Bay Area's Finest

On one of my first posts, I think it was Cellski's Mr. Predicter II post, someone commented asking what we here at the Thizzlamic Nation think are the best Bay Area rap albums ever. I have revealed that I consider Mr. Predicter a top-tenner, and Pilly has said that Back In The Days is one of his favorite albums period. This is not a combined effort between all three of us here, as Pilly and Stax being in Eastern Europe would make that exceedingly difficult, this is my list. This is by no means a definitive list, it is a combination of what I think are the best overall albums, the most important/ influential albums, and obviously a personal bias for my personal favorites. I wouldn't think you will agree with my list, in fact, you probably shouldn't, but make some of your own lists and post 'em up in the comments section. It's not as easy as it seems, and you end up leaving out some god damn quality albums. So here goes...

We'll start with a long list of almosts/ honorable mention albums that I couldn't put in the top-10, but are obviously great albums. In no particular order.

Rappin 4-Tay - Don't Fight The Feelin'
The Jacka - The Jack Artist
Del - No Need For Alarm
Digital Underground - Sex Packets (could've easily made top 10)
Dubee - A.K.A. Sugawolf
Mac Dre - Stupid Doo Doo Dumb
Dre Dog - New Jim Jones
Andre Nickatina - CR II: Daquiri Factory
Messy Marv & San Quinn - Explosive Mode
Nickatina & Equipto - Midnight Machine Gun Rhymes & Alibis
Turf Talk - The Street Novelist
Mistah F.A.B. - Son Of A Pimp
The Coup - Steal This Album
E-40 - Loyalty & Betrayal
Too Short - Cocktails

Other albums that I never really gave top-10 consideration, but would make the initial list of Bay albums.

Spice 1 - 187 He Wrote
Dru Down - Explicit Game
JT Tha Bigga Figga - Don't Stop Til We Major
Luniz - Operation Stackola
San Quinn - The Rock
Traxamillion - The Slapp Addict
Keak Da Sneak - Hi-Tek
Equipto - Like There's No Tomorrow
Richie Rich - Seasoned Veteran
Messy Marv - Disobayish / Bandannas, Tattoos......
Totally Insane - Direct From The Backstreet
Mac Dre Presents The Rompalation
Mob Figaz - Mob Trial
Saafir - Boxcar Sessions
Yukmouth - Godzilla / Thug Lord
11/5 - A-1 Yola / Fiendin 4 Tha Funk
Cali Agents - How The West Was One (if Fresno qualifies as the Bay)
Celly Cel - Killa Kali
The Click - Down and Dirty
E-40 - Charlie Hustle (several 40 albums could be here, personal bias)

Allright, without further ado, big brother's hella subjective, non-definitive list of the Bay's best:


10) Cold World Hustlers - Iceland
I felt that even though this one isn't as well known as some others, it really is one of the more complete albums ever made in the Bay. It's really hard to find a fault with the first 7 songs, and "Taste Da Hate" is one of my favorite songs of all-time.


9) Souls of Mischief - '93 Til Infinity
I figured I'd probably take the most shit for including this one, but really, this is one of the strong albums from one of the strongest years in hop-hop history, so I feel it is often overlooked. While I'm not always feelin the entire Hiero click, it's hard to say this isn't a great album.


8) Mac Mall - Illegal Business?
It's amazing to me that the same guy that made this classic is also responsible for Thizziana Stoned. Substitute 'amazing' with 'sad' and the statement would be just as true. The album starts off strong with some great tracks, but it is on "Young N Da Game" and the title track where this album really becomes a classic and displays Mall's storytelling ability that has been mostly absent ever since.


7) Cellski - Mr. Predicter
This CD might epitomize the raw, independent hustle of Bay Area rap in the mid-90's. It doesn't really get much harder (maybe aside from our top finisher), and Cellski mixes his raw shit with some more thoughtful tracks. And as far as guest spots are concerned, it doesn't get much better than Cougnut on "Retaliation" and RBL Posse on "Funk".


6) Too Short - Life is... Too Short/ Get In Where You Fit In
Call it a cop-out, and it kinda is, but I couldn't really decide which album was more deserving. Life is... was more important/ influential to the Bay, while Get In.... was probably his most commercially succesful (not positive about that) and perhaps most complete album. Life Is... would be the safe choice, but I thought it was too hard to leave out an album with as many classic songs as Get In Where You Fit In.


5) RBL Posse - A Lesson To Be Learned / Ruthless By Law
Another cop-out. What can I say? You pick one god dammit! Lesson to be Learned can sound a little dated now, but how long did you play that album when you first heard it? It might not seem better compared to Ruthless By Law now, but that's probably cuz you've played out every song on the album. Then again, how can you leave off Ruthless By Law, one of the best sophomore albums ever in my opinion? I think I would still give the nod to their first, but I think it is pretty hard to leave either album off the list.


4) I.M.P. - Back In The Days
Have to agree with my little brother on this one. While obviously heavily influenced by NWA, I.M.P. were able to come through with an incredibly complete album with some very original tracks. "Dank Right" presents the most compelling case against blunts I've ever heard, and I am a man who loves his Swisher Sweets. And while "Frisco" gets more play, I'll take "Gangsta Shit" over it any day of the week. Those two tracks barely even skim the surface of this album, as I didn't even mention the epic car chase songs, the artillery metaphors, or classic Cougnut tracks "Goin Out Like A Gangsta" and "Scandlous."


3) E-40 - In A Major Way
A lot of people might find this an odd place for an E-40 album, as he has many great albums, but none that everyone agrees is his best. I would find it hard to make a top-10 list without including a 40 album, and there is no doubt in my mind that Major Way is his all-around best. You could take out radio hits "Sprinkle Me" and "1-Luv" and this would still be a phenomenal album. "Sideways" is a Bay classic, I'd argue that "Dey Ain't No" and "Fed" are under-appreciated tracks, "Smoke-n-Drank's" chorus was around long before the Cash Money Motto, and I haven't even mentioned "Dusted N Disgusted". There might be more slang jacked off this album than any other.


2) Mac Dre - Young Black Brotha
I had this at number 1 until just a second ago. Call it a change of heart. It probably would've been number 1, but I feel like my current #1 is more of an album, while, as Pilly mentioned a couple posts ago, Young Black Brotha is comprised of songs over several years, including previously released mixtapes. Obviously, many songs don't even need to be mentioned, but what I think makes this album so great is the supporting cast, songs like "2 The Double R," "Get Some Get Right," and "They Don't Understand." I also feel as though Khayree's interludes and tributes to The Mac only add to the album as a primer to understanding and fully appreciating any Bay Area album. Could EASILY be in the top spot. Discuss.


1) Dre Dog - I Hate You With A Passion
Indeed. This album embodies its title perhaps more than any other rap album I've ever listened to. From the very first line, Andre is as passionate as they come, and despite some very obvious flaws (the repetition of both verses from "Muthafucka" on "Dirty Worm," and the recycling of the beat from "Killin of the Caine" on "A Diamond"), this album is classic Bay shit. Honestly, after "Situation Critical," "Killa Whale," "The Stress Factor," and "Mind Full of Hatred," any other songs would have still made for a great album, but when you add Cougnut on "Muthafucka," "Ike Turner," and Nickatina's personal favorite track (he said this at a concert I was at in Sac) "Powda 4 Tha Hoes," you get a classic album. And "Piece of My Mind" and "Fillmoe" are probably the best a cappella and instrumental, respectively, on any Dre Dog/Nickatina album.

Well, there you have it. Feel free to let me know where you think I went wrong, and just how wrong I went. I had a lot of fun putting this shit together and listening to some classic Bay shit I hadn't in hella long, so do it yourself. Don't just tell me I'm wrong, add your own list.

Lastly, big ups to the Niners for re-upping on Frank Gore. Good look.