Needlz Names His Top 5 Favorite Hip Hop Albums

    Grammy Award-winning producer Needlz has worked on acclaimed albums such as Game’s The Documentary, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor, and Drake’s mixtape-turned-album So Far Gone. However, HipHopDX recently asked the Lansing, Michigan native about the albums that he considers to be his favorite.

    “I actually started my new little classic collection,” he admitted, of a burgeoning CD collection. “Of course, [Nas’] Illmatic is probably my favorite.” Needlz added of the 1994 Ruffhouse/Columbia/Sony Records debut release. “My son’s name is Nasir. I would say that [album].” Released just six month’s before Illmatic, Needlz next pointed to A Tribe Called Quest’s third LP, Midnight Marauders. Like Omarion said in his own list, Needlz pointed to Jay-Z’s 2001 takeover war-hawk album, The Blueprint. “That would be three. What would four be? Aquemini.” Needlz answered his own question, of Outkast’s 1998 multi-platinum third album. “And then five would be? I’m actually listening to [Ice Cube’s] Death Certificate right now.” Ice Cube’s second full-length album was the earliest on Needlz’ list, hailing from 1991.

    Like many Hip Hop fans, Needlz had to throw some additional titles when thinking of favorites. While not officially in his Top 5, the New York-based producer pointed to two mid-2000s G.O.O.D Music titles. “[Kanye West’s] Graduation. I’ll say Graduation, but an album that was really dope, I don’t know how much critical acclaim it got, but Common’s Be, that’s a classic album to me. Those would be in the Top 10.”

    Additional Reporting by Jake Paine

    RELATED: Omarion Names His Top 5 Favorite Hip Hop Albums

    24 thoughts on “Needlz Names His Top 5 Favorite Hip Hop Albums

    1. Real reason why Kanye had those rants a couple of weeks ago cause i told him i banged Kim K and thats my child.

    2. apollo brown – the reset
      action bronson – dr lector
      mobb deep – the infamous
      jay – z – the blueprint
      eminem – the eminem show

    3. It’s all subjective but I prefer ATLiens over Aquemini and Reasonable Doubt over Blueprint any day. Lyrically Blueprint is a great album but the music isn’t classic material. Some from Ready to Die, Enter The 36 Chambers, Liquid Swords, Infamous, Chronic need to be in there.

      1. Listen to you. Coming with insults because you don’t know any other way to communicate. I’m talking about picking 5 albums from a selection of classics. They are already “quality” to be considered a top 5 album. I’m saying it’s subjective whether you favour one classic album over another classic album. You understand now dummy?

    4. capital punishment, biggies 2, all eyez on me, DK 7 day theory, paid in full, poison pen, waterworld, big ls 2, sslp, mmlp, em show, 36 chambers, slaughterhouse, RD, bluprint 1+2, maad moree

    5. yah this is a very ver legit list. Aquemini was unbelievable. Hell Hath No Fury would be my only addition. That album was perfect and i mean perfect from start to finish. If you havent heard it, go listen a few times and you will see what I mean

    6. top 5 albums gotta be
      illmatic
      supreme clientele
      slim shady lp
      straight outta compton
      doggystyle

      but in the street hood projects trap whatever u wanna call it top 5 are
      jeezy thug motivation 101
      lox we are the streets
      styles p gangster and a gentleman
      dmx dark and hell is hot
      mop firing squad
      and gotta respect that 50 cent unrelesed album power of the doller that shit is dope

    7. Illmatic’s definitly a classic, Low End Theory’s better, Reasonable Doubt’s better, ATLiens’ better, and Death Certificate’s too racist.

      1. Low End Theory is classic, but Midnight Marauders eclipses even that album. Proof how dope Tribe was in that period.

    8. top 5
      Nas illmatic
      Papoose the nacirema dream
      mobb deep the infamous
      biggie smalls albums
      ghostface killah supreme clientele

    9. he takeover, the break’s over nigga
      God MC, me, Jay-Hova
      Hey lil’ soldier you ain’t ready for war
      R.O.C. too strong for y’all
      It’s like bringin a knife to a gunfight, pen to a test
      Your chest in the line of fire witcha thin-ass vest
      You bringin them Boyz II Men, HOW them boys gon’ win?
      This is grown man B.I., get you rolled in the triage(?)
      Beatch – your reach ain’t long enough, dunny
      Your peeps ain’t strong enough, fucka
      Roc-A-Fella is the army, better yet the navy
      Niggaz’ll kidnap your babies, spit at your lady
      We bring – knife to fistfight, kill your drama
      Uh, we kill you motherfuckin ants with a sledgehammer
      Don’t let me do it to you dunny cause I overdo it
      So you won’t confuse it with just rap music

      R.O.C., we runnin this rap shit
      M-Easy, we runnin this rap shit
      The Broad Street Bully, we runnin this rap shit
      Get zipped up in plastic when it happens that’s it
      Freeway, we run this rap shit
      O & Sparks, we runnin this rap shit
      Chris & Neef, we runnin this rap shit
      “Watch out!! We run New York” -> [KRS-One]

      I don’t care if you Mobb Deep, I hold triggers to crews
      You little FUCK, I’ve got money stacks bigger than you
      When I was pushin weight, back in eighty-eight
      you was a ballerina I got your pictures I seen ya
      Then you dropped “Shook Ones,” switch your demeanor
      Well – we don’t believe you, you need more people
      Roc-A-Fella, students of the game, we passed the classes
      Nobody could read you dudes like we do
      Don’t let ’em gas you like Jigga is ass and won’t clap you
      Trust me on this one – I’ll detach you
      Mind from spirit, body from soul
      They’ll have to hold a mass, put your body in a hole
      No, you’re not on my level get your brakes tweaked
      I sold what ya whole album sold in my first week
      You guys don’t want it with Hov’
      Ask Nas, he don’t want it with Hov’, nooooo!

      R.O.C., we runnin this rap shit
      B. Sigel, we runnin this rap shit
      M-Easy, we runnin this rap shit
      Get zipped up in plastic when it happens that’s it
      O & Sparks, we runnin this rap shit
      Freeway, we run this rap shit
      Chris & Neef, we runnin this rap shit
      “Watch out!! We run New York” -> [KRS-One]

      I know you missin all the – FAAAAAAAME!
      But along with celebrity comes bout seventy shots to your brain
      Nigga; you a – LAAAAAAAME!
      Youse the fag model for Karl Kani/Esco ads
      Went from, Nasty Nas to Esco’s trash
      Had a spark when you started but now you’re just garbage
      Fell from top ten to not mentioned at all
      to your bodyguard’s “Oochie Wally” verse better than yours
      Matter fact you had the worst flow on the whole fuckin song
      but I know – the sun don’t shine, then son don’t shine
      That’s why your – LAAAAAAAME! – career come to a end
      There’s only so long fake thugs can pretend
      Nigga; you ain’t live it you witnessed it from your folks pad
      You scribbled in your notepad and created your life
      I showed you your first tec on tour with Large Professor
      (Me, that’s who!) Then I heard your album bout your tec on your dresser
      So yeah I sampled your voice, you was usin it wrong
      You made it a hot line, I made it a hot song
      And you ain’t get a corn nigga you was gettin fucked and
      I know who I paid God, Serchlite Publishing
      Use your – BRAAAAAAAIN! You said you been in this ten
      I’ve been in it five – smarten up Nas
      Four albums in ten years nigga? I could divide
      That’s one every let’s say two, two of them shits was due
      One was – NAHHH, the other was “Illmatic”
      That’s a one hot album every ten year average
      And that’s so – LAAAAAAAME! Nigga switch up your flow
      Your shit is garbage, but you try and kick knowledge?
      (Get the fuck outta here) You niggaz gon’ learn to respect the king
      Don’t be the next contestant on that Summer Jam screen
      Because you know who (who) did you know what (what)
      with you know who (yeah) but just keep that between me and you for now

      R.O.C., we runnin this rap shit
      M-Easy, we runnin this rap shit
      The Broad Street Bully, we runnin this rap shit
      Get zipped up in plastic when it happens that’s it
      Freeway, we run this rap shit
      O & Sparks, we runnin this rap shit
      Chris & Neef, we runnin this rap shit
      “Watch out!! We run New York” -> [KRS-One]

      A wise man told me don’t argue with fools
      Cause people from a distance can’t tell who is who
      So stop with that childish shit, nigga I’m grown
      Please leave it alone – don’t throw rocks at the throne
      Do not bark up that tree, that tree will fall on you
      I don’t know why your advisors ain’t forewarn you
      Please, not Jay, he’s, not for play
      I don’t slack a minute, all that thug rappin and gimmicks
      I will end it, all that yappin be finished
      You are not deep, you made your bed now sleep
      Don’t make me expose to them folks that don’t know you
      Nigga I know you well, all the stolen jew-els
      Twinkletoes you breakin my heart
      You can’t fuck with me – go play somewhere, I’m busy
      And all you other cats throwin shots at Jigga
      You only get half a bar – fuck y’all niggaz

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