I like my girls cynical and psychopathic...wait, that's not it.

This week was pretty strange in terms of video game releases. On one hand of the spectrum you had the dumb, first-degree humor of Duke Nukem Forever, while you had the induced psychosis of Alice: Madness Returns on the other. Put differently, we are witnessing one of the rarest events in gaming in this clash between testosterone and estrogen. It’s simply a matter of chance that both titles got released at the same time. But, that’s beside the point. I personally sided with the more gloomy one this week. And after having played a little of the game, I felt like celebrating. I’ve been considering doing this for quite some time now, but I never felt like it was the right time. Alice gave me that opportunity. See, I like women a lot. In fact, I adore them, especially in video games. They are inspiring, original, and so much more interesting than your typical male grunts. I’ll take any chances I get to play as a female character.

My main goal is to share with you some of my favorites video games gals. Young or old, human or from a different species, it doesn’t matter. I just feel like talking about the girls who stuck out for me, the ones I had incredible fun playing as, and the ones in which I shared some of my most memorable gaming moments.



She brings an all new meaning to:"Running with Scissors".

I’m not the sort of guy who appreciates the loli branch of the Japanese culture. But, in the case of Casper, I can dig it. Despite being 11 years old, Casper's a pretty badass little witch. I’ve constantly picked her in DeathSmiles, she had the most useful and compact beam of all the other girls in the game. That gave me the “edge” I needed to beat the game more easily. But, what really fascinated me about this little girl was one of her endings.

Now, I know that shoot’em ups are not usually acclaimed for their storyline, but bear with me, now. The end sequences in DeathSmiles are pretty straight forward; by the end of the game, you had to choose whenever the girls would stay in their current dimension or go back to the real world. Most of the endings were pretty straight forward and corny, except for one. That one was Casper’s “bad” ending. Upon re-entering the real world, you find out she had been kidnapped by the mafia and more or less, used as a child slave.

If my memory serves me well, she was the only girl to keep her special powers after making the dimensional jump. This means she was surrounded by mobsters, with a giant pair of scissors. I’ll let you imagine what could possibly happen next. Needless to say, not only was I shocked by the outcome of that ending, but I was also completely terrified by this little girl. She’s still a badass in my eyes, but damn was that ending disturbing.



Pink berets were highly fashionable in the 90s.

I grew up with this chick. You could almost say she played a huge part in my childhood. There’s something about this girl. Maybe it’s her blonde ponytail, or her awesome guitar riffs, or maybe even the fact that she always has a pack of bubble gum at paw’s reach. Dixie Kong is my favorite character in any platformers ever.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Diddy is a pretty cool dude. But, I sure pressed that select button to switch back to her whenever I had the chance. I played Donkey Kong Country 2 to death when I was young, and I still do to this day. And despite the fact that her partner in crime is considered the protagonist of the game, she has always been the star of my speedruns. You can imagine my excitement when the third game was announced.

Even in Double Trouble, she was the best character. Just the fact the she could throw barrels with her ponytail higher and further made her superior. I’ve always loved her nonchalant attitude, too. Chewing bubble gum and drinking a banana cocktail whenever I left the controller still. That moment when I had realized she ate the honey from the sticky walls in the bee hive levels. Damn, I love this chick.



....That's racist, right?

Valkyria Chronicles has a great cast of female characters. And it was very hard for me to pick one that truly reflected how I like to see women portrayed in gaming. I chose Rosie because she’s an excellent Stormtrooper, (powerful at that). She’s stubborn, gritty and an all-around badass. The girl can sing, too! Her role in the game is somewhat secondary, but she gets her time in the sun.

She was my go-to assault unit for pretty much every encounter in the game. Give this gal a bunch of grenades, a fully upgraded submachine gun, and she’ll clean up an entire infantry division in no time. She’s a militia soldier before a woman, but she won’t hold back her emotions. Stark speaks her mind, and is completely fearless on the battlefield. She’s a strong woman for the job, and a wonderful asset for Squad 7. If you haven’t played Valkyria Chronicles yet, Brigitte "Rosie" Stark is just one other reason to love the game.



Oh, Jack. My Femshep could've been so happy with you...but, noooooooOoo. Intergalactic lesbian love in space was not your cup of tea.

I remember last year there was a lot of debate on which female character was the best in Mass Effect 2. We had countless discussions about on how badass Femshep was, and on how Miranda was a stupid ass bitch! ;)…. No, seriously though. There are lot of great female characters in ME2, but my favorite has to be Jack.

That girl stayed in my squad from the moment she was available. She provided me with Warp Ammo, which is probably the greatest thing in the history of things in Mass Effect, and she kicked so much ass during combat. Jack, myself and Legion formed like Voltron to defend the Universe. Despite all that badassery, she also had a great backstory.

If you were like me, you’d chosen the paragon side to exploit the best out of her. Call it a very clichéd tsundere archetype, but I thought it was cool to find out that despite her aggressiveness and looks, she was a sweet and fragile woman. That’s endearing to me, whether you decided to hate her or not, (I’m looking at you Xzyliac :P) She gave me the best moments a science fiction nerd could ever hope. She had to be won by understanding and care, and that makes her awesome. Jack is to Mass Effect 2 what Tasha Yar was to Star Trek: TNG.



Insert annoying bird noises here. You know you love it.

Serious question: What would Banjo do without Kazooie? Answer: absolutely nothing. She’s the backbone of their enterprise. She eats puzzle pieces, she spits eggs to defend her fellow bear, can become invincible with golden feathers, can fly, run, climb walls, turn into a gun…do I really need to justify this one? Kazooie is freaking awesome, I love this bird so much!

Her snarky sense of humor makes her even more adorable. She’s always picking on Bottles, (that poor mole). That red crested breegull has an attitude, and is the most badass complement to any platforming hero. You thought Clank was awesome? Well think again, because he’s no match for her.



DAT ASS.

Before she turned into the Queen of Blades, Kerrigan was a pretty amazing Ghost in the original Starcraft. The sequel is currently trying to add more to her backstory, (And I cannot wait for Heart of the Swarm) but back in 1998 she was special. Seriously, apart from the stereotypical Tanya in Command & Conquer, name me one female RTS character that wasn’t all about tits. Well, until recently, Sarah Kerrigan wasn't.

When I was a young lad I played a lot of Starcraft. And the Kerrigan missions were my favorites; right from Sarah’s beginnings in the Terran campaign to her ultimate fate in Brood War. The mission Agent of the Swarm had a strange gritty atmosphere. In fact, pretty much all of her cover ops were great. That one mission when the Terrans make first contact with the Protoss? Yeah, That Was Badass!

Plus, as soon as she morphed into a Human/Zerg hybrid, she becomes such a methodical and sadistic villain. I’ve always wondered, though. After all this transformation, she still has such an amazing ass. I don’t know how she does it. Being the Queen of Blades and all, don’t you dare get caught staring at her lovely butt. She might rip you head off. Joking aside, Sarah Kerrigan is pretty freaking awesome. I love the new redhead redesign, too.


140.15 is the loneliest number. ....Did I just make a Beatles (possibly a Harry Nilsson) reference? I'm gonna have to take a minute here.

I used to have such a huge crush on her. Meryl is the best thing to ever come out of Kojima’s little twisted mind, if you ask me. She’s your typical tomboy character, struggling with her femininity, and at the same time trying to fit in with the boys. She was a nice character in Guns of the Patriots, but I’ve always founded her more interesting in Metal Gear Solid. In the 4th one, she seemed depressed for no reason, while in the original she had….well, issues.

That poor Meryl was all out of love, and I’d be willing to argue that her so-called military training had nothing to do with her attitude. She conditioned herself on purpose to block out some of her emotions. Or so I would like to think. She’s the most endearing character I’ve ever seen in a video game. Looking back I don’t have such of a crush on her anymore, but I do appreciate her nevertheless.

That scene where she lays helpless at the mercy of Sniper Wolf will stay with me for a long time. It’s not an incredibly powerful moment, but the symbolism behind it, and Snake having no choice but to retreat back is great storytelling. I still haven’t played Policenauts, but just the fact that Meryl makes a cameo in, is enough motivation for me to play it. Also, the snowmobile scene at the end of Metal Gear Solid. *Man-tears*


Honorable mentions:

Chie Satonaka from Persona 4
Tron Bonne from the Megaman series

Honorable mentions from the future:

Catwoman from Batman: Arkham City



So, there you have it. That’s a rad bunch of gaming gals don’t you think? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m needed back in Wonderland.


*I apologize for my grammar, my English is a little rusty after all these months.

I feel grumpy today.

I don’t normally do. But, sometimes I feel like I need to stick it to the man. He keeps on bringing me down, you know. I can’t let him get away with it, now can I? I’ve noticed lately that the dumbest, smallest things have made my blood boil. It’s a strange feeling. Sometimes, it might be because of the Beatles ad on my Youtube page, or depressing movies like Requiem for a Dream. I feel like I can’t get my joyful bliss quota nowadays. Maybe it has to do with me not caring about a lot of stuff going on in my life, or just what’s happening on the interwebs in general. I’ve put aside blogging for quite a while, now. I really don’t feel the necessity nor do I have the will to write lengthy blogs, anymore. And to be honest, I would rather play my games and be left alone, rather than jive about useless, convoluted shenanigans or whatever the fuck some people waste their time writing/v-blogging on about.

I’m not having a go. I just think that a few people should stop what they’re doing and start enjoying games for what they really are; entertainment. At the end of the day, it’s a huge waste of time. Enjoy the games you like, and be happy. There’s nothing wrong in debating once in a while, but when it becomes a game of rights or wrongs. It’s not even worth it. Seriously, I simply want to have fun, GO AWAY, I DON’T CARE.

Anyway, it goes to show the commitment I have for this “thing”. It all equates to four righteous lines on my Word document. It seems like I kind of lost track of what I really wanted to say though. Goddamn “real gamers” be tripping on my shit, son. I can’t deal with it. So, yeah… moving along.

My attention span has been at an all-time low these days. I find myself incapable of sitting down for more than an hour to play a video game, (OH NOES!?? Have I become an irresponsible casual gaemrz?!). Well not really, I’m just busy with other things.

Things like:

-Valhalla Rising made me all fuzzy inside. The movie was a wonderful tale of faith and the human condition. I loved it.

-I’ve come to realize that I need more science fiction romances – like Code 46 and Blade Runner—in my life.

-Been rewatching Carl Sagan’s Cosmos on Youtube before going to bed. I’ve never seen a scientist so poetic, and passionate about science. Astronomy is a wonderful thing.

-When I grow up. I want to be just like Cüneyt Arkin.

-Also, The Room will be released on Blu-ray….in f’ing 3D!! Holy fucking shit. And I thought the whole 3D thing was a passing fad. I was so wrong, so, so wrong.

- Kaki King is screwed in my brain. I love her music, you don’t even know. She’s been keeping me sane for the past 2 weeks.

-James Brown is still kicking the ever loving shit out of my soul.

-Minecraft has finally gone into BETA, (though, the leaf decay lag is tearing me apart.)

-The Humble Indie Bundle is a neat thing. You should get it.

-Empire Earth is neat, too. A decade after, and it’s still full of real-time strategy goodness.

-I kinda wish I had more RTS games to play. Anybody has a good franchise to recommend? I’ve been willing to try Rise of Legends, the Perimeter and Supreme Commander games.

-I finally got around The Ricky Gervais show. It’s an incredible waste of time; Karl Pilkington is hilarious. Also, The Office (UK) was pretty neat, as well as Gervais’ new “Science” DVD.


I guess that’s it, then. Still have a month of nothingness before I get back to school, and hopefully get a job afterwards....

Merry Christmas or whatever y’all celebrate. I know I will be doing jack shit, apart from pretending I’m having a good time, (it’s my specialty). I’ll probably be reading a Carl Sagan book, or listening to some Miles Davis, anyway.


"I thought I told you honkeys from the C.I.A. that Black Dynamite, was out of the game."

I feel better now; happy as a dead pig in the sunshine.
I’m out.

Consider for a moment that video games had seen the light of day at the beginning of the 20th century. In a time where -- even for cinema -- the novelty of sound challenged the very fundamental basis of movie making. For instance, the silent actors now had to speak, giving away much less exaggerated acting, and toning down facial expressions to provide more believable performances. This led too many experimentations, and involuntary mistakes that contributed into creating iconic acts in cinematographic history (such as the original Dracula). Even if we disregard the former made-up reality, the evolution of the use of sound in video games is different than in cinema. At the very genesis of its creation, technology had crippled video games – as for movies prior to 1920 – in terms of sound. Computer chips weren’t powerful enough to support complete music tracks, or even spoken dialog.

All of that changed with the advent of laser discs in the early 90s, but considering video games had been going on for several decades prior to that. It’s almost too surprising to see that even in the absence of spoken dialog; an entire genre of entertainment could’ve gone on without them. Of course, there always been sound-chips on the NES or on Sega consoles that had the capacity to deliver small chunks of spoken words, but it wasn’t monologue-worthy. Modern games on the other hand -- with the proper technology now available – are able to deliver a somewhat respectable performance when it comes to dialog. Voice-acting is more and more professionalized, yet video game narrative lack the finesse we could attribute to the movie industry. It must distant itself from the current robotic and scripted form of doing storytelling, and adopt a more subtle and genuine approach.

One of the few subtleties that video games could learn from movies is the use of silence. Silence can be used as a director for involuntary narration, but can also be used for transmitting many emotions to the players/viewers. The sounds of silence is a contradiction in itself; it plays on the fact that silence is the absence of sound; yet having it paired with sound, it creates an excellent conductor for spoken and silent narrative progression. We are constantly bombarded with musical scores, sound effects, and unending babbling in video games, and it has to stop. It has to, because video game narrative needs to sharpen itself, and acquire the desired finesse other medium are able to reach. Imitation might be the most drastic way to achieve such a task, but it’s the most effective way for a richer narrative content.

Hello Darkness my old friend

Let’s take horror for example. It’s a genre that transcends mediums from books to movies, from music to video games. Horror is one of the most popular sub-categories of many entertainment industries. It is able -- by fright and tension -- to communicate the immediacy of danger, and the fear of the unknown to its spectators. This powerful emotive tool is no stranger to video game or movies, but rather than experimenting with the notion, video games tend to be more conservative in the way they use it.


The famous shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. This scene is a great example of the use of silence in horror.

What is more terrifying than sound itself when it comes to horror scenes? Silence; it’s a powerful agent because it’s able to control the attention of the spectators on a very specific aspect of a scene, while still creating the outmost tension because of the absence of sound. The immediacy of sound is comforting to us in a way, even if it’s the most terrible sound in the world. We are able to interpret what is going on in our minds because of that. While on the other hand, when sound is absent, we begin to lose ground on reality; especially in horror – hence, creating the sentiment of terror.

But let’s diverge from horror a little bit. The same exact comparison can be made with Western movies, especially the ones conceived by the mind of Sergio Leone. He was able to create – in many of his movies – foreshadowing for his antagonists and protagonists by the use of silence and sound alone. He didn’t have to explain to the audience which character was which, because his genius read between the lines. It’s that subtlety and finesse I was talking before that makes these scenes so memorable and powerful. I think video games could learn a lot from that.


Taken from Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West, we are introduced to Harmonica, the protagonist of the movie.


Again from the same movie, you can clearly see the use of silence, and musical pairing for Frank.


People talking without speaking

Nathan Drake and Solid Snake are some of the few video game characters who don’t know went to shut it. They keep on talking, and talking in an endless monologue of confusion. As we’ve seen before, silence can be used to set the perfect atmosphere to a scene, or even dictate the roles of each character in a story. What silence is also able to do is to communicate feelings and emotions by its execution alone.

Look at romance; it’s a genre full of talking, revolving around the desire of one’s better half. Why does it always have to focus back on dialog when the viewers/players are actually aware of two characters' relationship? It’s a redundant and monotone way of expressing that feeling. I’m not saying that every romance stories should be completely silent, but let’s look at it from another perspective. The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari, and Frankenstein for that matter are love stories, and silent movies. They both have a very uncommon way to transmit it, but they still have love -- or desire -- in their fundamental structures. People love each other, we get it. You don’t have to remind us over and over again; let the pictures speak for themselves.


The last scene from The Graduate, (sorry spoilers). Notice the muted dialog, and pauses in the movie soundtrack.

The same could be said for simple dialog as well. Why do we need to consider the importance of rich story-lines, exposition, and literate understanding only by spoken dialog? We speak in order to communicate, but we shouldn’t limit each other’s through expression only because silence can compromise the “narrative integrity” of the story. Silence is good, even in spoken dialog. It’s able to bring a sophistication that feels more natural, and genuine – it’s much more human in that way.


A simple, yet very effective way to make a boring scene, all too interesting. Taken From The Good , The Bad and The Ugly.

And the vision that was planted in my brain .Still remains, within the sound of silence.

It’s quite obvious that video games in general are still in constant evolution. However, it’s surprising to see that not a whole lot of games have the balls to make voluntary changes to the way video game narratives are done. There are always a lot of talking and musical scores blasting through our ears, and we don’t even ask why it is so. Mind you, Super Metroid is probably the greatest example of silent narration in the medium, but this type of game come few and far between.

What we need is a revolution on how we portrait video games narrative. One of the tools we can use to improve the former is to use silence more often in video games, as a way to progress the narrative, but also to communicate more deeply, and genuinely, the emotions that players should seek. Silence is a powerful asset that can be used in horror games , story-driven games (like Mass Effect and Metal Gear Solid), and in a plethora of other occasions. It can even be used in the simplest dialog chains, in order to provide a refinement that is in par with cinematographic standards.

Silence is golden, and video games should learn from that.

And remember:

When you have to shoot... Shoot! Don't talk.

We got a whole lot of swag of course, aaaaand I bought Taiko Drum Master for 35$ :3

I’ve been fighting a cold ever since I've come back from PAX this morning, so bare with me if the blog isn’t entirely constructive. What I really want to do is to thank all the awesome people I’ve met during my trip, and keep it short so you guys can truly see how amazing the event really was. So yeah, this is how my PAX 2010 went down ya’ll:


Awwwww yeah gurrl, dem fire hose be sprayin'! -- Thursday night at GameWorks aka best night ever!


There was a dinosaur at the Fallout: New Vegas booth. I like dinosaurs :3


The "line" for Portal 2. It was pretty much the same thing for Duke Nukem.


Focused Derek is focused.


Some quick snapshots of our LAPD recordings, Thursday and Friday night. :D


Meet our complementary goldfish: Mr.Vaginaman aka Troy.


Daxelman tried to scare him a few times, but he was unfazed.


Friday night; I was so excited for the DTOID panel the next morning that I had already prepared what to wear.


I also spent most of the night reading The Demon Hunted World to Occam so he could fall asleep. (We never did get actual sleep because of the snoring and the excitement.)


Daxelman and Occam getting ready to go to bed in their pimptastic tiger bathrobe wear.


Right after the group photo outside the convention center. The DTOID panel was fucking amazing!


Guncannon, Qalamari, Funktastic and ScottyG doing their thangs.


On Saturday we went to the Chapel's Bar, I got meself a white Russian.


Ali D, Jack Shadow and Guncannon enjoying the night, a lot.


Elsa and Mongoose


Hamza double-downing alcoholic beverages. He so crazeh.


Me and Chris (Scion of Mogo) smiling and shit.


Me and Derek (Guncannon)


Tactix breaking things, mainly the Destructoid helmet XD


RobotBebop being mad pimpish.


Me and Julius (Diverse) , he was pretty drunk at this point.


Me and Funktastic being totally not ghey about things. Oui-oui!


Samit and Alex being mostly ghey about things. Peut-être?!


Me and Kyle


Me and Sean , picture taken by Wifey :3


Me and a random guy, I think he paid for the drinks. ;)


Me and Jon Carnage, outside, ready to depart for the most amazing thing ever. Picture taken by Pico :3


The Everything is Terrible 2 screening we went to see with Jon Carnage, Pico , Niero, Samit and a bunch of other people -- It was genuinely the most amazing thing ever.


When we came back to the Chapel's bar, we were greeted by an exquisite sight.


Mister Destructoid was there, I heard he's a pretty cool guy.


Very early on Sunday morning, listening to some Redman, while Alex was taking a shower singing some hipster bullshit.


OMG CHAD! and Matt Chandronait! XD


Sunday's meetup at Rock Bottom. It was truly an epic night!


Spent the night with Elly Jackson. Alex was pleased.


Well, time to go now D:


Monday afternoon at Vancouver's airport; sad Kraid is sad.


On the way to Montreal, Daxelman decided he wanted to surf on the plane's wings.

So there you have it, guys.

PAX was truly an amazing time for me, and I think the pictures speak for themselves. I've never seen so much passion and love been giving to people than during this trip. You guys are like family to me, I love each an every one of you.


I want to thank the following people:

Sean Carey & his Wifey: for being the most adorable people on this planet. I sincerely had an amazing time with you guys ! <3

Scion of Mogo: for his ranting about Wonder Woman and other comics stuff at our GameWorks dinner. I love you bro <33

Robotbebop: for being really an all-around awesome guy! We had great conversations about everything!

BushofGhosts: for spreading the love all across the community with her hugs and lobster backpack. <3

ScottyG: for being an awesome dude whom I wish I could’ve had more time to spend time with.

GunCannon: for being my portable show floor radio for the first two days of the Con. ;)

Alex Barbatis: for playing Taiko Drum Master with me, and basically making me fall in love with the series. <3 aaaaand for buying me a drink.

Niero: for taking the time to speak to us every night, and showing us that even the most realized businessmen can be so close to their community. <3<3<3

Jon Carnage: for being my new BFF.

Pico: for being such a sweetheart.

Dyson: for giving me the manliest hug I’ve ever received. I love RetroforceGo, so it was only natural to give some love back to you. <3<3

Chad: for being all around amazing, as well as taking the time to spend entire evenings going around the show floor with us. Also, for being part of RetroforceGo :3

Stella: for making the courier between me and Trevor XD, and also for being part of the RetroforceGo cast. <3

DTOID UK: for being the most professional and dedicated video game report team ever to be assembled. You are truly talented.

Poetic Justice: for calling me a legend. (I think he was a little bit too drunk) :3

Elsa & Mongoose: for being plain incredible and amazing. We could probably talk about video games for years upon end. <3<3<3

Funktastic: for giving me F-Zero on the SNES, but also because he’s a crazy mutha! Je t’adore! Oui-Oui!

Analog: for being my #Ambientbro. <3

Solgrim: for having a fantastic jacket, but also for giving love to everybody in the community! It was so nice meeting you.

Ali D: for being the awesome Scotsman he is, and for buying me a drink! <3 It was an absolute pleasure meeting you my good man!

Cadtalfryn: for being the best show floor pal I could ever have, I loved every single minute spent with you bro!

Diverse: for being the alcoholic he is! No seriously, it was awesome meeting you bro. :D

Jonathan Holmes: for giving the best answer to a question during the DTOID panel. <3

Tactix, Power-Glove and all the others: for organizing all those community events. <3<3<3

Dexter345: for confusing me for Ali D while he was drunk, but honestly for being the coolest guy ever!

Changston: for baking bacon-brownies. <3

BulletTrain: for taking care of the bill on Friday night. It was awesome spending some time with you, Chris and Derek!

All the staff that I annoyed; I know you guys were busy and exhausted as hell, but I want to thank you for being part of Destructoid. <3

Hamza: for being the greatest, most sharktastic community manager ever!

The Blade Runner guy at Chapel’s bar: I’m so sorry I don’t remember your name, but it was awesome talking to you!

LK404: for the conversation we had before the Retronauts panel! :D

Crocbox: for being there, I honestly wish we could’ve had more time to chat. It was awesome meeting you!

JackShadow: for being all around amazing, and sweet!

IcarusKills: for taking all those pictures for the PAX group!

Kris Knigge: for handing my ass on a plate at KOFXII – I really wish we could’ve spent more time together.

Conrad: for talking about Dune and movies with us at GameWorks.

I’m so sorry if I’m forgetting anyone else; I had such an amazing time with you guys, and there was so many people to meet. I only hope that I’ll have time to get to know all of you better next year!
You are the best community I’ve ever been part of.

I love you guys. :3

Lately, I’ve been asked by a lot of my fellow Dtoiders to give album recommendations on Hip Hop, in order to get a better feel of what the genre is all about. Bear in mind though that these are my preferences when it comes to quality Hip Hop, if you think some albums are missing, feel free to add them in the comments. I’ve compiled to the best of my ability the LPs that everybody should enjoy whether they like Hip Hop or not. If you love music, you should at least find some of these a tad bit incredible.

So here are 25 albums that you need to listen to, when it comes to Hip Hop music:



Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan

This is my favorite album of all time, so it goes without saying that I wholeheartedly recommend it. But 36 chambers is not only a masterfully well done album, it was also the pillar of East Coast rap past 1993. This album created a shockwave in the New York underground scene that influenced several other artists. There hadn’t been anything like it before; the album is a true war cry from the streets. It doesn’t glorify gang violence, or any stereotypes that so many people have against Hip Hop. This is a clever, aggressive and incredibly moving album. The Wu-Tang Clan is hard to get into at first but you’ll most certainly get use to their hardcore sound. Enter the Wu-Tang is a masterpiece for its minimalist beats, intense lyrics and Kung Fu inspired philosophy.

Protect Your Neck, C.R.E.A.M.



Enta Da Stage by Black Moon

1993 was a pivotal year for Hip Hop, not only because the West Coast was taking more and more importance; But because Black Moon and Wu-Tang Clan changed the way we saw Hip Hop made from there on out. Wu-Tang carried the revolution, but Black Moon ignited the fire. One month prior to the release of its revolutionary cousin, Enta Da Stage was the first album to have that token aggressiveness. The group sparked the public’s interest in a more refined sound in Hip Hop with crude subject matter, boasted by metaphors and fast-paced rhythms. The blistering nature of Enta Da Stage laid the ground for a timeless classic, too bad it’s been eclipsed by its Wu-Tang twin.

Who Gat Da Props? , I Got Cha Opin



3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul

This is quite a “happy” entry to the list; De La Soul has a true gift for making everything funky and incredibly joyous. 3 Feet high and rising might not be the best album of the group, but it’s definitely the beginning of a great musical legacy. They have often being called the hippies of Hip Hop for preaching peace and love in their songs. Their rhymes are so clever and intelligent, and the beats are beautifully produced by Prince Paul, who is arguably one of the best DJs ever. De La Soul is unique and very light; it’s probably one of the more accessible groups on this list. The complete Daisy experience cannot be achieved without listening to De La Soul is Dead and Buhloone Mind State, but at least you will have a taste of what De La Soul is really capable of.

Thread Water, Jenifa Taught Me



Critical Beatdown by Ultramagnetic MCs

I don’t care if you hate Hip Hop, this is a classic. Critical Beatdown is an almost perfect album and it is revered as one of the finest recordings in rap music. The Ultramagnetic MCs are part of the old school branch of the genre, so everything on this album will be different than the later stuff. The album is fast-paced but it’s incredibly funky and up-beat. This is the more classical way of doing Hip Hop; the DJs steal the show, while the MCs are there to compliment the tracks. It’s made so that people can dance to it and have a good time, which used to be the fundamental essence of celebration in Hip Hop.

Feelin’ it , Critical Beatdown



Cypress Hill by Cypress Hill

One of the few West Coast albums that is actually worth listening to, (OH I know, blasphemy right?) Cypress Hill’s debut album is funky, Latin and raw. That is why the group is so awesome, rather than conforming themselves to the “Gangster Rap” vibe that took the West Coast by storm in the early 90s, they stepped back and created a sound of their own. Now, I’m not saying that they didn’t take a sip of the whole “G thang” but luckily, they were “stoned” enough not to take advantage of this trend for their first album. Those locos know how to make me groove, me gusta.

Real Estate, Hand on the Pump



Deltron 3030 by Deltron 3030

Dan the Automator , Del the Funky Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala make an amazing trio. Deltron 3030 is unlike anything that I’ve put on this list so far. It’s a concept album set in the future that mixes electronic music with Hip Hop, which creates a very original and experimental sound. I could’ve picked any album from Del’s discography, but this is clearly his best work. The atmosphere is perfect; the lyrics are as weird as the setting. This album is unique because it has a powerful way of communicating abstract to its audience. Deltron 3030 to me would probably be best qualified as Science Fiction Hip-Hop. It is weird, sounds incredibly sharp and Del is a definitely in his place as an MC but also as a poet.

Mastermind, Positive Contact



Follow the Leader by Eric B and Rakim

There’s still a debate between Paid in Full and Follow the Leader being the best Rap album of all time, but personally I prefer Follow the Leader for several reasons. Rakim Allah is arguably one of the best lyricists around, and the album has no shortage of amazing rhymes. The big advantage that this album has over Paid in Full is the perfect balance between Eric B’s DJing and Rakim’s MCing. This is the how it used to be done when a master of ceremony would have its part in a show but like the Ultramagnetic MCs the DJs took the crown. Follow the Leader is also one of the few recognizable albums that lead the way for “Jazz Hip Hop”.

Eric B. Never Scared, Microphone Fiend



The Infamous by Mobb Deep

I had to choose between this and Nas’s Illmatic, I chose The Infamous because it is so much better. Both albums have Queensbridge has their birthplace, but the former excels in its raw delivery and perfect beats. If you can get pass the “gangster” vibe of the album you will love The Infamous. I mostly listen to it from time to time because of the quality producing on the songs. The album is very angsty however, and kind of hard to relate to, it does promote gang-life and the violence in the boroughs of New York. Despite that, I still think it’s a great example for you guys in order to see whether or not you can get into the “gangster” style. I’m not a huge fan of this trend either but The Infamous is probably the best street-life album ever recorded. Mobb Deep was violent and dark, but the beats were excellent.

Q.U.-Hectic, Trife Life



It's a Big Daddy thing by Big Daddy Kane

Now who flattop ruled in 89? Big Daddy Kane’s that’s who. Along with Rakim, Kane shares amazing language proficiencies. He’s absolutely insane in his delivery and It’s a Big Daddy thing is the perfect example of that. Again, this is an old-school style album; he raves a lot about being the best MC ever and how smooth he is with the ladies, but that’s what makes Big Daddy Kane so awesome. His rhymes are spot on; he’s incredibly rhythmic and probably the best at his job. He’s one of the true underrated masterminds of rap music.

Wrath of Kane, Warm it up Kane



It takes a nation of millions to hold us back by Public Enemy

If you don’t know who Public Enemy are already, you owe it to yourselves to listen to their discography. It’s one of the first politically conscious Hip Hop groups as well as afro centric militants. This is pretty much the equivalent to what the Black Panthers of Hip Hop would sound like. It’s incredibly thought provoking and politically incorrect. It is made to upset the heads of power more than anything else. But the delivery of this album is so funky and amazing that it’s an instant classic. If you have to choose between N.W.A. and this, you might as well take Chuck D, Terminator X and Flava Flav side.

Don’t Believe the Hype,Prophets of Rage



Jurassic 5 by Jurassic 5

Extremely similar to De La Soul in its message and sound, Jurassic 5 came at a pretty weird time in the West Coast Hip Hop scene. The album dropped in between the Golden Age and the Uprising of the South. Jurassic 5 proved that conscious and intelligent Hip Hop was still possible in an era of superfluous riches and a club-centered culture. A lot of the members are fathers, which bring them the wisdom that a lot of other rappers can’t carry on. It is an amazing album full of joyous rhythms, positive messages and acute rhyming. The group proved that an East Coast inspired album, can be successful in the West.

Concrete Schoolyard, In the Flesh




Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous by Big L

At a time where Notorious BIG and Tupac were all the rage, Big L released an album that would put to sleep everything that those two ever recorded. Lifestylez ov da poor & Dangerous is the ultimate dissing album, Big L’s intensity is contagious. It’s very hard to deny the rage and passion he had making this album. This is hardcore Hip Hop at its best; he’s practically asking to get shot, and so he was in 1999. I think it’s a matter of perspective on whether or not we have to take Gangster rap seriously, but there’s definitely an appeal when the message is delivered with such intensity and horrifying bluntness.

Put it on,I don’t understand it



The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest

There was once A Tribe Called Quest who perfected the concept behind Jazz Hip Hop. Like De La Soul, the group is very easy to get into. Their rhymes are joyous and very adolescent, there’s no violence or references to gangs in this album. The Low end Theory is a very sensual experience, the poetry is amazing, and the beats are extremely jazzy. It also was the first album to feature Busta Rhymes during his Leader of the New School fame, Scenario is one of the greatest Hip Hop songs every recorded. A Tribe Called Quest is classic stuff when it comes to rap; also the ethos of the group is absolutely delightful. If you like clever and groovy music, you’ll love the Quest bouncing in your ears.

Scenario, Jazz(We've Got) & Buggin' Out



Madvillainy by MF DOOM

A young MC born in England named Daniel Dumile aka Zev Love X, who used to rhyme about girls and the joy of being young and upcoming, suddenly became rugged and sociopathic. It’s almost unreal to think that MF DOOM could’ve made such a joyous album like Mr.Hood back in the early 90s, and polarize his talent to create Madvillainy. This album is a masterpiece as well as the greatest album recorded by DOOM. Everything about it shines with perfection; the beats crafted by DJ Madlib are masterful. Dumile spits the rhymes like a preacher, warning us from impending doom. The album is terribly blunt and unique, there’s really nothing like listening to MF DOOM’s opus. He’s insanely talented and rugged, and that’s why he’s so awesome. “He wears the mask just to cover the raw flesh, a rather ugly brother with flows that’s gorgeous”.

Raid, Accordion



Mecca and the Soul Brother by Pete Rock and CL Smooth

This album is as funky as any James Brown joints you’ve heard; Pete Rock is a master in creating groovy, up-beat tracks, and along with CL Smooth’s suave voice, it’s a delight to the ears. Mecca is incredibly jazzy and funky, it delivers on everything a Hip Hop album should be, and it makes your head bop instantly. Due to Rock’s craftsmanship as a producer, the beats and the lyrics come as one to create the most fluent Hip Hop album since 36 Chambers. The album is extremely passive and laid-back; it talks about life, love and sadness in a beautiful fashion. Another great Jazz Hip Hop album for all to enjoy, Mecca and the Soul Brother is amazing.

Straighten It Out, They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)



Muddy Waters by Redman

This is a very personal pick; I’m probably the only one who understands the genius behind Redman’s Muddy Waters. It’s one of my classics and the cleverest album of them all. His arrogance is so high, that you can almost taste it. It’s a great example of the competitive nature of MCing and Hip Hop in general. Redman’s delivery is top notch and could take down any contenders: “You remind me of school on a Sunday, no class!” This rhyme is one of the numerous poetical tours de force that Reggie Nobles verbalizes in the album. He’s accompanied by a track of funky beats and he’ll definitely take you for a ride. Alongside Lords of the Underground, Redman is the proof that even the best Hip Hop can be produced outside of New York; this Jersey cat knows how to lay the smack down.

Rock Da Spot, On Fire



No more Mr. Nice Guy by Gang Starr

You probably all know by now my appreciation for Keith Elam aka Guru. I have the outmost respect for anything he has ever done in his career, and his work with DJ Premier is by far my favorite. No More Mr. Nice Guy is the first album of a great line-up that the group has created. They are the forefathers of Jazz Hip Hop, and with a sharp philosophy concentrating around wisdom and understanding, they achieved just that with this album. It displays the incredible talent of DJ Premier for creating beats as well as showing the world what monster, Guru would become. His lyrics are thought provoking and clever, accompanied with his monotone voice he truly is was a master MC.

Manifest, DJ Premier is in deep concentration



Raising Hell by RUN DMC

RUN DMC are legends of Hip Hop; they single-handedly sparked universal interest in the genre with their music. They’re one of the first groups to take Rock samples and combining it with MCing, they’ve created a revolution with their crafty and popular beats. DJ Jam Master Jay’s turntablism is absolutely masterful along with RUN and DMC rhyming in perfect harmony to the break-beats he makes for them. The Rock’N’Roll sampling makes it easier for a lot of people to get into RUN DMC because of that, it’s familiar and very catchy. Raising Hell is not exception, and is hands down the best recording the group has made, it is a classic.

It’s Tricky, Walk This Way



Reachin’ (A new refutation of time and space) by Digable Planets

This was a true revelation when I first listened to it a few months ago; I was completely speechless on how this album could’ve stayed out of my head for so many years. It has slowly become the Hip Hop sweetheart for both me and Xzyliac as one of the best albums of all time. Reachin’ is surprisingly feminine, jazzy and full of flavor. The Digable Planets are criminally underrated, and should have their place with all the other classics. This album is perfect, is has attained a level of sophistication in music that I never heard before. The Lonnie Liston Smith samples take most of the album harmony which makes it completely mystifying. The peaceful nature of Digable Planets is highly contagious and with the addition of LadyBug Mecca’s charm, is it truly a unique album. This should be a mandatory listen to anybody who likes music.

Pacifics, Where I’m from



Resurrection by Common

Common is my favorite contemporary rapper along with Mos Def and MF DOOM. He has this suave quality of brewing incredibly intelligent lyrics without falling in to that “gangster” stereotype. He’s a street poet that is able to take your brain onto a lyrical trip, his Wind City accent is terribly endearing. Resurrection is his best album, not only for its jazzy vibe but for the incredible lyrics he put into it. The album contains a love poem to Hip Hop, which is one of the most beautiful songs ever made. He’s one of the few intellectual rappers to get out there and represent the conscious side of Hip Hop. With Resurrection he was able to perfect his sound and bring a timeless classic.

I used to love H.E.R, In My own World



Stankonia by OutKast

There’s a real sense of style coming out of Stankonia. The album is probably the sole reason why I still listen to Hip Hop from the south from time to time. This is a masterpiece of R&B and Hip Hop , OutKast created a classic when all hopes for quality music for the genre were dying. Their first few albums were buried in the southern underground, but with Stankonia not only did they achieve commercial success but the album became icons for the south. André 3000 brings the weird, Big Boi brings the badass, Stankonia is an amazing feat of soul and rap music.

Ms. Jackson , B.O.B.




The Chronic by Dr.Dre

This is a bona fide classic; Dr.Dre did it right with this one, invalidating almost entirely his work with N.W.A. It’s quite ironic as well that the Chronic talks about the “street life” when Dre and Snoop Dogg were artists caught in the middle. This, my friends is what we call a “studio gangster” album where rappers talk the most jive about things they’ve never done or will ever do. But the beats are so funky, and characteristic to the West Coast, that is it in fact one of the original recordings that led the California-based rappers to become famous. Like most of the superfluous albums I’ve named during this whole thing, you have to take it very lightly in terms of subject matter and enjoy the goofiness. It’s full of fake thugs and young rappers trying to take names, and being completely arrogant and confident in the gist of it. The Chronic however is a fantastic album and a classic for Hip Hop fans.

Nuthing but a G thang, Deeez Nuuuts



The Coming by Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes debut album is so underrated; it’s one of the finest records I’ve ever listened to. His quirkiness and over the top nature makes it an incredible mindfuck. I’m not saying that he’s completely batshit insane, but The Coming is so original and unusual in Hip Hop that I needed to mention it. He talks over himself, sings his lyrics rather than rhyming them, and with his constant references to pop culture, it’s very hard not to fall in love with this album. The sound is perfect, the beats are real head-knockers and the overall “instability” of Busta Rhymes self-control is amazing. He’s one of the few rappers in Hip Hop to have this wild energy, the other one being Ol’ Dirty Bastard. He’s so abstract in his lyrics and has a colorful style that The Coming is an absolute masterpiece for that.

Everything Remains Raw, Woo-Ha!! Got You All in Check



The Score by The Fugees

It took two talented Haitians and a badass American lady to make this classic. This is a highly awarded album that resonates in Hip Hop enthusiasts as one of the finest recordings ever made. It has this dark haunting feel to it that had never been brought to the commercial scene before. The trio rhyme like crazy firecrackers, but Lauren Hill steals the show with Wyclef Jean being the second best man. The guitar works of Jean’s add a great blues feel to the album as well as contributing to the dwelling feeling. Highly influenced by the Haitian heritage of both guys, The Score is a groovy album, and incredibly intense in both content and performance; Lauren Hill is an absolute badass.

Ready or Not , The Score



The Message by Grand Master Flash and The Furious Fives

I kept this one for last because The Message is a very special record in Hip Hop history. Upon first hearing it you’ll find yourself witnessing the most primitive style of MCing and DJing , since most of the album revolves around having fun and talking about love and women. But as the album flows from a very positive and happy record, it takes a 180 degree turn into raw reality. The Message is not only the most influential Hip Hop album of all time, but it’s also the first one to be socially and politically aware in his calling. If it wasn’t for this song alone, Hip Hop would have faded into one of Disco’s ramifications. Without The Message there would not be any of the 24 other albums I’ve put on this list. The album is the foundation to every modern Hip Hop recordings. The song is so important in its “message” than it actually changed the genre’s ethos.

The Message, Scorpio


With this selection, you will have a general idea of what to look for. Have a good listen guys and I hope that this will prove to be most informative. While you are at it, check out my thread in the forums for more details.

Hope you guys enjoyed it, I know I did; I love doing this stuff.

So Antwhan, TheCleaningGuy and Occams , this is for you guys.

I think it’s pretty obvious to say that everybody has a massive boner for the 3DS. There is no doubt about it, the Nintendo conference was kick ass. They showed us exactly what we wanted, and they delivered an amazing line-up of games. Nintendo has become my favorite thing ever, and I’m probably sure it’s the case for most of you. At this point, I think that the 3DS is definitely magic. So much so that it made me dream about stuff like; which games I’m going to buy at the release?(All of them, like for real!) Which color was I going to get?!!(Purple!) Will I start making out with random people on the street?! (Most likely)

I have such a huge boner for the 3DS, you have no idea. There are so many games I want to see made for the 3DS. I’m afraid I’ll have to play all those sweet games on the streets (homeless), making out with random homeless peoples (who have 3DSs). At least I’ll have a roof on top of me, since I’ll be using my gargantuan wood to lay the foundations for my new home. A portable shaft-shack made exclusively to play my 3DS. And since the console is obviously magic, my passion will fuel its battery. So yeah, the 3DS right, it’s fucking amazing. Let’s talk about some games shall we;

Here are ten games I’d like to see made for the 3DS:




Grim Fandango is my favorite adventure game from Tim Schafer. Seeing it made for the 3DS would be the greatest thing ever, for many reasons. The puzzles are clever and original, the characters are so amazing. Manny Calavera is one of my favorite characters ever. I mean c’mon! You are a freaking grim reaper working as a travel agent for the dead. Grim Fandango is amazing, and bringing it out, of its forgotten computer dimension, would be great.



I know that the third dimension doesn’t handle high-speed movements so well. But if the team behind F-Zero can pull this one off, it would be hands down, the greatest racer on the 3DS. I mean we all love Mario Kart but this a whole different league. The F-Zero franchise needs to be on the console for its speed and frantic gameplay.



Do you remember how dreadful the Virtual Boy was? Well let’s give Nintendo another chance to redeem themselves, and release a kick ass boxing game for their new console. Y’all mofos might be hoping for a Punch-Out sequel, but Nintendo should do something completely different. I don’t care if it’s the same principle as Punch-Out, I want some robots bashing my face in 3D!!!!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!



I remember when Nights into Dreams was released back in the Sega Saturn days. It was mind-blowing. Floating in mid-air ranking up those circles doing some flips and shit, it was one of the first 3D games I saw on home consoles. I freaking love the art-design of Nights, everything about this game would be amazing on the 3DS. I just know it, and that’s why I want this Sega classic to be on, the soon to be, greatest console ever made.



With the announcement of Kid Icarus on 3DS and Sin and Punishment on the Wii, I had to mention another great rail-shooter. Panzer Dragoon has so much potential to be the greatest thing ever on 3DS that I would gladly sacrifice, any stupid ass FPSs for the console. This needs to happen, no kidding, if Nintendo itself is releasing a rail-shooter as a launch title for their new console. Sega has to make a sequel to Panzer Dragoon in 3D.



Axelay is one of my favorite shmups from the 16-bit era. This is a no brainer for me; A top-down shooter, with lazers and isometric bosses c’mon bro…you know, you want this. The Nanostray series on DS was not really good, but Konami has a fantastic opportunity to create something amazing. For any of you Japanese shooter fans, Ketsui Death Label was by far the best shooter for DS. But seriously Konami, Axelay on 3DS…..it needs to be a thing.



Wait what?! An indie game on my list?! Kraid you so crazeh. Well yeah, Fez is already amazing why not making it full 3D!!! Let the smaller guys have their slice of the pie. The game is still in development and even if nothing is laid in concrete. I still think that it would make an amazing 3D platforming-adventure on the 3DS.



Awwww snap! Another Konami shooter! Wild Guns is so masterful, there’s no way the game can be left out of the 3DS library. The design is perfect; the players would be popping out at your face and the background would lay, further down the tri-dimensional field. Contra will most likely be amazing, but Wild Guns is so original and different, that I could not live without it.



The 3DS has a camera. In Pokemon Snap, you use a camera to take pictures of Pokemons….am I the only one who’s seeing a pattern here?! How awesome would it be, to have a photo safari in Pokemans land in a full-ledged sequel, and use the camera on the 3DS to take pictures of Pokemons in real life. Or in a 3D environment, moving the console like a real camera? you know, you want this!



If I’m going to buy the 3DS, you’d better off giving me an amazing visual trip, and a damn good one at that. Whether or not Rez or Child of Eden makes it to the 3DS; I want either of them in my pocket at all time, for their visual goodness. Child of Eden is already being developed in 3D for the home consoles. I can’t see why it couldn’t make the jump to real 3D, on Nintendo’s new divine relic. I want Rez or CoE on my 3DS now, Q! Just do it!



You know what Nintendo. You can just take my money. I don’t care anymore.
I cannot freaking wait to get my hands on one of those babies!