Top 10 Rap Albums from 1990/2000 Decades

[BallsOut]

I'll start:

1. Mobb Deep - The Infamous
2. Tupac - All Eyez On Me
3. Nas - It Was Written
4. Mos Def and Talib Kweli - Black Star
5. Biggie - Ready to Die
6. Tupac - Me Against the World
7. Nas - Stillmatic
8. Kanye West - The College Dropout
9. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
10. Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle


Based on flow, meaningful lyrics, beats, and replay-ability. Are there any glaring omission(s) in this list? Discuss.

[MC Gusto]

I'd put Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt over Stillmatic and Country Grammar, although I think both are dope.

I also liked I Am and Illmatic more than It Was Written, which probably means that I should put Reasonable Doubt over It Was Written too. For the record Stillmatic > It Was Written IMO.

[andgar923]

no no no no

[Kblaze8855]

Country grammar? Eh. If I have to take a southern album Outkast alone keeps nelly off the list.

[andgar923]

My god Kanye is overrated.

[BallsOut]

Country grammar? Eh. If I have to take a southern album Outkast alone keeps nelly off the list.

I was actually debating whether to put ATLiens at #10 over Country Grammar.

[andgar923]

College Dropout was very good. He's overrated because it cracked some dude's top 10 list? :roll:

What's your list?

But it's not just his top 10 list. I've seen tons of people rate him as a GOAT candidate, top 5 rapper, best album of this decade and so on.

I don't know if I can come up with a definite top 10. If I make a top 10 list 10 times, it will look different every time.

But def Country Grammar aint cracking my top 200. Perhaps on impact and influence but that's it.

College Dropout is solid, but Ye is a sloppy rapper... yuck!

Give me any of Common's first 5 albums>>> any of Ye's anytime. Hell, just to have some Kanye in the list, give me Common's 'Be'. Like Water For Chocolate is criminally underrated, one of the best produced works of art I've ever heard. Dilla did a masterful job with Water For Chocolate, simply amazing work.

But there's tons of great albums. I agree Midnight Marauders should be on that list, somebody's list. Ice Cube doesn't get enough props either. Hell... Kool G Rap makes albums that are masterpieces and rarely are they mentioned. One can even argue that a top 10 list can be compiled of mostly Wu members.

ATLiens, Scarface, Goodie Mob, all have great albums that can rep the South. Cali isn't repped enough either. Im sure that we can fit in Dre or Snoop in there somewhere. What a travesty that Cube doesn't get more love. The man is insightful without being preachy, and has a unique sense of humor all while still being hard.

Oh... and we haven't even touched the underground.

Binary Star murders almost anything out there. One Be Lo based on his skills alone could slip in and jump into top 10 GOAT race. Give me Pharcyde over Ye, f*ckin De La, Artifacts, Company Flow, f*ckin Camp Lo all have had better albums than Ye.. yeah I said it. Perhaps not more hits, but better albums for sure.

Cormega aint the best rapper, but his albums are better than most shit out.

Now you got me going.

Now Im going from listening to Richard Humpty Vission to this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaBpDSreVkY).

Killah Priest's Heavy Mental is GOLD... people need to listen to it... please.

Mast Ace's 'Long Hot Summer'... the prime example of consistency.

[BallsOut]

Having Infamous as number 1 makes you a beautiful human being. I approve.

Missing War Report, Midnight Marauders and Reasonable Doubt, ATLiens among others.

lol @ Country Grammar

Midnight Marauders is just outside my top 10 to be honest. What's your list?

[BallsOut]

But it's not just his top 10 list. I've seen tons of people rate him as a GOAT candidate, top 5 rapper, best album of this decade and so on.

College Dropout is solid, but Ye is a sloppy rapper... yuck!

Give me any of Common's first 5 albums>>> any of Ye's anytime. Hell, just to have some Kanye in the list, give me Common's 'Be'. Like Water For Chocolate is criminally underrated, one of the best produced works of art I've ever heard. Dilla did a masterful job with Water For Chocolate, simply amazing work.

Binary Star murders almost anything out there. One Be Lo based on his skills alone could slip in and jump into top 10 GOAT race. Give me Pharcyde over Ye, f*ckin De La, Artifacts, Company Flow, f*ckin Camp Lo all have had better albums than Ye.. yeah I said it. Perhaps not more hits, but better albums for sure.



You're acting like it's blasphemy to rank College Dropout in the bottom tier of a top 10 90s/00s rap album list. That was his breakthrough album. Everything should be taken within context. Forget his recent albums.

Kanye was in a horrible car accident and still managed to put out such an incredibly inspiring College Dropout album. It's like watching post 3-peat Jordan minus the athleticism dominating in the post. Like Kanye says on that album, "Make music that's fire, spit my soul through the wire."

[andgar923]

You're acting like it's blasphemy to rank College Dropout in the bottom tier of a top 10 90s/00s rap album list. That was his breakthrough album. Everything should be taken within context. Forget his recent albums.

Kanye was in a horrible car accident and still managed to put out such an incredibly inspiring College Dropout album. It's like watching post 3-peat Jordan minus the athleticism dominating in the post. Like Kanye says on that album, "Make music that's fire, spit my soul through the wire."

We can then take every album within it's context of when/how it was made then, no? it's only fair.

All great art comes from times of struggle, despair, sorrow, etc.etc.

[Fawker]

college drop out is in there.

then you have to start weeding out beloved 90's albums off the list because as we get older our playlist becomes more classy than classic.

[BallsOut]

We can then take every album within it's context of when/how it was made then, no? it's only fair.

All great art comes from times of struggle, despair, sorrow, etc.etc.

Sure, that's what I've done with my list. Tupac's All Eyez On Me came on the verge of the beef he had with Bad Boys/Biggie/Diddy/Mobb Deep/etc. Me Against the World after he got shot 5 times and lived.

It's like prime Paul Pierce getting stabbed in the club or Kobe going to his 2004 Colorado rape court trials and coming out the next day dropping 40 in Denver in a beautiful display of artistry like his life depended on it.

Like PJ Carlesimo coming out to will his team to victory after getting choked out by his own Latrell Spreewell

[BallsOut]

Infamous
War Report
It Was Written
Reasonable Doubt
Legal Drug Money
Liquid Swords
OB4CL
Doe or Die
Midnight Marauders
Illadelph Halflife

Dat East Coast NY bias tho :biggums:

[Derka]

By no means am I rap connoisseur, but here are the ones that stood out to me from the 90s that I can remember really enjoying...

No particular order.

Wu-Tang Clan's "Enter the 36 Chambers"
- GZA's "Liquid Swords"
- Raekwon's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx"
Bone Thugs n Harmony's "E. 1999 Eternal"
Biggie's "Ready to Die"
Beastie Boys' "Ill Communication"
2Pac's Makaveli record
Busta Rhymes' "The Coming"
Nas' "Illmatic"
Mobb Deep's "The Infamous"

Could go on, but those are four I could reach for right now and still enjoy immensely. Pretty much gave up on rap & hip-hop when 1999 hit and metal really, seriously took over my life.

[Rasheed1]

10?

Ready 2 Die - Biggie
War Report - CNN
Enta the Stage - Black Moon
Illadelph Halflife -Roots
Dah Shinin - Smiff & Wessun
The Chronic - Dr Dre
The Blueprint - Jay Z
The Infamous - Mobb Deep
Built 4 Cuban Linx - Raekwon
Illmatic - Nas


In no order… Those are the albums that got the most run in my tape deck in the 90s

there are some others… ODB - return to the 36 chambers.. Kayne's first joint.. some of the albums andgar mentioned (especially Killa Priest, Ghostface and Cappadonna)… Blackstar.. Tribe called quest..Jay's other albums…Biggie's other album..Ice cube was a monster back day…

There used to be so much good material, I just can't fit it all in…


But the joints I listed were the ones I listened to the most..

[JustinJDW]

Anyone else think Life After Death was better than Ready to Die? I do. Both albums were obviously great, but it always seems like Biggie's debut gets more praise, even though I feel like his sophmore effort raised the bar even further. I mean that shit was a 20+ track filler free masterpiece son. Every song was a jam. Flow, lyrics and production off the charts. Just some thoughts, what ya'll think? Cool thread.

[Rondo]

In no order...

GZA - Liquid Swords
Nas - Illmatic
Wu-Tang - 36 Chambers
Mobb Deep - Infamous
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP
Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
Outkast - Aquemini
Common - Resurrection
Kanye West - MBDTF (not sure if this counts) if not, Reasonable Doubt.

West Coast can't touch East Coast, lettuce be cereal.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

50 cent power of the dollar is beyond sick.
EASILY top 10:bowdown: :bowdown:

[KobesFinger]

Anyone else think Life After Death was better than Ready to Die? I do. Both albums were obviously great, but it always seems like Biggie's debut gets more praise, even though I feel like his sophmore effort raised the bar even further. I mean that shit was a 20+ track filler free masterpiece son. Every song was a jam. Flow, lyrics and production off the charts. Just some thoughts, what ya'll think? Cool thread.

I do too but I think Life After Death had filler. Another, Playa Hater and Nasty Boy (IMO) were all filler. I wish he re-did some tracks off Ready to Die to match the production of the rest of the album. His voice also changed. Things Done Changed, Gimme the Loot, Machine Gun Funk and Friend of Mine all sound like mix-tape songs and IMO bring the quality of the album down. He also fills out bars with "motherfvcking" a lot in those songs too.

[BallsOut]

By no means am I rap connoisseur, but here are the ones that stood out to me from the 90s that I can remember really enjoying...

No particular order.

Wu-Tang Clan's "Enter the 36 Chambers"
- GZA's "Liquid Swords"
- Raekwon's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx"
Bone Thugs n Harmony's "E. 1999 Eternal"
Biggie's "Ready to Die"
Beastie Boys' "Ill Communication"
2Pac's Makaveli record
Busta Rhymes' "The Coming"
Nas' "Illmatic"
Mobb Deep's "The Infamous"

Could go on, but those are four I could reach for right now and still enjoy immensely. Pretty much gave up on rap & hip-hop when 1999 hit and metal really, seriously took over my life.

That's a lot of Wu-Tang. I gotta be honest, I haven't really dabbled into their stuff much. But I'm looking forward to it. I see a lot of you guys have Wu-Tang rappers on your lists. Time to see what it's all about!

Also, I noticed most of you guys put Illmatic as the album of choice for Nas. Personally, I thought It Was Written and Stillmatic were more polished lyrically and production wise. Illmatic had some sick freestyles though..

[JustinJDW]

I do too but I think Life After Death had filler. Another, Playa Hater and Nasty Boy (IMO) were all filler. I wish he re-did some tracks off Ready to Die to match the production of the rest of the album. His voice also changed. Things Done Changed, Gimme the Loot, Machine Gun Funk and Friend of Mine all sound like mix-tape songs and IMO bring the quality of the album down. He also fills out bars with "motherfvcking" a lot in those songs too.Yeah, I hear what you saying. I think if anything on that album could be called filler, it's probably Nasty Boy. Disagree about the other two cause I feel the verses (mainly Lil Kim's) in Another we're pretty legit, and Playa Hater was obviously a fun tribute to the classics track. Would have loved to see what kind of material he would have put out in the future if he didn't get blasted. Couldn't have had a better start. Shame.

[Kblaze8855]

Ready to die wouldnt get my #1 album of all time status...except when its actually playing. One of those albums I know is great but when I actually put it on....3-4 friends around. Everyone word for word....

"When I grab the glock...put it to your headpiece....one in the chamber...the safety is off..."

Its just a movement.

THe beats...the flow...the voice...the lyrics. No less than 9 songs on that album are monumental. Just huge.

I couldnt leave it out of any top 10.

[~primetime~]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/19/Dr.DreTheChronic.jpg

if The Chronic isn't in your top-10 then you didn't grow up in the 90s. That decade was ruled by gangsta rap and The Chronic was the antithesis of it.

The Chronic was to gangsta rap what Nevermind was to grunge.


from someone that grew up through all of it:

-The Chronic
-36 Chambers (Liquid Swords is better but didn't have as much impact)
-Ready to Die
-Life After Death
-All Eyes on Me
-Makaveli
-Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik >>> anything else they have done in terms of popularity and impact and everything else
-Illmatic
-The Infamous


that's only 9, not sure about a 10, perhaps Me Against the World, or probably Doggy Style

this is what I feel like had the most impact in rap during that time

[Jailblazers7]

I kind of think College Dropout marks an age divide because it establish the soul beats sound as the hallmark of "good hip hop" for people my age. You can argue that people like Dilla did the same thing except better but that was the album that made it undeniably mainstream.

[ImKobe]

in no order

reasonable doubt
life after death
all eyez on me
the big picture
the blueprint
the chronic
doggystyle
me against the world
ready to die
illmatic

10 just ain't enough, there are so many classics from the 90s & early 2000s that it would take hours to list all of them: Eminem's first 3 albums, Outkast, big pun, gangstarr, mobb deep, WU TANG CLAN, Cube, Scarface, DMX, Ja Rule's 1st album, busta, killa cam, jada, styles, DPG, UGK and many many more....

[Derka]

Re: The Chronic not being in my Top 10 - not knocking Dre's record, that was definitely a solid joint. That one and Cypress Hill's "Black Sunday" were borderline for me on that list. Forgot about those first two DMX joints, too...Its Dark and Flesh of My Flesh. F*cking everybody was bumping those back in the day, lol.

I wasn't going for "Most Impact"...was just reeling off 10 that I remember my 14-15 year old brain getting off on because that was when rap really took hold on me for a spell.

[Derka]

That's a lot of Wu-Tang. I gotta be honest, I haven't really dabbled into their stuff much. But I'm looking forward to it. I see a lot of you guys have Wu-Tang rappers on your lists. Time to see what it's all about!

They all have solo joints and there's like 4,000 "Wu Affiliates" who use the logo and the brand but aren't members of the Wu-Tang proper. Make sure you find work with one of the nine members' actual rap monikers on there.

[ROCSteady]

In no order...

GZA - Liquid Swords
Nas - Illmatic
Wu-Tang - 36 Chambers
Mobb Deep - Infamous
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP
Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
Outkast - Aquemini
Common - Resurrection
Kanye West - MBDTF (not sure if this counts) if not, Reasonable Doubt.

West Coast can't touch East Coast, lettuce be cereal.

:applause: You're my dude.

Finally someone had enough sense to put Aquemini on the definitive. It absolutely belongs. Might be a top album for me in any genre.

I was bout to have sumthin to say for this thread if nobody had included a classic work of art like that.

Trust, my sensibilities prefer the NY sound moreso so Rondo's list is about on point but I recognize all time greatness when I see/hear it.

[~primetime~]

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik > Aquemini


every single track on SPCM is a classic...ALL OF THEM

Aquemini is not like that

also Aquemini is when Andre started getting weird, wearing baseball catcher's gear and shoulder pads, mixed with Hawaiian skirts and shit...wtf :lol

[ROCSteady]

I don't give a fck what Tres Stackos wore, I see Outkast music as stuff that transcends the 'rap' genre even though it most def is rap music. The image or labels doesn't factor much for them because of all of the other influences that are apparent in the production. Can't really box in Outkast like other guys who spit

[BallsOut]

They all have solo joints and there's like 4,000 "Wu Affiliates" who use the logo and the brand but aren't members of the Wu-Tang proper. Make sure you find work with one of the nine members' actual rap monikers on there.

Thanks for the tip :cheers:

[Just2McFly]

Jay-z - The Black Album
Kanye -Late Registration
2pac - MATW
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides( speed law is still the track)
DMX - It's Dark and Hell is Hot
50 - GRODT
Nas - Illmatic
De la Soul - Stakes is High
Snoop - Doggystyle
Biggie - Ready to Die (everyday struggle:bowdown: :bowdown: )

[waseem780]

This is the shit.

http://images.livemixtapes.com/artists/nodj/capital_steez-amerikkkan_korruption/cover.jpg

[Rasheed1]

Jay-z - The Black Album
Kanye -Late Registration
2pac - MATW
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides( speed law is still the track)
DMX - It's Dark and Hell is Hot
50 - GRODT
Nas - Illmatic
De la Soul - Stakes is High
Snoop - Doggystyle
Biggie - Ready to Die (everyday struggle:bowdown: :bowdown: )

Speed law is a classic track .. Also Stakes is High was very good :cheers:

The 50 album was a classic too

[BallsOut]

I'd put Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt over Stillmatic and Country Grammar, although I think both are dope.

I also liked I Am and Illmatic more than It Was Written, which probably means that I should put Reasonable Doubt over It Was Written too. For the record Stillmatic > It Was Written IMO.

Reasonable Doubt is overrated. There's literally one good track on there in Dead Presidents 2. That's it. I can't replay a 14 track album that just has 1 good track. Country Grammar had at least 3 tracks that blew up on repeat on everyone's radios during the early 2000s.

[ROCSteady]

Can't knock the hustle is one of the cleanest, most textbook displays of flow around. Great to cruise to with the windows open on a nice day. I'd consider that a good track for sure

[BallsOut]

Can't knock the hustle is one of the cleanest, most textbook displays of flow around. Great to cruise to with the windows open on a nice day. I'd consider that a good track for sure

So far since posting the thread, listened to CNN's The War Report, Outkast's ATLiens and The Root's Illadeph Halflife. All 3 are head and shoulders above Jay Z's Reasonable doubt.

[ROCSteady]

That doesn't mean Can't Knock The Hustle isn't a classic nodder and a great display of syllable agreement over a clean beat.

[BallsOut]

That doesn't mean Can't Knock The Hustle isn't a classic nodder and a great display of syllable agreement over a clean beat.

I have reasonable doubt to think Reasonable Doubt is overrated.

:coleman:

[miller-time]

Jay-z - The Black Album
Kanye -Late Registration
2pac - MATW
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides( speed law is still the track)
DMX - It's Dark and Hell is Hot
50 - GRODT
Nas - Illmatic
De la Soul - Stakes is High
Snoop - Doggystyle
Biggie - Ready to Die (everyday struggle:bowdown: :bowdown: )

You have that but not MMLP? How?

[ROCSteady]

Lol fair enough. You said there's only one good song on the album which I vehemently disagree with. Overrated? That's debatable, one good song? I think you're flat out wrong

Can I Live is also a great song. D'evils too.

[Done_And_Done]

If Illmatic doesn't touch your top ten hiphop list then you need to go back and make some edits.

[Done_And_Done]

This is my type of thread :applause:

My top 10, in no order -

Wu-Tang - 36 Chambers
Mobb Deep - Infamous
Dre - Chronic
DMX - It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
NAS - Illmatic
Heltah Skeltah - Nocturnal and Magnum Force are a tie for me
Redman - Muddy Waters
Big L - Lifestylz Ov Da Poor And Dangerous
Westside Conection - Bow Down
Big Pun - Capital Punishment

I could prolly easily go on with a top 50, 90's hip hop is my shit.



http://www.quickmeme.com/img/62/62a13b25ef718213118bd7fc9de1fd23eeea8693f3c169fbff f073e8e236291d.jpg

Masta Ace is THE most underrated hip-hop artist, no debate.

Definitely. Beautiful is a track that has never left my ipod. One of my all time faves...

[Just2McFly]

You have that but not MMLP? How?
man its tough i was trying to put all my favorite classics on there and some had to be left out

[BallsOut]

I would like to apologize to everyone in this thread for having Country Grammar in my top 10 list. After listening to it many years later, it's pretty bad :oldlol:

As a result, I'll have to revise the 10th spot in the coming days.

[andgar923]

I would like to apologize to everyone in this thread for having Country Grammar in my top 10 list. After listening to it many years later, it's pretty bad :oldlol:

As a result, I'll have to revise the 10th spot in the coming days.
apology accepted.

[BallsOut]

OP updated with Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle in place of Nelly's Country Grammar. Also Biggie's Ready to Die moved up to the 5th spot.

[aboss4real24]

Get rich or Die Tryn is The greatest album ever

[Nastradamus]

I'll start:

1. Mobb Deep - The Infamous
2. Tupac - All Eyez On Me
3. Nas - It Was Written
4. Mos Def and Talib Kweli - Black Star
5. Biggie - Ready to Die
6. Tupac - Me Against the World
7. Nas - Stillmatic
8. Kanye West - The College Dropout
9. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
10. Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle


Based on flow, meaningful lyrics, beats, and replay-ability. Are there any glaring omission(s) in this list? Discuss.

I'd put Reasonable Doubt and Illmatic over 2/3 Stillmatic, It was Written and Black Star . Strong list overall though. Hard to argue too hard

[Done_And_Done]

Get rich or Die Tryn is The greatest album ever

No

[Derka]

I'm backtracking on my BIG selection...going from Ready to Die to Life After Death.

Somebody's Gotta Die + Notorious Thugs are just PERFECT.

[Rasheed1]

I didn't see anyone mention tidal

[BallsOut]

Anyone else think Life After Death was better than Ready to Die? I do. Both albums were obviously great, but it always seems like Biggie's debut gets more praise, even though I feel like his sophmore effort raised the bar even further. I mean that shit was a 20+ track filler free masterpiece son. Every song was a jam. Flow, lyrics and production off the charts. Just some thoughts, what ya'll think? Cool thread.


I'm backtracking on my BIG selection...going from Ready to Die to Life After Death.

Somebody's Gotta Die + Notorious Thugs are just PERFECT.

I gotta agree with you guys. Lots of classic joints on Life After Death. The flow is impeccable. I might even have to bump Snoop's joint off the list in favor of Ready to Die..

[BallsOut]

Big Pun's Capital Punishment deserves a mention too. Dude sounds so much like Biggie on the mic :biggums: