Sep 10, 2017

I can’t even imagine how many times I re-arranged this list and to tell you the truth I’m still not happy with the final product. But I decided to give it a shot nonetheless. Now, I don’t claim to be an expert - I know very little about 80’s hip hop, there’s entire discographies of important rap/hip hop acts that I’ve never listened to and a lot of underground s--- that I’ve never really gotten into. But I have been listening to hip hop for about 15 years now and I have heard my fair share. So this is my (still under construction) list of my personal favorite top 100 rap/hip hop albums of all time, counting backwards from 100 to 1. Like this post if you want a mention for the rest of the list. This might take a while.

100. [1988] Straight Outta Compton - NWA
99. [1996] Here to Save You All - Chino XL
98. [2013] Acid Rap - Chance the Rapper
97. [1998] 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz - Xzibit
96. [2013] Nothing Was the Same - Drake
95. [1997] The Untouchable - Scarface
94. [1999] Internal Affairs - Pharaoh Monch
93. [2009] Man on the Moon: The End of Day - Kid Cudi
92. [2003] Speakerboxxx/The Love Below - Outkast
91. [1995] All We Got Iz Us - Onyx
90. [1998] Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha - Kurupt
89. [2008] It Is What It Is - A.B.N
88. [2000] Violent By Design - Jedi Mind Tricks
87. [1996] Soul On Ice - Ras Kass
86. [2002] The Future Is Now - Non-Phixion
85. [2009] The Burrprint (The Movie 3D) - Gucci Mane
84. [2003] Rip the Jacker - Canibus
83. [2005] The Documentary - The Game
82. [1992] Music to Driveby - Compton's Most Wanted
81. [2015] If You're Reading This, It's Too Late - Drake
80. [2002] The Eminem Show - Eminem
79. [2012] God's Father - Lil B
78. [2016] Still Brazy - YG
77. [2011] LiveLoveA$AP - A$AP Rocky
76. [2006] Like Father Like Son - Lil Wayne & Birdman
75. [2012] Finally Rich - Chief Keef
74. [2015] DS2 - Future
73. [2015] I Don't Like s---, I Don't Go Outside: An Album By Earl Sweatshirt - Earl Sweatshirt
72. [2012] Life Is Good - Nas
71. [2000] Let's Get Free - dead prez
70. [2008] Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
69. [2014] Piñata - Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
68. [1994] 6 Feet Deep - Gravediggaz
67. [2015] Rodeo - Travi$ Scott
66. [1997] Harlem World - Ma$e
65. [1996] Makavelli: The 7 Day Theory - 2Pac

 

Sep 17, 2017

This portion of the list is a little more modern. There’ve been some great albums released this decade and a handful of them fell from 79-70. I’ve noticed that there’s a big time bias in this list. Breathing time is a big contributor to the rankings, which is why more recent albums tend to be further down the list, but may over time creep upwards. Like I said before, I want this list to keep evolving, none of the ratings are set in stone. So let’s see how it goes. For now, here’s 79-70.

79. [2011] God’s Father - Lil B

Lil B is a rap deity in the pantheons of the greats. And the 37 track spectacle that is God’s Father is his holy testament. Though daunting in it’s length, BasedGod manages to keep things interesting all the way through its 2-hour runtime. There’s deep philosophical ramblings (Pain), there’s stories about his life and career (Secret Obsession), there’s 80’s pop sampled hooks (Buss ‘em 4 Points), there’s even a song dedicated to hip hop itself (Real Hip Hop 2012). The production on God’s Father is astounding in its versatility. Deep a--- Thoughts features a beautiful water-trickling-down-a-lake guitar, SF Mission Music plays out over a somber piano loop, I Own Swag is a classic hyphy-fest. I’m not sure if BasedGod produced this entire project himself (maybe someone can enlighten me?) but either way, it’s diverse set of instrumnetals is one of it’s many strengths. As a rapper, Lil B has never sounded better. He’s witty, ebullient, hilarious and sharp. You can play this again and again and keep finding new things. If you haven’t jumped onboard the BasedGod hype-wagon yet, this is the perfect place to start (or better yet, his latest Black Ken mixtape). ya feel me?

Best song: I Own Swag


78. [2016] Still Brazy - YG

Who woulda thought that the guy behind Toot It and Boot It would have single-handedly resurrected traditional West-Coast gangsta rap? And all without Dre at his side? My Krazy Life was phenomenal but many a critic felt that Still Brazy was even better. FDT is an anthem. My American politics are a bit hazy but I’m pretty sure if Hillary played FDT on the campaign trail, we wouldn’t be facing nuclear holocaust today. One can dream. Twist My Fingaz must be one of the best songs to come out of Compton since the early 90’s. Who Shot Me is a standout as YG ticks off his possible well-wishers. The instrumentals on songs like Bool, Balm and Bollective and She Wish She Was are dripping in those thick, juicy Mustard-esque ratchet sounds (though Mustard is notably absent throughout) and the guest appearances from Drake, Wayne and Kamiyah are all on point.

Best song: Twist My Fingaz


77. [2011] LiveLoveA$AP - A$AP Rocky

Rocky is severely underrated. I always see those WorldStar and HipHopDX Twitter and IG posts with a picture of Kendrick, J. Cole, Drake and even sometimes Logic, proclaiming them the greats of the current generation. But never Rocky. I remember hearing Purple Swag back in 2011 and then downloading and listening to Rocky’s debut mixtape - LiveLoveA$AP and being absolutely blown away from the first instant the first song started. A hybrid of Bone Thugs and OutKast, stewed in the sounds of Houston and NY, Rocky grabs your attention from the first track Palace backed by an epic instrumental courtesy of Clams Casino (who also contributes his signature spaced-out, moody sounds to the mournful Demons, amongst others). Rocky’s no slouch on the mic, but his flow is his strongest point, building up to triple cadences and then simmering down to screwed-up refrains. The atmosphere of this project is oozing with a murky, cloudy feel, almost desolate in sound. There’s appearances from fellow A$AP mob affiliates, most of which are solid but Rocky’s the star of the show throughout. Rocky’s a potential top 3 artist of the current decade, no question about it. I’m looking very forward to his 4th project later this year.

Best Song: Palace


76. [2006] Like Father, Like Son - Lil Wayne & Birdman

Say what you will about the head-tatted, put-some-respek-on-my-name Birdman but the man knows talent when he see’s it. And he knows how to capitalize on it. With Wayne at the absolute pinnacle of his creative output, Birdman saw fit to produce and release Like Father, Like Son, a collaborative album from father and (adopted) son. The album is dotted with skits featuring Mafia spoken word tangents about loyalty, respect and family and the album follows that theme to an extent, though Wayne is leagues above his adoptive father. That being said, Baby manages to hold his own and the contrast between his monotone drawl and Wayne’s off-the-wall delivery makes for entertaining stuff. And of course, Wayne is in top form - right in the midst of his legendary mixtape run. “understand the rap game is my court”. Sure, the runtime could have been cut a little shorter but overall and overall the project runs more like a 00’s mixtape, rather than an album but nevertheless, the duo know their strengths and stick to them. Over Here Hustling is the grandiose opening, Stunting Like My Daddy the big first single, Know What I’m Doing, the star-studded collaboration with a T-Pain hook and Army Gunz a punchline-fest. I wouldn’t call the shining pinnacle of Wayne’s career but its really fun to listen to, another notch in his epic mid 00’s run.

Best song: You Ain’t Know


75. [2012] Finally Rich - Chief Keef

At the age of 17, Chief Sosa completely revolutionized the game. Thats younger than Nas when he dropped Illmatic. Sosa’s only 22 now and he’s still making incredible music but his debut album still stands as his best collection of songs thus far (Back from the Dead 2 is a close second in my humble opinion). With a handful of big-name guest appearances, a co-sign from fellow Chicagoan Kanye, Chief Keef blew up overnight and his debut album, Finally Rich cemented his place for years to come. The infectiousness of rhythmic, chant-like hooks on songs like Love Sosa, I Don’t Like and Hate Bein’ Sober can still be heard in much of today’s rap, as can the dark and deep, hi-hat rattling sound procured by Young Chop and co. The closing title track, Finally Rich is a triumphant and gleeful ode to O-Block, and encapsulates the theme of the album to the T - “I know I’m finally rich, but ain’t a d--- thang gonna change”. Chief Keef’s evolution from this album to his latest works has been incredible, he’s developed as a song-writer, lyricist and especially as a producer but his debut still stands as his best. b--- b---.

Best song: Love Sosa


74. [2015] DS2 - Future

“Long live A$AP Yams, I’m on that codeine right now”

I was actually really disappointed by Future’s latest Future/Hndrxx albums. Besides a handful of highlights, Future was just a beefed up version of EVOL, and Hndrxx just didn’t really appeal to me (I always preferred the post-Monster Future to the Pluto-era Future). DS2 falls squarely into the post-Monster era, a syrupy, smoky, codeine-drenched trip into the lean-soaked chasms of Future’s world, the polished cherry on top after the phenomenal 3-peat of Monster, 56 Nights and Beast Mode. Metro Boomin is probably my favorite producer of the present decade and his work on DS2 stands as some of his best work yet, perfecting the sounds of ATL-trap whether on the monstrous booming anthem Groupies or the mournful, ethereal Blood on the Money. Thought It Was A Drought is an exemplary re-introduction to Future, for new fans and old. Surely “I just f----- your b---- in some Gucci flip flops” stands amongst the greatest opening lines to a rap album of all time? There are almost no weak points throughout the entire (deluxe version) 18-song track list. More of a sequel to Monster, than to the original 2011 Dirty Sprite, Future switches effortlessly from crooning his heart out about Rich Sex, being back on the block on Stick Talk or conceding to his own demons on Slave Master. DS2’s atmosphere is heavy, immense and Future carries almost the entire thing on his back (save for the sole Drake guest appearance). I think it’s fair to say Future hasn’t put out a project as good since (though an argument can definitely be made for Hndrxx).

Best song: Slave Master


73. [2015] I Don’t Like s---, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album By Earl Sweatshirt - Earl Sweatshirt

I really enjoyed Earl’s first two projects - 2010’s, self-titled Earl (which he released at the age of 16) and 2013’s Doris. But something was missing from both of those projects. IDLSIDGO doesn’t attempt to make up for the shortcomings of his previous 2 efforts but rather strips everything down to the bones, a brief 30-minute, 10 track album that is by far the the darkest, most dense and depressing thing to ever come out of the Odd-Future camp (although Tyler and co are notably missing here). First of all - the production on this album (almost entirely self-produced) is so dense and claustrophobic, an impenetrable, thick layer of rough-hewn cuts that seem to flow together without any semblance of progression; it’s more like one whole 30-minute song. The tracks are short and concise but stuffed to the brim with dark and devilish content, all delivered without a f--- to give and only briefly breaking off into short hooks or refrains. No song sticks to an exact topic, Earl twists and turns between themes of his parents (Faucet), relationships (Manrta), drugs (AM//Radio) and the situation he faced when his mother sent him off to Samoa, resulting in him missing out on Odd Future’s initial successes (Inside). For the most part though, everything seems to clump together in a congealed mass.The instrumental on Grief is barely an instrumental at all, just a thrumming bass line with sparse drum-claps, and Earl matches the tempo, somber, paranoid and dark as f---. This album’s certainly not for everyone but even if the dark atmosphere doesn’t appeal to you, there’s no denying Earl’s talent as both a producer and lyricist, IDLSIDGO is his best work by far and I’m very interested to see what he offers next.

Best Song: Off Top


72. [2012] Life Is Good - Nas

If you didn’t know, Nas is my favorite rapper of all time and he appears a lot on this list. I even enjoy some of his less acclaimed albums (Street’s Disciple was fire). Life Is Good is Nas’ 10th solo LP, the only one of his solo albums to be released this decade. The term ‘Grown Man Rap’ has been thrown around a lot recently, (especially after Jay’s 4:44) but I think it would be fair to say that Nas was one of the first to bring the term to the fore, with the release of this album. Nas isn’t looking through his project window anymore, he’s a wildly successful 40+ year old man, hailed as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Nas has always had a knack for the poetic, injecting imagery, similes and metaphors into his bars, describing the world around him and on Life Is Good he does just that. There’s a lot of content to cover since his previous solo album 4 year prior - his marriage (and subsequent divorce) to Kelis, his daughter growing up and the state of his own career since his legendary debut. No Introduction covers all that and more, the perfect opener over Justice League’s typically luscious and triumphant-sounding instrumental. Loco Motive sounds like it could have slotted right onto Illmatic, while The Don modernizes the Nas sound without sacrificing his razor-sharp mic skills (which are just as an intact as they were 20-odd years ago). Songs like A Queen’s Story and Back When showcase Nas’ tremendous talent; Nas has never had much of an ear for beats but here they suit the context - brash and powerful (Accident Murderers) or jazzy and laid back (Stay) when needed. Not Nas’ greatest but a strong performance from one of hip hops’ greats and who knows? maybe a blueprint for ‘grown man rap’, as stars begin from the era of Nas begin to age.

Best song: Loco-Motive


71. [2000] Let’s Get Free - dead prez

dead prez’s breakout single Hip Hop was such a massive smash hit that it completely outshined the album it appeared on, in fact it even out shined the duo of stic.man and M-1 themselves. And thats a pity because the dead prez’s debut album - Lets Get Free - is a bonafide hip hop classic. And thats because M-1 and stic.man aren’t your average rappers. both immensely talented emcees, the duo takes the opportunity of their debut album to make a statement - and a powerful one at that. Drawing influence from NWA and Public Enemy before them, dead prez infuse their music with politics; Pan-Africanism (I’m a African), education (They Schools), black liberation (We Want Freedom) and the absolute standout, the Orwellian Animal in Man. Another highlight is Be Healthy, where duo trade bars about their dietary habits over a trickling guitar lead - and it actually works. Hip Hop itself is a comment on the duo’s beliefs concerning the commercialization of the music industry. Another strong point is the album’s production - way ahead of the time of it’s release date in 2000, the instrumentals sound futuristic and diverse, incorporating strong African-themed rhythms. If you haven’t already checked this out, I’d highly recommend it.

Best song: Animal in Man


70. [2008] The Carter III - Lil Wayne

DJ Akademics sparked some debate on Twitter the other day about C3 and whether or not its a classic. The hype building up to this album was insane. I happened to be staying in Florida when Lollipop dropped and it was f---in everywhere. And then when A Milli dropped everyone just lost their s---. After 3 years of waiting since its’ predecessor, C3 was shaping up to be a decade-defining spectacle. I mean just off the album art alone, it had to be. I had relocated to London by the time C3 dropped and my mates and I got high out of our minds to listen it for the first time. And we all were kinda let down at first. We’d been bumping the ever-living daylight out of C2, Drought 3, The Leak EP and all those dozens of Empire tapes that had leaked building up to C3 and it just felt like something was missing from C3. That being said, it did grow on us, with time. And I’d say its stood the test of time. Perhaps not the classic is was shaping up to be but a pretty great album nonetheless. Carter Sr passing the torch to Carter Jr. on Mr. Carter is the obvious highlight, as are the singles. I always appreciated the creativity of Dr. Carter and Phone Home. You Ain’t Got Nuthin with Juelz and Fab is another strong cut that doesn’t often get much recognition.

Best song: Mr. Carter ft. Jay-Z

Spoiler: Mention List

@Big Cuntry
@MFer Jones
@Changeling
@Mraczewsky
@RobTheDude
@MidnightMercenary
@jmillithauglybasedgod
@Pablo
@Ordinary Joel

 

Sep 10, 2017

100. [1988] Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.

“You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge.”

From the moment these now fabled, almost mythological words hit the speakers, the world’s most dangerous group proceed to bring 80’s hip hop to it’s gangsta zenith. A young vitriolic Ice Cube is the star of the show and Eazy’s swaggering sneer and Ren’s cold and collected tropes provide the perfect counter-balance as Dre and Yella decorate the hour-long soundscapes with skull-rattling drum machine loops and record scratches galore. There’s even brief precursors to Dre’s later G-Funk sound that would later arise in the early 90’s (see Dopeman). Though they would split up only a year later, Straight Outta Compton marks one of hip hop’s most powerful political statements and even 30 years later, the message still maintains its’ sting.

While it may not have aged too gracefully, it’s always fun to throw on. f--- the po-lice. I am admittedly not too well-versed in 80’s hip hop, but this album has always been my go-to for that era, amongst a handful of others. The 2015 film re-ignited my love for this album and also added some much needed context that made me see it in a whole new light.

Best song: Straight Outta Compton

 

Sep 13, 2017

89-85 up

Spoiler: Mention List

@Big Cuntry @MFer Jones @Changeling @Mraczewsky @RobTheDude @MidnightMercenary @jmillithauglybasedgod @Pablo

 

Sep 11, 2017

94. [1999] Internal Affairs - Pharaoh Monch

Admittedly, I’ve never delved into Organized Konfusion’s discography. That is something I should probably remedy soon because Pharaoh Monch is one of the greatest to ever hold a mic, evidenced by his first solo LP (not to mention his subsequent projects), 1999’s Internal Affairs. In a post-shiny suit era NY, Monch took it back to underground, firing quick-fire, cryptic multisyllabic riddles over instrumentals ranging from classically east-coast sounding somber and dolorous, speckled with record scratches and piano loops (Official, Queens) to the more lighthearted and up-tempo (The a---, The Next s---). Songs like Behind Closed Doors and God Send show the tremendous scope of Monch’s skill; he twists words to suit his purpose, all the while rattling off genius-level metaphors and similes and one of a h--- storytelling ability. r--- is a particularly brilliant look into Monch’s own relationship with music and one of the definite standouts. It’s a pity that the monstrous Simon Says got tied up in clearance issues (who knew the Godzilla theme could be make such a b-----r?) because the song and album certainly deserves a lot more recognition than it gets.

Best song: Simon Says


93. [2009] Man on the Moon: The End of Day - Kid Cudi

Cudi was a game changer. From the moment those distinctively baritone humming vocals wept of his visions and spinning head on on Kanye’s 808’s, the way for for Drake and legions of imitators was paved in his wake. Some may disagree but I tend to prefer Man on the Moon to it’s 2010 sequel. At the time of it’s release in 2009, it could barely be considered rap - at a time when Jay-Z was announcing the death of auto tune, traditional rappers like Jadakiss, Raekwon and Fabolous were topping charts and Slaughterhouse actually had a decent buzz. Cudi did his own thing though, and it paid off. Over an assortment of dreamy, psychedelic, post 808’s instrumentals, Cudi spends just about an hour moaning and humming his way through a collection of depressed thoughts - the eternal ‘lonely stoner’, his voice thick with sadness (Sky Might Fall), or at the other times nimble and breezy (Make Her Say) and the result is beautiful.

Best song: Day n Night


92. [2003] Speakerboxxx/The Love Below - OutKast

For me, Speakerboxxx outshines all of Big Boi’s other more recent solo outings. By a long way. In fact, it may be the shining pinnacle of his solo career. The Love Below is a whole different story. I didn’t like it back in 2003 when it first dropped but oh boy have I started to appreciate it now. How is it that 3 Stacks was a good 10-15 years ahead of the game? It’s unthinkable. I still much prefer Andre’s work on ATLiens, Aquemini, etc., but I’ve grown to appreciate the brilliance of The Love Below. Plus who could ever forget A Day In the Life of Benajmin Andre, which is arguably the best on song on the entire project? (Ok, Flip Flop Rock is probably better). I still think I would have preferred a single disc - Andre and Big Boi are at their best when they’re bouncing ideas off one another, but Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is still an interesting glimpse into where things could have gone had they pursued solo careers instead, not to mentio, this album going diamond - an incredible testament to Outkast’s power, not only in rap but in music, period.

Best song: Flip Flop Rock ft. Jay-Z Killer Mike


91. [1995] All We Got Iz Us - Onyx

Bacdafuccup is probably Onyx’s most recognizable project but 95’s dark and grimy All We Got Iz Us is by far the more engaging. To me, at least. Stuffed with M.O.P-like gun-toting, mouth on the curb type bravado, the Queens trio proceed to annihilate everything they touch for a solid 46 minutes of hardcore, raw and uncut. This album will have you wanting to do ignorant s---, “robbing, killing, stealing and d--- dealing”. Sticky Fingaz is the star of the show, and thats not taking anything away from Fredro Starr and Sonny Seeza who are both in top form, but Sticky is just clearly the most talented of the three; he raps in psychotic screeches, straining his vocal chords to their limit. I gotta mention Eminem again, its clear he was heavily influenced by these guys. Themes of murder, suicide, depression, delivered with a tongue-in-cheek smugness, all 3 emcees feeding off each other’s energy with each song seeming to build up to all out eardrum-shattering crescendo/assault. Oh and guns. lots and lots of guns. If you’re a fan of the raw and hardcore, check this out immediately.

Best song: Betta Off Dead


90. [1999] Tha Streetz iz a Mutha - Kurupt

Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha is Kurupt’s sophomore solo LP and arguably his best album - solo or collaborative - to date (DPG’s Dogg Food comes a close second). Kurupt was always one of the most talented rhymers in the Death Row/DPG camp and his sneering, aggressive inflection often gave much needed contrast to the laid back flows of Snoop, Dre and co. Here, the stars align for Young Gotti, whether he’s chasing bad b------s or repping the DPGC, he’s in peak form throughout. The tracklist is very feature heavy - every single song (save the operatic Trylogy) has at least 1 guest, but that doesn’t detract from the album at all, rather it gives the album that classic old Death Row sound, full of ear-worm hooks, funky, laid-beats that borrow heavily from the Parliament-Funkadelic/George Clinton sound and a whole lot of chronic, b------s and g--- banging. Plus, who could ever forget the absolutely murderous Calling Out Names, one of the most scathing (but unfortunately forgotten) diss tracks ever recorded?

Best song: Tryolgy

 

Sep 11, 2017

99. [1996] Here to Save You All - Chino XL

Before there was Eminem, there was Chino XL. I would not be surprised to find out that Eminem had recently been listening to this very album when he invented the Slim Shady persona. The similes, puns and metaphors flow like liquid, every bar is stuffed to the brim with pop culture references, celebrity bashing, political punches, hilarious wordplay and all-round Mathers-esque content. It’s strange that Chino’s career never took off, sure he never had much commercial appeal but even amongst underground/battle-rap sphere, he’s rarely mentioned. Chino is actually a genius, literally - he’s a member of Mensa and it shows on this album. His later work was plagued by label politics, terrible instrumental choices and a tendency to sound more Tech N9ne-corny, rather than early Eminem-clever. Still, Here to Save You All is Chino at his best and definitely worth checking out if you appreciate the art of wordplay.

Check our Riiot ft. Ras Kass for the infamous 2Pac jab which Pac actually responded to, albeit briefly on Hit Em Up)

Best song: Riiot ft. Ras Kass


98. [2013] Acid Rap - Chance the Rapper

Chancellor Bennett has made one h--- of a name for himself in the past few years but for all his accomplishments, political commentary, hit singles and Kanye guest verses, he still hasn’t in my opinion topped his 2013 mixtape, Acid Rap. I remember the first time I heard Juice - one night out, trying to figure out who the h--- was rapping like some kind of drunken/ talking to a baby/1950’s blues-aficionado. And why did it sound so good? The whole project is cushioned in thick, plump splotches of jazzy, soulful, gospel-esque loops and choral arrangements, giving a beautifully rich and luscious soundscape for Chance’s weird and wonderful vocal inflections and flows to run amok. Clever wordplay (Good a--- Intro, Cocoa Butter Kisses) and a knack for storytelling (Pusha Man/Paranoia, Lost), not to mention a host of excellent guest features, makes for an endearing, sad, happy and exciting piece all at once, as Chance waxes poetic about love, addictions, relationships and lots of smoke. 2016’s Coloring Book was great too, for many of the same reasons, but didn’t manage to reach the same heights. And despite all the ‘industry plant’ allegations, I still think Chance has a lot more to offer in his career.

Best song: Juice


97. [1998] 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz - Xzibit

X to the Z is probably best known for his brief stint with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath in the early 2000’s and subsequently for his hosting of MTV’s p---- My Ride. But can anyone really remember the names of any his albums? Any of his singles? X was always a good rapper, gruff voice and delivery, but was never managed to reach the upper echelons of his west coast and Aftermath contemporaries. Restless is often considered his best work, but I tend to disagree; 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz is X at his peak. What U See is What U Get is the centerpiece; a profound philosophical reflection, a dig into the mind of a young black American, almost reminiscent of a young Ice Cube. Fellow west-coasters Ras Kass and Saafir join X on the brilliant battle-rap tirade, 3-Card Molly (Ras Kass steals the show by the way), Tha Liks and King Tee join forces on the funk-fueled Let It Rain. X switches effortlessly from hard west coast trunk thumpers (Chamber Music) to beautiful violin-infused boom bap (Handle Your Business) to the hilarious Funky-Worm sampling Shroomz, without batting an eye and the result is an exceedingly well balanced and rounded project, concise, brave, powerful and far superior to any of his subsequent releases (though a case can definitely be made for Restless).

Best song: What U See Is What You Get


96. [2013] Nothing Was the Same - Drake

I don’t like Drake. When Best I Ever Had dropped in 2009, I listened to it for a week straight then realized I despised it. I skipped his debut (apparently I’m not missing out on much) and only gave the rest of his discography a chance when I heard IYRTITL. I guess I tend to agree with Big Ghost; Drake is a simp. That hasn’t stopped him from putting out some excellent music though, and I can’t believe it took me so long to finally discover his third album Nothing Was the Same. Tuscan Leather is the epic 6 minute opener and its brilliant. Drake may have made his fame and fortune letting his emotions spill, but he can brag and boast with the best of them when it comes down to it; he even manages to hold his own alongside Jay-Z on the mournful sounding Pound Cake. The production on NWTS is stellar, the usual suspects 40 and Boi-1da provide a rich and enticing soundscape and Drake pivots effortlessly from traditional ballot-type staples (Furthest Thing) to the more brash and braggadocios (Started from the Bottom). As to be expected, the project is full of top-notch single material but they don’t detract from the album’s flow. Rather the album feels well-sequenced and succinct, with Drizzy conducting the show.

Best song: Tuscan Leather


95. [1997] The Untouchable - Scarface

Scarface must surely be the most consistent rapper in history. Right? From his debut appearance in 1989 until his most recent 2015 album, Face has ever lived up to his namesake in that he’s relentless as f---. The man never quits. While 2002’s The Fix is frequently cited as his best/second-best project, alongside 94’s The Diary, I’ve always felt an affinity for 97’s The Untouchable, which feels a lot like a sequel to The Diary, still teeming with that deep bassy G-funk sound of earlier projects, both solo and with The Geto Boys. The west-coast influence is strong, there’s appearances from Pac, Dre, Cube, Daz, Too Short and a typically Dre-ish Roger Troutman sample on the title track. Smile, featuring 2Pac was one of the last songs he recorded before his death and it’s one of the best songs on the album. Pac is in top form as he and Face trade verses on ghetto dreams and harsh realities - “our lifestyles be close-captioned, addicted to fatal attractions”. For the most part though, Scarface carries the album alone, “just a homie from the hood” trudging through H-Town with a scowl on his face.

Best song: Smile ft. 2Pac

 

Sep 11, 2017

@ me when you get to the top 3 in 4 months

 

Sep 14, 2017

84. [2003] Rip the Jacker - Canibus

We all know the sad story of Canibus, how he burst onto the scene in the late 90’s, the infamous beef with Cool J and his flurry of disappointing album after disappointing album, culminating with him becoming the laughing stock of the battle-rap scene when he whipped out a notepad and started reading off it half-way through a battle with Dizaster. From bright young star to butt of the joke. The man’s a walking L. In 2003 however, teaming up with one half of Jedi Mind Tricks - Stoupe - Canibus put out the best album of his career, Rip the Jacker. Canibus’ biggest problem is his lack of diversity. Sure his vocabulary is immense and he can rattle off battle raps and punchlines for days on end but thats about where it ends. Here, on his fifth solo outing he finally takes the time to delve a little deeper, pondering his place in the game, the misunderstood genius, trying to figure out where it all went wrong. Not to mention the fact that he finally gets some decent production behind him, Stoupe is out in full force - Latin guitar licks, chaotic orchestral loops and Kool G. Rap samples. And the powerful instrumentals complement Canibus to perfection, a whirlwind of rhymes and rhymes and rhymes, til the meter says 9, 9, 9, 9.

Best song: Poet Laureate II


83. [2005] The Documentary - The Game

In 2005, I purchased a physical CD for the very last time. It was The Game’s debut, The Documentary. And I was hyped as f---. Looking back now, The Game is… alright. He’s by no means the towering hip hop great he’d have you believe he but his passion for hip hop, respect for his elders, love for his city and motivation to join the ranks of the greats is admirable. And he makes some good music now and then. Of course, nothing in his later career would ever compare to his star-studded Aftermath/G Unit debut. At a time when the L.A. lay pretty much dormant, The Game came through with a West-Coast extravaganza, backed by non other than the the good Dr. Dre himself and with all the power of Aftermath and G Unit behind him (not to mention Timbaland, Kanye and Just Blaze amongst others). The result is a near-perfectly choreographed jaunt back into Compton, relying heavily on nostalgia, expensive sounding production and 50 Cent hooks. The features are just in the right places and the beats are polished clean, positively gleaming. Game’s a notorious name-dropper but it worked on the Documentary, it’s consistent with the album’s theme, he chronicles his love and respect for hip hop, starting from his own Westside Story and ending with him looking to the future (Like Father Like Son).

Best song: Hate It or Love It


82. [1992] Music to Driveby - Compton’s Most Wanted

I discovered CMW from GTA San Andreas. Remember Hood Took Me Under? “I got another g--- story to tell/Peep, about how a black n----- was born in h---”. Building on the success of Compton contemporaries (most notably, N.W.A), MC Eiht, Tha Chill, Boom Bam and DJ Mike’s T third and probably most well-known studio album is an exercise in the art of gangsta rap, gangbangin’, b------s and blunts. Not to mention the cover art is iconic as f---. Eiht is the star of the show, his gloating and smooth baritone splayed over an assortment of funky, west-coast, hard-hitting instrumentals courtesy of Mike-T and co. The album opens with Hit The Floor, a frantic guitar-riff led slapper with a pounding drum-kit and an Ice-Cube sampled hook. The production throughout Music to Driveby is stellar throughout, from the creeping jazz-infused Hoodrat to the blaxploitation-themed Duck Sick II. N 2 Deep which has the lone guest appearance by none other than Scarface is another highlight. If you spend a lot of time cruising the streets of Compton in your impala, homies in the back, b----’s a--- in one hand, blunt in the other, ready to blast on these punk MFers - then this album was made for you.

Best song: Hood Took Me Under


81. If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late - Drake

If it wasn’t bad enough that I put NWTS over Straight Outta Compton, well it’s a about to get a whole lot worse. Big Ghost put it best when he said “NWTS was when Theon Greyjoy went back to the Iron Islands, IFYRTITL is when he took Winterfell. (Views is when Theon become Reek).” IYTITL is my favorite Drake project. Drake’s been accused of being style-biter and its’ clear that on IYRTITL, he’s borrowing heavily from the ATL/trap sound that was (and still is) dominant on both the charts and the sound of rap today. But it worked in his favor. For once, Drake is aggressive and energetic (Energy) and earnest, in an interesting way (6PM in New York), instead of his usual simping self. It falters a little in the middle (I’m not a fan of PND) but picks up again (with a murderous Weezy feature on 6 Man) towards the end, not to mention that the first half is sensational. You & The 6 is a highlight as Drake pens a letter to his mamma, 6 God features a Donkey Kong sample which somehow landed up being the hardest song on the tape and overall this is by far the highlight of Drake’s career (for me, at least).

Best song: Energy


80. [2002] The Eminem Show - Eminem

If I had to tally up the albums I’ve listened to most while at gym, this would be first. (there’s another entry by a different artist on this list that comes in a close second though). Like The Documentary, The Eminem Show sounds manufactured, stainless, polished clean. Thats not taking anything away from it, many Stans proclaim this his greatest album, and I can see why. Others see TES as the beginning of the end for Slim Shady. And I can see that too. Speaking of Slim Shady, he’s faded a little into the background on this one. It’s no longer Shady the psychotic alter ego, nor Marshall Mathers the dysfunctional family man, but rather a mix of the 2 - Eminem the artist, pulling back the curtain and baring his soul for the world to see. The production on this album is d----near perfect. It’s almost all Eminem himself behind the boards (with a few Dre contributions added into the mix) and for once, it actually works. There’s not much more to say about TES, it’s been discussed to death. For me, its a good album, one of the last times we got to hear Shady in peak-form before his horrific demise.

Best song: Sing for the Moment

Spoiler: Mention List

@Big Cuntry
@Changeling
@MFer Jones
@Mraczewsky
@MidnightMercenary
@Interlude
@RobTheDude
@jmillithauglybasedgod
@Pablo

 

Sep 12, 2017

just put any random NWA album at number 1 now and call WPG a fa----

 

Sep 11, 2017

I have trouble to even make a top 10 list
respect

 

Sep 11, 2017

@Sav Stanfield man how tf u even think of 100 albums and rank them? Gotta give u credit for that gotta take mad dedication

Digging the list so far

 

Sep 10, 2017

lol thanks for the vote of confidence. true but its just for fun, I don't really care if anyone gives a f---

 

Sep 13, 2017

I’ve decided this list is going to evolve as it progresses. Some albums are going to change positions, others removed entirely. Looking at a few other top 100 lists I noticed I’ve made some glaring omissions. Might even have to actually expand the list once it’s done, if I’m not sick and tired of it by then. Anyways, let’s see how it goes for now. Here’s the tentative 89-85.

89. [2008] It Is What It Is - A.B.N. (Assholes By Nature)

Houston legends (and cousins) Trae tha Truth and Z-Ro teamed up in 2008 to produce some of the best work of their careers. I don’t claim to have heard either of their massive discographies in full, but from what I have heard this collaboration gives a pretty good indication of what they’re all about. The two emcees compliment each other perfectly, Trae’s rapid-fire gruff delivery plays off against Z-Ro’s calmer Texan drawl. These 2 are hook-making masters and their choice of instrumentals - thick with H-Town style screwed-up thumps keeps the project flowing in a stream of Southern bangers and more introspective cuts. The opener (linked below) showcases Trae and Z-Ro at their best, harmonizing over electric guitar riffs and the sounds of rumbling thunder, a precursor to the furious storm they unleash over the course of the rest of the tape.

Best song: Umm Hmmm


88. [2000] Violent by Design - Jedi Mind Tricks

At around age 13 or 14, I discovered Jedi Mind Tricks. 50 Cent and Jay-Z took a backseat to the new world of underground rap. Ras Kass, Canibus, Pharaoh Monch, Chino XL, Vakill. These guys didn’t care about making hits or record sales. These guys were real hip hop. Excuse me while I cringe into eternity. That being said, they’re still all (mostly) talented emcees and some of them made some great music. JMT’s greatest strength lies in their dynamism. I still believe Stoupe - a student of DJ Premier and Havoc - is one of the greatest and most under appreciated producers of all time and Violent by Design is his opus. Vinnie Paz on the other hand… eh. But In 2000, when the duo (actually, it was a trio at the time) released their second album Violent By Design, Paz had just changed his name from ‘Ikon the Verbal Hologram’ to Vinnie Paz; from otherworldly, ancient mythology aficionado and conspiracy theorist to a boom bap pugilist and was at the undeniable height of his powers, seamlessly integrating battle raps with his tangents about Jesus, spaceships and hieroglyphics, over Stoupe’s magnificent array of samples ranging from classical, latin and old school hip hop. Guest appearances from underground heavyweights are littered throughout the track list and they all add their unique flavor to the overarching sound of the 25 track spectacle.

Best song: Heavenly Divine


87. [1996] Soul On Ice

This album is dark. Really dark. So lyrically dense, it’s near-impossible to absorb everything on the first few listens. But its a masterpiece. In a 96 review, The Source called Kass the “West Coast answer to Nas” and they’re not too far off; just a lot more politically and philosophically inclined. And a lot more pissed off. Ras Kass splays his knowledge of ancient history, anthropology, mythology, the Black Panther ethos and the evil that men do over a collection of simple yet haunting instrumentals that give the rhymes the spotlight. Nature of the Threat is probably his best known song, his own take on world history (with a focus on the dark side of things). Yes, some if it is inaccurate, some of it is wildly homophobic and racist. But it’s impressive as f---, it’s daunting. His point rings clearly. “Jews don’t salute the swastika/but n----s pledge allegiance to the flag that accosted ya”. The rest of the album plays around these themes - Evil That Men Do is an devilishly dark look at Kass’ views on religion, mixed in with the story of his life, while the closer Ordo Abchao showcases his tremendous wordplay and wit. Another album that’s rarely mentioned amongst hip hop fans but an absolute must-hear.

Best song: Nature of the Threat


86. [2002] The Future Is Now - Non-Phixion

Another trip into my teenage backpacking days. This is probably one of the last that'll make this list though. Three white guys from The Bronx - Ill Bill, Sabac Red and Goretex - came together in 2002 to release this underground classic, The Future Is Now. Somehow Non-Phixion managed to procure a team of some of the greatest producers NY had to offer - Premier, Pete Rock and Large Professor are all behind the boards, though most of the songs are produced by Ill Bill’s brother - Necro. Say what you will about Necro (he really is a piece of trash, tbh) but the man can produce. For proof, look no further than Black Helicopters and Say Goodbye to Yesterday, two beautifully string-infused highlights. The trio of Bill, Sabac and Goretex keep things interesting throughout - topics range from paranoia (The CIA Is Trying to k--- Me), plain stomp-you-out battle raps (It’s Us), mixed in with a constant stream of sci-fi (Futurama) and horror (There Is No Future) and pop culture (Cult Leader) references. There’s even an MF DOOM feature. It’s a wild ride front to finish, the production and guest appearances are diverse and attention-grabbing - the trio’s own weird take on the 90’s second Golden Era. Definitely worth checking out.

Best song: The CIA Is Trying to k--- Me


85. [2009] The Burrprint (The Movie 3D) - Gucci Mane

You know I had to have Guwop on this list. I was actually a bit torn on this one. Very recently, Wop dropped a collab tape, produced entirely by Metro Boomin’ - Drop Top Wop, which has slowly but surely climbed up the ranks to one of my favorite Gucci projects of all time. I haven’t stopped bumping it since it dropped. But then again, I haven’t stopped bumping The Burrprint since 2009 so it wins this spot by default. I think its safe to say that this tape (and some of the other tapes released around the same time - Writing on the Wall is excellent) finds Gucci at his absolute best. The mixtape opens with the frantic Dope Boys and the assault doesn’t stop until the closer. Unlike The State vs. Radric Davis (his full length commercial project, which dropped in the same year), Gucci sounds unconstrained, having the time of his life and his energy is infectious, his voice booming across a wide-ranging palette of trap bangers, full of typically weird Gucci chicken-talk (Yelp, I Got All of That) and the occasional trips into his psyche (My Shadow).

Best song: Dope Boys

 

Sep 11, 2017

100-90 up! thoughts?

Spoiler: Mention List

@Big Cuntry @MFer Jones @shadyslim555 @Changeling @Mraczewsky

 

Sep 10, 2017

If you plan on listing 100 albums 1 by 1 I don't think anyone gives a f---. Youre not a major publication you have no credentials and your opinion holds no weight

 

Sep 24, 2017

69. [2014] Piñata - Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

It was only after the release of Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s 2014 collaborative album Piñata, was I convinced to go back and dig into Gibbs’ discography. The Gary, Indiana native has an impressive track record, dating back his 2009 mixtape debut. Gibbs’ rough and taut voice reminds me a lot of DMX and while his debut album - ESGN - was a bit long-winded, it was still an excellent project. In 2014 however, teaming up Madlib, Gibbs released what is still his best project so far. Madlib provides the soundtrack; dusted, crisp and and coated in a luxurious sheen, but Gibbs is the star of the show. His gravelly drawl matches Madlib’s tempo to perfection, running from chaotic, almost fever-pitch (Shitsville) to smoked out, laid back (Harold’s). The album loosely follows a narrative, shadowing Gibbs as he recounts his days of dope dealing on the aptly titled Scarface, to the way it affected his relationships (Deeper, Shame) and culminating in the epic feature-heavy title track, Piñata. Speaking of which, the guest features on here are incredible. Raekwon is in typical chef-like form on Bomb, while Danny Brown lends his drugged-out vocals to High. If you haven’t already developed an ppreciation of Freddie Gibbs, this is the place to start.

Best song: Uno


68. [1994] 6 Feet Deep - Gravediggaz

Before the legendary debuts from GZA, Raekwon, ODB and Ghostface (and m---, I guess), there was Gravediggaz. The quartet of RZA, Prince Paul, Frukwan and Poetic (who adopted Gravedigga monikers The RZArector, The Undertaker, The Gatekeeper and The Grym Reaper, respectively), came out with their collective debut entitled 6 Feet Deep (previously, Niggamortis), in 1994, soon after Wu-Tang’s fabled 93 debut. Besides perhaps from Geto Boys, I don’t think the term ‘horrorcore’ had been used much up until this point and the Gravediggaz can surely be considered pioneers of the sub-genre. Filled to the brim with suicide, death, murder, psychosis and trips right up to the gates of h--- itself, 6 Feet Deep is a trip (and I mean trip) into the unholy, the horrifying and late-night, dimly lit graveyard robberies. At the time RZA was still beaming off the success of 36 Chambers and that raw and uncut, skull-crushing sound he produced so perfectly on that album leaks and trickles into this one. Instead of kung-fu however, the theme is horror and its reflected on this album’s psychotic, almost unhinged sound, whether the deranged trailing piano loop on the opener Constant Elevation or the demonic and skewed sample on the title track 6 Feet Deep, this is pretty much the evil version of 36 Chambers, with each emcee, battling it out for who can spit the most demented verse possible. Absolute must-listen for any Wu (or horrocore) fan.

Best song: Diary of a Madman


67. [2015] Rodeo - Travi$ Scott

Travi$ Scott hasn’t got a very good name. Labelled a biter and shameless trend-follower, the Texas native has freely borrowed from the popular mid-10’s Atlanta trap sound and it seems to have worked pretty d--- well in his favor. His first two projects - Owl Pharaoh and Days Before Rodeo didn’t receive much critical appreciation but the fans (including myself) lapped it up. If Travi$ is capable of one thing, it’s his ability to create an atmosphere, and his debut full-length album Rodeo is no exception. Atmospheric to its’ core, Scott draws heavily from the sounds ATLiens such as Future and Metro Boomin. In fact, both appear on the album; Metro’s fingerprints are all over a good portion of the track list, and his contributions suit Travis to near-perfection, whether on the frenzied, war-like 3500 or more slow-paced and laid back Wasted. Travis uses his guest appearances to perfection, framing them against the backdrop of his own heavily reverbed and auto-tuned wailing, not to mention that each of the album’s guests brings their A-game (Quavo on Oh My Dis Side is a standout, Young Thug on Maria I’m Drunk, is another), but even when Travis goes solo the result is great (Pornography, 90120). Overall, this is by far Travis’ best work yet.

Best song: Nightcrawler


66. [1997] Harlem World - Ma$e

“I’m not here to replace Notorious,” Mase proclaims on his debut album’s opener Do You Wanna Get $?. Then on the very next song - Take What’s Yours - goes ahead and claims he’ll “take ‘em back where Biggie took ‘em before“. It’s impossible to not draw comparisons - Mase’s voice and delivery has a lot of similarities to that of the late great but at the same time he’s obviously nowhere near as talented as BIG was. Comparisons aside, this album is great. Puff’s shiny-suit prints are all over the track list, there’s poppy R&B-infused instrumentals and backing vocals throughout but Mase is no slouch on the mic either and there’s some interesting topics covered throughout (24 Hours to Live, Will They Die 4 You). 20 years later, Harlem World still stands as Mase’s opus and a solid addition to the Bad Boy catlaog.

Best song: 24 Hours to Live


65. [1996] The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory - 2Pac
Before he was tragically murdered in 1996, Pac had spent a week following the release of his massive Death Row debut writing and recording songs for a planned fifth album, adopting a new Machiavellian persona, even going as far as to change his name to Makavelli. In some ways, this album is the perfect closer Pac’s fabled career. In others, it’s a bit of a let-down. The album starts off with a b---, Bomb First and Hail Mary are 2 back-to-back murderous spectacles (the album closer - Against All Odds falls int his category too), while songs like Toss It Up and Just Like Dady are interesting in their own right but marred by some less-than-stellar guest appearances. Still, there are powerful, classic Pac cuts throughout; White Man’z World is the fat middle finger to Delores Tucker, Me & My Girlfriend is a genius-level take on Nas’ I Gave You Power. It’s not my favorite Pac album but its’ still an incredible piece; Pac sounds full of rage throughout, his delivery and inflection is noticeably more pronounced, more aggressive than before (check out Blasphemy). Whether thats attributable to the content of the album (going at Big, Nas, etc.), or reflected a new direction entirely remains unknown.

Best song: Hail Mary

Spoiler: Mention List

@Big Cuntry
@MFer Jones
@Changeling
@Mraczewsky
@RobTheDude
@MidnightMercenary
@jmillithauglybasedgod
@Pablo
@Ordinary Joel

 

Sep 12, 2017

you're not wrong about God Send, was a toss up between that and Simon Says.

Yeah Chino turned to s--- after his first album, but his first one is pretty amazing. I'd recommend checking it out.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. might be a while before i post the next 10, still debating on the order of some entries. peace.

 

Sep 11, 2017

Just stopping by to say I really appreciate the effort. Going to check out some of the albums you are going to list / have listed that I haven't already heard.