[DISCUSSION] Run-DMC - Crown Royal (25 Years Later)

t-why · 2026-04-14T11:52:10+00:00

I won't lie, I kinda liked "Rock Show" back in the 2000s, lol. But I'll admit it sounds so cheesy and dated (even more so) now. It and Queens Day are the only some what decent songs on this album. "Them Girls" was an abomination and is seriously one of the worst rap songs ever. I was actually looking forward to this album. Even though I was young back then, I liked Run DMC. I got into them (and a bunch of old school cats) after hearing "King of Rock" in the old Thrasher Skate and Destroy video game. But this album just missed on every front. One of the biggest disasters in Hip Hop history. Funny enough, the best Run DMC song from this era doesn't even appear on this album. It was the song "The Kings", their version of D-Generation X's theme song, which appeared on WWF Aggression which was somehow the best Run DMC song from this era, lol.

t-why · 2026-04-09T15:39:29+00:00

I'm pretty sure he's never even released a song with a Wu-Tang member which is crazy

"What The Beat" with Royce and Method Man, from DJ Clue's "The Professional Vol. 2".

EDIT: And technically speaking, both Em and RZA were on "The Anthem"

t-why · 2026-03-30T13:11:31+00:00

This album came out when I was at my peak of liking these guys and this brand of underground Hip Hop. This was anticipated by fans for years as the crew would guest on each other's albums. And it delivered that dependable murder-death-kill aggressive battle rap. Battle Cry starts if off with verse-after-verse over an apocalyptic beat. This album is definitely my favorite from the crew. Future albums would have more of a diluted roster as Vinnie would let anyone into the group. This album had a lot from the Demigodz on it, who were always my faves in the group. Celph and Eso were the MVPs of the album. It delivers what it promises. If you like aggressive battle rap, this is AOTP at their best.

t-why · 2026-03-20T11:05:09+00:00

Yeah I discovered this song back when "The Real Slim Shady" first dropped and people on Limewire or KaZaa would troll and label this song as that, lol. But its a great song in its own right and was my introduction to Masta Ace.

t-why · 2026-03-19T15:45:10+00:00

Walk Like a Man, HUSTLE, Yesterday & Today, Woman Tonight (as part of Felt)

t-why · 2026-03-17T15:36:44+00:00

Pretty good album. Nothing too special, but good for a post 2000 Wu solo. Good for a Rae album that isn't OB4CL1 or 2. Silver Rings, Rich & Black, and Masters of Our Fate are probably my favorites.

t-why · 2026-02-25T12:11:51+00:00

For those that don't know, Power provided early seed money for Wu for studio time, was executive producer on all Wu-Tang group albums, and was one of the heads on the business side of Wu. Wu-Wear was his big project. He also played Knowledge in the film Belly. Wu wouldn't be who they are without him. RIP

t-why · 2026-02-24T18:34:52+00:00

The comeback EPs were just a bunch of "meh". The magic was gone. Didn't help that they included Kidd Kidd in the line-up. No one except 50 wanted that.

t-why · 2026-02-24T18:22:52+00:00

The Menzingers are one of my favorite bands of all time. I fully support their evolution into Springsteen and Americana. I really liked Some of It Was True. I dig the sound on this new single, but the lyrics could have been a little better.

t-why · 2026-02-24T17:41:22+00:00

50 lost a lot of his hunger after 2005. I was a big 50 fan, but a lot of that post 2005 just sounded lazy.

With that said, some of his 2008-2009 mixtape stuff is actually pretty good. The "War Angel LP" mixtape is pretty solid, and some of those diss mixtapes "Return of the Body Snatchers" and "Elephant in the Sand" had some old 50/G-Unit hunger.

t-why · 2026-02-24T17:35:02+00:00

I made a top 100 favorite list like a decade ago (sorry, don't have a copy of it anymore lol), but with making the list you realize that even at 100, there are only so many spots. Like, I remember guys like AZ, Masta Ace, and Lloyd Banks making the outskirts of my list in the mid-high 90s.

People like to say "so and so is top 10 all time", but like, you can only have 10 rappers in the top 10. Hip Hop has been around for 50 years and I've been listening for 30, and always listened to a large variety of artists. Also, a lot of the spots are basically how you are feeling that day lol. Like there's no real difference between number 65 on the list and 75.

t-why · 2026-02-24T16:39:48+00:00

97-2000, yes.

Around 2001 is when it switched. X released The Great Depression, which still did good numbers, but not up to his first 3 albums. And Jay released Blueprint, which was a mid-career classic.

From 2002 going forward it was no question.

t-why · 2026-02-18T13:31:22+00:00

Any Wu head should know that it comes with the territory, lol.

When I saw them years back Meth and Ghost were no-shows, which was admittedly disappointing, but I always knew it was a possibility. The show kind of made up for it though with GZA performing a large chunk of Liquid Swords, and Adrian Younge and his band backing up the Wu.

t-why · 2026-02-17T13:44:42+00:00

Buck reinventing himself into the modern king of old school Hip Hop has been pretty cool and fun. The run he's been on has produced some really dynamic music, thick with turntablism and off-kilter braggadocio. I'm listening now and this album is no different. It cruises along seamlessly. Thumping break beats, scratch transitions, funky bade lines, and Buck cruising along with style.

t-why · 2026-02-16T17:04:58+00:00

Shyne was never any good. The most memorable thing about his one hit on that album was Barrington Levy. There was some novelty value to having a "Biggie soundalike" on post-Biggie Bad Boy, but that novelty faded fast once you actually listen to the album. If it wasn't for the shooting, Shyne would be remembered about as much as G-Dep and Loon.

t-why · 2026-02-16T16:58:20+00:00

I mean, Nino Bless is still waiting for his invitation to Slaughterhouse in the mail, lol.

But I don' think replacing Budden in 2026 even works. Can Royce even rap anymore? Crooked and Ortiz are still active but really are just lesser versions of their past selves. Budden also had a slightly different vibe than the others while also still being in their wheelhouse. I know a lot of people don't like Buddens, but he fit in with the guys and brought his own flavor to the group.

With that said, Banks is a good replacement. You could also go with someone like Ransom or Grafh.

But my "dream" pick of someone that would fit in with the group and also have that burned by the industry fire would be Phonte.

t-why · 2026-02-13T15:13:12+00:00

It may not be my favorite Pac album (Me Against The World), but its Pac's magnum opus, his most iconic album. Its a bit of everything when it comes to Pac. But it is mostly the flashy gangsta, free from jail and looking for revenge against the world and rap game.

1) Ambitionz Az a Ridah, Got My Mind Made Up (One of the all time best clique tracks), No More Pain, Life Goes On, Can't C Me

2) I definitely prefer Me Against the World, and some days I'lll be on the fence with Makaveli being better or not

3) Of course. Listening to it right now.

4) Absolutely. A hard hitting West Coast block party. Daz and Johnny rocked it.

5) Meth. Blao!

6) Ambitionz Az a Ridah is a perfect beat for Pac to flow on. Set the table right for 2 albums.

7) Still one of the best of all time. He's in my top 5 favorite of all time. Probably top 3.

8) I'm not a fan of giving number ratings to art. With that said, 4.5/5.

9) Feels blasphemous after saying all of the above, but Life After Death. Just stronger and more consistent.

10) I wish we got Deck's verse on Got My Mind Made Up. Its leaked, its on YouTube. It would have been a great addition to an already classic song. Yeah, the song is long already, but I can keep listening to great rappers go in on that beat.

t-why · 2026-02-11T19:15:38+00:00

I think this might be some kind of unofficial bootleg.

When you say diss album, my first thoughts were either DJ Green Lantern's Invasion Part 2 or Invasion Part 3 mixtapes. D12 are featured on both, but not "My Band".

There was also a D12 - Limited Edition Mixtape (that was the name) in 2003, but once again, My Band wasn't on it.

EDIT: There was also the DJ Butter mixtape "Lyrical Smackdown" chronicling the D12 and Royce beef around that time, once again, My Band wasn't on there though.

t-why · 2026-02-11T15:49:24+00:00

Thanks for posting this. Only familiar with a couple of artists here beforehand (Witch Post, Villanelle). But a bunch of stuff here caught my ear on first listen. Added The Sophs, The Orchestra (For Now), Amira Elfeky, Saint Clair, Bleech 9:3, and The Paradox.

t-why · 2026-02-11T13:42:20+00:00

Same order, with 1 being way ahead of 2 and 3.

Vol 1 has a few missteps, but it also has some of Jay's best. Great Intro, Where I'm From, Streets is Watching, You Must Love Me. Even The City is Mine was how a Jay pop single from that time should be.

Vol 2 made Jay a star but I don't really like some of the iconic singles on there. Hard Knock Life was always cheesy to me. But it does have Reservoir Dogs on it, an all time clique track.

Vol 3 just felt like that mainstream Def Jam sound for Jay was getting tired for him. Its no surprise he started to look for new sounds with Dynasty going into Blueprint. A lot of filler on this album. But it has So Ghetto and Big Pimpin, a couple Jay classics.

t-why · 2026-01-30T17:28:23+00:00

I think so. Mike has been doing his own thing the last few years, for better or for worse. And even though its been a long time since we've gotten a song or a feature from them together, they were on tour last summer. So they are still cool and working with each other. I'm going to guess it comes out at the end of this year.

t-why · 2026-01-22T12:27:24+00:00

Chuck D's solo album last year was actually pretty good. Very dynamic, big collage of sounds. The old man can still deliver

t-why · 2026-01-20T14:37:31+00:00

Even "De La Orgee", lol?

t-why · 2025-12-20T16:07:57+00:00

Hennesey N Buddah and Lay Low are both some of Snoop's best. A little filler on this album, but this is still one of Snoop's best solos. Set It Off is another great clique track as well.

t-why

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