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Via - MTV News
With all the buzz surrounding the release of Rebirth, the mad quest to record songs before going to prison and his Twitter and Ustream habits, the biggest music-related Lil Wayne news has gotten swept under the rug a bit. That would be the release of We Are Young Money, the posse album that dropped just before the end of 2009 that secretly contains some of the best Weezy-blessed work of the past 12 months.
The album, which features contributions from Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Mack Maine, Gudda Gudda, Tyga, Lil Twist and Jae Millz. The two singles ("Every Girl," which peaked at 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "BedRock") were both heaters that had some great work from everybody (but especially Nicki Minaj, who is becoming the crew's most potent weapon). There's also some top-shelf production care of Cool & Dre, Kane Beatz and Tha Bizness, making it a wall-to-wall success.
In fact, the greatness of We Are Young Money begs the question: Is it the best posse album of all time?
It has happened dozens of times before: An MC blows up and brings along his (usually far less talented) crew along for a group album (or an excuse to spend money in the studio). For every We Are Young Money, there are a dozen records from the likes of the St. Lunatics (that was Nelly's crew, which included titans like Murphy Lee and City Spud). But there are a handful of records that are on par with (and occasionally above) the work of the group's alpha dog. Check out our picks below and vote in the poll.
Flipmode Squad, The Imperial
Busta Rhymes' recording career has been pretty spotty (outside of the true classic When Disaster Strikes), but the one album he cut with his crew is a model of quality and consistency. Alongside Busta, Squad members Rampage, Lord Have Mercy, Rah Digga, Spliff Star and Baby Sham spun together rugged rhymes and catchy choruses for an incredible brew (especially on the singles "Everybody on the Line Outside" and "Cha Cha Cha"). Some of the Flipmode members even went on to put out excellent solo work (like Rah Digga's Dirty Harriet).
G-Unit, Beg For Mercy
Think what you want about 50 Cent, but the first album he put together with his G-Unit crew is an intense, sometimes brutal but always impressive piece of gangsta pop. It helps that everybody on the team has a unique voice: 50's alpha delivery, Young Buck's southern-kissed drawl, Lloyd Banks' smooth operation and the mostly absent Tony Yayo's raw savagery. The single "Stunt 101" remains an essential track in the 50verse, and deep cuts "G'd Up" and "Footprints" still stand up. (The less said about the group's follow-up T.O.S.: Terminate on Sight, the better.)
D-12, Devil's Night
When Eminem became huge, it was only a matter of time before his Detroit brethren joined him on the world stage. Like G-Unit, D-12 benefits from having a unique group of people, each of whom brought the same brand of humor as Slim Shady did (Bizarre's free-association rhymes were especially noteworthy). Devil's Night was also Eminem's first great triumph as a producer, and he even manages to outdo Dr. Dre on a handful of tracks (including "American Psycho" and the title track). The follow-up, 2004's D12 World, was not quite as good but still way better than your average posse album.
Junior M.A.F.I.A., Conspiracy
This one is sort of a cheat, as group leader Notorious B.I.G. (fresh off the massive success of his debut Ready to Die) only appears on four tracks. But it's notable for a few reasons: There were two phenomenal singles ("Get Money" and "Player's Anthem") and two fantastically talented breakout stars (Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease).
Ruff Ryders, Ryde or Die Vol. 1
When DMX was at his peak, he brought along the rest of his pals from the Ruff Ryders crew. In addition to providing an outlet for Eve, Drag-On and the recently disenfranchised L.O.X., the group's first album as a collective was also a showpiece for an emerging producer named Swizz Beatz, whose low-fi keyboards and claustrophobic dance tracks helped define the dominant sound of hip-hop at the end of the millennium.
Which is the best hip-hop posse album of all time?
Young Money, We Are Young Money
Flipmode Squad, The Imperial
G-Unit, Beg For Mercy
D-12, Devil's Night
Junior M.A.F.I.A., Conspiracy
Ruff Ryders, Ryde or Die Vol. 1
With all the buzz surrounding the release of Rebirth, the mad quest to record songs before going to prison and his Twitter and Ustream habits, the biggest music-related Lil Wayne news has gotten swept under the rug a bit. That would be the release of We Are Young Money, the posse album that dropped just before the end of 2009 that secretly contains some of the best Weezy-blessed work of the past 12 months.
The album, which features contributions from Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Mack Maine, Gudda Gudda, Tyga, Lil Twist and Jae Millz. The two singles ("Every Girl," which peaked at 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "BedRock") were both heaters that had some great work from everybody (but especially Nicki Minaj, who is becoming the crew's most potent weapon). There's also some top-shelf production care of Cool & Dre, Kane Beatz and Tha Bizness, making it a wall-to-wall success.
In fact, the greatness of We Are Young Money begs the question: Is it the best posse album of all time?
It has happened dozens of times before: An MC blows up and brings along his (usually far less talented) crew along for a group album (or an excuse to spend money in the studio). For every We Are Young Money, there are a dozen records from the likes of the St. Lunatics (that was Nelly's crew, which included titans like Murphy Lee and City Spud). But there are a handful of records that are on par with (and occasionally above) the work of the group's alpha dog. Check out our picks below and vote in the poll.
Flipmode Squad, The Imperial
Busta Rhymes' recording career has been pretty spotty (outside of the true classic When Disaster Strikes), but the one album he cut with his crew is a model of quality and consistency. Alongside Busta, Squad members Rampage, Lord Have Mercy, Rah Digga, Spliff Star and Baby Sham spun together rugged rhymes and catchy choruses for an incredible brew (especially on the singles "Everybody on the Line Outside" and "Cha Cha Cha"). Some of the Flipmode members even went on to put out excellent solo work (like Rah Digga's Dirty Harriet).
G-Unit, Beg For Mercy
Think what you want about 50 Cent, but the first album he put together with his G-Unit crew is an intense, sometimes brutal but always impressive piece of gangsta pop. It helps that everybody on the team has a unique voice: 50's alpha delivery, Young Buck's southern-kissed drawl, Lloyd Banks' smooth operation and the mostly absent Tony Yayo's raw savagery. The single "Stunt 101" remains an essential track in the 50verse, and deep cuts "G'd Up" and "Footprints" still stand up. (The less said about the group's follow-up T.O.S.: Terminate on Sight, the better.)
D-12, Devil's Night
When Eminem became huge, it was only a matter of time before his Detroit brethren joined him on the world stage. Like G-Unit, D-12 benefits from having a unique group of people, each of whom brought the same brand of humor as Slim Shady did (Bizarre's free-association rhymes were especially noteworthy). Devil's Night was also Eminem's first great triumph as a producer, and he even manages to outdo Dr. Dre on a handful of tracks (including "American Psycho" and the title track). The follow-up, 2004's D12 World, was not quite as good but still way better than your average posse album.
Junior M.A.F.I.A., Conspiracy
This one is sort of a cheat, as group leader Notorious B.I.G. (fresh off the massive success of his debut Ready to Die) only appears on four tracks. But it's notable for a few reasons: There were two phenomenal singles ("Get Money" and "Player's Anthem") and two fantastically talented breakout stars (Lil' Kim and Lil' Cease).
Ruff Ryders, Ryde or Die Vol. 1
When DMX was at his peak, he brought along the rest of his pals from the Ruff Ryders crew. In addition to providing an outlet for Eve, Drag-On and the recently disenfranchised L.O.X., the group's first album as a collective was also a showpiece for an emerging producer named Swizz Beatz, whose low-fi keyboards and claustrophobic dance tracks helped define the dominant sound of hip-hop at the end of the millennium.
Which is the best hip-hop posse album of all time?
Young Money, We Are Young Money
Flipmode Squad, The Imperial
G-Unit, Beg For Mercy
D-12, Devil's Night
Junior M.A.F.I.A., Conspiracy
Ruff Ryders, Ryde or Die Vol. 1
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