15 years ago undoubtedly one of the best Hip-Hop Years took place and changed this game forever! There are too many artist, albums and names to remember to do this daily so the best thing to do is to pay hommage to the entire Hip-Hop Year that was 1998!
DMX single handedly changed the mood and the route of Hip-Hop in 1998 with his debut album. It’s Dark and Hell is Hot came out at a time where cats was popping Cristal, Waving Rollies and talking about all the things they had….The Dog came with nothing but a mission and some of the hardest rhymes ever heard and started a Full Blown movement that is still respected to this day.
Before 98 officially ended X dropped his sophomore album firmly solidifying it was NOT A F**KING GAME!!! Think it’s safe to say the world thought DMX was the best rapper out and the hardest dude walking the planet!
Although this album wrote the demise of the Tribe on the Wall you can’t deny that its was a pretty good final Chapter. This album also helped give more light to J-Dilla, Mos Def, Wordsworth and more with its release.
Quite possibly the Greatest Album by A Hip-Hop Duo EVER, the Aquemini album is still a major influence in today’s music. This is one of the very few hip-hop albums to go Diamond [Sell 10 million or better] and literally had something for everyone on it. 3 Stacks and Big Boi became both Southern and Hip-Hop Legends with this album.
The first Latin To Go Platinum in hip-hop and bring uncanny wordplay in another shape and culture. The Terror Squad movement literally does not get off the ground without this album. 15 years later these rhyme schemes are still blowing minds.
Jay-Z was already nice before this album…but Hard Knock Life made him a SUPERSTAR! This album spawned one of the biggest tours ever in hip-hop, confirmed that Jay was going nowhere and to this day is Jay-Z’s biggest selling album. Some say this album did what it did because Pac and B.I.G couldn’t drop albums. Some say DMX and The Double R hands down had the better year…All that has weight to be argued but you can’t deny…The game ain’t been the same since this album dropped. PERIOD!
The world got what it finally wanted. Lauryn Hill dropping Clef and Pras and putting out a GREAT ALBUM! You probably will never hear another female who will sing and rhyme as well as Lauryn in one album THIS lifetime and since there still has been no follow up…it really defines itself at a stand alone Masterpiece.
Another great moment in Hip-Hop! This album has no flaw in my recollection. This album MADE you a Gangstarr fan if your weren’t already. My nostalgia kicks in with this one because I’ll never forget banging this album riding around before Prom…R.I.P Guru!
Another movement starter! The Cash Money Brothers Empire literally started from the fruits of Juve’s labor! There is a club that wont erupt when Back That Azz Up comes on. Wayne tried to make 500 Degreez and Drake did a remake to its biggest hit…but what is everybody STILL talking about?
True Pioneers to the game the Beastie Boys dropped Hello Nasty and proved why they will forever be regarded as one of the Best Hip-Hop Groups EVER! Body Movin’ and Intergalactic are 2 of the biggest songs of the 90’S! R.I.P MCA!
Redman is probably a Household name because of How High the song and movie, rolling the Method Man and this album. Reggie finally got that Platinum plaque that had eluded him for 3 previous albums and some feel this is the last GREAT body of work he has produced.
Talk about ahead of its time…Trick Daddy released http://www.thug.com before the popping thing to do was give your website. Nan Ni**a along with the rest of the album brought a new spin to Miami Bass and picked up where the 2 Live Crew left off. Trick Daddy doesn’t get enough credit for the work he’s put in for not only the south but for hip-hop. Slip-N-Slide spawned Trina and Rick Ross career among others. Florida’s Mount Rushmore isn’t valid if Luke and Trick Daddy aren’t on it.
The “cool thing” to do now is front on Silkk and say you were NEVER A Fan…However I didn’t know 1 person young or old that wasn’t singing “Aint My Fault” and “Charge It 2 Da Game” is a phrase that will never leave hip-hop vernacular. You loved this and made P and Silkk rich…Charge It 2 Da Game fam…
Other GREAT or Pivotal albums of 1998
Noreaga – N.O.R.E
Mos Def & Talib Kweli – BlackStar
Scarface – My Homies
Kid Rock – Devil Without A Cause
Master P – MP Da Last Don
Fiend – There’s One In Every Family
Pete Rock – Soul Survivor
Devin The Dude – The Dude
Xzibit – 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
DJ Quik – Rhythm-al-ism
Busta Rhymes – E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front
Fat Joe – Don Cartagena
Young Bleed – My Balls and My Word
Ras Kass – Rasassination
E-40 – The Element of Surprise
So many to name…So let’s just end it here with…If you lived to comprehend the hip-hop albums produced in 1998…You were a lucky fan!
