Like many classic debuts of the young and hungry in Hip Hop, the 1992 debut of Reggie "Redman" Noble on Def Jam Records seemed to redefine the attitude, wit and persona of how an MC presents himself. Redman's debut was a depart from the image of an MC which was either flashy, afro-centric, positive or socially conscious and instead embraced the raw essence of the everyday street dweller with no restriction.

"Whut Thee Album marked a period which showed a more ruff and rugged side of the East Coast than before. While other groups walked a line between positivity, maturity and the unforgiving nature of the streets, Redman stepped on the scene with an F-you attitude in a cloud of blunt smoke, dressed in timbs and a hoodie to show you the dark side of Hip Hop in full form.

Backed by the James Brown, P-Funk production of Erick Sermon, Redman tore through his debut like a beast with a combination of humor and raw energy for an album which makes "Whut Thee Album" an unforgettable work of young, street persona and musical individuality. Like his powerful debut verse on EPMD's "Hardcore", Red along with the rest of his Hit Squad were here to show you they were anything but soft, leaving an undeniable impact on East Coast urban music with their own outlook of the streets, dark Funk-inspired sound and an unmistakable image.


I know the "favorite Redman album" choice varies from person to person, I haven't heard a more varied opinion of an artist's best album than his catalog. Mine is "Whut Thee Album" and to commemorate this release, I've pulled a couple of my favorite freestyle from that era, courtesy of The Stretch & Bobbito show. I hope you enjoy these if you don't have them already: