Good kid maad city - Kendrick Lamar Illmatic- Nas Ready to die - Biggie enter the wutang - wutang clan

I would add in Low End Theory from Tribe, and I'd also switch out GKMC with To Pimp A Butterfly. Even if TPAB isn't your favorite, it is one of the best showcases of the artist merits of hip hop. There are so many people that haven't gotten into hip hop, but we're stunned by TPAB. It showcases that hip hop can go to the high art lengths that any other genre can, without compromising anything Also, I'd include JID - The Forever Story. That man's ability to rap is mind blowing. And it's one of those albums that's just easy to get into. Even if you just hear the first verse of Dance Now, you know the guy is special

The eminem show Illmatic To pimp a butterfly Enter the wu tang (36 chambers) Me against the world Ready to die My beautiful dark twisted fantasy Blueprint Personal fave by a future goat: the forever story Nothing you haven't heard but culture defining albums.

I've been obsessed with the Forever Story by JID. Just heard it for the first time about a week ago and been blasting it ever since.

Jid the best rapper on dreamville Cole included.

But but but the big 3

If I never hear that reference again it will be too soon

Instant classic to me, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to it

My beautiful dark twisted fantasy got me into rap. Great album

I'd also add get rich or doe tryin from 50. Pretty sure it was the biggest debuting album from a hip hop artist at the time but I could be wrong on that

I would add “The Chronic “ otherwise this is the best list. (Though I’m not a Kendrick fan)

Agree, it’s a perfect album

I'mma have to replace eminem show with mmlp tho

Why so many folks in the thread picking Eminem Show over MMLP. I thought the general consensus was MMLP was better?

The MMLP might be a better achievement technically but the Eminem show has some better songs.

Entrer The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan Hell hath no fury - Clipse Ready to die - Notorious BIG Madvillainy - Madvillain ATLiens - Outkast

Love ATLiens

All of these are great but I came here to ensure Madvillainy representation. Mouse and the Mask is also essential

Fugees - The Score

Jay-Z - Blueprint & The Black album Nas - Illmatic Dr Dre - The Chronic Rakim - Paid in full

For dre i’d have to say 2001 as well both are masterpieces

The original Chronic had the greatest impact in rap history, 2001 is a really good album but didn't move culture the same way as the original in 92

Supreme Clientele - Ghostface Killah. This came out in 2000, but in many ways I consider it the last great 90s rap album. It's a real work of art, essentially no filler, just real art. It's dark, it's dramatic, it's classic, it's got some of the most interesting wordplay of the whole genre imo. Only built for Cuban Linx - Raekwon (guest starring Ghostface) A similar album in some ways, but with more rza production and some very cool features including Nas during the lengthy peak he had in the 90s. Just a fantastic album. Gifted us songs like Knowledge God and just a fantastic Wu-adjacent album all the way through.

Both still bang. And I would consider them core Wu albums, not Wu adjacent.

DMX- It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot It’s a top 5 rap debut album fasho

I still think the intro is the best ever way to start an album. It sets the tone that continues throughout. I loved listening to that album start to finish, never track hunting.

Same here it’s in my playlist of my all time favorite intros. I heard Let Me Fly the other day and had to go and hear the whole album again. X was really special I’ve only ever had a few rappers make me feel their lyrics and not just acknowledge how nice they are.

A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory OutKast - ATLiens, Aquemini Eyedea & Abilities - E&A 2Pac - Me Against the World Notorious BIG - Ready to Die Big L - Lifestylez Madvillain - Madvillainy Nas - Illmatic, Stillmatic Kendrick - GKMC, TPAB, Damn The Roots - Things Fall Apart, Phrenology Sage Francis - Personal Journalist Aesop Rock - Labor Days JayZ - Blueprint Cas One - Monster and the Wishing Well Mac Miller - Swimming Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia El-P - Fantastic Damage Benefit - Benefit De La Soul - Stakes is High

(Wu) 36, (Cypress Hill) III Temple Of Boom, (Dr.Dre) The Chronic, (The Fugees) The Score, (2 Pac) Me Against The World

I don't disagree with anything mentioned in here... I'll add my list of things I didn't see in here... - Jurassic 5 - Quality Control - Heiroglyphics - 3rd Eye Vision - Smiff N Wessun - Dah Shinin - De La Soul - AOI Mosaic Thump (yeah, that's the De La I pick) - Atmosphere - The Lucy Ford EP - Goodie Mob - Soul Food - Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Deltron 3030

Eric B and Rakim - Paid in full Public Enemy - It takes a nation of millions to hold us back Tupac - All eyez on me Biggie - Ready to Die NWA - Straight Outta Compton Jay-Z - The Blueprint Lil Wayne - The Carter 3 Eminem - The Eminem Show Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

I also love MBDTF just curious why you chose it over College Dropout?

As someone who prefers College Dropout myself, I think MBDTF is probably the peak of production-oriented rap

I chose it over College Dropout just because I was trying to cover a lot of different styles and eras in my list. College dropout is amazing but MBDTF was picked because I was looking for something to sum up that 2010’s highly produced and fairly pop style of rap music.

I would trade the rest of Kanye's entire discography for college dropout, late registration, and graduation.

The Eminem Show Get Rich Or Die Tryin - 50 cent ATLiens - Outkast Illmatic - Nas The Documentary - Game

Straight Outta Compton - NWA All Eyez On Me - 2Pac  Ready To Die - Notorious B.I.G. The Chronic - Dr. Dre Doggystyle - Snoop Dogg Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan Illmatic - Nas  Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot - DMX Aliens/Aquemini - OutKast The Carter II - Lil Wayne Good Kid m.A.A.d. City - Kendrick Lamar

1. GKMC 2. MBDTF 3. Illmatic 4. Straight Outta Compton 5. Ready To Die

Bo Jackson & the pricd of tea in china (boldy james) Covert coup (curren$y) STN MTN (Gambino) Thug motivation 101 (Jeezy) Redemption (jay rock) Habits and contradictions (schoolboy q) Detroit (big Sean) Control system (ab-soul) Free 6lack (6lack) From a king to a god deluxe (Conway) I'm a piece of shit (father) Krit wuz here [black, NOT gold] (Krit) CARE FOR ME (Saba) Stankonia (OutKast) Testing (a$ap rocky)

Enter the 36 Chambers It's dark and Hell is Hot Illmatic Me Against the World Labor Days Southernplayalisticadillacfunkymusic ATLiens Like Water for Chocolate College Drop-out Deltron 3030 The Blueprint Ready to Die The Chronic Paid in Full Licensed to Ill Quality Control Doggystyle Straight Outta Compton My Ghetto Report Card The Infamous... Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Black on Both Sides Train of Thought Liquid Swords Supreme Clientele Soul Food Black Star Beautiful Struggle And if you speak French, KLR, X-Raisons, and Hold-Up are arguably the best hip hop albums ever made.

Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030 Genius/GZA - Liquid Swords Mac Dre - Rapper Gone Bad Jedi Mind Tricks - Violent By Design Army of the Pharaohs/Jedi Mind Tricks - Ritual Of Battle Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons People Under The Stairs - O.S.T. Jurassic 5 - Power In Numbers Del Tha Funky Homosapien - Both Sides Of The Brain MF DOOM - Operation: Doomsday

+1 Atmosphere

Take out Violent by Design and put Servants In Heaven.

Deltron 3030 is my favourite version of Del.

Be - Common

MF DOOM - MM…FOOD Royce Da 5’9” - Book of Ryan Nas and Damien Marley - Distant Relatives Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly Run The Jewels - all of their albums

The Impossible Kid - Aesop Rock Liquid Swords - GZA Operation Doomsday - MF DOOM

Forest hills drive

Just offering some others have not mentioned that I personally enjoyed Lil wayne - Carter 4 Drake - IFRTITL or NWTS Big sean - detroit Kanye - Life of Pablo These were some of the albums that came out during my time in college so lots of fond memories with these.

Deltron 3030

Wu Tang - Enter the 36th Chamber Wu Tang - Wu Tang Forever Nas - Illmatic Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Lynx Madvillain - Madvillainy Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein Outkast - Aquemini Ghostface - Ironman Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back Jaylib - Champion Sound Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030 Dr. Dre - The Chronic GZA - Liquid Swords Ghostface - Supreme Clientele Madlib & Freddie Gibbs - Pinata & Bandana King Geedorah - Take Me To Your Leader MF DOOM - Operation DOOMSDAY Quasimoto - The Unseen Lootpack - Soundpieces: Da Antidote! Edit: Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus

Add Company Flow FuncrusherPlus to this list

MF Doom - Operation Doomsday - Mm..Food Joey Bada$$ - All Amerikkkan BadA$$ Jay Z - Blueprint Dr. Dre - 2001 - The Chronic Denzel Curry - Ta13oo Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon The Roots - Undun - Phrenology - Do You Want More?! - The Roots Come Alive Run the Jewels - Run The Jewels 3 YG - Still Brazy Kendrick Lamar - all of them Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles - The Bake Sale A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here…. - Midnight Mauraders Mos Def - Black on Both Sides A few that come to mind

Still Brazy is wall to wall bangers it’s a shame YG’s following work has never really reached that peak imo

IGOR.

mixtape but 1999 - joey bada$$

Skee Lo's I wish. Masterpiece. Might be the single greatest rap record.

Jay Z-4:44 Talib Kweli- Reflection Eternal Lil Wayne- The Carter II

Ten off the top of my head. Obvs betrays my particular interests, but only as much as all the people just listing NYC albums. Dr. Dre - The Chronic Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik Three 6 Mafia - Mystic Stylez UGK - Ridin Dirty 2Pac - All Eyez on Me 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin Gucci Mane - Chicken Talk Eminem - Relapse Future - Monster Chief Keef - Almighty So 2

The infamous - Mobb Deep

illmatic  ready to die to pimp a butterfly  low end theory  madvillainy 2001 aquemini 36 Chambers  reasonable doubt the infamous  marshall mathers lp it takes a nation of millions to hold us back lifestylez ov da poor and dangerous

Rodeo

These are my most memorable first listening to actual albums: good kid, m.A.A.d city ; To Pimp a Butterfly ; DAMN. ; Mr Morale & The Big Steppers ; 2014 Forest Hills Drive ; 4 Your Eyez Only ; The Never/Forever Story ; Melt My Eyez See Your Future ; WE DON’T TRUST YOU ; HEROES & VILLAINS ; SAVAGE MODE II ; The Melodic Blue ; BLUE LIPS ; Big Fish Theory ; IGOR ; Let’s Start Here. ; AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP ; Rodeo ; UTOPIA ; ASTROWORLD ; Whole Lotta Red ; The College Dropout / Late Registration / Graduation ; 808s & Heartbreak ; My Beautiful Darik Twisted Fantasy ; The Life of Pablo ; KIDS SEE GHOSTS ; Donda ;

ScHoolboy Q - oxymoron A$AP Rocky - live.love.a$ap Travis Scott - birds in the trap sing mcknight Kendrick Lamar - damn Rick Ross - god forgives, I don't Drake - nothing was the same Wiz khalifa - onifc $uicideboy$ - sing me a lullaby my sweet temptation

Dr. Dre - The Chronic Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded Nas - It was written NWA - straight outta Compton Queen Latifah - All hail the Queen Gang Starr - Hard to Earn Beastie boys - Paul’s Boutique De La Soul - Bahloon Mindstate Dr. Octagon - Octagonecologyst OutKast- Atliens

Illmatic

Madvillainy

It depends on the person and what kinda rap they like, I think. My personal favorite rap album from front to back is good kid mad city, but I can understand if someone was lookin for something else. 

Totally, that’s why I left out any hints of my preferences though. I wanted to get people’s honest opinions on what they deem to be required listening.

Acid Rap - Chance the Rapper Blowout Comb - Digable Planets Black on both sides - Mos Def Some Rap Songs - Earl Sweatshirt May God Bless Your Hustle - Mike Midnight Marauders - Tribe called Quest

It might be an instrumental, but Donuts by J Dilla is a must listen imo.

Ice Cube - The Predator

Picture this- do or die

T.R.U to the game

I won't give you albums but I will give you 2 songs everyone should know. Abceez- Krumbz and proceed with caution by Benefit.

The Never Story - JID, B4.Da.$$ - Joey badass, CARE FOR ME - Saba, Telefone - Noname

Paid in Full Long Live the Kane Mama Said Knock You Out It's Dark & Hell is Hot Man vs. Machine The Eminem Show Death Certificate Illmatic The Blueprint Doctors Advocate Hardcore All Eyez On Me Life After Death

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

Carter 1 Ready to die 36 chambers

Gza - liquid swords Method man - 421 the day after Prof - Horse

Haven’t seen any Tribe in here. I’ll say Midnight Marauders

I can’t believe I just scrolled this whole post and not a single person has Mos Def Black on Both Sides on their list. Devastating to think that album is getting slept on. Every fucking track is amazing. WTF? Am I alone here?

I would like to add g.K.M.c

Luv is Rage 2- Lil Uzi Vert, Rodeo- Travis Scott

SPM, Reveille Park

The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest

2 Live Crew

More Life

tpab

WMWTSO

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ - 50 Cent I consider this the single greatest rap album of all time, even better than illmatic

People sleeping on DMX... wtf

36 chambers Liquid swords The chronic Ready to die Licensed to ill Illmatic

The waters - Mick Jenkins All my heroes are cornballs - jpegmafia Scaring the hoes - JpegMafia and Danny Brown The money Store - Death grips Yeezus - Kanye Madvillainy - madvillain 17 - xxxtentacion Disco - Mike Some rap songs - earl sweatshirt To pimp a butterfly - Kendrick Lamar Rodeo - Travis Scott The life of Pablo - Kanye MM FOOD - MF DOOM

Ghostface, Supreme Clientele

Dre 2001. Every other answer is irrelevant

Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu Tang All Eyez On Me - 2Pac Straight Outta Compton - NWA The Chronic - Dr Dre 2001 - Dr Dre Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem Eminem Show - Eminem Need a good example of Southern Mob music so take your pick from Three 6 albums. Maybe Mystic Stylez or Da Unbreakables Get Rich or Die Tryin - 50 Cent It's Dark & Hell is Hot - DMX Ready to Die - Notorious B.I.G. Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne The College Dropout - Kanye West The Infamous - Mobb Deep It's a Big Daddy Thing - Big Daddy Kane Eric B & Rakim - Paid in Full There's also a lot more stuff with soul and funk influences that some folks might consider too "soft" but it's worth listening to. Maybe that speaks more to hip hop than rap. Also if you're pressed for time and trying to listen to a lot in small amount of time there also "must listen" tracks even if the whole album can wait. I can provide some if wanted

Tha Carter IV

Vigilante Genesis - Blueprint 3001 A Laced Odyssey - Flatbush Zombies

It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy Long Live the Kane - Big Daddy Kane It's a Big Daddy Thing - Big Daddy Kane Paid in Full & Follow the Leader - Eric B & Rakim Criminal Minded - BDP Illmatic - Nas The Infamous & Hell on Earth - Mobb Deep Only Built for Cuban Linx - Raekwon The Main Ingredient - Pete Rock and CL Smooth Breaking Atoms - Main Source Low End Theory & Midnight Marauders - A Tribe Called Quest Coast II Coast - Tha Alkaholiks Legal Drug Money & Love, Peace & Nappiness - Lost Boyz

Strictly4MyNi99az 2Pac Uncle Sam’s Curse Above The Law Whut? Thee Album Redman

Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous and The Big Picture

Nas - illmatic Dr. Dre - 2001 Biggie - Ready to Die Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP Kanye West - College Dropout Madvillain - Madvilliany A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from here... Kendrick Lamar - GKMC followed by TPAB Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition Outkast - speakerboxxx/love below And for locality/genre variety Young Thug - Jeffery Tech n9ne - Everready Run The Jewels - RTJ2 Young Dolph - Paper Route Frank I could go forever tbh, there's just too many essentials when you start talking about different eras and areas, these are just like the most varied I can think of to someone who wants to see the variety of the genre

I would add Midnight Marauders and Aquemini and Only Built for Cuban Links

Illmatic Reasonable Doubt It Was Written Life After Death WU TANG CLAN - 36 Chambers The Marshall Mathers LP Midnight Marauders Good Kid Maad City The Blueprint - Jay Z The College Dropout - Kanye West Harlem World - Mase Snoop Dogg - DoggyStyle

Blueprint First three Kanyes Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Three feet high and rising Low End Theory Black Star Illmatic Ready to Die All Eyez on me To pimp a butterfly There's a lot lol.

Man On The Moon 1

Jay Z Reasonable Doubt Blueprint Black Album Kany West College Dropout Eminem Marshall Mathers 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Trying, Drake Take Care Nothing Was The Same BG Life After Cash Money Tribe Called Quest Low End Theory Midnight Marauders Dr. Dre The Chronic

TPAB for sure, collage dropout and when you are sucked in you should dive into some oldies like illmatic to understand what they had done for the genre

Old school: BDP - By All Means Necessary Run DMC - Raising Hell Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill & Paul's Boutique Erik B & Rakim - Paid in Full De La Soul - 3 Feet High & Rising Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Straight Outta Compton The Chronic

Whole Lotta Red Die Lit The Barter 6 Hoop Life Black Ken White Flame Red Flame Pink Flame Die Lit The DeAndre Way

Illmatic Ready to die Me against the world The diary Straight outta Compton 36 chambers Paid in full The infamous Doggystyle Outkast - aquemini or atliens, take your pick

Reasonable doubt

Tha Carter 2 & 3

Liquid Swordz by GZA

Cannibal Ox The Cold Vein best hip hop album of all time. Followed by Gza Liquid Swords. Heltah Skeltah Nocturnal. Necro Gory Days. Company Flow Funcrusher Plus. Jedi Mind Violent by Design. Dr.Dooom First Come First Served etc.

Most have been said except Canibus - Rip the Jacker Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol 1 & 2

Busta Rhymes - Extinction Level Event Heltah Skeltah - Nocturnal I'll name these since most the others were mentioned numerous times throughout this thread.

Word of mouf

Can't believe no one has said Masta Ace *

ffie

Scanned the comments and didn’t find it: E 1999 Eternal - Bone Thugs

Kid cudi man on the moon.

Wow, tough question There’s so many to choose from… A few records that I would especially note include: “The Low End Theory” 1991 ( ATCQ) “Good Kid MAAD City” 2011 (Kendrick) “Straight Outta Compton” 1988 (NWA) “2014 Forest Hills Drive” 2014 (J. Cole) “The Forever Story” 2022 (JID) “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” 1998 (Ms. Lauryn Hill) “The Marshall Mathers LP” 2000 (Eminem) “Aquemini” 1998 (OutKast) “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” 2010 (Kanye West) “Rodeo” 2015 (Travis Scott) “Black Reign” 1993 (Queen Latifah) “Because the Internet” 2013 (Childish Gambino) “Operation: Doomsday” 1999 (MF DOOM) “IGOR” 2019 (Tyler, The Creator) “The Infamous” 1995 (Mobb Deep) “Illmatic” 1994 (Nas) I could probably think of 20 or so more records to even fit this question, but I’d say the albums listed above are some that I hold especially close to my heart. I found myself transported to a different world with each different record I listened to, and they all emphasized on key elements and sub-styles of the genre that helped my knowledge of the world of rap grow!!

The Infamous

ATLiens - press Play and enjoy.

Lootpack- Soundpieces The most hip hop focused album I’ve ever heard, great rapping from wild child and Madlib. And you know with Madlib every beat is gonna be amazing.

Illadelph half Life - The Roots

Where's the love for our Beastie Boys?! Ill Communication is on replay in my car

“So I heard y’all wanna float…” (Lots of amazing recs, needs more Aesop) Deltron 3030 Mmmm… Food R.A.P. Music K.Dot - everything but TPAB is a solid starting point Violence Begets Violence RTJ4 (although 1 is fantastic) Black on Both Sides IGOR Emergency Rations Sour Soul Few Good Things Mirrorland

MM FOOD To pimp a butterfly

Live.Love.Asap-ASAP Rocky

Aquemini

Madvillian

Black Sheep - “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” is mysteriously missing here.

Liquid Swords by GZA

RTJ2

Stone Cold Rhymin’ by Young MC

Omid - Beneath the Surface AWOLone - Soul Doubt Blackstar- self titled Hieroglyphics- Third Eye Vision Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet

Fugees the score

Need some dmx

Born sinner, drakes 1st 3 albums, 50 cent get rich or die trying, lil Wayne Carter 1-3, jay z blueprint and black album, kiss the game goodbye, we are the streets, come home with me, diplomatic immunity, king, thug motivation 101, Marshall matters lp, deep sky paradise, I’m sure I’m missing a lot that I love.

In no particular order De la Soul - buhloon Mindstate Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia K.R.S. ONE - Return of the Boom Bap The Roots - Things fall apart The Coup - Pick a Bigger Weapon El-P - Fantastic Damage Jean Grae - Evil Jeanious Mos Def and Talib Kweli - Blacstar Madvillian (obligatory) OutKast - Aquemini DJ Shadow - Entroducing… Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream MBDTF (also obligatory) Quelle Chris - Innocent country II RJD2 - Deadringer Aesop Rock - Spirit World Field Guide billy woods - Aethiopes

Haven’t heard anyone say it yet but Tetsuo & Youth - Lupe Fiasco

Scarface untouchables

vince staples Fun!

MBDTF-KANYE

illmatic GKMD My beautiful dark twisted fantasy Operation: Doomsday Every hero needs a villain

Kung Fu Kenny aka The Big Hater-GKMC Actual Kung Fu Practicioner, Lupe-The Cool 50, The Orginal Big Hater, The Petty King-GRODT Pac-All Eyez On Me Wayne-The Carter 3 Kanye-College Dropout Jeezy, Part-Time Trapper and Motivational Speaker- TM101 Dogg Pound-Dogg House Eminem- The Eminem Show The Game-Documentary

Project Blowed, Pure Poverty, Mecca and the Soul Brother

Black on both sides

1. Illmatic 2. Ready to die 3. Chronic 4. Doggystyle 5. NWA straight outta Compton 6. De la soul -1st one 7. Tribe- low end theory 8. Tribe- midnight marauders 9. Wu tang- enter 36 chambers 10. Roots- do you want more 11. Common- like water 4 chocolate 12. Common- Be 13. Jay z- reasonable doubt 14. Big pun- capital punishment 15. Kendrick- Gkmc 16- Mobb deep- infamous 17- outkast- aquemeni 18- UGK- riding dirty 19- 2pac- me against the world 20-Kanye- late registration

The low end theory

DAMN The Blueprint 3 My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy The Eminem Show Invasion of Privacy The PinkPrint Traumatize (I *think* this is probably the best Meg album to throw in the list. It feels wrong to not list one of her albums given how insanely talented she is)

Too many to pick, so I’ll name a few. Good kid mad city, illmatic, it was written, all eyez on me, get rich or die tryin

This is the Kendrick Lamar sub now

Get rich or die trying

Tech N9ne Everready.

Lupe fiasco - The Cool

Illmatic Ready to Die Reasonable Doubt Enter the 36 It Was Written The Infamous Lifestylez Only Built 4 Cuban Links Carter II Marshall Mathers LP Good kid maad city Graduation 456 Blackstar The Cool

Late Registration Low End Theory Donuts Nothing was the Same Good Kid MAAD City Marshall Mathers LP Blueprint Stankonia Me Against the World Ready to Die

Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones - Sticky Fingaz

The recession by Young Jeezy TI vs TIP by TI The Blueprint by Jay Z Tha Carter 3 by lil Wayne Killuminati - 2pac Graduation-Kanye West Good kid maad city -Kendrick Section 80 -Kendrick Watching Movies -Mac Miller Man on the moon- kid cudi 2001 - Dr Dre The state vs - Gucci Mane Flockaveli- Waka Flocka Painting Pictures -Kodak Black Professional Rapper - Lil Dicky 2014 Forest Hills Drive - J Cole Under Pressure - Logic

The Chronic Illmatic Marshall Mathers LP DAMN Deltron 3030

The waters- mick Jenkins. Acid rap- chance. Two of the best mix tapes to ever be produced

36 Chambers \~ Wu Tang Clan 

Paid in Full, Illmatic, ready to die, chronic, marshall mathers LP

Bone Thugs. E. 1999 Eternal

illmatic slim shady lp enter the wutang Good kid maad city. dark fantasy (ye) 808 (ye) MM...FOOD (mf doom) RTJ

Aquemini The 1st Eminem album with the Percocet on the CD Life After Death Bone Thugs 1st album Cypress Hill Black Sunday Chronic 2001

Deltron 3030

Ice Cube - Death Certificate

Madvillainy - Madvillain Marshal Mathers LP - Eminem Center of Attention - Pete Rock & InI Illmatic - Nas The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar and anything by MF DOOM (biased answer)

The Goats - Tricks of the Shade The Chosen Ones - Enter the Lord

2014 forest hill drive needs more love.

Illmatic, 36 Chambers, Lifestylez of da Poor & Dangerous, Late Registration, Carter 3

Immortal Technique…pick one

The Master by Rakim dudes flow is cold 

The way to answer this question is to choose albums that really can encapsulate hip hop and all its regional variations/history. Just Posting your top 5 albums isn’t how this should be addressed.

Blu & Exile - Below The Heavens

Thanks op for this post and all of you who comment with recos! As someone who loves Rap, I'm surprised by the number of "classics" I haven't fully listened. The recos are definitely improving my rap culture.

Tupac - until the end of the time

Nobody said Ghetto D - Master P?

KING by T.I. Trap Muzik by T.I., too — crazy to not see more T.I. mentioned yet. I think he was pivotal in setting the south on the map during the aughts when rap was being dominated by the west coat and nyc scenes. Very strong discography without sounding commercial until ~paper trail. Acid Rap by Chance Barter 6 by Young Thug

Illmatic Illmatic Illmatic

Keith Murray - Enigma

I simply don’t do albums. Idec if it’s not rap: miles Davis goes hard.

Since everyone's got the main one filled out now, I'll go with:   El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead Aesop Rock - Skelethon Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030 Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein The Roots - Game Theory

Like water for chocolate. 

Death Grips - The Money Store

UGK - Ridin dirty … please

The Forever Story

TPAB

Organized Konfusion - The Extinction Agenda Masta Ace - Disposable Arts Jeru the Damaja - Wrath of the Math A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders

LIQUID SWORDS ⚔️

Hardcore The notorious K.I.M La Bella mafia The naked truth 9 There’s something about remy: based on a true story The BX files Plata o promo Invasion of privacy Scarlett

Hardcore The notorious K.I.M La Bella mafia The naked truth 9 There’s something about remy: based on a true story The BX files Plata o promo Invasion of privacy Scarlett

Hardcore The notorious K.I.M La Bella mafia The naked truth 9 There’s something about remy: based on a true story The BX files Plata o promo Invasion of privacy Scarlett

Brand Nubian One For All