A word of warning and even encouragement. Lots of rappers think they’re hot now but Lu doesn’t think their music is higher than his eyebrows, i.e., over his head or means.

Ronnie is a female stripper character in the 1998 drama ‘The Players Club’, directed by Ice Cube. In the film, Ronnie sexually takes advantage of another character — Diana Armstrong or ‘Diamond’.

On September 29, 1998, Outkast hit the world with Aquemini on LaFace and Arista Records. With its relatively left-field approach, the duo’s third LP stuck out like an awesome genre-bending thumb in the midst of the hardcore, materialistic and gangster Hip-Hop released in the year.

Outkast’s methods — and by extension those of their collective, the Dungeon Family — were questioned by some before, but this album sealed their lofty status and their style began to seep into the works of artists from other coasts and gain the south respect. ANTHM refers to Da Art of Storytellin' Part 1 & Part 2 which were featured on Aquemini and produced by Mr. DJ, and Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, their song and album produced entirely by Organized Noize, both of the Dungeon Family.

Not many rappers can manage two full length LP’s in a year, but DMX did that in 1998, releasing his solo debut, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, on May 19 & Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood on December 22 on Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings. Did we mention they both debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200? Only 2Pac did it before then (All Eyez on Me, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory), with Nas managing it in 1999 (I Am…, Nastradamus).

Needless to say you could hear DMX’s music everywhere in ‘98, and How’s It Goin' Down was one of It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot’s singles.

Kool G Rap released his second solo studio album, Roots of Evil, on October 20, 1998 on his own label, Illstreet/Downlow. If you know G Rap, you’ll know he’s a pioneer synonymous with guttural and hardcore, but dexterous rap. He’s a master of the multisyllabic flow that influenced, amongst other greats, Big Pun, who was often compared to him. The two got together on The X-Ecutioner’s Dramacide.

Also known as when Jigga dumbed down for his audience to double his dollars, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life was released September 29, 1998 on Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. ANTHM plays on and refers to its title and title track — a rare and prized Hip-Hop production by The 45 King — and the single Money Ain’t a Thang.

The latter featured and was produced by Jermaine Dupri and also appeared on his debut album, Life in 1472. Released July 21, 1998, it may possibly be one of the first albums to feature both Jigga and Nas.

More contrast between classics, this time between Big Pun’s Capital Punishment and Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, released April 28, 1998 and August 25, 1998 respectively. Regardless of the differences, he was able to recognize quality when he heard and saw it.

Money, Power & Respect was released January 13, 1998 and served as The LOX’s debut album, released on Diddy’s infamous Bad Boy Records.

Of course this album is quite a contrast to Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, and prominently featured hardcore and party songs. ANTHM ties it to the former by calling that album a conscious rap party. More contrast comes from their differing performances on the charts — the former peaked #53 on the Billboard 200, this reached #3.

On August 26, 1998 Rawkus Records presented Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, an album lauded as one of the best Hip-Hop efforts to date. It’s title is a reference to Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line, a shipping line he founded on June 23, 1919. Throughout its 13 tracks Mos and Kweli spat conscious and enlightened lyrics through frankness, deep metaphors and vivid imagery — it’s easy to get lost in the lyricism, take Respiration for example.

Taken from a 1992 interview with Super Cat on Yo! Raps. Interestingly, Heavy D was present and Don Dada performed Ghetto Red Hot, a single released in that year with an alternative Hip-Hop mix produced by Bobby Konders and Salaam Remi. In this case, Nas is that ghetto representative.

“Hortical” is Jamaican patois generally used to refer to someone who’s genuine or respected. In the final lines of the previous song on the LP, Nasir addresses Donism, which is part of being hortical is his case.