BACKSPIN

Backspin: The Final Rotation and Honorable Mentions

Entering the closing leg of a hip-hop journey

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There’s nothing like the sound of hip-hop in the morning — the true school variety anyway. Something about the rugged beats and unrepentant swagger energizes and empowers at the start of even the most daunting day.

That’s how the Backspin series began. In 2018 and 2019, I had a daily 45- to 55-minute commute. I found myself reaching back to classic hip-hop albums of the ’80s and ’90s to drown out the overcrowded cars, unexpected detours, and the general chaos of mass transit in rush hour. As months passed, I started to see an evolutionary arc connecting albums that represent the tapestry of what now stands as the foundation of a multi-billion dollar cultural force.

In 2019, I decided to share my observations in what was initially imagined as a 10-album series. The first album I wrote about was Run-DMC’s self-titled debut, which I consider the first “proper” hip-hop album. However, the series truly took shape by exploring the cinematic power of The Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die, which I ultimately selected as the first piece to publish.

Ironically, the first official stamp of approval came when Public Enemy’s Chuck D liked the Run-DMC piece on Twitter after it…