Bestsellers > Music > West Coast
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Tha Hall of Game(more) »rank: 33829by: E-40
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Tha Last Meal(more) »rank: 66678by: Snoop Dogg
: :Throughout the 1990s, Snoop Dogg proved that the phrase 'old rappers' doesn't have to be an oxymoron, and that it's possible to age gracefully within the genre. But as he made the transition from lethargic gangsta crony to mature thug uncle, Snoop the icon soon outstripped Snoop the rapper and his output became spotty, leaving questions of whether his talented tongue was lost to time. On Tha Last Meal, Snoop proves that all the glitter isn't gone from his golden throat. He's so secure that he even dips into crooning on the so fresh and so clean 'Leave Me Alone.' But Tha Last ... |
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Loyal to the Game(more) »rank: 75644by: 2Pac
:Album Description:2PAC 'LOYAL TO THE GAME' Includes the lead single 'Thugs Get Lonely Too' in addition to 11 other PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED songs and 4 bonus tracks. FEATURED ARTISTS INCLUDE: 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Lloyd Banks, Nate Dogg, Obie Trice, Outlawz, Ron Isley, Sleepy Brown, and Young Buck. Executive Producers: Afeni Shakure and EMINEM Album Produced by EMINEM Additional Production By: Scott Storch, Red Spyda, and Raphael Saadiq |
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All Eyez on Me(more) »rank: 46611by: 2Pac
: essential recording:Simultaneously serving as both endless fodder for intellectual debates and the album most likely to be blaring out of the adjacent car's window, All Eyez on Me is a phenomenon that packs a wallop with every listen. Unquestionably the most nihilistic album to top the Billboard charts--and it's doubtful that any will match it--Eyez also manages to dish out the good-times dance tunes and still flow seamlessly. Recording commenced within hours of Tupac Shakur's release from prison, and a year's worth of pent-up ideas are unleashed with a fury akin to lifting the lid on a box of plutonium. The line ... |
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Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde(more) »rank: 15645by: The Pharcyde
: :Like De La Soul's Three Feet High & Rising, the Pharcyde's 1992 debut came at a time when hip-hop was headed in one direction, but the group was going somewhere else entirely. A crew of spunky b-boys armed with a self-deprecating sense of humor, the Pharcyde made an album that was fresh and profoundly honest. 'Ya Mama' is a clever array of mother jokes set to cartoonish beats; 'On the DL' has each MC unguardedly making self-denigrating confessions (like Fat Lip admitting to masturbating--previously a hip-hop no-no); and 'Passin' Me By' is an ode to hopeless crushes on unattainable women. The group's playfulness ... |
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Straight Outta Compton(more) »rank: 18852by: N.W.A
: essential recording:A lone voice sneers 'You are about to witness the strength of street knowledge,' and with that warning the greatest-ever gangsta album begins. Then these Niggas with Attitude--wicked rhymes by Ice Cube, Easy E, and MC Ren; soulful production courtesy Dr. Dre; beats provided by DJ Yella--come barreling into your face, just daring you to ignore the streets of Compton (or any American city) even one day longer. From the anti-police brutality anthem 'F__k Tha Police' to the angry, unflinching realism of 'Gangsta Gangsta,' to the pro-free speech 'Express Yourself,' this is slammin' and ruthless. --David Cantwell |
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Bayani(more) »rank: 15004by: Blue Scholars
:Album Description:'Bayani' marks a creative and emotional leap forward for Blue Scholars. The four years since recording their first album has been marked by four years of war and uncertainty. People everywhere are looking for answers, growing tired of the banality and repetitiveness of the music and culture that currently dominates the airwaves. Similar to the wave of protest music that emerged during the Vietnam war, 'Bayani' is a statement record stamped with the anger, depression and the slowly emerging hope of these uncertain times. Less sloganeering and more storytelling, Bayani showcases a more focused Geologic and a polished Sabzi coming into their ... |
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Feedback(more) »rank: 45439by: Jurassic 5
:Album Description:Japanese limited edition issue of the album classic in a deluxe, miniaturized LP sleeve replica of the original vinyl album artwork. :It's understandable when artists want to grow their fan base in order to more easily make a living and also reach a larger group of listeners. The trick, of course, is how to do this without releasing artistically compromised records that, well, suck. L.A. underground vets J5 were almost a supergroup from the start, combining the formidable talents of the Unity and Rebels of Rhythm crews. If anyone deserves to move beyond the backpack clique, it's them (well, and Aceyalone). And ... |
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I Wish My Brother George Was Here(more) »rank: 65439by: Del tha Funkee Homosapien
: :This gem from 1991 shows Del tha Funkee Homosapien--the charismatic MC from respected Bay Area crew the Hieroglyphics--in a sharply promising debut, produced by Del, his cousin Ice Cube, and DJ Pooh. Unlike his famous cousin, Del has made a lyrical name for himself by not rhyming about the more violent aspects of inner-city life, instead taking a more laidback and humorous tack, though each rapper produces a stinging effectiveness in his lyrics. But even Cube has to make fun of himself, posing as a guest thug on a parody, 'The Wacky World of Rapid Transit.' The pair's penchant for creative, hard-hitting beats ... |
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From a Boy to a Man(more) »rank: 26514by: San Quinn
:Album Description:Explicit Version. From A Boy To A Man is the seventh studio album from Rapper San Quinn. The first single off the album is 'San Francisco Anthem' featuring Big Rich aka Fillmore Rich & Boo Banger. |

Where the NBA Dynasty series (the other initial entry is the slightly meatier Los Angeles Lakers: The Complete History) outdoes Ultimate Jordan is in the six playoff games--one for each year--as they were originally broadcast, minus halftime and commercials. Having the nearly complete game (usually running 90-100 minutes, from the TV introductions to post-game interviews) means you can skip straight to John Paxson's clutch basket or what was expected to be the final shot of Jordan's career. Or you can savor each game in its entirety, all the better to appreciate the artistry of Jordan in his three-pointer barrage against Portland or his "flu game" against Utah. You can see other great players too, of course, including Jordan's teammates--Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Dennis Rodman--and those opponents unfortunate enough to face the Bulls--Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Karl Malone, and others. Because these are all NBA Finals games, you won't see Jordan's shot over Craig Ehlo or his 63-point coming-out party against Boston, but the 1990s Chicago Bulls were a team for the ages, and merely having their games--some of them all-time classics--available for home viewing is a major milestone in archived sports. --David Horiuchi

While last-minute heroics tend to be the standard by which we define excellence, there are many other moments that have left an indelible impression, many of them highlighted here. The video clips fall into 10 categories: Dunks, Alley-oops, Assists, Steals, Blocks, Teamwork, the Clutch Shot, Moves, Hustle, and Buzzer-Beaters. At the beginning of each section is a brief introduction. Before showing the top 10 dunks of all time, for example, we learn about the evolution of the dunk--from the first slam to the man who could fly, Michael Jordan--and we hear background commentary from NBA legends such as Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Dr. J, and Bill Russell. This video recalls familiar moments of NBA lore that you will want to own for countless repeat viewings. --Jeremy Storey