Think he just needs to retire and pass the torch to Kendrick (Game, Dre, & Snoop already did).
Like you were told, he's always been that. The only time he was more of a "gangsta" rapper was during those joke of albums called War & Peace. Although I can still enjoy the Peace disc for the fact it gives me a nice image of cruising downtown L.A., lol.
As for passing the torch... as long as he has something to offer, I don't really care. Although I keep hearing all of this about Kendrick. He has an MC Eiht feature in his new album, so he surely has something that's right up my alley. Will be listening to his album soon.
Like you were told, he's always been that. The only time he was more of a "gangsta" rapper was during those joke of albums called War & Peace. Although I can still enjoy the Peace disc for the fact it gives me a nice image of cruising downtown L.A., lol.
As for passing the torch... as long as he has something to offer, I don't really care. Although I keep hearing all of this about Kendrick. He has an MC Eiht feature in his new album, so he surely has something that's right up my alley. Will be listening to his album soon.
They were just too different to the usual Cube. It worked in Lethal Injection because he had spent five years being political and hardcore but then when he returned from that absence, he was completely different with that Don Mega shit. I like a few songs, specially the Peace disc since it's so weird it's comical but otherwise, they are a bit hard to listen to when you think that same guy has made the greatest hip-hop album ever in Death Certificate. (IMO)
They were just too different to the usual Cube. It worked in Lethal Injection because he had spent five years being political and hardcore but then when he returned from that absence, he was completely different with that Don Mega shit. I like a few songs, specially the Peace disc since it's so weird it's comical but otherwise, they are a bit hard to listen to when you think that same guy has made the greatest hip-hop album ever in Death Certificate. (IMO)
Peace was definitely the better album. I didn't come up during that era so I can't really have that view of the albums. I will say, though, they certainly aren't his best albums.
Death Certificate as the GOAT is definitely something you don't hear everyday. Illmatic, Ready To Die, and Paid In Full are usally the ones that get the most nods. I'll personally always find Illmatic to be the GOAT, but Death Certificate is hands down a top 10.
I love Illmatic but it's such a generic choice. It's the album version of "1. Tupac 2. Biggie" in GOAT rappers lists. Everyone says it just to be taken seriously. It's a great album and about every single song is a classic, but it's also nowhere near as expanded when it comes to subject matters as Death Certificate. While Cube spends 20 tracks talking about various issues and also has his little bit of fun, Illmatic is one-dimensional because Nas just spends the 9 tracks either bragging about himself or talking about the streets (neither are exactly innovative things). Sure, I love his slang heavy style and the excellent rapping techniques, but there's more to an album than that for it to qualify as the greatest IMO.
And neither did I come up during any eras to be exact, but I do a lot of chronological listening so it puts things in perspective a bit more when I go back and listen more.
I love Illmatic but it's such a generic choice. It's the album version of "1. Tupac 2. Biggie" in GOAT rappers lists. Everyone says it just to be taken seriously. It's a great album and about every single song is a classic, but it's also nowhere near as expanded when it comes to subject matters as Death Certificate. While Cube spends 20 tracks talking about various issues and also has his little bit of fun, Illmatic is one-dimensional because Nas just spends the 9 tracks either bragging about himself or talking about the streets (neither are exactly innovative things). Sure, I love his slang heavy style and the excellent rapping techniques, but there's more to an album than that for it to qualify as the greatest IMO.
And neither did I come up during any eras to be exact, but I do a lot of chronological listening so it puts things in perspective a bit more when I go back and listen more.
It is a popular choice, but I wouldn't put another album above it just because it's cliche. Anyone can be "one dimensional" depending on how you classify them. You could blanket all those "various issues" Cube touches on under "socially conscious rap" and claim that the whole album is socially conscious rap. That's why I don't base a rapper's range on one album because different albums can carry different stories.
Nas paints a perfect picture of life in Queensbridge and does it while staying technically sound, carrying a strong cadence, and a smooth flow. Illmatic is my GOAT because it's the perfect story. You could lay down, close your eyes, and let the music take over and just live through the songs. The entire album can actually lay a really chill, cold New York type atmosphere if you just listen and take it in. It's pure art.
They were just too different to the usual Cube. It worked in Lethal Injection because he had spent five years being political and hardcore but then when he returned from that absence, he was completely different with that Don Mega shit. I like a few songs, specially the Peace disc since it's so weird it's comical but otherwise, they are a bit hard to listen to when you think that same guy has made the greatest hip-hop album ever in Death Certificate. (IMO)
Lethal Injection wasn't that well received when it came out, but I liked it. But that was definiely the turn.
And he wasn't really gone for 5 years because the Westside Connection album happened in between. Between that, his Bootlegs and B-Sides and Featuring Ice Cube releases, and Sountrack appearances, it's like he was never gone. I mean, Lethal Injection went into 94 with the singles, Natural Born Killaz and Friday received heavy play in 94-95 and then Westside Connection came out and was massive in 96. So it wasn't all that weird or surprising when War and Peace dropped, Cube's music had changed a long time ago.
It is a popular choice, but I wouldn't put another album above it just because it's cliche. Anyone can be "one dimensional" depending on how you classify them. You could blanket all those "various issues" Cube touches on under "socially conscious rap" and claim that the whole album is socially conscious rap. That's why I don't base a rapper's range on one album because different albums can carry different stories.
Nas paints a perfect picture of life in Queensbridge and does it while staying technically sound, carrying a strong cadence, and a smooth flow. Illmatic is my GOAT because it's the perfect story. You could lay down, close your eyes, and let the music take over and just live through the songs. The entire album can actually lay a really chill, cold New York type atmosphere if you just listen and take it in. It's pure art.
They are both 2 of the best albums ever.
I agree with him that Illmatic is like the default choice for people who pretend to know shit(DC is likely too much for those herbs to handle if they've even heard it), but they don't matter anyway.......Illmatic is also the choice of many who DO know shit though.
Either is a valid choice as the greatest hip hop album. I do suspect that DC is too heavy for many who don't mention it though.
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