Album Of The Day: Mobb Deep- "Hell On Earth"

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Mobb Deep's iconic The Infamous is appropriately hailed as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of the '90s. However, their follow up, Hell On Earth, receives no such praise for reasons that are beyond me. Released only about a year after The Infamous, this album still catches Havoc and P in their artistic prime and is one of the darkest, gulliest rap albums ever made. So if you thought that there was no debating The Infamous as Mobb Deep's best work, guess again.

Album Of The Day: Inspectah Deck- "Uncontrolled Substance"

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Inspectah Deck is the one guy from the Wu that deserved the mid-90's RZA treatment but didn't get it. While GZA, Raekwon, Method Man, Ghostface, and ODB all dropped classic albums with RZA at the helm, Deck maintained his role as "one of the group" despite lyrical skills that rivaled any of the aforementioned. His solo debut, Uncontrolled Substance, didn't drop until 1999 and features only two RZA beats and, while I wouldn't put it next to Liquid Swords, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and so on, it's still a solid album. Despite the lack of in-his-prime RZA brilliance, the production is quality thanks to Wu-affiliated beat makers True Master, 4th Disciple, and Mathematics plus one track each from Pete Rock and Large Professor. Well-known as an incredible verse writer, Deck doesn't have the kind of range and subject matter that can effectively carry an entire album, which likely explains why his solo career was so low on the group's list of priorities. Nonetheless, on sheer lyrical skill and production alone, this album still ranks highly on the list of Wu-Tang solo efforts. 

Album Of The Day: Joe Budden- "Mood Muzik 2"

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Joe Budden is best known for "Pump It Up", the Just Blaze-produced jam of 2003. That single helped establish Budden as a well-known rapper, but made him seem like a dumbed-down mainstream artist, only capable of writing songs for the club. On this my favorite mixtape evar, Budden shows his true colors as a hungry, introspective lyricist that is nothing like the "Pump It Up" MC that Def Jam wanted him to be.

Album Of The Day: Da Youngstas- "No Mercy"

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   Da Youngstas were a Philly-based trio that made some quality hip-hop in the early '90s as teenagers. Not that I'm all too familiar with their catalogue, but this is my favorite album of theirs thanks to their energy on the mic and production by greats like Marley Marl and K-Def. Mad props.

PropsOverHere Presents: The Best Of The Game & DJ Skee

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I have a strong feeling that Game's upcoming R.E.D. Album is going to suck ass, and I don't think I'm alone in this. For the last year, Jayceon has been trying too hard to make a radio smash, hence abortions like the Timbo-produced Gucci collab "Krazy"and the Pharrell-produced Chris Brown feature, "Pot of Gold". These failed attempts at a hit single have greatly lowered my expectations for this album, even though I've been satisfied with all of The Game's albums to date. Assuming I'm right, and the album is terrible, his mixtape material with DJ Skee over the last year or so serves as an acceptable consolation. Between The R.E.D. Room, Brake Lights, Purp & Patron, and Hood Morning: Candy Coronas (which just dropped today), there are more than an album's worth of great songs, to the point where it almost doesn't even matter anymore how bad the real album may be. With that in mind, I've taken the best songs from the Game/Skee tapes and assembled a sort of greatest hits collection for your enjoyment. Tracklisting below.

1. Drug Test (Feat. Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg)
2. Soo Woo (Feat. Lil' Wayne)
3. Out Of Towner
4. The Kill
5. Gangs Of New York (Feat. Jim Jones & Jadakiss)
6. Taylor Made (Feat. Wiz Khalifa)
7. Slangin' Rocks
8. Uncle Otis
9. Grave Yard
10. Hahahahaha
11. Ashed To Ashes (Feat. Rick Ross)
12. Red (Feat. Redman)
13. The Ocean
14. Never Stop Hustlin' (Feat. Fabolous)
15. R.I.P. Story

Album Of The Day: Diverse "One A.M."

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 On One A.M., Diverse, who I admittedly know nothing about, displays virtuoso rapping skill and some substance to go along with it. The beats by the likes of Prefuse 73, Madlib, and RJD2 are very solid, making this one of the few new-ish underground albums with significant replay value, at least for me.  

Album Of The Day: Juggaknots-"Clear Blue Skies"

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The Juggaknots are a group headlined by Breezly Brewin, a great underground MC. This 2003 album is unquestionably their best work but apparently it never caught on because I hardly ever see it mentioned. If you were born in the late '80's/'90's, you might have heard the song "Trouble Man" since I think it was featured on one of those immensely popular Tony Hawk skateboarding video games. Everyone's got that one friend that just ran train in Tony Hawk. Anyway, download this album.

*Don't blame me if this download gives your computer a virus, I did not upload that shit.

Album Of The Day: Kidz In The Hall- "School Was My Hustle"

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Today's album is Naledge and Double O's debut effort, School Was My Hustle. I had never heard of Kidz In The Hall until I read up on how Just Blaze threw the "Rumpshaker" horns on one of their songs and used it for Jay's then-new single "Show 'Em What You Got". Still having never heard any of their music, I checked this album on a hunch and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was totally fresh, pure hip-hop from front to back.

*Don't blame me if this download gives your computer a virus because I did not upload that shit.

Dream Albums Do Come True...Maybe

According to VladTV, "50 is Patiently Waiting On Kanye for Joint Project", an idea that I pitched on this very site right around the time of the Graduation vs. Curtis album sales showdown. Since then, Fiddy's popularity as an artist has plummeted and his Sleek headphone venture was a flop, so he's turning to Kanye presumably because he's all out of ideas. Between label politics and Kanye's better judgment I kind of doubt that this album ever materializes, but if it does I hope that they at least consider the title He's The D-Bag, I'm The Rapper.

Album Of The Day: Lake & Cormega-"My Brother's Keeper"

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With not much happening in the rap world, I've decided to add a new feature to the site called "Album Of The Day" where everyday I'll give shine to a different, underrated album. The first is Lake and Cormega's My Brother's Keeper, a collection of street tales from two Queensbridge hustlers turned inmates turned rappers. From what I can piece together through various songs, Lake and Mega grew up together but had a falling out at some point, possibly when one or the other went to prison. Eventually they settled their differences and reunited to make this album, back in '06. Only about half of the songs on this are any good, but it still comes highly recommended for fans of East Coast street shit such as myself.

*Don't blame me if this download gives your computer a virus because I did not upload that shit.