Quote:
|
Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous
7 Day Theory is indeed Pac's masterpiece, it is one of the most original, brilliant, and thought provoking rap records, indeed musical records of any genre, period. That encapsulated everything that was perfection within Pac's styles. It was gangsta yet it was overtly political. It was intelligent yet it was totally crudely street. It was feminist yet it was misogynistic. It was honest but it was also veiled. And the beats and music were totally innovative for rap music. It was almost like a fucking gangsta rap art-rock record yo..
You would also like All Eyez On Me if you like this..
|
Well said! But honestly, you're talking to a Child of the '90s, remember? I was in high school when All Eyez dropped. I remember when "California Love" dominated every car stereo, billboard chart and homecoming dance in the country. So even though I spent 96 banngin' "Brooklyn's Finest" on repeat and praying for the arrival of what would become Wu-Tang Forever, I certainly didn't miss out on All Eyez on Me. (Though I did kinda write 2pac off for a long time... 2pac, Dre, Snoop, and most of the bug West Coast players. Shame on me. I think this thread has helped me mellow out and allow myself to enjoy them again however.)
I don't think All Eyez on me is as good as 7 Day Theory, but it's an undeniable classic. Actually it was one of the first gangsta rap albums I ever owned. Again, no idea where it is now... But you're right, it's probably the #2 2pac release in my opinion. I thought that was Me Against the World for a while, but I think I needed some constant hip-hop exposure ( like this thread! ) to force me to re-evaluate my views on some things.
For instance, before this thread I was not bangin' any west coast rap from the '90s. It's like I had retroactively bought into the idea that one had to be either an East Coast guy or a West Coast guy when it came to rap, and if I had to choose (which I fuckin don't!) I'd be East Coast all the way... But since that's not the case, and since I've been engaging in this 3-year long hip hop conversation with you ninjas, I've gone back and listened to albums like The Chronic and Doggystyle, and Regulate and (yeah) All Eyez on Me, and I've allowed myself to open up and be less of a little bitch about the whole thing.
I guess I have to thank you all. My head is sufficiently removed from my ass such that I can bump Snoop Dogg's greatest hits (a recent purchase), Wiz's Blacc Hollywood & 50 Cent's entire discography loudly and proudly from the speakers of my 2009 Subaru Outback without fear that I am betraying some sort of regional or intellectual allegiance that restricts me only to "serious artists" or indie artists or ninjas from East of Chicago.
This is a scattered post, I've been starting and stopping in my down time for hours, and once again I'm finding that my original thought has been lost along the way.
Basically I am grateful for this thread because it had encouraged an open discussion of hip-hop as a whole, and as a result I've become a lot more open minded about the rap that I listen to. It's embarrassing to admit that I held a coastal bias until so fucking recently, but I did (despite being born and raised on the West, myself.. Hah!)... Anyway, I've said this before, but this thread has helped me appreciate artists I had more or less written off, even if I did listen to them in my youth. So thanks kids.