The feeling of a certain time period is something unable to replicate. When an album drops, the cultural events surrounding the music often play a large role in how the album is received.
From the movies that are being watched to the president in office at the time everything besides the music helps determine an album’s impact.
In the latest episode of HipHopDX’s The Breakdown, Page Kennedy looks at the impact of the cultural climate in Hip Hop and how it influences what we consider a classic album.
Kennedy also discusses how regions might experience albums differently. We look specifically at N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton, Nas’ Illmatic, Kanye West’s The College Dropout, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly and more.
Watch “How The Cultural Climate In A Specific Time Period Can Influence A Classic: The Breakdown” above.
And as always, check out previous episodes of the series on DX’s YouTube channel.
So basically if the generation is full of depressive crybabies, Take Care and Life of Pablo become classics.
Basically! Them shits ain’t no classics… I fucks with Drake, but he ain’t got no classics.
I would go on a limb and say So Far Gone was a classic.
That limb would be chopped off by anyone who is a fan of Hip-Hop. That might be a semi classic pop album.
LOL @ The whole Limb being Chopped off…..Drake whole shit was planted !!
Drake is the best Canadian ACTOR of ALL-TIME !
Lmao. Please see my comment above.
Yep this is true, a classic album doesn’t have to be a classic in the population’s view either. It can be personal. I’ve had albums that did t even hit the radar of some
Folks that I played the hell out of during a specific point in my life. I believe that the rating system we’ve came up with in hiphop has become too much of a decision factor for most people.
Its that way with all things. We check the number that help, amazon or rotten tomatoes gives and use that (and that only) to decide.
Or, you can sample the album yourself and come up with your own conclusion. An album has to be played multiple
Times to get the full listen in also
To be considered a classic, there has to be some type of general consensus… Your classic is not a classic, it’s just your favorite album.
You are so right. Today we are constantly rating things more than enjoying them. That’s bc of mainstream fans that don’t get hiphop today. Same thing with collaborations. People are always judging which rapper had the best verse instead enjoying the blend of styles that make the song special. I do feel like this generation is starting to understanding the elements of hiphop. It’s actually ok to like some rappers without hating other rappers.
TO be a real classic, the album has to be considered the best of the best by the populous. It’s in the definition. GRODT has aged like milk.
Sadly, some albums some call classic never get wide recognition because the mainstream won’t give quality music a chance. Too much trap influences has ruined hiphop. Y’all keep that pop-rap over there. Only artists like Kendrick, Cole, or Andre3000 could drop a classic today because they would get the support of the mainstream and underground.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and give a perfect example. That last Madlib and Freddie Gibbs album was not a classic to me. I have put that shit on the shelf already. The previous one was more of a classic
The Game’s Documentary
Thanks bro! I honestly thought niggas had forgot about me. Appreciate the co-sign.
In today’s hip hop music classic is being toss around too easy it takes time to call an album a classic to me after at least two years and if people are still banging that particular album after it already got a 4 mic rating if people are still listening to that album after 2 years then you give that one extra mic to give it a classic stamp of approval becuz now it still being talked about which mean it will continue to be talked about for years to come.
1. Paid In Full: Eric B and Rakim
2. Illmatic: Nas
3. NWA: Straight Outta Compton
4. Boogie Down Production: Crimnal Minded
5. Adventures Of Slick Rick: Slick Rick
6. Long Live Kane: Big Daddy Kane
7. The Chronic: Dr Dre
8. Only Built For Cuban Link: Reakwon
9. The Infamous: Mobb Deep
10. Ready To Die: Biggie
11. Reasonable Doubt: Jay Z
Theses are just example of true classic albums
none of these aged well. I’m 31 and can’t listen to any of the albums you mentioned. Maybe 7 & 9 for a few tracks. But nah
I’m 34 and think you don’t know what the hell you are talking about.
Hi, MorrisCode. I’m 29. And you’re wrong.
Elzhis Elmatic is the most classic album of this decade.
What no mention of 36 chambers????????
Ridin Dirty.
suffer perverts