These are my favorite Hip Hop Albums. Don't get it twisted either, these are in no particular order, just a list!
The first time I heard the "Marshall Mathers LP" was the year 2000 when I was 10 years old. Back then I was bumpin' the edited version cause my auntie, who bought me the album thought I was too young for the PA version. The album was EPIC for two reasons, one was the lyrics, even edited (they kept in the bitches, ass, damns, shits really just took out the fucks) were unlike anything I had EVER heard before. The second reason was because there was a entire track COMPLETELY changed on the PA version. This song of course was "Kim" which was replaced by "The Kids" on the edited release. Small story, I remember going to Virgin Records and listening to the album just to hear the song "Kim" in those big headphones they had at the listening booths. I remember not even getting through a 1/3rd of the song before I became too afraid to even listen to the rest. Now looking back, (finally owning the unedited version btw) this album is still one of my favorite Hip Hop albums of all time.
*Best Songs: "Kill You", "Stan", "Who Knew", "Amityville", "I'm Back"
9. Common - "Like Water For Chocolate"
Common's "Like Water For Chocolate", though not his first album I heard, has consistently been my favorite of his releases. Everything about this album was soulful to me from the love songs to the awareness songs, there is, in my mind no other album that captures art, life, war, pain, and beauty like this album does. Even the cover by Gordon Parks speaks of experiences that make for great music based on the incredible history of a people. This is for sure an album I would refer to any fans of music in general because Common drops straight knowledge on this release!
*Best Songs: "The Light", "The Questions", "The 6th Sense", "A Song For Assata"
8. Black Star - "Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are..."
You wanna talk about Hip Hop duo's you'll probably bring up Outkast, Dead Prez, Public Enemy but you cannot forget the duo that's not actually a duo, Mos Def and Talib Kweli the solo artists that together make up the group Black Star. Now me personally am not a big fan of Talib but in my opinion he shines the best on this album alongside the man who cannot be touched by mere mortals the Mighty Mos Def. Together they bring a incredible album full of knowledge, creativity, art etc. and cement themselves as two of the best to ever do it. This was one of those albums I could listen to over and over and never get tired of it real talk.
*Best Songs: "Astronomy (8th Light)", "Definition", "Brown Skin Lady", "Thieves In The Night"
7. Outkast - "Aquemini"
For some reason people fail to acknowledge how effin' dope this album is. I think of this album as the quintessential Outkast album in every element from the album cover to the song lyrics. They should've just went ahead and self titled it because this release covers so many genres, so many styles, so many thoughts it's simply what makes Outkast themselves and to this day no one has been able to match them on their level of genius in Hip Hop.
*Best Songs: "Aquemini", "Spottieottiedopealicious", "Da Art of Storytellin' Pt. 2", "Liberation"
6. The Notorious B.I.G. - "Ready To Die"
Every time I play this album I just imagine what it would have been like listening to this when it came out. I was only four years old and not bumpin' to Hip Hop yet but I'm sure speakers were going crazy over this album. Biggie, Notorious B.I.G., Christopher Wallace, whatever you call him, created one of the greatest debut releases with "Ready To Die". It was more documentary than music, soundtrack almost to a life on the come up from the grime to the limelight and Big was the storyteller. Although less noticed outside of Hip Hop than 2Pac I believe Biggie was Hip Hop's Malcolm X, alot less respected and less far reaching but plenty more doper (no disrespect to MLK or 'Pac). This album is for sure one that needs to be played from cover to cover and it's a shame we could not get more from this great artist before his untimely death.
*Best Songs: "Gimme The Loot", "The What", "Machine Gun Funk", "Juicy"
5. Nas - "Illmatic"
Okay, Okay, I haven't forgotten. There was a time I was mislead and didn't really like Nas. That has since changed. Illmatic, if not the greatest Hip Hop album of all time is for sure placed in the top five. Nas was so much more than a emcee, he was a poet and how he ripped beats was almost un-human. EVERY song on this album is a classic and even influenced the classics to follow it such as "Ready To Die" and even "Tha Carter III" both using the baby as their album covers. You want some Hip Hop? Consult Nas for the realness
*Best Songs: "Life's A Bitch", "Halftime", "Memory Lane (Sittin in Da Park)", "The World Is Yours"
4. Drake - "Comeback Season"
Two things, I am aware this is only a mixtape and number two I am aware this is Drake "Jimmy" from Degrassi we are talking about, but you listen to this album as a Hip Hop fan and tell me it's not amazing! Most of ya'll just jumped on the Drake bandwagon (which is cool) but I've been playing dude since the "Room For Improvement" mixtape and I feel this is one of the best releases to come out of a modern artist. Quotables on pretty much EVERY song, Drake shows a dedication and perfection to his craft that hasn't been seen in a LONG TIME. I don't want to say Drake is the savior but I'm sure he is gonna be a leader of this return to Hip Hop.
*Best Songs: "Closer", "Going In For Life", "Think Good Thoughts", "The Last Hope"
3. Fugees - "The Score"
Are the Fugees the greatest Hip Hop group in history? If not that, they surely are the most talked about. Lauryn, Pras and Wyclef together recorded only 2 albums (one of which wasn't a fully marketed release) making "The Score" the talk of legendary status. Will we ever get another Fugees album or will the problems within the group make us hold out longer (it's been 13 years guys...13). We can only hope for the best..
*Best Songs: "How Many Mics", "Ready Or Not", "Killing Me Softly", "Fu-Gee-La"
2. Pharcyde - "Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde"
This album is unlike anything I have ever heard. The crazy style of ODB matched with the imagery that only the members of Pharcyde could create this album is in two words a Bizarre ride. From Fat Lip talking about his run in with a transexual to the classic Hip Hop joint "Passing Me By" Everything about this album is 100.
*Best Songs: "Passing Me By", "Oh Shit", "4 Better Or 4 Worse", "Ya Mama"
1. Prince Paul - "A Prince Among Thieves"
You wanna talk about a concept album? This is in my opinion along with maybe Pink Floyd's "The Wall" the best concept album ever made. Way under respected this album is incredible.
*Best Songs: This album is one full story so it's impossible to pick through
WORTH MENTIONING The Close But No Cigars:
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Jay-Z - American Gangster
Ol' Dirty Bastard - Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??!
Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle
Souls Of Mischief - 93' Til Infinity
Yesss,
Rhias?!?!
