1
2Pac
All Eyez on Me (1996)
This is the finest piece of material to be released by this most Legendary and influential rapper.It was made in just under a couple of weeks.It is a miracle that an album that was made so quickly can still be this great.Definitely a West Coast Classic!
2
N.W.A
Straight Outta Compton (1988)
At a time when east coast rap ruled and when Rappers were talking about being happy,N.W.A. came in and changed the rules of the game by
bringing Gangsta-Rap to the mainstream.A blood-soaked masterpiece!
3
Dr. Dre
The Chronic (1992)
Wow!It did so much for Rap.It introduced the world to G-Funk.It made
the West Coast the most popular coast in rap.It also introduced the
world to the Rap Legend Snoop Dogg.
4
Nas
Illmatic (1994)
This is the album upon which Nas's reputation rests upon.Definitely one of the all-time greats (especially for the East Coast).
5
The Notorious B.I.G.
Ready to Die (1994)
This is the album that revitalized East Coast Rap and showed the world the natural talent for this Legend.Filled with great songs!
6
Jay-Z
Reasonable Doubt (1996)
This classic album made Hova an instant Legend,it is one of the finest debuts in the history of Hip-Hop!
7
Ice Cube
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990)
Ice Cube was born to join and leave N.W.A..After all,he was the most talented emcee of the whole group.Not even "Straight Outta Compton"
can prepare you for this hard-core,west-coast masterpiece!
8
Public Enemy
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
This album is so revolutionary!Public Enemy definitely has an important message in their music.Many have tried to imitate their political style,but never came close to being as great or as informative as them.Like Chuck D said,"Rap is our CNN".
9
Run-D.M.C.
Raising Hell (1986)
Run D.M.C. brought rap to the mainstream and their influence is Definitive!This is them at their very best.
10
Eric B. & Rakim
Paid in Full (1987)
Rakim had the smothest flow in the history of Rap music and he sounded great over Eric's jazzy beats.Their debut album resulted in this land-mark Hip-Hop album!
11
Snoop Dogg
Doggystyle (1993)
This album took G-Funk to the next level.It is a carbon-copy of "The Chronic",but the amazing thing about the album is that it is as good as "The Chronic".By far Snoop's best work.
12
Eminem
The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
Dark, hard, shocking, controversial, and brilliant.
13
Eazy-E
Eazy-Duz-It (1988)
The Godfather of Gangsta Rap's debut album.Eazy-E might not of been one of the most talented emcees,but he is still a Legend.This is a
semi-sequel to "Straight Outta Compton" and was made very quickly after it,due to the success of "Straight Outta Compton".
14
Wu-Tang Clan
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
This album made all the members of the group Rap Legend's (especially
Method Man).Definitely one of the greatest Hip-Hop albums ever!
R.I.P. ODB.
15
OutKast
Speakerboxxx / The Love Below (2003)
This is the most innovative Rap album of all time.It is also the newest addition to the essential Hip-Hop albums!
16
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill (1991)
This is Cypress Hill's debut.It is filled with funky beats,great rhymes and B Real's excellent hellium flow!
17
Geto Boys
Grip It! On That Other Level (1989)
This is arguably one of the most controversial albums of all time.Everything on here is raw,from the beats to the rhymes.Definitely different!
18
Da Lench Mob
Guerillas in tha Mist (1992)
This is the most underrated essential Hip-Hop album of all time!
19
The D.O.C.
No One Can Do It Better (1989)
This was before he got into his horrible car accident,back when he had a strong flow and a major influence in Gangsta Rap.
20
LL Cool J
Radio (1985)
This was when LL Cool J was still good.Definitely a great way for this Legendary Rapper to kick off his long-lived career!His best work.
21
Boogie Down Productions
Criminal Minded (1987)
The reason this is an essential Hip-Hop album is,because it marked the invention of Gangsta Rap.
22
Slick Rick
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988)
Slick Rick is one of the greatest storytellers in the history of Rap and this is his best work!
23
Scarface
The Diary (1994)
Scarface is the most talented member of Geto Boys and this is his best album!
24
Kanye West
The College Dropout (2004)
Kanye West is definitely the best emcee around right now and he proves it with this excellent debut of an album!
25
Eminem
The Slim Shady LP (1999)
Although many people may hate him this album still marked a turning point in Hip-Hop history,the first talented white rapper (there have been so many embarassments such as Vanilla Ice).The arrival of the "King Of Controversy".
26
Ice-T
O.G. Original Gangster (1991)
Ice-T is a "Gangsta Rap" pioneer and this is a classic album in the world of Hip-Hop.
27
Big Punisher
Capital Punishment (1998)
Big Pun has such a great flow and he is also a great lyricist.This album just makes me proud to be a Latino!
28
2Pac
Me Against the World (1995)
This is this legendary arist at his darkest.On this he is self-reflective,soul-bearing,honest,and introspective.
29
Ice Cube
Death Certificate (1991)
What's amazing is how he can talk about Politics while keeping it street and sounding hard.A great way to follow up his classic debut, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted!
30
The Notorious B.I.G.
Life After Death (1997)
This just proves that he still holds the title of the "King Of N.Y.",even in death.
31
Eric B. & Rakim
Follow the Leader (1988)
On this album Rakim's flow and his lyrics are as great as ever!Eric B.s jazzy beats just make the album sound even better!
32
Public Enemy
Fear of a Black Planet (1990)
It's a great way for this legendary group to follow up It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back,a great album in it's own right.
_Elvis was a hero to most but he never meant shit to me / Is he straight up racist / The sucker was simple and plain / Mother Fuck him and John Wayne_
From the song, Fight The Power.
Classic line right there!
33
Nas
Stillmatic (2001)
The greatest comeback in the history of hip-hop,he showed Jay-Z that he has tough competition to compete with for the titile of "King Of N.Y."!
34
Jay-Z
The Blueprint (2001)
This is his hottest album since Reasonable Doubt!This is a modern day Hip-Hop Classic!
35
Ice-T
Rhyme Pays (1987)
This is the first ever classic Hip-Hop album for the West Coast!
36
Makaveli
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996)
Every song on this album is very heartfelt.It can make you sit back and question the existence of the late Tupac Amaru Shakur.It was completed before he died and released in death. R.I.P.
37
A Tribe Called Quest
The Low End Theory (1991)
True art. Pure, original, laid-back, and cool Hip Hop!!!!
38
Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
The Greatest female Mc at her finest. I can't wait until she unveils some new material.
39
Common
Be (2005)
It's so refreshing to hear a real mc, especially, with all the c rap that's going on in hip-hop right now.
40
The Game
You Know What It Is Vol. 3 (mixtape) (2005) [Bootleg / Unauthorized]
The album that made 50 Cent officialy a bitch, listen to "300 Bars", it's reason enough to buy it.
41
Kanye West
Late Registration (2005)
The future is looking bright for Kanye.
42
Boogie Down Productions
By All Means Necessary (1988)
One of the best Mc's ever is KRS-One!!!!!!!!!
43
2Pac
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993)
"Keep Ya Head Up" is one of my favorite songs.
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1 comment:
Actually that's a pretty good list he has there!! I liked his viewpoint "Essential hip-Hop Albums"! This was just basically his top list of "must-have" hip-hop albums..that he feels every true head should own! And I can dig that!!! That's what I always argue about with these "lists" dudes come up with...you have to state the context in which you are rating these things. You can't just randomly throw some as the author calls them "C rappers" in the top 10 without good reason..excuse me...A GREAT REASON!!!!!! Artists that are truly worthy of being called a "G.O.A.T."...has past several tests and one of those is that their material has past the test of time! Another is that there is pretty much a consensus amongst the larger part of the hip-hop community who will co-sign the nomination. But whatever the criteria is, it should be stated!
Now if you break it down by albums, that's a whole nother level!! You CAN get your name in the history books if you contribute an album or song to the game that is very very hot or influential or game-changing or original or if it simply has perfect timing with current events...any number of ways...you can get an entry in the history books! But if you do it consistently on a long term basis, that what can get you the nod for consideration of being a G.O.A.T.! well that's the way I feel, and I think most fellow 'hip-ologist's' would agree!!!!
The way this author approaches it is very respectable! Although it does seem like he has a slight bias for Westcoast rappers, almost by his own acknowledgement, which actually is ok in my opinion! It is virtually impossible to take some form of bias out of the equation. So as long as there is a valid reason for a valid entry, I won't argue with your opinion! I will argue with the order in which these entries are placed though! i would also probably add my own bias to the mix and add and subtract a few albums! But for the most part I would have had similar albums in my own Top 43..which I could never categorize. I could accumulate the albums I'd like to see on the list but I could never arrange them! I definitely know that All Eyes on Me would NOT be the number one best album of all time!!! No Way! But it would be on my list somewhere!! I couldn't give you a number one!! That's some hawrd shit! Anyway...I've talked enough...gotta get back to retirement! Yall have a great Monday! ONE!!!
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