Debut albums = classics

[KVB]

It is fascinating to see how the debut albums to most major rappers today are considered classics.

My theory on this is that they are young cats filled with energy and skill, and people expect them to perform. They do their best, and since they have ambitions to blow up, they  motivation is top-notch. Therefore, they acheive great success because of their focus and skill.

Most of the people listed below have delivered weak albums later in their career. I suspect that their work attitude suffers later in their career because of laziness or a lack of proper work attitude, an example is Snoop Dogg. Major rappers rely on their fan base and don't focus on perfecting their music like they did earlier in their career, because they know they will sell records anyway. This is my point of view, and in my opinion, it seems logical.

Here are some examples (almost all major rappers):

2Pac: 2Pacalypse Now - classic
DMX - It's Dark And Hell Is Hot - classic
Dr. Dre: The Chronic - classic
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full - classic
Ice Cube - Amerrikka's Most Wanted - classic
Jay-Z: Reasonable Doubt - classic
Nas: Illmatic - classic
Notorious B.I.G.: Ready To Die - classic
OutKast - Southernplayacadillacmuzik - classic
Snoop Dogg: - Doggystyle - classic
Tha Dogg Pound: Dogg Food - classic
Wu-Tang Clan: Enter The Wu: 36 Chambers - classic
Xzibit - At The Speed Of Life - classic

I could probably go on and on. Tell me what you think about this, peace.
~1~

[CantCme213]

The reason why the first album is always the best of an artist
is cause they dont got that much money

after the succes of the first album they got money

[KVB]

The reason why the first album is always the best of an artist
is cause they dont got that much money

after the succes of the first album they got money

That is another factor... they could have lost focus when they finally got their hands on some money... they could have put their heart into their first album just to get sales and earn money for a living... good point.

[Don Seer]

the other problem is, people expect them to match the standard of their debut.. when they can't spit the same thing over again.

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

yeah this is interesting to see.. in the beginning the rappers are all still hungry and wanna show everybody they tight etc..
peace

[Jay ay Beee]

2Pac: 2Pacalypse Now - classic
Dr. Dre: The Chronic - classic
OutKast - Southernplayacadillacmuzik - classic

I could probably go on and on. Tell me what you think about this, peace.
~1~

These are all bullshit cause the artists mentioned have either bettered these albums or gone on to produce another classic.  None of these artists can be accused of being lazy.

[S.G.V.]

people like snoop, jayz and them they dont have to impress people no more...theyve made so much money...they dont even have to record anymore....and if they do its just for the sheer point of recording an album....they were eager to make an album when they first started...their whole goal was to be at the level they are...they did it now they just make music to make it....

[Nosak]

the other problem is, people expect them to match the standard of their debut.. when they can't spit the same thing over again.

true, and if an artist drop always the same kind of album , people will call him a wack mc, people never know what they what , thats the problem , sometime they want this type of album and another this type....

[PLANT]

when "real" rappers come out, they usually are hungry.  hungry for what every "popular" rapper has and gets.  they want the recognition and they want people to know their raps and recognize their voice.  but once this has been achieved, they lose the hunger to prove how talented they are because they have been fed and they aint hungry no more. once an artist becomes consistantly "mainstream" liie nelly and ja rule, p. diddy, jay z even snoop too some, they achieve a fan base and they garanteed platinum status so they not gona work as hard cuz they already got this and got that but they know they got the fan base that will support them...i can't see nelly or ja rule make another good album ever in my opinion, but as for snoop dogg i think we all need him to get hungry again...someone needs to empty his foodbowl so we can hear him spit ferocious raps with heated production.  we need another classic from snoop just so we can all tell the haters to shut up.  and i think out of all those rappers w/ the platinum fan base, snoop is due...overdue.  anyways just some of my thoughts on the situation.

[Youngster323]

Its all about heart into your first cd. Just imagine u being Snoop at the time of 92-93 "damn man, Dr Dre wants everything to be perfect. Damn dogg, I need to do the best for Dre, he was in NWA . I wanna show everybody i can hang with Dre's production"

Biggie's situation " Wow I just got offered a deal with Puffy, he said I can blow up big. Imma put alot of effort in this cd. I really need to show the world my talent."

Kurupt and Daz "damn we need to do this man, Death Row are only dropping bomb azz record after bomb ass record. We gotta do our best."

but i know for a fact that Pac got better and better. All those rappers just wanted to show their best to the world

[ImmortalOne]

Classic debuts:

Illmatic
36 Chambers
Creepin On Ah Come Up
Ready To Die
License To Ill
Southernplayalistic
The Chronic
Doggystyle
Amerikkkaz Most Wanted
Reasonable Doubt
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Enta Da Stage

The following albums range from a 4-4.5, but are not quite classic:

2Pacalypse Now
Its Dark And Hell Is Hot
The Realness
SSLP
Whut Thee Album
Soul Food

[the408figga]

i think alot of it depends on what kind of an artist you are talking about. artist like outkast, xzibit, biggie, pac, and dre have all made albums better than they're debut.

but alot of artist dont live up to their first album. seems like with they're debut they are saying  this is me, this is my world ,this is how im living(doggystyle for instance) after that they dont know exactly why the public was feeling them or what they want next time out.

outkast is the only group ive seen that material gets better and better. they the only group that SELLS MORE with every album. they CONSISTENT. they got the game down. they set they own path. they dont fuck with the mainstream or what anyone else is doing and that seems to work for them

[ImmortalOne]

i think alot of it depends on what kind of an artist you are talking about. artist like outkast, xzibit, biggie, pac, and dre have all made albums better than they're debut.

but alot of artist dont live up to their first album. seems like with they're debut they are saying  this is me, this is my world ,this is how im living(doggystyle for instance) after that they dont know exactly why the public was feeling them or what they want next time out.

outkast is the only group ive seen that material gets better and better. they the only group that SELLS MORE with every album. they CONSISTENT. they got the game down. they set they own path. they dont fuck with the mainstream or what anyone else is doing and that seems to work for them

Biggie's debut and Dre's debut are their best, but I agree with you about Pac, Outkast, and Xzibit. All 3 of them definatly surpassed their debuts, as did Tribe Called Quest, Bone, and Gang Starr. Outkast has especially been consistant, as all their albums are classic or near classic and have increased in sales each time out. I still think ATLiens is their best though. Peace.

[Nosak]

Classic debuts:

The following albums range from a 4-4.5, but are not quite classic:

Its Dark And Hell Is Hot

well for me , it's a classic, ain't no doubts about it, still the best from DMX, it's the doggystyle of DMX....

[ImmortalOne]

well for me , it's a classic, ain't no doubts about it, still the best from DMX, it's the doggystyle of DMX....

Very, very nice album, a solid 4.5/5, but I cant consider it a full blown hip hop classic, cuz that would mean its as good as albums like All Eyez On Me, 36 Chambers, Illmatic, Cuban Linx, ATLiens, E.1999 Eternal, Chronic, Fear Of A Black Planet, etc etc............DMX put out a nice debut but I wouldnt put it in the same league as the above albums. Each to his own though.