The Anatomy Of A Classic

 

Open up your textbooks to Chapter 420. Today we are going to discuss what makes a Hip-Hop album a classic album. The makings of a classic varies from one person to the next, but the main themes that seem to stick out are, Beats, Lyrics, Emotion, Atmosphere and Timelessness....Remember BLEAT, like a lamb!

BEATS: Everyone knows in order to fully enjoy a rap artist, their beats have to be good and fit the character of the artist. The key to a classic album is, if another person can rap on one of the beats from that album, odds are, it isn't classic. For example: Pete Rock & CL Smooth's biggest hit, "T.R.O.Y(They Reminisce Over You), it is considered a perfect song, hence, no one ever tried to rap on the beat or remake the song in any fashion....I tried and failed miserably.

LYRICS: Lyricism is not key to a classic album, but it DOES help. Albums that were given XXL or 5 Mics usually contain potent, thought provoking lyrics. Rhythmic rhyme schemes and the use of words is what usually tickles the ear drum of most listeners. For example: Nas' Illmatic album contains some of the most advanced lyrics known to his time period. The way he uses his words to create images and stories, it's a notbale classic.

EMOTION: Everybody loves the backstory to an artist. As the saying goes, "It's not what you say, but how you say it." For example: MF DOOM is probably one of the best rappers alive, but he doesn't catch enough attention because of how he says his lyrics. DOOM has some of the wickedest rhymes, but he's getting slept on pretty badly. Not enough emotion can be a problem,  as well as too much. Example: Canibus, he gets really angry on his songs, causing listeners to say he's groaning on songs. The best example of delivery has to go to Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne, for right now. The way they emphasis or twist up the English language is quite the spectacle. For example: 50Cent's Get Rich Or Die Tryin', he put his all into that album clearly. With songs like "Many Men", emoion is pretty essential in making a classic.

ATMOSPHERE: This is the vibe people get from the album. Sometimes albums are created around one tone, i.e: 808s & Heartbreak. Some albums jump around here and there, The Blueprint. There is no specific way to create an atmosphere, just keep in mind, people will only listen if they like the vibe. If your first song is about suicide, you may get a stop button. It all boils down to taste on this one. Create an atmosphere that people would like to submerge themselves in. For example: Kanye West's College Dropout, EVERYBODY can relate to school....ok, not EVERYBODY, but you get it.

TIMELESSNESS: Probably the most important aspect of the 'five-fecta'. If your album can't survive a month without people forgetting about it, why'd you make it? The other four tie into this one pretty nicely. Can an album's beats, lyrics, emotion, and atmosphere survive the times. This is a little hard to come by in the Hip-Hop world. Since rappers usually rap about what's around them as opposed to what's inside, the highest selling album today, may not last til next year. For example: Any Lil Bow Wow album, since he's not that lyrical, his style relies on the luxurious that were cool during his time, who knows, people in the future may think Nike G-Shocks are lame....Think A Tribe Called Quest, though old school in sound, very little of their subject matter has become dated since they rap about what they know and often tell stories.

You got the basics down. It's time to apply it. Let me pick a classic album....

 

1.Can't Knock The Hustle

2.Politics As Usual

3.Brooklyn's Finest

4.Dead Presidents

5.Feelin' It

6.D'Evils

7.22 Two's

8.Can I Live?

9.Ain't No

10.Friend Or Foe

11.Coming Of Age

12.Cashmere Thoughts

13.Bring It On

14.Regrets

Ok, so if you pick it apart by the BLEAT principles it's like this:

BEATS:He's got production from Primo, Clark Kent and some other talented cats. The beats are purely sampled, but they are so wonderfully enlivened and used very well.Example: All of 'em.

LYRICS:Hov was in top form, with appearances by Biggie Smalls, Mary J. Blige and Memphis Bleek(...), he couldn't help but be nasty. The content is drugs, violence, guns, and his own life, and they are very ill lyrics. His punchlines and wordplay could be matched by very few. Example: Brooklyn's Finest and Politics As Usual.

EMOTION:The thing some listeners have a problem with Jay-Zwise is the way he speaks his lyrics. Some argue that he just talks over beats. It's very nice talking. For example: Friend Or Foe, it is made to sound like he's talking to someone, this impresses some who pay attention, it doesn't amuse most who just hear it.

ATMOSPHERE:The tone is a mix of the hard streets of New York and "Good Fellas" living. For example: Cashmere Thoughts, luxury at its finest.

TIMELESSNESS:Does this album survive 1996? Hell yeah, not in its entirety, but that's ok. You know Hov talked Cris' this and Rover's that. Now its Ace of Spades and Maybachs.....A few references to the VCR and Magnavox makes him sound like he shops at Goodwill nowadays, but it was a big deal then.

So, what have we learned today children?

"The rest you fill it in"

P.E.A.C.E