The Top 10 Intros to Hip-Hop Albums

An intro song to a hip-hop album is, for the most part, a short vocal disclaimer or some kind of song that lays out the foundation of what is to come for the next thirty plus minutes that it takes to complete the album. To me, the best intro tracks come through hard, not only giving me a taste of what is to come, but gets me extremely hyped - like saying "damn, that's just the intro!" Throughout my years of listening to hip-hop I recently got the idea to have a top list for my favorite introductions into a hip-hop album. I'm shoving aside quick, beat-less skits from people like Cedric the Entertainer, the thuggish ramblings of Clyde Smith and the quick "interludesque" style songs that last half a minute. This list pays tribute to those intro songs that can explain the album, go hard lyrically and be an all-round banger.

A usual disclaimer - these songs are picked by personal preference, this list is in no way supposed to explain the most influential intros or anything along those lines, however, I still feel like you could find some interesting points here, and also some classic tracks.

Here we go:

10. Common - Be - Off the album with the same name, Be is a classic intro because of its build up to the song - not that it is epic, but relaxing and wonderful - and the smooth, observational lyrics from Common.

9. N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton - From the album Straight Outta Compton, this track introduces the group and the album. For starters, every verse begins with the rapper stating their name and a quick fun fact.

Dr. Dre: "Eazy is his name and the boy is coming..."

Eazy-E: "Straight outta Compton, is a brotha that'll smotha your motha, and make your sister think I love her..."

... and I don't think I need to recite Ice Cube's legendary introduction to that track. This intro track sets the stage for this police-hating group from the city of Compton.

8. Blu & Exile - My World Is... - I'll admit that I haven't heard of Blu that long ago, my friend Kellen actually introduced me to him and its been nothing but good music ever since. This track comes off the album titled Below The Heavens, which is a collaboration between Blu and producer Exile. It makes the list because 1) it is an intro! and 2) Blu is introducing himself like no one has ever heard of him - it is too good. The sample, which is "My Love is Blue" by Dells has also been sampled by Ghostface Killah in the track "Shakey Dog".

7. Ludacris - Coming 2 America - Off of Word of Mouf, an intro could not hype me up and make me laugh at all the hilarious analogies and metaphors as much as a Ludacris intro. Check out the lyrics online somewhere and you will see what I mean.

6. Busta Rhymes - Everybody Rise - From the E.L.E. (The Extinction Level Event), Busta comes through flowing nicely with an extremely hyped east coast banger of a beat (also sampled by Jay Electronica for Exhibit A). This is the kind of song you don't just want to open up your album... imagine this opening up a Busta concert!

5. Kanye West - Good Morning - I'm sure everyone knows this one from Kanye's Graduation. This is Kanye's first intro song that was actually a song, if that makes sense. He even starts it out by saying "Wake up Mr. West" which is what his intro for Late Registration is called. He doesn't only tie that in there, Good Morning is also, besides Homecoming, the only track on the album that addresses the whole analogy of progression and graduating from hip-hop with references to college.

"You got D's motherfucker, D's, Rosie Perez. And yes barely passed, any and every class, looking at every ass, cheated on every test, I guess, this is my dissertation, homie this shit is basic, welcome to Graduation."

4. Big L - Big Picture (Intro) - The first time I heard this I lost my shit. Big L is renowned for his raw, amazing lyricism and this into song displays it on a classic DJ Premier beat.

"We never bring luggage we go shopping when the plane lands..."

In this track Big L will tell how what the game would be like without him in it, so listen attentively.

"Big L rest in peace." (May 30, 1974 - February 15, 1999) - 11 years today.

3. Nas - Stillmatic (Intro) - I know my friends around Mount A will agree with this one. This line sums up all that really needed to be said aside from the Jay-Z feud:

"...they thought I'd make another Illmatic, but its always forward I'm moving, never backwards stupid heres another classic..."

2. EPMD - Intro (Out of Business) - Classic beat for starters. E (Erick Sermon) and PMD (Parrish Smith) spit hot shit on one of their not-so-acclaimed albums, but still well respected.

"Allow me to introduce my DJ Scratch the black balboa, I'm Erick Sermon, the dope rhyme flowa.."

You can still see elements of their old school roots.

1. Jay-Z - Intro (Dynasty) - Too amazing. A Just Blaze production - one of the best beats I can think of. The album came out in 2000, so obviously Jay has a similar mindset to Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint.

"This is food for thought you do the dishes."