First off, let me just say that I was more than pissed off at a fair amount of the selections on Complex’s recent list of “The Worst Rap Album Fails” which was compiled and written by Chris Yuscavage.

In particular, the inclusions of albums such as Eric B. & Rakim’s “Don’t Sweat The Technique”, Brand Nubian’s “Everything Is Everything”, Das EFX’s “Straight Up Sewaside”, Boogie Down Productions’ “Sex And Violence”, Erick Sermon’s “No Pressure” among several other questionable inclusions to this Hip Hop album fails list really made me question the author’s Hip Hop knowledge and/or taste.

Multiple glaring omissions and erroneous reporting aside (Main Source’s “F*ck What You Think” album actually wasn’t released until 1999 when Wild Pitch re-issued much of their back catalog), this list was amateur at best.

I decided to post up 25 album fails that Chris Yuscavage completely missed for whatever reason with explanations as to why they’re mentioned on this list. Maybe Complex would be better served writing lists about Drake’s top 25 sweaters worn out in public or something to that effect? Whatever man! © Redman

Kid N’ Play “Face The Nation” (1991)

Kid N’ Play followed up their classic debut “2 Hype” and their breakout album “Funhouse” (which was accompanied by their debut film “House Party”) with an uninspired album called “Face The Nation”. It failed to produce a hit single and the album killed the momentum the group had built with their film careers and a Saturday morning cartoon on the air.

After “House Party 3” flopped at the box office and they were dropped from their label before the Beatnuts produced “Void” LP could be dropped it was a wrap for Kid N’ Play. Play’s clothing line IV Plai & his Playtime barbershops were sold to pay off debts following his divorce and child support case. Kid got an imprint label with RCA (Kid Entertainment) and worked with his artist Bas Blasta & his boy Grand Puba instead.

Queen Latifah “Nature Of A Sista” (1991)

Following Queen Latifah’s breakout classic debut “All Hail The Queen” in 1989, La reverted to a more radio friendly sound on this album to disastrous effect. Partly influenced by the success of Salt N’ Pepa’s “Black’s Magic”, it led Latifah to make songs like “Give Me Your Love”, “Love Again”, “Fly Girl”, “Sexy Fancy” and the universally panned Club MTV pandering single “How Do I Love Thee”. I remember people destroying this tape in public back then. She wasn’t alone, though…

MC Lyte “Act Like You Know” (1991)

Two weeks later, MC Lyte dropped her 3rd LP “Act Like You Know”. Following her classic debut “Lyte As A Rock” and her classic re-up “Eyes On This” both males and females alike were anticipating this album. Then the first single dropped, “When In Love”. Needless to say, heads groaned at the pop Rap single with Lyte dancing in the video with the singing on the hook. Then the album dropped, saints preserve us!

The R&B leaning sings on the album pissed off many core fans who saw that Salt N’ Pepa’s crossover success was influencing their favorite female emcees. The singles “Poor Georgie” and “Eyes Are The Soul” did little to help.

Both Latifah & Lyte would be attacked by (Roxanne) Shante the following year for “selling out” on her album “The Bitch Is Back”. Public backlash against Lyte & Latifah forced them into making the “comeback” albums “Ain’t No Other” and “Black Reign”, respectively.

Kwame & A New Beginning “Nastee” (1992)

Kwame was one of the most successful members of Hurby Luv Bug’s Invincibles production team, he had several hit songs under his belt and two well received albums in “Kwame the Boy Genius: Featuring A New Beginning” and “A Day In The Life: A Pokadelick Adventure” all before he even turned 18. His album “Nastee”, however? It was a cornball clusterfuck of wackness.

The lead single “Nastee” failed to catch on as it was now the the beginning of a new Golden Era and what would later be referred to as “The Year Of The Underground” by The Source. It was a world of hoodies, Timberlands, backpacks, 40’s & blunts and Kwame didn’t fit in.

Later, Biggie Smalls would reference him in his single “Unbelievable” and Kwame’s next album “Incognito” would drop on indie label Wrap/Ichiban. I don’t think y’all heard it, though…

Chubb Rock “I Gotta Get Mine, Yo!” (1992)

Why is this album on the list? I’ll explain why. Just the year before, Chubb Rock hit big with his classic LP “The One” sparked by the success of his singles “Treat ‘Em Right”, “Just The Two Of Us” & “The Chubbster”. While he still had a buzz, Chubb Rock launched into his next album.

Determined to not run up the recording and studio costs he incurred on his previous release, Chubb Rock recorded his next album in under two weeks. That is evident when you hear the terse, rushed nature of many of the tracks that lacked the obvious polish of his previous album “The One”.

Whereas that album had little filler minus the outro, “I Gotta Get Mine Yo!” sounded like some friends got together in a studio messing around and just happened put out an album (see The A.T.E.E.M’s “A Hero Ain’t Nuttin’ But A Sandwich”)

The lead single “Lost In The Storm” failed to catch on with audiences and the remix needed a Pete Rock remix. Five long years would pass before Chubb Rock would record another album…

Monie Love “In A Word Or 2” (1993)

You’d figure with Marley Marl & Prince as your main producers your album wouldn’t suck donkey balls, right? Right? WRONG. Monie Love appeared on Queen Latifah’s “Ladies First”, De La Soul’s “Buddy Remix” and had hits with “Monie In The Middle” and “It’s A Shame (My Sister)” (although “Grandpa’s Party” got hella burn at the Northeastern parties we snuck into) but her second album was godawful.

Her lead single “Born 2 B.R.E.E.D” was produced by Prince and had one of the most longwinded hooks in Rap history. The Marley Marl Hip Hop remix helped little with the song’s reception. Her previous efforts were the soundtrack songs “Work It Out” & “Full Term Love” so this song was strike three for heads. Monie Love would never record another LP, opting to become a radio personality instead. The Native Tongues were officially on life support, B…

Jungle Brothers “J. Beez Wit The Remedy” (1993)

The story goes following their classic albums “Straight Out The Jungle” and “Done By The Forces Of Nature”, the Jungle Brothers wanted to go into a new direction with their sound. The album was to be called “Crazy Wisdom Masters” but the suits at the label kept rejecting different versions of the album that they submitted.

The JB’s also brought in another emcee named Torture (now known as Sensational) to appear on tracks and they eventually turned in an album that was accepted to Warner Bros. called “J.Beez Wit The Remedy”. Just one problem, the album was so much of a departure from their previous work and the high level of material their Native Tongue brethren A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul were making that heads bristed at it.

The lead single “40 Below Trooper” had fans wondering what the fuck happened? Who is this Torture dude? What’s up with “Blahbludify”, “Spittin’ Wicked Randomness” & “Man Made Material”? Y’all fell the fuck off! They wouldn’t return until 1997 with their “Raw Deluxe” album before they began making Electronica inspired party rap on their 1999 LP “V.I.P.”. That Native shit was dead so the Stickabush was coming!

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince “Code Red” (1993)

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince’s last album “Homebase” was a huge commercial success due to their smash lead single ‘Summertime” which became a massive hit after premiering after an episode of Will Smith’s hit NBC show “The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air” where Jazzy Jeff was a frequent guest star.

The Hip Hop landscape had changed drastically since the last time they’d released an album. Heads were rocking vests, hoodies, skullies, Triple Fat Gooses and 40’s & blunts were the uniform of the day. Will and Jeff complied and even enlisted production from Teddy Riley, Pete Rock and Dallas Austin. The album sounded like they were trying to keep up with the Rap Joneses rather than be themselves.

The lead single “Boom! Shake The Room” was emblematic of that fact. It sounded like Will was trying way too hard. The album barely went Gold and failed to produce a hit. It would be DJ Jazzy Jeff & Will Smith’s final album as a duo. Will Smith concentrated on his film career instead and he wouldn’t release another Rap album until he recorded his 1997 comeback album “Big Willie Style”.

Nice & Smooth “Jewel Of The Nile” (1994)

Supposedly, Nice & Smooth had turned in this album a few times before the brass at Def jam finally accepted it. Their debut Def Jam release was a classic back in 1991, resulting in several hit singles such as “Hip Hop Junkies”, ‘How To Flow”, “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow” & “Cake & Eat It Too”.

This album was turning into a virtual headache for Def Jam who wanted to replicate “Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed” and it’s success. No dice.

The 10 track album featured the lead single “Old To The New” that while it was relatively well received it was far from a hit. The original lead single was supposed to be the Bobby Brown featured “The Return Of The Hip Hop Freaks” but Def Jam & MCA couldn’t clear his usage (you can still hear his voice on the background vocals). The album would fail to make an impression with fans and it would be their final Def Jam/RAL release.

Da Lench Mob “Planet Of Da Apes” (1994)

Ice Cube & The Boogiemen made what a lot of people consider to be a classic album with their 1992 LP “Guerillas In The Mist”. Street Knowledge was at it’s zenith, Ice Cube was still in his “Kill At Will”/”Death Certificate”/”The Predator” mode and Dr. Woody, Chilly Chill & DJ Pooh were not to be fucked with behind the boards back then. “Planet Of Da Apes” was the complete opposite of that.

This album was so forgettable that few remember it even dropped. By the time it dropped Ice Cube had fallen off and he was in his “Lethal Injection” mode so heads had stopped caring by then more than likely. Let’s talk about something else © Scott Pilgrim

Twinz “Conversation” (1995)

In 1994, Warren G’s “Regulate…The G Funk Era” LP went triple Platinum and singlehandedly saved Def Jam. Since Warren G kept the lights on, Def Jam figured that the G Funk Era had just begun. In 1995, Wayniac & Triploc (Twinz) album “Conversation” dropped with the forgettable lead single “Round & Round”.

The second single “Eastside LB” caught a cinderblock. After The Dove Shack’s “This Is The Shack” flopped it would officially signal the end of the G Funk Era (1994-95). Daaaaamn homie! © 50 Cent

Big Noyd “Episodes Of A Hustla” (1996)

Where do I even begin with this shit? Tommy Boy rushed this “album” out to capitalize on Big Noyd’s buzz with Mobb Deep. It was obviously thrown together in zero time and sounded like a collection of demos. If you don’t count the remixes and alternate versions (“Recognize & Realize”) it’s no more than a glorified EP. It was an obvious moneygrab. Even Big Noyd hated it.

Mic Geronimo “Vendetta” (1997)

Mic Geronimo’s debut LP on TVT Records was the classic 1995 LP “The Natural” featuring backpack classics like “Hemmin’ Headz”, “Shit’s Real”, “Masta IC” and “Wherever You Are”.

He put on a cat named DJ Irv (Irv Gotti) and he had Ja Rule, Jay-Z & DMX featured on his debut album before they all ended up at Def Jam. Yes, that’s a young Foxy Brown sitting on his lap in that last video. Cats thought he’d be able to give Nas a run for his money back then.

Mic Geronimo sees Jay-Z & Nas get their weight up and decides it’s his turn to throw his hat into the Jiggy Rap ring. What resulted was shit like “Nothing Move But The Money”. When heads heard the song they groaned. When they saw the video on BET and MTV? They screamed bloody murder.

TVT released the tape version of “Vendetta” in packaging that resembled a pack of cigarettes. Niggas were done with Mic Geronimo because they thought he’d sold the backpackers & underground heads out. DJ Irv (Gotti) went on to found Murder Inc. Records around Ja Rule & Ashanti years later.

AZ “Pieces Of A Man” (1998)

AZ’s “Pieces Of A Man” album was delayed by the folding of his old record label (EMI) and a horrible ass lead single “Hey AZ” featuring SWV. When his label situation was resolved and he ended up on Noo Trybe/Virgin that song had disappeared and his new lead single was “What’s The Deal”. The single failed to create a buzz and the album dropped close to a year after it was originally expected.

The album failed and AZ hit the streets, dropping singles with The Union and recording the independent project “S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ)” which landed him a new record deal and Motown due to the buzz it created and it’s sales. It ain’t about whether or not you fail, it’s about what you do afterwards…

Pras “Ghetto Supastar” (1998)

How did Chris Yuscavage miss this one? Because it’s Pras? Let’s go back to 1998 for a hot minute. Pras was not only 1/3rd of the biggest Rap group on Earth but he was featured on several Grammy winning Platinum albums and singles as a member of the Refugee All Stars between 1996 and 1998.

Do you have any idea of how many RIAA plaques Pras had earned even BEFORE “Ghetto Supastar” blew up? That was one of the biggest songs of 1998. It made Mya hot. Wrap your mind around that concept for a moment.

Where Pras fucked up was he didn’t listen to Wyclef & he decided to try to Diddy formula of remaking a classic song into a Rap version. It failed with “Avenues” the previous year but Pras went to the same  well again by sampling & interpolating The Bee Gees (again) on “Blue Angels”. FAIL.

The album itself was crap and a rift began building between Pras & Wyclef following it’s failure. Soon Canibus would bounce from the camp and the Refugee All Stars/Navy Seals run looked like it was coming to an end after all…

Das EFX “Generation EFX” (1998)

The Complex list picked Das EFX’s “Straight Up Sewaside” as an album fail which was a HORRIBLE choice. Why? Because Das EFX’s first three albums “Dead Serious”, Straight Up Sewaside” and arguably their best overall album “Hold It Down” were emblematic of one of the best runs a Hip Hop group has ever had during a Golden Era (when competition is at it’s highest level).

Cats bit Das EFX so hard they had to abandon the rap style they’d pioneered (some say UK’s Demon Boyz did). They were the biggest draw of the Hit Squad (EPMD, Das EFX, Redman & K-Solo) and they sold the most records during that stretch. Not only that, but even their videos were copied.

By the time Das EFX dropped “Generation EFX”, we were deeply entrenched in the Jiggy Era where shiny suits and NOT Army jackets, BDU’s & Timbalands were the uniform. The album was extremely uneven and full of obvious reaches and filler. In comparison to their previous catalog it was evident the times had passed them by and maybe they should just higgity hang it up…

Nas “I Am…” (1999)

This album fucking sucked. You know it. I know it. Chris Yuscavage should’ve known it as well. If so, then why was it NOT on his list? Why? You know why!

Harlem World “The Movement” (1999)

Mason Betha reached out to Jermaine Dupri (red flag #1) and secured an imprint label called All Out Entertainment (red flag #2) where he assembled a halfass crew of rappers including his brother and sister (Blinky Blink & Baby Sta$e) and called them Harlem World (red flag #3). Production from a young Just Blaze and Kanye West in addition to The Neptunes, Trackmasters & Dame Grease couldn’t save this epic clusterfuck of an album.

The lead single “I Like It” was laughable (sampling “Candy Girl”, B?) and the second single “Cali Chronic” was forgettable. Soon the deal was a wrap and Ma$e would retire from Rap right before his piece of ass re-up “Double Up” dropped on Bad Boy with another shitty lead single for the ages. Fuck a Mason Betha.

Jay-Z “The Dynasty: Roc La Familia” (2000)

This album did well commercially and had several hits. It even contained Freeway’s first guest appearance on “1-900-Hustler”. Just Blaze, Kanye West, B!nk and The Neptunes all contributed production to this album so why the hell is it on this list? Simple. Of the 16 total tracks between 6 or 8 were throwaway tracks or completely skippable.

This album was part of the reason why file sharing sites became popular and CD burners in computers became uniform. When this album dropped, blank CD-R’s were selling better than CD’s were in box stores. I don’t remember ONE person that burned this album ever having more than 10 tracks on their version of “The Dynasty: Roc La Familia”. 10 out of 16 is 62.5%. That’s a damb  D-…

Lil’ Kim “The Notorious K.I.M.” (2000)

Wait. “The Notorious K.I.M” sold triple Platinum worldwide and had several big hits in addition to a big opening sales week. Why is it on this list? I’ll explain why, dammit!

“The Notorious K.I.M.” was pushed back from it’s initial release date due to it leaking on the internet. 12 tracks from the album made their way to file sharing sites so Kim and Diddy went back to Daddy’s House and essentially recorded another album in 3 weeks. They then combined the new 11 tracks they’d recorded with their previous material and created a new monster that totaled 18 tracks.

The lead single “No Matter What They Say” didn’t really pop off but that didn’t stop heads from copping it like crazy. The problem occurred when Hip Hop journalists and discriminating Rap fans thought the album was extremely uneven and lacked a clear direction (a bigger problem because it was supposed to be a dedication to Biggie). The album’s mixed reviews and lack of critical praise led to a growing rift between Kim and Diddy.

Eventually she would sever ties with him completely partly due to the fallout from “The Notorious K.I.M.“‘s release. Sales don’t tell the whole story, people. Trust me on this, I’m an original backpacker.

Cappadonna “The Yin & The Yang” (2001)

Cappadonna’s debut “The Pillage” was dope. This WASN’T. I don’t know who Neonek is but he is part of the reason this album is terrible. The other reason being that Cappadonna’s bars were worse than Katy Perry’s outfits at the VMA’s. This album was a horseshit smoothie. I don’t even want to write anymore about it…

Eve “Eve-Olution” (2002)

The lead single “Gangsta Lovin’” featuring Alicia Keys was a percursor to the crapfest that is “Eve-Olution”. The second single “Satisfaction” made no noise although it didn’t suck. Eve became a sitcom star and her film career took off so recording wasn’t much of a priority anymore.

She eventually signed with Aftermath/Interscope and she began working on a new album. In 2007, she released the singles “Tambourine” and “Give It To You” off her album “Here I Am”. The album was released in Asia and Oceania (Australia & New Zealand) in late 2009. It’s no longer available and a North American version has never been released. “Eve-Olution” is STILL Eve’s last album. It’s almost 2012, B…

Method Man “Tical 0: The Prequel” (2004)

Method Man teamed up with Diddy to make one of the most schizophrenic, uneven Rap releases from an emcee that supposedly knows how to make a concise album in recent memory. “Tical 0: The Prequel” is a clusterfuck that is so epic that other clusterfucks build bonfires, gather around and tell tales about how it was one of the most legendary clusterfucks evar.

I got a promo copy of this album and I was about to destroy it after I heard it before my brother stopped me. I’m getting angry again just writing about it.

Fabolous “Real Talk” (2004)

Remember “Breathe”? The Just Blaze produced banger is arguably still Fabolous’ greatest vocal perfomance (next to that Nate Dogg “I Got Love” remix). Fab said in interviews that this album was going to be serious bars and people that were disappointed by his previous albums would be checking for “Real Talk”.

A few heads fell for that and copped the album just to hear more of the same ol’ radio pandering bullshit that made them avoid spending their cash on him in the first place. Fabolous has a career spanning more than a decade devoid of a classic album. That’s a fail in itself. Ask Ludacris, the other nigga without a classic that can’t spell…

Nas “Street’s Disciple” (2004)

Nas was brought back to life by Jay-Z’s “Takeover” and he dropped back to back gems in “Stillmatic” and “God’s Son”. His lead single was “Thief’s Theme” which had us thinking “Oh shit, son! Nas is about to drop a double album full of heat!”. Yeah…about that.

“Street’s Disciple” was a bloated failure as a 26 song double album. It could’ve easily been released as a 16 or 18 song CD instead. The other big failure was Nas’ inability to pick another single (“Virgo”?) after “Bridging The Gap” and “Just A Moment”. I’ll never forget when Nas & his pops brought “Bridging The Gap” for the kiddies on “106 & Park” and their blank expressions once the video finished playing just said it all to me. Anyone seen Quan lately?

I could’ve gone to 50 easy but why rub it in any worse? I could’ve added GZA’s “Legend Of A Liquid Sword”, Rakim’s “The Master”, Cam’ron’s “Purple Haze”, Slim Thug’s “Already Platinum” (Word, son?) and a laundry list of other albums I failed to mention in this post. I decided to stop here because I’m not getting paid for this and I got other shit to do than do some Complex writer’s job for him for free.

One.