i’m just here to say that the first two pete rock & CL smooth albums were pretty much perfect, not a note out of place.
the silly vulgarity didn’t age well but i could say the same thing about the first black sheep album, it completely knocked at the time. dres has one of the finest voices in hip hop.
other unsung hip hop classics of that era:
the nonce “world ultimate” The Nonce – World Ultimate (1995, Vinyl) - Discogs
dred scott “breakin’ combs” https://www.discogs.com/Dred-Scott-Breakin-Combs/release/431792
o.c. word… life" https://www.discogs.com/OC-WordLife/release/605020
lord finesse & mike smooth “funky technician” Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth – Funky Technician (1990, Vinyl) - Discogs
and so on. i love most of the albums mentioned here but i’ve kind of put them away for the time being. there’s something about living in the states around a certain type of person who once they find a love for a good hip hop album, they never quit talking about it. i love 36 chambers and illmatic as much as the next guy but i don’t need a yearly documentary/thinkpiece on em.