Ah, 1994. The year that two of my favorite albums of all time came out–and tied for the #1 spot. Seventeen albums this year because I don’t feel like throwing another three in that I really don’t think are classics just to fill out a list.
17. Home by Spearhead. I actually like this album a lot more than some of the albums above it, but it is much more reggae than rap so I’ve rated it lower as a hip hop album.
16. Ism and Blues by Hard 2 Obtain. A forgotten album by Taste and DL, a duo that never really went anywhere. Great rap from Long Island.
14.&15. Amerikkka’s Worst Nightmare by Spice-1 and We Come Strapped by MC Eiht. Two examples of the G-Funk movement that were really, really good. There were many others that were pretty boring. Both of these albums rest on the charisma of the performers more than the lyrics or music. I mean, it’s all good here–I’m listing them as GOATs after all–but really these albums are “moods.” And I never skip when a song from either of them comes across my random playlist. I couldn’t put one above the other–they’re equally great.
13. Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik (a preskool breakmix) by DJ Q-Bert. Before The Avalanches had computers and an entire internet database at their fingertips, DJs would plunder old record shops and buy 12 copies of the same album, then take them home and scratch the crap out of them. Demolition Pumpkin is one of the finest examples of how fascinating turntablism could get.
12. Don’t Fight the Feelin’ by Rappin’ 4tay. This one is a wild card pick. I get that it’s not the most original album and 4tay’s flow doesn’t have anything that makes it unique or special … But it just works for me. The whole thing bangs, end to end. I love this album.
11. Tical by Method Man. Not a lot to say about this one. It’s a classic for sure, yet I don’t find myself reaching for it very often.
10. The Sun Rises in the East by Jeru the Damaja. Jeru was in my blindspot until I started doing research for my 1994 best of list, and man am I happy to discover him. Of course I’d heard of him, but based entirely on his name I had always assumed he was one of those gravelly voiced horrorcore guys who just don’t do it for me. Man, was I wrong. Jeru is a smart, conscious rapper who scored DJ Premier production–he’s like if Nas and Grand Puba were mixed together. I’ll have this album on regular rotation for a very long time.
9. Super Tight by UGK. Another great album produced entirely by Pimp C and with guitar work by Leo Nocentelli of The Meters, who adds a New Orleans/funk vibe. Super Tight is more soulful than UGK’s classic Ridin’ Dirty, but in some ways it’s a better album–at least musically.
8. Hard to Earn by Gang Starr. Maybe every single song on this doesn’t land, but nearly all of them do. And the best cuts here are some of the best of this band’s entire discography. Key tracks: Speak Yeah Clout, Dwyck, Code of the Streets, Mass Appeal
7. The Diary by Scarface. Now firmly a solo artist who fully shed his Geto Boys past, Scarface moves from being a really good rapper to the top tier, a legend, an O.G. Actually, he’s not completely left the Geto Boys behind–on this album, he updates their biggest hit. This is my second favorite solo album by one of the all-time greatest Southern rappers. Key tracks: “The White Sheet,” “Hand of the Dead Body” feat Ice Cube and Devin the Dude, “I Seen a Man Die.”
6. Ill Communication by Beastie Boys. The Boys continued to explore hip hop hybrids with instrumentals, punk, and jazz. This album has one of the most lasting hits of their careers (“Sabotage”), other fantastic bangers (“Sure Shot,” “Root Down,” “Get it Together” featuring Q-Tip) and some very cool deep tracks (“Sabrosa” and “Do It” feat Biz Markie). I’d say this is the Beastie Boys’ second-best album, behind Paul’s Boutique.
5. Word…Life by The O.C. O.C. in 1994 was the least-known member of the Diggin’ In The Crates Crew, and yet he put out the best album out of all of them. With production overseen by Organized Konfusion, Word…Life is one of those ’90s rap albums that all the heads know but which is unknown outside those circles. There’s no obvious singles, no hits, and no memorable hooks, either. Just lyricism, dusty beats, and greatness. Note: Eminem used the track “Time’s Up” for beats in the 8 Mile film.\
4. The Main Ingredient by Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Pete Rock’s production here is even better than it was on Mecca and the Soul Brother. I know that sounds impossible to believe, but it’s true. Overall, this is an even better album as CL Smooth’s game is improved as well. Sadly, this was their last record together
3. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik by Outkast. Big Boi and Andre 3000’s debut album is a dense collection staking out their territory of gritty, Southern funk. The chemistry between the two of them was the strongest we’d heard since Chuck and Flavor Flav.
It’s incredible that the top 3 albums this year were all debuts by hip hop legends.
1&2 (tie). Illmatic by Nas and Ready to Die by Notorious B.I.G. It’s impossible to choose between these two albums, but it’s clear that in 1994, East Coast took rap back for sure.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Albums with some really good songs, but not great through and through…
- Murder Was the Case (Soundtrack). Not a great album by any measure, but Dr. Dre and Ice Cube reunited for the first time since their NWA days, and that was cool. The rest of the album was better than most soundtracks.
- Black Bastards by KMD. Interesting early MF DOOM work, albeit not a great album.
- Regulate…G Funk Era by Warren G. The lead single is a fucking anthem. The rest of the album is fairly similar, but you don’t need it.
- Resurrection by Common.
- Genocide and Juice by The Coup. I love Boots’ movies but I miss his music! Key tracks: Santa Rita Weekend (featuring E-40, Spice 1, E-Roc), Fat Cats Bigga Fish.
- Chief Boot Knocka by Sir Mix-A-Lot
- Stress: The Extinction Agenda by Organized Konfusion. Most people consider this a classic and I can’t disagree, even if it doesn’t do it for me that much anymore. For its time, it was great. I really don’t have a good reason for not including it in my list other than that I never listen to it anymore.
WORST RAP ALBUM OF THE YEAR…I’m going with Mind Blowin’ by Vanilla Ice. At least his first album had a hit.
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