Which 90s debut album from these East Coast rappers do you prefer?

[MattDennis]

My vote goes to Illmatic, it changed the way I listen to hip-hop. The production, Nas' lyricism...it was all near flawless.

[xsinkshipsx]

ready to die is it for me, the flow, the stories of the streets...it's true gangster

[MattDennis]

ready to die is it for me, the flow, the stories of the streets...it's true gangster

Legit argument.
But while Nas may not have brought his stories to life as vividly as Big, he was far more poetic about the way he went about it. As far as flow is concerend it's preference; Biggie was smooth like butter, but Nas can articulate like no other.

[briewer]

Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuthin' ta fuck wit.

[MyNameIsRoss]

Illmatic, duh.

[MattDennis]

Illmatic, duh.

Yeeea represent, represent!

...good to see the love for Nas, but I thought Biggie and Jay had more fans on AP.

[Animalhill]

These results make me sick. Nas ahead of Big L and Wu Tang?

[MattDennis]

These results make me sick. Nas ahead of Big L and Wu Tang?

Big L is def overlooked, but Nas had far better production on Illmatic and could rhyme circles around him.
But I agree that Wu-Tang should have more votes.

[Animalhill]

Big L is def overlooked, but Nas had far better production on Illmatic and could rhyme circles around him.
But I agree that Wu-Tang should have more votes.
I don't think that production should play into how great an album is (to an extent) , especially with hip hop.
I mean, I like Nas, but Big L was so fucking influencial.

[MattDennis]

I don't think that production should play into how great an album is (to an extent) , especially with hip hop.
I mean, I like Nas, but Big L was so fucking influencial.

Are you serious? Production in hip-hop is the equivalent to intrumentation in any other genre...it plays a HUGE role in a hip-hop album, more so than any other genre. Saying it dosn't count is like only judging an album on vocals. You can be the greatest emcee ever, but if you have whack ass beats it's going to bring the quality down significantly. And as far as influence goes, Illmatic has been hailed as a hip-hop classic for years. It brought back the East Coast in the mid 90s.

[Animalhill]

Are you serious? Production in hip-hop is the equivalent to intrumentation in any other genre...it plays a HUGE role in a hip-hop album. You can be the greatest emcee ever, but if you have whack ass beats it's going to bring the quality down significantly. And as far as influence goes, Illmatic has been hailed as a hip-hop classic for years. It brought back the East Coast in the mid 90s.
I guess by production I was assuming you meant the overall recorded quality of the album. You can still have bomb beats without a ridiculous budget.

[MattDennis]

I guess by production I was assuming you meant the overall recorded quality of the album. You can still have bomb beats without a ridiculous budget.

Oh I def agree...and Big L is a great example of that. I honestly can't say if Illmatic had a huge budget or not, but almost every prodcuer on that album contributed more than one track and are considered among the greatest in hip-hop. Two of which, DJ Premier and Pete Rock, were used on Big L's posthumous album (which I prefer to his debut).

[Animalhill]

Oh I def agree...and Big L is a great example of that. I honestly can't say if Illmatic had a huge budget or not, but almost every prodcuer on that album contributed more than one track and are considered among the greatest in hip-hop. Two of which, DJ Premier and Pete Rock, were used on Big L's posthumous album (which I prefer to his debut).
I agree with everything you just said haha.
DJ Premier is so fucking sick.

[MattDennis]

I agree with everything you just said haha.
DJ Premier is so fucking sick.

Yeah, my all time favorite. It's a travesty he isn't on that "greatest hip-hop producer" poll. The man contributed at least one track to every amazing album on this list (with the exception of Wu-Tang), that says something.

PS: "Ugh....NH" I lol'd. Some good local bands up there tho. (ex: Mercury Switch)

[WhoSaidThat?]

I guess Illmatic

[MattDennis]

Interested to hear who the "other" votes were for.

[superichie]

36 Chambers. No question. Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuthin' ta fuck wit!

[MattDennis]

36 Chambers. No question. Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuthin' ta fuck wit!

Fact, but none of their members are half man half amazin' lol.

[Theseventhson]

Illmatic is probably my favorite rap record of all time.

[seraph1214]

Illmatic is my favorite hip-hop album of all time. Nas is an insane lyricist and the beats are disgusting. All those albums are classics though.

[xsinkshipsx]

BIG straight G....cant deny it....

[MattDennis]

Illmatic is my favorite hip-hop album of all time. Nas is an insane lyricist and the beats are disgusting. All those albums are classics though.

The production on Illmatic is what puts it ahead of Ready to Die for me. But it's true, they are all so good. If you replace Big L's album with his posthumous one these are my favorite rap albums of all time .

BIG straight G....cant deny it....

Fact....one of the realest to live. And Nas is straight poetry.
I was starting to wonder when Biggie's mainstream appeal would show on these results.

[tiannaj23]

I could really care less about any of these artists, but I like Jay Z better than the others.

[Ari Christos]

Either Illmatic or 36 Chambers. Nas's imagery and lyricism was unreal on that album, and has yet to be matched by any other hip-hop record to this day.

36 Chambers was really revolutionary to hip-hop I think. From style, to production, to the sampling - they changed the outlook and approach to hip-hop and created a foundation to build upon.

[Loge182]

Other: Slim Shady LP.

[MattDennis]

Other: Slim Shady LP.

Good album, but not East Coast...and technically it's his second album. He released Infinite in '96 on cassette and vinyl. I've never actually heard it.
Thanks for clarifying your "other" vote though.

[Hull]

I went with Jay Z.

[speakhandsforme]

Illmatic

"Inhale deep, deep like the words on my breath. I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death."

[Alex DiVincenzo]

Biggie

[princesschad]

Biggie Smalls is the illest.

[IceAge/HeatWave]

illmatic.