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1989

Favouite Rap albums

​Here we are now in 1989 , but I’ve put together a solid list of favorites. As we bid farewell to this year, I can't help but feel excited about all the discussions we’ll have as we dive into the 90s. I wanted to include both 1988 and 1989 to highlight the foundation that paved the way for everything that followed.

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Favourite tracks from Album

  • Its A Big Daddy  Thing

  • Another Victory

  • Mortal Combat

  • Calling Mr Welfare

  • Warm It Up Kane

Big Daddy Kane

Its A Big Daddy Thing

For me , this album truly solidified Big Daddy Kane’s reputation as one of the greatest lyricists of his generation. He wasn’t just rapping, he was crafting intricate, razor sharp verses with a level of skill that felt almost effortless. The way he shaped and flowed his lyrics on this project was unlike anything he had done before. His delivery was smoother, his punchlines were sharper, and his breath control was ridiculous.

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He made complex rhyme patterns sound natural, switching up speeds and cadences like it was second nature.

 

This album showed that Kane wasn’t just a technical master, he had versatility, charisma, and the ability to command any beat he touched.

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For me, this project cemented Kane as one of Rakim’s rivals during that golden period. From 1988 to 1991, they were at the top, constantly raising the bar for lyricism. Every time Kane dropped, he proved why he belonged in that conversation. This album wasn’t just a showcase of skillit was a statement.

ICE T

The Iceberg/Freedom ​of Speech… ​Just Watch What ​You Say! 

At first, I couldn't really get into Ice T’s first two albums, but The Iceberg completely changed that for me. This album became a turning point in the debate over free expression and censorship, and for good reason. Ice T delivers a raw, unfiltered look at society’s darkest realities, capturing the anger and frustration that were simmering in late '80s America. The way he tackles issues head on, without sugar coating anything, makes this album feel more like a manifesto than just a collection of songs. It’s gritty, thought provoking, and impossible to ignore.

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Favourite tracks from Album

  • Lethal Weapon

  • You Played Yourself

  • Hit The Deck

  • This One's For Me

  • Freedom Of Speeck

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Favourite tracks from Album

  • Ghetto Thang

  • Eye Know

  • Me Myself & I

  • The Magic   Number

De La Soul

3 Feet High Rising

What really caught me was the way De La Soul made being nerdy or “alternative” sound cool. Like they weren’t trying to be hard they were just being themselves and that confidence made it fresh. The beats are playful full of random sounds game show samples little jokes and skits it’s like a cartoon for your ears but it never feels childish. It’s smart without showing off. Silly but still sharp.

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What I love is that the production matches De La Soul’s vibe perfectly. These guys were not trying to be anyone else. They weren’t flexing about street life or trying to act tough. They were rhyming about being themselves playing around with words and making jokes like they were just rapping with their friends in someone’s basement. But it was all on top of this next-level sound design.

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2 Live Crew

As Nasty As They Wanna Be

When you look at female rappers like Cardi B Megan Thee Stallion and City Girls I’m used to hearing women talk about sex in bold fun ways. That’s normal now. But what hit me was 2 Live Crew did that kind of stuff way earlier.

 

They were talking about sex loud and unfiltered before it was even allowed on the radio.

And people really hated them for it. They got banned taken to court called disgusting. Like the whole country tried to cancel them. But instead of backing down they kept going.

 

They didn’t care who was mad. They made music for the people who weren’t scared to hear the truth  even if it was messy.

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This album is loud, bold and full of energy  and it’s built on straight up Miami bass. That deep heavy beat that makes your chest shake and your car speakers cry that’s Miami bass. And 2 Live Crew used it like a weapon. They were loud raw and honest about sex before it was safe to be.

So yeah this album is crazy but it matters. 2 Live Crew got all the backlash so future artists could talk their talk without getting shut down. Whether you like it or not they helped shape the music we have now.

4o

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Favourite tracks from Album

  • Me So Horny

  • Put Her In The Buck

  • C'mon Babe

  • I Ain't Bullshitting

  • The Fuck Shop

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