The Sun Rises in the East

was fine, not my thing though

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll just barely bump up to a 5, though I'd prefer to be at a 4.5.

My biggest issue early on was that some of DJ Premier’s beats weren’t quite clicking with me. Good percussion, but with some weird backing choices like a dissonant piano or a buzzy tone that took some shine away from Jeru’s flow & lyricism – he’s got a good pen & he’s got a great wrapping voice, so DJ Premier not quite meeting the mark in terms of beats that are easy to melt into left me a little bit shaky. “Mental Stamina” is what cracked that shakiness for me; yeah, the beat still kinda sucks, but his talent fully outshone it in a way where suddenly, the beat didn’t feel like it was a big issue. From that point onward, everything about the album worked for me. It also helps that after “Mental Stamina”, DJ Premier locked in with more engaging / fitting beats – not quite as strong as his contemporaries in 1994, but some pretty solid East Coast stuff regardless. The only real misstep is the F-slur on “Come Clean”, & to a point, the entirety of “Da Bichez”, if only because despite the clear line being drawn, there’s still definitely some misogyny there. I think someone got it right with “Gold Digger” a decade later, though that might just be a “flirting” vs “harassment” sort of thing.

The only thing I’d change is that “Jungle Music” should’ve ended the album, & that “Statik” should’ve been earlier in the album & not the closer. The rest of the album flows generally well, & I can’t find too much fault with it. If this album had a more clean / appealing start, I’d probably be a flat 5. The rest of the album pulls it up in my book, though just barely, if only because there’s some rather high highs here & not very many lows. I do feel like I’m closer to a 4.5 anyway, but I don’t think there’s anything bad enough here for me to go down to a 4, though it might get there down the line if things don’t click as well. I happened to enjoy it, I think it’s a fair (if maybe inessential) pick for the list, and if nothing else, it’s got an unmistakable East Coast vibe that I just generally fuck with. Hence, a bump up to a 5.

I think a good update to this generator would be that when you make your account, you have one genre you can skip over and get a different group of albums swapped in. Call it the 'What Genre Do You Never Want To Hear Again' box. Hip hop would be mine for sure. And as of today this album has a 2.9 cumulative rating so I am 100% positive I am going to loathe this already without having even started it. I don't even need to listen, I can tell you exactly what this is going to be - homophobia, misogyny, violence, self aggrandizing set to programmed beats and samples from older music. The thing about all these hip hop records is that they're all pretty much exactly the same. I don't get why you would need more than one on the list anyway? I feel like that's the only genre where you can say that. I mean sure there are other genres I don't really care for but at least the music is different from one album to the next. Maybe I'm just grumpy today. Well, let's jump in, shall we?
Yep, I was right. Please no more. I hate this kind of music. 1/5

Nice glows but the beats are thin and basic and the production is lacking. I understand why this never blew up.

I was completely unfamiliar with this album prior to this. A great selection of beats from DJ Premier with lyrics and flows that for the most part really work with them. Sometimes he stumbles a little like I don’t think the flow on My Mind Spray really works. No filler here and it doesn’t outstay its welcome. Favorites were Da Bichez, You Can’t Stop The Prophet, Ain’t The Devil Happy, and Come Clean.

Musically it doesn’t do anything for me, but there are some interesting lyrics on this. I’m no expert on rap, but there’s definitely some that I enjoy more than this one.

I keep trying, but this just isn't music for me.

1

Interesting 90s east coast rap, still prefer west coast

Better than Coldplay

Comparing it to similar albums of the era, it holds up relatively well. It's not too obnoxious, and some tracks have some good grooves and flow to them. Some tracks are inevitably misogynistic, as can sadly be expected. It got better as it went on.

2.5 rounded up.

let them bitches alone dude, omg

I’ve definitely heard better hip-hop albums than this. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯 𝘙𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 has a clear style and some solid production, but it never really grabs me. The beats feel a bit one-note over time, and while there’s a strong sense of direction, it doesn’t translate into something I’d come back to. Not bad, just not that interesting to me.

This was fine, but I would say not especially memorable. I'm writing this two days after listening and struggling to remember anything on the album. I think that gives it a two, even though I didn't dislike it.

I'm not a fan of hip-hop, but I have to say I found this one particularly boring.

Meh, I guess it wasn't terrible, but I am probably never going to just throw on an album that spends an entire track talking about bitches.

One star granted for acknowledging Shaq is an aphrodisiac.

I don't think I would listen to this again, but nothing about it was objectionable to me aside from the misogyny (am I woke because of the times, or because I'm 50?).

As usual, surprised in the strong reactions on both sides to an album like this.

2.5

94 provided an embarrassment of riches

3.5

Splitting the difference between Illmatic and 36 Chambers, this album is pure 90s NY hip hop with classic boom bap beats, lively rhymes, and a hard hitting sound.

A rap album released in 1994 thats deemed something you must listen to before you die? Illmatic by Nas (had that a few days ago and it still hits), Ready To Die by Notorious B.I.G. (all time classic), Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik by OutKast (the south got something to say), and this aint it... It aint even at the level of Regulate... G Funk Era by Warren G or Tical by Method Man or Ill Communication by Beastie Boys or even 6 Feet Deep by Gravediggaz and Funkdafied by Da Brat, so what are we even doing here? Really?