LOUIS PANTELAKOS JR.

mudewaters@aol.com

San Jose, Calif.

I enjoyed your article ''Bring the Noise.'' I agreed with your list of the 25 best rap albums, with one exception. Understanding that you labeled your list ''highly subjective,'' I still find it impossible to believe that you could have left off an album as important to hip-hop as N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton. If Straight Outta Compton hadn't paved the way for gangsta rap, Death Certificate, The Chronic, and half of the rest wouldn't be on your list at all. Love it or hate it, rap is what it is today because of that album.

MATT FRYE

b.fett@verizon.net

Wilsonville, Ore.

You must be kidding that the best rapper ever, Tupac Shakur, has not one record on your list of the 25 greatest hip-hop albums. Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me are absolute classics with actual messages in the lyrics — unlike the mindless garbage that Eminem puts out on your No. 17 album.

RORY MCCORMICK

roryjmccormick@hotmail.com

Tempe, Ariz.

Law of Desire

Your hypothesis that the failure of Alfie has to do with Jude Law's inability to open a movie is preposterous (''Law of Attraction,'' News & Notes)! Here's a more reasonable explanation for Alfie's woes — the movie was clearly marketed toward women yet is about a total cad who is also a commitmentphobe. Clue to movie producers: People go to the movies to take a break from reality. What woman needs to shell out eight bucks to watch a fictional jerk like this one, when there are so many out there waiting to meet her in the real world? Give Jude Law a break!

TRACI EXT

Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Originally posted Dec 01, 1979 Published in issue #796 Dec 10, 2004 Order article reprints
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