Can you really have a "forgotten" classic?

Question

Personally, I find that one of the necessary characteristics in calling an album classic is it's longevity - does it stand the test of time?

There's albums like Illmatic and Paid in Full that are talked about daily, but occasionally, someone random shall post a thread or drop the name of an album, and call it a classic.

Now, for those albums, can it truly be a classic, if no one ever talks about it anymore? There has to be a reason why even the realist Heads no longer discuss the album, right? Could it possibly be simply because the album, from an objective standpoint, was not that great?

I'm thinking albums like:

Ultramagnetic Mc's - Critical Beatdown
Jungle Brothers - Straight Out the Jungle, Done by the Forces of Nature
Outkast - Southernplaylisticadillacmuzik

Disclaimmer: I'm not saying these albums are/are not classic...just wondering why, if they are classic, they're not talked about more. Cuz to me, it seems as though "forgotten classic" is kind of oxymoronic.

Answer 1

Yeah...i wouldn't say forgotten...but albums that aren't regulary talked about.. like



Scarface-The Diary, The Fix

Ice Cube-Death Certificate



i can't think of anything else right now off the top...but i haven't listened to those in a bit...and they aren't regularly talked about (as far as i know) but if i listen to it now...i can prolly listen to every track



so i say yes to the q

Answer 2

I kind of agree with Ant...there's a difference between being forgotten and not being talked about. To some extent, there's a bias there. Southernplayalistic..., for example, may not be talked about all that much on here but you have to take into account that a significant amount of the people on here are more fans of the east coast sound. Get a bunch of fans from the south (and I don't mean Wayniacs or their ilk but fans who appreciate the art) and I GUARANTEE that it gets mentioned.



The Jungle Brothers example presents a different case entirely. As great as they were (and they were great), they are only the third most significant group from their crew, behind De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, and some people may say that Queen Latifah deserves mention ahead of them. So regardless of how great they are, they are going to be pushed into the background due to circumstance (Masta Ace is probably another good example of this phenomenon).



Again though, this all depends on what the definition of "classic" is. I personally think that Blazing Arrow by Blackalicious is a classic. But I think Bonnie is probably the only other person on here who's ever mentioned it. Does that mean that it isn't really a classic? Does it mean that classic is a subjective term to only those who have heard the album? I don't know...

Answer 3

TLC how can you listen to the same album everyday? and yes you can have forgotten classics e.g. IMO the following are classics/ or honourble mentions, but not classed as either by many people:



40 Dayz & 40 Nightz - Xzibit

2001 - Dr. Dre

We Can't Be Stopped - Geto Boys

UTFO - UTFO

Tha Doggfather - Snoop Doggy Dogg

Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin' Compton - Eazy-E

The Southern Way - U.G.K.

Soul Food - Goodie Mob

The Slim Shady LP - Eminem

Sex Packets - Digital Underground

Schoolly D - Schoolly D

Reachin' - Digital Planets

Quik is the Name - DJ Quik

The Firm - The Firm



just to name a few

Answer 4

But you are forgetting that a classic (especially on this forum) is expressed by ones own opinion so no disrespect to most of the RHH people on here, but the same MC's and groups are mentioned (Nas, Biggie, etc.) which is fine but classics's are derived from the true essence of hip hop in which the groups you mentioned captures. Lack of knowledge and history of the art is one of the main reason's rap took a downfall these last couple of years and as you see, history is starting to repeat itself by bringing lyrical and sensible artist into the limelight again. To add 5 other classics's:



EPMD- strictly business

LL Cool J- bad

Queen Latifah- all hail the queen

Main Source- breaking atoms

Pete Rock/ CL- mecca and the soul brother



I can relate to your answer Omagus,

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I think so. I don't think longevity necessarily ties in with being memorable. To me longevity means you can still listen to the album today and it's still a great album whether people forgot about it or not.

Answer 7

Um, i don't think so. If it's a classic in my eyes, i'm gonna be listening to it everyday.



EDIT: It's easy Penguin. I listen to TLC albums everyday, and their albums are classics.

Answer 8

Yeah, usually from slept on Mc's. ex. The War Report

Answer 9

I see where you're coming from, i think it could go either way. I mean, most classics you do remember for a lifetime, but some just drift away...

Answer 10

No if u forget about it, it wouldnt be considered a classic