Tibz Top 5

Let me say this fresh out of the gate. This isn't meant to be a debate... But who am I kidding. Can the so called underground please chill.This is rap, right? This top five isn't the greatest hip-hop albums of all time... I'm no authority. These are my personal favourites and as I've stated, this is rap... We don't have to agree.

I love music. I really love hip-hop. Hip-hop is the common denominator in all my hustles, it's always present. I always hear people talking about how they are hip-hop(Brown Sugar influence) and mention the year they fell in love with it. Call me old, but I don't remember the year... It was always there.

Choosing my top five took an entire day. Too many great rappers, great tracks and great albums. I decided to base it on the albums that I firstly still listen to regularly and those that have provided me with the greatest insight and memories.

In no particular order;

1. Redman - Muddy Waters

This was my game time music. My dude, Ruli was always on Pac and Too Short but I loved Redman's AKA Reggie Noble's gritty style and humour. Muddy Waters was lyricism over smoked-out productions. There are very few occasions when I have felt that Reggie killed Method Man on tracks... He bodies everyone.

This was from his most commercial output, but it was his best.

2. Jay-Z - The Blueprint

Jay-Z's best album? Tough one, but without a doubt it was his most definitive. This was his "I'm  going to war" album. Not only against Nas, but the industry. This was Hov really talking and giving perspective, personally this when I began to understand how business minded dude is but how he'll never let you forget that he can actually rap.

Jay-Z's first five-mic album according to The Source. They were correct.

I love that this was the album that also put Kanye and Just Blaze on the map.

3. Lost Boyz - Legal Drug Money

This was the first rap album I ever bought. I have since lost three copies. All love to iTunes. Mr Cheeks and Freeky Tah(RIP) had unmatched energy. They rapped about flash and poverty, cars and drugs and of course they created my all-time hip-hop love song, Renee.

This album is a moment in time that I wish I could retrieve. Most people jumped on their second album because of,"me and my crazy world"... Go back

4. Outkast - Aquemini

I consider Andre 3stax the best rapper in the world(photo finish with Black Thought). If you've listened to Weezy from day one, then you know that Andre gave him his whole flow.

Big Boi has always been slept on and as a collective, these dudes are hip-hop royalty. Choosing my favorite Outkast album was unfair to myself but Aquemini wins.

Thought provoking, heart wrenching and bold. Trust me there's a reason these dudes have always gone platinum. Aquemini is like two cats exchanging their diaries(no homo) and advising one another... Real talk... No gas... No bullshit. Classic

5. Nas - It was written

Everyone says Nas' greatest album was his first, I disagree. Illmatic was amazing and was a classic but not is best.

On Nas' sophomore album, he's still the king poetic but he now has more perspective. He has travelled, he has money, he's seen how women flock around successful men and how loyalty is always tested. He speaks about and paints the picture.

Nas also gets out of the box and works with great artists and introduces us to The Firm.

Nas at his best.