Speaking with HipHopDX just hours after his bail release in April, Shyheim The Rugged Child shed light on the legal charges he is currently facing stemming from his Staten Island Gang Squad arrest and drug charges. He also took the time to reveal his own New York City-heavy top five list with a nod to some of Hip Hop’s most praised albums of the ’90s.
Shyheim kicked off his list with the fourth album from late legend Tupac Shakur which topped the Billboard 200 charts in 1996. All Eyez On Me, a Death Row Records double-album notably included Shy’s own Wu family affiliate Method Man on “Got My Mind Made Up.” The sessions for the song also included Inspectah Deck, though only Meth, joined by Redman and Tha Dogg Pound, appeared on the album. The Rugged Child emcee kept it in the same year but switched coasts for his next selection: Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z. Reportedly, Shyheim was slated to appear on the song “Coming Of Age” on Jay’s Roc-A-Fella/Priority Records debut. Following their appearance alongside Sauce Money and Ol’ Dirty Bastard on Big Daddy Kane’s 1994 single “Show & Prove,” Jay took a mentoring role to Shy. However, Memphis Bleek ended up taking the spot on Reasonable Doubt, and becoming a supporting cast member to Roc-A-Fella and Jay-Z since.
He went on to name two more New York City classics in Nas’ 1994 debut Illmatic. The same year Sha released his own debut, AKA The Rugged Child, Illmatic sported production from longtime Nas affiliate L.E.S. Sha would enlist the-then-Trackmasters affiliate on his follow-up, 1996’s The Lost Generation. Lastly, Sha highlighted his cousin Ghostface Killah’s debut on wax, his Wu-Tang Clan family’s 36 Chambers (Enter The Wu-Tang).
The Stapleton emcee went on to jokingly name his own 1999 release before quickly scratching that selection: “And, um, [my album] The Manchild [laughs]. [But I gotta] exclude myself out of that so I’m gonna have to say Notorious B.I.G. Ready To Die.” Shyheim famously appeared alongside host Big Daddy Kane, when Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. freestyled on the same stage in 1993.
Like a lot of other list-makers, Shyheim threw around a few other titles and added a definitive runner up before qualifying his own best of list: “Oh, and #6: 50 Cent’s Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. I mean [those first five], that’s just of the ’90s era, you know what I mean, but then of course you got your [Big Daddy] Kane’s, like that’s always a tricky question because each generation I probably have five from, you know what I mean.”
Shyheim is currently prepping the release of his eighth album, The Commissary, which does not yet have a firm release date.
RELATED: Shyheim Reacts To Drug Raid Arrest, Criticizes NYPD & Maintains His Innocence
50 the gawd
The gawd of STV movies.
This site needs to rewrite these as lists. The reader doesnt want to scan through paragraphs trying to put together the list.
I know. It’s shit how they write it now.
It’s not a blog. Learn something, chode.
Damn!!!! I didn’t know Shyheim had his 8th LP dropping dude is still going hard that’s good. I got “AKA The Rugged Child” on Cassette that debut was dope!!!! All the best with the new LP Shyheim and do your best to stay outta trouble. Big up
My top 5 LP’s of all time damn this is gonna be hard
1. A Tribe Called Quest – “The Low End Theory”
2. Nas – “illmatic”
3. Dr Dre – “The Chronic”
4. Outkast – “ATLiens”
5. MC LYTE – “Eyes On This” (Gotta show the Females some love)
Bonus Pick – Wu Tang Clan – “36 Chambers” or Gangstarr – “Step in the Arena” there’s too many Classics damn this is hard. Thank God I grew up with real Hip Hop 90% of the stuff today is straight Garbage
Im not mad at this list.
I like that list, all those albums are great.
My top 5 favorite albums,
1. IANAHB2 by Wayne
2. God Forgives, I don’t by Rick Ross.
3. souljaboytellem.com by Soulja Boy
4. Tha Carter 4 by Wayne
5. Rebirth by Wayne
Obvious troll because all of those albums are garbage.
Straight Outta Compton
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Criminal Minded
Raising Hell
Paid In Full
Not downplaying any other artists, but these 5 were the soundtrack to my childhood back in the 80’s.
1. Thank me later
2. Take Care
3. The carter 4
4. I am not a human being 2
5. The carter 3
You got it all mixed up, you fucking chavala. Drake is the WACKEST and GAYEST rapper alive. Also, the so called rap albums you list are GARBAGE. You obviously need an education in REAL hip hop music and you need to get your hearing checked as soon as possible, puto.
A tribe called quest-Midnight Marauders
Nas- Illmatic
Wu Tang Clan-Enter the 36 Chambers
Black Moon- Enta Da Stage
Outkast-Aquemeni
Honorable Mention: The Chronic,The Chronic 2001 and Doggystyle
1.Nas – illmatic
2.Tupac – All Eyez on Me
3.Outkast – Aquemini
4.Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
5.Eminem – The Slim Shady LP
6.Outkast – ATLiens
7.Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
8.Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor
9.Nas – It was Written
10.DMX – Its Dark And Hell is Hot
….My personal favorites of all time but this list changes around slightly from month to month.
great list. everyone forgets how good DMX’s first few albums are.
wish he never fell off so hard. he was one of the greatest once.
call me crazy but i am not a fan of all eyes on me. that was’t pac to me. to this day, i feel aggy listening to it. don’t get wrong. it is a great album. just hated him on that CD though cuz i felt like it wasn’t him. u get what i am trying to say?
My 5 favorite albums no one ever heard of:
Gangster Posse Crew Syndicate – Are You Down With Me Nigga
Ghetto Mafia – Draw The Line
Mr. Iroc – Finally On Tha Map
Underground Posse – On The Come Up
415 – 41Fivin’
Honorable Mentions:
Ace Deuce – Comin’ Up N Da Ghetto
Various artists – Seattle… The Dark Side
TMC – Straight To The Dome
The Product – You Can’t Fade Me
The Brother/Hood – Stormin’
The Black Kings – Ghetto Reality
Terror Mob – Born Dying
Strugglin Souls – Manic Depression
Street Thugs – Not To Be Fucked With
Try listening to something outside of your zipcode one day, you might find something interesting. There’s 49 other states in the U.S..
LOL the fuck??? None of these come from my city I guess
He didn’t even cite Drake. Enjoy prison loser.
drake aint in no ones top 5 albums
People putting drake in their top 5 are hilarious. i got
1. lllmatic
2. Ready to Die
3. All Eyez on me
4. enter the wu tang
5. The big picture
The Big Picture? no posthmously made album should ever be on any list. Besides, that album totally lacked feel and soul…probably because the actual artists WASNT EVEN THERE.
All Eyez was one of the most overrated albums ever.
I agree, the big picture and all eyes aren’t classics.
Both of you are fucking idiots.
honorable mention me against the world and life after death, only built 4 cuban lynx, supreme clientele, lowend theory and midnight marauders, aquemeni and atlienes, and good kid maad city
Illmatic – Nas
It Was Written – Nas
It’s a Big Daddy Thing – Kane
Me Against the World – Pac
The Purple Tape – Rae & Ghost
The Infamous – Mobb Deep
36 Chambers – Wu-Tang Clan
Supreme Clienetele – Ghost
Donuts – J. Dilla
Camp Lo – Uptown Saturday Night
Killarmy – Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars
Dr. Dre – The Chronic
1. Lil Wayne – I Am Not a Human Being II
2. Drake – Take Care
3. Rick Ross – God Forgives, I Don’t
4. Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded: The Re-Up: Deluxe Edition: Special Re-release: Limited Edition
5. Tyga – Hotel California
6. Chief Keef – Finally Rich
7. Vanilla Ice – To the Extreme
8. 2 Chainz – Based on a T.R.U. Story
9. Lil Twist The Golden Child
10. Waka Flocka – Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family
11. Gucci Mane – Trap House III
12. Wiz Khalifa – O.N.I.F.C.
hip hop is not gay. swag
Hip Hop is not gay, you and mainstream hip pop REALLY are
this is a joke right!!!
My Personal Top 10
Illmatic-Nas
36 Chambers-Wu Tang Clan
Doe or Die-AZ
The Preface-Elzhi
Disposable Arts-Masta Ace
Paid in Full-Eric B and Rakim
Step in the Arena-Gang Starr
The Message-Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
The Low End Theory-A Tribe Called Quest
Album of the Year-Black Milk
Honorable Mentions
Donuts-J Dilla
The Greatest Story Never Told-Saigon
Liquid Swords-GZA
OB4CL-Raekwon
Return to the 36 Chambers-Ol Dirty Bastard
The Don Killuminati: The Seven Day Theory-Tupac
It Was Written-Nas
Elmatic-Elzhi
Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous-Big L
ATLiens-Outkast
The 18th Letter-Rakim
Straight Out of Compton-NWA
Criminal Minded-Boogie Down Productions
Long Live the Kane-Big Daddy Kane
Wanted: Dead or Alive-Kool G Rap and DJ Polo
The Salvation-Skyzoo
That is my personal list of favorites, some obviously a lot better than others, but I feel like they are all very good albums. (and I probably missed a handful of great albums either way, the 80’s and 90’s spawned many many classics that I still need to listen to)
Forgot about Trophies by Apollo Brown and OC, that was a hell of an album, OB4CL2 by Raekwon and both A Long Hot Summer and Slaughtahouse by Masta Ace should have also been on there.
Elmatic is not that good.
He just spits average battle rhymes over replayed Illmatic beats. The most creative aspect is the live instrumentation of the Illmatic beats, but Elzhi lyric’s are average as fuck on there.
That being said, The Preface is classic.
I dunno, I thought it was really good personally, Elzhi has always been one of my favorite lyricists, and average for him is still going to net you a solid album, if I had to give my two cents.
1. Illmatic
2. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
3. 36 Chambers
4. Liquid Swords
5. It Was Written
stuck in the 90s niggas…
new york rap fell off hard now all the new york niggas trying to sound like they from the dirty south
bring back ny raw hip hop come on
Stakes Is High
War & Peace Vol. 1
Beats, Rhymes & Life
Strictly Business
Lord Willin’
Thriller
Songs In The Key Of Life
…To Be Continued
Can’t Get Enough
Whitney Houston
1. The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem
2. Illmatic – Nas
3. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) – Wu-Tang Clan
4. Wu-Tang Forever – Wu-Tang Clan
5. The Slim Shady LP – Eminem
6. The Fix – Scarface
7. 2001 – Dr. Dre
8. The Infamous – Mobb Deep
9. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… – Raekwon
10. It’s Dark and Hell is Hot – DMX
Honorable Mentions:
ATLiens – OutKast
Aquemini – OutKast
The Eminem Show – Eminem
Liquid Swords – GZA
Ironman – Ghostface Kilah
Supreme Clientele – Ghostface Killah
Fishscale – Ghostface Killah
Me Against the World – 2Pac
Midnight Marauders – ATCQ
Things Fall Apart – The Roots
Illadelph Halflife – The Roots
Resurrection – Common
Hell Hath No Fury – Clipse
Black Star – Mos Def & Talib Kweli
God Loves Ugly – Atmosphere
Word…Life – O.C.
The Sun Rises in the East – Jeru the Damaja
Wrath of the Math – Jeru the Damaja
Internal Affairs – Pharoahe Monch
Ready to Die – Notorious B.I.G.
Doggystyle – Snoop Dogg
The Chronic – Dr. Dre
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz – Xzibit
Reasonable Doubt – Jay-Z
The Lost Tapes – Nas
Late Registration – Kanye West
this nigga shyheim a embarassment he not pushing any units fuck this broke nigga
Greatest hip hop albums of all time in my opinion
Duets: The Final Chapter – Notorious B.I.G.
8 Diagrams – Wu-Tang Clan
Nastradamus – Nas
Ghostdini – Ghostface Killah
Encore – Eminem
Relapse – Eminem
808s & Heartbreak – Kanye West
I Am The West – Ice Cube
Batte of the Sexes – Ludacris
Welcome To: Our House – Slaughterhouse
Pac’s Life – 2Pac
Loyal to the Game – 2Pac
Reggie – Redman
Lasers – Lupe FIasco
Blood Money – Mobb Deep
I listen to these albums all the time, they’re definitely the best from each artist’s catalogue.
You like Lasers more then Food & Liquor and The cool? You like 808’s and Heartbreak more then the College Dropout? Nastradamus is one of Nas weaker albums,I would pick illmatic, It Was Written or even hiphop is dead over it. I dont understand your taste in music unless you like other genres of music just as much as you like hip-hop.
he’s trolling. good try though
fix your ear for greatest hip hop albums but then again is your opinion
1. Nas- It Was Written
2. Raekwon- Only for Cuban Linx
3. Outkast – Aqumeni
4. 2Pac – Me Against The World
5. Nas – Illmatic/The Notorious B.I.G – Life After Death (tie)
1 NAS ILLMATIC 2NOTORIOUS B.I.G READY TO DIE 3 DMX IS DARK AND HELL IS HOT 4 DR DRE THE CHRONIC 5 JAY-Z REASONABLE DOUBT
Nobody asked for yalls weak ass lists
What the fuck is this shit?
This is where it’s at:
1. Ja Rule VVV
2. Ja Rule Pain Is Love
3. Ja Rule Last temptation
4. Ja Rule R.U.L.E.
5. Ja Rule 3:36
Where’s ja rule on this list?
Ja Rule should be on everyone’s top 5
ja rule got rhymes for dayz
ja rule the 12 gauge nigga, sold 100 mil
ja rule fuck fame album will sell 30 mil, believe that!!!
If you talk about best rap music, always talk about ja rule
you can’t talk about hip hop and not mention Ja RUle
ja rulism, everywhere, just takin ova
ja rule taking over the world
i mean he already took it over, he just wants to make sure it’s his. Fuck Fame, will sell 30 mil!!! Pain is love 2 20 mil sold!!!
Ja rule pain is love 2, 20 mil sold
Ja Rule is born for beef, he kills niggaz son!
What the fuck is this shit?
This is where it’s at:
1. Ja Rule VVV
2. Ja Rule Pain Is Love
3. Ja Rule Last temptation
4. Ja Rule R.U.L.E.
5. Ja Rule 3:36.
shyheim > cappadonna
no.
shyheim > killah priest
no….
DMX -it’s dark and hell is hot
Biggie- Ready to die
Jay-Z- resounable doubt
Nas- It’s was written
2pac- All eyes on me
Ghostface killah- Supreme clientele
Joe budden- Mood muzik shit
Every song released by Ja Rule is art at its truest form