Best Hip Hop Albums To Own On Vinyl - April 2024

Paul's Boutique (20th Anniversary Edition) (Vinyl LP)

VInyl LP pressing of this 20th Anniversary edition of the Beastie Boys' 1989 sophomore album. When first released, the album was a commercial failure but slowly, but surely, the world caught up and now the album is considered a landmark in Hip Hop and Alt-Rock by critics and fans.

• ASIN: B001NJY670
• ASIN: B001NJY670
• Brand: EMI
• Manufacturer: Capitol

The Chronic [Vinyl LP]

LP

• ASIN: B00005AQEU
• UPC: 728706300018
• ASIN: B00005AQEU
• Brand: Death Row
• Manufacturer: Death Row Records

Fear Of A Black Planet [LP][Explicit]

The original LP version of Fear of a Black Planet will also be released in a collector's vinyl edition for the first time in 15 years, with a special 'fade to black' 3D cover that, when turned to the left or right, turns black, with just the band's iconic cross-hairs visible. Fear of a Black Planet, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2015, finished #300 on Rolling Stone's list of the '500 Greatest Albums of All Time' and was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2005. The album is certified platinum by the RIAA for more than one million shipped, peaking at No. ... [Read More]

• ASIN: B00OKF3O8Q
• UPC: 602537998647
• ASIN: B00OKF3O8Q
• Brand: Def Jam
• Manufacturer: Def Jam

Butterfly

Legacy Recordings celebrates the 20th anniversary of Mariah Carey's Butterfly with the release of a collector's edition 12" vinyl picture disc--featuring the album's iconic original cover photo and a special note from Mariah to her fans

• ASIN: B07478MS1V
• UPC: 889854563011
• ASIN: B07478MS1V
• Manufacturer: Legacy

4:44 [Explicit]

• ASIN: B073RTY1G9
• ASIN: B073RTY1G9
• Manufacturer: Roc Nation / Jay-Z

Greatest Hits [Explicit]

• ASIN: B0025WDZMQ
• ASIN: B0025WDZMQ
• Manufacturer: Interscope

Das EFX: Skoob, Dray (vocals).Additional personnel: PMD, KRS-One, Pete Rock (vocals); D.J. Dice, George "D.J. Scratch" Spivey (scratches); D-Wade.Producers include: Peter Lewis, D.J. Premier, Easy Mo Bee, Solid Scheme.Taking over hip-hop in 1992, Das EFX introduced their "diggedy-Das" rapping style, which has since been duplicated throughout the industry. Fortunately, no one has come close to mastering Dray and Skoob's trademark rhyming, and the biting MCs have mysteriously disappeared. Now, three albums deep with HOLD IT DOWN, Das EFX maintain their ruffneck image and continue to bring forth the underground sound.Rolling with the Hit Squad (headed by PMD), Das EFX's name is often associated with hardcore hip-hop, and "Real Hip Hop" proves that there is nothing commercial about their music. "No Diggedy"--which in plain English means "No Doubt"--answers the question of whether Das EFX still have the ability to rip the mic. HOLD IT DOWN sports an all-star production cast, with D.J. Premier, Easy Mo Bee, Pete Rock and Showbiz all contributing tracks, but the two rappers ably provide their own musical backdrop on "Buck-Buck," where they rhyme over an old-school-type track.Das EFX stress the fact that they are a "Hardcore Rap Act" with straight-forward lyrics that threaten wack rappers, and beats that use less samples and more scratches. Their main concern is staying true to their audience, while they rock the microphone with original phrases and blunt-inspired concepts.

HOLD IT DOWN

• UPC: 3462417

Producers include: Steely & Clevie, Shane Richards, Danny Brownie, D. Juvenile, Donovan Germain.Mr. Vegas, born Clifford Smith, was once a smooth-voiced singer known in Jamaica for his sweet tone. However, a fight one night at a recording studio--over the ownership of a DAT tape--resulted in Smith's jaw being broken with an iron pipe. After a few weeks in the hospital with his jaw wired shut, he ordered the wiring removed and came back with a new vocal style combining rap with singing. HEADS HIGH is a typical dancehall album in the sense that lyrically, it is mostly concerned with women, braggadocio, and "cabin stabbin." However, HEADS HIGH is an interesting album. Mr. Vegas's vocal style is not only well suited to the genre but has a distinctive tone all its own, which Mr. Vegas creates by semi-singing his raps. The beats are well done and quite varied across the 20 tracks. This album's title track was a huge hit, holding at No. 1 on the U.K. charts for 10 weeks and becoming a staple in any hip-hop DJ's reggae sets. Mr. Vegas was nominated as Best International Reggae Act for England's 1998 MOBO awards. Not bad for a rookie effort.

Format: Music CD, Greensleeves Records. Rock music CD release from Mr. Vegas with the album Heads High. Released on the lKel Greensleeves Records. Reggae music CD. This hard to find pre-owned music CD is fully

• UPC: 3481281

Personnel: Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes (rap vocals); Meda Leacock (background vocals); Korn.Producers: Jay Dee, Q-Tip, DJ Scratch.Engineers include: Steve Souder, Jason Groucott, Ken "Duro" Ifill.Recorded at The Hit Factory, New York, New York.A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip has played a very important role in hip-hop. And though loyal Quest fans dreaded the day that the members of the threesome (sometimes foursome) would go their separate ways, everyone longed and waited patiently for the highly anticipated Q-Tip solo joint. With that in mind and a mic in hand, Q-Tip comes correct on his debut album, AMPLIFIED.With this album, the Abstract One makes it clear why his music has been so influential. The always-original Q-Tip is the type of rapper who makes his own trends. He also possesses nearly peerless skills as an MC and producer. The club-ready "Breathe and Stop" makes it hard for anyone to stay off the dance floor, and along with the album's other tracks, helps carry out a more mature hip-hop sound. Throughout AMPLIFIED, collaborations are kept to a minimum, allowing Q-Tip to show off his versatility. Two exceptions, however, are "End of Time," which features rock stars Korn, and "N.T.," a track on which Q-Tip shares the mic with longtime friend Busta Rhymes.

AMPLIFIED [PA] [078221461924]

• UPC: 3463241

It's easy to bemoan the Grammy Awards, particularly when it comes to the committee's understanding of rap. The first winner of the Best Rap Record was "Parents Just Don't Understand" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, so what do they know. Well, more than one might think, as evidenced by the track listing of nominees on this surprisingly beguiling collection. Everyone from Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott to Dr. Dre to, yes, Grammy fave Will Smith is represented on this compilation. They might even have selected the best hip-hop song of 1999 in The Roots' "The Next Movement." The Philly Crew appears again for their luscious collaboration with Erykah Badu "You Got Me." Eminem's "My Name Is" for all its unabashed white-boy rap leanings, was hard to hate, let alone ignore. Then there's Nas' "I Am" to account for the harder-edged contingent. Okay, some important artists of 1999 are overlooked; there's nothing by Mos Def, Pharoah Monche, or any of the various Wu-Tangers who released top-notch albums during 1999. However, for those who might doubt the Grammys, this compilation is eye-opening. Then again, looking back, "Parents Just Don't Understand" was pretty fun at the time.

GRAMMY RAP NOMINEES 2000 [PA]

• UPC: 3463394

Bowery Electric: Martha Schwendener (vocals, various instruments); Lawrence Chandler (various instruments, programming, samples, scratches).Recorded at Electric Sound, Brooklyn, New York.When Lawrence Chandler and Martha Schwendener first spiked Bowery Electric's gorgeous wash of dream-pop guitars and voices with looped hip-hop beats, the New York-based duo was a few steps ahead of the game. The music world eventually caught up, trip-hop happened, and the combination proffered by 1996's landmark BEAT quickly became commonplace. LUSHLIFE, Bowery Electric's belated follow-up, strikes back with stronger songs and sharper production, bucking the trip-hop trend.LUSHLIFE's after-dark cityscape incorporates the best atmospheric elements of hip-hop, dub, downtempo, and soundtrack design. Profound basslines burrow beneath velvety string swatches ("Deep Blue," "Lushlife") and organ shimmers, guitars glittering everywhere like motes of stardust. Chandler's programming and production match the sparse, spooky eloquence of the RZA's Wu-Tang work, particularly on "Psalms of Survival," "Saved," and the album finale "Passages." Schwendener's vocals drift dreamily, surveying an unbroken neon skyline of samples, scratches, and breakbeats. The sweet pop snarl of "Freedom Fighter" makes for an ideal single, though the song seems slightly at odds with the album's finely tuned melancholic mood.

LUSHLIFE *

• UPC: 3482587

Best Album (Analog) (CD)

Details Coming Soon

• UPC: 453754956

Personnel: Common Sense (vocals); Tony Orbach (saxophone); Lenny Underwood (keyboards); Kenny Aaronson (bass); Twilite Tone, Tarsha Jones (background vocals); Immenslope, Rayshel.Producers: Immenslope, The Beat Nuts, Twilite Tone.The first album by Chicago MC Common, CAN I BORROW A DOLLAR?, is widely accepted in hip-hop's underground as a classic. Raw cuts like "Blows to the Temple" demonstrate why, and give listeners a glimpse at a legend in the making.With CAN I BORROW A DOLLAR?, a younger, more careless Common was simply out to demonstrate his talents to a nation obsessed with New York and L.A. rap. The lo-fi beat structure of the album is reminiscent of the music of the early '90s, when heavy jazz and funk influences dominated East Coast hip-hop. Though the disc is layered with gritty beats and samples that now seem familiar, they seem vibrant when put into context with other material of the same era. The Beatnuts offer one of their early productions on "Heidi Hoe," a track that may shock listeners who are used to Common's more reflective, socially aware lyrics of today. While certainly not his best work, die-hard fans won't be disappointed.

Common - Can I Borrow A Dollar (CD NEW)Label: RelativityFormat: CD MODRelease Date: 06 Oct 1992No. of Discs: 1UPC: 088561108427Album Tracks1. A Penny For My Thoughts2. Charms Alarm3. Take It EZ4. Heidi Hoe5. Breaker 1/96.

• UPC: 3464472