As someone who enjoys listening to Prokofiev as much as Pete Rock and CL Smooth, I have to say there is some really great hip-hop out there (if you know where to find it). Of course, there’s also a lot of terrible hip-hop, which is why we decided to publish a list of the top 20 hip-hop albums.
Rolling Stone and the New York Times magazine identified a “Golden Age” of rap as the period in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Accordingly, many artists on this list are from that time period. This is by no means a comprehensive list, so feel free to comment below if you feel like your favorite artist deserves to be included.
In order to understand what makes hip-hop music great and why we ranked these albums the way we did, we first have to understand the elements that make for great music production of any kind: lyrics and music.
Lyrics
Hip-hop lyrics are as complex as any other form of poetry. In fact, iambic pentameter is often an essential part of a good rap song. In addition to pentameter, some artists also use polysyllabic rhymes, which helps to identify the best songs. Other hip-hop and rap songs tell stories, some promote political agendas. Not all rap lyrics are great, though, and some can even be downright silly. But taken together, the best hip-hop songs make creative use of lyrics and rhyme.
Music
Hip-hop usually features original compositions but you’ll also find a combination of music sampled from other sources. Much in the same way Vaughn Williams took a theme from Thomas Thallis to create one of the classical masterpieces of the twentieth century, hip-hop artists take the music of others and produce masterpieces of their own. Nas took the basic elements of Michael Jackson’s Human Nature and created one of the best songs of the ’90s. (Admittedly there are some out there who merely take an old song with a good hook, then rap over it without adding significantly in any way — I’m looking at you, Puff Daddy.)
20. Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 (Guru, 1993)
Buy Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 EP on Amazon
Rap, as we know it today, began as nothing more than some old Jazz and R&B albums with a couple of poets rapping over the music. Guru collaborated with some of the greatest jazz musicians of all-time to make a series of albums called “Jazzmatazz.” With artists such as Branford Marsalis and Donald Byrd, the album was bound to be amazing. There are four Jazzmatazz albums but the first and third ones are the best by far.
Check out “Loungin” for a great introduction to the entire Jazzmatazz series.
19. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Lauryn Hill, 1998)
Being the first hip-hop album to win the “Album of the Year” award at the Grammys is no small accomplishment, which is why this album is perhaps one of the best all-around albums on the list. From a purely musical perspective, the vocals of Lauryn Hill are hard to beat — if you’re not familiar with her talent, then Sweetest Thing is a good place to start.
Hill first became famous as the female vocalist for the Fugees but her best work is this first solo album, which is a true work of art. Perhaps the most fun track on the entire album was “Doo Wop (That Thing).” Lauryn Hill’s real gift is her ability to combine both amazing singing with great rap rhymes — quite a rare feat.
18. Don’t Sweat the Technique (Eric B. & Rakim, 1992)
Although it probably deserves to be higher on the list, this classic album from Eric B & Rakim is worth looking early on the list. The album has strong jazz elements mixed with complex, polysyllabic lyrics that make it an instant classic. The title track “Don’t Sweat the Technique” is the album’s best track.
17. Message from Beat Street: Best of (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, 1994)
The Message is an anthem for anyone who listened to hip-hop in the ’80s. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are some of the most sampled artists in hip-hop and even those who are not hip-hop fans will recognize lines such as: “It’s like a jungle sometimes makes me wonder how I keep from going under.”
16. Mecca and the Soul Brother (Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, 1992)
Inspired by the soul-stirring sounds of Tom Scott’s saxophone, Pete Rock and CL Smooth put together one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all-time, T.R.O.Y., which was inspired by the death of a close friend of the band. This album is a staple in any good hip-hop collection since so few artists have managed to combine such amazing jazz standards with flowing lyrics. Almost every song on the album begins with an interlude from a classic funk song (such as “When She Made Me a Promise“,) thus connecting hip-hop to its deep funk roots.
15. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (OutKast, 2003)
In 2004, OutKast won “Album of the Year” Grammy for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, making it only the second hip-hop album to win. The album captures the sound of Atlanta hip-hip like no other, combining elements of rap, hip-hop, rock and even pop to create songs like “Hey Ya” which was, unsurprisingly, the most succesful single from the album.
Thanks to a viral video featuring the Peanuts characters dancing to “Hey Ya”, a wider audience discovered one of the best hip-hop albums of all time that it might have missed out on.
14. Train of Thought (Reflection Eternal, 2000)
“If you can talk you can sing, if you can walk you can dance” — this is how the track “Africa Dreams” starts out on this great album. Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek combined their talents to produce an album under the name “Reflection Eternal,” a triumphant effort with many influences, including jazz and traditional African drums.
“The Blast” is one the better dance tracks of the last ten years, although it did not enjoy the kind of commercial success it deserved. In addition to great music, this album contains one of the greatest lines in all of hip-hop. Referring to artists who rap about violence and materialism Talib Kweli says:
“These cats drink champagne and toast to death and pain
Like slaves on a ship talking about who’s got the flyest chain”
13. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (Wu-Tang Clan, 1993)
Towards the end of the Golden Age of hip-hop, West Coast rappers like Dr. Dre seemed to be enjoying most of the commercial success — but the Wu-Tang Clan was also making some great hip-hop, which helped to keep East Coast hip-hop relevant. C.R.E.A.M is one of the best hip-hop songs of the ’90s.
12. Innercity Griots (Freestyle Fellowship, 1993)
Although this is by no means the most commercially successful album on this list, it is important because it blends elements of jazz, bebop and poetry that is rarely heard. The best single off the album is called “Inner City Boundaries” because it blends elements of Avante Garde poetry with hip-hop beats.
11. Doggystyle (Snoop Doggy Dog, 1993)
The lyrics of this album are misogynistic, violent and promote the use of drugs and alcohol. But don’t let that get in your way, because what Snoop Dogg does musically cannot be denied: the album was praised by Rolling Stone when it debuted and enjoyed huge commercial success. Doggystyle was strongly influence by ’70s-era bands such Parliament and featured the vocal talents of Nate Dog and Warren G. “What’s My Name” is a standard at any West Coast hip-hop party.
10. Sugar Hill Gang (Sugar Hill Gang, 1980)
Although strictly speaking this album from the Sugar Hill Gang is not a musical masterpiece, it did do something that no other hip-hop album did before it: made it onto the Billboard charts. It was 1979, when disco was still king but the Sugar Hill Gang brought rap into the mainstream. The song “Rapper’s Delight” managed to reach #36 overall on the Billboard chart and opened the door for hip-hop in the mainstream.
9. Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star (Black Star, 1998)
Mos Def and Talib Kweli can trace their musical roots directly to the Golden Age of East Coast hip-hop: you can hear it in the way their music often features positive messages coupled with jazz-inspired beats. In addition to combining the talents of Talib Kweli and Mos Def, Black Star featured the vocal talents of Common and musical skills of DJ Hi-Tek. “Respiration” is perhaps the best track on the album, but it’s “Definition” that shows Mos Def’s musical flexibility. He brings in reggae elements paired with beats from DJ Hi-Tek.
8. Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) (Digable Planets, 1992)
Digable Planets took hip-hop back to its jazz and poetry roots in 1993 with songs like “The Rebirth of Slick.” The entire album sounded like it was recorded in a smoke filled Jazz club during open mic night. “Nickel Bag of Funk” is another classic off that featured a unique bridge.
Although they achieved Gold album status with Reachin’, Digable Planets never managed to make another album that enjoyed as much commercial or critical success.
7. Return of the Boom Bap (KRS-One, 1993)
KRS-One is perhaps the most influential figure in Golden Era East Coast hip-hop. His lyrics address complex societal issues and he is harshly critical of those artists who contribute little to the hip-hop genre. One of the best tracks, “Higher Level“, represents the pinnacle of his talent, in which he RS-One addresses such weighty issues as the historically inaccurate depictions of Jesus and the slave mentality of African-Americans.
Needless to say, any rapper who addresses such deep issues will not enjoy widespread commercial success — white kids in suburban shopping malls are not going to line up to buy such albums, so it is not surprising that he has not had many mainstream hits. KRS-One did have some great albums with his group Boogie Down Productions; he continues to challenge the hip-hop community to think about the messages it convey in its music.
6. The Chronic (Dr. Dre, 1992)
No album captures the West Coast Gangsta culture like this classic from Dr. Dre. The album is slow and methodical, but somehow manages to be a dance club standard despite its relatively low BPM. Dr. Pepper even made a commercial highlighting how slow beats made Dr. Dre famous.
5. Illmatic (Nas, 1994)
Some people have criticized Nas for really only having one truly great album: Illmatic. But to be honest that would be like criticizing Michaelangelo for not really painting anything other than the Sistine Chapel. “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” was one of the greatest hip-hop songs of the ’90s and the album received much critical acclaim when it was released — it’s really what put Nas onto the hip-hop map. Nas has had hits since Illmatic, such as “If I Ruled the World” with Lauryn Hill, but nothing has come close to his masterpiece debut.
4. The Low End Theory (A Tribe Called Quest, 1991)
During the Golden Age of hip-hop there was a group of artists that referred to themselves and the Native Tongues: their focus was on positive lyrics that contained heavy jazz influences. Anyone who listened to hip-hop in the late ’80s to early ’90s knows at least some of the words the the song “Scenario.” and “We’ve Got the Jazz” uses the sounds of Green Dolphin Street to make one of the most underrated songs in all of hip-hop.
3. Ready to Die (Notorius B.I.G., 1994)
With his debut album, Biggie Smalls redefined East Coast hip-hop and usher in a new age of commercial success for literally dozens of rappers. Juicy is an inspiring song about how a rapper can pull himself out of poverty and serves as an anthem for almost all aspiring hip-hop artists. Big Poppa is a dance club staple, and One More Chance is the song the made Faith Evans. The album’s title, Ready to Die, was perhaps prophetic since Notorious B.I.G. was murdered at the age of 25.
2. Planet Rock: the Album (Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force, 1986)
Many people may recognize Afrika Bambataa’s classic “Renegades of Funk” although it wasn’t until Rage Against the Machine covered it that it enjoyed its most commercial success. Afrika Bambaataa are among the most sampled artists on this list: their sound is a blend of ’70s P-Funk, ’80s New Wave and modern hip-hop. They were true pioneers.
1. Fear of a Black Planet (Public Enemy, 1990)
The brilliance of this album is clear from the very beginning. The album opens with a song entitled “Contract on World Love Jam” which features sound clips from influential leaders such as Desmond Tutu. It’s definitely one of the deepest and most socially-conscious albums of all-time. Here is a list of just some of the songs and issues addressed:
Racist portrayals of blacks in Hollywood — “Burn Hollywood, Burn”
Interracial Children — “Pollywanacraka”
Black unity and racism — “Brothers Gonna Work it Out”
Drug abuse — “Can’t Do Nuttin’ for Ya Man”
Slow response time of 911 in poor black neighborhoods — “911 is a joke”
Negative response to Public Enemy’s lyrics — “Incident at 66.6 FM”
Black empowerment — “Power to the People”
Rallying to fight racism — “Fight the Power”
The album received plenty of deserving accolades since it was released almost 20 years ago. At the time it was truly revolutionary… The video for “Fight the Power” was directed by a young Spike Lee and the song was later used in his movie Do the Right Thing. On the album, you’ll hear a young Alan Colmes talking with lead singer Chuck D about the controversial nature of Public Enemy’s music.
On account of its powerful and influential lyrics, inventive sound, lasting influence and commercial success, Fear of a Black Planet tops our list. Everything about this album epitomizes the Golden Age of hip-hop.