I've picked these albums because although some are/were highly acclaimed at their time, they seem to have faded away from the 'great album' debates you see all over the place.


1. Souls Of Mischief - '93 Til Infinity
2. Black Sheep - Wolf In Sheeps Clothing
3. Brand Nubian - Foundations
4. Camp Lo - Uptight Saturday Night
5. Lords Of The Underground


I might have to make another top 5 as there are too many albums that are criminally underrated to choose from.

Let's hear yours!

I've picked these albums because although some are/were highly acclaimed at their time, they seem to have faded away from the 'great album' debates you see all over the place.


1. Souls Of Mischief - '93 Til Infinity
2. Black Sheep - Wolf In Sheeps Clothing
3. Brand Nubian - Foundations
4. Camp Lo - Uptight Saturday Night
5. Lords Of The Underground


I might have to make another top 5 as there are too many albums that are criminally underrated to choose from.

Let's hear yours!

This is how we chill from 93 till......Dope ****. I agree.

I always thought the first Roots album was unrrated......Forgot what it's call but it's got that song 'Lazy Afternoon' on it.....I've always loved that ****.

This is how we chill from 93 till......Dope ****. I agree.

I always thought the first Roots album was unrrated......Forgot what it's call but it's got that song 'Lazy Afternoon' on it.....I've always loved that ****.

Hell yeah!.....i think it was on their second album 'Do You Want More'.

That's a great album but, the best Roots album has to go to 'Illadelph Halflife'......a masterpiece.

Hell yeah!.....i think it was on their second album 'Do You Want More'.
That's a great album but, the best Roots album has to go to 'Illadelph Halflife'......a masterpiece.

You're right...Thats it. Yeah I like all their ****.

1. A Tribe Called Quest - The Love Movement

It's ridiculous how little praise this album was given with regard to their past efforts. This is one of my personal favorites. The production was excellent and it really delivered a laid back, after hours lounge type feel throughout. We were also given one of their best songs ever, "Find A Way". Simply put, this song is a masterpiece. Silky beat courtesy of Dilla, great sample from Towa Tei's "Technova (La Em Copacabana)", and Phife/Tip doing what they do best.

"Messin me up my whole head, teasin me just like Tisha did Martin
Now look at what ya startin, school boy crush an it ain't on the hush"

There are several gems in addition to Find A Way. Like it Like That, Common Ground, Money Maker, The Love, 4 Moms, Rock Rock Ya'll, etc. Very under appreciated.

2. People Under The Stairs - O.S.T. (Original Soundtrack)

I mean, this could be number one all the same. These dudes are more talented, fun to listen to and creative than 95% of hip hop artists out there. If you haven't heard this album, go buy it, steal it, or whatever. It is a must have...a classic. "Montego Slay" and "Acid Raindrops" are two of the smoothest beats I have heard in my life. Thes and Double K don't pretend to be something they're not...they keep it real as **** and you'll enjoy the ride they take you on every album.

3. All Natural - Second Nature

A classic from my Chi-Town brethren. I'm not going to launch into a long rant on why you need to hear this or why it's so underrated. Grab it and enjoy. Cap D and Tone B produced a great listen.

Standout tracks: "Renaissance", "Queens Get The Money", "Think Again"

4. Binary Star - Masters of the Universe

Must have album. Pretty much just a better version of "Waterworld". One Be Lo (One Man Army) is the ultimate emcee. Senim Silla is a standout in his own right as was evidenced on his solo release "The Name, The Motto, The Outcome". That's a different matter though. Together they were excellent...it's too bad they couldn't work out their differences. This is an underground release with critical acclaim, but it was so good that it should have gotten more attention from the mainstream.

Standouts: "Reality Check", "New Hip Hop", "The KGB", "Indy 500"

5. Blackalicious - Nia

Another slept on classic. Cliff Hanger is one of my favorite songs ever. Maybe the most intricate, imaginative story told on a record. Shallow Days and Deception are other standouts.

There you have it.

Hell yeah!.....i think it was on their second album 'Do You Want More'.

That's a great album but, the best Roots album has to go to 'Illadelph Halflife'......a masterpiece.

That's the truth. One of my favorite albums.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6074/devinzq9.jpg



I think that miserable fuk OldPringle turned me on to this one.GREATNESS.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6074/devinzq9.jpg



I think that miserable fuk OldPringle turned me on to this one.GREATNESS.

You got damn right.

"I was walkin down the street tryin to find me something to eat when I ran across this freak who's talkin about she was trying to sell some ***** to me for about $40 a nut...I likes to nut about 3 times so that's $120 I could have saved if this ***** just gave me ***** for free..."

Off the top of my head:

Tribe- Low end Theory
Reflection Eternal- Train Of Thought
Gang Starr- Full Clip
Red Man-Whut? Thee Album
De La Soul- De La Soul Is Dead

Just some off the top of my head: (not in any order)

1).Aziatic - AZ
2).Capital Punishment - Big Pun
3).The Art of Storytelling - Slick Rick
4).Liquid Swords - GZA/Genius
5).The Fix - Scarface

who iz mike jonez-mike jonez

soulja boy tellem.com-soulja boy

konvicted-akon

riddum gangsta-snoop d-o double ggg

laugh now cry lata-ice ice baby

Just some off the top of my head: (not in any order)

1).Aziatic - AZ
2).Capital Punishment - Big Pun
3).The Art of Storytelling - Slick Rick
4).Liquid Swords - GZA/Genius
5).The Fix - Scarface

those are all recognized in the hip hop community as classic albums, with the exception of Aziatic.

[QUOTE=oldgringo;3229099]1. A Tribe Called Quest - The Love Movement

Aaah, Love Movement, i havn't heard that album in a long time....might have to invest in that one.


3. All Natural - Second Nature

Good album, not one i'd have in my greatest list though.


4. Binary Star - Masters of the Universe

I own 'Waterworld', which although i've heard was made on a budget of about $500 is a great album. Is Masters... the cleaned up version? I didn't know they did any other albums.


5. Blackalicious - Nia

Blackalicious is an underrated artist altogether!

Wow I'm surprised yall have some good taste, please if yall have a chance, check out my music, I been making/ producing/ Djing for 10 years now & have opened for alot of these people ur mentioning. here's my top 5 most underrated:

1) OC - Jewelz
2) Zion I - Mind Over Matter
3) Binary Star - Master of Universe
4) Jay Z - Reasonable Doubt (still to me his best album, most of his fans still don't even know about it)
5) Onyx - All We Got Iz Us

Wow I'm surprised yall have some good taste, please if yall have a chance, check out my music, I been making/ producing/ Djing for 10 years now & have opened for alot of these people ur mentioning. here's my top 5 most underrated:

1) OC - Jewelz
2) Zion I - Mind Over Matter
3) Binary Star - Master of Universe
4) Jay Z - Reasonable Doubt (still to me his best album, most of his fans still don't even know about it)
5) Onyx - All We Got Iz Us


Far from underrated. If anything.....i'd say it borders overrated. Don't get me wrong, its a great album (by far his best) but Jay Z has got to be the most overrated rapper in history. Even MTV had him at number 1, and there were some respected hip hop heads on the panel.

Far from underrated. If anything.....i'd say it borders overrated. Don't get me wrong, its a great album (by far his best) but Jay Z has got to be the most overrated rapper in history. Even MTV had him at number 1, and there were some respected hip hop heads on the panel.

Yea your prob right, I guess I just based it off my experiences. I see a ton of dooshes who always bump Jay-Z, have his DVD's, tshirts, etc... And every time I mention Reasonable Doubt, they have no clue what I'm talking about. It kinda confuses me a bit.

He is over-rated, but I don't think he's the most over-ratted ever, I think those awards can go to 50, biggie, 2pac, etc... just my opinion

Yea your prob right, I guess I just based it off my experiences. I see a ton of dooshes who always bump Jay-Z, have his DVD's, tshirts, etc... And every time I mention Reasonable Doubt, they have no clue what I'm talking about. It kinda confuses me a bit.

He is over-rated, but I don't think he's the most over-ratted ever, I think those awards can go to 50, biggie, 2pac, etc... just my opinion



Your right about 50 being overrated, his fans have no idea about rap music. Personally i see him as a Pop Star, he's like the Mayweather of Rap......more of a businessman then an artist. I'm not gonna knock him for making the money......but his fans are complete idiots in thinking his music is hip hop and that he's the 'best rapper ever'.

However......Biggie and Pac are not overrated, in my opinion. Their deaths seem to add a certain greatness to how they are percieved. It seems when you die......it makes you better, not just in music but also movies etc...

Biggie made 2 classic albums and undeniably would be the King of Hip Hop had he been alive.

Pac had the biggest persona in rap. The only downside of his i see, is he seemed to dumbdown his lyrics for mainstream success. That's nothing to compare with his strengths.
Overrated......far from it.

Smif N wessun- Dah Shinin ( You Must get this )
Lost Boyz- Legal Drug Money
Da Lench Mob- Guerillas in the mist ( Forgotten West Coast classic from these Ice Cube proteges.
Goodie Mob- Soul Food
Black Rob- Life story

Smif N wessun- Dah Shinin ( You Must get this )
Lost Boyz- Legal Drug Money
Da Lench Mob- Guerillas in the mist ( Forgotten West Coast classic from these Ice Cube proteges.
Goodie Mob- Soul Food
Black Rob- Life story

Great shout on Smiff N Wessun, Lench Mob and Goodie Mob.

I'm not too familiar with the lost boys, and Black Rob is hit and miss with me.

Smif N wessun- Dah Shinin ( You Must get this )
Lost Boyz- Legal Drug Money
Da Lench Mob- Guerillas in the mist ( Forgotten West Coast classic from these Ice Cube proteges.
Goodie Mob- Soul Food
Black Rob- Life story

I forgot about those. Good list. I also forgot to add:
Digable Planets- (Their first album & I forgot the name of it)
K-Solo - Tell the World My Name
Kool G Rap - Wanted: Dead or Alive
kool G Rap - Road to the Riches

those are all recognized in the hip hop community as classic albums, with the exception of Aziatic.

nah, when i mean underrated i mean, they were exceptionally dope albums but not recognised by majority, these albums are not even given credit... They are mentioned here and there. Scarface's-the fix many people aint even heard of it or listened to it, yet its one of the best albums from the south from a beast of an mc. Capital punishement is also underrated, i never hear these along with that Az's album being mentioned in most threads... Liquid swords and art of storytelling are more recognised but an recognised album is different from being known as a classic.... All of this should be classics, you might consider them to be but many people aint even heard them..... Also if album sales count for something then that also tells a different story....

1. Jay-Z "The Black Album" (this **** is CRAZY)
2. Eminem - "The Slim Shady LP" (usually overlooked in light of MMLP)
3. M.O.P. - "Warriorz" (ANTE UP!)
4. DMX - "It's Dark And Hell Is Hot" (Again overlooked in light of And Then There Was X...this album is great front to back)
5. Clipse - "Lord Willin" - People seriously don't understand that Pusha and Malice are some of the better lyricists in hip hop today, and I don't see how they've been overlooked for so long. Plus, "Hell Hath No Fury" is SERIOUS business as well.

These are more albums that i can't leave off.

Ghostface killah- Ironman
Brand Nubian- One for All
Mobb Deep- Infamous
Big L- The Big Picture
Dead Prez-Let's get free
Beatnuts-Musical massacre
Lords of the Underground- here comes the Lords
Geto Boys- We can't be stopped
Gang Starr- Moment of truth
Cool Breeze- East points greatest Hit
Az- Do Or Die
e-40 -In a major way

Critics gave this album an A but did poorly on the store shelves:
Nas: Illmatic
Dunno if this counts as underrated!

All Nat - Queens Get The Money

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oD36BdF8Q14

A Tribe Called Quest - Find A Way

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Tedg-vxXQWs

People Under The Stairs - Acid Raindrops

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BEhz4z_ztAw

Binary Star - Reality Check

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FnD_CXnXEB8

Blackalicious - Cliff Hanger

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JewUufphm4g

5 of my favorite songs off the albums I mentioned.

[QUOTE=oldgringo;3229099]1. A Tribe Called Quest - The Love Movement

Aaah, Love Movement, i havn't heard that album in a long time....might have to invest in that one.


3. All Natural - Second Nature

Good album, not one i'd have in my greatest list though.


4. Binary Star - Masters of the Universe

I own 'Waterworld', which although i've heard was made on a budget of about $500 is a great album. Is Masters... the cleaned up version? I didn't know they did any other albums.


5. Blackalicious - Nia

Blackalicious is an underrated artist altogether!

Most people haven't even heard of All Natural, and seldom do you see them mentioned among the great duo's of the last 10-15 years. Much like Blackalicious as well.

Masters is essentially just a cleaned up, remastered, extended version of Waterworld. Check it out if you can. It is worth having both.

Critics gave this album an A but did poorly on the store shelves:
Nas: Illmatic
Dunno if this counts as underrated!

No matter how poor the sales were...this album is usually considered amongst the finest rap albums ever made.

[QUOTE=black.ink;3231244]

Most people haven't even heard of All Natural, and seldom do you see them mentioned among the great duo's of the last 10-15 years. Much like Blackalicious as well.

Masters is essentially just a cleaned up, remastered, extended version of Waterworld. Check it out if you can. It is worth having both.


I came across All Natural by accident.....i seen the disc lying in the backseat of my mates car so i jacked it........i was suprised i'd never heard of them before. It has great production on it, and Capital D is a great emcee.

They've kind of done a Pharcyde on us with dissapointing follow up albums although the Pharcyde's 'Plain Rap' (poorly recieved) is a personal favourite of mine.

I'll also be giving Masters... a go.

One for sure has got to be The Roots' "Game Theory". I don't hear ANYONE talking about that, despite the fact that it was released on mother****ing Def Jam. That album is a masterpiece, fact.

One for sure has got to be The Roots' "Game Theory". I don't hear ANYONE talking about that, despite the fact that it was released on mother****ing Def Jam. That album is a masterpiece, fact.


Great album for sure, probably the best from '06, but that year had some awesome records.

Ghostface 'FishScale', Jay Dee 'Donuts', Clipse 'Hell Hath...', Spank Rock 'Yoyoyoyo' and Blue Sky Black Death 'Heap of Broken Images' to name a few.

That's just from the hip hop genre, there were some cracking rock, indie albums also. I think 2006 has been the best year from the 2000's so far.

Let's get free - Dead Prez

They are hugely underrated!!

I also think Outkast are awesomly underrated. Big Boi and Andre are by far 2 of the best emcees to come from the south.

Great album for sure, probably the best from '06, but that year had some awesome records.

Ghostface 'FishScale', Jay Dee 'Donuts', Clipse 'Hell Hath...', Spank Rock 'Yoyoyoyo' and Blue Sky Black Death 'Heap of Broken Images' to name a few.

That's just from the hip hop genre, there were some cracking rock, indie albums also. I think 2006 has been the best year from the 2000's so far.

I think the only albums that were as good or better than Game Theory in 06 were Gnarls Barkley's,The Killers' and MF Grimm's. American Hunger is so obscure, I don't even know if it can even be called underrated. Unnoticed is more like it. That's another crazy albums. So solid for being 3 discs long.

Let's get free - Dead Prez

They are hugely underrated!!

I also think Outkast are awesomly underrated. Big Boi and Andre are by far 2 of the best emcees to come from the south.

'Let's get free' is a cool album....'hip hop' was my ringtone for about 2 years at one point. Great Bassline.

I think Andre is a little overrated, but it might be because he tends to get more exposure then Big Boi who in my opinion is a better lyricist and has a better flow.

The 2 best emcees from the South are Scarface and Big Boi.

'Let's get free' is a cool album....'hip hop' was my ringtone for about 2 years at one point. Great Bassline.

I think Andre is a little overrated, but it might be because he tends to get more exposure then Big Boi who in my opinion is a better lyricist and has a better flow.

The 2 best emcees from the South are Scarface and Big Boi.

I love Ludacris to be honest. he mixes up his flow from song to song and nearly always brings something new.

Listen to Andre in Da art of storytelling pt 4. He's **** hot in that.

I think the only albums that were as good or better than Game Theory in 06 were Gnarls Barkley's,The Killers' and MF Grimm's. American Hunger is so obscure, I don't even know if it can even be called underrated. Unnoticed is more like it. That's another crazy albums. So solid for being 3 discs long.


My picks of 06 aside from 'Game theory' would be TV on the Radio's 'Cookie Mountain, Muse's 'Black Holes....', Gnarls Barkley and Kasabian's 'Empire'.

Also believe the hype surrounding Arctic Monkey's.....although i prefer their second album......their debut ' Whatever People......' is a standout album from 06.

I forgot to add Hard Fi's - Stars of CCTV, which is a personal fave of mine. I've seen them twice now......great live band. (Not as good as Muse....but who is?)

Let's get free - Dead Prez

They are hugely underrated!!

I also think Outkast are awesomly underrated. Big Boi and Andre are by far 2 of the best emcees to come from the south.

You're white aren't you? Then how the **** do you like that ****...wtf. There's racism everywhere in that cd.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Bizzare Ride II The Pharcyde is not just an underrated album....but one of the best hip hop albums of all time. Alternative Hip Hop at its best.......ok, second only to ATCQ....and The Roots.