Top 5 albums released in 1997

Master P-Ghetto D
Tru-Tru 2 Da Game
Mystikal-Unpredictable
I'm Bout It SDTK
Mia X-Unlady Like

1. Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
2. Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night
3. Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever
4. Common - One Day It'll All Make Sense
5. Mood - Doom

T. Myers wrote:

Master P-Ghetto D
Tru-Tru 2 Da Game
Mystikal-Unpredictable
I'm Bout It SDTK
Mia X-Unlady Like

Fa real Terry? Or are you trying to make a funny?

Ahhh....97. the year of the No Limit takeover...lol. This was a pretty decent year but it pales compared to the oprevious ones.

Scarface- Untouchable
Biggie- Life After Death
Jay-Z- In my Lifetime Vol. 1
Mystikal- Unpredictable
Bone- Art Of War

Hon. Men.
Point Blank- N-Tha-Do
Master P- Ghetto D
Wu-Tang- Forever
Bout It Soundtrk (classic classic)

Biggie- Life After Death
Scarface- Untouchable
Wu Tang Clan- Wu Tang Forever
Jay Z- In My Lifetime Volume 1

and although I am about to contradict myself

Puff Daddy & The Family- No Way Out

KRob86 wrote:

T. Myers wrote:

Master P-Ghetto D
Tru-Tru 2 Da Game
Mystikal-Unpredictable
I'm Bout It SDTK
Mia X-Unlady Like

Fa real Terry? Or are you trying to make a funny?

That's a good question.

The following is a public service announcement brought to you by KJE.

Kool John does not give a fuck what y'all think. If you don't like his list, you can kiss his black ass. As long as you understand that, then it's all gravy.

Biggie- Life After Death
Camp Lo- Uptown Saturday Night
Capone N Noreaga- The War Report
Puff Daddy & The Family- No Way Out
Wu Tang Clan- Wu Tang Forever

KJ, Terry listed 5 NL albums. If no one cares about that, I don't think you'll get hated on.. lol

Shaun wrote:

KJ, Terry listed 5 NL albums. If no one cares about that, I don't think you'll get hated on.. lol

He was being sarcastic, there's no way he'd list a female album as one of his Top 5 no matter how dope it is.

Also, the second worst kept secret about Terry Myers is that Face's Untouchable is one of his all time fav albums. Only behind his love of fried chicken.

Terry wasn't being sarcastic, he was just pointing out 1997 was the year of No Limit where they ruled the game with tons of classic albums. He listed all no limit because he knew everyone else was going to overlook them.

Highsmith wrote:

Biggie- Life After Death
Scarface- Untouchable
Wu Tang Clan- Wu Tang Forever
Jay Z- In My Lifetime Volume 1

and although I am about to contradict myself

Puff Daddy & The Family- No Way Out

Really Highsmith????

"No album with Puffy rappin' on the whole album is a classic."

"I would say 3.5-4 stars."

In response to someone saying personal classic:
"So you rate this as 5 stars even with the Puffy solo tracks?"

Laughing at someone considering top 5 for the album:
"When Wayne posts the Best Of '97 list, we'll see if you have this in Your Top 5...lmao"

97 was a weak ass year. And, he told everyone that he was about to contradict himself. smh

If this was an East Coast 1997 list... then yes 1997 is a weak ass year - if you had your ears open to other coasts 1997 is far from weak.

Probably one of the weakest years of all time

1. Wut-Tang Forever
2. War Report
3. Art of War
4. Unpredictable
5. R U Still Down? (Remember Me)

Latyrx - The Album
Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
Big Mike - Still Serious
OC - Jewelz
Gravediggaz - The Pick, The Sickle and The Shovel
Busta - When Disaster Strikes
The Alkaholiks - Likwidation
KRS - I Got Next
Seagram - Souls On Ice
MJG - No More Glory
Artifacts - That's Them
Rakim - 18th Letter
Organized Konfusion - Equinox
Beatnuts - Stone Crazy
Wyclef - The Carnical
JMT - The Psycho Social CD
Psycho Realm - Psycho Realm
Kool Keith - Sex Style
Soul Assassins
South Central Cartel - All Day Everyday
Warren G - Take A Look Over Your Shoulder
Twista - Adrenaline Rush
Ant Banks - Big Thangs
Cru - Da Dirty 30
Slum Village - Fantastic Vol. 1
DJ Pooh - Bad Newz Travels Fast
Diamond - Hatred Passions & Infidelity
Killarmy - Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars
Tracey Lee - Many Facez
Funkdoobiest - Troubleshooters
Atmosphere - Overcast

I think the lack of 5 star classics is more than made up for the overabundance of dope albums that are at least 4 stars.

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

Latyrx - The Album
Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
Big Mike - Still Serious
OC - Jewelz
Gravediggaz - The Pick, The Sickle and The Shovel
Busta - When Disaster Strikes
The Alkaholiks - Likwidation
KRS - I Got Next
Seagram - Souls On Ice
MJG - No More Glory
Artifacts - That's Them
Rakim - 18th Letter
Organized Konfusion - Equinox
Beatnuts - Stone Crazy
Wyclef - The Carnical
JMT - The Psycho Social CD
Psycho Realm - Psycho Realm
Kool Keith - Sex StyleSoul Assassins
South Central Cartel - All Day Everyday
Warren G - Take A Look Over Your Shoulder
Twista - Adrenaline Rush
Ant Banks - Big Thangs
Cru - Da Dirty 30
Slum Village - Fantastic Vol. 1
DJ Pooh - Bad Newz Travels Fast
Diamond - Hatred Passions & Infidelity
Killarmy - Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars
Tracey Lee - Many Facez
Funkdoobiest - Troubleshooters
Atmosphere - Overcast

I've heard cases made for all the ones I bolded being 5 stars.

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

I think the lack of 5 star classics is more than made up for the overabundance of dope albums that are at least 4 stars.

Now this I can actually agree with.

Go look at '98 dudes. Plus we just covered the best run in hip-hop ever, 93-96.

Steve wrote:

Go look at '98 dudes. Plus we just covered the best run in hip-hop ever, 93-96.

I think every year from 88-96 was strong.

Strong, yes, but the cream of the crop are those years IMO.

Naw Steve you mean 91-96.

While I have nostalgic ties to 94, 1988 had the most classic albums and second place isn't even close.

I think at least on this forum, most people do not consider 1988 the best year, I think most people would choose a year in the 1990s.

I'm just trying to not cover too big of a period. Topc time!

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

I think at least on this forum, most people do not consider 1988 the best year, I think most people would choose a year in the 1990s.

Because most people in this forum were in kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade in 1988, if they were even born.

Eastern Rap Pro wrote:

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

I think at least on this forum, most people do not consider 1988 the best year, I think most people would choose a year in the 1990s.

Because most people in this forum were in kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade in 1988, if they were even born.

You were 12... does that make you that much more qualified?

hmmm

in no particular order:


Biggie-Life After Death (album of the year IMO)

Diddy-No Way Out

Wu-Tang Clan-Forever

Capone-N-Noreaga-The War Report

Rakim-The 18th Letter


1997 was the shiny suit era....Diddy ruled with an iron fist for better or for worse...this is when Bad Boy reached its peak....it's one of the weaker years of the 90's and as we began to leave the 90's the downfall of hip-hop got more and more pronounced!

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

Eastern Rap Pro wrote:

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

I think at least on this forum, most people do not consider 1988 the best year, I think most people would choose a year in the 1990s.

Because most people in this forum were in kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade in 1988, if they were even born.

You were 12... does that make you that much more qualified?

Yes, because I was listening to rap albums in their entirety at the time.

so was I.

Killarmy - Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars
Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever
Bone: Thugs-n-Harmony - Art of War
OC - Jewelz
Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night

Honorable Mentions (not there's many from this year):

Kool Keith - Sex Style
Beatnuts - Stone Crazy
Gravediggaz - The Pick, The Sickle & The Shovel

Great list mystreo

Wu-Tang Clan - Wu Tang Forever - wow, what can i say about this album? In terms of lyrical performance, this album is almost 2nd to none. Most of the Wu MCs on here are in their absolute peak in terms of MCing, the diversity in the lyrics throughout the album is also something any rap fan can enjoy. You have stories, coke tales, some introspection, straight up metaphorical rapping. This album is Wu Tang showing their dominance lyrically in the rap game at the time, no one was fucking with them on this. Now time to get to the beats, Rza outdid himself, the production is clearly different from his previous work but just as dope. Rza would go back to the sparser 36 Chambers style on the W, but this album was monumentally influential from a production standpoint at the time. One of my favorite albums of all time.

Bone Thugs N Harmony - Art of War - another amazing double disc from 1997. Disc 1 is completely flawless, and disc 2 is really dope. "Handle the Vibe" is one of my favorite opening songs to an album ever. Theres not much more to say, good music vibes, and unfuckwittable flows.

Capone N Noreaga - The War Report - they dropped this in the middle of the No Limit and "shiny suit" takeover. Gritty NYC street rap, and Tragedy Khadafi's involvement further solidifed him as the legend he is.

Killarmy - Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars - this year had two underground albums that were monumentally influential for underground producers for years to come. On this album, 4th Disciple's lush, layered, and eerie production laid a foundation for tons of producers to follow. Producers like Stoupe have to have been influenced by this, and Just Blaze is another who was influenced a lot by 4th Disciple. The lyrics are dark and militant and fit the album perfectly.

Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus - This is the other underground album that laid the foundation for a different type of production. El-P's beats were something new, and almost too out there for some. But this album is a hip hop classic, that is undeniable. I do prefer the Cold Vein to this, but it would be a shame to not include this in 1997's top list, because it clearly belongs. This album started the Def Jux sound and countless copycats since. The flows on here are crayz unique as well, some cant dig this album but thats only because they havent spun it enough

Steve wrote:

Great list mystreo

Thanks. I figured someone would complain because I left Biggie off. I didn't really care for Life After Death though.

1. Wu Tang - Forever
2. Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
3. Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night
4. CNN - War Report
5. Scarface - The Untouchable

Myestro wrote:

Steve wrote:

Great list mystreo

Thanks. I figured someone would complain because I left Biggie off. I didn't really care for Life After Death though.

Shame on you

Take a look around - many more people left it off than included it.

I don't care what this forum says, LAD is easily one of the best albums of 97.

Well KJ, we are a very diverse, obviously very dedicated group of listeners. Consensus is LAD isn't top 5. I fully expect you to rant and rave about how "EVERYONE SAYS IT IS OMG". And that's cool. Do you. Just also realize the majority is dumb, i.e. Wayne is all that will be talked about for 2008 mainstream, and he had the best album of the year by far. Same for Eminem/Jay-Z in 2009, and Eminem/Drake in 2010. Kinda makes you wonder, huh...

Eastern Rap Pro wrote:

I don't care what this forum says, LAD is easily one of the best albums of 97.

And I'd take any of the 5 (or 3 honorable mentions) that I listed over LAD on any given day. So we agree to disagree.

Scarface-The Untouchable
Mystikal-Unpredictable
Wu-Tang Clan-Forever
Notorious BIG-Life After Death
Killarmy-Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars

Only 1 real personal classic from 1997 for me, and a few that come close...

1. Latyrx "The Album" (5 stars)
2. Company Flow "Funcrusher Plus" (5 stars)
3. Camp Lo "Uptown Saturday Night" (4.5 stars)
4. Aesop (Living Legends) "Tha Supahuman" (4.5 stars)
5. Big Mike "Still Serious" (4.5 stars)
6. OC "Jewelz" (4.5 stars)
7. Gravediggaz "The Pick, The Sickle And The Shovel" (4.5 stars)
8. Tha Alkaholiks "Likwidation" (4.5 stars)

Scarface-The Untouchable
Mystikal-Unpredictable
Notorious BIG-Life After Death
Twista-Adrenaline Rush
Bone-Art of War

Master P-Ghetto D
Wu-Tang-Forever
Bout It Soundtrack
Gravediggaz-The Pick, The Sickle, and the Shovel
Camp Lo-Uptown Saturday Night
Rakim-18th Letter
Jay-Z-Vol. 1
OC-Jewelz
Mase-Harlem World (It's his one good album yall)
Liks-Likwidation
Cru-Da Dirty 30
Missy-Supa Dupa Fly
Killarmy-Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars

Jason wrote:

1. Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
2. Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night
3. Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever
4. Common - One Day It'll All Make Sense
5. Mood - Doom

I co-sign this list except take Mood out and replace it with CNN-The War report