5 best ever rap albums

Timmywalldo

cmon ppl

horsebox09

Dunno what the 5 best are, but my top 5 would be

1. Wu Tang - 36 Chambers
2. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo = Live & Let Die
3. Raekwon - Cuban Linx
4. GZA - Liquid Swords
5. NaS - Illmatic

Makaveli

When the body of your post is shorter than the thread title I make this face

Why don't you give us your top 5 and maybe flesh out the list a bit by saying why they're your top 5?

holy guacamole

1. Notorious BIG - Ready to Die ; the greatest mc of all time at his imperious best, nothing has matched this album for me since I first heard it.

2. Reflection Eternal - Train of Thought ; the perfect rapper/producer combo and a body of work which neither have come close to emulating since, can't wait to see what their new album is gonna be like.

3. Madvillainy ; the album which got me into DOOM and Madlib, rightly regarded as a landmark piece of work for hip hop music.

4. The Roots -Things Fall Apart ; in truth you could pick any Roots album but this is my favourite.

5. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders ; as above it'd be just as easy to pick a different ATCQ album given their consistenly brilliant releases throughout the 90's.


That's my top five in this moment in time but if you ask me tomorrow I'd probably put something different.

VW 1

probably very different to a lot of people on here in that i like more mainstream and newer artists, wasnt around for much of the older stuff and although the lyrics arent all cloned like it appears with some artists today, cant help but love some of the newer stuff. soooo for me (in no particular order) its:

eminem- the marshall mathers mp, probably the first album i learned every word to every song from (probably only about 10 or 11 at the time) and even to this day still brightens my mood when i hear it

kanye west- the college dropout, fell in love with kanye's lyrics and his ability to tell a story through a song with metaphors and punchlines embedded, listening to a song over uncovers new meanings and different twists that were not picked up first time around

not certain if it necessarily falls into the genre of hip-hop, in fact im quite certain it doesnt, but for me the streets- a grand dont come for free is again an inspired album of telling a story through words, combining not only metaphors and slang to make the story, but fully describing the emotional journey throughout the story and really dragging the listener in and engaging him in skinners world

NWA, greatest hits, includes all their classics including **** tha' police and for me fully represents the roots of hip-hop and i fully respect what these guys did in their albums, revolutionising the hip-hop sound and being a major source of inspiration for many artists to follow

cant decide on a 5th album between jay-z (the black album) murda mook (misunderstood) and nas (illmatic).

black album, classic jay z, nuff said.
illmatic, classic, no words needed.
misunderstood, dunno how much of mook and of you guys here have listened to i first heard him on youtube battle rapping and absolutely went down a treat. cant stop listening to all of his raps interviews freestyles etc, really does it for me. downloaded his album and thought it was rubbish that he couldnt repeat what he had in the streets in the booth but how wrong was i..another couple of listens and i loved it, now i cant turn it off, its been months!

just my opinions on what i like, not necessarily everyones cup of tea, i know kanye isnt liked by most hip-hop fans!!

Shapey Fiend

In no particular order:

Tupac - 2Pacalypse Now
Tupac - Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
Tupac - Me Against the World
Tupac - All Eyez on Me
Tupac - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory

bigwormbundoran

In no particular order and I would imagine if you asked me the same question next week it would be likely that it would vary slightly

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
36 Chambers - Wu Tang
Moment of Truth - Gangstarr
Illmatic - Nas
Big Pictue - Big L

spacecoyote

In my current opinion it would be:

Mos Def - Black On Both Sides
Pharoah Monch - Internal Affairs
RJD2 - Deadringer
Cunninglynguists - A Piece of Strange
Outkast - Aquemini

Its basically impossible though, by picking those I'm leaving out Tribe, Roots, Wu, De La, etc.............................................

MoyVilla9

2Pac - Me Against The World
Biggie - Ready To Die
Nas - Illmatic
Makaveli - The 7 Day Theory
Kanye West - College Dropout

iWeeze

Nobody has mentioned Paul's Boutique?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWnx37s1FAI

Paul's Boutique
Ready to Die
College Dropout
Stankonia
Licensed to Ill

15Pete

1. Nas-Illmatic
2. Wu-Tang Clan-36 Chambers
3. Raekwon-Only Built for Cuban Linx
4. Biggie Smalls-Ready to Die
5. 2Pac-Me Against the World

Underground

No particular order:
1. Nas-Illmatic
2. Raekwon-OBFCL
3. Dre-The Chronic
4. Eminem-MMLP
5. Rakim-The 18th Letter

Boom_Bap

iWeeze wrote: »

Nobody has mentioned Paul's Boutique?


Paul's Boutique
Ready to Die
College Dropout
Stankonia
Licensed to Ill

Love Pauls Boutique, but i'm not sure if it hits my top 5. Infact, i don't even know what my top 5 is anymore.

Spiritoftheseventies

It takes a nation of millions to hold us back by Public Enemy for the time it was released in.
Very influential album

ItsNugget

Masta Ace- Along Hot Summer
Nas- Illmatic
Wu Tang- 36 Chambers

I cant think of any more!

Paul1979

Eric B Rakim-Paid In Full
Jayz-Reasonable Doubt
Nas-Illmatic
Biggie-Ready To Die
Slum Village-Fantastic Vol 1/Vol 2

honourable mention:
Jeru Damaja-Sun Rises In East
Mobb Deep- Infamous
MF Doom-MM Food
Jaylib-Champion Sound
J Dilla Donuts

Liquidswords

Black Moon - Enta Da Stage
Tha Dogg Pound - Dogg Food
Camp Lo -Uptown Saturday Night
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Mecca & the Soul Brother
Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown

Boom_Bap

Liquidswords wrote: »

Black Moon - Enta Da Stage
Tha Dogg Pound - Dogg Food
Camp Lo -Uptown Saturday Night
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Mecca & the Soul Brother
Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown

nice list, they wouldnt be on mine but there are albums that most would overlook, except maybe Critical Beatdown and Mecca

Liquidswords

Boom_Bap wrote: »

nice list, they wouldnt be on mine but there are albums that most would overlook, except maybe Critical Beatdown and Mecca

To be honest these sort of list change all the time with me. I don't understand why everybody always has the same albums on their lists though. Does everyone really think Illmatic or Ready to Die are the undisputed hip hop classics or do they just fall in line with popular opinion to come across as a 'real hip hop' (hate that term) head?

PMI

What??? no NWA?? :rolleyes:

Boom_Bap

Liquidswords wrote: »

To be honest these sort of list change all the time with me. I don't understand why everybody always has the same albums on their lists though. Does everyone really think Illmatic or Ready to Die are the undisputed hip hop classics or do they just fall in line with popular opinion to come across as a 'real hip hop' (hate that term) head?

I'm like yourself, mine changes a few times every day. The likes of illmatic and Ready to Die are high up there but would never be jostling for #1 or #2.

The one album for me that will always be in the top 5 in Entroducing by DJ Shadow.

Liquidswords

Boom_Bap wrote: »

The one album for me that will always be in the top 5 in Entroducing by DJ Shadow.

That album is immense. When you hear it you just be like:

holy guacamole

Liquidswords wrote: »

I don't understand why everybody always has the same albums on their lists though. Does everyone really think Illmatic or Ready to Die are the undisputed hip hop classics or do they just fall in line with popular opinion to come across as a 'real hip hop' (hate that term) head?

I don't really understand this statement tbh, the reason why everyone has the likes of Ready to Die as one of their favourite albums is because it's an absolutely immense piece of work from start to finish.

Imo it's worse when people intentionally go against the grain and try and appear more knowledgeable and educated on all things hip hop by casually disregarding the albums which everyone else continually lauds.

It's like when you ask someone their favourite film and rather than just be honest and tell you what they like they try and appear more intelligent by picking some arty farty pretentious dross like The Royal Tenenbaums and in the process intimating that they got some hidden meaning in the film.

Basically what I'm trying to say is everyone should like what they like because they like it and not because they're concerned about how they'll be perceived for liking such a thing.

Liquidswords

holy guacamole wrote: »

I don't really understand this statement tbh, the reason why everyone has the likes of Ready to Die as one of their favourite albums is because it's an absolutely immense piece of work from start to finish.

Imo it's worse when people intentionally go against the grain and try and appear more knowledgeable and educated on all things hip hop by casually disregarding the albums which everyone else continually lauds.

Ready to Die is a really good album but IMO it or Illmatic aren't even the best hip hop album released that year. Not trying to 'go against the grain' that's how I feel, 1994 was a great year for hip hop.

Basically what I'm trying to say is everyone should like what they like because they like it and not because they're concerned about how they'll be perceived for liking such a thing.

Basically what I said in the post you quoted.

GodlessInfidel

1 Illmatic/ Aquemini.
2. Only built for Cuban lynx..
3. Liquid Swords
4. Lionheart tussel with the Beast (by U.K cat Klashnekoff, check it, if u don't l like it i'll personally refund u )
5. MMMFood/ Supreme Clientel.

Sorry more than five there, jus too damm hard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbPN3hkbbW0

Shapey Fiend

Here's my top 5. I know you're meant to go with Illmatic and stuff but I'm going on what I like and listen to the most.

1. Viktor Vaughan - Vaudeville Villain
2. Madvillain - Madvilliany
3. Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
4. MF Doom - MM.. Food
5. Slum Village - Fantastic Vol 1/2
6. The Assassin - Lights, Camera, Assassin.

GodlessInfidel

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

Here's my top 5. I know you're meant to go with Illmatic and stuff but I'm going on what I like and listen to the most.

wow thats a relief... i thought we had to choose illmatic, cud i trade it for labour days or is it too late??

scientific1982

1. Cypress Hill-Black Sunday.
2. Dr Dre-The Chronic.
3. Wu Tang Clan-Enter the wu.
4. Nas-Illmatic.
5. Snoop Dogg-Doggystyle.

eightyfish

• The Roots - Things Fall Apart
• Jurassic 5 - Quality Control
• The Streets - Original Pirate Material
• Eminem - The Slim Shady LP
• Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty

Dubhthamlacht

These are the albums that over the years I found just stuck with me more than any others. I've heard plenty of hip hop albums, some with some great tunes but with too much filler to be a great album, plenty of mediocre albums and a few right stinkers.

1. Edan - Beauty and The Beat

One of my favourite albums of all time. To this day I still listen to it years after I got it and it stills sounds so fresh and vital. No other hip hoip album I'ver ever heard has had the lasting appeal of this.

2. Madvillian - Madvilliany

Doom really surpassed himself with this. I don't think he will ever reach those heights again in any of his other various aliases. As an album it was one coherant masterpiece, each track fitting seamlessly together.

3. GZA - Liquid Swords

The level of production on this was way ahead of it's time. From start to finish this was exceptional. This was the first hip hip album that truly captured my imagination

4. El-P - Fantastic Damage

El-P conatins more ideas in one song that most other hip hop artists contain in their whole career. Getting all those ideas to gel together was the tricky part and with Fantastic Damage he succeeded wildly.

5. Mr Lif - I Phantom

I had high hopes Lif would produce the goods when he hooked up with Def Jux. This is his career highpoint. Still sounds great today.

---

5 other albums that have really stood out for me.

6. The Roots - Things Fall Apart
7. RJD2 - Deadringer
8. Blakroc - Blakroc
9. Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
10. Raekwon - Only built for Cuban linx

opinions please!

Raekwon

In no particular order -

Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Gang Starr - Hard to Earn
OutKast - ATLiens

Classic Alternative Hip-Hop:

De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
The Roots - Do You Want More
Spearhead - Home
Q-Tip - The Renaissance

CrackisWhack

Gangstarr - Moment of Truth
Nas - Illmatic
B.I.G - Ready to Die
Outkast - Sothernplayalisticcadilacamusik
Dr. Dre - The Chronic

emmacxxx

I agree

eightyfish

Dubhthamlacht wrote: »

These are the albums that over the years I found just stuck with me more than any others.

Thanks man - based on your descriptions I'm going to check some of those out.

30txsbzmcu2k9w

Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein
Biggie - Ready to Die
Binary Star - Masters of the Universe
Wu - Enter..
Goodie Mob - Soul Food

Basing that on albums i've never gotton bored of.

PoppyRowe

- AZ - doe or die
- Nas- Illmatic
- Pharcyde - Bizarre ride II
- Biggie - Life after Death
- Jay-Z - blueprint II

HATCHET IRL

Jayz-Reasonable Doubt
Brother Ali-Shadows on the sun
Ghostface Killah-Supreme Clientel
Biggie-Ready to die
Big Pun-Capital Punishment

no order..

kumate_champ07

VW 1 wrote: »

probably very different to a lot of people on here in that i like more mainstream and newer artists, wasnt around for much of the older stuff and although the lyrics arent all cloned like it appears with some artists today, cant help but love some of the newer stuff. soooo for me (in no particular order) its:

eminem- the marshall mathers mp, probably the first album i learned every word to every song from (probably only about 10 or 11 at the time) and even to this day still brightens my mood when i hear it

kanye west- the college dropout, fell in love with kanye's lyrics and his ability to tell a story through a song with metaphors and punchlines embedded, listening to a song over uncovers new meanings and different twists that were not picked up first time around

not certain if it necessarily falls into the genre of hip-hop, in fact im quite certain it doesnt, but for me the streets- a grand dont come for free is again an inspired album of telling a story through words, combining not only metaphors and slang to make the story, but fully describing the emotional journey throughout the story and really dragging the listener in and engaging him in skinners world

NWA, greatest hits, includes all their classics including **** tha' police and for me fully represents the roots of hip-hop and i fully respect what these guys did in their albums, revolutionising the hip-hop sound and being a major source of inspiration for many artists to follow

cant decide on a 5th album between jay-z (the black album) murda mook (misunderstood) and nas (illmatic).

black album, classic jay z, nuff said.
illmatic, classic, no words needed.
misunderstood, dunno how much of mook and of you guys here have listened to i first heard him on youtube battle rapping and absolutely went down a treat. cant stop listening to all of his raps interviews freestyles etc, really does it for me. downloaded his album and thought it was rubbish that he couldnt repeat what he had in the streets in the booth but how wrong was i..another couple of listens and i loved it, now i cant turn it off, its been months!

just my opinions on what i like, not necessarily everyones cup of tea, i know kanye isnt liked by most hip-hop fans!!

thats a compilation not an album

denashpot

Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle.

eminem - the marshall mathers mp.

Dr Dre - 2001

Tupac - All eyez on me.

Ice Cube - War & Peace Vol. 1 (The war disc)

monkeysockss

Impossibly hard to narrow down but, in no particular order....

1. ll Cool J - 14 shots to the dome
2. PE - It takes a nation of millions
3. Schooly D - Saturday Night
4. Wu-Tang - 36 Chambers
5. Stetsasonic - In Full Gear

Can't believe I'm leaving out gza, eric'n'ra, gangstarr, beasties, ruthless rap assasins, mantronix, nwa, de la and **** loads more but there we go

HalloweenJack

My five favourites for today would be:
Aquemini - OutKast
36 Chambers - Wu Tang Clan
The Chronic - Dr. Dre
Death Certificate - Ice Cube
Warriorz - M.O.P