He definitely crafted a top notch album. Seamlessly blends together Lyricism and delivery. Every single song had purpose. This is what an album should be in my opinion
I needed this video. I feel like I'm going crazy how much I've loved this album, and my circles ain't matching the intensity. Absolute instant classic off rip
Exactly. It's weird but consistent in this era. I think there have been several classic worthy albums in recent years that simply came out in the wrong era. Things are so fragmented now.
JID's The Forever Story feels like an instant classic. But what is a classic album in this era anyway? In my opinion this album will live somewhere between Below The Heavens and Section.80. Thank you to Rob Markman, Fuzzy The Connector, Isaiah Rashad, and DJ Cousin Mike for your insight. Also, Omeretta The Great has GREAT closing arguments in the outro. Make sure you stick around for that. Thank you to Ethan McNew, James Buergo, and Jake Lamotta for contributing to the mission. linktr.ee/thecompanyman 🏆🏆🏆
Rakim said "what the definition of Classic is? Timeless, so age don't count in the booth, when your flow stays submerged in the fountain of youth" we're too quick to label albums as "classic" and artists as "GOATs", they need to be allowed to age. Hit albums lose most of their impact 5 years later, classic albums don't because they capture the *zeitgeist* of the era almost perfectly - but it needs to be seen in retrospect. That said I rock with JID
This is 10000% an instant classic. I’ve been completely stuck on this album since it dropped. From top to bottom including 2007, which I really hope he gets cleared to officially have on streaming eventually, this album doesn’t miss. I don’t think people talk about how seamless the sequencing is on this project. That definitely plays a part in a classic to me:cohesion. I have not stopped talking about this album and it’s already crept into my top 3 albums played this year and it just came out.
A classic to me is an artist putting together their masterpiece. It’s the album or albums you would tell someone to listen to if they were trying to get into their music. Classic I think doesn’t get enough love is Krit’s 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time. Gives you the boomin Krit and introspective Krit, and is a great gateway to the artist
KRIT 4eva is definitely a classic. If they had sold that album instead of making it a free mixtape I think it would've propelled his career further because there would've been numbers behind his awesomeness. Great reference Avary. Thank you .
A classic album has to have timeless productions, non skipable and timeless bars, along with contextual relevance (meaning it touches upon themes both relevant at the time of release, and through generations as well) Also, love to see company man back!!!! BTW, do you have any "Punch Yo Self In The Face" merch? If not theeeeen..
@@TheCompanyMan It would check all boxes for a classic t-shirt! Thanks for the amazing content, I still go back to the Blackthought GOAT & The Art of Stealing pieces every couple of months.
I’ve listened to this album 3 or 4 times. I still can’t tell when it’s over in a good way. album just flows and every time I’m at the end. I always have the same reaction. “Damn it’s over already?!?”. I think it’s a classic
JID forever story not only has acceptance as a phenomenal album from publications, Fans & now online critics. I’ve not stopped listening to this masterpiece even the songs I wasn’t all the way loving like Stars, Just in time mainly due towards the production he elevated stepped up his singing, Songwriting, cadences & delivery. Plus the choruses are so infectious that are keeping ya head knotting for days. Especially on Kody Blu 31, Crack Sandwich, Bruddanem, Can’t make u Change.
@@TheCompanyMan I feel where Rob Markman is coming from a Classic doesn’t necessarily have to be an album with no skips it has to be moment in Timeframe where it resonates with the listener for the year of its release.
I think you hit the nail on the head with the singles era concept . I think pre 2016 if JID drops this, its widely viewed as a classic by both the media and niche internet communities, like we did for Kendrick Lamar's projects. The problem is since that era, Hip Hop as a culture has been so gentrified and now is just this massive corporate machine propagated by these streaming services, that the Hip Hop culture no longer exists, especially in the context of an album. As fantastic as this album is, it will fall to the wayside as as other fantastic hip hop albums like the Black Thought project or Conway's GDMM, just because albums in this era can't have an impact as it once did due to: 1. Hip Hop no longer being a community or culture (biggest genre in the world) 2. The conveyour belt of sauturation that is hip hop in the modern era.
Well said, Aadam. Personally I think The Forever Story will live somewhere between Below the Heavens and Section.80 ultimately. It has much more going for it than it seems. It's the best selling dreamville record ever outside of Cole releases. It's streaming in the right direction and was the #2 rap album behind HOVDID. All the tracks passed a million streams on spotify already. It's doing everything right.
@@TheCompanyMan I personally don’t think it’s that much of a step up in terms of quality from his previous albums. In fact, i feel like I can hear him straining to make the definitive JID album, and it largely suffers from it, with a lot of the tracks being too long for their own good and becoming redundant by the end. I’d give it a 7-8/10. Now that roc marci and alchemist joint? THATS a classic
The album is so good, I had to take a break from it. I couldn't stop listening to it. JID really did it with this one. Dreamville has been on fire recently. Phenomenal artists.
I do a lot of thinking about this topic. Pre streaming era, I was on cd’s heavy. Had a bunch in my car at all times. Portable Anti-skip CD player (still skipped) for anywhere I walked around. I listened to albums in totality and on repeat during that time that I probably wouldn’t have if they released during this era. The unfortunate side effect of this streaming era is the accessibility to EVERYTHING changing how the masses intake music. Having most of the music in recorded history at our fingertips has affected the music industry. Albums are shorter. Songs are shorter. Rollouts are shorter. The accessibility has also diminished our attention span. With the complete change of how consumers digest music, our views as a collective of classic albums must adapt. We shouldn’t attempt to hold any of the new projects to any dated criteria of a classic album. So I have adjusted my view of a classic album to match with the age of streaming: Return-ability needs to be high (decent stream numbers after a month). Fluidity between tracks. Personable tracks. Bangers. Only a couple skips. Good use of features. Creativity.
Damn Jesse, incredible analysis! That's where I'm at with it, too. And that's what this piece attempts to explore. I love what Omeretta says at the end as well. She str8 up called out the difference between then and now. So to hold an album up to yesterday's macro environment shortchanges the impact of artists today. Thanks for the comment JB.
I listened to this album based on your praise in other video. My wife and I threw it on during a long drive. JID made a classic for sure. I was left screaming with joy at the end of the extended version of the album. CLASSIC!
Glad y’all rocked with it. It’s my second most listened to project this year. 4 months in and still doesn’t disappoint for me. Kody Blu 31 still hits me every time. JID’s that dude.
What makes album Classic. I lean toward no skips, crisp production, & imaginative lyrics & creative stand out and touch current fans & create new ones. Ever listen you get something new to take away from it. If I’m goin to listening to album years from now that my standard. Def the way everyone listens to music now play into a person with a dope song & overly excited fans claiming the whole album is classic when in reality it’s 1 song (that most likely is held together by beat alone)
Omg, I love the presentations here. It really sounds like a Literature Class Presentation more than a rap album review and the geek in me loves this so much. Thank you
In terms of my personal favorite album childish gambinos camp is a classic because it tells the story of someone growing up physical but feeling trapped mentally. Learning lessons that might not be right or wrong but it's things we've learned that we now live with and apply to our everyday motions.
I have so many thoughts but this level of love , respect and research that went into this piece is AMAZING. Anytime someone asks me about what’s a classic album, I officially have a “go-to” guide that I can share so we have a reference for conversation. This video shows so much love and respect for hip hop, conversation, and different frames of mind around hip hop. And always ends it with a “I don’t have the answers to these questions “ haha I love these !
That's a bold backdrop you got going on there Justin! If I had to get my kitchen and living room spotless before shooting I think I'd never get anything filmed haha..
This project was on a different level for JID in my opinion. JID always has lyrics and wordplay. But this album sounded like just that; an Album. He put thought into it, not just from a Bar aspect but also sonically. Justin, as Jude loves to point out, artists need that Emotional Depth and I feel JID opened up a bit on this one and showed some vunrebality. Side note, Yes, Cheat Codes is Masterful. Black Thoght continues to be on a tear.
This is giving me good kid maad city vibes which makes me so excited. This album will be regarded as the best hip hop album of 2022, but his next might take a seat right next to TPAB. If there was anything this record shows, its JID's potential.
Definitely check out the Woods album, I saw him live in Alabama for one of his first concerts post 2020 and it was my favorite concert experience to date. He’s got multiple classics under his belt, from Known Unknowns with Blockhead to Crawling Spaces and if you’re sleeping on his collaboration with Elucid and the Alchemist (Armand Hammer - Haram) punch yourself in the face!
I'm pushing 41 yr old so my tastes are firmly planted in the '90s. The criteria for a "classic" in regards to the Hip Hop community is tough because we all have different priorities. However, there are some albums that when they drop you can tell they will be relevant for decades to come. These are usually albums that forge their own sound and aren't beholden to the current trends, they create such an impact that they become the new trend, or they simply have no skips. Maybe they do conform to current trends but are so good that you revisit it and it takes you back to that point in time. Music is personal and means different things to everybody. We all know the classics that changed the landscape in the 90s, The Chronic, 36 Chambers, The Score, Illmatic, Doggy Style, All Eyez On Me, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzic, E.1999, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx etc. But some albums that I consider classics (90s or otherwise) are: ODB - N***a Please Mac Miller - Swimming Ghostface - Supreme Clientele Cappadonna - The Pillage Cypress Hill - Black Sunday Mozzy - 1 Up Top Ahk Joey BadA$$ - B4.DA.,$$ A$AP Rocky - AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP Dilated Peoples - Expansion Team Jurassic 5 - Power in Numbers David Banner - The God Box Killah Priest - The Psychic World of Walter Reed CZARFACE - Every Hero Needs a Villian Man, there are so many more, but these are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
I don’t ever comment on videos, you may not see this, but you make some of the best hip hop content anywhere. I could listen to your thoughtful takes all day long. I appreciate you! I also hope you’re doing well, on a video from a little while ago I remember you mentioning some bumps in the road.
Thats Love HENRY! Thank you so much for that. Life happens and I have to adjust to the new normal but thank you again for asking about what's happening with my life.
Seems like JID gave everybody on the grassroots level the album they wanted from Kendrick. It’s super dope. It connects in a way that the people needed right now. Is it universal? Can albums be universal these days without having the release or 2-3 massive singles?
Great content as always. I need to go back and do a deep dive listening session for this one. I've been blinded by the Kendrick and Lupe albums so much this year that this one had slipped through my fingers. I need to back to this well too.
First off, I need that shirt! Now, on to the meat of the comment. To me, a classic does hit all those points, and while production and lyrical prowes are requirements, it standing out as a moment in time and also being the catalyst of conversation is the pinical of being a classic. I also think that it takes time, while it might feel right to call an album an instant classic, I think we need distance from the moment of work to appreciate it's significance in the greater realm of music. If the same album still evokes emotion and conversation decades on that is a classic. You mentioned Cheat Codes in this piece, I think that will be one of those albums, it still floors me every time I listen to it. Belize and Aquamarine have been in heavy rotation since they dropped. Others on my list that were not mentioned in the piece (cuz those are all on my list as well) would for sure be The Turning Point, Madvilliany, MMMM Food, It takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back, I could go on for hours. The Grey Album (Danger Mouse), Enter the 36 Chambers. I could go on, but will stop, that is a conversation we can have in Bangkok over a glass of bourbon. I would love to explore the idea of classics in a singles era tho. It my mind it makes albums like The FOrever Story and Cheat Codes stand out even more for their cohesive work product. But many singles do fill that gap of being felt as a moment in time, a marker in spacetime that anchores our memories to that moment and while simultaneously being a conversation starter for decades. and like a classic album a classic single can span the context of their time and still be relivent, is that more or less impressive than a whole album filling that spot?
I gotta check out this album from JID. I'm all about storytelling in rap. One thing I don't have the answer to is what's a classic. But what I might have an answer to is can a classic exist with social media. I think it can. Small spaces could analyze the album and come to a consensus on most things. The downside to that is biases that we have either loyalty or hate for the artist. An example I can personally give is Jay-Z's Blueprint. Everyone was hailing it as a classic but I wasn't feeling it, partially because of the beef with Nas. It wasn't until I listened as a fan of rap and not as a fan of Nas that I can appreciate the album. Awesome piece as always. Love the perspectives that others brought about classics and while we can't come to a consensus on what a classic is, we definitely can amplify talented people and show them some love.
I do think that JID hits all the mentioned criteria save for time, but I think time will serve as accreditation. I think Childish Gambino's Because The Internet is a classic and I think his Awaken My Love is an aaaaaalmost classic. Loved this breakdown!
I do feel like a classic album had to be a full body of work. You can listen to it without skipping a song. It tells a story. I think JID accomplished that in this album. You can tell he put a lot of effort in creating this body of work and his rapping schemes and beat switches are unmatched. Another great breakdown! Thank you
I'm with Fuzzy about classic albums, but that's just on instinct. Realistically, I'm like you, I don't have the answers, but I love the questions you ask about how our consumption of music changes how we decide what is a classic. One thing I've thought about is how our consumption of music next to youtubers deconstructing it and sites like genius that allow us to collaboratively break it down changes music as well?
i was def one of those people that said go listen to JiD’s album after you listened to hovs verse, glad it didn’t overshadow his art on release,..you knew this was on the horizon just off the last few songs he pops up on the dreamvilles projects smh
For me personally the only albums I have over the forever story is mbdtf and tpab cause the forever story was so beautiful and had such a huge impact on me
Because there are no more physicals & no more radio, we are disconnected in what we listen to. How can there be anymore "classic albums" when the masses have so many options? I thought Westside Boogie had a classic album with Everythings For Sale but did anybody listen to it? He recently dropped the same day as Drake. Unfortunately everybody talked about a bad Drake album instead of a good Boogie album. Great video brother! You've been smoking boots lately.
Exactly. We're so compartmentalized it's almost impossible for anything to completely cross over. And it's not just music. The two biggest stories I've seen in the past month are the FNMeka thing and the Queen Of England dying. Everything else seems so fractured these days that it's difficult to see what everyone agrees on. Thanks RMS.
Justin I think you hit the answer spot on at the end of the video. I'm my humble opinion a classic album only has to be a classic to you. The idea that the timing of an album release is important to an album being a classic can also apply to life events as well. For example a classic to me that I always go back to is Ludacris's album Word Of Mouf because it was my first CD as a kid. Another album is Hip Hop is Dead by Nas that was released when I was going through some difficult times in my life. In my opinion these are 2 classic albums that are never mentioned among the top hip hop albums. What makes a classic to me is if YOU are drawn back to that piece of art no matter how old the album or how critically acclaimed it is by the masses. Nostalgia also has a huge influence on the value of a classic album. Thanks again for the awesome content ✌️
Thanks KTA. Nostalgia's a helluva drug and Word Of Mouf is one of those albums for me too. I think we're gonna see a tidal wave of albums from this era being considered classics in the next 10 years because older music streams better than newer music. Some 30 year old tv exec is gonna put all his favorite Yeat songs in a hit metaverse show and boom, Yeat is a classic artist. But to me classic is always a personal thing as well as a communal thing. WHich always brings me back to my days riding around with my friends, smoking black n milds, and bumping bone thugs n harmony.
@@TheCompanyMan Hahaha you're right about that. There will be a time in the future where someone is still saying Yeat is their GOAT and is going to be called an old head 🤯 But that is another reason why Hip Hop is a beautiful art. There are so many sub genres and sounds that cater to many different pallets essentially creating classic albums for everyone taste
If you guys haven’t already, check out “2007.” It was supposed to be the true closer of The Forever Story but JID couldn’t get the sample cleared. It’s an amazing track.
To me, classic implies foundation and inspiration. You can really feel it when something captures your imagination and changes the direction you are moving. It's even more intense when a group all suddenly move in a new direction from the same foundation. When I say "that's a classic" it's just a gut feeling, and I think that feeling is a memory of large scale collective inspiration.
It’s a great album but Saba album called care for me is similar to this album but I don’t remember people talking about that album the year it came out like they talking about this JID album
I’m glad Isaiah Rashad said Whole Lotta Red is a classic. The man made a an album that majority hated at the end of 2020 and by the end of 2021 those same people started to like it. Mon went back to back!!!
Something is holding me back from calling this a classic. But that takes nothing away from JIDs amazing work on this album!!!! Theres a long drawn out conversation to have about "classic or not", but what I appreciate most and would like to continuously praise is JID's artistry. I'm a hip hop artist myself and sometimes its hard to believe theres still a high level of focus on hip hop derived ART🤌🏽Especially in this area of singles, dances, shorts, and viral moments on endless repeat. JID's album in incredibly refreshing. Album of the year to me.
Thank you for another great video. This album is definitely on repeat for me. Not sure if it cracks a classic rating for me, but maybe that will change with time. A great album none-the-less.
When looking at what a classic is I only really consider two things: old + iconic. It's got to live in the memory of a substantial amount of people an amount of years forward that it is considered a classic. Most agree on the second factor (iconic), but I hear a lot of people argue for albums, such as TPAB or Kids See Ghosts, that they are classics because "there's no way people will forget about them in the future," but to me that doesn't matter. Just because something will inevitably be a classic and there's no way it wouldn't doesn't mean it already is. It's like calling something old because it will be old. I'm not sure on an exact amount of years an album has to exist for it to earn its title, but I'm thinking around about fifteen. Also I don't take in quality at all for deciding. To me Illmatic is a classic and so is Nastradamus because a lot of hip hop fans will know of both of them, but you couldn't even pay me to say they're just as good as each other. What's funny is that it only really seems to be with music where this is such a hotly debated thing. Think of a classic car, book, or even film, and it will be something old. Maybe it's just the large influx of new music that makes people not consider time as a factor, but it should definitely still matter. Great video as always though. The Forever Story has been on constant repeat this month.
@@musiclifter5424 When people talk about albums so shockingly below par it always gets a mention. It plays a huge role in how some people (unfairly) discredit his career. I hear a lot of "Illmatic and It Was Written are Nas' only good albums," which is obviously wrong, but I can imagine far less people saying it if he didn't release that in the state it was in. A lot of bad albums are ultimately forgotten, even one's from popular artists, but that one still lives in the memory of a lot of people, which is why I give it that title.
@@bradenpittman1801 when I hear "vintage" personally I only think of old. Rarely do I hear the word "vintage" used to describe something that people know the history of and can really differentiate with other old things. Just used to describe something like a piece of furniture. Like no one in the history of ever has said "that couch is a classic," but "vintage?" Yeah, lots of times. So, while it's fine differences, I feel I can tell them apart.
I think a classic album should hold tangible resonance for whomever considers it so. K.O.D. by Tech N9ne, Splendor & Misery by clipping., The Impossible Kid by Aesop Rock and Camp by Childish Gambino hit that for me. The Forever Story is excellent. It's easily top 5 of the year for me. I hope it's personal resonance continues to grow going forward.
I think this album is definitely a classic. I also think something that may be overlooked is Jids consistency as well. All his album have been quality and if you look at a lot of the legends like jay, nas, DMX, etc. Their first albums were the ones many consider “THE” classic. I might be alone but I think the never story was classic and the forever story took it up a notch. Even DiCaprio 2 is something you can listen straight through. I hope this made sense. Great video breakdown. Always loved your opinions.
IMO, The Forever Story is an instant classic. JID delivered in every way I wanted; lyricism, storytelling, production, even the artwork was dope. I think in this streaming era where music is so accessible and artists are dropping these inflated ass projects, it becomes a bit hard to filter things out and really find things that sound amazing to us. I know all these publications, JID fans, and rap listeners are loving this album, but there’s a whole lot of people that don’t even know who JID is. He’s definitely still on the rise, and I expect him to get much bigger, but if this album had dropped maybe like ten or twenty years ago, I think it would’ve gotten a lot more buzz and this “is it a classic?” debate wouldn’t even be a thing. Everyone would accept it.
Agreed on all fronts, Jaylan. Timing is a major component to all of this. People will grow with this album. It'll live somewhere between Below The Heavens and Section.80
A classic for me is an album I play for the first time, than on day 5, 5 months, 5 years, 10 years. I push play and I'm right back to day one, when I first play it. It gives you the same feeling, or remember how you felt or who you were at the time. PAID IN FULL ERIC B AND RAKIM, PUBLIC ENEMY it take a nation, Epmd strictly business, pink Floyd dark side of the moon, led Zeppelin fourth album and Kendrick Lamar good kid bad city. All take you back to where you were at those times. A classic connects to the masses so that even you didn't listen to a type of music weather it's Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Van Halen, or Tupac. Ether you drawn to listen to the music or recognize importance of albums like Michael Jackson Thriller or OutKast stankonia to it's time.
I have to agree with DJ Cousin Mike, spot on. Surprisingly slept on, but I still believe Laila's Wisdom is a classic album. I encourage everyone to give it another listen
I mean yes the industry has put in overtime to disperse community process and interpretation of music. But I still feel ya’ll out there. The community that cuts an album on front to back more than once. That has a difficult time downloading the most catchy 3-4 songs, instead appreciating the complimentary flow of a body of work. Thankful to JID for making a fucking BODY OF WORK. It’s been too long but this is hip hop man. He moved the culture forward in what has been a difficult time for me and likely many others. Thank you JID. PS: when dude said “now we fightin in the street it was 10 against 23 I was 17 swinging on any and everything” this fucking emcee put a devilish inflection on his voice that added to the story’s nighttime ambience. Dude is a class act
I think time is a big factor that you could've spoken about more in this piece. It's in the definition of the word classic. For me for example, ScHoolboy Q's 'Blank Face LP' was a really good hip-hop album at the time of release. But we will see more and more people (like myself) call it a classic 2010's hip-hop album as time goes on. An example where else this has happened would with 'Fan-Tas-Tic, Vol.2'.
Time definitely correlates to the definition of the word but not necessarily the meaning of classic in a hip hop context. That’s a relatively new thing the past 15 or 20 years. I really didn’t speak on my feelings on the word. I let the experts provide context and it is interesting none of them mentioned length of time. Good call on the schoolboy q. Fits the description
@@TheCompanyMan I’d argue that they somewhat did. In fact, maybe the only thing linking all 4 different takes was the relevance to time. Rob mentioned it setting a “time marker” for people. Fuzzy’s point on how the listening experience and living with these albums has altered. It’s more immediate. Shorter experiences. Isaiah brings up the point on classics contributing to “what’s next” & one of your cousins main bullet points specifies that “timeless beats go a long way”. I think the importance of time within the context of hip-hop is really relevant when crowning an album as a classic. Even your thumbnail seems to suggest so by calling this album an “instant classic”.
To me, the definition of what makes a classic album is something that is unique and changes the landscape of how music is made and consumed. That’s something that isn’t usually noticeable until the next generation of artists that were inspired by classic albums start to come out. I’ll also say that I do believe it’s harder to make a classic hip hop album now, but I think the digital distribution of music is not the biggest reason. To put it simply, hip hop is getting old. It’s about to turn 50, and most of the groundbreaking works have happened in its first 15 - 25 years of existence. It’s harder to find a new perspective that really breaks through when so much has already been done. I don’t necessarily see it as a problem, though. Most genres - shoot, most humans - grow and mature the same way; fast early on, and slowing down in the later years. It just makes me skeptical of the word “classic” being put on any album released in the last decade or so. JID’s album is a masterpiece though.
For me, I think a classic is an album that makes you want to listen to it as a whole, and although it might have some Hits, you want to feel that experience of listening to all of the songs instead of only choosing one song and skipping the others. The Forever story really makes you want to listen to all of it, instead of playing only its hits like Dance now and surround sound, .....
Other recent classics for me, might be Cheat Codes by Danger Mouse and Black Thought, SIMBI by Little Simz, Manger on McNichols by Boldy James and Sterling Toles, and even Burden of Proof by Benny the Butcher,.......
maybe late to the conversation but id say a classic album is a combination of ones technical proficiency, palatable production, with art and musical compositions that become synonymous with the artist. for example doggystyle by snoop, in search of… by n.e.r.d, awaken my love from gambino, griselda’s what would machine do.
Great breakdown. Love the use of JID’s album to define what a classic is. Like the new backdrop. Which brings me to my question; what’s with the shadow box? You a veteran?
Right before clicking on this I thought of my definition of what classic is.. To me it's an album that NEEDED to come out, the definition of needed can vary by context. Like IIllmatic needed to come out to push the genre, like many other albums that are considered classics in hip-hip, those are the albums with amazing production, the best bars, the most conversation provoking albums. I feel the other classics are the artists that are taking their next step forward, the albums of person growth and accountability, even if there's albums that are technically better, I think albums like thug motivation 101 here. Most classics lie somewhere in those 2 categories. The Forever Story is all of it.
It's like that classic line about pornography, when the Supreme Court had to be careful to uphold the laws on obscenity, but simultaneously not make loads of art illegal as a by product- "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description, and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it". It's impossible to say 'if you do X, Y and Z, you will make a classic album', but when you have one in front of you, you know it.
@@TheCompanyMan thanks man! If you do read this, I just wanted to say I appreciate you a lot, I think you do great work and like a lot of people in your comments recently I'm really happy you are back to doing these breakdowns. All the best to you!
I’m not even gonna front, I tried getting into Earthgang, but I wasn’t for me so I was nervous about this album. I thought it was decent and I really liked Kody Blu 31. I can definitely see this album being a classic, especially for this generation of rap. Thinking about it some more, I think this album also shows that while most folks were ambivalent about what Kendrick was doing sonically on TPAB, it’s obvious that at least some folks heard that album and thought of it as a template.
@@TheCompanyMan Nothing big, I just may not been in the headspace or maybe I was raised on too much OutKast😂. It was early EarthGang to be fair, but maybe it’s just my disconnect as a millennial rap fan to Gen Z rap. Hip-Hop will be 50 years old next year and I think as I get older my relationship to music made by people who are a lot younger than me is changing. People who make music in my age group or older is one thing, but when it is someone who is a lot younger than you talking about stuff…I’m just like yeah, I’ve heard that before (and I don’t mean that in a condescending way) I wonder if this is how my father’s generation felt when the Hip-Hop of my generation came out. I don’t think EarthGang is bad, but just it’s clear I’m not the intended audience-and that’s okay. This album was JiD talking about his like to his peers and I respect that. I actually added something to the original comment on the connection between this album and the influence of TPAB.
@@TheCompanyMan That’s easy, geographic bias. We know he was influenced by him, but because he is from LA and not ATL we lazily just throw out the PAC comparisons and ignore everything else so that we don’t have to deal with the ramifications of a person’s environment not being as important as the 90s was telling us. This goes back to your Coast Contra video. Why I listened to this JID album, the Kendrick influence was immediate, but most folks will only compare him to other Atlanta rappers or maybe J Cole at best because the Dreamville connection. But yeah, the question is now: “Does your hood matter as much in Hip-Hop as once did?”
Incredible album... tho I'm glad billy woods _Aethiopes_ is ranked even higher on Rate Your Music. That guy is incredibly special, as well! Gonna need a Top 20 or 25 this year. 10 ain't gonna be enough for all the fire droppin' 😁 _Cheat Codes_ will definitely be high up there, too. I keep telling my fellow old heads, HipHop is in a _beautiful_ place right now (and in recent yrs) - they don't wanna hear me tho! Edit" "Crack Sandwich" is my absolute favorite, too 🔥🔥🔥🔥 "Dance Now" is incredible!
Some albums I feel are classics and don't get spoken about enough: Nas - Untitled The Roos - How I Got Over Dead Prez - Let's Get Free M.O.P. - Warriorz Missy Elliott - Da Real World Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told Ludacris - Word of Mouf Jean Grae - Jeanius Wiley - Godfather To name a few .....
@@TheCompanyMan Thanks! I deliberately tried to think of albums that are very different in terms of sound (sonically), style, approach, content etc. Even regionally and year that they were released. To show that there can be classics from any of the sub-genres of Hip Hop & Urban music, as well as time period. Love your work btw!
He definitely crafted a top notch album. Seamlessly blends together Lyricism and delivery. Every single song had purpose. This is what an album should be in my opinion
Great way to describe it, Chidi!
Honestly,I’m glad every album isn’t like this. If it was, then it wouldn’t make TFS or other incredible albums so special ya know
I needed this video. I feel like I'm going crazy how much I've loved this album, and my circles ain't matching the intensity. Absolute instant classic off rip
Exactly. It's weird but consistent in this era. I think there have been several classic worthy albums in recent years that simply came out in the wrong era. Things are so fragmented now.
JID's The Forever Story feels like an instant classic. But what is a classic album in this era anyway?
In my opinion this album will live somewhere between Below The Heavens and Section.80.
Thank you to Rob Markman, Fuzzy The Connector, Isaiah Rashad, and DJ Cousin Mike for your insight.
Also, Omeretta The Great has GREAT closing arguments in the outro. Make sure you stick around for that.
Thank you to Ethan McNew, James Buergo, and Jake Lamotta for contributing to the mission.
linktr.ee/thecompanyman
🏆🏆🏆
Agree Album classic. Dope top 5 album so far Masterpiece
Rakim said
"what the definition of Classic is? Timeless, so age don't count in the booth,
when your flow stays submerged in the fountain of youth"
we're too quick to label albums as "classic" and artists as "GOATs", they need to be allowed to age. Hit albums lose most of their impact 5 years later, classic albums don't because they capture the *zeitgeist* of the era almost perfectly - but it needs to be seen in retrospect. That said I rock with JID
This is 10000% an instant classic. I’ve been completely stuck on this album since it dropped. From top to bottom including 2007, which I really hope he gets cleared to officially have on streaming eventually, this album doesn’t miss. I don’t think people talk about how seamless the sequencing is on this project. That definitely plays a part in a classic to me:cohesion. I have not stopped talking about this album and it’s already crept into my top 3 albums played this year and it just came out.
A classic to me is an artist putting together their masterpiece. It’s the album or albums you would tell someone to listen to if they were trying to get into their music. Classic I think doesn’t get enough love is Krit’s 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time. Gives you the boomin Krit and introspective Krit, and is a great gateway to the artist
KRIT 4eva is definitely a classic. If they had sold that album instead of making it a free mixtape I think it would've propelled his career further because there would've been numbers behind his awesomeness. Great reference Avary. Thank you .
Love the KRIT shoutout. Amazin album
kenny mason’s contributions to the two songs he collaborated on have been massively underrated. kenny is definitely next up he’s so dope.
fr his latest album might be aoty
A classic album has to have timeless productions, non skipable and timeless bars, along with contextual relevance (meaning it touches upon themes both relevant at the time of release, and through generations as well) Also, love to see company man back!!!! BTW, do you have any "Punch Yo Self In The Face" merch? If not theeeeen..
Thanks Sergio! I do not, actually. Maybe I'll look into making some.
@@TheCompanyMan It would check all boxes for a classic t-shirt! Thanks for the amazing content, I still go back to the Blackthought GOAT & The Art of Stealing pieces every couple of months.
@@otrocheyo Thank you! Those are two of my favorites too.
I’ve listened to this album 3 or 4 times. I still can’t tell when it’s over in a good way. album just flows and every time I’m at the end. I always have the same reaction. “Damn it’s over already?!?”. I think it’s a classic
JID forever story not only has acceptance as a phenomenal album from publications, Fans & now online critics. I’ve not stopped listening to this masterpiece even the songs I wasn’t all the way loving like Stars, Just in time mainly due towards the production he elevated stepped up his singing, Songwriting, cadences & delivery. Plus the choruses are so infectious that are keeping ya head knotting for days. Especially on Kody Blu 31, Crack Sandwich, Bruddanem, Can’t make u Change.
Thanks, IC. Money is my go to. Love that joint.
@@TheCompanyMan I feel where Rob Markman is coming from a Classic doesn’t necessarily have to be an album with no skips it has to be moment in Timeframe where it resonates with the listener for the year of its release.
Great video! This release is a masterpiece and I loved his previous album too. JID is one of the best right now for sure.
I think you hit the nail on the head with the singles era concept . I think pre 2016 if JID drops this, its widely viewed as a classic by both the media and niche internet communities, like we did for Kendrick Lamar's projects. The problem is since that era, Hip Hop as a culture has been so gentrified and now is just this massive corporate machine propagated by these streaming services, that the Hip Hop culture no longer exists, especially in the context of an album. As fantastic as this album is, it will fall to the wayside as as other fantastic hip hop albums like the Black Thought project or Conway's GDMM, just because albums in this era can't have an impact as it once did due to:
1. Hip Hop no longer being a community or culture (biggest genre in the world)
2. The conveyour belt of sauturation that is hip hop in the modern era.
Well said, Aadam. Personally I think The Forever Story will live somewhere between Below the Heavens and Section.80 ultimately. It has much more going for it than it seems. It's the best selling dreamville record ever outside of Cole releases. It's streaming in the right direction and was the #2 rap album behind HOVDID. All the tracks passed a million streams on spotify already. It's doing everything right.
@@TheCompanyMan I personally don’t think it’s that much of a step up in terms of quality from his previous albums. In fact, i feel like I can hear him straining to make the definitive JID album, and it largely suffers from it, with a lot of the tracks being too long for their own good and becoming redundant by the end. I’d give it a 7-8/10. Now that roc marci and alchemist joint? THATS a classic
@@2canwin635 no one asked u shut up
@@2canwin635 b0ž0
The album is so good, I had to take a break from it. I couldn't stop listening to it. JID really did it with this one. Dreamville has been on fire recently. Phenomenal artists.
Yeah, I've had it on repeat for the past three weeks. Fantastic body of work.
Definitely going to be one of the greats. His attitude, flow, themes, and instrumentals are next level awesome.
I do a lot of thinking about this topic. Pre streaming era, I was on cd’s heavy. Had a bunch in my car at all times. Portable Anti-skip CD player (still skipped) for anywhere I walked around. I listened to albums in totality and on repeat during that time that I probably wouldn’t have if they released during this era. The unfortunate side effect of this streaming era is the accessibility to EVERYTHING changing how the masses intake music. Having most of the music in recorded history at our fingertips has affected the music industry. Albums are shorter. Songs are shorter. Rollouts are shorter. The accessibility has also diminished our attention span. With the complete change of how consumers digest music, our views as a collective of classic albums must adapt. We shouldn’t attempt to hold any of the new projects to any dated criteria of a classic album. So I have adjusted my view of a classic album to match with the age of streaming:
Return-ability needs to be high (decent stream numbers after a month). Fluidity between tracks. Personable tracks. Bangers. Only a couple skips. Good use of features. Creativity.
Damn Jesse, incredible analysis! That's where I'm at with it, too. And that's what this piece attempts to explore. I love what Omeretta says at the end as well. She str8 up called out the difference between then and now. So to hold an album up to yesterday's macro environment shortchanges the impact of artists today. Thanks for the comment JB.
Also, yes, Anti-Skip CD players was straight up false advertising.
I listened to this album based on your praise in other video. My wife and I threw it on during a long drive. JID made a classic for sure. I was left screaming with joy at the end of the extended version of the album. CLASSIC!
Glad y’all rocked with it. It’s my second most listened to project this year. 4 months in and still doesn’t disappoint for me. Kody Blu 31 still hits me every time. JID’s that dude.
I might be high, but its crazy how Justin talks about a instant classic album, on an instant classic breakdown. Perfectly dissected 🔥🔥
I'll take it! Ha! Thanks, Mikey!
What makes album Classic. I lean toward no skips, crisp production, & imaginative lyrics & creative stand out and touch current fans & create new ones.
Ever listen you get something new to take away from it.
If I’m goin to listening to album years from now that my standard.
Def the way everyone listens to music now play into a person with a dope song & overly excited fans claiming the whole album is classic when in reality it’s 1 song (that most likely is held together by beat alone)
Love having a breakdown every Saturday
Thanks Demetrius.
Omg, I love the presentations here. It really sounds like a Literature Class Presentation more than a rap album review and the geek in me loves this so much. Thank you
In terms of my personal favorite album childish gambinos camp is a classic because it tells the story of someone growing up physical but feeling trapped mentally. Learning lessons that might not be right or wrong but it's things we've learned that we now live with and apply to our everyday motions.
Great reference! Because The Internet is really great too. I don't think people mention Gambino enough.
@@TheCompanyMan Thaaank Youuuu, Because The Internet is just amazing but Childish is overlooked
So glad you made this, been waiting for JID to get the peoples recognition for years
Thanks Mike. How'd you like the album?
@@TheCompanyMan favorite from him yet! It’s the flows for me, dude twists his words together like I never heard
I have so many thoughts but this level of love , respect and research that went into this piece is AMAZING. Anytime someone asks me about what’s a classic album, I officially have a “go-to” guide that I can share so we have a reference for conversation. This video shows so much love and respect for hip hop, conversation, and different frames of mind around hip hop. And always ends it with a “I don’t have the answers to these questions “ haha I love these !
That's a bold backdrop you got going on there Justin! If I had to get my kitchen and living room spotless before shooting I think I'd never get anything filmed haha..
HAHAHA! If you stay ready, you don't gotta get ready! Thanks PC.
@@TheCompanyMan I had a feeling you might just keep it consistently like this. I don't know whether to admire you or fear you 😂
@@PotatoCheese 💀💀💀
This project was on a different level for JID in my opinion. JID always has lyrics and wordplay. But this album sounded like just that; an Album. He put thought into it, not just from a Bar aspect but also sonically. Justin, as Jude loves to point out, artists need that Emotional Depth and I feel JID opened up a bit on this one and showed some vunrebality.
Side note, Yes, Cheat Codes is Masterful. Black Thoght continues to be on a tear.
Thanks JB. Lots of Emotional Depth on this album.
This is giving me good kid maad city vibes which makes me so excited. This album will be regarded as the best hip hop album of 2022, but his next might take a seat right next to TPAB. If there was anything this record shows, its JID's potential.
Couldn’t get through the first few minutes of this video purely cause you made me wanna go back and listen to the album. Great review!
Thank you again for another thought provoking video.
Rap album of the year hands down. So happy you giving Jid his Flowers. I became a fan because of this album
This has always been one of the best accounts on TH-cam, thank you so much for the content man
I'd love to hear you talk about the Danger Mouse and Black Thought album honestly. It's top 5 albums for me this year
I'll find a way to do so. It's definitely special.
Definitely check out the Woods album, I saw him live in Alabama for one of his first concerts post 2020 and it was my favorite concert experience to date. He’s got multiple classics under his belt, from Known Unknowns with Blockhead to Crawling Spaces and if you’re sleeping on his collaboration with Elucid and the Alchemist (Armand Hammer - Haram) punch yourself in the face!
Also congrats on 100k.
Thank you!
JID really appreciates his era, it is really a new day in hip hop. This is the new blueprint
I'm pushing 41 yr old so my tastes are firmly planted in the '90s. The criteria for a "classic" in regards to the Hip Hop community is tough because we all have different priorities. However, there are some albums that when they drop you can tell they will be relevant for decades to come. These are usually albums that forge their own sound and aren't beholden to the current trends, they create such an impact that they become the new trend, or they simply have no skips. Maybe they do conform to current trends but are so good that you revisit it and it takes you back to that point in time. Music is personal and means different things to everybody.
We all know the classics that changed the landscape in the 90s, The Chronic, 36 Chambers, The Score, Illmatic, Doggy Style, All Eyez On Me, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzic, E.1999, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx etc. But some albums that I consider classics (90s or otherwise) are:
ODB - N***a Please
Mac Miller - Swimming
Ghostface - Supreme Clientele
Cappadonna - The Pillage
Cypress Hill - Black Sunday
Mozzy - 1 Up Top Ahk
Joey BadA$$ - B4.DA.,$$
A$AP Rocky - AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP
Dilated Peoples - Expansion Team
Jurassic 5 - Power in Numbers
David Banner - The God Box
Killah Priest - The Psychic World of Walter Reed
CZARFACE - Every Hero Needs a Villian
Man, there are so many more, but these are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
Well said! Love the analysis. Thanks for breaking it down.
I don’t ever comment on videos, you may not see this, but you make some of the best hip hop content anywhere. I could listen to your thoughtful takes all day long. I appreciate you! I also hope you’re doing well, on a video from a little while ago I remember you mentioning some bumps in the road.
Thats Love HENRY! Thank you so much for that. Life happens and I have to adjust to the new normal but thank you again for asking about what's happening with my life.
i love that you reached out to rashad for this, big props!
Thanks Jesse.
Seems like JID gave everybody on the grassroots level the album they wanted from Kendrick. It’s super dope. It connects in a way that the people needed right now. Is it universal? Can albums be universal these days without having the release or 2-3 massive singles?
Great question. It's so funny thinking about how many massive songs on streaming are rarely heard in public spaces.
Great content as always. I need to go back and do a deep dive listening session for this one. I've been blinded by the Kendrick and Lupe albums so much this year that this one had slipped through my fingers. I need to back to this well too.
Let me know what you think.
U gotta check put the new black thought and Danger Mouse album too
First off, I need that shirt! Now, on to the meat of the comment. To me, a classic does hit all those points, and while production and lyrical prowes are requirements, it standing out as a moment in time and also being the catalyst of conversation is the pinical of being a classic. I also think that it takes time, while it might feel right to call an album an instant classic, I think we need distance from the moment of work to appreciate it's significance in the greater realm of music. If the same album still evokes emotion and conversation decades on that is a classic. You mentioned Cheat Codes in this piece, I think that will be one of those albums, it still floors me every time I listen to it. Belize and Aquamarine have been in heavy rotation since they dropped. Others on my list that were not mentioned in the piece (cuz those are all on my list as well) would for sure be The Turning Point, Madvilliany, MMMM Food, It takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back, I could go on for hours. The Grey Album (Danger Mouse), Enter the 36 Chambers. I could go on, but will stop, that is a conversation we can have in Bangkok over a glass of bourbon.
I would love to explore the idea of classics in a singles era tho. It my mind it makes albums like The FOrever Story and Cheat Codes stand out even more for their cohesive work product. But many singles do fill that gap of being felt as a moment in time, a marker in spacetime that anchores our memories to that moment and while simultaneously being a conversation starter for decades. and like a classic album a classic single can span the context of their time and still be relivent, is that more or less impressive than a whole album filling that spot?
you have the answers justin ❤️
Thanks Takunda!
I gotta check out this album from JID. I'm all about storytelling in rap.
One thing I don't have the answer to is what's a classic. But what I might have an answer to is can a classic exist with social media. I think it can. Small spaces could analyze the album and come to a consensus on most things. The downside to that is biases that we have either loyalty or hate for the artist. An example I can personally give is Jay-Z's Blueprint. Everyone was hailing it as a classic but I wasn't feeling it, partially because of the beef with Nas. It wasn't until I listened as a fan of rap and not as a fan of Nas that I can appreciate the album.
Awesome piece as always. Love the perspectives that others brought about classics and while we can't come to a consensus on what a classic is, we definitely can amplify talented people and show them some love.
I am happy to have you back
Dude this is such a great video!!! You’re the man
Thanks tanner!
I do think that JID hits all the mentioned criteria save for time, but I think time will serve as accreditation. I think Childish Gambino's Because The Internet is a classic and I think his Awaken My Love is an aaaaaalmost classic. Loved this breakdown!
Thanks dare. Because the Internet really shocked so many people. He's the ultimate artist in every sense to me.
Takes a lot for me to listen to a complete album, thanks for this
Isaiah Rashad's description of a classic album is beautiful, and I totally agree
Me too. Loved the way he phrased it.
I do feel like a classic album had to be a full body of work. You can listen to it without skipping a song. It tells a story.
I think JID accomplished that in this album. You can tell he put a lot of effort in creating this body of work and his rapping schemes and beat switches are unmatched.
Another great breakdown! Thank you
Def a classic. Raydar, Dance Now, Sistanem & Money are in heavy rotation.
About to listen to the album now, good looking out on the info
I'm with Fuzzy about classic albums, but that's just on instinct. Realistically, I'm like you, I don't have the answers, but I love the questions you ask about how our consumption of music changes how we decide what is a classic.
One thing I've thought about is how our consumption of music next to youtubers deconstructing it and sites like genius that allow us to collaboratively break it down changes music as well?
i was def one of those people that said go listen to JiD’s album after you listened to hovs verse, glad it didn’t overshadow his art on release,..you knew this was on the horizon just off the last few songs he pops up on the dreamvilles projects smh
This album is on similar levels to TPAB, Section 80, FHD, 4YEO, 1999 and B4.DA.$$
For me personally the only albums I have over the forever story is mbdtf and tpab cause the forever story was so beautiful and had such a huge impact on me
Because there are no more physicals & no more radio, we are disconnected in what we listen to. How can there be anymore "classic albums" when the masses have so many options? I thought Westside Boogie had a classic album with Everythings For Sale but did anybody listen to it? He recently dropped the same day as Drake. Unfortunately everybody talked about a bad Drake album instead of a good Boogie album. Great video brother! You've been smoking boots lately.
Exactly. We're so compartmentalized it's almost impossible for anything to completely cross over. And it's not just music. The two biggest stories I've seen in the past month are the FNMeka thing and the Queen Of England dying. Everything else seems so fractured these days that it's difficult to see what everyone agrees on. Thanks RMS.
ay i was so hyped to see u reach out to Zay!!
Justin I think you hit the answer spot on at the end of the video. I'm my humble opinion a classic album only has to be a classic to you. The idea that the timing of an album release is important to an album being a classic can also apply to life events as well. For example a classic to me that I always go back to is Ludacris's album Word Of Mouf because it was my first CD as a kid. Another album is Hip Hop is Dead by Nas that was released when I was going through some difficult times in my life. In my opinion these are 2 classic albums that are never mentioned among the top hip hop albums. What makes a classic to me is if YOU are drawn back to that piece of art no matter how old the album or how critically acclaimed it is by the masses. Nostalgia also has a huge influence on the value of a classic album. Thanks again for the awesome content ✌️
Thanks KTA. Nostalgia's a helluva drug and Word Of Mouf is one of those albums for me too. I think we're gonna see a tidal wave of albums from this era being considered classics in the next 10 years because older music streams better than newer music. Some 30 year old tv exec is gonna put all his favorite Yeat songs in a hit metaverse show and boom, Yeat is a classic artist. But to me classic is always a personal thing as well as a communal thing. WHich always brings me back to my days riding around with my friends, smoking black n milds, and bumping bone thugs n harmony.
@@TheCompanyMan Hahaha you're right about that. There will be a time in the future where someone is still saying Yeat is their GOAT and is going to be called an old head 🤯 But that is another reason why Hip Hop is a beautiful art. There are so many sub genres and sounds that cater to many different pallets essentially creating classic albums for everyone taste
@@kta9169 EXACTLY!
If you guys haven’t already, check out “2007.” It was supposed to be the true closer of The Forever Story but JID couldn’t get the sample cleared. It’s an amazing track.
To me, classic implies foundation and inspiration. You can really feel it when something captures your imagination and changes the direction you are moving. It's even more intense when a group all suddenly move in a new direction from the same foundation. When I say "that's a classic" it's just a gut feeling, and I think that feeling is a memory of large scale collective inspiration.
It's a classic to me 🥲
It's my favorite album from my favorite artist ❤️
Me too.
I’m gonna have to listen to this crushing down 285/20
Let me know what you think?
AND THE LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY AT THE END !!!!😤😤😤 I need to find this link to support
It’s a great album but Saba album called care for me is similar to this album but I don’t remember people talking about that album the year it came out like they talking about this JID album
I love this content soooo much got me waiting all week for another! Much love from New Zealand!!!
That's awesome to hear. Thanks MsDemob!
Man I'd love to hear you talk about Aethiopes Justin. Any breakdown on woods would be amazing.
I'll give it a listen, JG.
Jid is gonna be in the big 3 of the 2020’s
BIGFAX. Thanks for the support, Ethan. I appreciate you.
@@TheCompanyMan appreciate you man! Keep these classics comin !!
Great vid. Thanks for the content
I’m glad Isaiah Rashad said Whole Lotta Red is a classic. The man made a an album that majority hated at the end of 2020 and by the end of 2021 those same people started to like it. Mon went back to back!!!
Always dope, appreciate the video!
Appreciate it!
Love bruddanem. Vibe with that song on so many levels.
Me too, Davion.
Something is holding me back from calling this a classic. But that takes nothing away from JIDs amazing work on this album!!!! Theres a long drawn out conversation to have about "classic or not", but what I appreciate most and would like to continuously praise is JID's artistry.
I'm a hip hop artist myself and sometimes its hard to believe theres still a high level of focus on hip hop derived ART🤌🏽Especially in this area of singles, dances, shorts, and viral moments on endless repeat. JID's album in incredibly refreshing. Album of the year to me.
This is a loaded year to garner album of the year for anyone. JID really did his thing.
Thank you for another great video. This album is definitely on repeat for me. Not sure if it cracks a classic rating for me, but maybe that will change with time. A great album none-the-less.
When looking at what a classic is I only really consider two things: old + iconic. It's got to live in the memory of a substantial amount of people an amount of years forward that it is considered a classic. Most agree on the second factor (iconic), but I hear a lot of people argue for albums, such as TPAB or Kids See Ghosts, that they are classics because "there's no way people will forget about them in the future," but to me that doesn't matter. Just because something will inevitably be a classic and there's no way it wouldn't doesn't mean it already is. It's like calling something old because it will be old. I'm not sure on an exact amount of years an album has to exist for it to earn its title, but I'm thinking around about fifteen. Also I don't take in quality at all for deciding. To me Illmatic is a classic and so is Nastradamus because a lot of hip hop fans will know of both of them, but you couldn't even pay me to say they're just as good as each other. What's funny is that it only really seems to be with music where this is such a hotly debated thing. Think of a classic car, book, or even film, and it will be something old. Maybe it's just the large influx of new music that makes people not consider time as a factor, but it should definitely still matter.
Great video as always though. The Forever Story has been on constant repeat this month.
Thanks Aei Ou. Great analysis.
Nastradamous isn’t a classic
@@musiclifter5424 When people talk about albums so shockingly below par it always gets a mention. It plays a huge role in how some people (unfairly) discredit his career. I hear a lot of "Illmatic and It Was Written are Nas' only good albums," which is obviously wrong, but I can imagine far less people saying it if he didn't release that in the state it was in. A lot of bad albums are ultimately forgotten, even one's from popular artists, but that one still lives in the memory of a lot of people, which is why I give it that title.
I think you're confusing 'classic' and 'vintage'
@@bradenpittman1801 when I hear "vintage" personally I only think of old. Rarely do I hear the word "vintage" used to describe something that people know the history of and can really differentiate with other old things. Just used to describe something like a piece of furniture. Like no one in the history of ever has said "that couch is a classic," but "vintage?" Yeah, lots of times. So, while it's fine differences, I feel I can tell them apart.
Love the content, you're the best.
Glad you enjoy it!
I think a classic album should hold tangible resonance for whomever considers it so. K.O.D. by Tech N9ne, Splendor & Misery by clipping., The Impossible Kid by Aesop Rock and Camp by Childish Gambino hit that for me.
The Forever Story is excellent. It's easily top 5 of the year for me. I hope it's personal resonance continues to grow going forward.
Thanks SC!
I think this album is definitely a classic. I also think something that may be overlooked is Jids consistency as well. All his album have been quality and if you look at a lot of the legends like jay, nas, DMX, etc. Their first albums were the ones many consider “THE” classic. I might be alone but I think the never story was classic and the forever story took it up a notch. Even DiCaprio 2 is something you can listen straight through. I hope this made sense. Great video breakdown. Always loved your opinions.
IMO, The Forever Story is an instant classic. JID delivered in every way I wanted; lyricism, storytelling, production, even the artwork was dope. I think in this streaming era where music is so accessible and artists are dropping these inflated ass projects, it becomes a bit hard to filter things out and really find things that sound amazing to us. I know all these publications, JID fans, and rap listeners are loving this album, but there’s a whole lot of people that don’t even know who JID is. He’s definitely still on the rise, and I expect him to get much bigger, but if this album had dropped maybe like ten or twenty years ago, I think it would’ve gotten a lot more buzz and this “is it a classic?” debate wouldn’t even be a thing. Everyone would accept it.
Agreed on all fronts, Jaylan. Timing is a major component to all of this. People will grow with this album. It'll live somewhere between Below The Heavens and Section.80
A classic for me is an album I play for the first time, than on day 5, 5 months, 5 years, 10 years. I push play and I'm right back to day one, when I first play it. It gives you the same feeling, or remember how you felt or who you were at the time. PAID IN FULL ERIC B AND RAKIM, PUBLIC ENEMY it take a nation, Epmd strictly business, pink Floyd dark side of the moon, led Zeppelin fourth album and Kendrick Lamar good kid bad city. All take you back to where you were at those times. A classic connects to the masses so that even you didn't listen to a type of music weather it's Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Van Halen, or Tupac. Ether you drawn to listen to the music or recognize importance of albums like Michael Jackson Thriller or OutKast stankonia to it's time.
I would love for you to cover the Billy Woods album! It's my favorite of the year atm!
I have to agree with DJ Cousin Mike, spot on. Surprisingly slept on, but I still believe Laila's Wisdom is a classic album. I encourage everyone to give it another listen
Sup bestie!. So glad you're back. Are you gonna do a piece about hip hop's British invasion? Specifically the drill music coming out of London
I mean yes the industry has put in overtime to disperse community process and interpretation of music. But I still feel ya’ll out there.
The community that cuts an album on front to back more than once. That has a difficult time downloading the most catchy 3-4 songs, instead appreciating the complimentary flow of a body of work.
Thankful to JID for making a fucking BODY OF WORK. It’s been too long but this is hip hop man. He moved the culture forward in what has been a difficult time for me and likely many others. Thank you JID.
PS: when dude said “now we fightin in the street it was 10 against 23 I was 17 swinging on any and everything” this fucking emcee put a devilish inflection on his voice that added to the story’s nighttime ambience. Dude is a class act
Album is amazing
I think time is a big factor that you could've spoken about more in this piece. It's in the definition of the word classic. For me for example, ScHoolboy Q's 'Blank Face LP' was a really good hip-hop album at the time of release. But we will see more and more people (like myself) call it a classic 2010's hip-hop album as time goes on. An example where else this has happened would with 'Fan-Tas-Tic, Vol.2'.
Time definitely correlates to the definition of the word but not necessarily the meaning of classic in a hip hop context. That’s a relatively new thing the past 15 or 20 years. I really didn’t speak on my feelings on the word. I let the experts provide context and it is interesting none of them mentioned length of time.
Good call on the schoolboy q. Fits the description
@@TheCompanyMan I’d argue that they somewhat did. In fact, maybe the only thing linking all 4 different takes was the relevance to time. Rob mentioned it setting a “time marker” for people. Fuzzy’s point on how the listening experience and living with these albums has altered. It’s more immediate. Shorter experiences. Isaiah brings up the point on classics contributing to “what’s next” & one of your cousins main bullet points specifies that “timeless beats go a long way”.
I think the importance of time within the context of hip-hop is really relevant when crowning an album as a classic. Even your thumbnail seems to suggest so by calling this album an “instant classic”.
Sliding in the Fantano and Drake dm beef 💀
It's all happening 😂😂😂
For sure masterpiece, need the vinyl
Salute to The Company Mans activity in the comment section
Hip Hop's community!
This album is crazy good, let's not lie.
I didn't have to punch myself in the face one time off this video 🙌🏾
Yes Yeezus is a classic and it was from the jump so is Forever
To me, the definition of what makes a classic album is something that is unique and changes the landscape of how music is made and consumed. That’s something that isn’t usually noticeable until the next generation of artists that were inspired by classic albums start to come out.
I’ll also say that I do believe it’s harder to make a classic hip hop album now, but I think the digital distribution of music is not the biggest reason. To put it simply, hip hop is getting old. It’s about to turn 50, and most of the groundbreaking works have happened in its first 15 - 25 years of existence. It’s harder to find a new perspective that really breaks through when so much has already been done. I don’t necessarily see it as a problem, though. Most genres - shoot, most humans - grow and mature the same way; fast early on, and slowing down in the later years. It just makes me skeptical of the word “classic” being put on any album released in the last decade or so.
JID’s album is a masterpiece though.
For me, I think a classic is an album that makes you want to listen to it as a whole, and although it might have some Hits, you want to feel that experience of listening to all of the songs instead of only choosing one song and skipping the others. The Forever story really makes you want to listen to all of it, instead of playing only its hits like Dance now and surround sound, .....
Other recent classics for me, might be Cheat Codes by Danger Mouse and Black Thought, SIMBI by Little Simz, Manger on McNichols by Boldy James and Sterling Toles, and even Burden of Proof by Benny the Butcher,.......
maybe late to the conversation but id say a classic album is a combination of ones technical proficiency, palatable production, with art and musical compositions that become synonymous with the artist. for example doggystyle by snoop, in search of… by n.e.r.d, awaken my love from gambino, griselda’s what would machine do.
Great breakdown. Love the use of JID’s album to define what a classic is. Like the new backdrop. Which brings me to my question; what’s with the shadow box? You a veteran?
Thanks J. I’m from a family of veterans. That one’s my granddads from ww2. My uncle died in Vietnam.
10:33 Need to find your review of Yeezus at the time :)
hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2095/title.kanye-west-yeezus#signup
Right before clicking on this I thought of my definition of what classic is.. To me it's an album that NEEDED to come out, the definition of needed can vary by context. Like IIllmatic needed to come out to push the genre, like many other albums that are considered classics in hip-hip, those are the albums with amazing production, the best bars, the most conversation provoking albums. I feel the other classics are the artists that are taking their next step forward, the albums of person growth and accountability, even if there's albums that are technically better, I think albums like thug motivation 101 here. Most classics lie somewhere in those 2 categories. The Forever Story is all of it.
Love the analysis!
It's like that classic line about pornography, when the Supreme Court had to be careful to uphold the laws on obscenity, but simultaneously not make loads of art illegal as a by product-
"I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description, and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it".
It's impossible to say 'if you do X, Y and Z, you will make a classic album', but when you have one in front of you, you know it.
Well said.
@@TheCompanyMan thanks man! If you do read this, I just wanted to say I appreciate you a lot, I think you do great work and like a lot of people in your comments recently I'm really happy you are back to doing these breakdowns. All the best to you!
You absolutely should talk about Aethiopes by Billy Woods. It is personally my AOTY with cheat codes behind it.
Drake just gave Fantano so much clout. Drake showed his hand. The 6 god is flawed. “Insult me, you won’t hear back.” Ya, sounds good bruh.
BIGFAX.
I’m not even gonna front, I tried getting into Earthgang, but I wasn’t for me so I was nervous about this album. I thought it was decent and I really liked Kody Blu 31. I can definitely see this album being a classic, especially for this generation of rap.
Thinking about it some more, I think this album also shows that while most folks were ambivalent about what Kendrick was doing sonically on TPAB, it’s obvious that at least some folks heard that album and thought of it as a template.
What don't you like about EarthGang?
@@TheCompanyMan Nothing big, I just may not been in the headspace or maybe I was raised on too much OutKast😂. It was early EarthGang to be fair, but maybe it’s just my disconnect as a millennial rap fan to Gen Z rap. Hip-Hop will be 50 years old next year and I think as I get older my relationship to music made by people who are a lot younger than me is changing. People who make music in my age group or older is one thing, but when it is someone who is a lot younger than you talking about stuff…I’m just like yeah, I’ve heard that before (and I don’t mean that in a condescending way) I wonder if this is how my father’s generation felt when the Hip-Hop of my generation came out. I don’t think EarthGang is bad, but just it’s clear I’m not the intended audience-and that’s okay. This album was JiD talking about his like to his peers and I respect that.
I actually added something to the original comment on the connection between this album and the influence of TPAB.
@@KMO325 I wonder why Kendrick didn't get criticized more for how Outkastic his music sounds.
@@TheCompanyMan That’s easy, geographic bias. We know he was influenced by him, but because he is from LA and not ATL we lazily just throw out the PAC comparisons and ignore everything else so that we don’t have to deal with the ramifications of a person’s environment not being as important as the 90s was telling us. This goes back to your Coast Contra video. Why I listened to this JID album, the Kendrick influence was immediate, but most folks will only compare him to other Atlanta rappers or maybe J Cole at best because the Dreamville connection. But yeah, the question is now: “Does your hood matter as much in Hip-Hop as once did?”
@@KMO325 everyone’s from the internet
Incredible album... tho I'm glad billy woods _Aethiopes_ is ranked even higher on Rate Your Music. That guy is incredibly special, as well!
Gonna need a Top 20 or 25 this year. 10 ain't gonna be enough for all the fire droppin' 😁 _Cheat Codes_ will definitely be high up there, too.
I keep telling my fellow old heads, HipHop is in a _beautiful_ place right now (and in recent yrs) - they don't wanna hear me tho!
Edit" "Crack Sandwich" is my absolute favorite, too 🔥🔥🔥🔥
"Dance Now" is incredible!
Some albums I feel are classics and don't get spoken about enough:
Nas - Untitled
The Roos - How I Got Over
Dead Prez - Let's Get Free
M.O.P. - Warriorz
Missy Elliott - Da Real World
Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told
Ludacris - Word of Mouf
Jean Grae - Jeanius
Wiley - Godfather
To name a few .....
Great selections.
@@TheCompanyMan Thanks! I deliberately tried to think of albums that are very different in terms of sound (sonically), style, approach, content etc. Even regionally and year that they were released. To show that there can be classics from any of the sub-genres of Hip Hop & Urban music, as well as time period. Love your work btw!
This is a new golden era