Spending my teenage years in New Orleans, I got an in-person experience of the culture and spirit of the city. The Crescent City has a special place in my heart, with family history that can be traced back generations and generations… The city is rich of entrepreneurial minds with innovative business models that transcend generations. I feel like these albums gives you a ride through New Orleans without making a visit.
Curren$y Pilot Talk (2010)
The second generation of New Orleans. One of the only albums on this list not released by Cash Money or No Limit. He is also one of two on this list that was signed to Cash Money Records and No Limit Records. Not really garnering attention until 2009 when he was included in the XXL Freshman List, after a legendary mixtape run in 2008. He would eventually link up with Dame Dash and Ski Beats to launch the Pilot Talk series.
You can tell by the production Curren$y stepped out of his comfort zone, thanks to Dame Dash, and teaming up with the East Coast producer Ski Beats. Ski Beats is known for his producing credits on Jay-Z's early work on Reasonable Doubt and dope groups like Original Flavor and Camp Flo. Ski Beats laced Spitta with beats that contained live instrumentation. Hot Spitta floated on this album, with his lifestyle raps, holding his own with rap greats such as Jay Electronica, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Devin the Dude.
Soulja Slim Give It 2 'Em Raw (1998)
1998 was a special year for New Orleans, Soulja Slim, the martyr of New Orleans rap, gave us a classic of his own. The spiritual animal of New Orleans Rap, Soulja has a heavy influence on the city. Due to his untimely demise in 2003, we never saw him live up to his potential. Fortunately, we caught glimpses of his greatness beginning with his debut studio album on No Limit Records. He gave us some of the rawest New Orleans rap (no pun intended), staying true to his Bounce roots while simultaneously providing introspective lyrics of an Uptown legend.
B.G. Chopper City (1996)
At such a young age, the rap prodigy was embraced by Baby and Slim of Cash Money. The rapper's rapper of the Cash Money Records umbrella (before Lil' Wayne caught his stride years later). Chopper City was originally a group album with the young Lil' Wayne; the group name was The B.G.'z. B.G. was originally named Lil' Doogie, he started going by B.G. during the process of releasing this album.
Chopper City was an important album for the rise of the Cash Money Records brand. A southern rap classic, showcasing lyricism and gangsta lifestyle.
Lil Wayne Tha Carter II (2005)
Tha Carter II was the early second wave of Cash Money Records, after all the Hot Boyz left, including the long-time producer Mannie Fresh. Lil' Wayne took the reigns of Cash Money Records, starting his own movement of Young Money under the Cash Money umbrella. This album was the catalyst to the Greatest Rapper Alive run that lasted nearly a few years that included a legendary mixtape run and tapered off into Tha Carter III. The second Carter of series created a precedence for Wayne. He was no longer looked at as the youngest Hot Boy member; he became the main act of the record label, giving us classics such as "Tha Mobb", "Money On My Mind", "Hustler Musik", "Fireman", and so on. This album cemented him as on the best lyricist in the game.
Master P MP Da Last Don (1998)
In 1998, P blessed us with a double-disc album, MP Da Last Don, accompanied by a straight-to-video classic hood film under the same title. Master P amazed the country with his tenacity to be great at whatever he did; he could sell dope, sell millions of records, play professional basketball, make classic hood movies, there was nothing he can't do. Percy even signed the West Coast legend, Snoop Dogg, around this time. His blueprint would later be mimicked by Cash Money Records, with much more longevity that is incomparable to the other rap labels in the music industry.Mystikal Ghetto Fabulous (1998)
Juvenile 400 Degreez (1998)
Hands down, the most important rap album to come out of New Orleans to date. 400 Degreez comprises of the Hot Boy mentality and harsh environment New Orleans has to offer. Juvenile gives it to you raw, uncut, and unrated in an 18-track LP. This album also includes the number one club song, "Back That Azz Up", that rivals "Baby Got Back". The impact of this album reached across the country, getting the attention of Jay-Z to hop on the "Ha" Remix.