With new album It’s Almost Dry almost live for the masses, Pusha-T is continuing the generous rollout with a rundown of the albums that have most influenced him.
As seen in a Hot 97-shared clip on Tuesday, King Push was recently asked by DJ Bobby Trends to name five such albums. More specifically, Trends asked for the “top 5 albums, rap or not, that influenced you” around the 36-second mark in the video below.
First to get a mention here is The Infamous (i.e. the 1995 sophomore album from Mobb Deep), while closing Push’s response is a nod to an example of his own influence in the form of Clipse’s 2006 classic Hell Hath No Fury. Also receiving shout-outs from Push are acclaimed releases from Jay-Z, Raekwon, and the Notorious B.I.G.
“I will say, the Infamous album by Mobb Deep, ruined my life. Right? I’m gonna say that ruined my life,” he said. “Reasonable Doubt, you know what I’m saying, if anybody else comes in, that’s great and I welcome them, but that album is one that showed me like, yo, just focus on your base. The Purple Tape. The Purple Tape, Raekwon. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is one of the best albums I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Moving into his Biggie mention, Push specifically praised the posthumously released double album Life After Death’s cohesiveness.
“Life After Death is the best double album that I could never make, in life,” he said. “Like, I just can’t. You might give me six years, I don’t know if I can make a cohesive project [like that]. Hell Hath No Fury, my own album. … It is the truest and purest rap album that I can stand on and know that, like, man, this was made from blood, sweat, and tears.”
Notably, the answers were delivered in no particular order, as requested. See more above, then revisit Push’s previous rundown of his 25 favorite albums from way back in 2011.
As revealed Tuesday, It’s Almost Dry boasts cover art from Sterling Ruby and spans 12 songs, including the previously released “Diet Coke” and “Neck & Wrist.” The latter marks the third pairing of Push and Jay, who previously linked for “Drug Dealers Anonymous” in 2016 and Ye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy cut “So Appalled.”
