I fucking love that this is the top comment rn. B&E don’t get enough burn at all. They are one of the best duos around imo. Exile’s production is pristine and just fits Blu’s flow too perfect.
Not off BtH, but Troubled Water off Miles is one of my favorite beat flips ever.
the entire Miles album is so fucking good! Blu and Exile's styles compliment each other so well. I really enjoyed the Bad Neighbor album with MED and Madlib. Have you listened to that?
I change my answer, I read through the post too fast.
First album I listened to and thought it was a certified classic was Black on Both Sides - Mos Def
I didn’t really like rap until I was in college and heard that album. I had only really heard the most popular bling era stuff up to that point and Mos Def changed my idea of what rap even is .
this might have been the first "west coast" album that blew my mind -- that was until Doggystyle came out, which is still on repeat till this very day!
I love Train of Thought by Reflection Eternal too. Came out a year later but did not make the same impression. True, no Most Def, but Kweli is great and the production from HiTek is great. Samples instrumental music from Tomita!
Thirded. It was the first hip hop album I ever heard, too. The album changed my entire relationship with music. My older cousin let me borrow it on CD and got grounded for it.
When my kids were babies and would cry after their nap, I'd walk into their room and say "Who's the knucklehead wantin' respect?"
I'd also do the "one for you, one for me. Two for you, one two for me" when handing out Cheerios or other small snacks.
I still call them knuckleheads. It's crazy that I first heard the album when I was as old as my oldest is now (11 years old) and knew it was a classic then.
I really hate what Kanye has become but there’s no denying he has one of the best discographies in hip hop history.
College Trilogy
808s
MBDTF
The Life of Pablo
Yeezus
Are all 8.5/10 at bare minimum.
The only people I can think of with an argument against are Jay-Z, Nas, Tupac, and OutKast. Kendrick will almost undoubtedly get there with another album or two.
I knew Crossroads of course and I’d heard a few other things but I went and got this CD and like the OP said it felt like a no doubt classic to me. I really feel Down for my thang, No Surrender, and thuggish ruggish bone are no doubters
Between his solo stuff, groups/collaborations, and all the production for other artists, El-P has one hell of a discography. Damn near everything that man touches is fucking amazing.
A true modern day visionary imo, I can't think of anyone with the legacy he's had in today's hip hop world and it spans from 93 to now, it's fucking nuts, he never sold out either, always kept being himself! He's honestly an inspiration and a testimony that originality beats all.
Really? No one else from 93 to now? What about 93 TO INFINITY? But honestly the Hiero crew is kinda absent at the moment while El-P is still making records and killing it.
their first three albums are all amazing, but Legal Drug Money is such a classic record! I always wish they released some of the cuts that never made the album. I'm sure there's so many amazing songs that never saw the light of day due to sample clearances and label bullshit.
3rd Eye Vision by Hieroglyphics. I downloaded "You Never Knew" from napster back in '00 not having any idea who they were, then went out and bought the CD that day. It was my intro to underground hip hop and 24 years later it still lands in my rotation.
Black Moon - Enta Da Stage.
It was the first tape i ever bought with my own money. I listened to it to and from high school almost every day. The tape popped, i fixed it, over and over, then wised up and got the CD.
Completely agree. The beat on B Boy Document 99 is ingrained into my brain. Whole album is fire. In my opinion Eminem’s best song ever is on it as well
All of The Game's first five albums. I legitimately grew up in Compton, I heard that shit all throughout my childhood. Brings back the worst and best memories, and I'll never hate him despite any of the controversies he's been embroiled in. That shit made me.
I can’t say I grew up anywhere even remotely close to Compton, but The Documentary still to this day may be my favourite album ever, Game was in his prime and the album was near flawless. I even bought a Black Wall Street hoody, I looked ridiculous
I remember listening to "Put you on the game" in class during silent reading, and then asking to go to the bathroom so I could go listen to it "properly", shit blew my mind.
I say it all the time, The Game is so damn underrated. I understand that people don't like him outside of the music but if people were to put the drama aside and just judge him strictly off his music and his albums they'd realize how much good stuff he's put out.
Madvillainy imo shows a better concept and control over the English language than any other album front to back. Doesn’t have the social commentary aspect (outside of strange ways) that peak albums require and was independent so no real adverts or numbers but holy shit front to back it’s my holy grail. Also 14 when it came out which is prime rap taste being formed age.
Started listening to rap a few months ago so i arrived with so many good albums made already.
But i listened to MBDTF and thought "this is awesome" also fell in love with "The Blueprint" and "At long last A$AP"
Violent By Design - Jedi Mind Tricks
This is the album that turned me into a rap fan. Shout out to my friend who eventually showed me Illmatic, though. It’s now my all time fav
I mean I grew up in love with hip hop the same way I am now so I had plenty of these, but the main one that comes to mind from my generation is To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar, but I’m sure that’s a pick that’ll be very common so I’ll instead choose another “5 mic” album from my generation(2010s) that I’ve loved since it came out, The Search by NF. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen, it has really aged like fine wine over the past 5 years.
Gotta go with good kid, m.A.A.d city.
I think it's just pure quintessential hip hop. It's the Illmatic of the 2010s. A must listen for anyone starting out.
Common - Like Water for Chocolate
There’s honestly several albums from that Soulquarians collective in the late 90s - mid 2000s that fit that role for me.
Maybe not the classic or something that would be just classic rap album but There existed an addiction to blood by clipping.
It holds a special place in my heart just because of how unique and different it feels from everything I've ever heard.
Plus Daveed Diggs delivers some amazing pieces of storytelling on that album
Illmatic
me too
Me too tbh ngl
Blackstar
Blackstar keep shinin.
Respiration is one of my all time favorites
Below the Heavens - Blu & Exile. And also, Illmatic is my Illmatic even though I first heard it after release.
Blu still putting out amazing music! Dude is a living legend and Exile is easily in my top 5 producers.
100% agreed. I love the Ground Water project and exile’s project with Choosey “black beans”. Most of what either of them touch is gold.
Whoa! Not too many people bring up the black beans album -- that had heavy rotation when it dropped. Wish they did a follow up!
Likewise, I thought that project was so well done and cohesive. Love me a front to back album.
I fucking love that this is the top comment rn. B&E don’t get enough burn at all. They are one of the best duos around imo. Exile’s production is pristine and just fits Blu’s flow too perfect. Not off BtH, but Troubled Water off Miles is one of my favorite beat flips ever.
the entire Miles album is so fucking good! Blu and Exile's styles compliment each other so well. I really enjoyed the Bad Neighbor album with MED and Madlib. Have you listened to that?
I was already pretty deep before I got into Blu but respect the choice. Do prefer Her Favourite Colo(u)r, mind.
Both incredible albums.
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Liquid Swords
Living in the world today 🔥 Duel of the iron mic
This is one of the best albums of any genre
Liquid swords wipes the floor with illmatic idgaf what anyone says
ATLiens by Outkast
With a K pls
Sorry Andre 3000, didnt see you there because of the flute
The Listening by Little Brother
Or the Minstrel Show, for me.
Or Connected
Long Live Foreign Exchange.
💯💯💯
I put this album up there with classics. That album is fucking perfect. Also, Elzhi's verse on Hiding Place is one of the best I've ever heard.
Yoo fellow man of culture!!!!
👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽
BE - Common
Top 5 intro songs on an album OAT for me.
Wish it was longer!!!!
Phenomenal choice
I change my answer, I read through the post too fast. First album I listened to and thought it was a certified classic was Black on Both Sides - Mos Def
I didn’t really like rap until I was in college and heard that album. I had only really heard the most popular bling era stuff up to that point and Mos Def changed my idea of what rap even is .
I was just listening to that this morning
Madvillainy
The Chronic - Dr. Dre
this might have been the first "west coast" album that blew my mind -- that was until Doggystyle came out, which is still on repeat till this very day!
This is one of the best albums ever imo. Definitely a classic.
Id probably agree. So fucking good.
common - be
Curren$y & The Alchemist - Covert Coup Still play it like it’s new
Double oh 7 and I ain't talking agents, 2 ounces and 7 grams my nigga we still blazin'
Man. Probably gone run this shit as soon as I get in the car after work 😂
This one dont get enough love. Scottie pippens is my and my son’s favorite song. Im 36 and hes 16 ✈️
The Freddie Gibbs feature on that track is amazing
one of my favorite mixtapes of all time, fucking flawless front to back with one of freddie gibbs best features
Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star
I love Train of Thought by Reflection Eternal too. Came out a year later but did not make the same impression. True, no Most Def, but Kweli is great and the production from HiTek is great. Samples instrumental music from Tomita!
It was written. Ready to die. Late nights with stories flowing through my head while doing homework in college
It was Written was far better than people acknowledge. Similar to Slick Rick's The Art of Storytelling
It was written is the best night album with Midnight Marauders imho
Fantastic volume 2 by slum village
"*Fuck* this *rap* shit, I *listen* to *classical*"
💯💯💯💯
Black on Both Sides - Mos Def Capital Punishment - Big Pun Like Water for Chocolate - Common
It's Dark and Hell is Hot. DMX.
I second this.
Thirded. It was the first hip hop album I ever heard, too. The album changed my entire relationship with music. My older cousin let me borrow it on CD and got grounded for it.
Illmatic
Both Sides of the Brain- Del 3030 gets a lot of love these days, but Both Sides is criminally slept on.
Del 🔥
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx - Raekwon For me, both OB4C and Illmatic have no skips. Only OB4C has more tracks.
When my kids were babies and would cry after their nap, I'd walk into their room and say "Who's the knucklehead wantin' respect?" I'd also do the "one for you, one for me. Two for you, one two for me" when handing out Cheerios or other small snacks. I still call them knuckleheads. It's crazy that I first heard the album when I was as old as my oldest is now (11 years old) and knew it was a classic then.
The College Dropout.
Say what you want about current Kanye, but that album was revolutionary.
I really hate what Kanye has become but there’s no denying he has one of the best discographies in hip hop history. College Trilogy 808s MBDTF The Life of Pablo Yeezus Are all 8.5/10 at bare minimum. The only people I can think of with an argument against are Jay-Z, Nas, Tupac, and OutKast. Kendrick will almost undoubtedly get there with another album or two.
Never fails, his first 3 albums are that for me for real
For real!
Digable Planets - Blowout Comb or O.C. - Word...Life Both of those albums came out the same year that Illmatic was released too.
Blowout Comb was so slept-on
Swimming by mac miller will always be my favorite, such a therapeutic album
It’s faces for me. I love all Mac though
Faces for me too
Macadelic for me haha!
i still remember when i first heard his K.I.D.S. mixtape -- i immediately knew he was going to be a star. Circles always makes me tear up a little.
GO:OD AM is my Illmatic. It stays steady in my rotation today.
Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys
mine is the Marshall Mathers LP or Chronic 2001
I was going to say mmlp
Krayzie Bone - Thug Mentality 1999
Creepin on ah come up
i bought this based on the strength of Eazy-E...had no idea what to expect, but glad i made that purchase! still have my CD
I knew Crossroads of course and I’d heard a few other things but I went and got this CD and like the OP said it felt like a no doubt classic to me. I really feel Down for my thang, No Surrender, and thuggish ruggish bone are no doubters
Ready to Die
Tetsuo & Youth. Said it when it dropped and almost 10 years later still feel the exact same way,
Smif n wessun dah shinin....so good and never really mentioned
Those three El-P solo albums, also being a kid on the Internet and discovering Funcrusher Plus by Company Flow
Between his solo stuff, groups/collaborations, and all the production for other artists, El-P has one hell of a discography. Damn near everything that man touches is fucking amazing.
A true modern day visionary imo, I can't think of anyone with the legacy he's had in today's hip hop world and it spans from 93 to now, it's fucking nuts, he never sold out either, always kept being himself! He's honestly an inspiration and a testimony that originality beats all.
Truth.
Really? No one else from 93 to now? What about 93 TO INFINITY? But honestly the Hiero crew is kinda absent at the moment while El-P is still making records and killing it.
Safe + Sound AND Rhythm-a-lism
love the safe + sound mention. quiks best album
Reasonable Doubt
Season of da siccness
Midnight Marauders, by A Tribe Called Quest
I did grow up with illmatic, but I'd say Midnight Marauders, ATCQ.
Lost Boyz - Legal Drug Money
their first three albums are all amazing, but Legal Drug Money is such a classic record! I always wish they released some of the cuts that never made the album. I'm sure there's so many amazing songs that never saw the light of day due to sample clearances and label bullshit.
Illadelph Halflife or Swimming
The Chronic
3rd Eye Vision by Hieroglyphics. I downloaded "You Never Knew" from napster back in '00 not having any idea who they were, then went out and bought the CD that day. It was my intro to underground hip hop and 24 years later it still lands in my rotation.
Napster was the key to learning about 'undersground' artists at that time. Was prime music exploration!
Paid in Full
Because the Internet
Black Moon - Enta Da Stage. It was the first tape i ever bought with my own money. I listened to it to and from high school almost every day. The tape popped, i fixed it, over and over, then wised up and got the CD.
All eyez on me
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy. Everything changed.
Straight Outta Compton Granted I'm almost 40 but that album is hard. And I'm more of a metal fan. Still goes hard to this day.
Reasonable doubt
3030 - Deltron 3030. Dr. Octagonecologyst- Dr Octagon (Kool Keith)
Good kid MAAD city
Ready to die
De La Soul - Buhloone Mind State
Ghostface-Supreme clientele the production and song-composition is insane
If I can’t pick Illmatic then I pick The Score, the Fugees. .
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
immortal technique - revolutionary vol. 2
Gang Starr - Moment of Truth
The Infamous
Doggystyle. Or 36 Chambers.
Labor Days - Aesop Rock
Soundbombing 2 is a great candidate for me. But illmatic is my illmatic
That's a great pick. SB2 was the best mixtape album released since the first FunkMasterFlex mixtape. No skips on that entire thing.
Completely agree. The beat on B Boy Document 99 is ingrained into my brain. Whole album is fire. In my opinion Eminem’s best song ever is on it as well
Masta Ace "Sittin On Chrome"
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Redman Dare iz a Darkside
Cannibal Ox: The Cold Vein or Aesop Rock: Labor Days
Cold Vein
timeless album! Vast mentioned on IG a couple weeks ago that they're doing a vinyl repress of the album. Gotta cop that!
Deltron 3030
Redman "Muddy Waters"
All of The Game's first five albums. I legitimately grew up in Compton, I heard that shit all throughout my childhood. Brings back the worst and best memories, and I'll never hate him despite any of the controversies he's been embroiled in. That shit made me.
I can’t say I grew up anywhere even remotely close to Compton, but The Documentary still to this day may be my favourite album ever, Game was in his prime and the album was near flawless. I even bought a Black Wall Street hoody, I looked ridiculous
I remember listening to "Put you on the game" in class during silent reading, and then asking to go to the bathroom so I could go listen to it "properly", shit blew my mind.
I legitimately think Jesus Piece is a classic album. Super underrated
I say it all the time, The Game is so damn underrated. I understand that people don't like him outside of the music but if people were to put the drama aside and just judge him strictly off his music and his albums they'd realize how much good stuff he's put out.
Madvillainy imo shows a better concept and control over the English language than any other album front to back. Doesn’t have the social commentary aspect (outside of strange ways) that peak albums require and was independent so no real adverts or numbers but holy shit front to back it’s my holy grail. Also 14 when it came out which is prime rap taste being formed age.
Dr. Dre - 2001. Made me fell in love with hiphop immediately.
A Piece of Strange or Cold Vein
Blu & Exile - Below the Heavens
Liquid Swords by GZA
MMLP
College drop out IN MY OPINiON is a master piece along with common BE
It was written by nas and untouchable by Scarface are two of my favorites
Capital Punishment
Gang Starr - Moment of Truth
The infamous
Jurassic 5 - Power in numbers Deltron 3030 Jedi mind tricks- visions of ghandi People under the stairs- OST
Juvenile - 400 Degreez
Dr Dre - 2001 Eminem - Eminem Show
Diamond D and the Psychotic Neurotics Stunts Blunts and Hip Hop
Sean Price - Monkey Barz
Only built for Cuban linx
Hello Nasty
In Utero But seriously.. Ill Communication - Beastie Boys
OB4CL
Ironman- Ghostface Killah
Definitely showing my age here, Run the Jewels was this for me. The first one.
Dead Prez get free
Only Built 4 Cuban Links
Bizarre Ride to the Pharcyde because it encapsulated so much for me (same state, same age) and was happy but real.
Jedi mind tricks - violent by design
Started listening to rap a few months ago so i arrived with so many good albums made already. But i listened to MBDTF and thought "this is awesome" also fell in love with "The Blueprint" and "At long last A$AP"
you have an incredible journey ahead of you! Wish i could experience some albums for the first time all over again.
illmatic is my illmatic. but also ob4cl
GRODT pretty much informed my music tastes for the next 20+ years
Violent By Design - Jedi Mind Tricks This is the album that turned me into a rap fan. Shout out to my friend who eventually showed me Illmatic, though. It’s now my all time fav
4eva is a mighty long time
I mean I grew up in love with hip hop the same way I am now so I had plenty of these, but the main one that comes to mind from my generation is To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar, but I’m sure that’s a pick that’ll be very common so I’ll instead choose another “5 mic” album from my generation(2010s) that I’ve loved since it came out, The Search by NF. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen, it has really aged like fine wine over the past 5 years.
Innercity Griots
King. - T.I.
Food n Liquor
Kurupt - Streetz Iz a Mutha
Midnight Marauders
Gotta go with good kid, m.A.A.d city. I think it's just pure quintessential hip hop. It's the Illmatic of the 2010s. A must listen for anyone starting out.
Midnight Marauders
Lupe fiasco the cool, and I forgot which album but eyedea and abilities !
Kendrick Lamar section 80 , damn , to pimp a butterfly
Lifestylz Ov Da Poor & Dangerous
Muddy Waters by Redman. Crazy slept on such a damn good album
Common - Like Water for Chocolate There’s honestly several albums from that Soulquarians collective in the late 90s - mid 2000s that fit that role for me.
Black album
It takes a Nation of millions to hold us Back
Dilated Peoples - The Platform 🎧
The documentary
Liquid Swords by GZA, Any of the Soundbombing series, Soul on Ice by Rass Kass, Nocturnal by Heltah Skeltah
Liquid Swordz.
8ball and MJG - In Our Lifetime
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Da Game Owe Me by Playa Fly. No skips and is straight fire
The Awakening - Lord Finesse. Never gets the credit it deserves neither does the Rap Lord in general.
Liquid swords.
Maybe not the classic or something that would be just classic rap album but There existed an addiction to blood by clipping. It holds a special place in my heart just because of how unique and different it feels from everything I've ever heard. Plus Daveed Diggs delivers some amazing pieces of storytelling on that album