The Immortals

It's often that there are albums that you can't stop listening to for a week. Sometimes, you pop in an album, and it keeps you even listening for that month or year. But rarely are there albums that will want you to keep pressing play after over five, 10, or even 20 years.

These albums are the immortal ones, the sounds that haven't died and never will. So each week, I'm going to select one of these classics and explain just why it's one of hip-hop's greatest.

Since this is the first of the series, I'll start with one of the most focused hip-hop albums of all time.


ILLADELPH HALFLIFE

Artist: The Roots

Release date: September 24th, 1996

Label: DGC Records

Styles: Jazz rap, alternative rap, east coast rap

Maybe not the first album you had in mind as a classic huh?
It may not be as publicized as 2pac's "All Eyez on Me" or Nas' "Illmatic" but "Illadelph" fits every trait of being a legendary album.
Starting with the second track, "Respond-React", you get the feeling that The Roots have created something very special. Black Thought gives a clear understanding of what to expect in just the first two lines:

The attractive assassin, blastin the devil trespassin
Master gettin cash in an orderly fashion

Thought (real name Tariq Trotter) is at the peak of his career lyrically on this album. His delivery sounds confident and focused on "Respond-React" and every track following it. But Trotter isn't the only lyricist that shines on Illadelph. Malik B. contributes his own style to the album and is featured heavily on songs such as "It Just Don't Stop" and "No Great Pretender". The combination of Trotter and Malik B is a lethal one and they blend well together on each track they appear on.

The album is lyrically deep throughout, but there are certain tracks that shine even brighter. "It Just Don't Stop" contains a chilling hook, describing a dark view of how the world's streets operate.

Dig it, this world is filled with homicides and rape
All the crimes of hate just ain't the size and shape
You can walk don't the block and get slumped or knocked
It don't stop y'all and it just don't stop


"Episodes" follows "It Just Don't Stop" and is just as powerful. Black Thought talks about Philly in this particular cut by describing how much crime occurs around the streets. Although stories from the streets can be a common theme of hip-hop songs today, The Roots are able to make it sound and feel just right. Not only are the lyrics on "Episodes" strong, but so are the sounds that accompany them. Leonard "Hub" Hubbard's bass is very prevalent on this track and it's probably his best effort on the whole album.


The Roots have only one pop sounding cut on Illadelph with "What They Do". Surprisingly, the song fits into the puzzle of sounds that they have created in Illadelph. It has a catchy chorus as well as a good message. Tariq talks about the rewards of being an MC and for kids not to do what they do on the streets. This was also The Roots first single to chart in the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #24.


Here however, is where Illadelph earns its title as an immortal album. After a great first nine tracks to lead the album, Illadelph doesn't lose momentum. In contrast, it gains even more. Starting with "Concerto of Desperado", The Roots deliver on another nine more tracks until the final two tracks of the album with "The Adventures in Wonderland" and the self-titled "outro". Some highlights of the second half of the album are "Clones" (which is an incredible show of lyricism from Thought and Malik B.), "UNIverse at War" (containing a strong verse from Common), "Hypnotic", and "Ital (The Universal Side)".


Illadelph may not be a household name when it comes to naming classic hip-hop albums, but that fact alone makes it fresh. The Roots make sure that you get your money's worth with almost 79 minutes of musical content and, except for the final two tracks, there isn't one weak song here. With Black Thought's strongest display of lyricism on any Roots album and great bass from Hub and drums from ?uestlove, "Illadelph Halflife" is one album that will still be playing on stereos for years to come.


Track List (* indicates a top track):
1. Intro
2. *Respond-React
3. Section
4. Panic!!!!!!!!
5. *It Just Don't Stop
6. Episodes
7. Push Up Ya Lighter
8. What They Do
9. ? vs. Scratch
10. Concerto of a Desperado
11. *Clones
12. UNIverse at War
13. No Alibi
14. Dave vs. Us
15. No Great Pretender
16. *The Hypnotic
17. Ital (The Universal Side)
18. One Shine
19. The Adventures in Wonderland
20. Outro

Lupe Fiasco returns

Chi-town's great MC is back, and he seems more hungry than ever.

Lupe Fiasco released his second single, "I'm Beaming", off his upcoming album "Lasers" on January 26th and it's starting to make noise. Here are my thoughts on Lupe's latest:

- First off, the Neptunes have just proven once again why they were named producers of the decade. The production for "I'm Beaming" is fresh and blends well with Lupe's message. It's typical Neptunes sound, spacey with a catchy beat, and sounds like something Kid CuDi would have on his album.

- Lupe said he was not happy with MTV after not being named on its annual "Hottest MCs" list last October. He clearly sounds like he has something to prove on the single. His delivery isn't as fast-paced as some of his older sounds, but he sounds very confident. The lyrics clearly show that, just look at these particular lines:

- Do you remember me, the guy from verse one?

Failure’s my last name, Never’s my first one

- I’m out in left field, I’m speaking mentally

But that’s a better places than where the benches be

- The world’s fast lane is what I’m drivin’ on

What am I driving at? I’m tryna drive it home

I’m in the driver’s seat, but you can ride along

- Now if they lookin’ for me, tell ‘em I’ve gone

Out in the bright lights, right where I belong

- Lupe has always been great with his lyrics and "I'm Beaming" is not short of more great poetry from the talented MC. In one particular line, Lupe describes just how he's different from other rappers in the game right now:

- You see I hood a lot, and yeah I nerd some

Hood’s where the heart is, nerd’s where the words from

Don’t represent either, because I merged them

People have looked at Lupe differently from the start because he doesn't represent the stereotypical MC today. He made a song about skateboarding, that's enough said. But just because he may not be as hardened from the streets as many other rappers are, Lupe is as or more talented than them because he dares to try lyrics and themes that would hurt the street credibility of other MCs such as Nas or 50 Cent.

My only criticism of "I'm Beaming" is that it's another single that may not be made for radio. "Shining Down" was also a great single from Lupe, but it never got enough airplay, and Fiasco decided to drop it off "Lasers" because of that fact alone. "I'm Beaming" could pick up some club play however, so it's unfair to rule out that it won't be successful at all yet. Still, singles like "I'm Beaming" will only build more hype in the hip-hop community for "Lasers". It is certainly one of the most anticipated hip-hop albums of 2010.

*"Lasers" has not set a release date at this point, but Lupe has confirmed the album is finished after he submitted it to his label, Atlantic Records, a month ago.