Platinum Era

10 Notable Albums of the Platinum Age of Hip Hop

Summary of the key albums during the third era of Hip Hop from 1996 to 2006

 

Platinum Era

The Platinum Era represents a time when hardcore rappers found mainstream success, the dirty south was rising fast, and artists from different cities and regions started to collaborate. Hip Hop production had blended with R&B and pop causing rap stars to be some of the highest selling artists of any music of that time period. Music acts were developed by labels and the music was highly scrutinized before its release. On one level the era is criticized for its pop influence, over production, and formulaic singles. On the other hand, it is praised as a time when rappers were filtered by labels leaving the truly talented to release music and music itself was polished.

Below, is a list of 10 notable Platinum Age albums. They represent both a mastery of the craft as well as reaching new audiences that initially didn’t understand the genre.

 

 

All Eyez On Me

Artist: 2Pac

Released: February 13, 1996

Sub-genre: Gangsta Rap, G-Funk, Crossover Rap

Length: 2:12:20

Label: Death Row, Interscope

Producer: Dr. Dre, Suge Knight

Notable Track(s): California Love, How Do U Want It, I Ain’t Mad at Cha, 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 1

RIAA Certification: 5xPlatinum (April 13, 1996); Diamond (July 23, 2014)

After being released from prison 2Pac felt like the world was watching to see what he would do next. As a polarizing figure he had a lot of people that wanted him to succeed and a lot that wanted him to fail. The album is a mix of many topics from celebration to lashing out on enemies.

The songs on All Eyez on Me were a step away from the personal, social consciousness, and political consciousness of his previous work but still contained some songs of that nature. This album was more of an unapologetic celebration that leaned heavier into the Gangsta image that had been established by Death Row. Containing more songs with a hardcore sound, R&B sound, and even club songs. It was a reflection on each facet of his life all at once and he proved that he was one of kind in regards to making beloved songs with a wide range.  The album features plenty of guest spots with much of the production from Johnny J and Daz Dillinger.

The range of this album was a big influence for the Platinum Era moving forward. Record labels pushed artists to showcase versatility more than specializing. It became common for all the majors to have each artist release three singles: one for the streets, an R&B one for the ladies, and a club song.

Reasonable Doubt

Artist: Jay-Z

Released: June 25, 1996

Sub-genre: Mafioso Rap, Boom Bap

Length: 55:32

Label: Roc-A-Fella

Producer: Damon Dash, Jay-Z, Kareem ‘Biggs’ Burke

Notable Track(s): Ain’t No Nigga, Dead Presidents II, Can’t Knock the Hustle, Feelin’ It

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 23

RIAA Certification: Platinum (February 7, 2002)

When underground battle rapper Jay-Z put out his debut album on his independent label he broke new ground that put him on the path to riches. Outside of that, Reasonable Doubt represents the pinnacle of the Mafioso themed rap.

It had a gritty realism as Jay-Z had truly lived the life as a drug-dealer and was well suited to deliver the organized crime style of gangsta rap. In this album Jay-Z talks about how the drug game can affect a person’s inner peace and what it can do to their mind. Jay-Z himself compared the studio as a psychiatrist’s couch during the recording for Reasonable Doubt. The songs featured a mix of bragging, serious moments, playful lines, advanced rhyme schemes, great wordplay, and a mature reflection of his life up to that point all over Boom Bap production at a time when crossover sounds had become more popular.

The album was not an immediate success, failing to go gold in the first year of it’s release.  Many of the singles did not chart.  However, over the years, Jay-Z’s popularity grew leading to Reasonable Doubt being certified Platinum in 2002.  Til this day it remains as Jay-Z’s lowest charting album but is often argued as being his best work. 

 

 

 

Life After Death

Artist: Notorious BIG

Released: March 25, 1997

Sub-genre: Hardcore Rap, Crossover Rap

Length: 2:00:39

Label: Bad Boy, Arista

Producer: Puff Daddy

Notable Track(s): Hypnotize, Mo Money Mo Problems, Sky’s the Limit

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 1

RIAA Certification: Platinum (1997); Diamond (2000)

 

Released about two weeks after the legendary rapper’s untimely death Life After Death is the long awaited sophomore album from Notorious BIG.  This album marks the dominant run Bad Boy Records had that launched Puff Daddy and Mase into stardom along with plenty of other successful acts.  It begins right when the previous album Ready to Die left off.

 

The flow was smoother than his previous work but still featured strong content that pleased a lot of audiences at once. The tracks range from the bright commercial sound to boom bap production, and the content from mafioso and hardcore rap to more personal and reflective songs. The full album has a cinematic feel.

The lyricism stands out as Biggie’s rhyming doesn’t follow patterns or schemes often. Instead he is changing the pattern all the time and sounds as if he is rhyming whenever he chooses as opposed to needs to. Also, in the lyricism Biggie’s word choice always remains natural and reflects a natural monologue as opposed to a structured song.  The album embraced styles from other regions of the United States, and featured guests from different regions as well.  To top it off there was excellent storytelling which solidified Biggie as arguably the greatest of all time. 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot

Artist: DMX

Released: May 12, 1998

Sub-genre: Hardcore Rap, Boom Bap

Length: 65:10

Label: Ruff Ryders, Def Jam

Producer: Dee & Waah

Notable Track(s): Ruff Ryder’s Anthem, Get at Me Dog, How’s It Goin Down

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 1

RIAA Certification: 4xPlatinum (December 18, 2000)

DMX had been an underground battle rap star since 1991 even being highlighted in The Source magazine’s unsigned hype column that year.  For the next few years he would let problems with drugs and the law derail his rap career.  Around 1995 he started getting his buzz back and landed some notable features until he was signed by Def Jam and dropped his album in 1998. 

During the late 90s the sound of mainstream rap clearly had taken on a more commercial style or dirty south style. However, the debut of DMX brought in a return to gritty, hardcore, disrespectful, and deep rap that was unlike any heard previously.  The Dame Grease beats were haunting and dark. Over the years many of the New York hardcore rappers had taken a more smooth flow and approach even if the content was edgy, however DMX’s flow was super expressive and physically aggressive.  The storytelling on the album really stand out as the listener is not just being rapped to but having songs truly acted out for them.

In the time period referred to as the “jiggy era” this album really brought back the viability of hardcore rap music.  His sophomore album released in the same year also hit #1 on the charts making him one of the most successful rappers of the late 90s. 

 

 

Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life

Artist: Jay Z

Released: September 29, 1998

Sub-genre: Crossover Rap, Hardcore Rap

Length: 61:43

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Producer: Dame Dash, Jay Z, Kareem Biggs Burke

Notable Track(s): Money Ain’t A Thing, Can I Get A, Nigga What Nigga Who, Hard Knock Life

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 1

RIAA Certification: 5xPlatinum (2000)

Jay-Z’s previous album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 had received criticism for sounding too commercial and polished. Going into Hard Knock Life, Jay-Z sought to have a sound that struck a balance between glossy Bad Boy production and the rougher sound that his core base wanted. He ended working with a wide range of producers from Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, Stevie J, Kid Capri, DJ Premier, Irv Gotti, Erick Sermon, and a few others to comprise the album.

Outside of the quality production, the lyricism on this album truly represents Jay at his best. It dives into his background as a hustler but mainly reflects where he was at the present time. A rapidly rising rap star that bragged about his successes but also addressed the new challenges in his life. Although these were common themes in rap, Jay did it in a way that was more nuanced and sharper than anyone else making this release a classic.

The album contained plenty of hits and catapulted Jay Z into the conversation of being an all-time great.

 

2001

Artist: Dr. Dre

Released: November 16, 1999

Sub-genre: Gangsta Rap, G-Funk

Length: 68:01

Label: Aftermath, Interscope

Producer: Dr. Dre

Notable Track(s): Still D.R.E., Forgot About Dre, The Next Episode

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 2

RIAA Certification: 6xPlatinum (November 21, 2000)

 

Motivated by the narrative that Dr. Dre was no good at rapping and producing he made an album to address the doubters.  It was intended to be released as a mixtape but was then changed to be set up like a film.  He has stated that it was not meant for club or radio play and was simply hardcore hip hop with a touch of dark comedy. 

The album’s production expanded on that of The Chronic, with new, sparse beats and reduced use of samples which were prominent on his debut album.  It marked the beginning of Dre’s collaboration with Scott Storch for piano, strings, and orchestration.  Mike Elizondo was on the bass guitar, and Dre was on the drum machine.  Dr. Dre will program a beat, then ask the musicians to play along; when Dre hears something he likes, he isolates the player and tells him how to refine the sound.  The album production has been described as having chilly keyboard motifs, gut-punching bass lines, strings and synths that swoop in, familiar guitar licks, patented tectonic funk beats, mournful atmospherics, lean, and immaculate.

The lyrics on the album received criticism and created some controversy. They include many themes associated with gangsta rap, such as violence, promiscuity, street gangs, drive-by shootings, crime and marijuana usage. This was a departure from his previous release Dr. Dre Presents…The Aftermath where he tried to take a more mature approach.  Although the explicit lyrics were generic Dr. Dre’s delivery and flow were full of punch.  The album featured plenty of guest rappers and was a truly collaborative effort with much of Dr. Dre’s lyrics were ghostwritten.  The album was heavily celebrated showcasing the reunion of Dre and Snoop as well as collaborations with Eminem who was the hottest new act at the time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Marshall Mathers LP

Artist: Eminem

Released: May 23, 2000

Sub-genre: Hardcore Rap

Length: 72:04

Label: Aftermath, Interscope

Producer: Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mel-Man, Bass Brothers

Notable Track(s): The Real Slim Shady, The Way I Am, Stan

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 2

RIAA Certification: 6xPlatinum (November 21, 2000)

*The Marshall Mathers LP sold 1.76 million copies in its first week, which made it the fastest-selling rap album in history until 2015

 

 

The Slim Shady LP turned Eminem from an underground rapper into a high-profile celebrity.  The rapper became uncomfortable with the level of fame he had achieved.  Eminem also became a highly controversial figure due to his lyrical content. He was labeled as misogynist, a nihilist, and an advocate of domestic violence.  The expectations were extremely high as the record label expected it to be the fastest selling album ever.  Much of the album was written spontaneously in the studio.

 

Considered both a hardcore hip hop album much of the album’s first half was produced by Dr. Dre and Mel-Man, who employed their typical sparse, stripped-down beats, to put more focus on Eminem’s vocals.  The background music on the record employs liquid basslines, stuttering rhythms, slight sound effects, and spacious soundscapes”.  Bass Brothers and Eminem produced most of the second half, which ranges from laid-back guitars to the atmosphere of “Amityville”.

 

The Marshall Mathers LP contains more autobiographical themes in comparison to The Slim Shady LP.  Much of the album is spent addressing his rise to fame and attacking those who criticized his previous album. Other themes include his relationship with his family.  Unlike the first album the lyrics are more introspective and uses less of the Slim Shady persona.  It blurs the distinction between reality and fiction, humor and horror, satire and documentary.  The record showcases a variety of moods, ranging from irreverent and humorous to dark and unsettling.   

 

Most songs cover Eminem’s childhood struggles and family issues, the relationship struggles with his wife, his struggles with his superstardom and expectations, his return and effect on the music industry, his drug use, his effect on the American youth and society, and reactionary barbs to critical response of his vulgarity and dark themes.  Despite the large amount of controversy regarding the lyrics, the lyrics on the album were overwhelmingly well received among critics and the hip hop community, many praising Eminem’s verbal energy and advanced rhyme patterns.

 

 

The Blueprint

Artist: Jay Z

Released: September 11, 2001

Sub-genre: Crossover Rap

Length: 63:25

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Producer: Jay Z, Dame Dash, Kareem Biggs Burke, Kanye West, Just Blaze , Bink

Notable Track(s): Izzo, Girls Girls Girls, Song Cry

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 1

RIAA Certification: 2xPlatinum (May 1, 2002)

 

The Blueprint was reportedly cut in two weeks, with Jay-Z allegedly writing the lyrics in two days.  At the time, he was awaiting two criminal trials for gun possession and assault. He was also engaged in feuds with various rappers such as Jadakiss, Fat Joe and in particular Nas and Mobb Deep member Prodigy.

 

On The Blueprint, Jay-Z and his producers used vintage soul as inspiration, including a vocal sample on almost every track.  The popularity and commercial success of The Blueprint established Kanye West and Just Blaze as two of hip hop’s most celebrated producers. Furthermore, The Blueprint signaled a major stylistic shift in hip hop production towards a more Soulcentric and sample-reliant sound, creating a number of imitators who attempted to emulate the album’s atmospheric style. Prior to The Blueprint, mainstream hip-hop producers had largely eschewed music sampling in favor of the keyboard-driven Timbaland sound, due to the financial and legal issues associated with copyright laws.

 

The Blueprint, however, revived musical sampling as a common practice in hip hop music and dislodged the digital keyboard-driven production style as the dominant sound in hip-hop music.  Kanye West would later incorporate some of the production and sampling techniques he used on this album into his own solo albums.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Rich or Die Tryin’

Artist: 50 Cent

Released: February 6, 2003

Sub-genre: Crossover Rap, Gangsta Rap

Length: 53:44

Label: Shady, Aftermath, Interscope

Executive Producers: 50 Cent, Eminem, Dr. Dre

Track Producers: Eminem, Dr. Dre

Notable Track(s): In Da Club, 21 Questions, Many Men, P.I.M.P.

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 1

RIAA Certification: 8xPlatinum (2003)

 

Prior to the release of his mix-tape, 50 Cent was shot nine times in Queens, New York on May 24, 2000. He managed to survive, but was dropped from his label, Columbia Records, and remained unsigned and in need of producing new music. In 2002, Eminem listened to a copy of 50 Cent’s Guess Who’s Back? mix-tape album through Jackson’s attorney, who was working with Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg.  After being impressed with the mixtape, Eminem invited 50 Cent to Los Angeles where he was introduced to producer Dr. Dre.  50 Cent signed a one million dollar record deal with Dr. Dre and released his next mixtape, No Mercy, No Fear. It featured the 8 Mile single, “Wanksta”, which was later put on Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Both Eminem and Dr. Dre had started working-productions on his debut album with additional help from producers Mike Elizondo, Sha Money XL among others.

 

After signing with Eminem, he also worked heavily with Dr. Dre, with the duo acting as the album’s executive producers, who worked to combine the gangsta rap and R&B combo prevalent in New York hip hop. Additional production is provided by Mike Elizondo, Sha Money XL, Mr. Porter, Rockwilder, Dirty Swift, and Megahertz.  The album also contains guest appearances from Eminem, Young Buck, and Nate Dogg, as well as features from G-Unit co-members Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo.  The album is noted for delivering vivid detail on 50 Cent’s stories of the violent life as a crack dealer.  He was also described as appealing and mischievous.  This album became one of the fastest selling albums of all time. 

 

 

 

The College Dropout

Artist: Kanye West

Released: February 10, 2004

Sub-genre: Crossover Rap, Alternative Rap

Length: 76:13

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Executive Producers: Damon Dash, Jay Z, Kareem Biggs Burke

Track Producers: Kanye West

Notable Track(s): All Falls Down, Jesus Walks, Through the Wire, Slow Jamz

U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Position: 2

RIAA Certification: Platinum (April 6, 2004), 3xPlatinum (April 1, 2015)

 

Kanye West came to achieve recognition with his contributions Jay Z’s influential 2001 album The Blueprint.  Serving as an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, West produced records for other artists from the label, including Beanie Sigel, Freeway, and Cam’ron.  Also, he crafted hit songs for artists outside the label.  Although he had attained success as a producer, Kanye West aspired to be a rapper, but had struggled to attain a record deal.  Jay-Z, West’s colleague, later admitted that Roc-A-Fella was initially reluctant to support West as a rapper, claiming that many saw him as a producer first and foremost, and that his background contrasted with that of his labelmates.

 

West’s breakthrough came a year later on October 23, 2002, when, while driving home from a California recording studio after working late, he fell asleep at the wheel and was involved in a near-fatal car crash.  The crash left him with a shattered jaw, which had to be wired shut in reconstructive surgery. The composition, “Through the Wire”, expressed West’s experience after the accident, and helped lay the foundation for his debut album, as according to West “all the better artists have expressed what they were going through”.  In December 2002 West’s Get Well Soon mixtape was released garnering him buzz and more trust to move forward on his own album.  West began recording The College Dropout in 1999, taking four years to complete. 

 

The theme of College Dropout was to make your own decisions and not let society tell you what you have to do.  West meticulously refined the production, adding string arrangements, gospel choirs, improved drum programming and new verses.  On his personal blog in 2009, West stated he was most inspired by The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and listened to the album everyday while working on The College Dropout.  The album was musically notable for West’s unique development of his “chipmunk soul” production style, in which R&B and soul music samples were sped up and pitch shifted.

 

The College Dropout diverged from the then-dominant gangster persona in hip hop in favor of more diverse, topical subjects for the lyrics.  Throughout the album, West touches on a number of different issues drawn from his own experiences and observations, including organized religion, family, sexuality, excessive materialism, self-consciousness, minimum wage labor, institutional prejudice, and personal struggles.  This album is credited to changing the culture of mainstream rap from the tough gangster image into being more accepting of non-traditional styles.