What's Classic?

We discuss the musicality, the messaging, and the almost film-like quality Kendrick Lamar brought to bear his third (but kinda-sorta second) album. The larger question being: Can difficult, dense (and even challenging) art stop something from being classic?

Ratings

Daniel: 10/10

Have Hope: 9/10

Total: 19/20

Our first album from the 2000s, Lupe Fiasco's debut came at odd time for hip-hop, and thus had a unique lane. We talk about the tracks, the content, and whether Food & Liquor did enough to be considered not just great, but classic.

Nominated by Tosin

Ratings

Tosin: 8/10

Daniel: 8/10

Have Hope: 7/10

Total: 23/30

In 1999, Mos Def (now Yasiin Bey) was one year removed from Black Star's "Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star," and he didn't disappoint when tasked with carrying an album on his own. His debut offering is one of hip-hop's stand-out efforts.

Nominated by Have Hope

Ratings

Tosin: 10/10

Have Hope: 9/10

Daniel: 9/10

Total: 28/30

One of the great West Coast hip-hop albums, Have Hope and Daniel breakdown why Dr. Dre's 1992 release is seminal, and also discuss the influence it had on the genre as a whole.

Nominated by Daniel

Ratings

Daniel: 9/10

Have Hope: 8/10

**Tosin 10/10

Total: 27/30

**Given off air

Arguably the greatest rapper of all-time, Jay-Z has a handful of classic albums, this is the first of his projects we break down, and there will be others, but few are more unfiltered and upfront.

Nominated by Daniel

Ratings

Tosin: 10/10

Daniel: 9/10

Have Hope: 8/10

Total: 27/30

Universally regarded as the greatest hip-hop album, and one of the best records ever made period, we hope you enjoy the discussion on Nas' spectacular (and almost flawless) 1994 offering.

Nominated by Have Hope

Ratings

Have Hope: 10/10

Daniel: 10/10

Tosin: 10/10

Total: 30/30