Top 10 Rap Albums All Time?

[Nitro1118]

What are yours?I have done a lot of thinking, listening to the albums I got on the pod, and here is my top 10:1) <u>Nas- Illmatic</u> This was an absolute no brainer. Lyrically the best album of all time, one of best produced albums of all time, each track is fire...it's just amazing. I first listened to it in 2004, and nearly 3 years later still play it all the way through a few times a month.2) <u>Wu Tang Clan- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)</u> Along with Illmatic it's the only other no brainer on my list. Amazing production by Rza, every track but 1 (Tearz) is great, and you got a great variety in the 9 differnt rappers so there is something for everyone in each song.3) <u>AZ- Doe Or Die</u> An album that I might get some flak for putting on here, but I feel it is the most underrated album of all time. Great production, amazing flow and lyrics from AZ, every track is great outside of 1 (I Feel For You), and very good production. Like the albums in my top 2, it is short and to the point with no duds or skits. 4) <u>Notorious BIG- Ready To Die</u> With the rapper with the best flow of all time comes one of the greatest albums of all time. Some of my favorite rap songs of all time on this album (Juicy, Who Shot Ya). Lyrically Biggie was great, but the one thing that kept Ready To Die out of top 3 was production on some songs and sheer length of album.5) <u>Blackstar- Mos def and Talib Kweli Are...Blackstar</u> The best rap duo of all time. The seamless transitions between the 2, the jazzy and charismatic rhyming of Mos Def and the intelligence and pure skills of Talib Kweli just match perfectly. great production by Hi-Tek as well.6) <u>Dr. Dre- The Chronic</u> The best produced album of all time. Some great guest appearences (especially from Snoop), and it's also fairly short with only 1 skit.7) <u>Mobb Deep- The Infamous</u> Like Doe Or Die, I might get flak for putting this album high up. But for it's long length, every song is fantastic. Great production, great lyrics, and I just love the style.8) <u>A Tribe Called Quest- Midnight Marauders</u> Basically a jazzier and improved version of The Low End Theory. Amazingly calm, Q-Tip is great lyrically, good production, and just a fantastic album with great replay value.9) <u>Outkast- ATLiens</u> Another fantastic duo. This album has only 1 dud, and it is overall fantastic. Gotta love ATLiens, 13th Floor, Mainstream and Jazzy Belle.10) <u>Pete Rock and CL Smooth- Mecca and the Soul Brother</u> I was thinking about putting Like Water For Chocolate, Train of Thought and Black On Both Sides here, but decided on this gem. Jazzy and soulful, this album is a diamond in the rough.Honorable Mentions: Common- Like Water For Chocolate, Mos Def- Black On Both Sides, Talib kweli- Train of Thought, Nas- It Was Written, , Jay Z- Reasonable Doubt, Gza- Liquid Swords, De La Soul- 3ft High and Rising.

 

[7Goat]

Nice list, good to see the Tribe get some mention.And I'm still trying to get over how lyrically handsome Illmatic is...

 

[yankshater213]

1. Nas - Illmatic2. Nas - It Was Written3. NWA - Straight Outta Compton4. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang5. Talib and Mos - Blackstar6. Big L - The Big Picture7. Big L - Lifestylez of the Poor and Dangerous8. AZ - AWOL9. Rakim - Paid in Full10. Biggie - Ready to DieNot really in any order.

 

[playaofthegame]

1. Nas - Illmatic2. Big L - Lifestylez Ov the Poor & Dangerous3. Notorious BIG - Ready To Die4. Talib Kweli & Mos Def - Blackstar5. Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx6. AZ - Doe or Die7. Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full8. Dr. Dre - The Chronic9. Mobb Deep - The Infamous10. A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End TheoryHonorable Mention: Little Brother - The Minstrel Show, Canibus - Rip The Jacker, Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded, Kool G Rap - Roots of Evil, Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back, Busta Rhymes - The Coming, Jedi Mind Tricks - Violent by Design, Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle, Cormega - The Realness, Nas - Stillmatic, Ghostface - Ironman, GZA - Liquid Swords

 

[Ultimate]

No order.:Old-school:.Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back2Pac All eyez on meIcecube Amerikkka's most wantedDre: The ChronicRakim: Paid in fullT.I.- K.I.N.G50-Cent Get rich or die tryin'Jay-Z the Black AlbumLil Wayne: the Carter 2Yeah, got some new gen. in there. I'm only 18,and I was still suckin my thumb when most of the best hip hop albums came out in the 80s and early 90s.could've made it on the list:Nas IllmaticMobb Deep: Hell On EarthKRS-One I got nextBone Thugs - The Art of War

 

[iversonfan268]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ultimate @ Feb 13 2007, 07:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No order.:Old-school:.Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back2Pac All eyez on meIcecube Amerikkka's most wantedDre: The ChronicRakim: Paid in fullT.I.- K.I.N.G50-Cent Get rich or die tryin'Jay-Z the Black AlbumLil Wayne: the Carter 2Yeah, got some new gen. in there. I'm only 18,and I was still suckin my thumb when most of the best hip hop albums came out in the 80s and early 90s.could've made it on the list:Nas IllmaticMobb Deep: Hell On EarthKRS-One I got nextBone Thugs - The Art of War</div>Lil Wayne, 50, and TI are in your top 10 but Illmatic isn't? :HAHAHA: Sorry but that list is horrible. I'm only 14 but I still know about most of the top hip hop albums of all time.

 

[Chris]

Can't we just do top 10 albums of all time? No need to limit to one genre!1. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory2. Jay-Z - Black Album3. The Offspring - Americana4. Outkast - Speakerboxxx/Love Below5. Linkin Park - Meteora6. The Offspring - Conspiracy of One7. Classified - Boy-Cott-In The Industry8. Nas - Illmatic9. Kanye West - Late Registration10. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

 

[Ultimate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iversonfan268 @ Feb 13 2007, 11:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lil Wayne, 50, and TI are in your top 10 but Illmatic isn't? :HAHAHA: Sorry but that list is horrible. I'm only 14 but I still know about most of the top hip hop albums of all time.</div>You damn right. Illmatic could've easily topped Paid in Full, but "As the Rhyme Goes On" , "I ain't no Joke" and "Move the Crowd" are just to damn good to pass up. Sh*t, I'd even put The Art of War over Illmatic. Nas is nice, but I ain't never really paid much attention to him outside of Illmatic and I Am....

 

[jhowardfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iversonfan268 @ Feb 13 2007, 10:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lil Wayne, 50, and TI are in your top 10 but Illmatic isn't? :HAHAHA: Sorry but that list is horrible. I'm only 14 but I still know about most of the top hip hop albums of all time.</div>hey, its personal preference, even if Illmatic isnt in his top 10, it doesn't mean that its not top 10

 

[Heatfan32]

I don't even have to think about this to get my list1. Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back2. Nas: Illmatic3. Eric B & Rakim: Paid in Full4. Wu-Tang: Enter the Wu-Tang5. Run DMC - Raising Hell6. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Mecca and the Soul Brother7. A Tribe Called Quest - Low End/Midnight Both are solid albums8. NWA - Straight Outta Compton9. Biggie - Ready to Die10. Dre - The ChronicTo many honorable mentions.

 

[BALLAHOLLIC]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Lil Wayne, 50, and TI are in your top 10 but Illmatic isn't? :HAHAHA: Sorry but that list is horrible. I'm only 14 but I still know about most of the top hip hop albums of all time.</div>You don't have to know about the top hip hop albums of all time to not have something on your list, maybe he's not a fan of Illmatic. Illmatic wouldn't crack my top 25 list, it's my personal preference. I'm not a fan of Nas in general.If like likes TI, let him like TI. Everybody has a different taste in music.

 

[Roaming]

Why isnt All Eyes On Me-Tupac on this list? That was a real best seller, and was Tupac's last album if I remember correctly. Not to mention, All Eyes on Me is still a rap lover's favourite today.To add, as much as you guys love Illmatic, and it was a great album, I believe 7Goat gives it a bit too much appreciation, sure it was great, and dont get me wrong, songs like N.Y State of Mind, and One Love, It aint hard to tell were all great, but I think its getting too much recognition. I also think Lupe will be on this list in the future.

 

[Heatfan32]

Illmatic is an extraordinary album, the complex rhyme schemes and FLAWLESS production from guys like Q-Tip, Pete Rock and Premier make this album perfect.Best productions + Best lyrics = top 3 album all time. Lupe's debut album was "OK", hes not bad but I don't see him being a legend like Wu-Tang, NWA, Biggie etc.All Eyez on Me is a good album but a few bad songs bring it down from being top 10 material, I'd say somewhere between top 15 and 20.

 

[iversonfan268]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC? @ Feb 14 2007, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You don't have to know about the top hip hop albums of all time to not have something on your list, maybe he's not a fan of Illmatic. Illmatic wouldn't crack my top 25 list, it's my personal preference. I'm not a fan of Nas in general.If like likes TI, let him like TI. Everybody has a different taste in music.</div>Wait this is supposed to be a list of your top 10 favorites? I thought this list was supposed to be based on the 10 albums that you feel are the 10 best of all time, not your 10 favorite. Sorry, I misunderstood the topic.

 

[BALLAHOLLIC]

Even if it wasn't your favorite, is it a big deal that he thinks TI's album is on the top ten all time list? Somebody could put the Ying Yang Twins on their list and I wouldn't care. It's an opinion...I would make my top ten list but I never listen to full CD's, I don't think I ever bought/downloaded a full album. I listen to a lot of music, mostly singles.

 

[wade2shaq93]

My favorites are:1. Tupac- Me Against the World2. Nas- Illmatic3. Big L- Lifestyles of the Poor and Dangerous4.Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back5. Dr.Dre- The Cronic6. Notorious B.I.G- Ready to Die7. NWA- Straight Outta Compton8. Wu-Tang Clan- Enter the Wu-Tang9. Mos Def & Talib Kweli- Blackstar10. Eric B & Rakim- Paid in FullJust put ten of my favorites, no particular order though...

 

[Chris]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iversonfan268 @ Feb 14 2007, 09:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wait this is supposed to be a list of your top 10 favorites? I thought this list was supposed to be based on the 10 albums that you feel are the 10 best of all time, not your 10 favorite. Sorry, I misunderstood the topic.</div>I'm actually not sure. I listed my personal favorites, but I know that the top albums are a lot different than my personal 10 favorites.

 

[iversonfan268]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC? @ Feb 14 2007, 05:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Even if it wasn't your favorite, is it a big deal that he thinks TI's album is on the top ten all time list? Somebody could put the Ying Yang Twins on their list and I wouldn't care. It's an opinion...I would make my top ten list but I never listen to full CD's, I don't think I ever bought/downloaded a full album. I listen to a lot of music, mostly singles.</div>It's not a big deal if he thinks that, but it just annoys the crap out of me how many people these days think that these popular rappers are actually talented and that they are some of the greatest of all time. I just want people to realize that these rappers aren't talented even if they still prefer to listen to them. I mean it just bugs the crap out of me reading iTunes reviews for songs and seeing people type..."N1GGA dis sh*t is hot jim jones put a hot beat on ndis sh*t and itz catchy as hell! BALLLLLLLLLLLLIN!

 

[Nitro1118]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ultimate @ Feb 14 2007, 06:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You damn right. Illmatic could've easily topped Paid in Full, but "As the Rhyme Goes On" , "I ain't no Joke" and "Move the Crowd" are just to damn good to pass up. Sh*t, I'd even put The Art of War over Illmatic. Nas is nice, but I ain't never really paid much attention to him outside of Illmatic and I Am....</div>Buy/download It Was Written, Stillmatic and The Lost Tapes, all of whcih are better than I Am...

 

[ASUFan22]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iversonfan268 @ Feb 14 2007, 07:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's not a big deal if he thinks that, but it just annoys the crap out of me how many people these days think that these popular rappers are actually talented and that they are some of the greatest of all time. I just want people to realize that these rappers aren't talented even if they still prefer to listen to them. I mean it just bugs the crap out of me reading iTunes reviews for songs and seeing people type..."N1GGA dis sh*t is hot jim jones put a hot beat on ndis sh*t and itz catchy as hell! BALLLLLLLLLLLLIN!</div>Hey, the black guys know more about their music dan sum wigger. Maybe they have a point? They don't argue with you guys what bluegrass groups are better, do they?

 

[Heatfan32]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Feb 14 2007, 09:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hey, the black guys know more about their music dan sum wigger. Maybe they have a point? They don't argue with you guys what bluegrass groups are better, do they? </div>Actually I bet the guy who said that was probably white with Eminem posters all around his room.

 

[iversonfan268]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Feb 14 2007, 06:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hey, the black guys know more about their music dan sum wigger. Maybe they have a point? They don't argue with you guys what bluegrass groups are better, do they? </div>First off I hope the wigger comment wasn't directed to me because I'm definetly not one. Second of all like Heatfan already said it was probably a white kid who said that. Then again most black people in my grade also listen to that crap so who knows.

 

[Amare320]

uh I know the 10 greatest rap albums of time!yes I do .. :happy0144: but im busy getting all my 10 thousand songs back onto my ipod

soo I can't do this it till its done, but it will be soon.

 

[Devlin]

My 10 favourite to listen to ( Please don't burn lol)1. Illmatic ( Of course )2. All eyez On Me3. Get rich or Die Tryin' ( Just good club stuff )4. Hip Hop is Dead5. Doggystyle6. The Chronic7. Dr.Dre 20018. The eminem show9. Enter the Wu10. Beautiful Struggle

 

[Ultimate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iversonfan268 @ Feb 14 2007, 09:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's not a big deal if he thinks that, but it just annoys the crap out of me how many people these days think that these popular rappers are actually talented and that they are some of the greatest of all time. I just want people to realize that these rappers aren't talented even if they still prefer to listen to them. I mean it just bugs the crap out of me reading iTunes reviews for songs and seeing people type..."N1GGA dis sh*t is hot jim jones put a hot beat on ndis sh*t and itz catchy as hell! BALLLLLLLLLLLLIN!</div>whoa whoa whoa, never in hell have I mentioned T.I. is one of the greats. Get your facts right before you start jumping outta your chair. And T.I. <u>is</u> one of the good ones in this era of Hip-Hop. I thought this topic was about your favorite top 10 albums. There's no "official" top 10 albums of all time. Not everybody share the same opinion about this album or that album. After what you said, I would'nt be surprised if any of those people who put Illmatic in their list, actually just listed the album in their list to avoid being flamed. ASU, it's not proven but I read somewhere that 70% of Hip-Hop's audience are white. But I ain't one of 'em.

 

[iversonfan268]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ultimate @ Feb 15 2007, 06:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>whoa whoa whoa, never in hell have I mentioned T.I. is one of the greats. Get your facts right before you start jumping outta your chair. And T.I. <u>is</u> one of the good ones in this era of Hip-Hop. I thought this topic was about your favorite top 10 albums. There's no "official" top 10 albums of all time. Not everybody share the same opinion about this album or that album. After what you said, I would'nt be surprised if any of those people who put Illmatic in their list, actually just listed the album in their list to avoid being flamed. ASU, it's not proven but I read somewhere that 70% of Hip-Hop's audience are white. But I ain't one of 'em.</div>I wasn't directing that comment to you. I was directing it to all the retards who think that rappers like Jik Jones are great. It wasn't supposed to be commented at anyone directly.

 

[Amare320]

Illmatic is not number 1!! omg there's better things out there than that particular album .. im not saying it's a bad album at all, it's actually a excellent album but people have to relise albums have come out before and after illmatic which have been just as good lyricaly and aswell as the production.. people overrate this album quite a bit and when people make a album look overrated it rubs off on it IMO!my opinion or mabye im just a nas hater xDS.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. - One Be Loomg that album is near perfect ^ welll not really . but it's great, can't be stuffed naming a top ten right now.

 

[playaofthegame]

How is Illmatic overrated?Most of today's kids don't even know about Illmatic...but it's generally agreed on as a classic by hip hop headseven look on amazon.com539 reviews and the average rating is a 5/5

 

[Amare320]

Half the good Hip Hop albums are rated 5/5 on Amazon.anyway thats not my point, my point is that there albums as good as Illmatic out there and from what im seeing is that everyone think's Illmatic is like the only amazing album to come out in the early 90's, people overrate this album as in saying it's like the best thing in the universe, it's the only real hip hop album out there etc etc .. now im not saying it's not a amazing album at all, because it is .. it's just the people out there make it seem like it's a masterpiece and perfection to the max in rap music.. and for nas ... has he made a album on the same level as illmatic yet ? nope, not really! :no3:

 

[Nitro1118]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Amare320 @ Feb 17 2007, 01:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>and for nas ... has he made a album on the same level as illmatic yet ? nope, not really! :no3:</div>Has Wu Tang done anything as good as Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)? No. has Dre done anything as good as Chronic? No. How about Jay-Z and Reasonable Doubt? No. How about the Fugees with The Score? Nope. 2Pac never did anything that can be considered top 5 all time. In other words, most rappers have 1 album that is in the elite, and everyhting else usually falls short. BUT, It Was Written is a top 20 album all time IMO, and Stillmatic, God's Son and Lost Tapes are all very good. So no, while he hasn't done anything as good as Illmatic (NO one has), it isn't like he is a 1 hit wonder.