I wanna say this now before I get hammered in the comments lol... It occurred to me after the recording that it's quite likely Lauryn is singing more about her new son than about God in the closing tracks. However, I feel like one could interrupt those songs either way depending on where their life is. Either way, they're beautiful songs and I'm so happy to hear them, regardless of who they may directed toward.
No sweat. A lot of Lauryn's songs are double entendres for God and man. She interweaves the two in almost every song if you listen close. Love the video. New subscriber!
Yup...it's both. That's part of the beauty of the songwriting. Her son personifies that pinnacle spiritual experience. ZION. Great video...Great review.
I'm a 31 years old french guy who discovered this album nearly 11 years ago while living in NYC. I perfectly remember this warm day of May where, after classes, I started to listen to this whole album from start to finish, walking through the streets, block after block, from Midtown Manhattan up to 103rd Street in Upper West Side. The music, the place, the people, the weather... That was probably the best experience I had listening to music, and this album will forever encapsulate this small moment of my life where everything was so good. It's one of my favourite album ever. Such soul, such warmth, such precision and honesty in her voice and her lyrics.
Ex-Factor is a masterpiece of a song. So full of rawww emotion. Not to mention the LYRICS, so beautifully written. And I love how much the music changes throughout
You definitely need to listen to "The Score" by The Fugees, it's the group Lauryn Hill was in before going solo. Both fantastic albums, I personally prefer The Score!
It's worth checking out their first album too Blunted on Reality. More of a straight ahead east coast hip-hop thing. But I think even outsiders to the sub genre have something they could get out of it
Great recommendation. The Score has a grit to it that Miseducation didn’t. Both albums were super influential in my life but honestly the Score is the album that changed my life!
@@Ason19 that album was so good too. I listened to it for the first time years ago and felt like I was missing it in my life. All albums are incredibly tho, however, The Score is the dopest.
It's absurd how skilled Lauryn is with both rap and singing. I HIGHLY recommend The Score - her verses on How Many Mics, Family Business, Zealots, Fu-Gee-La, Ready Or Not....just filthy ;)
Let’s not forget her verse on the song “The Score” 🔥people fail to remember how versatile and aggressive L Boogie’s flow was throughout that album..”yo I’m the L won’t you pull it straight to the head like the speed of a bullet, cutting niggas off at the meeky - freeky gullet lyrical sedative keep niggas medative” no dude or girl can flow like Lauryn!! 👑
Others have suggested Erykah Badu- Mama's Gun and D'Angelo's Voodoo. These two classic albums would be a great extension from this one and expand your understanding of the marriage of hip hop and neo soul music that was so popular at the time and inspired all of the rnb artists out to this day. Please listen to them if you can.
“A seat at the table” by Solange is one of the best R&B albums of the 21st century, I think it’s an album every music-lover deserves to hear. The same could be said about “Black Messiah” by D’Angelo (who is featured on Miseducation) it’s one of the most acclaimed albums of the last decade with incredible soundscapes and lyrics.
This is such an easy album to love. It’s been sampled so many times over the years both in production flips and nods in artists’ lyrics. It’s insane to think she produced basically all of it. As fun as it is to watch you dive into some crazy shit, these types of classics really help grow one’s appreciation for hip-hop. Also if you’re interested in more women in hip-hop: Moor Mother - experimental, kinda darker vibes, abstract lyrics with a lot of social commentary, produces most of her own music M.I.A. - noise/electronic/south Asian influences, deeply political, kick ass music videos, super energetic music Rico Nasty - more contemporary artist, aggressive, sounds great on bombastic trap beats, eclectic vocal style, hilarious one liners Rapsody - relentless flow with crazy wordplay, more “traditional” rapper, works extensively with legendary producer 9th wonder
Amy Winehouse - Black on Both Sides Noname - Telephone Jazmine Sullivan - Reality Show The Internet - Ego Death + Hive Mind Floetry - Foetic Alicia Keys - The Diary of Alicia Keys
It's not only just in hip-hop. How many all-female rock bands are revered as legendary? More suggestions: Erykah Badu - Baduism, Solange - A Seat at the Table, Jhené Aiko - Souled Out, SZA - Ctrl, H.E.R. - H.E.R. & D'Angelo - Voodoo.
Some of the backstory to the album is that she was in a toxic relationship with her Fugees band mate Wyclef Jean (who was married). The affair almost destroyed her and she gets pretty deep about it on this album. It's one of the main reason why the Fugees never reunited and why their run didn't last longer. "The Score" is one of the best albums of the 90's in any genre. Brilliant story telling, production, and rapping/singing by all involved.
Also, Kanye and Lauryn are cool. He said that she calls him to tell him that he is "A LEADER" and not "THE LEADER" 😂(like he tends to see himself as). Kanye also sampled her in several songs "Champion", and "All Falls Down" just to name a couple. She's also sampled on his latest "Donda" album. She was clearly one of his faves.
It amazes me how everybody always wanna say that album was about Wyclef…🤔 everyone except for Lauryn.. Lauryn never mentioned anything about dating Wyclef..”EVER”…people just always wanna think they got her life figured out…that’s what makes her so amazing..she never says anything..personally, I think the album is about heartbreak period. Whether it’s hers or the heartbreak around her. She said a long time ago…”I was on the humble you on every station” 👑
Yes! he wrote about this in his book and has gone on many outlets talking about it. He is also older than her. He had the nerve to mad that Zion wasn’t his.
Great job, thank you. By skipping over the first skit, you and your viewers missed it . . . Lauryn Hill wasn't in class when they taught about LOVE. The teacher calls her name three times, with no response. So, Ms. Hill learned about love through the bumps of life and we get to reexperience the moments with her in the album. I really enjoyed your session.
You should listen to her MTV Unplugged album. It is rarely talked about, and isn't an easy listen, but it is probably her most pure work. She dropped it as she was walking away from the industry that had beaten her down and stole most of her value. You might not do a video on it, but I think you'd personally appreciate it.
@@offtheline-x8w I think she did an audit on her album sales and It generated 500 million. I'd have to source that, but I remember her saying that. If you're making an argument that the music industry gives you an equitable slice of the pie just because an artist "made millions"... Then we're starting from two ideologically different places when it comes to what's equitable. There are certainly many instances where the record label took a significant risk and advanced money... But even the most honest of people on the artist or label side recognize that the arrangement is largely predatory and one-sided.
I almost recanted my selection of 'Everything is Everything' as being my favorite when I got to that final track lol... almost. Tell Him is so beautiful, so calming, so soothing... just wonderful.
A true letter to GOD...this record and ‘A Song For You’ by the late, great Mr. Hathaway, are boldly beautiful in their rawness and sincerity. I never heard the latter as a song about a Woman but rather his confession to GOD. Moving stuff. Loving this channel by the way, stumbled upon it randomly this morning and about 4 videos in..new sub here!
You definitely need to check out Sometimes I might be Introvert by Little Simz. It came out a few months ago and was easily within the top 5 albums of last year. Another phenomenal female artist.
Champion is the song that Kanye talks about lauryn on. He said “lauryn hill said her heart was in Zion I wish her heart still was in rhyming. Cause who the kids gon’ listen to? I guess me if it isn’t you”
why have I never noticed how much 'ex-factor' was inspired by 'can it all be so simple' by the Wu?? The beat, & she even starts the track with "It could all be so simple" .. never listened to this album much but still, shows why a fresh listen is needed sometimes!
Nice vid, think about doing A Tribe Called Quest, great old scool group that mixed funk, jazz and hiphop, "The Low End Theory" is truly a masterpiece. All love
Incredible record, really glad you got to check it out. Miseducation is in my opinion a 10/10 album, Ms. Hill's voice is immaculate and the production is very captivating. As for the Jamaican accent thing, I'm pretty sure she recorded a lot of the album or at least spent a lot of time in Jamaica during the making of the album. Little Simz is an excellent artist, she's very compelling and there are some amazing beats she hops on. Grey Area is a very good album from her, definitely check it out!
I recommend Mama's Gun by erykah badu, is one of my favorite R&B albums of the 90s. Also, the discography of D’Angelo one of the forerunners of the Neo soul movement in that decade
I’ve never commented on UA-cam before. I’m usually just watching and reading comments. I’ve seen a couple of videos you made reviewing Nas, Kendrick and 2Pac. Those were great btw… But I had to comment on this one! Growing up in Europe being a child of Muslim immigrant parents, this album was my first encounter with arabic words and Muslim references in hiphop. I was 12 years when I first heard it. We were living in an all white neighborhood, going to all white school. Even tough I had a lot of friends, I always felt like an outkast. Sometimes ashamed of my roots and believes in God. BUT this album right here made it ok. Made it ok to be different, made it ok to be vulnerable, made it cool to be religious. There are of course references to Christianity with biblical themes in the track names and lyrics. There are also several references to Islam. Islam is often an underappreciated demographic and Lauryn Hill does an excellent job highlighting that Islam and Christianity have a lot in common. At the end we are all the same! This is the album I keep listening to year after year. I’m 34 years old now and the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is still the go to album for me. Keep up the good work sir! Love your reviews Peace, love and Unity! Random guy from Belgium.
That's awesome, Nassir. Thanks for sharing this. I always love hearing how an album reaches out and touches someone. Music is so magical in that respect. And I bet Lauryn herself would have the biggest smile on her face if she got the chance to read this :)
On superstar you started talking about Kanye and he actually made beats for JayZ on the Blueprint back in 2001 and Jamie Foxx saw this guy he had never heard of at his party in 2003 and it was Kanye. Kanye was asked by Jamie if he rapped and Kanye then was quite timid but apparently dropped one of the bets freestyles Jamie had ever heard. One year later Kanye and Jamie collabed on Slow Jamz and it was a no. 1 smash hit of the College Dropout.
For female rappers, I would recommend “Miss E…So Addictive” by Missy Elliott. She is the polar opposite of Lauryn Hill. She is not lyrical at all outside of occasional funny one-liners. She does have a great voice, very catchy choruses and some of the sickest beats of the early 2000’s produced mostly by her and Timbaland (one of the best producers in hip hop). The way her voice blends with the beats results in a really fun listening experience.
@@HiddenKeyElement very true! Supa Dupa Fly would probably be the best starting point into Missy’s discography since it’s her debut. I think I have personal bias since I was only 13 when that came out. While my favorite albums, Miss E and Under Construction, came out when I was 17 and 18.
Lauryn started with The Fugees. The Fugees “The Score” is a must listen to hear more of Lauryn’s rhyming skill. - “How Many Mics” , “Ready or Not” , Fu-gee-La and her cover of Killing Me Softly are a few of my faves.
haven't even watched the whole thing yet, but I'm so excited! this is genuinely one of my favorite albums, and in my opinion one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.
Yes, its a jamaican accent she has! Hearing ex factor again alongside you made me almost cry, its been a long time since i heard that and she really has so much emotion in her voice Then To Zion actually did make me cry The beat of I Used To Love Him, the cycle part you referred to, is a sample of wu tang! Specifically a song from the member Raekwon’s classic album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, which is one of the best hip hop albums ever and im sure youd want to play after Enter the 36 Chambers. Nothing Even Matters is my favorite song from the album. D’Angelo is a complete legend with imo the greatest album in the history of R&B called Voodoo. D’angelo has only 3 albums and all 3 are masterpieces. An album in 1995, then 2000 then he disappeared because he was going through major struggles in his life including addiction and a discomfort with his status as a sex symbol. His 3rd album wasnt until 2014 with Black Messiah which was a complete change in sound, and really heavy and bold and political. Fun fact: When Lauryn Hill says “I was hopeless, now I’m on Hope Road” in Lost Ones, its because shes in a studio located on a road called Hope Road and its where Bob Marley recorded his albums, so its a truly special place to be able to record an album.
Album is a story of her journey to find love. Nothing Even Matters was a PHASE in her journey to find what real love is. She found a different kind of love in her son, Zion. Etc etc
if you dont know who D’Angelo is, you are in for an incredible treat. D’Angelo made two albums, in 95’ and 00’, and got so big so quickly (rightfully so) that he ended up quitting music in the public eye for basically 14 years. Since then he has made another album in 2014 and toured more over the following years. His album “Voodoo” is legendary status. It is on the Mount Rushmore of Neo-Soul albums and should most definitely be reacted to
even though it was released way before my time, this is still one of my favorite albums ever and I’m happy to see that you gave it a listen! much love brother!
I started balling as soon as ‘Zion’ hit its first cord. I cried while listening to it when my son Legend was born 3 years ago but I’m crying for a different reason now. My mother died last year and this is the first time hearing it since she passed randomly. The motherly love to her son def got to me. I never really use to cry but since she passed I cry alot more than before. Thank you for the reaction!
thank you so much for doing these, everytime I watch these videos its like I'm hearing these albums for the first time again! Lauryn Hill did smth so great with this album and excited to finally see a female artist being reacted to! Some more recommendations : Little Simz - sometimes I might be introvert (Grande sounding orchestral almost hiphop, great lyrics amazing production so good all around) SZA - ctrl (one of my favorite albums of all time, honest raw rnb, beautiful lyrics and so relatable) Lil Kim ( an older female hiphop artist, great fun!) Digable planets - blowout comb ( trio including a female, great jazz like hiphop from the nineties super funky)
Hi idk if you still take suggestions because you have such a long list but I personally think you should check out Piñata by Freddie Gibbs. It’s produced by Madlib and has a similar style to Madvillainy and I think you would really like it.
I stayed for every second of this video and absolutely loved it. Your take on music and your willingness to be open to a genre that is unfamiliar to you yet loved by so many is so dope! Thank you Uncle Bob!
You need to heard Christina Aguilera's 'Stripped' you will not regret it. It was the first album out of her bubble gum pop era and it didn't disappoint. This is a great female album with lyrics and vocals.
'L-Boogie' IS Lauryn!! and... 'It is written' = is the past. And - the future is what we did or did not learn from it and have 'let go' of... Awesome dude!
I stumbled across your channel, and it's oddly fascinating to see your interpretation and response to this music. I enjoy your attempt to search for meaning in the lyrics (sometimes the lyrics can be DEEP and other times very surface and insignificant). Also, you've mentioned this before about using the term Hip Hop vs Rap. From what I understand by the likes of a KRS-ONE, Rap is the music, and Hip Hop is more about the culture. Rap Music has evolved quite a bit from the beginnings in the early 80's with the Sugar Hill Gang's Rapper's Delight-which is so basic in comparison to the lyrics of a Kanye, Jay-Z or Eminem. But with all the suggestions you're receiving, I'm sure the better quality stuff will stand out. But I just wanted to say, I really dig what you're doing-and I look forward to checking this video out and all the others that come down the pike. Great job, and keep it up!!
I will leave a better comment once I listen to the reaction. Just finished opening thoughts, and I would highly recommend Beyonce's Lemonade album, then follow it with Jay-Z's 444 album. Not only are they both amazing albums, but they are companion albums and in that order. Very personal, a bunch of layers to dissect on each, thought-provoking, and mature. They literally bare their soul on each, with such honesty that anyone can relate and learn something from it. Okay, time to get to the reaction, I am so excited! Have a lovely weekend everyone! EDIT: And I 100% agree, Fiona Apple is the top of top tier. Not only for her voice but also for her writing. Anyone who loves music should absolutely check her out! I remember people were obsessed with Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morrisette. Don't get me wrong, it is a great album, but I always preferred Fiona Apple and would debate people at school, all the time about it. lol
I only recently got into Fiona Apple through FTBC(I only knew of Criminal before) and I'm scared to backtrack as I'm afraid I might not enjoy her previous works as much.
I have a hard time with that album for some reason (FTBC). It just doesn't click with me as much as her other albums. It's definitely different. I made a Fiona playlist over the weekend that I plan on sharing during my Additional Thoughts video for this album. Check it out if ya like: open.spotify.com/playlist/4b9ktQeSY2r91LZ4VEw5r0
@@bobthepoppop I love its percussive elements and how off kilter the drum patterns were. Like a lot of music I enjoy the production and instrumentals take center stage in conveying the emotions of the artist. The singing is merely a tool and the lyrics are merely lubricant to drive in the point that was being conveyed. I know her lyricism is impeccable and although in FTBC it was a tad repetitive it still packed a punch. It was still profound and meaningful and witty and funny. I guess what really sold me on the project was how much of a pioneer of the "female songwriter" genre she was. And then dropping an album in the same vein so far into her career yet it's still unlike anything I've heard of.(trust me I listen to a lot of singer songwriter types) It was refreshing. Especially since her genre of music has become saturated over the years. It was insane how inventive the project was. Ps. I Love going through the playlists you create after each sit down video! Will definitely put this one on.
I really like the way you react to artists. You give them space beyond this video in which you react to them. You listen off camera again, let it settle down, and that's the right way to embrace RAP when you haven't been in it since the beginning. The way you do it is very unique. And Lauren is great. I'd like to see how you would react to Erikah Badu I`m so glad to find your channel
I think you’d love Dave Chappelle’s Block Party concert film if you haven’t seen it. It was dedicated to the memory of producer J Dilla, and featured live performances from Kanye, The Fugees, Erykah Badu, The Roots, and Mos Def, among others. To this day my dad turns his nose at hip-hop, but he went out of his way to take me to see this when I was a kid. Truly classic.
Lots of recommendations in these comments, which is great, but I wanna write a different type of comment. I’m a black man all the way from Sweden and it’s been great to discover your channel over the past few months. I love the thought and care you put into listening to, no, experiencing, these songs. “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” was one of the first albums I bought (I’m born in ‘86 so I was about twelve) and I just wanna say it was awesome to re-experience the album through your ears. I have a ton of recommendations for you, but I won’t give none today, I just wanna say keep up the fantastic work. These are top tier reaction videos on youtube!
i think you would LOVE the album Anger Management by Rico Nasty ft. Kenny Beats, one of the most prolific and well received producers of the decade so far and Rico Nasty is a great female rapper whose delivery in some of her stuff is very rock influenced
I will recommend two albums by female hip-hop artists. The first is "The Archandroid" (2010) by Janelle Monae. This albums exists in a similar space between R&B and hip-hop. She sings and raps on the album, and it includes rap features, such as Big Boi from Outkast. It has a neat science-fiction aesthetic, which come to think of it, maybe that's why Big Boi was invited. The next album I recommend is "A Good Night in the Ghetto" (2010) by Kamaiyah. This album has a sunny feeling and is down to earth. This one is underrated for sure.
I just got COVID Wednesday. The worst symptoms only lasted about a day, and mostly I’m just getting rid of the virus and getting my sense of taste back. Hope you’re better! That said, this was one of my favorite albums. I am too young to have been around when it came out, but when I got into hip-hop and was doing my research like you are, I came across it and instantly loved it. In this past semester of college, this album was a piece of media we were required to write about, which shows that it is an album that people seem to universally praise.
Hey Bob, just wanted to say I loved your metaphor of life as a river at the end of the video. I had never heard life described that way but i think that captures the experience very well. And i love that you arent afraid to get into deep topics like that in your videos. I think it separates you from other reaction channels on UA-cam. Keep up the good work man. Makes me happy that one of my favorite albums ever now has one of my favorite YT videos to accompany it :)
You weren't just rambling on, I heard and felt every word. I just recently started getting all the opportunities I asked the universe for. But every day I woke up feeling sick to my stomach and feeling like maybe I asked for the wrong things. I felt doubt, worry, and fear and I couldn't shake it. I'm 32 years old and I'm feeling like this is my last shot to be something and I can't be feeling like this. I thought suicide a lot but what keeps me here is knowing how far I've already come and if I push through, I'll be ok like I was before. You just affirmed everything I was feeling. I made a choice and after 2 weeks at my new job, I feel like so much more hopeful. Appreciate your words man!!! Everything is Everything!!
Thanks for the thoughts & insight as you listen - New to the channel and have already watched the Wu-Tang and Outkast reactions. If you take suggestions, I would love to see a reaction to Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor - one of my all time faves. Keep up the good work!
These videos might not be as popular, but, really appreciative of this reaction. Lauren and Left Eye from TLC were definitely loves of mine growing up. Later found out she had a bit of a shady side.. but as an mc definitely one of the best female rappers when she does rap. Jane Doe was probably one of my other favorite female rappers, she did some work with Talib Kweli, but MC Lyte is sort of the Rakim of women rappers. Queen Latifa has bars as well, and of course, the wonderfully eccentric Missy Elliott. Contemporaries, I'm quite partial to No Name, and Nitty Scott. Kali Uchis that you mentioned isn't a rapper, but i love the new album, Aguardiente Y Limón is definitely one of my most played songs recently. There's more great female rappers then at first imagined, but, definitely, a minority, especially those that stay 'true' to the heart of Hip Hop.
Thanks for the reaction, I'm always overwhelmed by the amount of skits on the end of each track here. So haven't done a deep dive. I saw others recommending this as well, but little simz, a UK artist, had the best album of 2021 to me and a lot of others.
Long time listener but first time commenting; I think you’d SERIOUSLY enjoy SZA’s CTRL album. I have listened in its entirety time and time again and it still gives me the same excitement every single time. Cheers!
Never listened to this but made sure to before watching. One thing I really like about your channel and those similar, is finding new music through the videos themselves and the comments on them.
I absolutely love the way you are exploring a genre of music that you admittedly dismissed in the earlier years of your life... I too have been on a similar journey, and it's amazing to be introduced to worlds of new thoughts, melodies and musical art. I would love to recommend that you listen to the song "WAV files" by the artists Lupe Fiasco... I actually got emotional listening to it for the first time... conceptual genious in my opinion... heavy subject matter... but extremely worth it....
I remember listening to Lauryn Hill for the first time! Surprised you hadn't heard more of her, she also was in a band called Fugees prior which you might recognize too
If you want guitar/acoustics…check out her MTV Unplugged! Lauryn is an original member of the group called The Fugees. From New Jersey. She’s Hip/Hop/rap royalty!!
The line where she says, “What you want might make you cry What you need might pass you by If you don't catch it (If you don't catch it) If you don't catch it What you need ironically Will turn out what you want to be If you just let it (If you just let it) If you just let it (If you just let it),” Means that the thing you need most (God) will turn out to be the very thing you want… LOVE.
If you're interested in expanding into R&B or more female artist, I highly recommend Erykah Badu. Her album Baduizm is the best R&B album in my opinion.
Agree! I think New Amerykah Pt 1 might make for the best reaction or erykah album if he only chooses one, but i think all 5 of her albums are just as great. Or Mama’s Gun
if you have an urge to take a dive back into 90s hiphop i highly suggest The Fugees "The Score" (1996). Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill and Pras representing New Jersey and Haiti. Wyclef and Lauryn used to date and he showed her how to play guitar during those days in which she utilizes heavily on Miseducation. The infancy of almost every song started off with her jamming on her acoustic. If you want to hear her with a more stripped down sound i also suggest her MTV Unplugged album. Probably the best of the series and one of the most underrated albums ever imo. Aftr she dropped Miseducation she didnt really play the media circus like celebs do, so the mainstream began to call her crazy. She did the MTV concert and they began to think she was even crazier, basically blackballing her for a number of years. If you dive into what shes talking about on that album you'll see exactly why they didnt want her around influencing the youth I was in the 2nd grade and being such a fan of DooWop and Everything is Everything, i could even sense back then the media were on some bs calling her crazy. sidenote heres some female vocalists to maybe check out besides Ms. Hill: MIA Rihanna (specifically "ANTI") Solange (specifically "A Seat At The Table" or "When I Get Home") Bjork The Internet (Vocals by Syd, great singer) Portishead (not sure if you had trip-hop phase in the 90s) FKA Twigs Carly Rae Jepsen Lana Del Rey
Some nice albums to check out are Telefone by Noname Laila’s Wisdom and Eve by Rapsody Grey Area and Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz CTRL by SZA KTSE by Teyana Taylor
Bob! I still recommend fugees ‘the score’! Now that you’ve heard mised and gotten a taste of Lauryn’s music, I think you should try out her underrated classic. Great album, great production, great lyrics, very highly recommend.
Hey Bob, I just discovered your Channel a few days ago and brother, I absolutely love what you’re doing. I literally can’t watch anything else, I’m so invested in your take on these albums. The first video I saw was Illmatic, one of my favorite albums of all time by my FAVORITE artist of all time and went from there. But you completely won me over with your reaction to Good Kid Maad City(also one of my favorite albums. The giddiness, the raw emotion(I cried too) and appreciation for that beautiful piece of art touched me man. As a super hardcore hip hop fan who grew up in the same kind of environment as most rappers, to see someone who has just recently got into hip hop and is not from that environment have many of the same thoughts and feelings as me just puts into perspective just how truly universal music is and how any genre, any time period can be for anyone. Thank you for this man. I’m looking forward to watching the rest of your videos. P.s. I have a whole bunch of albums I want to see you react to but God’s Son by Nas might be at the top of my list. It is Nas’s most personal album and one that really touched my heart(and yes made me cry)
This was a VERY DOPE review/reaction! Very engaging and honest. Communicative and open. You’ve gotten a new subscriber. This is the kind of content I enjoy! Keep it up, man. LOVED it!
tell him is really one of the most beautiful songs ever made. it always gets me through tough moments. its funny because i would always put this album on but its kinda long so i never heard the last song until years after and i was just kicking myself that i could've heard it sooner if my attention span wasn't so bad lol. I'm not even religious but that song just does something
I gave it a listen this morning. I enjoyed it, good stuff. I like how raw her voice is, and it was mind blowing to hear her blast off into some of those long rhyme sections
You should for sure check out noname, she’s a modern rap artist who actually opened up for lauryn at shows. Her debut album telefone is a really beautiful introspective journey with a very pretty Chicago soundscape
Wow. One of my all time favorite albums. And yes Everything is Everything was my favorite track until I listened to Tell Him again with you and it has hit me that it is indeed my new favorite. Got me a little worked up a bit with how things in my life have come so far and I’m sure it is doing the same for many people. Thanks for this reaction. Just subscribed too.
Cool! Would also recommend "Fugees - The Score", the hiphop group Lauren Hill started in. Strictly hiphop, no RNB. Her cadence, lyrisicm and flow easily makes her the best female rapper ever in my book. I think it's levels above her solo album, but that's probably my own musical bias factoring in
I wanna say this now before I get hammered in the comments lol...
It occurred to me after the recording that it's quite likely Lauryn is singing more about her new son than about God in the closing tracks. However, I feel like one could interrupt those songs either way depending on where their life is. Either way, they're beautiful songs and I'm so happy to hear them, regardless of who they may directed toward.
No sweat. A lot of Lauryn's songs are double entendres for God and man. She interweaves the two in almost every song if you listen close. Love the video. New subscriber!
Yup...it's both. That's part of the beauty of the songwriting. Her son personifies that pinnacle spiritual experience. ZION.
Great video...Great review.
I'd highly recommend Telefone by Noname, she's insanely talented and that project is so personal yet airy it's hard not to love
However you was right…specially on Tell Him …on the actual album the word “Him” is capitalized and even in the lyrics displayed on Apple Music
Danny Brown and Ol' Dirty Bastard reactions are needes
I'm a 31 years old french guy who discovered this album nearly 11 years ago while living in NYC.
I perfectly remember this warm day of May where, after classes, I started to listen to this whole album from start to finish, walking through the streets, block after block, from Midtown Manhattan up to 103rd Street in Upper West Side. The music, the place, the people, the weather... That was probably the best experience I had listening to music, and this album will forever encapsulate this small moment of my life where everything was so good.
It's one of my favourite album ever. Such soul, such warmth, such precision and honesty in her voice and her lyrics.
That a really cool story, very descriptive that made me feel myself in your shoes.
@@soakedbearrd agree, I couldn’t help but smile reading this because the comment was so descriptive, as if you’re the one experiencing it.
Ex-Factor is a masterpiece of a song. So full of rawww emotion. Not to mention the LYRICS, so beautifully written. And I love how much the music changes throughout
ex factor might legitimately be my favorite song of all time. i love that it so emotional yet it fucking slaps so hard just as a song.
That’s one of the hardest breakuo songs ever, every word we’ve felt before.
You definitely need to listen to "The Score" by The Fugees, it's the group Lauryn Hill was in before going solo. Both fantastic albums, I personally prefer The Score!
Given my experience with this album, I think The Score is in my reacting future 👍 I'd love another chance to hear Lauryn sing.
It's worth checking out their first album too Blunted on Reality. More of a straight ahead east coast hip-hop thing. But I think even outsiders to the sub genre have something they could get out of it
Lauren went by "L Boogie" when she was part of the Fugees. The score is worth a listen for sure!!!
Great recommendation. The Score has a grit to it that Miseducation didn’t. Both albums were super influential in my life but honestly the Score is the album that changed my life!
@@Ason19 that album was so good too. I listened to it for the first time years ago and felt like I was missing it in my life. All albums are incredibly tho, however, The Score is the dopest.
It's absurd how skilled Lauryn is with both rap and singing. I HIGHLY recommend The Score - her verses on How Many Mics, Family Business, Zealots, Fu-Gee-La, Ready Or Not....just filthy ;)
Let’s not forget her verse on the song “The Score” 🔥people fail to remember how versatile and aggressive L Boogie’s flow was throughout that album..”yo I’m the L won’t you pull it straight to the head like the speed of a bullet, cutting niggas off at the meeky - freeky gullet lyrical sedative keep niggas medative” no dude or girl can flow like Lauryn!! 👑
@@CueBoy28 yup Hill is as quality as it gets when it comes to Hip-Hip music, male or female.
Fr
Others have suggested Erykah Badu- Mama's Gun and D'Angelo's Voodoo. These two classic albums would be a great extension from this one and expand your understanding of the marriage of hip hop and neo soul music that was so popular at the time and inspired all of the rnb artists out to this day. Please listen to them if you can.
Yes!
Totally!
Voodoo is a great album
Ooh Mamas Gun is really good. And Questlove on the drums
Mama's Gun.
“A seat at the table” by Solange is one of the best R&B albums of the 21st century, I think it’s an album every music-lover deserves to hear. The same could be said about “Black Messiah” by D’Angelo (who is featured on Miseducation) it’s one of the most acclaimed albums of the last decade with incredible soundscapes and lyrics.
👏🏽 to both!!
@@chuckiemyers Which one would you say is better? I haven't heard either, so I am curious as to which this comment is alluding to.
@@guts1258 I personally think that Black Messiah is better
Yessir
Voodoo is an insane album as well.
This is such an easy album to love. It’s been sampled so many times over the years both in production flips and nods in artists’ lyrics. It’s insane to think she produced basically all of it. As fun as it is to watch you dive into some crazy shit, these types of classics really help grow one’s appreciation for hip-hop.
Also if you’re interested in more women in hip-hop:
Moor Mother - experimental, kinda darker vibes, abstract lyrics with a lot of social commentary, produces most of her own music
M.I.A. - noise/electronic/south Asian influences, deeply political, kick ass music videos, super energetic music
Rico Nasty - more contemporary artist, aggressive, sounds great on bombastic trap beats, eclectic vocal style, hilarious one liners
Rapsody - relentless flow with crazy wordplay, more “traditional” rapper, works extensively with legendary producer 9th wonder
MIA is a legend. Her album MAYA would be an amazing reaction, Moor Mother and Rico too
Amy Winehouse - Black on Both Sides
Noname - Telephone
Jazmine Sullivan - Reality Show
The Internet - Ego Death + Hive Mind
Floetry - Foetic
Alicia Keys - The Diary of Alicia Keys
Black On Both Sides is a Mos Def album. Back To Black is the title of Amy's album.
One of the greatest albums ever made by one of the most talented artists I’ve ever heard. There ain’t music like this anymore. Masterpiece
It's not only just in hip-hop. How many all-female rock bands are revered as legendary? More suggestions: Erykah Badu - Baduism, Solange - A Seat at the Table, Jhené Aiko - Souled Out, SZA - Ctrl, H.E.R. - H.E.R. & D'Angelo - Voodoo.
Sza ctrl is probably one of my favorite albums ever
Don’t forget Tems
Some of the backstory to the album is that she was in a toxic relationship with her Fugees band mate Wyclef Jean (who was married). The affair almost destroyed her and she gets pretty deep about it on this album. It's one of the main reason why the Fugees never reunited and why their run didn't last longer.
"The Score" is one of the best albums of the 90's in any genre. Brilliant story telling, production, and rapping/singing by all involved.
Also, Kanye and Lauryn are cool. He said that she calls him to tell him that he is "A LEADER" and not "THE LEADER" 😂(like he tends to see himself as). Kanye also sampled her in several songs "Champion", and "All Falls Down" just to name a couple. She's also sampled on his latest "Donda" album. She was clearly one of his faves.
It amazes me how everybody always wanna say that album was about Wyclef…🤔 everyone except for Lauryn.. Lauryn never mentioned anything about dating Wyclef..”EVER”…people just always wanna think they got her life figured out…that’s what makes her so amazing..she never says anything..personally, I think the album is about heartbreak period. Whether it’s hers or the heartbreak around her. She said a long time ago…”I was on the humble you on every station” 👑
@@CueBoy28 Wycliffe has spoke on this himself.
Wyclef and Lauryn are both exceptionally talented and had some of their best verses on The Score. Such a shame they didn't reunite.
Yes! he wrote about this in his book and has gone on many outlets talking about it. He is also older than her. He had the nerve to mad that Zion wasn’t his.
Great job, thank you. By skipping over the first skit, you and your viewers missed it . . . Lauryn Hill wasn't in class when they taught about LOVE. The teacher calls her name three times, with no response. So, Ms. Hill learned about love through the bumps of life and we get to reexperience the moments with her in the album. I really enjoyed your session.
You should listen to her MTV Unplugged album. It is rarely talked about, and isn't an easy listen, but it is probably her most pure work. She dropped it as she was walking away from the industry that had beaten her down and stole most of her value. You might not do a video on it, but I think you'd personally appreciate it.
Agree! That album was a raw, stripped down Lauryn.
I'm listening to it now... on Mystery of Iniquity, and she's tearing it up 🤘
@@bobthepoppop I Get Out is a good one too on that album. That album was grossly unappreciated at the time of release.
@@bobthepoppop Kanye also sampled the All Falls Down chorus from the MTV Unplugged songs but had to get Syleena Johnson to sing it.
@@offtheline-x8w I think she did an audit on her album sales and It generated 500 million. I'd have to source that, but I remember her saying that.
If you're making an argument that the music industry gives you an equitable slice of the pie just because an artist "made millions"... Then we're starting from two ideologically different places when it comes to what's equitable.
There are certainly many instances where the record label took a significant risk and advanced money... But even the most honest of people on the artist or label side recognize that the arrangement is largely predatory and one-sided.
"Tell Him" is my favorite song of all time. I love it so much that I have lyrics tattooed on me. Ms. Lauryn Hill is just beyond amazing
I almost recanted my selection of 'Everything is Everything' as being my favorite when I got to that final track lol... almost. Tell Him is so beautiful, so calming, so soothing... just wonderful.
Mine too. I absolutely love that song
A true letter to GOD...this record and ‘A Song For You’ by the late, great Mr. Hathaway, are boldly beautiful in their rawness and sincerity. I never heard the latter as a song about a Woman but rather his confession to GOD.
Moving stuff. Loving this channel by the way, stumbled upon it randomly this morning and about 4 videos in..new sub here!
Still makes me want to cry, I was heavily pregnant with my son when it was released.
That's such a cool favorite song:)
Rapsody is a female artist worth checked out. Her album Laila's Wisdom was pretty great. Has a great Kendrick feature too.
To make it even better today is Rapsody 39 birthday 😂
Her album "Eve" was pretty solid too
damn i litereally dropped Rapsody's name. Love her. She's top tier.
You definitely need to check out Sometimes I might be Introvert by Little Simz. It came out a few months ago and was easily within the top 5 albums of last year. Another phenomenal female artist.
This one!!!!!
Yessss
Gotta do Grey Area first
@@CheeseyMilkshakes nah don't have to
@@justsomejusstsome8994 It’s a fantastic album, I prefer it to SIMBI personally. Definitely worth doing.
Champion is the song that Kanye talks about lauryn on. He said “lauryn hill said her heart was in Zion I wish her heart still was in rhyming. Cause who the kids gon’ listen to? I guess me if it isn’t you”
why have I never noticed how much 'ex-factor' was inspired by 'can it all be so simple' by the Wu?? The beat, & she even starts the track with "It could all be so simple" .. never listened to this album much but still, shows why a fresh listen is needed sometimes!
Ice Cream is also sampled (or the sample for Ice Cream is sampled) for I Used to Love Him too
Nice vid, think about doing A Tribe Called Quest, great old scool group that mixed funk, jazz and hiphop, "The Low End Theory" is truly a masterpiece. All love
This one is heavily recommended and circulating near the top of my list at the moment. Just trying to sort out rotation
Incredible record, really glad you got to check it out. Miseducation is in my opinion a 10/10 album, Ms. Hill's voice is immaculate and the production is very captivating. As for the Jamaican accent thing, I'm pretty sure she recorded a lot of the album or at least spent a lot of time in Jamaica during the making of the album.
Little Simz is an excellent artist, she's very compelling and there are some amazing beats she hops on. Grey Area is a very good album from her, definitely check it out!
Her parents were of Haitian decent thus the Caribbean accent
I recommend Mama's Gun by erykah badu, is one of my favorite R&B albums of the 90s. Also, the discography of D’Angelo one of the forerunners of the Neo soul movement in that decade
I’ve never commented on UA-cam before. I’m usually just watching and reading comments.
I’ve seen a couple of videos you made reviewing Nas, Kendrick and 2Pac.
Those were great btw…
But I had to comment on this one!
Growing up in Europe being a child of Muslim immigrant parents, this album was my first encounter with arabic words and Muslim references in hiphop. I was 12 years when I first heard it. We were living in an all white neighborhood, going to all white school. Even tough I had a lot of friends, I always felt like an outkast. Sometimes ashamed of my roots and believes in God.
BUT this album right here made it ok.
Made it ok to be different, made it ok to be vulnerable, made it cool to be religious.
There are of course references to Christianity with biblical themes in the track names and lyrics. There are also several references to Islam. Islam is often an underappreciated demographic and Lauryn Hill does an excellent job highlighting that Islam and Christianity have a lot in common. At the end we are all the same!
This is the album I keep listening to year after year. I’m 34 years old now and the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is still the go to album for me.
Keep up the good work sir! Love your reviews
Peace, love and Unity!
Random guy from Belgium.
That's awesome, Nassir. Thanks for sharing this. I always love hearing how an album reaches out and touches someone. Music is so magical in that respect. And I bet Lauryn herself would have the biggest smile on her face if she got the chance to read this :)
Erykah Badu is awesome. Her first two albums are masterpieces.
On superstar you started talking about Kanye and he actually made beats for JayZ on the Blueprint back in 2001 and Jamie Foxx saw this guy he had never heard of at his party in 2003 and it was Kanye. Kanye was asked by Jamie if he rapped and Kanye then was quite timid but apparently dropped one of the bets freestyles Jamie had ever heard. One year later Kanye and Jamie collabed on Slow Jamz and it was a no. 1 smash hit of the College Dropout.
For female rappers, I would recommend “Miss E…So Addictive” by Missy Elliott. She is the polar opposite of Lauryn Hill. She is not lyrical at all outside of occasional funny one-liners. She does have a great voice, very catchy choruses and some of the sickest beats of the early 2000’s produced mostly by her and Timbaland (one of the best producers in hip hop). The way her voice blends with the beats results in a really fun listening experience.
It's crazy how all of her albums are really good from start to finish. Supa Dupa Fly has no skips for me.
@@HiddenKeyElement very true! Supa Dupa Fly would probably be the best starting point into Missy’s discography since it’s her debut. I think I have personal bias since I was only 13 when that came out. While my favorite albums, Miss E and Under Construction, came out when I was 17 and 18.
Da real world is the album for me...
Lots of respect for delving so deeply into not only this album but hip hop in general
Lauryn started with The Fugees. The Fugees “The Score” is a must listen to hear more of Lauryn’s rhyming skill. - “How Many Mics” , “Ready or Not” , Fu-gee-La and her cover of Killing Me Softly are a few of my faves.
fka twigs is an amazing expiremental r&b/pop artist and jannelle monae is a super diverse artist as well
haven't even watched the whole thing yet, but I'm so excited! this is genuinely one of my favorite albums, and in my opinion one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.
Yes, its a jamaican accent she has! Hearing ex factor again alongside you made me almost cry, its been a long time since i heard that and she really has so much emotion in her voice
Then To Zion actually did make me cry
The beat of I Used To Love Him, the cycle part you referred to, is a sample of wu tang! Specifically a song from the member Raekwon’s classic album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, which is one of the best hip hop albums ever and im sure youd want to play after Enter the 36 Chambers.
Nothing Even Matters is my favorite song from the album. D’Angelo is a complete legend with imo the greatest album in the history of R&B called Voodoo. D’angelo has only 3 albums and all 3 are masterpieces. An album in 1995, then 2000 then he disappeared because he was going through major struggles in his life including addiction and a discomfort with his status as a sex symbol. His 3rd album wasnt until 2014 with Black Messiah which was a complete change in sound, and really heavy and bold and political.
Fun fact: When Lauryn Hill says “I was hopeless, now I’m on Hope Road” in Lost Ones, its because shes in a studio located on a road called Hope Road and its where Bob Marley recorded his albums, so its a truly special place to be able to record an album.
That accent was for the song. Lauryn was born in New Jersey.
Thank you for reacting to this album man, Miseducation means so much to me! Great video as always!
Ya know, after considering your album and then thinking about this one, yeah. I can totally see that. Great albums, both yours and hers 🤘
Album is a story of her journey to find love. Nothing Even Matters was a PHASE in her journey to find what real love is. She found a different kind of love in her son, Zion. Etc etc
if you dont know who D’Angelo is, you are in for an incredible treat.
D’Angelo made two albums, in 95’ and 00’, and got so big so quickly (rightfully so) that he ended up quitting music in the public eye for basically 14 years.
Since then he has made another album in 2014 and toured more over the following years.
His album “Voodoo” is legendary status. It is on the Mount Rushmore of Neo-Soul albums and should most definitely be reacted to
I listened to this CD and the unplugged.. over and over again.. it was my therapy two years straight.. she is amazing..
even though it was released way before my time, this is still one of my favorite albums ever and I’m happy to see that you gave it a listen! much love brother!
I started balling as soon as ‘Zion’ hit its first cord. I cried while listening to it when my son Legend was born 3 years ago but I’m crying for a different reason now. My mother died last year and this is the first time hearing it since she passed randomly. The motherly love to her son def got to me. I never really use to cry but since she passed I cry alot more than before. Thank you for the reaction!
thank you so much for doing these, everytime I watch these videos its like I'm hearing these albums for the first time again! Lauryn Hill did smth so great with this album and excited to finally see a female artist being reacted to!
Some more recommendations :
Little Simz - sometimes I might be introvert (Grande sounding orchestral almost hiphop, great lyrics amazing production so good all around)
SZA - ctrl (one of my favorite albums of all time, honest raw rnb, beautiful lyrics and so relatable)
Lil Kim ( an older female hiphop artist, great fun!)
Digable planets - blowout comb ( trio including a female, great jazz like hiphop from the nineties super funky)
Nas has a song with Lauryn Hill on his second album "It was Written" I'd def check it out since you've listened to Illmatic and this.
He also just brought her out of retirement for a track on Magic
Pusha T also had a song with her that came out last year or so
@@MadShooterGuy72PS on "Coming Home"
....That's right! That one was dope!
@@57kwest it was “KD2” not Magic
@@CueBoy28 true.. Thanks
Hi idk if you still take suggestions because you have such a long list but I personally think you should check out Piñata by Freddie Gibbs. It’s produced by Madlib and has a similar style to Madvillainy and I think you would really like it.
Very likely for that album to happen in February 🤘
Not officially decided yet, but damn near close
@@bobthepoppop I would LOVE to see that, i mean you can look at my pfp and guess why but that album is seriously incredible lmao
@@angrypinata4147 it sure is lmaoo
@@bobthepoppop please don't waste your time
@@ISlookup Ratio
I stayed for every second of this video and absolutely loved it. Your take on music and your willingness to be open to a genre that is unfamiliar to you yet loved by so many is so dope! Thank you Uncle Bob!
Omg your river metaphor 🥹🥹🥹🥹 I REALLY needed that and this whole video apparently! Watched it from beginning to end. Thank you so much!
You need to heard Christina Aguilera's 'Stripped' you will not regret it. It was the first album out of her bubble gum pop era and it didn't disappoint. This is a great female album with lyrics and vocals.
'L-Boogie' IS Lauryn!!
and... 'It is written' = is the past. And - the future is what we did or did not learn from it and have 'let go' of...
Awesome dude!
I appreciate the deep introspection you put into your review. Made experiencing this album again that much better.
I stumbled across your channel, and it's oddly fascinating to see your interpretation and response to this music. I enjoy your attempt to search for meaning in the lyrics (sometimes the lyrics can be DEEP and other times very surface and insignificant). Also, you've mentioned this before about using the term Hip Hop vs Rap. From what I understand by the likes of a KRS-ONE, Rap is the music, and Hip Hop is more about the culture. Rap Music has evolved quite a bit from the beginnings in the early 80's with the Sugar Hill Gang's Rapper's Delight-which is so basic in comparison to the lyrics of a Kanye, Jay-Z or Eminem. But with all the suggestions you're receiving, I'm sure the better quality stuff will stand out. But I just wanted to say, I really dig what you're doing-and I look forward to checking this video out and all the others that come down the pike. Great job, and keep it up!!
I will leave a better comment once I listen to the reaction. Just finished opening thoughts, and I would highly recommend Beyonce's Lemonade album, then follow it with Jay-Z's 444 album. Not only are they both amazing albums, but they are companion albums and in that order. Very personal, a bunch of layers to dissect on each, thought-provoking, and mature. They literally bare their soul on each, with such honesty that anyone can relate and learn something from it. Okay, time to get to the reaction, I am so excited! Have a lovely weekend everyone! EDIT: And I 100% agree, Fiona Apple is the top of top tier. Not only for her voice but also for her writing. Anyone who loves music should absolutely check her out! I remember people were obsessed with Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morrisette. Don't get me wrong, it is a great album, but I always preferred Fiona Apple and would debate people at school, all the time about it. lol
Fiona Apple is just... so wonderful. God, she's wonderful. That's interesting with the Beyonce/Jay albums. I didn't know that.
I only recently got into Fiona Apple through FTBC(I only knew of Criminal before) and I'm scared to backtrack as I'm afraid I might not enjoy her previous works as much.
I have a hard time with that album for some reason (FTBC). It just doesn't click with me as much as her other albums. It's definitely different. I made a Fiona playlist over the weekend that I plan on sharing during my Additional Thoughts video for this album. Check it out if ya like: open.spotify.com/playlist/4b9ktQeSY2r91LZ4VEw5r0
@@bobthepoppop I love its percussive elements and how off kilter the drum patterns were.
Like a lot of music I enjoy the production and instrumentals take center stage in conveying the emotions of the artist. The singing is merely a tool and the lyrics are merely lubricant to drive in the point that was being conveyed.
I know her lyricism is impeccable and although in FTBC it was a tad repetitive it still packed a punch. It was still profound and meaningful and witty and funny.
I guess what really sold me on the project was how much of a pioneer of the "female songwriter" genre she was. And then dropping an album in the same vein so far into her career yet it's still unlike anything I've heard of.(trust me I listen to a lot of singer songwriter types) It was refreshing. Especially since her genre of music has become saturated over the years. It was insane how inventive the project was.
Ps. I Love going through the playlists you create after each sit down video! Will definitely put this one on.
@@bobthepoppop Fiona is amazing. Her album "When the Pawn" is one of my all time favorites.
And OMG D’angelos -VooDoo album has to get heard. You would absolutely love the musical complexity behind it.
I really like the way you react to artists. You give them space beyond this video in which you react to them. You listen
off camera again, let it settle down, and that's the right way to embrace
RAP when you haven't been in it since the beginning. The way you do it is very unique. And Lauren is great. I'd like to see how you would react to Erikah Badu
I`m so glad to find your channel
I think you’d love Dave Chappelle’s Block Party concert film if you haven’t seen it. It was dedicated to the memory of producer J Dilla, and featured live performances from Kanye, The Fugees, Erykah Badu, The Roots, and Mos Def, among others. To this day my dad turns his nose at hip-hop, but he went out of his way to take me to see this when I was a kid. Truly classic.
Lots of recommendations in these comments, which is great, but I wanna write a different type of comment. I’m a black man all the way from Sweden and it’s been great to discover your channel over the past few months. I love the thought and care you put into listening to, no, experiencing, these songs.
“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” was one of the first albums I bought (I’m born in ‘86 so I was about twelve) and I just wanna say it was awesome to re-experience the album through your ears. I have a ton of recommendations for you, but I won’t give none today, I just wanna say keep up the fantastic work. These are top tier reaction videos on youtube!
Man, I grew up with this album being played in my household till I went to college. Loved this classic.
I absolutely LOVE your perspective on "Everything Is Everything" 1:15:23 . SPEAK ON IT BROTHA!!!
Wow Ms. LAURYN HILL 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Well done my friend. (Commenting before viewing lol)
i think you would LOVE the album Anger Management by Rico Nasty ft. Kenny Beats, one of the most prolific and well received producers of the decade so far and Rico Nasty is a great female rapper whose delivery in some of her stuff is very rock influenced
I will recommend two albums by female hip-hop artists.
The first is "The Archandroid" (2010) by Janelle Monae. This albums exists in a similar space between R&B and hip-hop. She sings and raps on the album, and it includes rap features, such as Big Boi from Outkast. It has a neat science-fiction aesthetic, which come to think of it, maybe that's why Big Boi was invited.
The next album I recommend is "A Good Night in the Ghetto" (2010) by Kamaiyah. This album has a sunny feeling and is down to earth. This one is underrated for sure.
I just got COVID Wednesday. The worst symptoms only lasted about a day, and mostly I’m just getting rid of the virus and getting my sense of taste back. Hope you’re better!
That said, this was one of my favorite albums. I am too young to have been around when it came out, but when I got into hip-hop and was doing my research like you are, I came across it and instantly loved it. In this past semester of college, this album was a piece of media we were required to write about, which shows that it is an album that people seem to universally praise.
Hey Bob, just wanted to say I loved your metaphor of life as a river at the end of the video. I had never heard life described that way but i think that captures the experience very well. And i love that you arent afraid to get into deep topics like that in your videos. I think it separates you from other reaction channels on UA-cam. Keep up the good work man. Makes me happy that one of my favorite albums ever now has one of my favorite YT videos to accompany it :)
Youre such a nice guy bob
For female artist suggestions, I'd recommend FKA twigs - LP 1
You’re getting scarily good at this
Great album love your reactions, wish you a speedy recovery!!
This album is a masterpiece of wordplay and rhythm. I bought it day one. I love watching people hear this Magnum Opus for the first time.
FANTASTIC FEMALE ARTIST albums ~ Sa-Roc: Sharecropper's Daughter
Rapsody: Laila's Wisdom and
Eve
Jessie Reyez: Before Love Came To Kill Us
This album is just a total mastery of music. Harmony, songwriting, rapping, melodies. It’s the highest level of everything
You weren't just rambling on, I heard and felt every word. I just recently started getting all the opportunities I asked the universe for. But every day I woke up feeling sick to my stomach and feeling like maybe I asked for the wrong things. I felt doubt, worry, and fear and I couldn't shake it. I'm 32 years old and I'm feeling like this is my last shot to be something and I can't be feeling like this. I thought suicide a lot but what keeps me here is knowing how far I've already come and if I push through, I'll be ok like I was before. You just affirmed everything I was feeling. I made a choice and after 2 weeks at my new job, I feel like so much more hopeful. Appreciate your words man!!! Everything is Everything!!
Glad to hear it, man. Hang in there 🤘
My favorite album of all time
you did this review justice my man its a beautiful album that speaks to the soul
Thanks for the thoughts & insight as you listen - New to the channel and have already watched the Wu-Tang and Outkast reactions. If you take suggestions, I would love to see a reaction to Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor - one of my all time faves. Keep up the good work!
These videos might not be as popular, but, really appreciative of this reaction. Lauren and Left Eye from TLC were definitely loves of mine growing up. Later found out she had a bit of a shady side.. but as an mc definitely one of the best female rappers when she does rap.
Jane Doe was probably one of my other favorite female rappers, she did some work with Talib Kweli, but MC Lyte is sort of the Rakim of women rappers.
Queen Latifa has bars as well, and of course, the wonderfully eccentric Missy Elliott.
Contemporaries, I'm quite partial to No Name, and Nitty Scott. Kali Uchis that you mentioned isn't a rapper, but i love the new album, Aguardiente Y Limón is definitely one of my most played songs recently. There's more great female rappers then at first imagined, but, definitely, a minority, especially those that stay 'true' to the heart of Hip Hop.
I'm much more interested in quality of music rather than what will draw views. Of course, it's nice when an album happens to bring both :)
Thanks for the reaction, I'm always overwhelmed by the amount of skits on the end of each track here. So haven't done a deep dive.
I saw others recommending this as well, but little simz, a UK artist, had the best album of 2021 to me and a lot of others.
Lauryn hills MTVs unplugged is a must if you loved this album.
I listened to this on my own over the weekend. I enjoyed it 👍 The Mystery of Iniquity was great (no wonder Kanye sampled it)
Long time listener but first time commenting; I think you’d SERIOUSLY enjoy SZA’s CTRL album. I have listened in its entirety time and time again and it still gives me the same excitement every single time. Cheers!
ive come to the conclusion this is the greatest account known to Man. And Bob is the greatest human on the planet. Its a simple fact.
Beautiful insights and reaction, thoroughly enjoyed this vid and love Lauryn Hill. Keep up the great work!
Never listened to this but made sure to before watching. One thing I really like about your channel and those similar, is finding new music through the videos themselves and the comments on them.
I absolutely love the way you are exploring a genre of music that you admittedly dismissed in the earlier years of your life... I too have been on a similar journey, and it's amazing to be introduced to worlds of new thoughts, melodies and musical art. I would love to recommend that you listen to the song "WAV files" by the artists Lupe Fiasco... I actually got emotional listening to it for the first time... conceptual genious in my opinion... heavy subject matter... but extremely worth it....
I remember listening to Lauryn Hill for the first time! Surprised you hadn't heard more of her, she also was in a band called Fugees prior which you might recognize too
In "Doo Wop (That Thing)" it's a sample used in Kanye's new album "Donda" in "Believe What I Say"
If you want guitar/acoustics…check out her MTV Unplugged! Lauryn is an original member of the group called The Fugees. From New Jersey. She’s Hip/Hop/rap royalty!!
The teacher speaking in the interludes, Ras Baraka, is currently the mayor of Newark, NJ.
To Zion always makes me tear up
Me to
I love the way art inspires so much thinking and reflection. Great review!
Little Simz is a must, she’s an amazing artist with one of the best albums of 2021. I’d recommend listen to that one: Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
The line where she says, “What you want might make you cry
What you need might pass you by
If you don't catch it (If you don't catch it)
If you don't catch it
What you need ironically
Will turn out what you want to be
If you just let it (If you just let it)
If you just let it (If you just let it),”
Means that the thing you need most (God) will turn out to be the very thing you want… LOVE.
If you're interested in expanding into R&B or more female artist, I highly recommend Erykah Badu. Her album Baduizm is the best R&B album in my opinion.
Agree! I think New Amerykah Pt 1 might make for the best reaction or erykah album if he only chooses one, but i think all 5 of her albums are just as great. Or Mama’s Gun
if you have an urge to take a dive back into 90s hiphop i highly suggest The Fugees "The Score" (1996). Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill and Pras representing New Jersey and Haiti. Wyclef and Lauryn used to date and he showed her how to play guitar during those days in which she utilizes heavily on Miseducation. The infancy of almost every song started off with her jamming on her acoustic.
If you want to hear her with a more stripped down sound i also suggest her MTV Unplugged album. Probably the best of the series and one of the most underrated albums ever imo. Aftr she dropped Miseducation she didnt really play the media circus like celebs do, so the mainstream began to call her crazy. She did the MTV concert and they began to think she was even crazier, basically blackballing her for a number of years. If you dive into what shes talking about on that album you'll see exactly why they didnt want her around influencing the youth I was in the 2nd grade and being such a fan of DooWop and Everything is Everything, i could even sense back then the media were on some bs calling her crazy.
sidenote heres some female vocalists to maybe check out besides Ms. Hill:
MIA
Rihanna (specifically "ANTI")
Solange (specifically "A Seat At The Table" or "When I Get Home")
Bjork
The Internet (Vocals by Syd, great singer)
Portishead (not sure if you had trip-hop phase in the 90s)
FKA Twigs
Carly Rae Jepsen
Lana Del Rey
MIA and Carly Rae Jepsen are great
Some nice albums to check out are
Telefone by Noname
Laila’s Wisdom and Eve by Rapsody
Grey Area and Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz
CTRL by SZA
KTSE by Teyana Taylor
Bob! I still recommend fugees ‘the score’! Now that you’ve heard mised and gotten a taste of Lauryn’s music, I think you should try out her underrated classic. Great album, great production, great lyrics, very highly recommend.
top 5 hiphop album of all time. glad you enjoyed it hope you feel better
Hey Bob, I just discovered your Channel a few days ago and brother, I absolutely love what you’re doing. I literally can’t watch anything else, I’m so invested in your take on these albums. The first video I saw was Illmatic, one of my favorite albums of all time by my FAVORITE artist of all time and went from there. But you completely won me over with your reaction to Good Kid Maad City(also one of my favorite albums. The giddiness, the raw emotion(I cried too) and appreciation for that beautiful piece of art touched me man. As a super hardcore hip hop fan who grew up in the same kind of environment as most rappers, to see someone who has just recently got into hip hop and is not from that environment have many of the same thoughts and feelings as me just puts into perspective just how truly universal music is and how any genre, any time period can be for anyone. Thank you for this man. I’m looking forward to watching the rest of your videos.
P.s. I have a whole bunch of albums I want to see you react to but God’s Son by Nas might be at the top of my list. It is Nas’s most personal album and one that really touched my heart(and yes made me cry)
This was a VERY DOPE review/reaction! Very engaging and honest. Communicative and open. You’ve gotten a new subscriber. This is the kind of content I enjoy! Keep it up, man. LOVED it!
She had just left a very long time toxic relationship
tell him is really one of the most beautiful songs ever made. it always gets me through tough moments. its funny because i would always put this album on but its kinda long so i never heard the last song until years after and i was just kicking myself that i could've heard it sooner if my attention span wasn't so bad lol. I'm not even religious but that song just does something
Her MTV Unplugged performances including; Peace of mind are a must watch.
I gave it a listen this morning. I enjoyed it, good stuff. I like how raw her voice is, and it was mind blowing to hear her blast off into some of those long rhyme sections
@@bobthepoppop It was mainly her and a guitar and that was enough. Those live performances age very well.
Cant Take My Eyes Off of You and Tell Him placement at the end of the album is SUCH A SIGH OF RELIEF.
Many babies were made to this album!
You should for sure check out noname, she’s a modern rap artist who actually opened up for lauryn at shows. Her debut album telefone is a really beautiful introspective journey with a very pretty Chicago soundscape
Wow. One of my all time favorite albums. And yes Everything is Everything was my favorite track until I listened to Tell Him again with you and it has hit me that it is indeed my new favorite. Got me a little worked up a bit with how things in my life have come so far and I’m sure it is doing the same for many people. Thanks for this reaction. Just subscribed too.
Cool! Would also recommend "Fugees - The Score", the hiphop group Lauren Hill started in. Strictly hiphop, no RNB. Her cadence, lyrisicm and flow easily makes her the best female rapper ever in my book. I think it's levels above her solo album, but that's probably my own musical bias factoring in
I love how you break down the intricate details of the music. Awesome
This album is an absolute classic! Bring on the feels