This will probably be the only great song on his upcoming Kiss The Ring album. For good reason though as this song has some classic DJ Premier scratches and a soft piano lining that makes way for a semi-heavy guitar/piano synth. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League murdered this beat. Thank Khaled for letting the right guys rap on it.
Intro; 100-91, 90-81, 80-71, 70-61, 60-51
50. Disposable Arts – 2001 – Masta Ace
Hip Hop legend Masta Ace returned to the rap game in 2001 after a six year hiatus, and the Brooklyn MC clearly hadn’t lost a step. Ace had a great run from the late 80′s to early 90′s, but I’d say this is an overall better disc than anything he had released previously. This was the beginning of Ace’s work with full length concept albums (I’ll get to 2004′s prequel to this, A Long Hot Summer, later in the list), which helped highlight his legendary flow (key influence to Eminem’s style) and elite lyricism, over the course of an attention-grabbing LP.
Top Tracks: Take A Walk | Acknowledge | Enuff
49. When The Smoke Clears – 2000 – Three 6 Mafia
A full 22-tracks of crazy-ass Memphis bangers. Triple 6 aren’t for all hip-hop fans, but when the time and place is right (as I said when describing Da Unbreakables; drinking, working out, just going nuts, etc.), there is sometimes nothing better. I would kill to see these guys live..you really won’t find energy like this anywhere else.
Top Tracks: M.E.M.P.H.I.S. | I’m So High | Mafia Niggaz