How The Feeling Of A Time Period Can Influence A Classic Album | The Breakdown
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Recently Nas said that he’s tired of celebrating “Illmatic” and wants to move on from that part of his discography. Hearing Nas talk about Illmatic got me thinking about what makes an album so impactful. Of course, the album has to be incredible front to back. That’s a given. But what I think could be the most important aspect of creating a timeless album, has NOTHING to do with the music and EVERYTHING to do with the FEELING of the time period attached to that album.
From NWA’s Straight Outta Compton, Jay Z’s The Blueprint, Nas’ Illmatic, Kanye West’s The College Dropout, 50 Cent’s Get Rich Or Die Tryin and Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, here’s how the time period effects how we experience the music.
Written & Edited By: Jeremy Hecht
https://www.instagram.com/jeremy_hecht/
Executive Produced By: Sharath Charian
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What I want to know is, why when I was 12 in 1988 and bought Tougher Than Leather I thought it was the dopest music ever made and now that my daughter is 12 when I play it for her she acts like it gives her an ear ache? That music was universally loved back then and now the kids universally disdain it. It’s really weird.
9:35 I actually think that's why I was able to like old OLD hiphop. I mean I was hearing mumble rap and to be honest I didn't really like it. I didn't like trap music. Then someone in the comments referenced Run DMC and I was like who's this? So I started listening to hip hop albums in order of 'time'. I started with 80s and then went up to 90s, then the 2000's and after listening to Kendrick Lamar, I felt so much for hip hop. The whole process took 4 years, and making the transition between the 2000's to the 2010's took a whole lot of time, because I felt reluctant to listen to recent albums-I thought they would be mumble rap all over again- I knew I didn't like trap. Plus I fell in love with slim shady and had to drag myself out of that hole XD. I'm 16 right now, almost 17 and I'm probably one of the only kids that are even INTO old hiphop.. but it doesn't matter, I guess. It does annoy me time to time when none of my friends don't know the chronic or paid in full, or even biggie's existence, but it's not like I didn't expect it. It's their loss, not mine, y'know what I'm sayin'? I'm proud for knowing all the shit I know. (+Shout out to my parents, my mom went to the up in smoke tour and she and my dad told me so much about 90s hiphop , shit I couldn't have found out on my own. Love both of you)
For me the southern movement of late 90s early 00s was a special thing . I lived in Mississippi an hour from New Orleans, and was still in high school. Saw the rise of No Limit / Cash Money and the Atlanta groups movements . It was cool after seeing East/West rap heavy on mainstream, the south getting some recognition…. I’m not sure what’s up with most modern rap. There are a few artist that have substance and longevity now, but I feel like the shelf life and connection to our lives is so short lived.
It’s dark and hell is hot is one of the hardest darkest and just straight grimey pure pain albums of all time. It’s not even a question. How many times can u listen to jay z just bragging about himself and what he got. And I’m nice and I’m nicer then him. Come on man I ain’t listen to music just here about a nigga brag about himself everytrack. Reasonable dought is dope but it’s dark and hell is hot gives u the chills.
Time period means a lot. For example something like paul’s boutique didn’t resonate with people at first but now it’s a classic simply due to its ahead of its time sound with the heavy use of sampling.
This argument is kind of retarded considering many people still read the “classics” of literature, they are still able to relate and empathize with the characters and message
How important do you think the time period is to how an album is received?
Outkast first album and UGK Too hard to swallow.
Yeezus is an amazing album, but I still believe it’s a sound that’s still ahead of it’s time even now
Suffer perverts
What I want to know is, why when I was 12 in 1988 and bought Tougher Than Leather I thought it was the dopest music ever made and now that my daughter is 12 when I play it for her she acts like it gives her an ear ache? That music was universally loved back then and now the kids universally disdain it. It’s really weird.
I wonder if they will update this album with nas releasing king's disease and kd 2 so freaking good im telling you
Homie look like he done lost some weight, looking gd bruh
Another akademiks
I made this same argument back in the '90s in a college dorm room. There were no vlogs back then…
Love this break down it makes sense
9:35 I actually think that's why I was able to like old OLD hiphop. I mean I was hearing mumble rap and to be honest I didn't really like it. I didn't like trap music. Then someone in the comments referenced Run DMC and I was like who's this? So I started listening to hip hop albums in order of 'time'. I started with 80s and then went up to 90s, then the 2000's and after listening to Kendrick Lamar, I felt so much for hip hop. The whole process took 4 years, and making the transition between the 2000's to the 2010's took a whole lot of time, because I felt reluctant to listen to recent albums-I thought they would be mumble rap all over again- I knew I didn't like trap. Plus I fell in love with slim shady and had to drag myself out of that hole XD. I'm 16 right now, almost 17 and I'm probably one of the only kids that are even INTO old hiphop.. but it doesn't matter, I guess. It does annoy me time to time when none of my friends don't know the chronic or paid in full, or even biggie's existence, but it's not like I didn't expect it. It's their loss, not mine, y'know what I'm sayin'? I'm proud for knowing all the shit I know. (+Shout out to my parents, my mom went to the up in smoke tour and she and my dad told me so much about 90s hiphop , shit I couldn't have found out on my own. Love both of you)
i have a lot of memories with Wale's "the album about *nothing*"
SUFFER PERVERTS
Illmatic was one of the greatest.
A classic album is like a championship ring in Hip Hop it lasts forever even if you don't make anything else that classic still stands.
For me the southern movement of late 90s early 00s was a special thing . I lived in Mississippi an hour from New Orleans, and was still in high school. Saw the rise of No Limit / Cash Money and the Atlanta groups movements . It was cool after seeing East/West rap heavy on mainstream, the south getting some recognition…. I’m not sure what’s up with most modern rap. There are a few artist that have substance and longevity now, but I feel like the shelf life and connection to our lives is so short lived.
Suffer perverts
Suffer Perverts!
Suffer perverts
It’s dark and hell is hot > reasonable dought.
It’s dark and hell is hot is one of the hardest darkest and just straight grimey pure pain albums of all time. It’s not even a question. How many times can u listen to jay z just bragging about himself and what he got. And I’m nice and I’m nicer then him. Come on man I ain’t listen to music just here about a nigga brag about himself everytrack. Reasonable dought is dope but it’s dark and hell is hot gives u the chills.
Ooohhhh!u were in BMS that show was ill! Damn I new u looked familiar
Time period means a lot. For example something like paul’s boutique didn’t resonate with people at first but now it’s a classic simply due to its ahead of its time sound with the heavy use of sampling.
Suffer perverts!!
This argument is kind of retarded considering many people still read the “classics” of literature, they are still able to relate and empathize with the characters and message
SUFFER PERVERTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!