Home› Other Music

Best Rap Albums

pearljam0000pearljam0000 Posts: 450
edited February 2008 in Other Music
What are some of the best rap albums out there?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • stateoflove79stateoflove79 Posts: 2,845
    Anything by 2pac, Nas, Biggie, Eminem or Jay-Z
    Is it so wrong to think that love can keep us safe?
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    your life will be improved greatly once you acquire all of these :) My top 20 hip-hop albums. Some mainstream, some underground.

    http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Genesis_Jaime/when_they_reminisce___
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • pjoasisrulepjoasisrule Posts: 3,412
    Wu-Tang - Enter The Wu-Tang
    A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders, Low End Theory
    Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecolygist
    Gangstarr - Hard To Earn
    Deltron 3030
    Dr Dre - The Chronic
    Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle
    Nas - Illmatic
    2Pac - Stricly for My Niggaz
    Notorious BIG - Ready To Die
    NWA - Straight Outta Compton
    Public Enemy - Bum Rush The Show, It Takes A Nation Of Millions
    Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill
    Eric B And Rakim - Paid In Full
    Run DMC - Raising Hell
    GZA - Liquid Swords
    Ol Dirty Bastard - Return To The 36 Chambers
    Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP
    Atmosphere - Overcast
    Cypress Hill - Black Sunday
    Dr. Dooom - First Come, First Served
    Alpine Valley 2000
    Summerfest 2006

    "Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    Fear of a Black Planet~Public Enemy
    Apocolypse '91-The Enemy Strikes Back~Public Enemy
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    i NEVER see anybody mention Giant Panda - Fly School Reunion or People Under The Stairs - O.S.T. whenever theres a rap thread, what the hell is wrong with you people??? ;)

    just get them, thats all you need..

    oh and Ugly Duckling rule aswell..........
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • Prioronfire22Prioronfire22 Posts: 393
    some you have to have if you are looking to get into rap

    Dr. Dre- The Chronic
    NWA- Straight outta Compton
    Ice cube- amerikkkas most wanted
    Snoop Dogg- Doggystlye
    Lupe Fiasco-Food and Liquor
    Lupe Fiasco- The Cool
    Public Enemey- It takes a nation of millions to hold us back
    NAS- Illmatic (this is a must!)
    Wu Tang Clan- enter the 36 chambers
    raekwon- cuban linx
    GZA/genius- Liquid Swords
  • redmosquito10redmosquito10 Posts: 568
    The Roots - Things Fall Apart and Do You Want More?!?
    Nas-Illmatic
    Common-Be, Finding Forever
    Talib Kweli-Quality
    "Ah, life is a gate, a way, a path to Paradise anyway, why not live for fun and joy and love or some sort of girl by a fireside, why not go to your desire and LAUGH..."
  • OdinOdin Posts: 599
    Here are some of my favourites. I listened strictly to hip-hop between 1995-2005 and have over 1,000 rap albums/compilations/soundtracks/mixtapes/etc.

    A Tribe Called Quest – People’s Instinctive Travels…
    A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
    A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders
    A Tribe Called Quest – Beats, Rhymes and Life
    AZ - Doe or Die
    Bahamadia - Kollage
    BDP - Criminal Minded
    Big L - The Big Picture
    Big L – Lifestylez of the Rich & Dangerous
    Big Pun – Capital Punishment
    Black Star - Black Star
    Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Creepin’ on a Come Up
    Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - E. 1999 Eternal
    Camp Lo – Uptown Saturday Night
    Capone-N-Noreaga - The War Report
    Chino XL - Here To Save You All
    Common – Be
    Common – One Day It’ll All Make Sense
    Common - Resurrection
    Cormega - The Realness
    De La Soul - Stakes Is High
    DJ Premier - NY Reality Check 101 (got me into underground rap in the late-1990s)
    Dr. Dre – The Chronic
    EPMD – Business as Usual
    Eric B & Rakim – Paid in Full
    Freddie Foxxx - Industry Shakedown
    Fugees – The Score
    Gangstarr – Full Clip: A Decade of Gangstarr
    Gangstarr - Moment of Truth
    Gangstarr - Hard To Earn
    Ghostface - Ironman
    Ghostface - Supreme Clientele
    Group Home – Livin’ Proof
    GZA - Liquid Swords
    Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol. II
    Inspectah Deck - Uncontrolled Substance
    Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt
    Jay-Z - The Blueprint
    Jay-Z – The Blueprint Vol. 2
    Jedi Mind Tricks – Violent By Design
    Jeru – The Sun Rises in the East
    Jeru – Wrath of the Math
    Kanye West - College Dropout
    Kanye West - Late Registration
    Krumbsnatcha – Respect All, Fear None (“Rich Man, Poor Man” is a classic!)
    Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor
    Masta Ace - Disposable Arts
    Mobb Deep - The Infamous
    Mobb Deep - Hell on Earth
    Molemen - Chicago City Limits compilations
    Nas - Illmatic
    Nas - It Was Written
    Nas – Stillmatic
    Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die
    OC - Word... Life
    OC - Jewelz
    OC - Starchild
    Organized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction Agenda
    Outkast – ATLiens
    Outkast – Aquemini
    Outkast – Southernplayalisticadillacmusik
    Papoose – Mixtape Murder
    Pete Rock - Soul Survivor
    Pharoahe Monch – Internal Affairs
    Raekwon - OB4CL
    Rakim – The 18th Letter
    Rawkus Soundbombing II
    Rawkus Lyricist Loungs Vol. I
    Scaramanga – Seven Eyes, Seven Horns
    Show & AG – Runaway Slave
    Show & AG – Full Scale
    Show & AG – The Dirty Version
    Talib Kweli - Reflection Eternal
    The Roots – Do You Want More?
    The Roots - Illadelphalflife
    Tupac – All Eyez on Me
    Tupac – Me Against the World
    Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
    Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever

    I’ll probably check out Kool G Rap’s new album this weekend since it features production by the legendary DJ Premier. Can’t go wrong with him.
  • OdinOdin Posts: 599
    Super Vedder wrote:
    i NEVER see anybody mention Giant Panda - Fly School Reunion or People Under The Stairs - O.S.T. whenever theres a rap thread, what the hell is wrong with you people??? ;)

    just get them, thats all you need..

    oh and Ugly Duckling rule aswell..........

    Wow, you really picked some of the most BORING, pretentious crap in the underground hip-hop world! Let me guess, you're also into all that sleep-inducing "post-rock" crap and then have the audacity to diss MY awesome taste in music!
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    Odin wrote:
    Wow, you really picked some of the most BORING, pretentious crap in the underground hip-hop world! Let me guess, you're also into all that sleep-inducing "post-rock" crap and then have the audacity to diss MY awesome taste in music!

    yeah yeah yeah you're right AGAIN!! i should have just named a load of obvious, more commercial artists like your good self hey? jay z, kanye, dr dre, nas, the roots, outkast, wow how insightful of you to "recommend" these virtually unknown great albums.

    And here i was just trying to let people find out about and judge a couple of great albums they may not have heard for themselves, only to be poo pooed by the ALL KNOWING Odin!!! How dare i have an opinion that is different to your mighty knowledge when its obvious from your "Who has the best taste in music" thread :rolleyes: that YOUR opinion is the only one that really counts? (besides the couple of other members who got a namecheck for having great taste and liking the same bands as you)

    Why do you seem to think that as YOU like something it must be the best and almost everybody else's opinion is irrelevant or just plain wrong? Ive honestly not witnessed an attitude like yours since primary school, its embarassing the way you portray yourself.......
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • South of SeattleSouth of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    Odin wrote:
    Wow, you really picked some of the most BORING, pretentious crap in the underground hip-hop world! Let me guess, you're also into all that sleep-inducing "post-rock" crap and then have the audacity to diss MY awesome taste in music!

    Giant Panda is excellent and are good guys also. P.U.T.S is great too. Ugly Duckling I'm on the fence about. That first album they had was pretty good.
    NERDS!
  • OdinOdin Posts: 599
    Super Vedder wrote:
    yeah yeah yeah you're right AGAIN!! i should have just named a load of obvious, more commercial artists like your good self hey? jay z, kanye, dr dre, nas, the roots, outkast, wow how insightful of you to "recommend" these virtually unknown great albums.

    And here i was just trying to let people find out about and judge a couple of great albums they may not have heard for themselves, only to be poo pooed by the ALL KNOWING Odin!!! How dare i have an opinion that is different to your mighty knowledge when its obvious from your "Who has the best taste in music" thread :rolleyes: that YOUR opinion is the only one that really counts? (besides the couple of other members who got a namecheck for having great taste and liking the same bands as you)

    Why do you seem to think that as YOU like something it must be the best and almost everybody else's opinion is irrelevant or just plain wrong? Ive honestly not witnessed an attitude like yours since primary school, its embarassing the way you portray yourself.......

    My list includes both mainstream and underground rappers. The OP simply asked for what he thought were the "best" rap albums out there. He didn't specify any parameters as to how obscure the albums must be. A lot of people here don't follow rap at all and thus haven't listened to any albums by Nas, The Roots, Outkast, etc.

    And what is REALLY embarrassing is your misspelling of the word "embarrassing." Perhaps it's time for YOU to go back to primary school and learn a thing or two. :)
  • hguz73hguz73 Posts: 245
    Dr. Dre - The Chronicle
    Ice-T - O.G. Original Gangaster
    N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton
    Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
    Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang
    Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
    Cypress Hill - Black Sunday
  • reversedarwinismreversedarwinism Posts: 1,151
    Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Creepin on a come up and East 99
    bombs, dropping down, please forgive our hometown
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    Odin wrote:
    My list includes both mainstream and underground rappers. The OP simply asked for what he thought were the "best" rap albums out there. He didn't specify any parameters as to how obscure the albums must be. A lot of people here don't follow rap at all and thus haven't listened to any albums by Nas, The Roots, Outkast, etc.

    And what is REALLY embarrassing is your misspelling of the word "embarrassing." Perhaps it's time for YOU to go back to primary school and learn a thing or two. :)

    Damn it you got me on that one, how dare i make a spelling mistake?, no trip back to primary school needed really, you're just being the flippant character we know and "love" ;):D

    *smooch*
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • fall by the waysidefall by the wayside Jericho, VT Posts: 757
    I would highly recommend Method Man and Redman 's "Blackout" especially if you're in the mood to get right ;)
    9/13/98, 10/4/00, 4/29/03, 6/29/03, 7/2/03, 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 9/15/05, 9/16/05, 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 10/30/09, 10/31/09, 5/15/10, 9/11/11, 9/12/11, 10/19/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 10/25/13, 10/27/13, 9/26/15, 4/28/16, 4/29/16, 8/5/16, 8/7/16, 8/13/18, 9/2/18, 9/4/18, 9/26/21, 9/1/22, 9/2/22, 9/14/22, 9/18/23, 9/19/23, 9/7/24, 9/9/24, 9/12/24, 9/15/24, 9/17/24
  • in_hiding79in_hiding79 Posts: 4,315
    Beastie Boys - Licensed to ill

    Eminem- The Eminem Show

    Nelly- Nellyville
    And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,"
    "What a stupid lamb."
    "What a sick, masochistic lion."
  • BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,309
    Fear Of A Black Planet
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
  • pjoasisrulepjoasisrule Posts: 3,412
    in_hiding79 wrote:
    Beastie Boys - Licensed to ill

    Eminem- The Eminem Show

    Nelly- Nellyville

    Those last two shouldnt be on this list, The Eminem Show was when he started to go downhill and no Nelly record should ever be included on a best of list.
    Alpine Valley 2000
    Summerfest 2006

    "Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
  • South of SeattleSouth of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    pjoasisrule wrote:
    Those last two shouldnt be on this list, The Eminem Show was when he started to go downhill and no Nelly record should ever be included on a best of list.
    The Marshall Mathers album is a masterpiece though, everything after? ugh.
    NERDS!
  • pjoasisrulepjoasisrule Posts: 3,412
    South of Seattle wrote:
    The Marshall Mathers album is a masterpiece though, everything after? ugh.

    Definitely, Encore was the worst, I cant believe how bad it was, I used to love Eminem but really started to hate him with that record.
    Alpine Valley 2000
    Summerfest 2006

    "Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
  • pirlo21pirlo21 Posts: 534
    My faves:

    In Full Gear - Stetsasonic
    Bizarre Ride II - The Pharcyde
    Illmatic - Nas
    Critical Beatdown - Ultramagnetic MCs
    Adventures of - Slick Rick
    Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
    Step In The Arena - Gang Starr
    3ft High & Rising - De la Soul
    Breaking Atoms - Main Source
    93 til Infinity - Souls of Mischief
    Cymru Am Byth

    PJ albums, at the moment!! -
    1,Vs 2,Vitalogy 3,No Code 4,Yield 5,Ten 6,Backspacer, 7Pearl Jam 8,Binaural 9,Riot Act.
  • JSBEJSBE Posts: 1,078
    el-p - fantastic damage

    and

    aesop rock - labor days

    two of my favs.
  • dcne200dcne200 Posts: 45
    Common-Be
    Common-Finding Forever
    All of Kanye's albums
    both of Lupe Fiasco's albums
    anything by The Roots
    anything by Outkast up to and including Stankonia
    I really like "The Grey Album", but I am not sure if you can buy that in stores.
  • LONGRDLONGRD Posts: 6,036
    Nas - Illmatic
    Nas - It Was Written
    Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang 36 Chambers
    Beasties Boys - Paul's Boutique (their best album,
    possible top 5 best rap albums ever)
    Notorious BIG - Ready To Die
    Cypress Hill - Black Sunday
    Cypress Hill - self-titled
    Ice Cube - The Predator
    Dr. Dre - The Chronic
    Handsome Boy Modeling School - So How's Your Girl?
    Slick Rick - The Adventures of Slick Rick
    Kanye West - Late Registration
    Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full (Lyrics of Fury - my favorite rap song ever)
    Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Both Side of The Brain
    PJ- 04/29/2003.06/24,25,27,28,30/2008.10/27,28,30,31/2009
    EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
  • SweetAndLowSweetAndLow Posts: 178
    Some phenomenal stuff to own/hear if you want great rap that's not "gangsta" and all "bitches, hoes and money":

    ANY album by OutKast - or "Big Boi and Andre Present" for some of their hits

    A Tribe Called Quest - Beats, Rhymes and Life
    A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
    A Tribe Called Quest - The Love Movement

    Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill
    Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
    Beastie Boys - Ill Communication

    Biz Markie - Going Off
    Biz Markie - I Need a Haircut

    Common - Be

    Coolio - It Takes a Thief

    LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out

    Nelly - Nellyville

    Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91 - The Empire Strikes Black
    Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions ..
    .
    Talib Kweli - Eardrum
    Talib Kweli - Quality

    The Roots - Phrenology
    The Roots - The Tipping Point

    Eminem - The Eminem Show
    Eminem - 8 Mile Soundtrack

    Judgment Night Soundtrack
    __________________
    1998: East Troy2; East Lansing
    2000: Noblesville; Auburn Hills; Chicago
    2003: East Troy; Clarkston1
    2004: Toledo; Grand Rapids
    2006: Grand Rapids; Auburn Hills
    2009: Chicago
    2010: Columbus
    2011: East Troy (PJ20), both
    2013: Wrigley Field
    2014: Detroit
  • Ledbetterman10Ledbetterman10 Posts: 16,941
    Slim Shady LP
    2000: Camden 1, 2003: Philly, State College, Camden 1, MSG 2, Hershey, 2004: Reading, 2005: Philly, 2006: Camden 1, 2, East Rutherford 1, 2007: Lollapalooza, 2008: Camden 1, Washington D.C., MSG 1, 2, 2009: Philly 1, 2, 3, 4, 2010: Bristol, MSG 2, 2011: PJ20 1, 2, 2012: Made In America, 2013: Brooklyn 2, Philly 2, 2014: Denver, 2015: Global Citizen Festival, 2016: Philly 2, Fenway 1, 2018: Fenway 1, 2, 2021: Sea. Hear. Now. 2022: Camden, 2024: Philly 2

    Pearl Jam bootlegs:
    http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
  • Cropduster84Cropduster84 Posts: 1,283
    The Roots - Game Theory
    'The more I studied religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.' - Sir Richard Francis Burton
Sign In or Register to comment.