Tommy Gibbs
Superstar
Knucklehead I need an answer too, because MOST of the young Jay Z fans I know (and I'm talking about 95%) can't name a single song from RD.
Albums Nas & DJ Premier - Light-Years (Discussion Thread)
- Thread starter Dylmatic
- Start date
Knucklehead
HMFIC
Absolutely it is.
He literally just announced a show at Yankees stadium where he’s playing his debut and it’s sparked enormous interest because a large number of people agree that it’s a classic album that they’d love to see performed. I could think it’s the worst album ever recorded and I would still think it’s a classic based on this. One persons opinion is meaningless in this debate. There’s personal classics and there’s albums that transcend the genre and the latter is what I consider certified classics.
My Nas remix album is done 
So you know jay z fans thats young. But they dont know a song off RD lol
The stories yall make up lol
So by your criteria no lesser known album can be a classic, even if it's a great album. No b-side albums, various artists compilations or soundtracks can be classic? Or what about a beloved but lesser known regional album? I think both more well known and lesser known albums can be classic.
Knucklehead
HMFIC
There’s different levels of classics for sure. Street classics, underground classics, regional classics etc. This all started because the one guy said Lost Tapes was a “certified classic” meaning it’s an unimpeachable album everyone agrees is a classic which I find to be an insane statement especially considering Nas himself almost never plays the songs in concert and Purple is the only even remotely well known song from the album.
There’s different levels and Lost Tapes is not on the level of Ready to Die, Doggystyle, Atliens type albums that always get mentioned and are what many would consider to be “certified classics”.
When considering a classic album, I try not to compare it to other classics and take it on its own terms. Does Lost Tapes have the acclaimed status or those albums you mentioned? Of course not. But is almost every song on it also a 5/5 to me? Yes. And that's impressive, especially for a compilation album, which aren't typically known for their quality.
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Tommy Gibbs
Superstar
but you typed this ...
by the 2nd post I quoted, RD in no way can be considered a classic album because:
1. I've never seen the vinyl for sale anywhere. No reprints!!
2. Everyone of a certain age doesn't know it because it wasn't highly rated when it was released and that's why it was out of print immediately until 1999 when Def Jam repressed it.
the bolded doesn't make sense because the lox debut on Bad Boy has 2 songs that were very popular and I don't know anyone that calls their debut a classic album. And you know what the songs are. My other question is , "Do you feel that Vanilla Ice's To the Extreme is a classic album"?
The man is doing a stadium show for the 30 year old album. I think alot of people caught up lol
Wtf does jay z do to yall brain lol
Vanilla ice and the lox
Knucklehead
HMFIC
You don’t have to consider RD a classic. It’s entirely up to you. I would argue most people would but it’s completely subjective.
I don’t think anyone would say To The Extreme is classic and would never make the case that high sales always equals a classic but Ice Ice Baby is definitely a classic song. You’re still liable to hear it absolutely anywhere, it has more streams than any Nas song and the second that Under Pressure bassline starts you know even Granny and Auntie are gonna be shaking it on the wedding dancefloor.
Alexander Wiggin
All Star
Nah reasonable doubt is definitely a classic. But yes, we can also say that jay's status and career inflated the status of the album. There's definitely tiers when we discuss about classic albums. Reasonable Doubt is a classic but it's not Doggystyle, ready to die, illmatic or the infamous tiers of classic
I would also seperate classics in different types (some albums can fit sereval categories, all are into the dope albums category pretty much)
Genre defining or cultural shifting classics :
Albums that changed the way production and/or raps were done or bring a new flavor. They are important to the culture and the highest form of classics. That's Paid in full, It takes a nation... , Illmatic, The infamous, 36th chambers, Low end theory, or The chronic. They are gonna be mentionned in the top 30 hip hop albums of all time most of the time
Dope albums :
Albums that are flawless or near flawless. They didn't necessarily bring something new, but the work was great enough to count. That's Be, Reasonable doubt, Enta da stage, Stillmatic, Ob4cl, The Blueprint, Midnight marauders, Moment of truth... but a classic album is by essence in this category no matter the type of classics, but there is tiers to the dopeness too.
Event classics :
Albums that were inevitable and made the artist or the group that made it the big dog. It's dark and hell is hot, Ready to die, The black album, Get rich or die trying, All eyes on me, 2001, Doggystyle, Vol 2, Marshall mathers lp, Tha Carter 3... they essentially sold big, took a lot of awards, got heavy rotation, big singles...
Regional classics :
Albums that were super important for the region the artist is from. That's The war report, TM 101, Life is too short, 400 degreez, Victory Lap...
Personal classics :
Albums that are not necessarily viewed as classic in general hip hop discussion but are very important for the artist or group that made them. They are often fan favorites. That's Mama said knock you out, Life is good, Carter 2, Eminem show, Ressurection, The lost tapes...
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Thats all to do with promotion tbh.
