https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-hip-hop-albums-1323916/

These are the albums that have defined hip-hip history — from Run-DMC to Playboi Carti, from G-funk to drill, from the Bronx to Houston, and beyond

Two hundred seems like an almost luxuriantly expansive number when you’re making an albums list, and in any other genre, maybe it would be. But the history of rap LPs is so rich and varied, we were forced to make some painful choices — there are so many iconic artists with deep catalogs, so many constantly evolving sounds and regional scenes. That’s one reason we limited our scope to English language hip-hop. Relatedly, a list of hip-hop-adjacent albums from the worlds of dancehall or reggaeton or grime would be fun and fascinating, and something for us to revisit down the road.

When confronted with a choice between the third (or fourth or fifth) record by a classic artist (Outkast, for instance, or A Tribe Called Quest) and an album from an artist who would make the list more interesting (The Jacka or Saba or Camp Lo), we tended to go with the latter option. The result was a list that touches on every important moment in the genre’s evolution — from compilations that honor the music’s paleo old-school days, to its artistic flourishing in the late Eighties and early Nineties with Public Enemy, De La Soul, Eric B. and Rakim and others, through the gangsta era, the rise of the South, the ascendance of larger-than-life aughts superstars like Jay-Z and Kanye West and Ncki Minaj, and on and on into more recent moments like blog-rap, emo-rap, and drill, from New York to L.A. to Houston to Chicago, and beyond.

As we dug and listened, we found ourselves a little less swayed by “golden age” mystique than we might’ve been had we done this list 10 or 15 years ago. One of the incredible things about hip-hop is that it evolves and expands faster than any other genre in music history. To a fan coming up in the era of Cardi or Tyler or Polo G or Playboi Carti, the golden age is now.

--
I think it's good to read the above and look at the list through that lens. Still going through it.

Illmatic is at #24. Not gonna waste time looking any further than that.

Faux outrage
There really is no debate IRT Illmatic= List is a faiL

1. The Notorious B.I.G., 'Ready to Die' (1994)
2. Outkast, 'Stankonia' (2000)
3. Jay-Z, 'The Blueprint' (2001)
4. Public Enemy, 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back' (1988)
5. Kendrick Lamar, 'To Pimp a Butterfly' (2015)
6. Kanye West, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' (2010)
7. Missy Elliott, 'Miss E... So Addictive' (2001)
8. Wu-Tang Clan, 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)' (1993)
9. A Tribe Called Quest, 'The Low End Theory' (1991)
10. Lauryn Hill, 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' (1998)
11. Drake, 'Take Care' (2011)
12. Clipse, 'Lord Willin' ' (2002)
13. Dr. Dre, '2001' (1999)
14. Ghostface Killah, 'Supreme Clientele' (2000)
15. Eric B. and Rakim, 'Paid in Full' (1987)
16. Cardi B, 'Invasion of Privacy' (2018)
17. Kanye West, 'Yeezus' (2013)
18. Madvillain, 'Madvillainy' (2004)
19. Lil Kim, 'Hard Core' (1996)
20. Future, 'DS2' (2015)
21. Lil Wayne, 'Da Drought 3' (2007)
22. DMX, 'It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot' (1998)
23. UGK, 'Ridin' Dirty' (1996)
24. Nas, 'Illmatic' (1994)
25. Eminem, 'The Marshall Mathers LP' (2000)

Not that I’d have any Missy album in my top 25, but i really only liked her first album and that’s the only one I ever play. Can’t say I’ve heard that So Addictive album in 20 years though. Am I missing anything?

The album cuts are usually just singles that never were.

I see this album get on lists like these a LOT and it makes me think back on giving it a 2.5/5 forever ago, but then I go look at/listen to it again and it’s like…nah. The album was a significant moment in the history of hip-hop unquestionably but as an actual front to back listening experience…nah.

wps

young millenials and GenZ love Yeezus/TLOP.

They got two Kanye albums in the top 25 - and neither one is from the College trilogy??? Also notable because no one else has more than one album in the top 25.

Also - the one Lil Wayne album in the top 25 is a mixtape? Over all the Carter albums???

Missy Elliot got an album that high when it's not even her best album.

They make these purely for clicks and to make us mad so we talk about it.

Unless you want to be even nerdier and put up Dedication 2.

Carter II is an option because it's all originals, I'd give you that.

Carter III is deeply flawed.

But Drought 3 is pretty obvious. That's one of the all-time straight up rap performances of all time regardless of whether the beats are original, he arguably made most of them more original than they were beforehand.

~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

30. Beastie Boys, 'Paul’s Boutique' (1989)
Weirded out by the frat-boy fanbase they’d accrued after their debut, License to Ill, became a runaway success, the Beasties decamped to L.A., hooked up with sampledelic production crew the Dust Brothers, and created one of pop music’s all-time great left turns. Sampling everything from the Beatles to Dylan to the Funky 4 + 1, rapping about drive-by eggings, The Flintstones, and the schism of racism, they went from playing beer-brained dicks to becoming true boho pied pipers, leading a whole generation toward a cooler, doper, more open-minded tomorrow. —J.D.

33. De La Soul, '3 Feet High and Rising' (1989)
De La Soul’s debut album is a landmark of the genre, a feat of imagination and creativity impossible to duplicate. That’s not only because the samples used — from Steely Dan’s “Peg” to Daryl Hall and John Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” — would be prohibitively expensive now. The trio along with mentor-producer Prince Paul craft a private language defined by jokey juvenilia (Luden’s cough drops and the 1970s exploitation film Bloodsucking Freaks) and dense allegories like “Potholes in My Lawn,” a metaphor for MCs trying to copy their unusual style. The latter sentiment proved hopeless: De La Soul made a beacon for quirky, left-of-center hip-hop that yielded innumerable followers, all entranced by the power of the D.A.I.S.Y. Age. —M.R.

Not really a significant difference but what is the case for PB over 3 Feet? Is the production on Paul's Boutique better/more interesting than 3 Feet? The rapping definitely isn't, right? Don't get me wrong, both are classic and deserve to remain high on any list. I just want to know if I'm being biased. How many would pick Paul's Boutique over 3 Feet and why?

do 3 Feet High and Rising.

The general consensus is that PB is the Beastie's best album

De La's Debut isn't their best album (I like Buhloone Mind state and Anonymous Nobody better) The lyricism on this is probably stronger than anything the Beasties ever made, but I have to deduct off points for that god awful De La Orgee skit

If you don't like them then I think that's clear enough to say no one should do them lol Unless it is only this one that bothers you.

As far as the albums, I guess the case could be that the beastie lyrics are more accessible. Easier to rap along to and more memorable. The other side is how "dated" the albums sound. I was going to say 3 ft sounds more dated but not really. They're both dated but in different ways.

it just makes it awkward to listen to around other people.

Donna Summer's Love to Love you is the only song I can think of where it's tolerable.

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

d

I don't speak to provoke. I speak because I think our time is short and each moment that we are not our truest selves, and we say what we do not mean because we imagine that is what somebody wants us to say, is wasting our time on this Earth - C. Adichie

i mean, unless you enjoy getting irritated.

i GET that people's opinions vary, but i don't care: some opinions are wrong, LOL.

this list is FULL of wrong opinions.

...lists.

I'm scrolling through, just looking at what gets included rather than the order itself. Some good choices, some interesting ones, some highly questionable ones (from the genre perspective), some dumb ones.

i haven't even bothered looking at the full list

Which albums they included is more important than the specific ranking.

I can list my top 50/100 albums and not really be able to tell you that #1 is better than #100. They're all in the same range.

That said, many picks on here that I wouldn't put on the list and many more that I would at least move down.

I took their intent as trying to give a well rounded view into all areas of Hip Hop music. It's hard to speak to the quality of the styles I don't like and for some of these I assume that's what the picks are.

There are definitely valid complaints about the placement of many of these picks. Based on their stated goal I think the biggest flaw is a recency bias. From what I remember they used to make these lists from an elitist perspective. If an album was released with in x many years it wasn't even considered. Only the most known and universally liked albums were on there. I appreciate them relaxing that but they went too far.

I feel like they needed to cap the position recent albums could reach. Maybe anything past 5 years is fair game but anything more recent is hard to justify putting it in the top 50 at minimum.

>There are definitely valid complaints about the placement of
>many of these picks. Based on their stated goal I think the
>biggest flaw is a recency bias. From what I remember they used
>to make these lists from an elitist perspective. If an album
>was released with in x many years it wasn't even considered.
>Only the most known and universally liked albums were on
>there. I appreciate them relaxing that but they went too far.
>
>
>I feel like they needed to cap the position recent albums
>could reach. Maybe anything past 5 years is fair game but
>anything more recent is hard to justify putting it in the top
>50 at minimum.

^^ these paragraphs especially but I agree with basically everything you said here.

Apart from it being subjective, there are so many great works and watershed moments that capture something special and unique to themselves, that any ranking on any list is trite at this point.

I genuinely don’t care what album anyone has at #5 vs the one they have at #15
I’m not saying this to shit on the OP or anything of the sort
I just wonder if anyone else is over the very idea of these lists

Although, I'm more interested in individuals favorite albums rather than what they consider objectively best/greatest.

The latter results in endless debate, the former results in good discussion as well as a unique look at the list creator's tastes.

When a publication drops its X Greatest Hip Hop albums it's either the same ole boring picks or a mix of those plus some outliers/questionable picks. While I'm more likely going to "agree" with the former, the latter at least creates discussion (as well as mad-making).

over some random list.

Like I said above (or you say below), later for this "one for you, one for me" shit. I'd rather be able to read a list and get the list-makers actual musical taste. Like, one that doesn't include any new, hip shit. Or one that doesn't include the well-respected "back in the day" classics. Or one that made up of albums that never get included on these lists.

About as "interesting" as this list gets is putting a Weezy mixtape in the top 20. And including Above the Law's second album and Lyrics Born's first in the 150-200 range. Otherwise, it's just about all well-worn classics or albums, new shit from the past few years, and albums that have ties to universally accepted artists.

the whole point of these lists is to get people to discuss the list on social and hopefully click on the article to generate ad revenue and the best way to do that is come up with a hot take like "newer pop-leaning artist album placed higher than entrenched traditionalist album." the whole process is inane and asinine. folks should know better

I know at first I looked at them to criticize and find spots I didn't agree with. "How could they not include???"

I now look at them out of boredom, curiosity and to potentially find some albums to check out that I haven't heard before. I definitely don't click on them expecting to agree.

they're all right and all wrong. it's too subjective. I stopped trying to justify or be bothered by any of it. too many variables as the genre is has many players, moments, eras, etc.

my taste has also changed. I was a traditionalist for a while, but eventually realized that was stupid and limiting.

Candidates:

137. Slum Village, 'Fantastic Vol. 2' (2000)
136. Doja Cat, 'Planet Her' (2021)


130. Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, 'Mecca and the Soul Brother' (1992)
129. Playboi Carti, 'Whole Lotta Red' (2020)


121. A Tribe Called Quest, 'People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm' (1990)
120. Young Thug, 'Barter 6' (2015)


103. Mos Def, 'Black on Both Sides' (1999)
102. Young Thug, Birdman, Rich Homie Quan, 'Birdman Presents Rich Gang: Tha Tour Part 1' (2014)


91. Boogie Down Productions, 'Criminal Minded' (1987)
90. Kid Cudi, 'Man on the Moon: The End of the Day' (2009)


79. Eric B. & Rakim, 'Follow the Leader' (1988)
78. Azealia Banks, 'Broke With Expensive Taste' (2014)


76. Gang Starr, 'Hard to Earn' (1994)
75. Megan Thee Stallion, 'Fever' (2019)


55. A Tribe Called Quest, 'Midnight Marauders' (1993)
54. Migos, 'Culture' (2017)


37. Raekwon, 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...' (1995)
36. Chance the Rapper, 'Acid Rap' (2013)


33. De La Soul, '3 Feet High and Rising' (1989)
32. Chief Keef, 'Finally Rich' (2012)

>55. A Tribe Called Quest, 'Midnight Marauders' (1993)
>54. Migos, 'Culture' (2017)

straight vicious

>103. Mos Def, 'Black on Both Sides' (1999)
>102. Young Thug, Birdman, Rich Homie Quan, 'Birdman Presents
>Rich Gang: Tha Tour Part 1' (2014)

the other albums in those other pairs were subjectively good or at least had some redeeming parts to them.

THIS ONE is fucking trash.

That shit looks too consistent to be a coincidence

probably agree with these assessments

This is INSANE

I find that hilarious considering Biggie’s is #1

I like Blue Funk and Nuttin But Love the best, but not even sure what the general consensus is on his best? He was major in my childhood, but in the Internet message board through social media era, he’s never been discussed enough IMO.

>I like Blue Funk and Nuttin But Love the best, but not even
>sure what the general consensus is on his best? He was major
>in my childhood, but in the Internet message board through
>social media era, he’s never been discussed enough IMO.

1 The Notorious B.I.G., 'Ready to Die' (1994)
2 Outkast, 'Stankonia' (2000)
3 Jay-Z, 'The Blueprint' (2001)
4 Public Enemy, 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back' (1988)
5 Kendrick Lamar, 'To Pimp a Butterfly' (2015)
6 Kanye West, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' (2010)
7 Missy Elliott, 'Miss E... So Addictive' (2001)
8 Wu-Tang Clan, 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)' (1993)
9 A Tribe Called Quest, 'The Low End Theory' (1991)
10 Lauryn Hill, 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' (1998)
11 Drake, 'Take Care' (2011)
12 Clipse, 'Lord Willin' ' (2002)
13 Dr. Dre, '2001' (1999)
14 Ghostface Killah, 'Supreme Clientele' (2000)
15 Eric B. and Rakim, 'Paid in Full' (1987)
16 Cardi B, 'Invasion of Privacy' (2018)
17 Kanye West, 'Yeezus' (2013)
18 Madvillain, 'Madvillainy' (2004)
19 Lil Kim, 'Hard Core' (1996)
20 Future, 'DS2' (2015)
21 Lil Wayne, 'Da Drought 3' (2007)
22 DMX, 'It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot' (1998)
23 UGK, 'Ridin' Dirty' (1996)
24 Nas, 'Illmatic' (1994)
25 Eminem, 'The Marshall Mathers LP' (2000)
26 Jay-Z, 'Reasonable Doubt' (1996)
27 Outkast, 'Aquemini' (1998)
28 Mobb Deep, 'The Infamous' (1995)
29 2Pac, 'All Eyez on Me' (1996)
30 Beastie Boys, 'Paul’s Boutique' (1989)
31 Nicki Minaj, 'Pink Friday' (2010)
32 Chief Keef, 'Finally Rich' (2012)
33 De La Soul, '3 Feet High and Rising' (1989)
34 Various Artists, 'The Sugar Hill Records Story' (1997)
35 Snoop Doggy Dogg, 'Doggystyle' (1993)
36 Chance the Rapper, 'Acid Rap' (2013)
37 Raekwon, 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...' (1995)
38 Kendrick Lamar, 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' (2012)
39 Lil Wayne, 'The Carter III' (2008)
40 Dr. Dre, 'The Chronic' (1992)
41 Kanye West, 'Late Registration' (2005)
42 Big Daddy Kane, 'Long Live the Kane' (1988)
43 Run-D.M.C., 'Run-D.M.C.' (1984)
44 Genius/GZA, 'Liquid Swords' (1995)
45 LL Cool J, 'Mama Said Knock You Out' (1990)
46 Tyler, the Creator, 'Call Me If You Get Lost' (2021)
47 Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott, 'Supa Dupa Fly' (1997)
48 J Dilla, 'Donuts' (2006)
49 N.W.A, 'Straight Outta Compton' (1988)
50 EPMD, 'Strictly Business' (1988)
51 The Roots, 'Things Fall Apart' (1999)
52 Kanye West, 'The College Dropout' (2004)
53 Salt-N-Pepa, 'Hot, Cool and Vicious' (1986)
54 Migos, 'Culture' (2017)
55 A Tribe Called Quest, 'Midnight Marauders' (1993)
56 Noname, 'Room 25' (2018)
57 Beastie Boys, 'Licensed to Ill' (1986)
58 Ice Cube, 'AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted' (1990)
59 The Notorious B.I.G., 'Life After Death' (1997)
60 Kendrick Lamar, 'Damn.' (2017)
61 Scarface, 'The Diary' (1994)
62 MF Doom, 'Operation: Doomsday' (1999)
63 Black Star, 'Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star' (1998)
64 50 Cent, 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' ' (2003)
65 De La Soul, 'Buhloone Mindstate' (1993)
66 Three 6 Mafia, 'Mystic Stylez' (1995)
67 Geto Boys, 'We Can't Be Stopped' (1991)
68 Juvenile, '400 Degreez' (1998)
69 Ghostface Killah, 'Ironman' (1996)
70 The Fugees, 'The Score' (1996)
71 Queen Latifah, 'All Hail the Queen' (1989)
72 Dr. Octagon, 'Dr. Octagonecologyst' (1996)
73 The Pharcyde, 'Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde' (1992)
74 Public Enemy, 'Fear of a Black Planet' (1990)
75 Megan Thee Stallion, 'Fever' (2019)
76 Gang Starr, 'Hard to Earn' (1994)
77 Jay-Z and Kanye West, 'Watch the Throne' (2011)
78 Azealia Banks, 'Broke With Expensive Taste' (2014)
79 Eric B. & Rakim, 'Follow the Leader' (1988)
80 Earl Sweatshirt, 'Some Rap Songs' (2018)
81 Digable Planets, 'Blowout Comb' (1994)
82 Slick Rick, 'The Great Adventures of Slick Rick' (1988)
83 M.I.A., 'Kala' (2007)
84 Vince Staples, 'Summertime '06' (2015)
85 Eminem, 'The Slim Shady LP' (1999)
86 Common, 'Like Water for Chocolate' (2000)
87 Ultramagnetic MCs, 'Critical Beatdown' (1988)
88 Cypress Hill, 'Cypress Hill' (1991)
89 Brand Nubian, 'One for All' (1990)
90 Kid Cudi, 'Man on the Moon: The End of the Day' (2009)
91 Boogie Down Productions, 'Criminal Minded' (1987)
92 DJ Shadow, 'Endtroducing.....' (1996)
93 Ice Cube, 'Death Certificate' (1991)
94 De La Soul, 'De La Soul Is Dead' (1991)
95 T.I., 'Trap Muzik' (2003)
96 Ice-T, 'Power' (1988)
97 Clipse, 'Hell Hath No Fury' (2006)
98 Company Flow, 'Funcrusher Plus' (1997)
99 Lil Wayne, 'Tha Carter II' (2005)
100 Run-D.M.C., 'Raising Hell'
101 Young Jeezy, 'Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101' (2005)
102 Young Thug, Birdman, Rich Homie Quan, 'Birdman Presents Rich Gang: Tha Tour Part 1' (2014)
103 Mos Def, 'Black on Both Sides' (1999)
104 Eve, 'Scorpion' (2001)
105 Chance the Rapper, 'Coloring Book' (2016)
106 Ol' Dirty Bastard, 'Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version' (1995)
107 Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, 'Wanted: Dead or Alive' (1990)
108 Pusha T, 'Daytona' (2018)
109 Main Source, 'Breaking Atoms' (1991)
110 Biz Markie, 'Goin' Off' (1988)
111 Boogie Down Productions, 'By All Means Necessary' (1988)
112 Rapsody, 'Laila’s Wisdom' (2017)
113 Jay-Z, 'The Black Album' (2003)
114 Digital Underground, 'Sex Packets' (1990)
115 Afrika Bambaataa, 'Looking for the Perfect Beat 1980-1985' (2001)
116 Jungle Brothers, 'Straight Out the Jungle' (1988)
117 Missy Elliott, 'Under Construction' (2002)
118 Tyler, the Creator, 'Bastard' (2009)
119 The Coup, 'Party Music' (2001)
120 Young Thug, 'Barter 6' (2015)
121 A Tribe Called Quest, 'People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm' (1990)
122 N.E.R.D., 'In Search Of...' (2002)
123 Souls of Mischief, '93 'til Infinity' (1993)
124 Outkast, 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below' (2003)
125 Drake, 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' (2015)
126 21 Savage and Metro Boomin, 'Savage Mode' (2016)
127 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, 'E. 1999 Eternal' (1995)
128 Big Pun, 'Capital Punishment' (1998)
129 Playboi Carti, 'Whole Lotta Red' (2020)
130 Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, 'Mecca and the Soul Brother' (1992)
131 Ghostface Killah, 'Fishscale' (2006)
132 J. Cole, '2014 Forest Hills Drive' (2014)
133 Killer Mike, 'R.A.P. Music' (2012)
134 2Pac, 'Me Against the World' (1995)
135 Rick Ross, 'Teflon Don' (2010)
136 Doja Cat, 'Planet Her' (2021)
137 Slum Village, 'Fantastic Vol. 2' (2000)
138 City Girls, 'Period' (2018)
139 The Streets, 'Original Pirate Material' (2002)
140 Nas, 'It Was Written' (1996)
141 Black Moon, 'Enta da Stage' (1993)
142 Little Brother, 'The Listening' (2003)
143 Lil Uzi Vert, 'Eternal Atake' (2020)
144 Roc Marciano, 'Reloaded' (2012)
145 Common, 'Be' (2005)
146 Black Sheep, 'A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing' (1991)
147 LL Cool J, 'Radio' (1985)
148 Run the Jewels, 'Run the Jewels 2' (2014)
149 DJ Screw, '3 ’N the Mornin’ (Part Two)' (1996)
150 The Roots, 'How I Got Over' (2010)
151 Lil Nas X, 'Montero' (2021)
152 Rae Sremmurd, 'SremmLife' (2015)
153 Eazy E, 'Eazy-Duz-It' (1988)
154 Steinski, 'What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective' (2008)
155 Jeru the Damaja, 'The Sun Rises in the East' (1994)
156 DJ Quik, 'Quik Is the Name' (1991)
157 Danny Brown, 'XXX' (2011)
158 Devin the Dude, 'Just Tryin ta Live' (2002)
159 Handsome Boy Modeling School, 'So...How's Your Girl?' (1999)
160 Big L, 'Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous' (1995)
161 Polo G, 'Die a Legend' (2019)
162 Tierra Whack, 'Whack World' (2018)
163 UGK, 'Super Tight...' (1994)
164 Schoolboy Q, 'Blank Face' (2016)
165 Cannibal Ox, 'The Cold Vein' (2001)
166 Childish Gambino, 'Because the Internet' (2013)
167 Above the Law, 'Black Mafia Life' (1993)
168 Mach-Hommy, 'Pray for Haiti' (2021)
169 Goodie Mob, 'Soul Food' (1995)
170 Big K.R.I.T., 'Krit Wuz Here' (2010)
171 Marley Marl, 'In Control, Volume 1' (1988)
172 Flo Milli, 'Ho, Why Is You Here?' (2020)
173 Mac Miller, 'The Divine Feminine' (2016)
174 Cam'ron, 'Purple Haze' (2004)
175 Roxanne Shanté, 'Bad Sister' ( 1989)
176 Westside Gunn, 'Flygod' (2020)
177 Gravediggaz, '6 Feet Deep' (1994)
178 E-40, 'In a Major Way' (1995)
179 Freestyle Fellowship, 'To Whom It May Concern...' (1991)
180 Little Simz, 'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert' (2021)
181 Various Artists, 'Soundbombing II' (1999)
182 Gucci Mane, 'Chicken Talk' (2006)
183 Camp Lo, 'Uptown Saturday Night' (1997)
184 Saba, 'Care for Me' (2018)
185 MC Lyte, 'Lyte as a Rock' (1988)
186 Too $hort, 'Life Is ... Too $hort' (1988)
187 Capone-N-Noreaga, 'The War Report' (1997)
188 Various Artists, 'Wild Style: Original Soundtrack' (1983)
189 Nipsey Hussle, 'Crenshaw' (2013)
190 Drakeo the Ruler, 'Cold Devil' (2018)
191 Lyrics Born, 'Later That Day' (2003)
192 Pop Smoke, 'Meet the Woo' (2019)
193 A$AP Rocky, 'Live. Love. A$AP' (2011)
194 K'Naan, 'The Dusty Foot Philosopher' (2005)
195 Cupcakke, 'Ephorize' (2018)
196 The Jacka, 'Tear Gas' (2009)
197 Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, 'Bandana' (2019)
198 KMD, 'Mr. Hood' (1991)
199 Juice WRLD, 'Goodbye & Good Riddance' (2018)
200 Travis Scott, 'Astroworld' (2018)

Trolling!

Or did they have a group of 4-5 like drafting albums or something?

By CHARLES AARON & MANKAPRR CONTEH & JON DOLAN & WILL DUKES & DEWAYNE GAGE & JOE GROSS & KORY GROW & CHRISTIAN HOARD & JEFF IHAZA & JULYSSA LOPEZ & MOSI REEVES & YOH PHILLIPS & NOAH SHACHTMAN & ROB SHEFFIELD & SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON & CHRISTOPHER R. WEINGARTEN

I just can’t imagine one person both liking that combination of 200 albums, and ranking them the way they did.

https://twitter.com/Mankaprr/status/1534176533283209216

so they are saying they got to write on a couple of the picks. that indicates it was a group effort. must have been huge if they only did two albums.

.

All these hip hop Twitter accounts never say shit about Face either. I been replying to all of them like “you forgot Face”. “What about Face?”

They were all on his dick when it looked like he might die. Now they don’t talk about him again, ever. They ain’t shit.

Putting Illmatic at 24 is underrating it and it’s clearly trolling and trying to go against the grain and be edgy, but it’s not too egregious because they still had it high.

Putting It was Written at 140 or whatever, is flat out absurd. Nas rapped better on that than any of these dickheads heroes ever dreamed of rapping.

i ctrl+f'd a couple times, and i'm good.

i want my minute back.

…..AGAIN.

There is a problem with women MC's not getting their shine but I don't think you fix it by forcing their albums in a list like this.

There is no world in which Cardi B gets include in the top 20 unless you are trying to make a point of being inclusive (and even that is disrespect to women MCs like Queen Latifah).

I think the same could be said for forcing albums from the last 10 years on the list.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

There are several artists who should have multiple albums included but don't because it feels like they tried to include EVERY demographic. Every area, every region, every style, etc - and not only that it seems like they tried to mix up all those demographics throughout the various ranking levels, so if you look at the top 10 you see a cross section of everything, as well as looking at 50-60, etc.

Again, all this stuff is just made for clicks.

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

this is the embodiment of that saying.

It's a lot easier to nit-pick over the "mistakes" in lists that have no character.

impact of their albums. No one ever held Lil Kim in the same regard as 2Pac, Snoop, Run DMC, Ice Cube, Nas, etc. She may have been a trailblazer and highly influential, but her album was never discussed in that light so it’s weird to seem them elevate it to a top 20 all time album. And the inclusion of Doja Cat?? Why?? Lol.

hear on the radio now. For better or worst, her and foxy are the most influential women rappers of today because they gave birth to Nicki, Meg, Cardi,Saweetie, Mullato, Cash Doll, etc.

You see their influence more than Lauryn Hill, Latifah or even Missy.

Which personally, I don't think it's a great thing but can't deny the influence.



**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

>There is a problem with women MC's not getting their shine
>but I don't think you fix it by forcing their albums in a list
>like this.

It totally tracks that your misogynistic ass would fixate on this list in THIS way...the fact that you assume that those albums and artists are so automatically undeserving of respect and reverence that they'd need to be FORCED onto any list of this nature is telling.

How many of those 20 albums have you listened to all the way through? Cuz those 20 are most certainly the best of the best

Latifah, Lyte,Lauryn, Lil Kim, Tierra Whack, Noname, Cardi, Salt N Pepa, Missy, etc...like are you fucking kidding me?

do you have ANY idea of the impact that those albums alone had on the not only us women hip hop fans (and girls!) not to mention the industry itself?

the fact that your fucking simp doldrum ass is clueless in this area is evident and obvious.

go sit the fuck down somewhere and speak on some shit you're actually qualified to mouth breath about ...

and the same goes to all you other trash ass limp dicks cosigning this shitpost reply.


d

>**********
>"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then
>they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson
>
>"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"


I don't speak to provoke. I speak because I think our time is short and each moment that we are not our truest selves, and we say what we do not mean because we imagine that is what somebody wants us to say, is wasting our time on this Earth - C. Adichie

Lauryn, Latifah, give Foxy her debut, give Kim her debut - but somewhere between 100 and 200.

Maybe consider Jean Grae, Rah Digga, Bahamadia, and maybe Nicki’s first because of the impact.

They didn’t pick the right ones.

And Little Simz was one of my favorite albums of last year so I’m not mad at that one….I hope more people check it out because of this. But I’ll agree with those who made the point above that it’s just too soon to put an album that new in a list like this.

Sampa the Great is another amazing female MC deserving of way more praise than she's getting. Her song "Final Form" has been in a ton of commercials the past couple years. Song is hard as hell. Video is beautiful.


>And Little Simz was one of my favorite albums of last year so
>I’m not mad at that one….I hope more people check it out
>because of this. But I’ll agree with those who made the
>point above that it’s just too soon to put an album that new
>in a list like this.

>They didn’t pick the right ones.

this is definitely a more valid critique than "they tried too hard to include women"

>And Little Simz was one of my favorite albums of last year so
>I’m not mad at that one….I hope more people check it out
>because of this. But I’ll agree with those who made the
>point above that it’s just too soon to put an album that new
>in a list like this.

also a valid critique.

d

I don't speak to provoke. I speak because I think our time is short and each moment that we are not our truest selves, and we say what we do not mean because we imagine that is what somebody wants us to say, is wasting our time on this Earth - C. Adichie

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

I don't speak to provoke. I speak because I think our time is short and each moment that we are not our truest selves, and we say what we do not mean because we imagine that is what somebody wants us to say, is wasting our time on this Earth - C. Adichie

/s

I stopped caring about lists a long time ago and I’d never look to RS as some reliable source for hip hop, but this list is pretty embarrassing by their standards.

It’s weird bc there’s an obvious appreciation for some more ‘underground’ acts like Souls of Mischief, Ultramagnetic MCs, Digable Planets, and Dr. Octagon, but there’s also love for acts that are definitely more pop than hip hop like Lil Nas X, Cardi B, and Doja Cat. I mean, if you’re going to include those acts than why not include Hammer, Nelly, Kriss Kross, and TLC??

I love the respect given to Ridin’ Dirty and Mystic Stylez, but don’t believe they’d have made their list 15-20 years ago.

They’re not in my personal top 10-20 (well Doggystyle and the Chronic might be) but how can you rank some of those duds ahead of Doggystyle, the Chronic, and Get Rich or Die Trying??? They’re arguably the 3 most anticipated releases of all time and certainly top 5-10 all time in terms of influence (for better or worse). Look at the dumb shit ranked ahead of Run DMC, Slick Rick, BDK, and Ice Cube. It’s lazy and inexcusable to me.

The rankings, to me, are definitely the most problematic (Soul Food at like #160). That and the omission of ATLiens and In My Life Volume #2 (not his best, but his most successful and contained some of the most iconic club anthems of the late 90s).

I already gave this too much of my time, lol. Feels like 2005 all over again.

>I stopped caring about lists a long time ago and I’d never
>look to RS as some reliable source for hip hop, but this list
>is pretty embarrassing by their standards.
>
>It’s weird bc there’s an obvious appreciation for some
>more ‘underground’ acts like Souls of Mischief,
>Ultramagnetic MCs, Digable Planets, and Dr. Octagon, but
>there’s also love for acts that are definitely more pop
>than hip hop like Lil Nas X, Cardi B, and Doja Cat. I mean,
>if you’re going to include those acts than why not include
>Hammer, Nelly, Kriss Kross, and TLC??

I didn’t even think of that angle, but that’s a hell of a point.

>I love the respect given to Ridin’ Dirty and Mystic Stylez,
>but don’t believe they’d have made their list 15-20 years
>ago.
>
>They’re not in my personal top 10-20 (well Doggystyle and
>the Chronic might be) but how can you rank some of those duds
>ahead of Doggystyle, the Chronic, and Get Rich or Die
>Trying??? They’re arguably the 3 most anticipated releases
>of all time and certainly top 5-10 all time in terms of
>influence (for better or worse). Look at the dumb shit ranked
>ahead of Run DMC, Slick Rick, BDK, and Ice Cube. It’s lazy
>and inexcusable to me.
>
>The rankings, to me, are definitely the most problematic (Soul
>Food at like #160). That and the omission of ATLiens and In My
>Life Volume #2 (not his best, but his most successful and
>contained some of the most iconic club anthems of the late
>90s).
>
>I already gave this too much of my time, lol. Feels like 2005
>all over again.

That would get me to give her a listen.

She was on Twitter rapping along to “Whatever You Say” by Little Brother a few months ago.

Only things I’ve heard from her were not for me and were as lightweight pop as could be. Curious if there’s more to her.

I’m not sure that Doja Cat can be rehabilitated in my eyes.. Her pandering to racist white boys isn’t something I can easily get over. Honestly, I wished she’d been ostracized.. Maybe I’m being insensitive to her situation, but I feel like, fuck her!!

at this list like us old heads are.

Do 'kids' even check for Rolling Stone like that?

It was pretty masterful how well the Rolling Stone writers and editors shared the collective anger this list was supposed to elicit by picking so many different types of albums.

I’m 33 and reading some of these comments about how they can’t believe these rankings came from a group of like-minded people or whatever, chuckling at what the reaction to my own top 200 linked in my sig would be lol

It starts out pretty traditionalist but clearly the OKP demographic is far more deferential to the originals and standards, whereas I felt it was pretty important to slot that Cardi B album in, even at 213, before I quit updating it. Feels kinda low honestly, that album is awesome.

~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

That album just doesn't get the respect that it deserves. Maybe this upcoming documentary will get the DOC some love.

It’s just more content…another list put together by some people.

Some people made a list.
And posted on the internet.
How many more years will this be news to share