1. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us back
It's undeniable. The production revolutionized the game and the content was thought provoking. Now that I'm much older this album is even more relevant.
2. Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban Linx
The epitome of early 90's east coast hip hop.
3. Jay Z - Reasonable Doubt
Cinematic. The shit plays out like a movie.
4. NWA - Straight Outta Compton
The defiant tone of this record is still unmatched. I remember being scared to listen to this. True gangsta shit.
5. Eric B. and Rakim - Paid In Full
Paid in Full, I Ain't No Joke, Eric B. is President. No explanation necessary.
6. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Consistency. Their most complete album ever.
7. Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
Grimy, NY Rap. Raw emotion condensed into an Lp.
8. Nas - Illmatic
The NY classic. Nas is so descriptive he made you smell, touch and hear QB.
9. Ice Cube - Predator
Back when Cube was relevant to hip hop.
10. Dr. Dre - Chronic
Melodic, west coast life's shining moment.
11. Redman - Muddy Waters
Pure hip hop. Redman always goes hard. 3 solid verses every time.
12. Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clintele
Who knows what the fuck Ghost is saying but damn does that shit sound fly.
13. Gangstarr - Hard to Earn
Mass Appeal, DWYCK, Code of the Streets, perfect blend of boom bap and lyrics.
14. Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle
The debut of a legend.
15. Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Grimy, hungry NY rap.
16. Notorious B.I.G - Life After Death
Big flaunted his versatility on this double disc.
17. Wu Tang Clan - Wu Tang Forever
The greatest group ever? I'm not sure about that, but this was definitely on the best team efforts ever.
18. Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Blackstar - Blackstar
Underground hip hop at its finest.
19. The Roots - Illadelphia Halflife
The Roots really became visible with this album and Black Thought emerged as one of the illest in the game.
20. Jay Z - Blueprint
9/11. The world changed and so did hip hop. Jay's most verstaile effort ever.
21. De La Soul - The Stakes is High
Back when everybody else wanted to be in the mob, De La went against the grain and created this classic.
22. Nas - It Was Written
Some will argue that this album marked the demise of Nas but, I believe Nas stuck to the script and created another classic.
23. Outkast - Aquemini
From start to finish, this cd is innovative and creative. Outkast at their best.
24. Common - Be
Be is the resurrection of Common. Kanye brought him back to his roots.
25. Mase - Harlem World
So yeah the shiny suits were corny but you can't knock the energy of this record. The soundtrack for the young, fly and flashy.
Honorable Mention: Noreaga - N.O.R.E, Mobb Deep - Murda Musik, Puff Daddy - Victory
CNN - The War Report
nice list. I think Stakes Is High is my favorite De La record too. Probably one of the most slept on albums of the 90s.
ReplyDeletewhat about a ugk album...or scarface or getoboys? u put mase on there and his shiny suit, sample-heavy, cheese-eatin, kool-aid smile ass on there... once again the south is slept on...pretty good list i guess....
ReplyDeleteMaybe Scarface's Last of A Dying Breed. I love that record. It was really hard to make this list.
ReplyDeletePretty dope list, but being that we share the same intrest in Hip Hop, I can't, for the life of me, understand why Nas' "Illmatic" is not top 3.
ReplyDeleteand, where is?:
Little Brother("The List...")?, EPMD("Strictly Busi..."), Lauryn Hill, Erick B. and Rakim(Follow...), Gza(Liquid...), Madvillan, GangStarr(Daily...),
...but, all in all, I dig the list; minus "Harlem World"