Yeah, but "buddha monks from the isle" is still hella frightening.
 Eric Martin | 9:09 AM

BTW: As per my previous riff on Nas and Illmatic, 36 Chambers also takes a spot in Eric Martin Presents: The Five Best Hip Hop Albums of All Time.
 Eric Martin | 9:11 AM

Sorry for the serial comments, but appropos of your reference to googling lyrics on another thread, I just realized (thanks to google) that its "buddha monks with the Owls."

Oh well. It's been a while, and most of my memories of these lyrics were formed when I was, er, becoming acquainted with the Owls.
 Eric Martin | 9:13 AM

Sheesh. You're right. It doesn't really sound hardcore no more...
 Russ | 9:53 AM

BTW: As per my previous riff on Nas and Illmatic, 36 Chambers also takes a spot in Eric Martin Presents: The Five Best Hip Hop Albums of All Time.

Word. Other 4?

(Apocalypse '91 is the only one I can unabashedly nominate off the top of my head...)
 Pooh | 10:29 AM

Well Illmatic is one.

Allow me to part ways with you pooh, and suggest that "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" is not only a better PE album, but itself deserves top five status.

So I'd go: Illmatic, 36 Chambers, Takes a Nation and the fourth and fifth spots could be fought over between one from Biggie (Ready to Die), NWA (Straight Outta Compton), Jay Z (Reasonable Doubt), BDP (Criminal Minded), De La Soul (3 Feet High and Rising) and possibly Tribe (Low End Theory - though they might be able to replace De La if that's your bag as I'm not sure you'd want both).

Wildcard pick: Paul's Boutique.

Honorable Mentions: Aquemini, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick.
 Eric Martin | 11:14 AM

Can I hate on A Tribe Called Quest? FUCK A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. The first four songs on Midnite Marauders are great. The rest of their output? Middling at best. The fervor they inspire from backpackers? Intolerable.

It's a vivrant thing, you wouldn't understand.
 Spencer Ackerman | 12:07 PM

I thought it was kind of ballsy for Ghostface to name drop Uday and Qusay on De La's awesome Grind Date, or Clipse to name drop the Hutu.

Also, was P.L.O. Style a Che/violent underdog revolutionary reference or some incoherent 5 percent nation anti-semitic reference? Regardless, I still wouldn't want a wire hanger in my ass like tssssssss.

I can't believe you're hating on Tribe. The best part of the Native Tounges vibe was that they broke down the rigid MC persona and could incorporate more personality into their rhymes. The fell off when Q-Tip converted and started rapping about rapping (the most annoying backpacker tic - 'eff Lyricist Lounge) instead of once having an orgy. Lupe is the only one who seems real to me right now. Kanye tries, but his ego is just too big.

Last ramble: there around 100 quotes from the Clipse album that you could use for links to thuggish Bush admin behavior. "Who gonna stop us? Not a goddamn one a ya."
 Harvey Birdman | 1:24 PM

Oh, dude, I've used a lot of Clipse lyrics and intend to use a lot more. The next blogger who comes after me is getting a taste of "Chinese New Year."
 Spencer Ackerman | 1:35 PM

"P.L.O. style" just doesn't sound threatening anymore.

To Marty Peretz it does.
 Steve M. | 1:43 PM

Allow me to part ways with you pooh, and suggest that "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" is not only a better PE album, but itself deserves top five status.

I see "Nation of Millions" and genuflect. Yet I disagree, but it's probably a result of when I first got exposed to PE/Hip Hop in general. Fear of a Black Planet was out. Which blew my mind. And then A-91 came out and is unquestionably a better album. (Though I think a "Fight the Power" lyric would work well with the next M. Peretz post - "Elvis Was A Hero To Most")
 Pooh | 5:56 PM