Ok, I’ve been doing alot of research lately, listening to all kinds of rap music, to come to a logical conclusion on which is infact, the top 20 hip-hop/rap albums EVER.
Now, if you’re interested in finding out, you must know what categories i judged these albums upon.
1.Lyrical Content
2.Productions(Beats, and engineering)
3.Cleverness, Unique, Creativity, Originality
4.Distinction And Innovation
So Lets Get Into Our List With An All Time Favorite
20.Lupe Fiasco – Lupe’s Food & Liquor
Dropping In 2006 Lupe’s Talent, Lyrical Ability, Creativity, and Originality, all gave hip hop a breath of fresh air. The outstanding production from Neptunes, West, Needlz, and Mike Shinoda gave only added to the talented young rappers LP, and really opened the eyes to a new breed of listeners. With collabs from only Jay Z and Jill Scott, Lupe still managed to impress the industry with his rookie album.
Tracks To Peep
Daydreamin
Hurt Me Soul
Pressure
19.Jadakiss – Kiss Of Death
The first thing to mention when speaking of this album is the CRAZY production, production from people like alchemist, neptunes, swizz beats, eminem, havoc, scott storch, and Dj Quik, this album is destined to be a hit, which is exactly what this 18 track album turned out to be. Jadakiss really shocked the world and really proved that he has what it takes to be a legend. His single “why” featuring athony hamilton really had the hip hop community thinking and pondering over the thought provoking question, Why?
Why
Real Hip Hop
Kiss Of Death
18.Outkast – ATLiens
OutKast has almost singlehandedly defined the sound of Atlanta rap. Tongue-flippin’, rhyme-spittin’ and Cadillac-ridin’, all with a Southern accent, Big Boi and Dre have proved tobe the South’s ideal MCs. ATLIENS continues in the same vein as Outkast’s 1994 debut, SOUTHERNPLAYALISTICADILLACMUZIK, with producers Organized Noize back to accompany the duo’s laid-back flow. Big Boi and Dre proclaim to prove a point with every rhyme, never wasting a line. They like to think of themselves as outcasts from the hip-hop community–aliens,so to speak. Their tracks have an outer-space feeling to them–a feeling that, ironically, has warmed the community right up to them. They’re so out, they’re in.
Tracks To Check out:
Elevator
Babylon
Two Dope Boyz
17. DMX – It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot
“despite the album’s largely standard-issue beats and rhymes, both DMX’s forceful voice and solid production have moments of greatness. At times DMX even manages to squeeze memorable hooks out of this otherwise claustrophobic release.”
Couldnt have said it better myself, this album went platinum, not to mention within the week DMX was arrested for rape charges.
Check out:
Stop Being Greedy
X Is Comin
For My Dogz
16.Mos Def – Black On Both Sides
This album was a manifestation of compelling, real, honest hip hop. Packed with knowledge, intellect, humor, and entertainment. Really something inspirational, especially to the hip hop community.
Brooklyn
Ms Fat Booty
Hip Hop
15.All Eyez On Me – 2Pac
There is no doubt, that whether you’re white, green, purple, or pink, this album will inspire you. This album is full of Knowledge, stories, warnings, thought provoking words, and best of all entertainment.Unquestionably the most nihilistic album to ever hit the billboard charts.
Wonder Why They Call U
No More Pain
Rather Be Ya
2 Of Americas Most Wanted
14.A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders
The very original, and magnificent tribe called quest dropped an album for the world to respect. Although it comes together like a seamless tutorial in jazz hip-hop style, it comes together so damn well that it’s hard for any one track to excel, cursing the album with consistent quality.
Oh My God
8 Million Stories
God Lives Through
13.Jay Z – Blue Print
Argueably, Jay’s 2nd best album, with a track for every type of hip hop fan, Jay Z came with phenominal production, and lyrics to back it up. Struck the rap game with a thunderous release, showing that he does have the ‘blueprint’ to the rap game.
Song Cry
Renegade
Izzo(H.O.V.A)
12.The Chronic – Dr. Dre
When a part of N.W.A’s Straight outta compton, dre proved that he was a serious artist to the game, but The Chronic only verified the fact. With the soulful, but Thug production, and the humorous yet informal lyrics, Dre made an instant classic for the world to remember.
Lyrical Gangbang
Nuthin But A G Thang
Let Me Ride
11.DoggyStyle – Snoop Doggy Dogg
All thats needed is to mention the production by Dre & Suge Knight, and you’ll definitely realize this is a classic. Being snoops first album he really set it off, with his gangsta, laid back, lyrical talent.
Aint No Fun
Gin And Juice
Murder Was The Case
10.Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers – Wu-Tang Clan
This debut revolutionized hip-hop (and launched half a dozen solo careers), as much for The RZA’s raw barrage of off-kilter, off-key loops and sound effects as for its elliptically violent lyrics. Martial arts–at least as they appear in kung fu movies–are the Wu-Tang Clan’s favorite metaphor, but they’re also the organizing principle of the group, a crowd of eight rappers, each with his own way-out-there “fighting style.
C.R.E.A.M
Shame On A Nigga
Tearz
9.Reasonable Doubt – Jay-Z
Jay-Z’s classic debut is a compelling reflection on his life as a hustler. It’s invested with an uncommon complexity and candor that has noticeably faded in his later material. Armed with clever phrasing and sly deadpan wit, Jay-Z navigates indulgent romps (“Can’t Knock the Hustle”), thought-provoking introspection (“Regrets”), and devastating street-corner soliloquies (“Friend or Foe”) with savvy composure. And the outrageous production by Dj Premier And Ski, only tops this album off as a pure classic.
Can I Live
Feelin It
22 Twos
Dead Presidents
D’Evils
8.Ready to Die – Notorious B.I.G.
It’s a good album…wait no a great album…forget that it’s the BEST by B.I.G album. When biggie dropped this album it hit like an atomic bomb, totally re-arranging the rap world and driving the fledging east-coast back to the top. Normally I would tell you my favorite tracks but I’ll just break it down with the whole damn CD is amazing.
Juicy
Things Done Changed
Gimme The Loot
7.Only Built 4 Cuban Linx – Raekwon
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is arguably the best quasi-solo Wu-Tang album.Most of contemporary hip-hop’s Mafioso-inspired themes and MC street aliases are inspired by the “Wu-Gambinos” motif introduced on this 18-cut LP. As the Wu’s preeminent storyteller, Raekwon (a.k.a. “The Chef”) paints Technicolor Kool G Rap-style pictures of high-stakes drug trafficking on “Criminology,” and then mixes his street sensibility with 5% Nation of Islam reasoning on “Knowledge God.
Heaven & Hell
Criminology
Verbal Intercourse
6.Aquemini – Outkast
It takes a few listens to sink in, but on Aquemini, Outkast have pulled off a rare feat in hip-hop: they’ve made a good record that’s a masterpiece of subtlety. What’s more, it’s their third record, and they’ve yet to fall into a rut–and that alone puts them in line for an award. The Organized Noize production crew is sublime, working with live musicians and crafting hook-filled soundscapes that complement Big Boi and Andre Benjamin’s melodic patter.
Rosa Parks
Chonkyfire
Liberation
5.Me Agai
nst the World – 2Pac
The gruesome details surrounding Tupac’s third solo offering are enough to give any music fan the willies. Released when Tupac was in jail serving time for a rape conviction and just after his recovery from being shot-up gangland-style at a recording studio, this was his most introspective piece of work to date. It reallys seems as if he put his all into this album, which made it great.
Dear Mama
It Aint Easy
So Many Tears
4.Stillmatic – Nas
Nas returns to his grimy, hardcore roots. On “Ether,” Nas disses Jay-Z mercilessly (a response to Jay-Z’s anti-Nas stabs on “Takeover” from The Blueprint). Nas then proceeds to dis Prodigy of Mobb Deep and a whole slew of other Queensbridge-based MCs on “Destroy and Rebuild.” When he’s not busy tearing into fellow New York-based MCs, Nas pulls a politico routine on “My Country,” questioning the blind patriotism of many African Americans, flips rhymes with former Firm compadre AZ on “The Flyest,” and pays homage to Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G on “Got Ur Self a….” From top to bottom, left to right this is absolutely one of hip hops greatest albums, from one of hip hops greatest Emcees.
Rewind
Ether
My Country
3.Get Rich Or Die Trying – 50 Cent
One of hip hops most phenominal rookie albums, the production, lyrics, style was all dope. Is it different from most of the rap albums out today? Not really. What IS different is while others fail in their execution, this one almost hits the dime every time (no pun intended). I found this album to be pretty addicting. It takes awhile for it to grow on you, but when it does you can’t get it out of your head. arguably the best emcee to explode since eminem.
Many Men
21 Questions
In Da Club
2. Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem
From all angles, eminem lyrically destroyed every beat he was put on, with his humorous, but yet evil, intellectual, but yet humorous style, he really deserved this list. Being the biggest white rapper since Vanilla Ice, eminem has undoubtely made his position known, and impressed every true hip hop fan there is.
Stan
Who Knew
The Way I Am
1.Illmatic – Nas
I know you seen it coming. Is there even a need to explain why this is a dope album. every seconds played is pure street hip hop, knowledgeable, informative, inspirational music. This album has proven that Nas is a threat to the hip hop community, on his rookie album, he delivered something that has yet to been matched, Illmatic.
Peep Every track on the album and see if im just talking.
