Let’s take a trip back to the Golden Age, shall we. We saw many timeless albums drop during Hip Hop’s adolescent years. In fact, some consider this to be the best era — which makes for another debate. However, I’d like to discuss two albums that were released during that time period, By All Means Necessary and AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted by Boogie Down Production and Ice Cube, respectively.
By All Means Necessary dropped May of 1988. The album’s cover was very iconic. Influenced by Malcolm X’s 1964 cover of Ebony, KRS-One would take a different approach from his previous work, deciding to speak on sensitive subject matters such as corrupted government, safe sex, and violence in the Hip Hop community. Some may refer to this album as being the Hip Hop version of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On.
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Though KRS-1 borrowed from Malcolm, some of Hip Hop biggest names would borrow from this album in some aspect or the other; Brand Nubian (“Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down”), 8Ball & MJG (“Janky”), Nelly (“#1”), and Scarface & UGK (“Down With Us”), among others.
Some of KRS’ biggest hits come from this album as well such as “My Philosophy” & “Still #1.”
By All Means Necessary was certified Gold.
Ice Cube dropped AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted two years later. The stakes were high for Cube. He’d just departed from N.W.A. over compensations issues with the group and label head, Eazy E.
Initially, Dre was booked to produced Cube’s solo. But due to contractual agreement between Dre and Eazy’s Ruthless records, it was prohibited. That lead Cube to reach out to The Bomb Squad, Public Enemy’s production team. It turned out to be a match made in Heaven.
Many wondered if Cube could pull it off without his former comrads. AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted quiet all skeptics.
AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was certified platinum, selling over a million copies in the United States.
Like many albums of the era, By All Means Necessary and AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted help lay the brick to a solid Hip Hop foundation. But if you had to pick between “which brick,” per se, which one would you pick.
RIP Scott La Rock and Ms. Melodie.
‘By All Means Necessary’ or ‘AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted’?
[Polls Are Closed!]
Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted – Unanimous!
BPD – By All Means Necessary – 0%
