Listening (for the millionth time) to Deltron 3030, I’m still as in awe as I was the first time I heard it. The whole album has a futuristic feel and all the songs and moods fit in with that. Any others out there like it?
I’ve heard The Game’s The Documentary referred to as a concept album in that it supposedly details his struggles getting back into rap after his dance with death. I’ve listened to it and it don’t really see it.
I love Deltron 3030! If you’re into them, check out Kool Keith, or any of his “alter-egos”: Black Elvis, Dr. Octagon, and Dr. Dooooom. Very similar styles, since I believe Dan “the Automator” Nakamura worked with both of them. Kool Keith is definitely considered “alternative rap,” and his albums are wonderfully quirky and bizarre. His Dr. Dooooom character even killed one of his previous characters, Dr. Octagon!
The self-titled Gorillaz album also features Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, so I’d recommend it to another Deltron 3030 fan – plus, it is awesome in its own right.
Good call! I’ve got (and love) the Octagoncolagyst album. It totally fits into my feeling of concept albums (Blue Flowers, Earth People anyone?). I’ll look into his other personae.
The first Gorillaz album does have a certain vibe to it, but I wouldn’t exactly consider it a “concept” album. Kickass nonetheless.
Another thought is DJ Shadow’s Endtroducting. Still not really a concept album (on top of that, it’s totally instrumental), but I do get a pretty consistent vibe from it the whole way through. Dark and foreboding I suppose. Kinda like a movie score I guess.
Prince Paul: A Prince Among Thieves
I’m not a huge hip-hop fan, but this album is one of my favorites.
De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising could be included somewhere in here. It’s the collaboration of the band and Prince Paul. The album is recorded in the format of a show with a ton of laugh out loud skits.
Masta Ace - Long Hot Summer (Really good album)
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Not quite a concept album but built around mafioso themes in a cohesive way. Either way it’s a classic.
Prince Paul - A Prince Among Thieves
Common - One Day It’ll All Make Sense (I’ve heard this called a concept album but I’m not sure, I haven’t listened to it all the way through myself.)
Sticky Fingaz - Black Trash