It's no secret that hip-hop can stretch itself a bit thin as far as creativity is concerned. If artists were taxed every time they mentioned dollars, they'd all be broke. Fortunately, amongst the clones, several voices stand out from the crowd. The following post is dedicated to the emcees who went above-and-beyond to give the listener a complete album, not just a collection of singles designed for easy radio play. These are hip-hop's greatest concept albums.
Did we miss anything noteworthy? Let us know in the comments section.
Brotha Lynch Hung - The Coathanga Strangla Trilogy
One of the originators of the horrorcore sub-genre, Brotha Lynch hung has been eating rappers alive quite literally in his music since 1995. His cannibalistic tendencies reached new peaks, however, with Dinner And A Movie, his debut album under Tech N9ne's Strange Music label. The first in a trilogy of concept albums following a serial killer referred to as The Hang, this 2010 LP opens with our anti-hero being interrogated by police and agreeing to confess to his crimes. From here, listeners are taken on a one-of-a-kind journey through the mind of a psychopath. Co-stars in this three part epic include Snoop Dogg, Tech N9ne, and many, many, more, all appearing as characters of their own creation. Give the whole trilogy a listen if you can stomach it.
Childish Gambino - Because The Internet
Without a doubt the most popular of the emcees who made this list, Childish Gambino's rise to fame started in television, where he spent several years writing for the critically-acclaimed "30 Rock" before transitioning to acting full-time for the similarly well-received -- but not as commercial -- "Community."
As an actor, Gambino (Donald Glover in other media) tends to show off his goofy inner nerd, an image he attempts to distance himself from when on the mic. 2013's Because The Internet may not being Gambino's best release (Culdesac takes that honor), but it is his most ambitious. Divided into five distinct sections excluding interludes, the release is noteworthy for it's narrative structure and accompanying screenplay.
De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead
De La Soul Is Dead opens with with a parody of old children's book-and-record read-along sets. The story, we're told, is about a teenager named Jeff who, one mysterious evening, comes upon a cassette tape of a long-lost De La Soul album in his garbage. (Yeah, cassette tapes were still around back then.) Soon after, two bullies appear (Mista Lawnge of Black Sheep, and P.A. Pasemaster Mase), beat up Jeff, and steal the tape. Ensuing skits featured on the rest of the project find the bullies criticizing the music as each track passes. Throughout the skits, the sound of the signal that lets the reader know that it's time to turn the page is heard--keeping the read-along theme consistent through out.
The album was released at a time that De La Soul were concerned that they wouldn't be able to live up to their debut. By making criticism of the music a cornerstone of the release, they made the songs immune to critique. It's hard to mock music that mocks itself, after all. Fortunately, concept or not, the music here is top-notch as well.
Deltron 3030 - Self-titled debut
The industry's most popular "rap opera," Deltron 3030's self-titled debut is what a concept album should sound like. Taking place in a 30th century metropolis, the narrative follows Deltron (Del the Funky Homosapien), a computer prodigy and mech soldier, who attempts to bring down the New World order that controls both human rights and hip-hop music. Great satire draws from more from real life than it does from fantasy; Deltron 3030 is hip-hop's greatest satire.
Kool Keith - Dr. Octagonecologyst
The self-proclaimed inventor of horrorcore, Kool Keith made his debut with Dr. Octagonecologyst. The album introduces the character of Dr. Octagon, a homicidal, extraterrestrial, time-traveling gynecologist and surgeon. It's a darkly humorous release that combined abstract lyrics with psychedelic instrumentals to create an entirely new sound that would ultimately pave the way for then-underground emcees like Eminem to break into the mainstream.
The character of Dr. Octagon has appeared in multiple works, including First Come, First Served and Dr. Dooom 2, both of which contain tracks in which Octagon is murdered by another of Keith's alter-egos Dr. Dooom.
Little Brother - The Minstrel Show
One of the best hip-hop albums of all time is also one of the most consistently overlooked. Little Brother's The Minstrel Show has it all: incredible production, intelligent lyrics, lively performances and just a touch of biting satire. The album album plays within the context of a fictional television network called "UBN" (U Black Niggas Network). Mock advertisements and song parodies find themselves inserted carefully throughout the project, all poignant criticisms of the pop culture of the time.
Somewhat ironically, The Minstrel Show found its biggest single "Lovin' It" banned from BET. The network reportedly found the song "too intelligent" for their airwaves.
MF DOOM
MF DOOM - Mm.. Food and The Mouse And The Mask
"There are different topics besides murdering everybody," said DOOM in an interview with NPR in 2003. "That seems to be the in thing-- how many people you can murder on a record. So I'm bringing it back to the old, bragging about how nice you are with the words."
MF DOOM is a man of his word. An anagram of its creator's stage name, Mm.. Food finds rap's most notorious oddity building an entire album around food-related samples and cooking metaphors. What's most impressive about the project is that the concept never tires itself out. In less talented hands, the project could have sounded forced or, even worse, gimmicky. The rapper would create similarly off-kilter magic with Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley fame the following year on The Mouse And The Mask, a 2005 release built around Adult Swim cartoons.
Mr. Lif - I Phantom
Produced by El-P, Mr. Lif's debut album album I Phantom follows a hip-hop head who resists and then ultimately succumbs to the stresses of society, giving up his dreams and settling for a life in middle America. His life drags by meaninglessly as, Lif reveals early on, a nuclear holocaust approaches. The message behind all of the dark comedy? We all die one day; pursue your dreams.
The album's concept was initially outlined on "Phantom," a stand alone track from Lif's Emergency Rations EP. You can hear that track below.
Prince Paul - A Prince Among Thieves
One of the most acclaimed concept albums of all time, A Prince Among Thieves follows an aspiring emcee as he finds himself entangled in the world of drug dealing in an attempt to raise the money for a demo tape. It's not an mind-blowingly original story by any stretch of the imagination -- more than a few rappers have shared similar narratives in their careers -- but the presentation here is so spectacular that the LP has stood the test of time as one of rap's must-hear records. The album features cameos by Kool Keith, Big Daddy Kane, Chubb Rock, Biz Markie, De La Soul, Everlast, Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole,Special Ed, Chris Rock, RZA and Buckshot.
The Roots - Undun
The Roots' tenth studio album may just be the group's best work to date. The plot on this one follows Redford Stevens, a fictional character who kills himself on the album's opening track. Told in reverse-chronological order, the LP details Stevens' life in the first-person perspective with multiple guest artists lending their vocals to tell his story. It's a harrowing tale that systematically breaks down every misconception about living below the poverty line.