The Greatest 50 Hip-hop Albums Ever - #9...

[Twentytwofifty]

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded (1987) 


    Here we have the debut of one of the greatest MCs ever.  Usually sitting at the top of that list with Rakim, KRS-One made an impact in this hip-hop world right away with his 1987 debut Criminal Minded.  This album is widely considered the foundation of hardcore rap, announcing its intentions with a cover photo of KRS-One and Scott La Rock posing with weapons — an unheard-of gesture in 1987.  Like Schoolly D’s self-titled debut, Boogie Down Productions’ Criminal Minded stands as a precursor to gangsta rap, an irony in the 18 year career of Kris “KRS-One” Parker.  Although KRS would go on to initiate the Stop The Violence movement in 1989, the album is a testimony to the violent politics of the streets at that time.  BDP weren't the first to rap about inner-city violence and drugs, and there's no explicit mention of gangs on Criminal Minded, but it greatly expanded the range of subject matter that could be put on a rap record, and its grittiest moments are still unsettling today.  Actually, that part of its reputation rests on just a handful of songs.  Overall, the record made its impact through sheer force — not only KRS-One's unvarnished depictions of his harsh urban environment, but also his booming delivery and La Rock's lean, hard backing tracks (which sound a little skeletal today, but were excellent for the time).  It's important to note that KRS-One hadn't yet adopted his role as "The Teacher", and while there are a few hints of an emerging social consciousness, Criminal Minded doesn't try to deliver messages, make judgments, or offer solutions.  That's clear on "The Bridge Is Over", one of the most cutting — even threatening — dis records ever, which called out Queens-based MC Shan.  And what could be the East Coast model for N.W.A’s “Straight Outta Compton” was the bad boy anthem “South Bronx”, which initiated the battle between MC Shan and KRS-One.  They set the tone for the album, which reaches its apex on the influential, oft-sampled "9mm Goes Bang" where KRS mockingly bucked down “Peter” the drug dealer. 

Me knew a crack dealer by the name of Peter
Had to buck him down with my 9 millimeter
He said I had his girl, I said "Now what are you? Stupid?"
But he tried to play me out and KRS-One knew it
He reached for his pistol but it was just a waste
Cos my 9 millimeter was up against his face
He pulled his pistol anyway and I filled him full of lead
But just before he fell to the ground this is what I said...

    It's startlingly violent, even if KRS-One's gunplay is all in self-defense, and it's made all the more unsettling by his singsong ragga delivery.   Another seminal hardcore moment is "P Is Free," which details an encounter with a crack whore for perhaps the first time on record.  Elsewhere, there are a few showcases for KRS-One's pure rhyming skill, most notably “Poetry” and the title track.  This is the only album in the top ten that failed to go platinium and the only one in the top twenty that couldn't reach gold status.  Despite this, this album is still one of the most influencial hip-hop album ever.  Overall it's very consistent, so even if the meat of Criminal Minded is the material that lives up to the title, the raw talent on display is what cements the album's status as an all-time classic.


50. Dr. Dre – 2001 (1999)
49. Outkast – Southernplayalisticaddicmuzik (1994)
48. Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt (1996)
47. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Wanted: Dead Or Alive (1990)
46. Redman – Whut? Thee Album (1992)
45. De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead (1991)
44. Fugees – The Score (1996)
43. The D.O.C. – No One Can Do It Better (1989)
42. Common Sense - Resurrection (1994)
41. Makaveli - The Don Kiluminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996)
40. Public Enemy – Fear Of A Black Planet (1990)
39. Ice Cube – Death Certificate (1992)
38. Gza/Genius - Liquid Swords (1995)
37. N.W.A – Efil4zaggin (1991)
36. Main Source – Breaking Atoms (1991)
35. Geto Boys – Grip It! On That Other Level (1989)
34. Brand Nubian – One For All (1990)
33. Scarface – The Diary (1994)
32. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Road To The Riches (1989)
31. Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill (1986)
30. Ultramagnetic MC's – Critical Beatdown (1988)
29. LL Cool J – Radio (1985)
28. 2Pac – All Eyez On Me (1996)
27. Mobb Deep – The Infamous… (1995)
26. Eric B. & Rakim – Follow The Leader (1988)
25. Big Daddy Kane – It’s A Big Daddy (1989)
24. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Mecca And The Soul Brother (1992)
23. Black Moon – Enta Da Stage (1993)
22. Outkast – Aquemini (1998)
21. A Tribe Called Quest – People’s Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm (1990)
20. Run-D.M.C. – Run-D.M.C. (1984)
19. Boogie Down Productions – By All Means Necessary (1988)
18. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995)
17. De La Soul – 3 Feet High And Rising (1989)
16. Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle (1993)
15. Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (1990)
14. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready To Die (1994)
13. Run-D.M.C. – Raising Hell (1986)
12. EPMD – Strictly Business (1988)
11. Big Daddy Kane – Long Live The Kane (1988)
10. A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders (1993)
09. Boogie Down Productions – Criminal Minded (1987)

[Javier]

I was thinking you were gonna put this in the top 3 for sure.  Just cuz of the avatar though 

[Bramsterdam (see ya)]

I've never heard this album..

[Twentytwofifty]

I've never heard of this album..

Good thing I linked this up.  Download this and get rid of the nerd rap.

[Bramsterdam (see ya)]

I've never heard of this album..

Good thing I linked this up. Download this and get rid of the nerd rap.

I'll check out some songs, but the underground stays

[eS El Duque]

I've never heard of this album..

Good thing I linked this up.  Download this and get rid of the nerd rap.

lmao OUCH!


I thought you were gonna put this higher. Good spot....props

[ecrazy]

I've never heard of this album..

Good thing I linked this up. Download this and get rid of the nerd rap.

I'll check out some songs, but the underground stays

If you listen to underground, how could you never ever hear of BDP or CRIMINAL MINDED!!!!!.....wow, almost every song on this cd is played at every show i go to, Wow
The first diss track ever, i really thought this was top 5 material, but eh, made top 10

[Bramsterdam (see ya)]

Ive heard of it, just never heard it.. my bad on my previous post, lemme edit that... there.

[ImmortalOne]

I own the album. While I respect its impact on hip hop, it isnt an album I can really get into personally. Very dated for my tastes.

[fellowes]

Good chose one of the best albums every made in Hip-Hop (and music at all)

[Don Jacob]

good album good spot

[Diabolical]

good album good spot

[Suffice]

OK, maybe i'm not getting this, and maybe this album was incredibly influential and important at the time, but do you guys honestly enjoy listening to this? There's like no beats and the flow is just tooooooo old school... i dunno.

[makaveli11]

hahahaaa... don't worry man I definitely feel you. You are not the only one.