[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgJTREb_jWc]

Considering most of you 90’s babies haven’t heard anything pre-98 and consider errr Dip Set old school, I’ve put together the top 5 albums you can name drop to get your hip hop cred up amongst those 60s and 70s babies. Young rappers take heed.

1. Rakim & Eric B – Paid In Full
Just say your older brother/cousin/dad would blast “I Ain’t No Joke” and “Eric B. Is President” while you helped him bag up his cocaine.

2. Krs-One – By All Means Necessary
Say that it was cool how the album cover made reference to a picture of Malcom X by the window. For extra points say you believe Biggie’s flow on Ready to Die was heavily influenced by Krs-One’s flow.

3. A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
Now if your a thug rapper and you name drop this album, you’ll get instant adulation from bloggers and critics alike. Word of caution: If you are exposed for never having listened to ATCQ the Okayplayer crowd will string you up (See: Lupe Fiasco).

4. Big Daddy Kane – It’s a Big Daddy Thing
Your favorite rappers favorite rapper literally. Even though Jay-Z’s a year younger than Kane he counts him as his inspiration and many believe that’s where Hov got his swag from.

5. Run DMC – Run Dmc
Probably the first real hip hop album ever. Just saying you bump songs such as “It’s Like That”, “Sucker M.C.’s”, “King of Rock” and “Who’s House” will get the ears perking of the most hardened hip hop purists.