[Western Music] A landmark masterpiece in hip-hop history! A fundamental album you should know

Stan (ft. Dido)Eminem

Eminem – Stan (Long Version) ft. Dido

Beyond the boundaries of hip-hop, Eminem remains, even now in the 2020s, a towering presence and influence as the biggest star, best-selling artist, and best-selling rapper in the music scene since the 2000s.

He has also worked as an actor, and many people were inspired to become rappers after seeing his semi-autobiographical starring film 8 Mile, released in 2002.

Among rock-leaning music fans in my generation, there are many who started listening to hip-hop because of Eminem.

Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP, his second major-label release in 2000, is a signature work that holds astonishing records—selling 1.

79 million copies in its first week—and stands as the best-selling album in hip-hop history.

In stark contrast to his previous album, which foregrounded the alter ego “Slim Shady” in its title, this album—titled with his real name—channels unrelenting anger, scathing expressions, jabs at pop culture, and self-critique.

More than twenty years after its release, it still hits with overwhelming impact.

Eminem’s exceptional skills and storytelling talent—rapping America’s darkness with moments of seriousness and humor—reach their peak in the masterpiece Stan.

It’s a classic that even rock and pop fans should listen to at least once!

Me, Myself And IDe La Soul

De La Soul – Me Myself and I (With Intro) (Official Music Video) [HD]

Even just looking at the jackets of this well-defined trio, you can feel a cheerful vibe, right? Formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York, De La Soul is a popular hip-hop trio that has long thrived with an unshakable lineup of two MCs and one DJ.

In 2006, they won a Grammy for “Feel Good Inc.

,” a collaboration with the UK virtual band Gorillaz, expanding their appeal beyond hip-hop fans to rock enthusiasts as well.

Their landmark debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, was released in 1989.

A masterpiece that stood apart from hardcore hip-hop, it blended a wide range of styles—rock, pop, jazz, soul, and funk—and built a vivid soundscape through skillful sampling.

It’s said to have influenced later jazz hip-hop and alternative hip-hop, and its timeless gems continue to captivate a broad audience of music lovers.

Unfortunately, due to disputes over sampling rights with their original label, the album still hasn’t been made available on digital platforms.

Even so, we highly recommend picking it up on CD or vinyl rather than waiting for a digital release.

Bring The NoisePublic Enemy

Bring The Noise – Public Enemy ( Original Video )

No question about it: this is one of the most influential works in hip-hop history, and its barrage of powerful messages cuts even sharper precisely because of today’s chaotic world.

Led by the charismatic MC Chuck D, Public Enemy—hailing from New York—is a quintessential hip-hop group known for its serious, message-driven stance.

Beyond their lyrics and groundbreaking production, they expanded their scope with a flexible, era-conscious approach, collaborating and touring with rock and metal bands to exert a genre-crossing impact.

Their second album, 1988’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, hits with an absolutely ferocious, noisy-yet-funky, hard-hitting sound crafted by the Bomb Squad, whose production is staggering—matched by the commanding presence of the early member Terminator X on the turntables.

It’s a record born of necessity at the intersection of gifted musicians and the late 1980s; remove any one element and it wouldn’t exist as it does.

A masterpiece that every rock fan—especially those who love bands like Rage Against the Machine or Linkin Park—should hear at least once!

Walk This WayRun-D.M.C.

RUN DMC – Walk This Way (Official HD Video) ft. Aerosmith

The historic classic “Walk This Way,” which achieved an innovative fusion of rock and hip-hop, is a song that many people have likely heard, even if they’re not interested in hip-hop.

The music video, which also featured Aerosmith—the creators of the original—became so famous that it spawned countless parodies.

The legendary hip-hop unit that brought this track into the world is Run-D.

M.

C.

, who began their activities in the early 1980s.

Rather than coming from impoverished backgrounds, the members were middle-class youths from Queens, and with their distinctive style of Adidas three-stripe tracksuits and Superstars, they set a variety of records in hip-hop history.

The trio’s third album, released in 1986 and including the aforementioned “Walk This Way,” is Raising Hell.

This work became the first multi-platinum record in hip-hop history, and its music videos were the first in the genre to air on MTV—an epoch-making album that will be remembered as a timeless masterpiece among masterpieces.

A classic hip-hop album beyond dispute, it popularized the technique of sampling and became a hit that drew in rock listeners as well.

It’s universally acknowledged as one of the essential works that cannot be overlooked when exploring hip-hop.

Dirt Off Your ShoulderJay Z

JAY-Z – Dirt Off Your Shoulder

Jay-Z is one of the most popular rappers in hip-hop history and is also known as one of the wealthiest musicians, thanks in part to his business ventures.

He and his wife, Beyoncé, are famous as a power couple.

If you’re not very interested in hip-hop and only know Jay-Z through celebrity gossip, you might be missing out.

As a rapper and musician, he possesses extraordinary talent; he’s flexible enough to collaborate with acts like Linkin Park, and through tremendous effort he overcame a tough life to achieve success anyone would envy.

This time, we’re focusing on The Black Album, which Jay-Z released in 2003 as his retirement record.

Even though a star-studded lineup of producers and guest musicians showcase their talents, Jay-Z remains firmly at center stage, and the album is packed with carefully selected killer tracks.

Although he later walked back the retirement, keeping in mind that he created this album as his last at the time may give you a different perspective when you listen.

Fuck wit Dre Day (And Everybody’s Celebratin’)Dr. Dre

Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody’s Celebratin’)

Dr.

Dre, who launched many popular rappers including Eminem, is one of the most prominent and successful producers in hip-hop history.

He is also known as a living encyclopedia of West Coast hip-hop and a pioneer who created the genre known as G-funk.

Having made his name as a member of the legendary group N.

W.

A, Dre left the group at the height of their popularity.

While producing numerous classics and supporting gifted young artists, he has released three solo albums to date, into the 2020s.

The album featured here, The Chronic, is his first solo album, released in 1992.

A hip-hop classic that needs no introduction, this smash hit defined the aforementioned G-funk sound and showcases Dre’s true prowess as an outstanding music producer and an engineer with exceptional taste.

In addition to masterful old-school-style sampling, he crafted a groundbreaking production by incorporating live instrumentation, resulting in a timeless work.

The album is also famous for featuring the then-debuting Snoop Dogg throughout, heralding the dawn of the golden age of 1990s West Coast hip-hop.

Don’t Sweat The TechniqueEric B. & Rakim

Eric B. & Rakim – Don’t Sweat The Technique

The generation from the mid-80s to the early 90s—the so-called “Golden Age of Hip-Hop”—boasts a wealth of truly legendary artists and groups.

Among them, Eric B.

& Rakim stand as a top-tier duo in both renown and influence, with Rakim’s MCing in particular widely regarded as one of the most impactful in hip-hop history.

Distinct from gangsta rap and politically charged agitation, his style is defined by thoughtful insight and a philosophical sensibility, delivering cool, composed, conversational rhymes with unmatched finesse.

Their final album, 1992’s “Don’t Sweat the Technique,” is emblematic of old-school hip-hop at its best—melodic and funky, built on tasteful sample choices—with the title track’s dark, wood-bass-driven jazz groove leaving an especially indelible impression.

Although issues over credits reportedly triggered their breakup, I highly recommend listening to all four of their albums, including this one!