Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums All-Time

[parkerc41]

We would have to beg to differ about the best albums of 2008...any top 10 list of 2008 that is missing Atmosphere and The Grouch is reaching. What about the top 10 albums of all-time. Here is our final list...check us out and vote yourself at www.chaddyp.com.


Best Hip-Hop Album Ever (No Order)
GZA - Liquid Swords
Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
Lootpack - Soundpieces: Da Antidote!
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
2Pac - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
NaS - Illmatic
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

www.chaddyp.com

[J-a-z]

Ultramagnetic MC's-Critical Beatdown
Raekwon-Only Built For Cuban Links
Tribe Called Quest-Low End Theory

should be in that list

[JamesKellyDawson]

Doggystyle

2001

chronic

atliens

36 chambers

get rich or die tryin'

quik is the name

all eyez on me

kanye dropout or whatever

some chingy jiggy or hova album.


You said top 10, not best 10.

[JamesKellyDawson]

I take that back. You say both. Making the distinction between the two would make it much simpler-er.

[EsoteriDactle]

Binary Star - Masters of The Universe :D

[parkerc41]

Ultramagnetic MC's-Critical Beatdown
Raekwon-Only Built For Cuban Links
Tribe Called Quest-Low End Theory

should be in that list

Nice. I'm feeling all those albums. Give your vote on our website www.chaddyp.com.

[alanp0099]

We would have to beg to differ about the best albums of 2008...any top 10 list of 2008 that is missing Atmosphere and The Grouch is reaching. What about the top 10 albums of all-time. Here is our final list...check us out and vote yourself at www.chaddyp.com.


Best Hip-Hop Album Ever (No Order)
GZA - Liquid Swords
Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
Lootpack - Soundpieces: Da Antidote!
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
2Pac - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
NaS - Illmatic
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

www.chaddyp.com

Man, Lootpack looks out of place on this list. It doesn't seem to measure up to the others IMO.

Here's my top list, not in much of an order except for the top 3:

Pete Rock & CL Smooth "Mecca & The Soul Brother"
A Tribe Called Quest "Midnight Marauders"
A Tribe Called Quest "Low End Theory"
BDP "By All Means Necessary"
Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique"
Brother Ali "Shadows On The Sun"
Big Jess "Good Clean Fun 2"
Digable Planets "Blowout Comb"
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper"
EPMD "Strictly Business"
Goodie Mob "Soul Food"
Justice System "Rooftop Soundcheck"
KRS-One "Return Of The Boom Bap"
Black Star "Black Star"
N.W.A "Straight Outta Compton"
Organized Konfusion "Organized Konfusion"
Outkast "Aquemini"
Outkast "Southernplayalistic..."
Perceptionists "Black Dialogue"
Pharcyde "Bizarre-Ride II"
Public Enemy "It Takes A Nation..."
Stetsasonic "In Full Gear"
UGK "Ridin' Dirty"
X-Clan "To The East Blackwards"

Not really a definitive "greatest of all time" list, since I have some personal classics in there; but these are all classics IMO.

[C. Tran]

I'm surprise, no Knonam in your list Alan?...lol...but props for getting me into that album, it's getting better with each listen. "Miss Me" is in my top five favorite songs for 2008 for me.

My top 10 favorite albums (first 5 in order):

1. Jay-Z- Reasonable Doubt
2. Blu & Exile- Below the Heavens
3. Blue Scholars- Blue Scholars
4. Tupac- Me Against the World
5. Lupe Fiasco- Food & Liquor
6. A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory
7. Blue Scholars- A Long March Ep
8. Souls of Mischief- 93' Til Infinity
9. Twinz- Conversation
10. J Dilla- Donuts

[alanp0099]

I'm surprise, no Knonam in your list Alan?...lol...but props for getting me into that album, it's getting better with each listen. "Miss Me" is in my top five favorite songs for 2008 for me.

My top 10 favorite albums (first 5 in order):

1. Jay-Z- Reasonable Doubt
2. Blu & Exile- Below the Heavens
3. Blue Scholars- Blue Scholars
4. Tupac- Me Against the World
5. Lupe Fiasco- Food & Liquor
6. A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory
7. Blue Scholars- A Long March Ep
8. Souls of Mischief- 93' Til Infinity
9. Twinz- Conversation
10. J Dilla- Donuts

What's up C. Tran? Glad to hear you're digging that Knonam. It's held up strong for me since the day I bought it, which I can't say for a slew of other albums I bought in '08.

Are these the first albums that popped into your head, or is this like a personal classic list? I like the list, all except #1...lol. And I know you're a Seattle die-hard, but two Blue Scholars albums? lol...actually, I think that Long March EP may be my favorite material from that duo. "Southside Revival" probably being my favorite.

[C. Tran]

What's up C. Tran? Glad to hear you're digging that Knonam. It's held up strong for me since the day I bought it, which I can't say for a slew of other albums I bought in '08.

Are these the first albums that popped into your head, or is this like a personal classic list? I like the list, all except #1...lol. And I know you're a Seattle die-hard, but two Blue Scholars albums? lol...actually, I think that Long March EP may be my favorite material from that duo. "Southside Revival" probably being my favorite.

I think I looked at the question wrong. That is my personal classic list, I don't really know about a top 10 definitive, that's too hard to list. Plus it's not as fun to do because you'll see the same albums over and over...ex Dr Dre- Chronic, Snoop Dogg- Doggystlye, Wu Tang- Enter the 36 Chambers, ect.

And yeah, Blue Scholars has never failed me yet! Bayani is on the crisp of making my top 10 too...I'm biased I know...lol..."Southside Revival" is a really dope song, but "La Botella" is just a monster.

[thorntonsean152]

It's a hard assignment to make a top 10 list that is not your personal favorites and even more hard to keep the list limited to 10. I'll try and choose albums that I believe re-defined hip hop and will transcend through time.

1.Sage Francis - "Personal Journals"
2. Aceyalone- "All Balls Don't Bounce"
3. Freestyle Fellowship - "Inner City Griots"
4. Haiku D'Etat - "Haiku D'Etat"
5. Deltron 3030- "Deltron 3030"
6. Digable Planets - "Reachin'"
7. Black Star- "Black Star"
8. Organized Konfusion - "Stress: The Extinction Agenda"
9. Tribe Called Quest - "Midnight Marauders"
10. De La Soul - "De La Soul is Dead"
11. Boogie Down Productions - "By All Means Necessary"
12. Eric B and Rakim - "Follow the Leader"

I could easily name more; artist's entire catalog of albums (example Tribe Called Quest and Sage Francis) are so good that choosing one of them for a top 10 list is very difficult. I decided on the two listed by what moved me the most; Thus the conflict of a top "10" list being too personal.

[alanp0099]

I think I looked at the question wrong. That is my personal classic list, I don't really know about a top 10 definitive, that's too hard to list. Plus it's not as fun to do because you'll see the same albums over and over...ex Dr Dre- Chronic, Snoop Dogg- Doggystlye, Wu Tang- Enter the 36 Chambers, ect.

And yeah, Blue Scholars has never failed me yet! Bayani is on the crisp of making my top 10 too...I'm biased I know...lol..."Southside Revival" is a really dope song, but "La Botella" is just a monster.

I agree that it's much more interesting to list personal classics as well. You learn so much more about the people making the lists.

[parkerc41]

Man, Lootpack looks out of place on this list. It doesn't seem to measure up to the others IMO.

Here's my top list, not in much of an order except for the top 3:

Pete Rock & CL Smooth "Mecca & The Soul Brother"
A Tribe Called Quest "Midnight Marauders"
A Tribe Called Quest "Low End Theory"
BDP "By All Means Necessary"
Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique"
Brother Ali "Shadows On The Sun"
Big Jess "Good Clean Fun 2"
Digable Planets "Blowout Comb"
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper"
EPMD "Strictly Business"
Goodie Mob "Soul Food"
Justice System "Rooftop Soundcheck"
KRS-One "Return Of The Boom Bap"
Black Star "Black Star"
N.W.A "Straight Outta Compton"
Organized Konfusion "Organized Konfusion"
Outkast "Aquemini"
Outkast "Southernplayalistic..."
Perceptionists "Black Dialogue"
Pharcyde "Bizarre-Ride II"
Public Enemy "It Takes A Nation..."
Stetsasonic "In Full Gear"
UGK "Ridin' Dirty"
X-Clan "To The East Blackwards"

Not really a definitive "greatest of all time" list, since I have some personal classics in there; but these are all classics IMO.

Lootpack is the birth of Madlib, nuff said!! www.chaddyp.com

[alanp0099]

Lootpack is the birth of Madlib, nuff said!!

And...

Is that your reason? I thought we were talking about the greatest hip-hop artists of all time? LOL/jk

It's cool if you dig him that much. I just don't think he's on the same level as you do.

[luke_warm]

Along with some of the albums already mentioned Masta Ace - Disposable Arts is one of the best Hip-Hop albums I've heard. Not to detract from how great that album is but the following are also some of the best albums I've heard:

--Infinito - Music With Sound Right Reasoning
--Inspectah Deck - Uncontrolled Substance
--Big Juss - Black Mamba Serums V2.0

I'm also ashamed to admit I only heard this album three days ago because this may disqualify me from contributing to this thread at all but I'm sure KRS-One's self titled album KRS-One is one of the best albums I've heard.

[thorntonsean152]

And...

It's cool if you dig him that much. I just don't think he's on the same level as you do.

Agree. The production is something to marvel at, but the lyrical content is extremely repetitive.

[WesSezSo]

threads like this come up every year and its impossible to determine a true top ten in anyones eyes...I say...we try a collaborative top 100.:highfive:

[Sinks]

Here's My Top 10 not in order

Nas - Illmatic
Pete Rock - Soul Survivor I
Kev Brown - I Do What I Do
Mad Skillz - From Where???
Mos Def - Black On Both Sides
The Pharcyde -Labcabincalifornia
Redman - Muddy Waters
Wu Tang - 36 Chambers
Slum Village - Fantastic Volume II
Jay-Z - Black Album Pete Rock Remixed (the original SUCKS, Pete rock version only)

the thing which makes it difficult to pick and eternal 10 is because the times are always changing including the listeners tastes

:bow::bow:

[JoeKooL25]

Pete Rock & CL Smooth-Mecca and the Soul Brother
Freestyle Fellowship-Innercity Griots
Gang Starr-step in the arena
KRS 1-Return of the boom bap
BIG-Ready To Die
Tribe-Low End Theory
Wu-Enter the 36
Outkast-Southerplay-Goodie-Soul Food.
Geto Boys-We Cant Be Stopped
Too Short-short dogs in the house

these albums are must haves for any collection. any artists who came on the scene after 2000 is garbage. every style and word has been rhymed, at this point its just recycled.

[JamesKellyDawson]

I second Wes' idea.

Can we get a poll or something, like a voting system for top 100?

Would be cool...

[thorntonsean152]

Pete Rock & CL Smooth-Mecca and the Soul Brother
Freestyle Fellowship-Innercity Griots
Gang Starr-step in the arena
KRS 1-Return of the boom bap
BIG-Ready To Die
Tribe-Low End Theory
Wu-Enter the 36
Outkast-Southerplay-Goodie-Soul Food.
Geto Boys-We Cant Be Stopped
Too Short-short dogs in the house

these albums are must haves for any collection. any artists who came on the scene after 2000 is garbage. every style and word has been rhymed, at this point its just recycled.

Hmmm, that's a pretty bold statement. Based on the fact that you list a Too Short album as one of your 10 albums everyone must have, you must not know what a "garbage" artist is.
__________________

[twisted_harmonix]

Hmmm, that's a pretty bold statement. Based on the fact that you list a Too Short album as one of your 10 albums everyone must have, you must not know what a "garbage" artist is.
__________________

too $hort absolutely belongs in the top 10. are you kidding me?

[JoeKooL25]

Hmmm, that's a pretty bold statement. Based on the fact that you list a Too Short album as one of your 10 albums everyone must have, you must not know what a "garbage" artist is.
__________________

you must be a youngster..
if it wasnt for Too Short, half of these wanna-be couldnt make a dollar.
he mastered and pioneered a style way before anyone ever did..
learn and know your history homeboy..

[thorntonsean152]

you must be a youngster..
if it wasnt for Too Short, half of these wanna-be couldnt make a dollar.
he mastered and pioneered a style way before anyone ever did..
learn and know your history homeboy..

I'll give Too Short a little credit for the song "The Ghetto" a somewhat accurate depiction of the hardships of surviving in the ghetto (this style had been done many times before Too Short) that said it's still honest. Yet surrounding that one song is a plethora of monotonous songs about his hatred for "bitches"; from selling them, screwing them, and once you heard one of these songs you've heard them all.

Maybe he mastered and pioneered a style that unfortunately is still prevalent in today's hip hop scene; artist like Lil' Wayne, 50 cent, Lil' Jon and more have all followed in this same path and have almost no musical integrity. They all could learn a lesson from earlier artist's: Freestyle Fellowship, The Nonce, Boogie Down Productions, Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Organzied Konfusion, KMD, 3rd Bass, Black Sheep, Digable Planets, Public Enemy, Eric B & Rakim,....that's history brother!:bow:

[JoeKooL25]

They all could learn a lesson from earlier artist's: Freestyle Fellowship, The Nonce, Boogie Down Productions, Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Organzied Konfusion, KMD, 3rd Bass, Black Sheep, Digable Planets, Public Enemy, Eric B & Rakim,....that's history brother!:bow:

okay-that a known fact by all heads. buy where im from, we got respect, learned, and disected every artists/style/coast/genre.
yeah Too Short may not be what he was now, but his resume, and early music was bangin. we like to party and let loose, not every song has to be super conscience-power to the people-intelligent rhymes.
honestly i have respect for any mc/artist who even makes a single even if he's whack. im an artist myself, and know how hard it is to get any respect or listens. so really it all about preference.
Too Short was right behind all of them he was droppin ish in '85.
trust me lil jon,50,and weezy know about everyone you named. they play dumb but they're not-its about money now days.

[C-Villain]

Nas - Illmatic
Souls Of Mischief - '93 'Til Infinity
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Mecca & Soul Brother
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
GZA - Liquid Swords
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the 36 Cambers
The Pharcyde - Bizzare Ride II: The Pharcyde
People Under The Stairs - O.S.T.
Mobb Deep - The Imfamous

Other favorites:
Outkast - ATliens & Aquemini
Beastie Boys - License To Ill
Mood - Doom
Organized Konfusion - Organized Konfusion
Murs - End Of The Beginning
Dr. Dre - 2001
Hiero - all
Biggie - Ready To Die
MAC DRE - al boo boo
etc...etc......etc.........2 many

Too many good hip hop cds, i love hip hop..

[parkerc41]

Pete Rock & CL Smooth-Mecca and the Soul Brother
Freestyle Fellowship-Innercity Griots
Gang Starr-step in the arena
KRS 1-Return of the boom bap
BIG-Ready To Die
Tribe-Low End Theory
Wu-Enter the 36
Outkast-Southerplay-Goodie-Soul Food.
Geto Boys-We Cant Be Stopped
Too Short-short dogs in the house

these albums are must haves for any collection. any artists who came on the scene after 2000 is garbage. every style and word has been rhymed, at this point its just recycled.

You can't have Too Short in the top 10 for anything. He started something in the bay, but Eazy E started NWA and he is not on any top 10 list either. Your "resume" does not get you in.

[luke_warm]

Along with some of the albums already mentioned Masta Ace - Disposable Arts is one of the best Hip-Hop albums I've heard. Not to detract from how great that album is but the following are also some of the best albums I've heard:

--Infinito - Music With Sound Right Reasoning
--Inspectah Deck - Uncontrolled Substance
--Big Juss - Black Mamba Serums V2.0

I'm also ashamed to admit I only heard this album three days ago because this may disqualify me from contributing to this thread at all but I'm sure KRS-One's self titled album KRS-One is one of the best albums I've heard.

Add Billy Woods (featuring Vordul of Cannibal Ox) - Camouflage LP to my list

[Ipatch]

I love it when chumps think they're scoring points by dissing Too $hort. Let's me know who's opinions I should completely ignore.

You don't gotta like him, but to hate is laughable and just plain ignorant. A gang of his songs don't even have choruses, and you're gonna compare dude to 50 Cent? Shut the fuck up.

A point I was tempted to make in the "politics" thread... that way too many of the younger "underground" heads puffin their chests out on the conscious shit have no respect for the people who kicked down the doors.

Ask an average head at an Atmosphere show what they think about Too $hort, Ice T, Luke and Rick Rubin and you'd probably get a "Boo, boo, boo... who?" Any one of those four dudes has done more for hip hop than every artist who started their career in the last ten years combined.

[mannyFEsto]

in no particular order..

wu tang - 36 chambers
notorious b.i.g - ready to die
2pac - all eyez on me
dr. dre - the chronic & 2001
fugees - the score
nas - illmatic
cypress hill - black sunday
snoop dogg - doggytstyle
outkast - aquemini

honorable mentions

jayZ -black album
big punisher - capital punishment
gangstarr - moment of truth
ghostface killah - ironman
raekwon - only built for cuban linx

[JoeKooL25]

I love it when chumps think they're scoring points by dissing Too $hort. Let's me know who's opinions I should completely ignore.

You don't gotta like him, but to hate is laughable and just plain ignorant. A gang of his songs don't even have choruses, and you're gonna compare dude to 50 Cent? Shut the fuck up.

A point I was tempted to make in the "politics" thread... that way too many of the younger "underground" heads puffin their chests out on the conscious shit have no respect for the people who kicked down the doors.

Ask an average head at an Atmosphere show what they think about Too $hort, Ice T, Luke and Rick Rubin and you'd probably get a "Boo, boo, boo... who?" Any one of those four dudes has done more for hip hop than every artist who started their career in the last ten years combined.

agreed thank you sir, finally someone who knows whats up with Short Dog..i hate cliche atmosphere fans who think they know everything about hip hop. the world of hip hop is bigger than rhymesayers and 90s NY hip hop.


to parkerc41-NWA,Public Enemy,RunDMC-are on all top 10 lists, i shouldnt even have to mention those artists, its a given. go up to slug and ask him what he thinks of TooShort and i guarantee, he knows his history and has plenty of respect for him. dont forget all your favorite underground rappers are 30+ and grew up listening to every ol'skool artists you hate. hip hop's best music was made before 1990 homie.

[thorntonsean152]

I love it when chumps think they're scoring points by dissing Too $hort. Let's me know who's opinions I should completely ignore.

You don't gotta like him, but to hate is laughable and just plain ignorant. A gang of his songs don't even have choruses, and you're gonna compare dude to 50 Cent? Shut the fuck up.

A point I was tempted to make in the "politics" thread... that way too many of the younger "underground" heads puffin their chests out on the conscious shit have no respect for the people who kicked down the doors.

Ask an average head at an Atmosphere show what they think about Too $hort, Ice T, Luke and Rick Rubin and you'd probably get a "Boo, boo, boo... who?" Any one of those four dudes has done more for hip hop than every artist who started their career in the last ten years combined.

"Hate" was never used in the constructive criticism given on the significance of Too Shorts career and or listing of "Short Dogs in the House" in a 10 ten album position. On the other hand your argument which is based on assumptions and generalizations; which is lacking in constructive criticism.

I agree that is too bad not all "younger" underground listeners are unaware of the history of hip hop. But they are also part of a new generation that will let hip hop continue to be a musical powerhouse; thus a new history is being created. To ignore this is no different than to ignore hip hops predecessors.

[thorntonsean152]

agreed thank you sir, finally someone who knows whats up with Short Dog..i hate cliche atmosphere fans who think they know everything about hip hop. the world of hip hop is bigger than rhymesayers and 90s NY hip hop.


to parkerc41-NWA,Public Enemy,RunDMC-are on all top 10 lists, i shouldnt even have to mention those artists, its a given. go up to slug and ask him what he thinks of TooShort and i guarantee, he knows his history and has plenty of respect for him. dont forget all your favorite underground rappers are 30+ and grew up listening to every ol'skool artists you hate. hip hop's best music was made before 1990 homie.


Who ever said anything about Atmosphere, rhymesayers, and 90 NY Hip hop? Get off it. I noticed a diverse selection in the top 10 lists (including yours) and not once was a Atmosphere album listed and only a couple rhymesayers albums. The rest were a full range of albums from the West Coast to the East Coast.

You seem to believe that since you listened to Too Short and Hip Hop in 1985 that your musical senses are more finally tuned than that of a more modern Hip Hop listener. This I do not understand. I also have been listening to hip hop since the late 1980s. And brother I love the Hip Hop from that era; yet I do not like Too Short. I know that he is huge in the history of hip hop, but I feel it's more his persona that made a mark which influenced others and less his music. Also not liking Too Short does not mean you only listen to conscious Hip Hop/Atmosphere/rhymesayers, but maybe it means that you have respect for women and find other not so "super conscience-power to the people-intelligent rhymes" to enjoy with friends.

:highfive:

[Ipatch]

You seem to believe that since you listened to Too Short and Hip Hop in 1985 that your musical senses are more finally tuned than that of a more modern Hip Hop listener. This I do not understand.


Yeah, who cares about first-hand experience? Who do these people think they are to comment on hip hop when they've only been paying attention for 20+ years? Man it would be such a breath of fresh air if we just let VH1 and a bunch of teenagers dictate hip hop history to us...

Anybody who seriously uses the word "plethora" when discussing Too $hort should be smarter than this.



Life Is... Too $hort
King Tee- The Triflin Album
Geto Boys- self-titled LP
De La Soul- Buhloone Mind State
Deda and Pete Rock- The Original Baby Pa
The Coup- Kill My Landlord
Mobb Deep- The Infamous
Lord Finesse- Return Of The Funky Man
Wu-Tang Forever
Super Cat, Nicodemus and Jr. Demus- Cabin Stabbin

[parkerc41]

agreed thank you sir, finally someone who knows whats up with Short Dog..i hate cliche atmosphere fans who think they know everything about hip hop. the world of hip hop is bigger than rhymesayers and 90s NY hip hop.


to parkerc41-NWA,Public Enemy,RunDMC-are on all top 10 lists, i shouldnt even have to mention those artists, its a given. go up to slug and ask him what he thinks of TooShort and i guarantee, he knows his history and has plenty of respect for him. dont forget all your favorite underground rappers are 30+ and grew up listening to every ol'skool artists you hate. hip hop's best music was made before 1990 homie.

I thought this was the top 10 albums...not artist/bands. Saying that NWA, Public Enemy and Run DMC are all top 10...you are preaching to the choir. Everyone knows this and that wasn't even the topic. Assumptions of people's knowledge on hip-hop from reading a thread is ridiculous. My local music history was Fat Boys "Crushin", Run DMC "Raisin Hell" and Beastie Boys "Licensed to Ill"...none of which made a career off of being a pimp. I think Too Short is tight on some "Player Anthem" songs, but how bout just West Coast originators that are more prolific today (and back in the day) than Short Dog...Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Snoop, 2Pac. And on rhyming skills...Kurupt, Daz, MC Eiht, Mac Dre, Ras Kass, The D.O.C., Tash, J-Ro, Del.

www.ChaddyP.com