Dec 20, 2014 When you came out in 1994, with “I Used To Love H.E.R,” you were speaking about how you lost your love for music. Fast forward to now. If you could choose five albums in the past five years which restored your love in hip-hop, which albums would you choose and why? "I would say My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West. I think it had all the elements of hip-hop that you love. It had the dope rhyming, hardcore beats, but he did something that was really new and progressive. He had the perfect subject matter. Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid M.a.a.D. City. That album had a story to it. The songs were unique and fresh. His perspective was fresh. I liked Chance The Rapper’s mixtape Acid Rap. I liked that because anybody sampling Slum Village, you already know that there’s something special there. (Laughs) There was something real about it and true. I loved Nas’ Life is Good. That definitely let you know that some of the classic artists still know how to make music that’s relevant. And talking about subject matter, “Daughters,” was like, 'Man!'" That was a great record. "To tackle that kind of subject matter, that was something that writers did back in the day, you know? You know those timeless records. People would sing songs like “Family Reunion” and “I’ll Always Love My Mama.” Those were soulful songs and records. I think “Daughters” was a song like that. Like [Pete Rock & CL’s Smooth] “T.R.O.Y. – They Reminiscence Over You” will always be there. So what Nas did with Life Is Good, he created something that was special. I think the fifth – I wouldn’t say it’s not a hip-hop album – but the fifth album that I think was under something you would say, 'Man, you could do innovative music,' was that Frank Ocean album, Channel Orange. I thought that his writing was real good. And for you to build an impact, be on the Grammys singing songs, and have an Andre 3000 on the album, it was dope, man. Those are the five albums that I feel like gave me hope in hip-hop and what Frank Ocean’s album did, gave me hope for other music as well." http://www.djbooth.net/index/news/entry/common-nobodys-smiling-5-best-albums-interview Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid Maad City Chance The Rapper - Acid Rap Nas - Life Is Good Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
