem says on this album is completely original, and this is the reason why Em is on my top 5, er 10 emcees. My favorite joints on this one are, "Infinite" and "Open Mic", he murders these tracks. If you're an Eminem hater, listen to these tracks and tell me with a straight face that boy ain't cold.

The Police- Reggatta De Blanc(1979)
"Damn, Empathy, I thought all you did was listen to rap." I got some diversity up here, somewhere. Anyway, one of my favorite bands, The Police, are best known for "Roxanne" and "Message in a Bottle" AND "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic". The Police are probably one of the most different bands you'll ever lay your ears on. They incoroporate Rock'N'Roll with Reggae, it's pretty funky. It's crazy because Sting is an Englishmen, but when he sang for The Police, he would put on a Jamaican accent. My favorites on this one, "Walking On the Moon", "Message in a Bottle" and "The Bed's Too Big Without You", the basslines are killin' it. *FUNNY SHIT* When NWA said Fuck Tha Police, they weren't talking about cops, they really meant The Police....psych I dunno.

Metallica- The Black Album(1991)
This was Metallica's 5th album, and this is where they gained their popularity. This is another one of my favorite bands. I used to watch their tour tapes when I was a kid. I remember memorizing all the cuss words, because that's all it really was. Groupie boobs, the band arguing and cussing, good times. Metallica is known for their 30 minute guitar intros, this album was no different. The illest songs off of here are "The Unforgiven", "Sad But True", "Wherever I May Roam", "Nothing Else Matters", "Enter Sandman"....fuck it, it's a straight classic. This Metallica meant something, all the original members, but they too have sold out, when the released "Garage Days" and cut their signature long hair dos.

Megadeth-Countdown to Extinction(1992)
"Goddamn, Versace Boi, you done did that shit again." So peep it, unlike most rap artists, I wasn't raised on HipHop, Soul or Motown, I was raised on Rock'N'Roll, you see me? Another one of my favorite bands, it's as close to heavy metal as I will get, ya dig? I like this band because they had something to say. They had political songs and what not, but I like the lead singer, Dave Mustaine's, delivery. He sounds fuckin' crazy, I like it. The best ones off of this one are, "Skin O' My Teeth", "Symphony of Destruction", and "Foreclosure of a Dream". Definitely a good listen.

George Michael-The Best of George Michael(1998)
Ok, so this really isn't an album, but check it, if you can overcome your homophobia, you'd realize this is some good listening. This compilation features songs from all over his career like "Careless Whisper" when he was in a duo called Wham! It's GOOD ASS MUSIC. The best ones on this joint, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", "Monkey", "Fast Love" and "Too Funky".

Jay-Z-The Blueprint 2: The Gift and The Curse(2002)
Hooooooooovvvvvaaaaaa! Most hip hop junkies would argue with me that this isn't Jay's best album....ok, maybe not his best, but it offers a very different Jay-Z, it shows that Shawn Carter is more than a dopeman/rapper who's not a rapper. I could listen to every track on this 2 disc feature because,well, it's just that damn good. My fav's on this one, brace yourself, it's gonna be long, "A Dream", "Hovi Baby", Fuck All Night", "Poppin' Tags","Excuse Me Miss", "The Bounce", "2 Many Hoes", "Some People Hate'', "Gunz and Roses", "Meet the Parents" and "U Don't Know(Remix)". Jay told stories on this one, he got lyrical and the production is top notch, not to forget the guest vocals from Beyonce,Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell and cameos by a young Yeezy and M.O.P. Nasty album.

NaS- I AM...The Autobiography(1998)
This album was the soundtrack to my bus rides a lot of the time in 2006. This album, in my opinion, is NaS' best album, yeah, I'm including Illmatic(BLASPHEMY!) Ha.....But, seriously, this is the best produced NaS album, beats and lyrics, everything. "New York State of Mind Pt2" was darker and harder this trip, the production was done better, shout out to DJ Premier. "Small World" is simply an epic song, the beat and the story, it's.....ugh! "Ghetto Prisoners", "Nas is Like", "K-I-S-S-I-N-G", "Undying Love"(just the best hip hop track ever, samples Enter the Dragon, double ugh!), and "You Won't See Me Tonight" with Aaliyah. My favorite joint though is, "I Wanna Talk To You". He opened some eyes on this one, "Niggaz play with PlayStations, they build spacestations
On Mars plottin civilizations".

The E-M-P'll Say P.E.A.C.E