Tag Archives: By All Means Necessary

50 Years of Hip Hop Album Review: By All Means Necessary, Strictly Business

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Last year was the 50th anniversary of hip hop, and in honor of this anniversary, the idea bloomed in my mind that I should review the top 50 albums of that 50 years. As I crunched together a list from various sources, 50 proved to be too restrictive- many of the classics were getting squeezed out. So, to make a little more room, I opted for 100 albums, two for each of hip hop’s 50 years.

For its formative years, hip hop was a live entertainment form, with the first recorded songs not emerging until 1979, and the first albums in 1980. So my review will cover 1980-2023, with 50 posts of two albums each. The only ground rule I made for myself (besides looking for 2×50, aka 100, albums that were widely well-regarded) was that I had to have at least one from each year. As you’ll see by and by, some years get multiple albums, but since we have 100 spots for 43 years, it tends to all work out.

*June 2024 addendum: Due to some medical situations, I took a two month hiatus on blogging. It’s probably now unlikely I’ll finish this series this year. But I’m back at it, and I won’t mind extending into 2025 if you don’t!*

And with that, let’s embark on our next installment!

Boogie Down Productions, By All Means Necessary (1988)– While their previous album, Criminal Minded, is widely seen as the birth of gangster rap, this album is often seen as the birth of politically conscious rap. This is no accident, or a mere marketing stance. Following the violent death of his Boogie Down Productions partner Scott La Rock in 1987, KRS-One radically changed his approach, developing the identity of “The Teacher” and calling out the ills that beset Black America while urging for their transformation. From the opening statement “My Philosophy”, to the bruising Deep Purple sample on the second track, to the urgent call to “Stop the Violence” on the third track, the meaning and power don’t let up. Along the way, the mix is stripped down and hard-hitting, the flow both furious and full of humorous charisma, and the lyrical content sharp. I’m fully on board with this album’s reputation as a classic!

EPMD, Strictly Business (1988)- Not having been very familiar with EPMD previously, I’m immediately struck by the smooth flow, and the inventiveness of the musical mix, which makes excellent use of funk samples (and even Eric Clapton and Steve Miller!). This definitely feels like peak 80s golden age. It may not have the kind of substance and heft of Boogie Down Production’s album, but it’s definitely still a solid and fun listen.

If you’re curious about the sources I used to compile my list, you can check them out here:

And if you want to catch up on the previous installments, here they are…

  1. Sugarhill Gang (1980)/Kurtis Blow (1980)
  2. 8th Wonder (1981)/The Message (1982)
  3. Wild Style Original Soundtrack (1983)/Fat Boys (1984)
  4. Ego Trip (1984)/Run-D.M.C. (1984)
  5. Escape (1985)/The Treacherous Three (1985)
  6. King of Rock (1985)/Radio (1985)
  7. Licensed to Ill (1986)/Raising Hell (1986)
  8. Criminal Minded (1987)/Paid in Full (1987)
  9. Bigger and Deffer (1987)/Long Live the Kane (1988)