CRIMINAL MINDED was the first of a string of albums (including RHYME PAYS, PAID IN FULL) which in 1987 established the blueprint for what would become hardcore or gangsta rap. A first in other respects as well, it shares PAID IN FULL's claim to the first James Brown samples; the sound generally setthe tone for the next decade of hip-hop production. The harder style that CRIMINAL MINDED introduced was a backlash to the Marley Marl/Juice Crew monopoly on mid-'80s hip-hop ("South Bronx" and "The Bridge is Over" express these sentimentsin no uncertain terms).
