The original "Five Mic" Source albums: A retrospective.

[Mister B. M. Ed.]

Here's something some people don't know. The Source only gave out 5 mics to 15 albums on their first reviewing go-round. Some were upgraded years later, from 4.5 mics to 5, and even from 4 mics to 5. However, only 15 got that uber-prestigous rating on first listen. Here's the list:

• People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm – A Tribe Called Quest
• AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted – Ice Cube
• Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em – Eric B. & Rakim
• One for All – Brand Nubian
• De La Soul Is Dead – De La Soul
• The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest
• Illmatic – Nas
• Life After Death – The Notorious B.I.G.
• Aquemini – Outkast
• The Blueprint – Jay-Z
• Stillmatic – Nas
• The Fix – Scarface
• The Naked Truth – Lil' Kim
• Trill OG – Bun B
• My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West

Question: do you think the Source got them all right to give these albums five mics? If not, which ones would you have not given that ultimate rating to?

The Original 15: The Source's 5 Mic Albums

There have been a litany of classic albums deemed "5 Mic Albums" by the Source's mythologized grading system, but there are only 15 that got the distinction in real time.

rockthebells.com

 

[SheerExcellence]

i did not know one for all was a five mic album. i love it, i just never knew the source gave it that rating.

on quick glance, lil kim album is not five mics… i never heard the bun b album so i can’t speak on it

everything else seems fine to me

 

[The Lonious Monk]

lol @ a Lil Kim album being 5 mics.

 

[Natural Born Sinners]

That Kim album was actually good. But 5 mics…FOH. I’m pretty sure that was the beginning of the end for The Source. Kim Osorio came out and said artist that were cool w Zino and them was getting better ratings

 

[Achewon87]

Haven't heard the Lil Kim or Bun B albums...

The rest seem legit...

 

[5th Letter]

That Kim album was good. Not 5 mics good.

 

[grYmes]

That was legit Kim’s best album IMO, but it’s not a classic. I don’t even think Trill OG was Bun B’s best however & I’m still confused why it got 5 mics. MBDTF overrated as fuck and I stand by it. 4 mics at best.

The rest of the selections are legit. I remember having the issue where they retroactively added more 5 mic albums. Wish I still had it.