There's a lot of filler on 400 Degreez for it to be a classic. I have no problem with anyone saying it's a classic but it's just a good album to
me
And 400 Degreez and Guerilla Warfare were not two of the most important albums of the late 90's. 400 Degreez wasn't even the best album to come out that year. Stop the
The only filler on 400 Degreez was the Ha remix, mostly because Jay ruined it with his wack ass verse ( I like late 90s Jay Z but he was not good on that track and out of place).
I'll agree with you on Guerilla Warfare, but 400 Degreez is a classic and has had a lasting impact.
98 had some classics come out that year (It's Dark and Hell is Hot, Miseducation of Lauren Hill, Capital Punishment, and Aquemnini) so I think it could reasonably be argued it not being the best album that year.
I would say, even if it's argued not as one of the best, it's impact culturally is greater than those ablums. A lot of those albums mentioned above were by rappers/duos who were in their own lane. DMX, Lauren Hill, Big Pun, Outkast are all talented and gifted, and their albums launched their careers. But none of those albums really put their whole city on like 400 Degreez did for the NO, and bring a whole new genre into the mainstream.
I love Aqumeni, Lauren Hill, and Pun, but out of all those albums I'd say X's is the only one that has a song that, as soon as the first few chords drop (Ruff Ryders Anthem), can get a whole crowd of people anywhere in this country riled up in 2023 like when those first few chords of Back That Ass up can do. Those songs on those albums transcended place and time and still are as fresh today as they were 25 years ago.