A breath of fresh air in the gangsta-dominated mid-'90s, ' breakthrough album, , marked the beginning of a resurgence in . Its left-field, multi-platinum success proved there was a substantial untapped audience with an appreciation for music but little interest in thug life. 's eclecticism, social consciousness, and smarts drew millions of latent listeners back into the fold, showing just how much the music had grown up. It not only catapulted into stardom, but also launched the productive solo careers of and , the latter of whom already ranks as one of the top female MCs of all time based on her work here. Not just a collection of individual talents, ' three MCs all share a crackling chemistry and a wide-ranging taste in music. Their strong fondness for is underscored by the two hit covers given slight makeovers ( 's ). Even when they're not relying on easily recognizable tunes, their original material is powered by a raft of indelible hooks, especially the great ; there are also touches of , and the recognizable samples range from to . Their protest tracks are often biting, yet tempered with pathos and humanity, whether they're attacking racial profiling among police ( ), the insecurity behind violent posturing ( ), or the inability of many black people in the Western Hemisphere to trace their familial roots ( ). Yeah, the Chinese restaurant skit is a little dicey, but on the whole, balances intelligence and accessibility with an easy assurance, and ranks as one of the most distinctive albums of its era. ~ Steve Huey