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The Not-Quite-Definitive (But Still Pretty Close) Top 50 Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time Countdown: #50-41Aug 11 '04 (Updated Aug 18 '04) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line The greatest hip-hop albums of all time: #50-41
Over the past 20-30 years, the genre of music known to the world as Rap or Hip-hop has had so many defining moments. From the single Rapper's Delight to the deaths of legends Tupac and Biggie, rap has gone through many changes ushered in by the creativity of incredible artists, and in contrast, the money-hungry schemes of industry CEOs. Regardless of the downhill quality of top 40 in the new millennium, and the image that hip-hop portrays to the rest of the world (namely that of ho's, pimps, guns, and drugs), artists have released stellar albums in the past that defy these negative stereotypes while maintaining an incredible level of quality that could rival the best work of the musicians in any other genre of music. The list I will be publishing over the next week or two is something I have been working on for a few months now, and will be a countdown of the top 50 albums conceived in hip-hop's relatively short history. Just to let you know, compared to some of you, I am a so-called newjack. I'm just a 16 year old kid who was drawn into hip-hop when I first heard the Souls Of Mischief's single 93 Til Infinity, at the age of 9. That was 1997. Therefore, I wasn't really exposed to hip-hop in its Golden Age.. from the 80's to the early 90's. Because of this, I have probably missed some albums that those of you who have been listening to hip-hop since the 80's might have put on your lists. Granted, there are several albums from the 80's on this list, but hey, I was only born in '88, so I probably missed some. This list is not meant to be definitive. Anyone who thinks their list of "Greatest Albums Of All Time" is the only acceptable one (thankfully nobody on Epinions) is seriously disillusioned and probably in love with themselves. So yeah, though I may have missed a few albums that belong here, I think it's still a worthy list of 50 of the best hip-hop has to offer. And so without anymore BS, here is the first section, albums #50 to 41. Enjoy. 50. Lords Of The Underground - Here Come The Lords (1993) The debut album from this New Jersey trio remains as raw and awesome as it was 11 years ago, when it was released. The collective of M.R. Funky Man, DJ Lord Jazz, and Do It All, aided by the legendary Marley Marl, create adrenaline drenched, high energy tracks set to get the most lethargic of heads bumping. Jam packed with funky, banging beats, and rapid fire vocals, this is a often overlooked album that does not get the props it deserves. 49. Tupac Shakur - Me Against The World (1995) As one of the most unintentionally multifaceted emcees of his time, Tupac Shakur was often criticized for being a hypocrite, largely in part to the contrast shown between this album and his later works. Easily one of the most personal and heartfelt albums ever put to wax, 'Pac's uplifting and personal stories are strong evidence to support the fact he was one of the most emotional rappers ever. Unaffected by the influence of Suge Knight and Death Row, the highlight of Pac's career is a thoughtful masterpiece. 48. The Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia (1995) Not just an anomaly in the West Coast scene at the time, the Pharcyde created their own formula for success which has seldom been imitated successfully, if ever. The then fully intact group laid their rhymes over soulful production from the likes of greats such as Jay Dee. Fat Lip and Slim Kid Tre's thoughtful (yet not too dense) lyrical schemes combined with their eccentric flows make sure the vocal part of this album does not waste the instrumentals. A perfect summer album. 47. The D.O.C. - No One Can Do It Better (1989) Still in his rugged phase of production, the legendary Dr. Dre had found arguably the best emcee he has ever produced a significant amount for. The D.O.C. had one of the most killer flows of his time, with extreme ferocity and aggressiveness, as well as the intelligence to go with it. Dre's NWA-styled beats were the perfect match for the D.O.C.'s rough voice. Funky, hard hitting, and energetic, this Dre-produced album was easily one of the best works he has worked on. The D.O.C. only needed one album to secure his status in hip-hop. This was it. 46. The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??! (1995) As an innovative group, Philadelphia's The Roots began playing with different styles of music from the start of their discography. This album, their second, is one of the most brilliantly pulled off attempts at fusing hip-hop and jazz together. The results are just phenomenal, with the laid-back vibes of the album complementing the tag team of the budding talent that was Black Thought and Malik B. Fun, relaxing, and straight up smooth, this is a prime example of how jazz and hip-hop can be joined together flawlessly. 45. Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1993) Way before the whole world was shaking it like a poloroid picture, the duo of Andre 3000 and Big Boi snuck onto the Atlanta hip-hop scene with their debut album. Thisisdefinitelyahellatightalbum. The duo creates a simple, yet amazing piece of work that has long been overlooked in a discography filled with great LP's. Devoid of gimmicks, this is Outkast at its rawest, introducing Andre's weirdness and Big Boi's dirty flows to the game, over crazy beats from Organized Noize. Definitely a southern masterpiece. 44. Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded (1987) In a way, its kind of ironic that one of the most socially conscious emcees of all time is also the one who played a significant role in the introduction of gangsta rap to the world. The debut album from Boogie Down Productions is KRS-ONE's best work of his career to date. As always, KRS is armed with the subject matter and rhymes to create a great album. Add his partner-in-crime, Scott LaRock, who's bumpin' beats were ideal for KRS, and you have a highlight album on your hands. The album is definitely the crown jewel of KRS' ultra-lengthy career. 43. Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990) After departing NWA, Ice Cube went on to outshine the best works of his former group with this album. Equipped with his trademark aggressiveness, Ice Cube and producers like The Bomb Squad created a non stop, fast paced album that is as fiery as any in hip-hop. Politically charged and very relentless, Ice Cube attacks anything he sees fit to attack. His flow and delivery are very hard to find in hip-hop (maybe D.O.C above), and when it is combined with the loud beats of the Bomb Squad, this explosive album is the result. 42. Brand Nubian - One For All (1990) Uplifting, yet an energizing party album at the same time, Brand Nubian's debut album is a perfect balance of intelligence and fun. The foursome of Sadat X, Grand Puba, Lord Jamar, and DJ Alamo, create songs with valuable messages that will definitely get you thinking. At the same time, the songs are catchy, beats are banging, and the flows are slick, so it's not like you're sitting at a church or something. Though Brand Nubian has stayed strong throughout the past 15 years, their defining moment was this debut. 41. De La Soul - 3 Feet High And Rising Hippy rap? It was bizarre back then, and it still is today. Composed of members such as the ultra versatile Prince Paul and the smooth Posdnuos, De La Soul's eccentric debut album has its own place in hip-hop as an album that has never been duplicated. A far cry from the hardcore stylings of Public Enemy and NWA back then, De La Soul brought something fresh to the table on this outing. As one of the longest lasting groups in history, they can point to this album as the one that gave them the foothold they needed to succeed. Well there you have it, albums 50-41 of my top 50 countdown. Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading and stay tuned for the next 4 installments of this list. Peace! The complete list: 50 Greatest Albums Of All Time: #50-41 50 Greatest Albums Of All Time: #40-31 50 Greatest Albums Of All Time: #30-21 50 Greatest Albums Of All Time: #20-11 50 Greatest Albums Of All Time: #10-1 Related: The Top 20 Albums Of 2003  |
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