[Western Music] A landmark masterpiece in hip-hop history! A fundamental album you should know

Don’t Sweat The TechniqueEric B. & Rakim

Eric B. & Rakim – Don’t Sweat The Technique

The generation from the mid-80s to the early 90s—the so-called “Golden Age of Hip-Hop”—boasts a wealth of truly legendary artists and groups.

Among them, Eric B.

& Rakim stand as a top-tier duo in both renown and influence, with Rakim’s MCing in particular widely regarded as one of the most impactful in hip-hop history.

Distinct from gangsta rap and politically charged agitation, his style is defined by thoughtful insight and a philosophical sensibility, delivering cool, composed, conversational rhymes with unmatched finesse.

Their final album, 1992’s “Don’t Sweat the Technique,” is emblematic of old-school hip-hop at its best—melodic and funky, built on tasteful sample choices—with the title track’s dark, wood-bass-driven jazz groove leaving an especially indelible impression.

Although issues over credits reportedly triggered their breakup, I highly recommend listening to all four of their albums, including this one!

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Bring The NoisePublic Enemy

Bring The Noise – Public Enemy ( Original Video )

No question about it: this is one of the most influential works in hip-hop history, and its barrage of powerful messages cuts even sharper precisely because of today’s chaotic world.

Led by the charismatic MC Chuck D, Public Enemy—hailing from New York—is a quintessential hip-hop group known for its serious, message-driven stance.

Beyond their lyrics and groundbreaking production, they expanded their scope with a flexible, era-conscious approach, collaborating and touring with rock and metal bands to exert a genre-crossing impact.

Their second album, 1988’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, hits with an absolutely ferocious, noisy-yet-funky, hard-hitting sound crafted by the Bomb Squad, whose production is staggering—matched by the commanding presence of the early member Terminator X on the turntables.

It’s a record born of necessity at the intersection of gifted musicians and the late 1980s; remove any one element and it wouldn’t exist as it does.

A masterpiece that every rock fan—especially those who love bands like Rage Against the Machine or Linkin Park—should hear at least once!

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Woman (feat. Cleo Sol)Little Simz

Little Simz – Woman feat. Cleo Sol (Official Video)

When it comes to emblematic figures of the UK scene in the 2020s, it’s undoubtedly Little Simz.

Born in London with Nigerian roots, she’s a multi-talented artist who also works as an actor.

Her fourth album, 2021’s “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” is a sweeping masterpiece that transcends hip-hop and deserves a place in music history.

With a cinematic orchestral palette and Afrobeat influences, and a structure where introspection intersects with social commentary, it’s astonishing that all of this was created independently.

The album won the Mercury Prize and was met with critical acclaim.

Its story of dialogue with the self will resonate with music fans across genres—so make sure to experience it for yourself!

Walk This WayRun-D.M.C.

RUN DMC – Walk This Way (Official HD Video) ft. Aerosmith

The historic classic “Walk This Way,” which achieved an innovative fusion of rock and hip-hop, is a song that many people have likely heard, even if they’re not interested in hip-hop.

The music video, which also featured Aerosmith—the creators of the original—became so famous that it spawned countless parodies.

The legendary hip-hop unit that brought this track into the world is Run-D.M.C., who began their activities in the early 1980s.

Rather than coming from impoverished backgrounds, the members were middle-class youths from Queens, and with their distinctive style of Adidas three-stripe tracksuits and Superstars, they set a variety of records in hip-hop history.

The trio’s third album, released in 1986 and including the aforementioned “Walk This Way,” is Raising Hell.

This work became the first multi-platinum record in hip-hop history, and its music videos were the first in the genre to air on MTV—an epoch-making album that will be remembered as a timeless masterpiece among masterpieces.

A classic hip-hop album beyond dispute, it popularized the technique of sampling and became a hit that drew in rock listeners as well.

It’s universally acknowledged as one of the essential works that cannot be overlooked when exploring hip-hop.

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Doo-Wop (That Thing)Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing) (Official HD Video)

Even now, well past the mid-2020s, this remains the only original album released under her solo name—and it is a legendary work in every respect that Lauryn Hill created and released at the remarkably young age of 22–23.

Beyond sweeping the Grammys, earning raves from music media, and achieving record-breaking commercial success, as mentioned at the outset, it’s moving—and frankly stunning—every time to hear how, in her early twenties and through experiences like motherhood, Lauryn crafted messages that resonate across identity as a woman, faith, race, and gender, delivering them with the skill of a lyricist who raps with finesse and the power of a singer with overwhelming vocal ability.

The album is filled with songs that never fade and continue to shine.

More than just a landmark in hip-hop history, this work wields immense influence in music history and culture at large.

Please give it a listen at least once.

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