It has a special place in my heart because of nostalgia, but I don't think it's a major classic like that.
Might be the GOAT "gimmicky" album, tho.
The whole "Bring the streets back"/dog barking thing felt manufactured to me.That was the whole marketing scheme behind the album, but I wasn't buying it
I wouldn't necessarily call it a street album.It was mostly some horrorcore/ultra hype Onyx/adrenaline rush type shyt.To me, Juvenile's 400 Degrees was more of a "street album"
Ironically, IMO, How's It Going Down was the realest/most organic/down to earth song on the album.
The album hit it's zenith with nikkaz Done Started Something, tho.That's a bonafide classic right there.One of thee GOAT collabs...EVER.
But yeah, it's the greatest gimmicky album of all time.Coming out the Puffy/Mase shiny suit era, IDAHI dropped at the perfect time for maximum success.Def Jam saw the market open for "something real" and took advantage of it.
X fans won't like me saying "gimmicky", but that's just the way I saw it
I'm not even mad at the album.I still listen to it from time to time.It's gimmick perfection