Hip-Hop bloggers' favorite rap albums evar

Remember Joey from Straigt Bangin' and Jeff from Passion of the Weiss were putting together a list of the 25 greatest hip-hop albums of all time? I posted mine here and at XXL a few weeks ago. Well, they finally finished compiling everyone's lists (there were 101 in all) and today they've posted the final list based on everyone's submissions.

Here's the top 10:

1. Nas, Illmatic
2. Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
3. Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die
4. Raekwon, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
5. Dr. Dre, The Chronic
6. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
7. A Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders
8. A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory
9. Eric B. & Rakim, Paid in Full
10. Mobb Deep, The Infamous

Not a bad list, if I can say so myself. Of the top 10, I had 9 on my list. And overall, 17 of the albums I picked made the top 25. That means I won, right? I'd say it's definitely skewed towards the early to mid '90s rather than, say, the late '80s. If I'm not mistaken, myself, Passion and Bangin' are all roughly the same age, and there must be quite a few of us hip-hop bloggers in that mid to late 20s age range.

You can check Straight Bangin' or Passion of the Weiss for further (somewhat more erudite) analysis as well as a spreadsheet with all of the facts and figures. Weiss also has audio samples, in case you're still wondering how Illmatic sounds 13 years after the fact.

Comments

[JD]

FIRST!

Illmatic didn't really do it for me, but I think everything else on the list is classic material, on the real.

[Bol]

This new Camp Lo shit is nails:

http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=9983

[Yep]

Bol, your last several posts have been pretty awesome--ranging from gully baseball to nappy headed ho's. What's the inspiration of late?

[Bol]

^Pure coincidence. I'll be back to bullshit in no time.

[First]

All NY artists except for one . . . Am I noticing a pattern here? Fucking dickriders.

[diddy]

^^^^
certified fuck boi, don't hate

[ill will]

How these online rap brainiacs manage to find all kinds of reasons to leave Pac off of lists like these are crazy. Two Wu albums, Two ATCQ albums, and the only time they left NY was for the Chronic. Yeah, NY definitely has overall the best rap music, but there were gems on other coasts.

[SukedowN]

Illmatic! Nation of Millions! OB4CL! WOW! Great List!

There is nothing more predictable than a hip-hop blogger's Top 10 Album list.

[diddy]

It's cool that Mobb Deep made the top 10, I kinda of dig "Hell On Earth" a bit more than "Infamous" because they diss that fag 2pac on Drop A Gem On Em

[Bol]

I just realized I'm a moron, but I love Hilary Duff.

[SBHands]

I can agree with that list. It's pretty accurate.

[NoMamesBuey]

163 homosexual readers of this blog want to eff mAnn Coulter?!

SMH. MEGA-PAUSE!

[Davinche]

What was the latest album release date on the list?

[T.R.E.Y.]

predictable-ass list maaan

[jihod]

The list aint that predictable, I rarely see midnight marauders on any top ten list so it bought a smile to face because that is a very slept on record, also it was the first rap album I ever heard so it holds a special plaze in my heart. I feel dead prez "lets get free" doesn't get the proper respect & neither doe de la soul's "stakes is high. 2pac should get a lil love for "me against the world" it really was a classic. Also the list is missing a CLASSIC 4 real with the "MOMENT OF TRUTH" by Gangstarr which was way better than a lot of things on the top 10 & top 25. Moment of truth has to be a way better album than blueprint or aquemini, I'm just saying bloggers get this shit right

[T.R.E.Y.]

ok, Tribe. but everything else.

on a side note, 's good to see someone commenting here who doesn't like Illmatic all that much.

[SukedowN]

>>The list aint that predictable, I rarely see midnight marauders on any top ten list

Then why not just clarify the list:

"Top 8 Albums Not From Tribe Called Quest"

[jihod]

Sukedown must be one of these new age homos that think lil wayne is the greatest rapper ever!!!!!! Stop hating on tribe, they're bad albums are better then lil wayne's & a lot of other rapper's best albums think about that!!!!!

[jihod]

Beats, Rhymes & Life > The Carter 2

[SukedowN]

>>Sukedown must be one of these new age homos that think lil wayne is the greatest rapper ever!!!!!! Stop hating on tribe, they're bad albums are better then lil wayne's & a lot of other rapper's best albums think about that!!!!!

There is no need to remind you of what happens when you ASSUME something.

[jihod]

So why are u against tribe being on the list?

[J.A.M.E.S.]

tribe is THE group, but midnight marauders > low end theory?

i don't think so.

[First]

Does anybody notice who never comes up on any of these lists - 50 Cent. Not like he deserves it or anything, it's just kind of funny. He's only the most popular rapper in a long, long time. But he is from New York, and most of you cocksuckers give an artist props just because of NYC residence. He should at least make the top 50 of your lists for just that reason.

[SukedowN]

>>So why are u against tribe being on the list?

Again, you're assuming. My original comment was more than less a joke, I don't know how you think I am against them on the list.

My issue is 2 albums from the same group making the list: I feel it is a little excessive. One group occupying 20% of a Top Ten list might suggest that they are the best group of all time, which I would disagree with. Certainly their impact on hip-hop cannot be disputed, nor can the fact that they opened doors for rappers with positive underling messages. However, that doesn't warrant two of their albums in a Top 10. Perhaps leaving MM out would've been a better idea.

[E aka your favorite trapper]

This list consits of good music but it's really boring and predictable. It really dosen't show any insight into personality it's seems like the type of list Mtv would make. There is no Scarface, Snoop, Big Pun, DMX, The Jacka, Outkast, Cube. Although Biggie, Rae, and Mobb Deep do deserve to be in the top 10

[http://djxplicit.blogspot.com]

no one is "on NY's dick", and the idea that putting 50 cent on because he's popular and from NY is retarded.

obviously, if "just being from NY" was enough to be on a top 10 list, fiddy and a TON of other popular NY rappers would be on it. but theyre not. why? because they arent GOOD.

the only albums you can make a case for from the westcoast are:
nwa - straight outta compton
dr. dre - the chronic
snoop dogg - doggystyle
ice cube - amerikkka's most wanted
the DOC - no one can do it better

and if you see, theyre either produced by dr. dre, or by the bomb squad (FROM NEW YORK).

tupac has a few good songs but overall he never had an album near the quality of, say, illmatic. "all eyez on me" is front-loaded with hits but has TONS of garbage. its the most overrated album ever.

[First]

^^ You're obviously not from the west coast and don't appreciate our sound. Maybe we can come to an agreement if we meet half-way, let's say Cleveland. What about Bone's first and second albums? They're way better than anything Tribe Called Quest shat out - at least we can agree on that, right?

By the way, did Bol pack up his speedo and go to Mexico or something?

[E aka your favorite trapper]

the only albums you can make a case for from the westcoast are:
nwa - straight outta compton
dr. dre - the chronic
snoop dogg - doggystyle
ice cube - amerikkka's most wanted
the DOC - no one can do it better

^^^^
You can make a case for

Ice Cube- Death Certificate
E40 - In A Major Way
WC - Curb Servin
....and a few others.....

I don't think its personal bias, I just don't think people outside of the west or south can related to some of this music(i know it sounds cliche). Some of these albums just have a personal sentiment with people(no homo).

But really how come Bone Thugs first album didn't make it, one of the most unique and original music cds.

[ThingAlec]

No doubt that Illmatic wouldve made #1.I have no problem with this list. Only problems are that it isnt fair to any other artists that ATCQ got 2 albums on the list. And Infamous is probably one of the most overrated albums ever. It's a classic but not a "top 10" classic.

Go to my webpage if you have any incline in knowing what my top 25 are. And as for age i'm 19 I pretty much got into hip-hop during the Shiny Suit Era, which kinda explains what #1 is.

[The Salty Fisherman]

While on the topic of West Coast clazzics, why does nobody ever mention Ice T's "Power"?

[First]

^^ Next person that says somethin about Ice T is gettin shot.

[Johnthan "J dot" Speed, Rapper from "teh internets" and College and ish]

I would personally put Bone Thugs at least in the top 25, seeing that they were the first group to bring lightning fast lyrics and harmonizing together into a cohesive mix (and still were able to talk about a wide range of topic).
I guess this list leaned more towards the expected LPs and did not stray too far from that...

[JG Hitzert]

I would say it is criminal that,

Aquemini

Tougher Than Leather

By All Means Necessary

Things Fall Apart

Cyprus Hill, self titled

When Disaster Strikes

Return to The 36 Chambers, the Dirty Version

The Iceberg

Smoke Some Kill

********************

[JaneSays]

How crackish and YOUNGish of them to name "Illmatic" the best or to rank fucking Raekwon over A Tribe Called Quest? Raekwon was still sucking on a pacifier when The Low End Theory came out and Nas - uuuggghhhh....I have no words for that freak who sounds like he's got squirrel nuts stuffed in his cheeks. Leave it to a bunch of 20 year olds to truly show their age and ignorance...

[The NZA]

Im glad to see someone else realizes Midnight Marauders is better than Low End Theory.

That's not a shot at LET, its that Marauders was an amazing album without a weak track on it. First trying to say Bnoe was better than Tribe just means he doesnt know quality. The only people ive ever know that think Bone are on that level were homely-ass midwestern girls.

[Fred]

I'de go with:

01) Step in the Arena
02) Illmatic
03) Mecca and the Soul Brother
04) The Low End Theory
05) Stunts, Blunts & Hiphop
06) 3 Feet High and Rising
07) People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm
08) Ready To Die
09) Reasonable Doubt
10) Funky Technician

[byronslimmyslimslim]

Y'al got it wrong

1) Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'EM (y'al can't say u weren't bumping U can't touch this)
2) To The Extreme (Ice Ice Baby is a classic)
3) Lovers Lane (y'al can't say u weren't bumping oochie coochie)
4) Hard or Smooth - Wreckx-N-Effectz (All I wanna do is zoom-a-zoom-zoom-zoom....)
5) The Skills Dat Pay Da Bills - Positive K ( I gotta man, Whats ur man gotta do with me?
6) Father's Day - Father M.c. (Treat like they want to be treated (when k-ci & joj were sane))
7) Blue Funk - Heavy D & The Boys (Biggie was on it, so was that mad dude Busta something)
8) Ain't No Shame in My Game - Candyman (ooh boy i love u so never never evr gonna let u go...)
9) Face the Nation - Kid 'N Play (ain't gonna hurt nobody, we're just dancing...)
10)Aktapuss: The Soundtrack - Akinyele (greatest love song ever- put it in your mouth)

[MISTER LARRY]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gRjk7QAvWQ&mode=related&search=

[Golden Age HipHop]

Very nice list!

One of the most underrated albums in my opinion is "Hold it down" by DAS EFX. The lyrics may be not the best (compared to Nas e.g.), but the whole album is 100% pure rap!!!

Think about it