Sike's Top 10

On the eve of Phil "Sike Style" Shafer's recent show "Where It's At" at the UCM Gallery of Art & Design, we had a chance to ask the prolific artist a tough question - what is the quintessential hip-hop album or performer that you think everybody should know? He came back with 10.

These are not in any order.

Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick - The Show - This is one of the first rap songs I remember hearing. I was lying awake in bed with the window open when someone with a boombox walked by on our Brooklyn street playing this super loud. After I heard that Inspector Gadget sample in this song, I was hooked.

Run-DMC - Tougher Than Leather - I remember listening to this album in my aunt's car when I was around 9 or 10 years old. I felt cool that my aunt would bump Run-DMC rolling through KC in her Hyundai at the time... haha!

A Tribe Called Quest & De La Soul - These were my favorite groups in middle school and high school. Tribe and De La basically sealed my fate as a "backpacker" hip-hop head in high school.

Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus - This is the epic example of backpacker / art school / independent as F#%! The beats were grimy, the lyrics were heady and abstract It was perfect for angsty hip-hop rebels like myself.

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star - This duo's only project still remains one of my faves of all time. The songs were based on reality and didn't come off too contrived or influenced by pop radio aspirations. This album was one of the most honest hip hop albums of the time.

Outkast - Every album... seriously don't sleep... even the solo stuff and the hidden Outkast tracks on random soundtracks... Look 'em all up!

Snoop Dogg - His work seems to get better and better. He had some rough spots during the No-Limit era and a time when he was doing porn. But Snoop has managed to crossover to the mainstream and still keep that edge and style that is perfect for every party.

Fugees - The Score - This album dropped when I was a senior in high school and all I can remember is that the whole the whole school could agree that this album was dope. Whether you were a gangsta or a backpacker—I think this album had good crossover appeal.

Jay-Z - The Black Album - Believe it or not, this is actually my favorite Jay-Z album. I thought his singles were cool back in the day, but really didn't care about his whole albums until this one. I feel like it's his most complete and honest work.

Nas - Illmatic - This album is prolly on a ton of people's Top Ten just cuz of how raw it is. It covered a lot of ground in only about ten tracks. I like his newer stuff, but as a whole, I feel like his first album was his best complete project. I also really enjoy the album he has with Damien Marley. I would encourage any music fan to pick that up.

To check out more of Sike's work, visit SIKESTYLE.COM, and look for our full-length interview with Sike in Hi+Res: Issue 3!