The Coup - Genocide & Juice (1994) (320)

"Fuck nah, I ain't got no Grey Poupon"

Think about the term "conscious hip hop" for a second. Chances are you're picturing a sweater-wearing, Oprah-approved rapper. What happened to the militant calls to arms from Public Enemy and KRS-One? Here's a throwback to the good ol' days, with The Coup's Genocide & Juice, a mix of social commentary and straight gangsterism. Boots Riley and E-Roc paint a picture of the everyday struggle - hassled by the laws, getting their shit jacked by the "Repo Man", and trying to turn "four dollars into four hundred". The two sound most fed up on "Gunsmoke": "Whole system's stacked like a loaded bowel, 'cause ain't no billionaires on the murder trial". This song's particularly pissed-off and potent, but G&J is equally light-hearted as it is aggressive - listen to Boots mack for free hamburgers on "Fat Cats, Bigga Fish", and the two spit at an elitist billionaire party on "Pimps (Free Stylin' At The Fortune 500 Club). Sorry, but The Coup are just more effective than this dude.

Tracklist:

1. Intro (G-Nut Talks Shit From The Gut)
2. Fat Cats, Bigga Fish
3. Pimps (Free Stylin' At The Fortune 500 Club)
4. Takin' These
5. Hip 2 The Skeme
6. Gunsmoke
7. This One's A Girl
8. The Name Game
9. 360 Degrees
10. Hard Concrete
11. Santa Rita Weekend (Feat. Spice 1 & E-40)
12. Repo Man
13. Interrogation (Feat. Osagyefo & Point Blank Range)
14. Outro

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Main Source - Breaking Atoms (1991) (320)

"He puts the needle to the wax, and just...atoms." - Nas

The best release from Wild Pitch, Main Source's Breaking Atoms features Large Professor and co. putting down some of the greatest production in hip hop. The rapping is good as well, but the layers of sampling are what make this one stand out. "Live At The Barbeque" features a guest verse from a young Nas, with the famous line, "When I was 12, I went to hell for snuffin' Jesus." This is a classic.

Tracklist:

1. Snake Eyes
2. Just Hangin' Out
3. Looking At The Front Door
4. Large Professor
5. Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball
6. Scratch & Kut
7. Peace Is Not The Word To Play
8. Vamos A Rapiar
9. He Got So Much Soul (He Don't Need No Music)
10. Live At The Barbeque (Feat. Nas, Joe Fatal & Akinyele)
11. Watch Roger Do His Thing
12. Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball (Remix)

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