The 31st installment of I Used to Love H.E.R., a series in which artists/bloggers/writers discuss their most essential or favorite hip-hop albums and songs, comes from Aaron Lacrate, an influential piece in the ever-popular Baltimore club scene who recently has contributed to the Delicious Vinyl RMXXOLOGY compilation. He’s also teamed up with Delicious Vinyl to form the new record-label imprint Delicious Gutter.

Eric B. and Rakim
Know the Ledge
(Don’t Sweat the Technique, MCA, 1992)
Know the Ledge defined the era of the early 90s Bomb squad classics. It also is one of the best uptempo hard hitting lyrical records of all time. Playing both hip hop and club stuff growing up in Baltimore, this was also a very important transition record between those 2 genres. Its had a load of influence on me as a producer with the kind of records that (Debonair) Samir and I make. It has all the best elements of hip-hop but at a dance tempo, without any of the less interesting elements of dance music – just a monster club record. Also a great forward thinking NYC party record – not to mention its on the classic Juice movie soundtrack. I went to see Juice the day it opened at 9:30 am, just for the record and watched it twice. Also I’m a huge fan of wordplay and the title / hook really nailed that for me. Not to mention the bassline is just retarded when you hear that in the club, a timeless banger. Shout out to Rakim Allah, God Mc still holding it down. I got to open for Rakim in Baltimore no too long ago and that was one of my favorite gigs in a minute. Just rowdyness.

• Eric B. and Rakim | Know the Ledge

Oddly enough, I first heard about Kid Static through Whiskerino, a nationwide community of beard-growers of which a couple of my friends were a part. Turns out, the Chicago-bred Kid Static is, too. He even put on a show at their annual gathering in February in Nashville.

Kid Static was kind enough to offer up the 30th installment of I Used to Love H.E.R., a series in which artists/bloggers/writers discuss their most essential or favorite hip-hop albums. Check out Kid Static’s 2008 release In the Meantime, which garnered a 7.1 from Pitchfork.

• Kid Static | Man Up

Mos Def
Black on Both Sides (Rawkus, 1999)
I found out about Black on Both Sides in 1999, my junior year of high school, from this kid Ryan who was younger than me but had impeccable music taste. Back then, I was always head deep in some glitchy, stuttery drill n bass track or making some kind of beeping insanity on my computer. I was on my way to Coconuts to pick up Things Fall Apart from The Roots because I felt bad for burning it, and the Slim Shady LP because all my friends had it but me. Since I got back to my room and listened to it that first time, this album has permanently been in my rotation. A lot of people have mixed feelings about Mos Def, especially when he gives ad-libbed, mostly singing performances like he gave at Rock The Bells this year in Chicago. But when he’s on, he’s definitely on and this album is in my mind, his opus.

Over the years duke has been willing to experiment and go places a lot of rappers who see themselves as rappers won’t go. Mos Def seems to see himself as a musician with more to offer than just words to music. He plays instruments on five of the tracks on the album and his vocals, return to the flavor I personally liked from the days of Black Star. Favorites on the album include Fear Not of Man, New World Water, Mathematics and Ms. Fat Booty.

• Mos Def | Ms. Fat Booty
• Mos Def | Mathematics