Category: Rankings

Chuck Klosterman’s Best Books

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date June 27, 2022
No Comments on Chuck Klosterman’s Best Books

“I think anyone who’s not as good a writer as me is absolutely a hack, and I think anybody who’s a slightly better writer than me is brilliant.”
– Chuck Klosterman

I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that Chuck Klosterman influenced a generation of writers and unconsciously blazed a path for how online critique and analysis would be presented in the first two decades of the 21st Century.

He came to the realization that “people want to think critically about the art that informs their life,” and has created a successful, impactful career as a result.

Tags Books, Chuck Klosterman, Ranking, Reading

Hip-Hop Lists Rankings Rap

What Does Rolling Stone Know About Hip-Hop?

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date June 9, 2022
1 Comment on What Does Rolling Stone Know About Hip-Hop?

I don’t know what’s worse – the rankings or the omissions

“Fuck The Source, I’m on the cover of Rolling Stone!”

– 50 Cent

Lists and rankings are easy ways to create attention and chatter, especially in the internet era.

We all know this. There are countless terrible rap lists floating around online and I’ve been as guilty as anyone (my first book, The Hip-Hop 10 is always available for purchase!), but there are levels to this.

Tags Hip-Hop, Rap

Books Lessons Rankings Reviews

Ranking Ryan Holiday’s Books

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date September 24, 2021
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Ryan Holiday is my favorite author.

Tags Books, Rankings, Reading, Ryan Holiday

Craft Beer Greatness Rankings

My (Ongoing) Five Year Quest to Drink the “25 Beers You Need to Try Before You Die” [Updated]

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date October 16, 2020
No Comments on My (Ongoing) Five Year Quest to Drink the “25 Beers You Need to Try Before You Die” [Updated]

I used to be a bit of a beer snob, but even at my height I was never the snobbiest nor the most knowledgeable person around. I don’t brew my own beer. I don’t spend all of my money searching for that one special beer. And I don’t study the intricacies of it. It was mo re enjoyment than obsession.

But I do love a good beer and I know a decent amount about it, to the point that I know what I like and can have reasonably intelligent conversations about it, back when we used to gather around a table and have conversations.

Tags Beer, Craft Beer, Happiness, Quest, Rankings, Writing

Career Films Life Opinion Rankings Sports, Rhymes, Books & Life Writing

My Very Best Writing of 2018

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date December 13, 2018
No Comments on My Very Best Writing of 2018

Another whirlwind year.

Tags Batman, Best of 2018, Career, Eminem, Jay-Z, LeBron James, Life, Nas, Philadelphia Eagles, Work, Writing

Hip-Hop Rankings Rap

Ranking Jay-Z’s Albums

Jay-Z is the most successful emcee in history. With 14 number one albums on the Billboard chart (11 in a row as a solo artist), 21 Grammys, over 100 million records sold, and countless other side deals, he has repeatedly gone beyond the normal bounds of what a rapper could do.

Tags American Gangster, Hip-Hop, Jay-Z, Kingdom Come, Rap, Reasonable Doubt

Hip-Hop Rankings Rap

Ranking Nas’s Albums

For three decades, ever since he first stole the show on Main Source’s “Live at the BBQ” all the way back in 1991, Nas has been crafting incredible rhymes and blessing microphones. He has a stack of classic verses, to the point that some of them don’t even appear on his own LPs.

Though undoubtedly one of the all-time greats, his career has had its highs and lows, his artistic ambition sometimes taking him to new heights, while other times leading him to stray from what made a living legend.

When he’s at his best, no one is better.

So which projects are his best?

Tags Hip-Hop, I Am..., Illmatic, Nas, Nastradamus, Rap

Hip-Hop Rankings Rap Wu-Tang Clan

The Top 20 Wu-Tang Albums

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date November 9, 2018
No Comments on The Top 20 Wu-Tang Albums

Below is a list I created in November, 2013, in honor of the 20th anniversary of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). It was published on Medium and then republished by Hip Hop Golden Age. In honor of today – November 9, 2018 – being the 25th anniversary of the release of that album, I chose to post it here. Please keep in mind that this list hasn’t been changed, amended or updated in five years. Any projects that came out since then were obviously not considered. Reading back through the list, there are minor changes I might like to make – I think Cuban Linx…Pt. II is a bit too low – but it’s been out there for a half-decade so I’ll leave the list as it is. Please tell me how wrong I got it in the comments below.

Wu-Tang Forever!

-CP 11/9/18

Tags Classics, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Ghostface Killah, GZA, Hip-Hop, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Method Man, ODB, Raekwon, Rankings, Rap, RZA, U-God, Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang Clan

Hip-Hop Rankings Rap

Ranking Eminem’s Albums

“[Eminem] seems to revel in the ways that he can break and reshape the laws of the language.”

– Adam Bradley, Book of Rhymes

Eminem is one of the all-time greats, a surefire future hall of famer. He’s one of the most commercially successful musicians ever, the second highest-selling singles artist of all time with over 220 million records sold worldwide and nine consecutive number one albums (including his greatest hits collection). Six of his major label releases have won the Grammy for Best Rap Album (he has fifteen in total).

Tags Eminem, Hip-Hop, Rap, Relapse, Slim Shady

Films Movies Rankings

Ranking Every Batman Movie

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date January 8, 2018
No Comments on Ranking Every Batman Movie

What is the best Batman film of all time?

I’m asked the question often.

Tags Batman, Batman v Superman, Batman: The Animated Series, Ben Affleck, The Dark Knight