Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury

Important and sadly still relevant messaging. Rapping and production is a bit dated, but I like it enough. My only real complaint is this album is way too long and some of the songs get rather repetitive. You could cut a few of these tracks in half or maybe just repeat the hooks and choruses like half as much and it would improve the album quite a bit in my opinion.

A more reserved Public Enemy.

The lyrics are thought provoking and the delivery is much different than other hip hop so it stands out to me. Although, he does kind of sound like a Barack Obama impersonater but I'm not upset about that either.

I like the sentiment, comrade. Smart lyrics - too pretentious? Liberal white man rap? Maybe. And as a liberal white man, preferred this over the gangsta bravado rap on this list.

Too much conscious hip hop for my liking. Sure they can be important to get your message out there, but I’d never come back to this songs willingly to listen to it. Originally it reminded me of rage against the machine, but they at least have awesome instrumentals that make me keep coming back. I wish there was more variety and a great example of this is Music and Politics being very different than the rest of the album but still felt like it was part of the record. I was really sick of it by the end of the album. Don’t bring me back here.

This felt like a really unique take on this early 90's hope hop genre. Felt like it really ventured outside the box on some of these tracks and for the most part it paid off. Somewhat surprised to have never heard of these guys before, but happy to know them now.

Love this. The influences from jazz and dub are great. Obviously I love angry political hip-hop. I will concede that they lyrics are a bit on the dry and wordy side though.

6/10… hip hop / rap / *1992

Hm, never heard of this artist before, let alone the album. Not sure what to expect here. "This one is a pretty wild artifact of early-90s political hip-hop. You’re basically getting spoken-word-heavy, industrial-tinged alternative rap rather than straightforward boom-bap." It also mentions that there is a lot of industrial sounds. So it might click. We'll give it a shot! It was okay. 3 stars.

Räppäykestä tulee Obama mieleen, sanoituksetkin poliittisia. Hauska kuulla kappale jossa valitetaan, miten televisio on huumetta, joka tekee ihmisistä tyhmiä. Ajat muuttuu. Vaihtoehtoista hiphoppia, instrut semmoiset industrial triphop tyyliset. Ihan hyviä ja mielenkiintosia kappaleita. Parhaat: Language of Violence, Music And Politics, California Uber Alles, Water Pistol Man

lol this sucks. The rapping is brutally bad. It's trying to be really conscious, but it's so hard to listen to any of the words when they have to offset the words that they're saying just to fit the rhythm that they're creating! Plus it's got that 90s bullshit. "If ever I stopped thinking about this album"

At times, this sounds more like a poetry slam with some beats playing in the background. I don't want to take away from the messages they're trying to deliver. The topics are important, and unfortunately, many have only gotten worse since this album came out. But as a whole, the music just doesn't do much for me. I understand what they're going for, but the execution never quite comes together.

Important album because of the several messages. This album deserved more listens but I guess that's life. The television song is quite powerful.

Interesting at first, but got a little sillier as it went on, not that that’s what I think this fella was going for. I just think it’s hard to make a serious point while referencing Amos N Andy, which was a super outdated name drop even by 1992. Anyway, this was ok, but I’ll never circle back. 6.5/10

If Gil Scott Heron and Public Enemy had an oops baby. Maybe my bad mood affected my listen, but this didn't do it for me. 2.5/5.

I always cringe slightly when an album is over an hour. I do think this guy has decent flow and he is rapping about important issues which… honestly is what hip hop is all about. There are some… questionable lyrics in here, but most of it is pretty decent. 4/5⭐️ 301/1089

Basta de álbumes que no tienen fundamento de estar en esta lista. Malo pero podría haber sido peor.

Tiene buenas bases, pero todo lo demás mal. Muy largo, canciones que no me dejan nada y no son fáciles de escuchar. No sé, no es lo peor que escuché, pero muy flojo.

This was pretty inspiring. The beats are classic 80/90s hiphop with great thoughtful lyrics.

This has not aged well. Public enemy for the MTV generation. Trying to be dangerous, calling out the state of the world, but the whole Public Enemy Lite shtick fails to impress several decades later

There were several tracks that I enjoyed on this album, which is unheard of for me and rap / hip hop. Not consistently good and the social commentary grates after a while but overall a surprisingly good album

It was fine for a little bit then got way too preachy and self-righteous. Also just mediocre in every aspect that’s not message, and even the message suffers from preachiness that’s way too on the nose to work well Top 3: Satanic Reverses, Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury, California Uber Alles

Für ein Hip Hop Album ok, aber nicht meine Musikrichtung 2/5

Great album. This and Spearhead are good hip-hop albums from a good artist

krindž političke poruke koje mjestimice nisu baš ni stihovi, više repetitivna recitacija, preko okej ili ne baš okej bitova. usto su pjesme preduge. eh [odslušao i napisao 25/10/26]

I like Michael Franti so I had high expectations going into this one. It's an interesting album, I didn't realize it was released 34 yrs ago, still relevant today. However, it's not something I could listen to daily.

Interesting situation here. Topical, phenomenal bars delivered with the worst flow imaginable over some really average beats. Might be more the speed of 1001 poetry collections to read before you die.

Rubbish.

Punk of my youth. Great album

I thought the music was alright but the message is important. I usually focus more on the sound than the lyrics of songs, but it wss really listening for this one. Even over 30 years later, many of the themes unfortunately hold relevant.

Scarily relevant politically in 2026. I enjoyed the statements, but it feels somewhat clinical. While other bands go into politics quite readily, they often show an anger that this album seems to lack a bit. Still enjoyable though.

like a time capsule for some of the beef, but mostly same problems different names

One of those LPs I'd have never heard were it not for the 1001 albums list. I'm glad I've discovered it. "Hypocrisy..." is a rare example of what they call industrial hip-hip, although it's questionable, as I could only hear clear industrial sound it a third of the tracks. It's that kind of conscious hip-hop with a high degree of politicization, which I liked. Not a fan of lyrics-centred music, but this was fun and quite peculiar to listen to. The beats were mostly raw and in that sense closer to industrial, but in numerious cases still not being quite it. There were various differences from ordinary hip-hop beats, like in "Social-Genetic Experiment", where the music was as its best. "Music and Politics", which could have easily been chosen as the album title, has the most notable stylistic deviation, as Michael starts singing(!) "California über Alles" was the worst track lyrics-wise, some banal leftist crap as compared with a more balanced critical approach seen in the rest of the album. But the track isn't even theirs, it's a cover. The political expression of the album isn't anything new, even considering its release year, but it is hands down decent. There are valuable thoughts here and there, like the one about the personal revolution being more important than the revolution itself. So, this is an album that's different not only because it avoids the countless slurs, racial slurs, mentions of drugs, hoes and stuff in the mainstream hip-hop, but also because it draws some elements from other genres and really plays with its sound. The Disposable Heroes did a good job in making this sound good; I even found it danceable a couple of times. So perhaps it isn't the GOAT political or conscious hip-hop specimen, but definitely the one worth attention and acclaim. Michael's got a good voice, and that apparent emotionlessness in his voice felt like the cover portrait and fit the tracks. Nice pick, 5/5 here. P.S. I listened to it in a unusual order, for my device missed two tracks while downloading. So I listened to "Language of Violence" and "The Winter of the Long Hot Summer" last.

Classic hip hop sound with lyrics that could have been written about last week.

I'm not interested in this.

Very interesting album! I think I really liked it and need to listen to it some more!

This was ok. It was very socially conscious rap. It was very of the time period because he talked a lot about George Bush being president. It also fit for this time period though because it talked about immigration, Palestine, racism, violence, etc. It had some interesting openings to the songs with news clips and TV shows. The rapper was very easy to understand. Some of the songs were too long. It was also a very long album - over an hour.

Esta chulo pero se me ha hecho un poco largo de más, si pudiera le daría 3.5 estrellas.

music is love

The first half - more than that, most of it - was really pretty great. A Public Enemy feel with pointed political lyrics, sharp and smart. At least 4 stars at that point. Enjoyed it and found it really interesting and engaging. It dropped off in the last four tracks though, so on the fence between 3 and 4 stars. At first I thought it would merit its listing... probably does?

An absolutely wild rap album. They simply don’t make this any more, out aside of like Macklemore. Just a guy on a track for 90 minutes rapping about every single issue to industrial noise beats. If this was one inch less sincere it would be corny, rude, annoying, or just off putting, but it some how manages to come back around to fun. This is like someone listing all the problems with the democracy while living in the future dystopia. It’s retro in a fun way.

The politics overshadow the beats but only because they are so jaw droppingly relevant to today, it is stunning to think the album is 35 years old. Also very depressing. Sonically, the album doesn't have much range but it is nice to hear This Mortal Coil being sampled. Twice. But it is the lyrics that will keep me returning to this. I knew 'Television Drug of The Nation's but it was wonderful to be exposed to the album. It makes you long for a re-release to highlight not how little we have advanced, but how far we've gone backwards. 3.5/5

They were talking about homophobia and Palestine in 1992. Impressive. Just literally spitting facts.

Digging this. It's rap before the crotch centric hip-hop took hold. The collage of samples coupled with the rhythm and lyrics makes for an interesting and thoughtful art piece.

Day 68 Fuck it, I'm introducing 3+ because this doesn't belong on the same tier as Heavy Weather but it's still too flawed for an honest 4. Fav track: Winter of the Long Hot Summer

hiphop guay

I surprisingly enjoyed this, funky, arty, deep. might be 4 soon

I feel very rich.

I waffled between 3 and 4 on this. I did feel like his cadence became a little monotonous over the course of an hour; however, I was completely engaged by the album and its message. I'm not sure how much relistenability it'll have but I dug it.

4/5

Fine, felt like Chuck D if all his raps or most fell flat 2

Solid

Surprisingly good album. Intelligent lyrics and smooth delivery.

Somehow I actually have heard this Amos and Andy song. But why? … Anyway, I know these songs weren’t supposed to be funny, but I just could not take his delivery seriously. My word. (ntm.)

You know what? I like this. Never heard it before. You know what else? It’s sad that what the songs talk about are still issues today.

Definitely didn't know Michael Franti was so political, love the Dead Kennedys cover!

The lyrics are as relevant today as 1992. Music can be a message. The delivery isn't unique track to track but the message is clearly heard. Not going to jam every day to this, will come back when I need a reminder.

This one got me to look up which hip hop albums are missing from the 1001 albums list and, I'm not gonna lie, I'm heated. There are so many essential hip hop albums missing from this list that take social commentary but have interesting beats or, for fuck's sake, would it kill you to have some flow. Fuck. What are we doin here? 1.5/5

Powerful. Giving it a 4/5 for the message.

This is stupid. Language of Violence was good, the rest made me lose braincells.

As others have mentioned, there's big Public Enemy energy here. It's quite a chill time. There's nice consistent beats and good rhymes. It does start to feel a bit one-note by the end, and the album IS long.

Amazing record

Fire. Favorite tracks: Satanic Reverses ; Water Pistol

Not particularly subtle lyrically but remarkably prescient. Beats & flows aren't particularly good/unique. Got increasingly tiresome the more I listened. Guaranteed this guy would have been a drag to hang out with. +1 star for something I've never heard of.

715/1001 2026.10.02 🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑

I'm sure it's great but not for me

Pretty powerful. Still hits hard. I'd present this as Exhibit A to those "back in the 90's we never thought about race" crew. Just because you weren't aware doesn't mean it wasn't happening, like it always has and, sadly, seems like always will. Good stuff here.

It’s hip hop - I’m not really moved by it

letras fortíssimas (e tão atuais como nunca), flow impecável e samples muito bem feitos. 3,5.

Shout out c’est lowkey un des meilleur album de rap qu’il ont mis à date. Shout out le genre de cover de uber alies c’est super cool

Very 90s, very long

This was a very good album with a rap style I enjoy. Conceptual songs about the real truth of America.

Not into hip hop. First track was mildly interesting in the beginning, but after that it became a noise. Gave up after half a dozen ‘songs.’

Not my thing.

Nije bas moj ukus muzike. Volim rep, i svidjami se kod ovog albuma što ima dosta različitog stila, nike samo bit i tekst nego ima i malo jazz-a.

I had heard Television The Drug Of A Nation before and the rest of the tracks are more of the same, the social concerns of Gen X. Very earnest and right-on, musically it is not that much but I like and agree with basically everything that's said. Goes to show that what is called wokeness in 2026 has always been around and sadly probably will always have to be. Keep fighting the fight, though.

Some seriously foundational lyrically awesome rap

חופר רצח

Subtlety is not one of this album's strong suits. It's interesting stuff and feel like it's really well put together. I love his singing on Music and Politics. Interesting as a reaction to other things happening in hip hop in 1992. Putting this in context - it came out the same year as the Chronic and the Low End Theory.

Ambitious hip hop still remains hip hop in my ears. Would have been rated higher if it wasn't so long

I have to be in the mood to listen to 90’s rap, but it’s good 90’s rap. The first song is an especially eerie prediction about the future that all turned out to be correct.

No está bueno

7/10 An incredibly political (and wordy) early-90s hip-hop album. It's fascinating how much things have changed yet how much has remained the same since the album's release. I think it drags on a bit too long, but it's pretty good overall.

Truths being spit over subpar music. The message is on point, but the music kinda sucks, man.

A forgotten classic. I'm not sure if I ever listened to this one all the way through and I'm pretty sure I ALMOST bought it several times. I wish I had. It's a little bit over the top but an absolutely wonderful bit of agitprop nostalgia.

The list has gone off the track! An hour of this? No thank you.

Cool, not my style tho

Somehow still relevant

You know what? Hell yeah. Gem in the rough Fave track: Television the Drug of the Nation

Political, conscious rap that I've never heard of. Fine with me. 3/5

4.4. Solid B+ socially conscious lyrics without being pandering and great beats

This album feels right on goal for exactly what it was going for. Yes, it feels dated, but it also just feels "out of time" in that there wasn't a lot of other artists that did anything quite like this. There are other "conscious" rappers and hip hop, but the style of this MC and the music is very unique, and the messages are still as strong and clear as ever. I don't this it is a flawless album, as it outstays its welcome and could have used some more rhythms and breaks in the vocal flow, but it is very good still.

Olipas jännä levy. Musisointi ja räptääminen oli just semmosen tyylistä mistä ite tykkään. Lisäksi ei mitään bitches n hos niga niga juttua vaan aika erikoisia aihepiirejä räptilevylle

Melko painavaa sanaa, eioo Ameriikka tai maailman tila lopulta hirveesti muuttunu vaikka ennen oli asiat paremmin. Musiikkina tosi perus ysärin alun hiphoppia/räppiä, aivan menevää, muttei mitään sen ihmeempää, että olis mieleen jäänyt, tai tarvetta jäänyt lisää makustella.

You know that when the first lyric that hits is about OPEC it's gonna be a good album. There's a shocking amount of good politics in here, and I have no idea how you could even learn about most of this stuff in the early 90s like that. Information wasn't as easy to get as it is now. Even pushing back against homophobia. I was a 90s kid and that was not a popular position! The music itself isn't amazing, but it felt pretty affirming and engaging to listen to. It's good as entertainment but I have to dock a star for not being amazing as music.

It is disappointing to hear that the same problems that existed 34 years ago are still the same problems that exist today. Not my type of music or rather rap poetry, it is an interesting look back.

Listened before? No Familiar with the artist? No - going in to this one completely blind! Thoughts: - I've definitely said this before about albums on the list, and I'm sure I'll say it again: it's depressing how relevant this entire thing still is. I actually had to double check that it was released in 1992. - Lyrically great, but musically not all that interesting to me. It also feels pretty long. Favorite track(s): Hipocricy is the Greatest Luxury

This was a hard listen for me. The similarities in his voice to Chuck D was very distracting. There's a level of conscious hip-hop that is hard for me to listen to, and this album definitely fits into that classification. This is like if a slam poetry artist decided to make an album, and not in a good way. Everything was far too preachy for my liking. His delivery felt the same for most of the songs - I really wish he had switched his flow up more.

Che cagata

A little long and preachy, but I do enjoy some righteously angry Public Enemy-style rap. (Just in smaller doses!)