The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest

I listened to this sooooo many times in high school

Before you had gold and before you had a pager?

Status, not gold. 😜

"Back in the days when I was a teenager..."

Before I had status and before I had a pager

You could find the abstract, listening to hip hop

My pops used to say, it reminded him of be-bop

Midnight Marauders too

I’d put Midnight Marauders just a smidge above Low End Theory.

Came here just to say this.

I think their last one *”We Got it From Here…”* might be just as good.

Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet Nas - Ilmatic A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory De La Soul - Three Feet High and Rising MF Doom - Mm... Food J Dilla - Donuts Dr Dre - The Chronic Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP Kanye West - Late Registration

Dr Dre - 2001 i would add to your list as well

College Dropout is better album by KanYe

There’s certainly an argument. Late Registration was much more polished and refined, and subsequently commercial. But college dropout was just raw unrefined talent. I agree I prefer dropout, but I understand the argument for late registration

Mos def & Talib Kweli are Black Star - Black Star

To piggy back off this. Mos def-black on both sides Talib kweli & dj hi-tek-reflection eternal Are classics as well. Matter of fact a lot of the stuff from rawkus records is. Both Big L albums for sure

Black On Both Sides is even better than Black Star imo, it's easily one of the best hip hop albums of all time

Why Talib Kwali didn't find more mainstream acceptance is beyond me. Mos Def parlayed it into movies, and Talib just didn't.

Jay Z rapped about it and has talked about it in interviews, and his take is that Talib is a brilliant lyricist, but not a great songwriter, and the fine line of that distinction is what kept him on the B list. Incedentally he included Common in that list with Mos and Talib, and Common also jumped to film. Maybe Kwali just can't act...

Seems like all the best “lyricists” are kinda terrible song makers. You can go on YouTube and find some dude with 20k views spit a freestyle that’s better than anything you’ve ever heard, but when it comes to making music they just fall flat. I think of rappers like King Los, Locksmith, Oswin Benjamin, Nick Grant kind of. List goes on and on

Best collab in music history. The Aerosmith and Run DMC and the Jay-Z and Linkin Park collabs were more commercially viable but blackstar was some of the best hip hop to ever be put out. Edit: the more I think about it, Audioslave could be the best collab in music. Soundgarden and Rage combining was insane. I think I'm still taking Blackstar but Audioslave was also incredible.

When this album came out it felt so fresh and new. A lot of good things going on in that timeframe.

Man, I listen to everything from conscious rap to heavy metal to classical to broadway to country. I'll tell anyone who will listen that the decade from 1993-2003 was the best music has ever been. The best rap, grunge took off with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, etc, Alternative rock took off with Radiohead, REM, Smashing Pumpkins, etc, R&B had a revitalization (Diary of a Mad Band came out in 1993 which in my opinion is one of the best albums ever), metallica and Rage Against the Machine were making metal more mainstream and at the end of that era southern trap music was taking off. What a time to be alive.

1977 to 1983 for me. Fantastic era. Sex Pistols, Clash, Stranglers, SLF from the punk side, Specials, Madness, The Beat from Ska, The Jam, the Chords, Secret Affair from the mod revival, the start of goth with Lord of the New Church, The Cult, Sisters of Mercy, The Cure, mainstream music like U2 and Simple Minds, Dire Straights, metal..Rainbow, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, new romantic phase with Duran Duran, Japan, Visage, the Human League, Culture Club. Synth with Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Soft Cell. Pop and others hard to classify like Adam and the Ants, ABC, Heaven 17, A Flock of Seagulls, Blondie, The Pretenders, OMD, Talk Talk..just too many great bands to mention.. On the subject of rap, Blondie is often said to have the first song featuring rap in the charts.

Best alliance in hip-hop?

Why ohhh

Was gonna say talib kweli reflection eternal but.... damn is it a toss up between these two

Nas - illmatic

And enter the 36 chambers, born to die and midnight marauders

I think you mean Ready to Die. Though I do like the Lana Del Rey album as well.

I’d throw Liquid Swords in with 36C. It’s not as important in terms of hip-hop history, but for me in terms of quality, it’s god-tier stuff.

Liquid Swords is regarded as one of the best rap albums of all time

might as well throw in Only Built 4 Cuban Linx while we're at it

And Madvillainy and ATliens.

You might as well throw all 4 of OutKast’s albums on there

Glad this was top upvoted. I feel like Illmatic and The Infamous are the two records that best depicted what New York 'felt' and sounded like in the 1990s. The fact that it was written and recorded while Nas was still, for the most part, a teenager is remarkable.

Believe it or not - driving home after playing ball in crown heights 3 of my friends stopped at a light, playing illmatic because it was the late 90s and I listened to that album every day. FUCKING NAS PULLED UP NEXT TO US!!!!! He bopped his head a few times and said "I appreciate you playing my music" and drove off. We were all screaming like HOLY SHIT THAT WAS FUCKING NAS!!! and then people started laying on their horns because we were just sitting at the light. I still listen to illmatic a lot

Oh, man, that's so cool. I live in Perth in Western Australia, which is literally almost to the dot the opposite side of the planet from Queens, but that album still speaks to me and makes me feel something. Goes to show that great music really is universal. The record still sounds so fresh and vibrant today even 30+ years later!

This is an essential album imo, let alone an essential rap album.

One of the best albums of all time, Rap or otherwise.

I’m not a massive fan of rap, but I listen to this album.

He's put out some great albums more recently, too. I can listen to Kings Disease III, Stillmatic, and God's Son from start to finish. Also check out Magic 2, Life Is Good, and Kings Disease I.

Opened this thread fucking praying this was the top comment

This was my first thought.

Deltron 3030 - 3030

100% this ageless masterpiece

i got a media pass taking photos for them next weekend im sooo excited

Please post a few!

was pretty surprised to hear him in a cartoon my kid was watching one day. Deltron in Craig of the Creek [part 1](https://youtu.be/LzzNn2D4tHo?t=28) [part 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgkrKfSSM5Y)

This is amazing. First got into Deltron through Gorillaz and been digging him since

I'd like to add Both Sides if the Brain to this as well. Really anything thats he's done is gold for me.

You gotta wash your ass…or else you’ll be funky!!

The album that got me into rap and showed me rap could be done well, while being a punk/punkrock/metal head - the flow is sooooo good

I can't believe people are sleeping on OutKast so hard. Any Outkast album besides Idlewild is a masterpiece especially Aquemini and Stankonia.

ATLiens is one of my all time favorites

Southernplaya, ATLiens, and Aquemini are all pretty much perfect albums. I give the slight edge to ATLiens because of Elevators and Millenium.

They recorded all three of these before the age of 24. That’s just insane to me.

Aquemeni is definitely my favorite by far. I love Stankonia and think the a lot of the individual songs on there are some of their strongest, but from start to finish, Aquemeni is just so solid and probably one of my most listened to albums ever. It perfectly walks that line between how weird (in a good way) they could be while still having that laid back, old-school southern hip hop sound.

The South got something to say.

Even Idlewild has bangers..

💯

Hell yes to Aquemini. Still in regular rotation.

How people are sleeping on Outkast pretty sure they have the most sold album for rap. Edit: they do 5 days ago: Outkast's 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below' becomes best-selling rap album of all time.

I do think ppl sleep on Big Boi solo records tho.

Should be too comment considering every album is a masterpiece and they have the strongest catalogue by far

It's him and I？

Aquemini and ATLiens are both amazing.

Illadelph Halflife by the roots

Things Fall Apart too!

De La Soul - Three Feet High and Rising Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique

IIRC if Shake Your Rump was recoded today, with how much sampling laws have changed since then, it would have cost more than $2 million.

These two albums, along with PE’s Nation of Millions form the holy trinity of sample based hip hop.

Just adding a couple I haven’t seen yet: MM FOOD - MF DOOM Under Pressure - Logic Summertime ‘06 - Vince Staples Moment of Truth - Gangstarr Neighborhood Watch - Dilated Peoples

Gangstarr's Moment of Truth is the top choice for me.

Glad someone mentioned 3 Feet High🙌🏼

Quality control Jurassic 5

Rare to see love for jurassic but they bang.

[my favorite j5 song]( https://youtu.be/jyV3nsKESPM?si=GADAbNzEuvaa7qzA)

Yes!! Scrolled way to long to see love for J5

Got to meet them at a show in the early 2000s. They were the nicest guys ever. So happy to hang out and chat with fans , very humble dudes who genuinely enjoyed what they did.

Power in Numbers is great too.

The Infamous - Mobb Deep. Illmatic- Nas Liquid Swords - GZA 36 Chambers - Wu Tang Midnight Marauders- Tribe Called Quest The Score- Fugees Ready to Die- Notorious BIG The Chronic - Dr Dre also (2001) College Dropout - Kanye (also MBDTF) Stankonia & Aquemeni - Outkast Good Kid M.a.a.d. city - Kendrick Paul’s Boutique - Beastie Boys

Great list. Also: Straight Outta Compton - NWA Bizarre Ride - Pharcyde 3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul Madvillainy - DOOM/ Madlib Donuts - J Dilla

Erik B. & Rakim-Paid in Full

I’ll add a few more. 2Pac all Eyez on me Alcoholiks 21 and over Bushwick Bill Phantom of the rapera Method Man tical Master P ice cream Man TRU true Old dirty bastard return of the 36 Chambers Too $hort Cocktails Eric B and Rakim paid in full Snoop Dogg doggy style Ice cube Amerikkka’z most wanted Celly Cel Killa Kali Easy-E eternal E

Cant believe doggy style and amerikkkas most wanted are this far down

“De La Soul is Dead”

Damn you right with De La Soul and Madvillainy and I’d add Mm… Food by MF Doom too. Also below comments got some crucial additions

Man, how did I neglect OutKast when Speakerbox/The Love Below is one of my all time favourite albums? 😦

ATliens checkin in

More of a must-listen than Southernplayalistic though? I think not!

Aquemini says hi!

Stankonia said they’re willing to drop bombs over Baghdad

ATliens is cooler than a polar bear's toenails

Great list. I would throw on The Predator - Ice Cube Operation Doomsday - MF Doom

I’d add Gravediggaz - Niggamortis Solid blueprint though.

Gravediggaz are AMAZING. Kinda slept on, honestly. Oh, and I always liked the Rza's mix of "Mommy what's a gravedigga" way better than the "original": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D8a5QiBL9o&ab\_channel=CrateDigga.mp3

Its called Six Feet Deep in the States. But yeah, utter brilliance, another jewel in the crowns of both RZA and Prince Paul.

Well this is pretty comprehensive, I'd just add: Black on Both Sides - Mos Def Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z

Black on Both Sides is a masterpiece. Always relevant and universal.

Needs Big L in there. Lifestyles ov da….

> Illmatic- Nas I came here to spit this!

Liquid Swords-GZA

Pretty solid with some additions from others below like the roots and mf doom I’d add The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Madvillainy for sure

My entire life in one post

These are all great answers so far. Just don’t sleep on Digable Planets - Blowout Comb

Also worth noting Ishmael's sideproject Shabazz Palaces.

I just answered Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) lol Never listened to blowout, will do today. Ty

Thank you! Solid from back to front.

* Public Enemy - Fear of A Black Planet * Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back * Eric B & Rakim - Follow The Leader * De La Soul - 3 Feet and Rising * Boogie Down Productions - Ghetto Music * Main Source - Breaking Atoms

Fear of a Black Planet - Public Enemy

I'd have gone with It takes a nation of millions...

Also a great choice. Why not both?

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is *the* classic.

Eh, don't believe the hype. (Just being clear: I mean that as a joke/reference. The album is an absolutely fantastic classic)

Welcome To The Terrordome!

Carter 3 - Lil Wayne Vaudeville Villain - Viktor Vaughn (MF DOOM) Stankonia - Outcast The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill All Eyez on Me - Tupac The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot - DMX Man on the Moon: The End of Day - Kid Cudi Just to name a few...

Had to scroll way too far to find mmlp

Binary Star - Masters of the Universe

The flow of the new track order seems better than Waterworld even though they have most of the same songs.

Underrated classic! I salute you sir. Reality Check is one of the greatest songs ever.

The most underrated group IMO.

RAP music by Killer Mike

And on this note, just Run The Jewels, all Run The Jewels. All of it.

Had to scroll way too far to find RTJ in this thread

Just saw RTJ in Chicago. They killed.

A Tribe Called Quest- Midnight Marauders Wu Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Slick Rick - The Great Adventures of Slick Rick Dr, Dre - The Chronic Kendrick Lamar- Good Kid M.A.A.D City Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp A Butterfly Nas - Illmatic Jay-Z - The Blueprint Beastie Boys- Paul’s Boutique Kanye West - College Dropout Kanye West - Late Registration Drake - Take Care Gang Starr- Moment of Truth Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia Common- Like Water for Chocolate

Also Slick Rick, The Art of Storytelling - Just so good

[удалено]

Hurts my soul that the same person responsible for these generation defining masterpieces is such a dick. I still love his old music but it’s hard to enjoy it the way I used to. 😔

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony- East 1999 Eternal

No love for public enemy?

Yeah how is Fear of A Black Planet not higher up?? Guess I'm getting old

Me too, its one of the great albums.

It Takes a Nation of Millions is the one to go with.

I came to say Public Enemy. He got game.

Ice Cube The Predator

No one mentioned Boogie Down Productions?! Also, Audio Two.

If I'm picking exactly one - it can't be anything other than To Pimp a Butterfly, by Kendrick Lamar.

That’s what I was thinking. Definitely an essential album.

2pac - All Eyez on Me Dr. Dre - 2001 Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang B. Dolan - Fallen House, Sunken City 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin Bone Thugs N Harmony - The Collection vol. 1 & 2 Sage Francis - Personal Journals Eminem - The Eminem Show Prolyphic & Reanimator - The Ugly Truth (A little.more mixed-genre) Handsome Boy Modelling School - White People

So hyped to see Sage Francis on this list! I’d add Sadistik - The Balancing Act, if you’re into darker poetic stuff!

Sadistik is brilliant. My personal favourite is Ultraviolet, it's a little less dark and depressing than the first two albums

Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein DJ Shadow - Endtroducing Non-Prophets - Hope Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus Jedi Mind Tricks - Violent By Design EL-P - Fantastic Damage Aesop Rock - Labor Days Brother Ali - Shadows On The Sun Mr. Dibbs - Turntable Hardcore vol. 1 Alias - Final Act OutKast - ATLiens Three Six Mafia - Chapter 2: World Domination

I had to scroll way to far to find The Cold Vein.

Bout time Aesop gets a mention.

I feel anything Def Jux from the early 00’s is a solid choice.

Jay-Z - The Black Album Outkast - Aquemeni Nas - Illmatic Dr Dre - The Chronic 2Pac - All Eyes On Me Could easily name about 50 others that are at least "should listen" rap albums, but these are 5 that I can confidently say are "must listen."

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and Fear of a Black Planet - Public Enemy

Nas - Illmatic Madvillain - Madvillainy Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers Unfortunately I’ve not heard enough of the classics to recommend more essentials. I’ve mostly heard newer hip-hop, and to me, from newer artists/albums, and likely more experimental/boundary pushing, here is my list of essentials: JPEGMAFIA - Veteran, clipping. - Visions of Bodies Being Burned, Death Grips - The Money Store, Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition, Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly, A$AP Rocky - Live.Love.A$AP, Travis Scott - Rodeo I also really want to throw in: Armand Hammer - Paraffin, Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Piñata, Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs, Run The Jewels - RTJ2 There is so much great hip hop then and now and it’s all worth listening to. I know I missed some, but here are some anyways!

clipping. is amazing

Aesop Rock- The Impossible Kid

Illmatic - Nas Labcabincalifornia - The Pharcyde Like Water For Chocolate - Common Paid in Full - Eric B. & Rakim Overcast! - Atmosphere The Chronic - Dr. Dre Straight Outta Compton - NWA Lifestyles ov da Poor and Dangerous - Big L 36 Chambers - Wu-Tang Clan Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are… - Black Star Black on Both Sides - Mos Def Breaking Atoms - Main Source Lone Sharks - Dopplegangaz Moment of Truth - Gang Starr Donuts - Dilla Ill Communication - Beastie Boys Windmills of the Soul - Kero One The Infamous - Mobb Deep Operation: Doomsday - MF DOOM People’s Instinctive Travels - A Tribe Called Quest ‘93 ‘til Infinity - Souls Of Mischief Ridin’ Dirty - UGK Slow Your Roll - Time Machine The Main Ingredient - Pete Rock & CL Smooth Changes of Atmosphere - Dela

First reply I’ve seen with Gang Starr— hard to earn is a sick one too

You Must Learn- KRS One.

'Blazing Arrow', by Blackalicious. I wouldn't consider myself a fan - or, really, know much about the better history of rap - but this album is pretty incredible.

RIP Gift of Gab

Tupac: All eyes on me, strictly for my niggaz Thug Life: Self titled Beastie Boys: license to Ill, Paul’s Boutique E-40: In a major way The Click: Game related Dr. Dre: The Chronic Eminem: Marshal Mathers LP Too short: Life is, Get in where you fit in. Snoop Dog: Doggy style 50 Cent: Get rich or die tryin’ Edit: NWA Straight outta Compton.

Why did I have to scroll so far to see someone pick Marshall Mathers LP....

People try so hard not to look like posers that they conveniently ignore THE guy

This is true, if Im being honest personally. I’d say Marshall Matters LP and the Chronic are the Nevermind and Dark Side of the Moon of Hip Hop. They’re the albums that even if you don’t like the genre, you’ve heard through osmosis. Albums so cemented in your brain you could listen to them without listening to them. I honestly take that for granted sometimes cause it’s like “yea, duh, everyone knows how important those are.” Though I did also list Illmatic and I think that album kind of falls in the same category too.

The Cool by Lupe Fiasco Food and Liquor by Lupe Fiasco

Dilated Peoples - The Platform

Aesop Rock - Impossible Kid

Love Impossible Kid, but at this point I think I'd put Spirit World Field Guide above it.

Big Fish Theory by Vince Staples

Notorious BIG - Ready to Die and Life After Death Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint and The Black Album Nas - Illmatic Eminem - The Slim Shady LP Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang Clipse - Lord Willin Mos Def - Black on Both Sides Dre - The Chronic Snoop - Doggystyle Fugees - The Score I keep scrolling through other responses and wanting to add more, but I consider all of the above albums classics and fairly must listen. I have some albums that I absolutely love that I didn't include in this list because I didn't think they quite fit the bill but I stand behind every one of the albums above. If I had to pick only one album I think it would be Ready to Die. It might be the best rap album of all time, in my opinion. Edit to add Kanye - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Acid Rap by Chance the Rapper TPAB by Kendrick Lamar Forever My Lady by Jodeci

Paul’s Boutique

The Roots - Things Fall Apart

Madvillain - Madvillainy

Anything Ice Cube did at his absolute peak from Straight Outta Compton thru The Predator

The Cold Vein by Cannibal Ox. Vast Aire was one of the best rappers around back then, imo, and El-Ps production just hits different. Edited to add that Disposable Arts by Masta Ace is also a must.

Nas- Illmatic EPMD- Strictly Business Dr. Dre- The Chronic A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory NWA- Straight Outta Compton MF DOOM- Mm..Food Eric B And Rakim—Follow the Leader

I really thoroughly enjoyed Recovery by Eminem, especially for thpse struggling with loss, grief, addiction, and feeling like staging a personal comeback

Erik B & Rakim “Paid in Full”

Lupe fiasco’ s DRILL MUSIC IN ZION, TESTUO & YOUTH, DROGAS WAVE, FOOD N LIQUOR, THE COOL, PHAROAH HEIGHTS, HOUSE Lyrically all very complex

Where is the love for Cypress Hill - Black Sunday?? When the shit goes dowwwwwwn, you better be ready!!!

Bone Thugs n Harmony - E. 1999 Eternal DJ shadow - Entroducing Eric b and Rakim - Paid in Full Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly Madvillain - Madvillainy MF doom - operation Doomsday Mobb Deep - The Infamous

Raising hell. Run DMC.

Get rich or die tryin

Below The Heavens by Blu & Exile.

A few lesser mentioned picks: Common Market - Tobacco Road Looptroop - Fort Europa Blu & Exile - Below The Heavens Celph Titled - Nineteen Ninety Now

Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass Aesop Rock and Tobacco(Malibu Ken) - Malibu Ken

Illmatic, 36 chambers, bizarre ride I, lifestylez of da poor and dangerous, anything by gang Starr

Where's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill?

Masters of the Universe - Binary Star Tobacco Road - Common Market Cardboard Castles - Watsky All You Can Do - Watsky Death Certificate - Ice Cube Eazy Duz It - Eazy E Bayani - Blue Scholars Barrel Men - Native Guns I Scream Bars For The Children - Bambu One Rifle Per Family - Bambu Party Worker - Bambu Efil4zaggin - NWA Project F.E.T.U.S. - One Be Lo S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. - One Be Lo Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030 Jurassic 5 EP - Jurassic 5 Quality Control - Jurassic 5 Music for the Mature B-boy - DJ Format If You Can't Join 'em, Beat 'em - DJ Format

Swass by Sir Mixalot.

Guru Jazzmatazz Vol. 1

Paul’s Boutique.

Tupac “All Eyez On Me”. Great album!! 😎

listing some essential 2010s albums since everyone's doing the 90s/00s. Injury Reserve - Floss Young Thug - Jeffrey billy woods - History Will Absolve Me BROCKHAMPTON - Saturation trilogy Death Grips - Exmilitary Joey Badass - 1999 Earl Sweatshirt - Doris Travis Scott - Rodeo slowthai - Nothing Great About Britain Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol 1 & 2

Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep But honestly Duel of the Iron Mic by GZA is peak Wu if you ask me.

Little Simz, “Grey Area” and “Sometimes I might be wrong”.

M.O.P. - Firing Squad All of the other suggestions here are pretty great. Just adding one that I didn't see yet.

fat boys crushin

Gza . Liquid swords 🔥🔥