Common Criticisms of 20 Classic Rap Albums

We tallied some of the most Common Criticisms of 20 Classic Rap Albums to let the haters get their shine on.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Over the years, plenty of rap albums have been recognized as landmark achievements and classic albums. But rap nerds are a nit-picky bunch. Never satisfied with an album just being a great piece of art, they want to tear down even the most venerated rap albums. Yeah it got 5 mics, but is it perfect? Is it that flawless victory beyond reach of us mere mortals? No? Well then it’s wack, son!

It doesn’t matter how well recieved an album is, it’ll always have its detractors. Thing is, those criticisms aren’t always unfounded—even if they aren’t enough to sink the overall value of the record. We tallied some of the most Common Criticisms of 20 Classic Rap Albums to let the haters get their shine on.

Written by Insanul Ahmed (@Incilin), Edwin Ortiz (@iTunesEra), & Erik Ross (@HellaDecent)

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Illmatic is too short.

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Jay-Z was lyrically phoning it in on The Blueprint

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Eminem's The Slim Shady LP is too juvenile and crass for a grown up to enjoy.

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The second half of Dr. Dre's The Chronic doesn't have enough Snoop Dogg.

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Doggystyle is a carbon copy of The Chronic

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Death Certificate is racist

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The College Dropout has too many damn skits

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Game namedrops too much on The Documentary

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The second half of Reasonable Doubt drags a bit

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The second disc of Wu-Tang Clan's Wu-Tang Forever is a mess

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Nas' It Was Written was too commercial

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Hittman is on 2001 too much

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Tha Carter III is a sprawling mess

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Graduation didn't need "Drunk and Hot Girls."

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"Something 2 Dance 2" is completely out of place on Straight Outta Compton

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Midnight Marauders is consistently good, but the individual songs (especially on the second half) all blend together.

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Puff Daddy jacked too many beats on No Way Out.

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50 Cent wasn't enough of a "lyricist" on Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

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Jay-Z's Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life has too many cheap keyboard beats from Swizz Beatz.

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Watch The Throne doesn't appeal to the 99.99%.

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