Top 10 Important Albums in Hip Hop History

[Music]

[Music] these albums are a rapper’s delight’

these albums are a rapper’s delight’

these albums are a rapper’s delight’ welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be coming down our picks for the top 10

be coming down our picks for the top 10

be coming down our picks for the top 10 important albums in hip hop history for

important albums in hip hop history for

important albums in hip hop history for this list we’re focusing on albums that

this list we’re focusing on albums that

this list we’re focusing on albums that made a significant impact on hip hop

made a significant impact on hip hop

made a significant impact on hip hop culture and the music industry as a

culture and the music industry as a

culture and the music industry as a whole and that’s relevant real deal

whole and that’s relevant real deal

whole and that’s relevant real deal Holyfield number 10 paid in full

Holyfield number 10 paid in full

Holyfield number 10 paid in full Eric B and rock him pump up the volume

Eric B and rock him pump up the volume

Eric B and rock him pump up the volume pump up the volume in a time when MCS

pump up the volume in a time when MCS

pump up the volume in a time when MCS rhymes in a structured manner along came

rhymes in a structured manner along came

rhymes in a structured manner along came a lyricist by the name of rock camp

a lyricist by the name of rock camp

a lyricist by the name of rock camp influenced by the free-flowing style of

influenced by the free-flowing style of

influenced by the free-flowing style of John Coltrane and guided by the

John Coltrane and guided by the

John Coltrane and guided by the production skills of Marley Marl and

production skills of Marley Marl and

production skills of Marley Marl and Eric B Eric B and Rakim took the art

Eric B Eric B and Rakim took the art

Eric B Eric B and Rakim took the art form to the next level by pushing the

form to the next level by pushing the

form to the next level by pushing the boundaries of their genre remember me we

boundaries of their genre remember me we

boundaries of their genre remember me we got to hear from you start to stop but

got to hear from you start to stop but

got to hear from you start to stop but you want to give with the internal

you want to give with the internal

you want to give with the internal Rhymes and depth lyrics highlighted on

Rhymes and depth lyrics highlighted on

Rhymes and depth lyrics highlighted on paid-in-full

paid-in-full

paid-in-full there would be no jay-z or Biggie Smalls

there would be no jay-z or Biggie Smalls

there would be no jay-z or Biggie Smalls featuring some seriously impressive

featuring some seriously impressive

featuring some seriously impressive DJing from Eric B and some classic

DJing from Eric B and some classic

DJing from Eric B and some classic verses from Rakim Payton full set the

verses from Rakim Payton full set the

verses from Rakim Payton full set the bar high during the Golden Age of

bar high during the Golden Age of

bar high during the Golden Age of hip-hop in my name is Rakim

hip-hop in my name is Rakim

hip-hop in my name is Rakim [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number nine Run DMC Run DMC produced by

number nine Run DMC Run DMC produced by

number nine Run DMC Run DMC produced by Russell Simmons this album introduced a

Russell Simmons this album introduced a

Russell Simmons this album introduced a trio from Hollis Queens and instantly

trio from Hollis Queens and instantly

trio from Hollis Queens and instantly established a new school of hip hop with

established a new school of hip hop with

established a new school of hip hop with the opening track hard times

Run DMC conveyed a grittier aesthetic

Run DMC conveyed a grittier aesthetic complemented by minimal beats and

complemented by minimal beats and

complemented by minimal beats and forceful rhymes while a track like it’s

forceful rhymes while a track like it’s

forceful rhymes while a track like it’s like that sprayed heavily from typical

like that sprayed heavily from typical

like that sprayed heavily from typical party rock lyrics today Rev Run DMC and

party rock lyrics today Rev Run DMC and

party rock lyrics today Rev Run DMC and Jam Master Jay are recognized as hip-hop

Jam Master Jay are recognized as hip-hop

Jam Master Jay are recognized as hip-hop legends however back in the early 80s

legends however back in the early 80s

legends however back in the early 80s their sound was anything but formulaic

their sound was anything but formulaic

their sound was anything but formulaic Run DMC inspired producers to live in

Run DMC inspired producers to live in

Run DMC inspired producers to live in the studio and allowed MCS to express

the studio and allowed MCS to express

the studio and allowed MCS to express themselves in a whole new way number 8

themselves in a whole new way number 8

themselves in a whole new way number 8 me against the world Tupac back in

me against the world Tupac back in

me against the world Tupac back in elementary crimes or misery released

elementary crimes or misery released

elementary crimes or misery released during his time in prison for sexual

during his time in prison for sexual

during his time in prison for sexual assault charges me against the world

assault charges me against the world

assault charges me against the world proved that there was serious artistic

proved that there was serious artistic

proved that there was serious artistic merit to the gangsta rap genre every

merit to the gangsta rap genre every

merit to the gangsta rap genre every minute another self even though I’m

minute another self even though I’m

minute another self even though I’m known for my one-night stand

known for my one-night stand

known for my one-night stand though critics praised the album for

though critics praised the album for

though critics praised the album for containing extremely personal themes of

containing extremely personal themes of

containing extremely personal themes of paranoia and nostalgia as it took home

paranoia and nostalgia as it took home

paranoia and nostalgia as it took home the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album a

the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album a

the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album a move to park compared the album to a

move to park compared the album to a

move to park compared the album to a blues record and future rappers such as

blues record and future rappers such as

blues record and future rappers such as Kendrick Lamar would take note despite

Kendrick Lamar would take note despite

Kendrick Lamar would take note despite the album’s dark and somber subject

the album’s dark and somber subject

the album’s dark and somber subject matter it is seen as a staple of the

matter it is seen as a staple of the

matter it is seen as a staple of the genre and the magnum opus of a legendary

genre and the magnum opus of a legendary

genre and the magnum opus of a legendary recording artist number seven the

recording artist number seven the

recording artist number seven the Marshall Mathers LP Eminem they said I

Marshall Mathers LP Eminem they said I

Marshall Mathers LP Eminem they said I can’t rap about being broke them or they

can’t rap about being broke them or they

can’t rap about being broke them or they can’t rap about coke no more supremely

can’t rap about coke no more supremely

can’t rap about coke no more supremely produced and disturbingly dark this Slim

produced and disturbingly dark this Slim

produced and disturbingly dark this Slim Shady joints sparked an American debate

Shady joints sparked an American debate

Shady joints sparked an American debate about free speech

building off the success of his previous

building off the success of his previous album Eminem once again teamed up with

album Eminem once again teamed up with

album Eminem once again teamed up with dr. Dre and produced an aggressive

dr. Dre and produced an aggressive

dr. Dre and produced an aggressive attack on mainstream pretensions and his

attack on mainstream pretensions and his

attack on mainstream pretensions and his own inner demons because I’m a huge like

own inner demons because I’m a huge like

own inner demons because I’m a huge like murder weapon with clothes sheets

murder weapon with clothes sheets

murder weapon with clothes sheets pillows and film the aggressive song

pillows and film the aggressive song

pillows and film the aggressive song entitled kill you resulted in critical

entitled kill you resulted in critical

entitled kill you resulted in critical backlash while the drama of Stan led

backlash while the drama of Stan led

backlash while the drama of Stan led Eminem to the Grammy stage for a

Eminem to the Grammy stage for a

Eminem to the Grammy stage for a surprise duet with Elton John with a

surprise duet with Elton John with a

surprise duet with Elton John with a combination of surreal and literal

combination of surreal and literal

combination of surreal and literal messages the Marshall Mathers LP T’s at

messages the Marshall Mathers LP T’s at

messages the Marshall Mathers LP T’s at the hyper sensitivity of listeners and

the hyper sensitivity of listeners and

the hyper sensitivity of listeners and reminded that Eminem was not a role

reminded that Eminem was not a role

reminded that Eminem was not a role model but a musical artist in the corny

model but a musical artist in the corny

model but a musical artist in the corny founded tape but it is that you will

founded tape but it is that you will

founded tape but it is that you will soon come to think about it

soon come to think about it

soon come to think about it his nameless this is who number six it

his nameless this is who number six it

his nameless this is who number six it takes a Nation of Millions to hold us

takes a Nation of Millions to hold us

takes a Nation of Millions to hold us back Public Enemy fueled by the

back Public Enemy fueled by the

back Public Enemy fueled by the politically charged rhymes and punk rock

politically charged rhymes and punk rock

politically charged rhymes and punk rock style of Chuck D this album conveyed the

style of Chuck D this album conveyed the

style of Chuck D this album conveyed the idea that regardless of where you’re

idea that regardless of where you’re

idea that regardless of where you’re from everybody has a voice to be heard

by addressing inner-city problems and

by addressing inner-city problems and prison life Public Enemy brought

prison life Public Enemy brought

prison life Public Enemy brought awareness to social predicaments that

awareness to social predicaments that

awareness to social predicaments that had previously gone unnoticed in the

had previously gone unnoticed in the

had previously gone unnoticed in the mainstream media which they would push

mainstream media which they would push

mainstream media which they would push even harder on their 1990 album fear of

even harder on their 1990 album fear of

even harder on their 1990 album fear of a black planet the blunts imagery and

a black planet the blunts imagery and

a black planet the blunts imagery and startling narratives pushed the genre

startling narratives pushed the genre

startling narratives pushed the genre forward as Public Enemy announced that

forward as Public Enemy announced that

forward as Public Enemy announced that hip hop was definitely here to stay and

hip hop was definitely here to stay and

hip hop was definitely here to stay and an undeniable form of artistic

an undeniable form of artistic

an undeniable form of artistic expression number five Straight Outta

expression number five Straight Outta

expression number five Straight Outta Compton NWA released just six weeks

Compton NWA released just six weeks

Compton NWA released just six weeks after our number six entry this album

after our number six entry this album

after our number six entry this album put the west coast on the map and

put the west coast on the map and

put the west coast on the map and inspired the phrase gangsta rap while

inspired the phrase gangsta rap while

inspired the phrase gangsta rap while Public Enemies album symbolizes the

Public Enemies album symbolizes the

Public Enemies album symbolizes the struggles of african-americans NWA is

struggles of african-americans NWA is

struggles of african-americans NWA is controversial release chronicled the

controversial release chronicled the

controversial release chronicled the reality of their day-to-day lives with

reality of their day-to-day lives with

reality of their day-to-day lives with their own type of flavor

their own type of flavor

their own type of flavor [Music]

featuring the pronounced lyrical styles

featuring the pronounced lyrical styles of dr. Dre Ice Cube eazy-e and MC Ren

of dr. Dre Ice Cube eazy-e and MC Ren

of dr. Dre Ice Cube eazy-e and MC Ren along with the musical backings of DJ

along with the musical backings of DJ

along with the musical backings of DJ yella Straight Outta Compton frightened

yella Straight Outta Compton frightened

yella Straight Outta Compton frightened the general public with a

the general public with a

the general public with a no-holds-barred approach more powerful

no-holds-barred approach more powerful

no-holds-barred approach more powerful than any previous hip-hop album Straight

than any previous hip-hop album Straight

than any previous hip-hop album Straight Outta Compton offered a wake-up call and

Outta Compton offered a wake-up call and

Outta Compton offered a wake-up call and symbolized a voice for the voiceless

symbolized a voice for the voiceless

symbolized a voice for the voiceless [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

East Coast West Coast biggie and pock

East Coast West Coast biggie and pock this was the album that preceded one of

this was the album that preceded one of

this was the album that preceded one of the darkest periods in hip-hop history

the darkest periods in hip-hop history

the darkest periods in hip-hop history now I’m in the limelight cuz I’m the

winner after being signed by Sean Puff

winner after being signed by Sean Puff Daddy cones a rapper from Brooklyn

Daddy cones a rapper from Brooklyn

Daddy cones a rapper from Brooklyn revitalized the Big Apple rap game

revitalized the Big Apple rap game

revitalized the Big Apple rap game thanks to his raw vocals unmistakable

thanks to his raw vocals unmistakable

thanks to his raw vocals unmistakable flow and the larger-than-life persona

the slogan entitled big papa immediately

the slogan entitled big papa immediately became a hip-hop anthem and from

became a hip-hop anthem and from

became a hip-hop anthem and from beginning to end ready to die express

beginning to end ready to die express

beginning to end ready to die express the trials and tribulations of the

the trials and tribulations of the

the trials and tribulations of the hustler lifestyle throwing homage to the

hustler lifestyle throwing homage to the

hustler lifestyle throwing homage to the Golden Age of hip-hop and featuring some

Golden Age of hip-hop and featuring some

Golden Age of hip-hop and featuring some seriously heavy beats ready to die is a

seriously heavy beats ready to die is a

seriously heavy beats ready to die is a gangster rap classic and a seminal

gangster rap classic and a seminal

gangster rap classic and a seminal release in hip-hop history 3 the chronic

release in hip-hop history 3 the chronic

release in hip-hop history 3 the chronic dr. Dre today he’s known for making

dr. Dre today he’s known for making

dr. Dre today he’s known for making headphones and way before that he was a

headphones and way before that he was a

headphones and way before that he was a member of NWA but somewhere in between

member of NWA but somewhere in between

member of NWA but somewhere in between he was taking on the rap game by himself

he was taking on the rap game by himself

he was taking on the rap game by himself [Music]

[Music]

[Music] undoubtedly the master of G Funk dr. Dre

undoubtedly the master of G Funk dr. Dre

undoubtedly the master of G Funk dr. Dre inspired decades of rappers with his

inspired decades of rappers with his

inspired decades of rappers with his laid-back debut that introduced Snoop

laid-back debut that introduced Snoop

laid-back debut that introduced Snoop Doggy Dogg to the world shortly before

Doggy Dogg to the world shortly before

Doggy Dogg to the world shortly before his own debut the following year

his own debut the following year

his own debut the following year it’s like dissing like betting like this

it’s like dissing like betting like this

it’s like dissing like betting like this Santa it’s like betting like this and

Santa it’s like betting like this and

Santa it’s like betting like this and like

like

like Panda as one of the most acclaimed music

Panda as one of the most acclaimed music

Panda as one of the most acclaimed music producers of all time Dre created a

producers of all time Dre created a

producers of all time Dre created a definitive West Coast sound with the

definitive West Coast sound with the

definitive West Coast sound with the chronic and classics like nothing but a

chronic and classics like nothing but a

chronic and classics like nothing but a G thang and let me ride can be found on

G thang and let me ride can be found on

G thang and let me ride can be found on party playlist almost 25 years later

party playlist almost 25 years later

party playlist almost 25 years later [Music]

[Music]

[Music] what everybody’s saying number two

what everybody’s saying number two

what everybody’s saying number two Ilham attic nas some MCS get the party

Ilham attic nas some MCS get the party

Ilham attic nas some MCS get the party poppin and others stimulate the mind

poppin and others stimulate the mind

poppin and others stimulate the mind with this remarkable debut album nas

with this remarkable debut album nas

with this remarkable debut album nas accomplished both

[Music]

[Music] widely regarded as a prophet of the

widely regarded as a prophet of the

widely regarded as a prophet of the streets nas expressed his own life

streets nas expressed his own life

streets nas expressed his own life experiences with Illmatic and his

experiences with Illmatic and his

experiences with Illmatic and his intellectual acumen baffled listeners

intellectual acumen baffled listeners

intellectual acumen baffled listeners along with his rapid-fire style although

along with his rapid-fire style although

along with his rapid-fire style although nas was raised in the Queensbridge

nas was raised in the Queensbridge

nas was raised in the Queensbridge projects the existential themes of

projects the existential themes of

projects the existential themes of Illmatic reach listeners from coast to

Illmatic reach listeners from coast to

Illmatic reach listeners from coast to coast whether it was the brutally honest

coast whether it was the brutally honest

coast whether it was the brutally honest life’s a bitch or the inspirational one

life’s a bitch or the inspirational one

life’s a bitch or the inspirational one love before we unveil our top pick

love before we unveil our top pick

love before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number one enter the wu-tang 36 chambers

number one enter the wu-tang 36 chambers

number one enter the wu-tang 36 chambers wu-tang clan like smoking so praise

wu-tang clan like smoking so praise

wu-tang clan like smoking so praise about how ways up right now what the

about how ways up right now what the

about how ways up right now what the playbook history has proven that one

playbook history has proven that one

playbook history has proven that one unique voice can transcend an entire

unique voice can transcend an entire

unique voice can transcend an entire musical drama and it was not one but ten

musical drama and it was not one but ten

musical drama and it was not one but ten New York City rappers who transformed

New York City rappers who transformed

New York City rappers who transformed hip-hop with their astonishing 1993

hip-hop with their astonishing 1993

hip-hop with their astonishing 1993 debut and with such a unique collection

debut and with such a unique collection

debut and with such a unique collection of talents including members ol Dirty

of talents including members ol Dirty

of talents including members ol Dirty Bastard Method Man and Ghostface Killah

Bastard Method Man and Ghostface Killah

Bastard Method Man and Ghostface Killah producer RZA effectively maximized the

producer RZA effectively maximized the

producer RZA effectively maximized the vocals of each while establishing the

vocals of each while establishing the

vocals of each while establishing the group’s gritty sound an album that would

group’s gritty sound an album that would

group’s gritty sound an album that would allow for outstanding solo albums

allow for outstanding solo albums

allow for outstanding solo albums including member jizz as 1995 release

including member jizz as 1995 release

including member jizz as 1995 release Liquid Swords so cops reflect out a

Liquid Swords so cops reflect out a

Liquid Swords so cops reflect out a fellas important eaves they wouldn’t

fellas important eaves they wouldn’t

fellas important eaves they wouldn’t when Tex the woollens stolen auto fleet

when Tex the woollens stolen auto fleet

when Tex the woollens stolen auto fleet a hit the road or break enter the

a hit the road or break enter the

a hit the road or break enter the wu-tang is not only considered one of

wu-tang is not only considered one of

wu-tang is not only considered one of the most important albums of the genre

the most important albums of the genre

the most important albums of the genre but one of the most important albums of

but one of the most important albums of

but one of the most important albums of all time first man with the horse sabe

all time first man with the horse sabe

all time first man with the horse sabe sticking pins in your head

sticking pins in your head

sticking pins in your head [Music]

[Music]

[Music] FLAC in this man : so do you agree with

FLAC in this man : so do you agree with

FLAC in this man : so do you agree with our list which rap album is your

our list which rap album is your

our list which rap album is your favorite life as the shorties wouldn’t

favorite life as the shorties wouldn’t

favorite life as the shorties wouldn’t be so rough for more rhymin top 10s

be so rough for more rhymin top 10s

be so rough for more rhymin top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe

published every day be sure to subscribe

published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com

to watchmojo.com

to watchmojo.com [Music]