Top 10 Best Rap Albums of All Time

The Top Ten

Illmatic - Nas

It isn't necessarily the message in the album, even though the messages are deeply inspiring. It's the flows that Nas brings when he speaks in this album. Each cut seems to always bring a lyrical synchronism unlike any other album I've ever heard. It's been over 20 years, and this album still has some of the most lyrically colorful combinations of bars in the history of rap. The craziest part is that he did this in 1994 when nobody had ever heard of this kind of synchronizing of words and melody in the history of music.
Not to mention, Nas was 19 years old when he created this piece, along with intellectually stimulating lyrics that continue to make you wonder, Whose world is this? throughout time. This is the craziest rap album of all time because it's simple, not over the top, yet it grows on you and never, ever gets old because it's straight, 100% real. And, at the end of the day, isn't that how the rap game is supposed to be exemplified? How real things can be? No, Nas killed it in 1994, and he'll keep killing it until 3094.
The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem

Everyone can say what they want about Eminem just because he is white. However, this album is a masterpiece. Each song is shockingly brilliant and simply incredible.
Stan is one of the greatest stories I have ever heard in a song. Songs like Criminal, Who Knew, and The Way I Am are classics that tell all his critics and haters to shut up and listen to what he has to say.
He made this album with no fear, and that is what makes it so special. It seems that people don't like a white guy being at the top of rap, but that's just the way it is.

To the people who claim that a majority of Eminem's success is because he's white, you need to get your facts straight. Eminem entered the rap game at a time when white rappers were often ridiculed and not taken seriously. To succeed, you had to be accepted by the Black community. Eminem's skill was evident from the start, but many disregarded him due to his skin color. Dr. Dre was the man who gave him a chance. Dre didn't care about skin color. If you had talent, he wanted to work with you.
Even Dre's associates underestimated Eminem initially. They had heard his skill on the demo tape sent to Dre, but they were reluctant to work with him because he was white. Fortunately for Eminem, Dre looked past that and gave him an opportunity to succeed. And it worked.
Eminem is not famous because he's white. He's famous because he's talented and was given a chance. There are many other extremely talented artists who faced challenges being accepted. Teena Marie, one of the most powerful and talented R&B singers of all time, never received the recognition she deserved because she was not accepted by the Black community. Kanye West struggled for years to get a record deal because he didn't fit the "gangsta" image prevalent in hip hop at the time. Jay-Z was the one who gave him a chance, and Kanye became one of the most important artists in the genre.
The music industry remains biased. Mainstream rappers like Drake, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Kodak Black dominate the radio because most record companies prioritize trend hits that appeal to a young, social media-savvy demographic over raw talent. Eminem deserves his popularity more than any rapper I know. Not only is he incredibly talented, but he also had to fight for his fame. His success wasn't simply handed to him, especially not because he's white.
Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G.

This is what hip-hop rap is all about. All the songs are just over the top. This album changed the game and the East-West beef. Long Kiss Goodnight pushed it to a level in hip-hop that will never be reached again. Puff's outro took it beyond beef. All the tracks came out on the radio. This is the only album that has done that to this level.
Illmatic from Nas is the original greatest album. This isn't just an album. It's the gospel of hip-hop. The murders of 'Pac and Biggie changed not just the game, but the world. This album is forever the best album ever made. His storytelling, his delivery, his heart was on display. His life and his death are in this album. It's not just an album. It's the man in words.
It's a thin line between love and hate. Love it or hate it, this debate is over. As Rick Flair said, To be the man, you have to beat the man. The man is dead and took the title with him.
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan

I go back and forth between this, Illmatic, and Ready To Die for that top hip-hop album. After at least 25 listens of each, I'm convinced this is it. Illmatic might've had the bigger impact, but this was the blueprint for unique production techniques and posses that would later form. Plus, just about every MC here went on to have big solo success, so yeah.

This album is exhilarating from beginning to end. I've heard Ready To Die and Illmatic multiple times, and the same can't be said for them.

Amazing group of rappers. All did an amazing job on this album, making it one of the greatest rap albums of all time!
To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

Nothing compares to the depth, meaning, and complexity of To Pimp A Butterfly. The album is filled with various concepts and philosophies in its lyrics, and there is an intricate reason behind every single beat and rhythm. This is not just a rap album. It is a sublime piece of artwork, a masterful story, and a movement all in one.
Kendrick Lamar delves into the depths of his own life, society, Lucifer, and the people around him. The multiple genres of sound are all used for meaningful reasons. The number of concepts and messages he explores is unfathomable. Honestly, no other album can come close to this legendary work.
There is just far too much to discuss regarding this album. One can only go, listen, and learn for themselves. This is the greatest album of all time. No question.
All Eyez on Me - 2Pac

People call this trash because Pac didn't have some huge political statement on it, but you know what? Those concepts of political and conscious hip-hop are not what make 2Pac one of the greatest. He made an album that could vary in terms of mood from track to track but kept the same concept. It had great production, and 2Pac demonstrates his rapping skills, not his skill at choosing a genre.
Now, don't get me wrong. Dear Mama, Changes, etc. I have nothing wrong with those. It's just not what makes him the best. It's not simply the concept of having conscious songs that makes people act like those are automatically his best. 2Pacalypse wasn't an amazing album. Sure, it had good lyricism at times and certainly bright spots. But if he had spent his career with lots of songs from that album highlighted in his albums, never changed production quality, never improved technically in terms of rapping, and never honed his lyrical skills any more, he wouldn't have garnered so much respect.
This is why this album gets so much praise: because it's good. Learn to separate a more gangsta 2Pac album from a conscious one.
The Chronic - Dr. Dre

The Chronic changed everything in the rap game from a musical and production standpoint. Most rappers today were probably not born at the time this album dropped. It's a true classic album that should be number 1.

It is literally the smoothest, yet hardest album I've ever heard. It's just funk mixed with classic hardcore hip-hop. Nobody does it like Dre. This should be number 1.

This one, in my opinion, should be in the top 3. From track 1 to the last, it's all good. Everybody I know likes this album. I don't know why it's ranked so low.
The Eminem Show - Eminem

Not only is this Eminem's best, but this is the greatest rap album ever. The five singles from this album are the following: Without Me, Cleanin' Out My Closet, Superman, Sing for the Moment, and Business. All are among his best songs and have countless outstanding lines, especially Without Me and Superman, which are filled with poetic genius.
The album also features notable songs not released as singles, including Square Dance, Say Goodbye Hollywood, and Hailie's Song. Another song not released as a single on this album is Till I Collapse, which I believe is the greatest song of all time to never have been released as a single. Eminem was at his best on this album.
good kid, m.A.A.d. city - Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar showcases some of the best storytelling in hip-hop within 12 tracks. The story starts with him borrowing his mom's van and takes us through a day in his life in Compton. He covers everything from having freestyle sessions with his friends to being pressured into smoking and drinking. The most powerful track is Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst, which has a long runtime but is peak hip-hop and a contender for the best rap song ever.

This album is so consistent. It's the only album where every song is a hit. The lyrics flow so well, and the story they tell is a masterpiece mix of memories, struggles, and goals. This album has a bonus track that also includes all amazing songs. From Backseat Freestyle, to Poetic Justice, to Real, this is hands down the best album of the 2000s and one of the greatest albums of all time.
Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.

This is an album that changed history. It was one of the only albums that had a parental advisory sticker at the time. It was also the first group to ever say the police. Many people can agree that this is one of the greatest rap albums of all time.
With songs like Straight Outta Compton, The Police, Gangsta Gangsta, Express Yourself, and 8-Ball, these are some of the best rappers of all time. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E are great examples.

The first time I heard this album, it blew my mind! Almost 30 years later, it continues to outshine any competition. How this is not number one will always amaze me. Even today, you can hear the influence this album has had on modern music.

The Newcomers

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Rip the Jacker - Canibus

This is not only Canibus's best album but also such an underrated one in hip-hop. At least in the top 30 or top 20 best rap albums ever, in my opinion. It's a very good album and deserves more recognition.
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The Definition of X - DMX

The best greatest hits album ever made!

The Contenders

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

Here are my thoughts on all the songs:
Dark Fantasy - An underrated song that introduces the themes of the album and perfectly illustrates the mix of previous Ye albums.
Gorgeous - The second most underrated song on here. It's beautiful and very smooth.
POWER - Two words: King Crimson.
All of the Lights - Rare opinion: I hate this song. It's way too pretentious in my opinion, and way too poppy.
Monster - I hate Nicki's music, but her verse on this is possibly the best verse on the album.
So Appalled - A very haunting track with nice use of samples.
Devil in a New Dress - The best song on the album. Not "Runaway." Similar to the last song, but on steroids.
Runaway - I don't even need to explain this one.
Hell of a Life - Nice song, but the synths sound like farts. Also, auto-tuned Black Sabbath? Really?
Blame Game - A song that makes me cry (at the beginning), but goes on a bit too long.
Lost in the World - A super depressing dance track that features nice use of a Bon Iver sample.
This album is an 8.5/10 to me. It's really amazing.
Life After Death - The Notorious B.I.G.

Why is this ranked so low? This is considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time. It is one of only seven rap albums to be certified Diamond, selling over 10 million copies, yet it can't even make the top 10.
The Notorious B.I.G.'s second and final studio album was completed before his death. With singles like "Hypnotize," "Mo Money Mo Problems," and "Sky's The Limit," this album features top-ten hits. Other great songs on this album include "Ten Crack Commandments," "Kick in the Door," "Going Back to Cali," and "You're Nobody Till Somebody Kills You."
It even beat Puff Daddy's "No Way Out" album to get a Grammy nomination. How can this not make the Top Ten?

How is The Carter 3 bigger than this? Mo Money Mo Problems and Notorious Thugs are fantastic! Notorious B.I.G. should be right there next to:
1. Ready to Die - Notorious B.I.G.
2. Illmatic - Nas
3. Life After Death - Notorious B.I.G.
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back - Public Enemy

This was back before political rap went off track. Personally, I think it's gotten out of hand. Chuck D was brilliant at getting his message across without trying to be controversial. This might be thought of as criticism, but it's praise for not trying to stir up the media into giving them free promotion. The quality of this album speaks for itself.

This is it, people. I know there's a separation between fans of old rap and modern rap, but give this a listen. It's good to know where your music came from.
Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z

This is the best rap album, period. From the production of the instrumentals to the connection between the songs and their fluidity together, it makes up one whole "movie." The sincerity and emotion in the lyrics, the intelligence of the rapper and featured artists, the elegance of the delivery on every song on the album, and the truthful element it contains about Jay's life as a drug dealer or hustler all contribute.
Unlike most albums, it's not just a collection of singles pieced together with no connection or flow from one song to the next. This album will make you feel like you are from Brooklyn, no matter where you are from. It speaks for everyone struggling and trying hard to make a living. This is what rap is all about, added to the guilty conscience that Jay has because of his dealings in drugs.
"D'Evils," "Politics as Usual," "Can I Live," "Regrets," and "Dead Presidents" are definitely the top tracks.
Me Against the World - Tupac

All Eyez On Me over Me Against The World? That's a lie. I beg to differ because Me Against The World is lyrically consistent, unlike All Eyez On Me. This album shows Tupac at his prime and wasn't rushed like All Eyez On Me. In one of the most controversial years of his life, he still dropped one of the greatest albums hip-hop has to offer, and that's saying something.

Come on, All Eyez on Me over this? Please. No disrespect to All Eyez on Me because it is a great album, but it has more filler than my mother's stomach. Me Against the World is Pac at his best. He was also in one of the worst places in his life, but that gave way to amazing music. The only track that I would consider even slightly mediocre is Outlaws.
Madvillainy - Madvillain

There is no hip-hop album that has ever been released quite like this one. MF Doom has a totally unique flow and is easily one of the greatest wordsmiths not only in hip-hop history but in music history.
You could read any verse of his at all, and it will blow your mind. Then there's Madlib, who, thanks to his incredibly vast knowledge of music, makes some of the most beautifully abstract instrumentals ever. I could go into great detail about every individual track because they're all fantastic, but I can't. You just have to experience it for yourself.

This is the best experimental hip-hop album ever recorded. It puts me in an almost dreamlike state every time I listen to it. The composition by Madlib is haunting and fluid, and MF Doom is an absolute wordsmith. It's a pure masterpiece. If you haven't heard this album, I implore you to check it out.
The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest

I bet you can't find one album that doesn't rely on profanity, but has so many great songs besides this. Plus the music doesn't go too deep, so you can just straight up listen to it, start a party with it, study with it, and use it to calm down before you go to sleep.

Overall, this album sounds really good inside and out. "Scenario" is the best track on this album.
But let's face it, nothing can beat "1nce Again" or "Can I Kick It?"

This definitely should be high up on this list. Tribe were the pioneers of making positive and socially conscious rap, and so many countless rappers were influenced by this album. Not to mention, this album introduced the world to the legendary Busta Rhymes!
2001 - Dr. Dre

I think The Chronic had a couple of great songs, like Fk wit Dre Day and Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang, but 2001 has more consistent hits and deep cuts. My favorite songs are Still D.R.E., Forgot About Dre, The Next Episode, The Watcher, Xxplosive, and The Message.

This should be way higher. Maybe it's one of the most well-produced albums of all time, along with The Chronic. Each song from top to bottom features amazing contributions, rapping, and production. This is especially impressive given that the album has over 20 songs and still manages to make every song enjoyable. It's a classic indeed.
Paid in Full - Eric B. & Rakim

Without this album, we would never have had most of the albums listed above. Eric B is one of the best DJs of all time, combined with one of the best rappers of all time. Every song on the album is incredible, from start to finish.
Some people might not like the beats anymore because they are used to the way music is produced now. The imagery Rakim uses in every song on this album is unparalleled to anything I've ever heard. "Dance with the speaker till you hear it blow, then plug in the headphones because here it goes," has lots of double entendres. "Whoever's out of hand, I'm gonna give them handles, light them up, blow them out like candles, or should I just let them melt?"
He gives literal meanings to aspects you wouldn't normally think of, like breaking the word "inside" into different bars. Rhyming paragraphs with paragraphs, conveying a logical message, playing with syllables, and using math. He proves he "ain't no joke" to start off the album. "As the Rhyme Goes On" gets rougher as the rhyme goes on. I could go on forever, but this needs to be up. And it is child-friendly - I don't think there's a swear word to be heard once.
Liquid Swords - GZA

Lyrically, this is one of the greatest albums ever made. I'd go so far as to say it's as good (if not better) than Illmatic, lyrically, of course. However, the Wu-Tang style is not for everyone, and it definitely took me a while to begin appreciating Liquid Swords.
This is what turns people off about this album. It's not like anything you usually hear out of a rap song (unless you've listened to Wu-Tang). That being said, if you give this album, say, three or four complete listens, then you will realize why this needs to be at the top. Is it the greatest album of all time? No, it's too stylistic for people's taste and very different from any genre of rap/hip-hop. However, I'd take this over big albums like The Chronic or Me Against the World.
The Slim Shady LP - Eminem

Of all of Eminem's mainstream albums, why is this last? Why are Recovery, Encore, and Relapse above this? This was Eminem at his most shocking and very funny. This is easily his most underrated album. Also, the guy who voted for The Carter I and said, "The Carter 3 should be #1 easily. Because Eminem never got a good album like this. This album goes hard just like the rest of Lil Wayne's. Eminem only has like 1 or 2 good albums, whereas Lil Wayne has like 10. Lil Wayne = Best rapper alive," needs to sit down.

Are people crazy? This album is the #1 of all time! How can you possibly think Encore is better than this? People have to have more respect for Slim Shady. He's the best lyricist ever, has a great flow, and The Slim Shady LP has so many good songs.
This album is even better than albums like All Eyez On Me, The Marshall Mathers LP, Illmatic, and Ready to Die. Those albums are awesome, but this one is even better!
Get Rich or Die Tryin - 50 Cent

Good production and good executive production. I understand that without 50 Cent, this album wouldn't be like this. However, the lyrics are crap.
This isn't aimed at people who like good stories, good rhymes, or a reasonable flow. This is aimed at the party people, people who like the production, the message, the choruses. So maybe top 100, but not even top 50 for me.

There's a reason this album sold over 10 million copies. It is amazing. 50 Cent raps like he is already on top of the rap game.
This, combined with Dr. Dre's beautiful production, makes for one of the best, if not the best, albums of the 2000s. Who in the world hasn't heard In the Club?
The College Dropout - Kanye West

Superb album from start to finish. There's no dip in quality. The songs and skits are brilliant. The best part is probably the last three songs, and Last Call is a great ending.
This is probably the best list overall on this site, even if there's too much love for Eminem, as always.

Not only was this a good album, but it was also funny! The skits and some of the lyrics had me laughing out loud, something I didn't know I could expect from a rap album. Not only is this one of Kanye's best works, but it's definitely a memorable album, period.
Doggystyle - Snoop Doggy Dogg

Possibly the best hip-hop album ever made. Near-perfect lyrics and nearly perfect production. All around, a perfect album. This album also introduced and perfected the G-Funk sound that was created on Dr. Dre's The Chronic.
This album showcased Snoop Doggy Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Nate Dogg (Rest in Peace, Nathaniel Hale), Lady of Rage, Kurupt, and Warren G all at their best. This album graced us with tracks such as Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None) (my favorite song ever), Gin and Juice, Pump Pump, Gz and Hustlaz, Doggy Dogg World, The Shiznit, Murder Was the Case, and Snoop's magnum opus, What's My Name? (Who Am I?). All of which are near-perfect songs.
This album is a near-perfect experience and uses every minute of its length to near-perfect use. 10/10 album.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx - Raekwon

This is a true gangsta rap, hardcore mafioso rap album. The father of mafioso, listen to the Gods at work.

This is one of the best albums ever, on the same level as 36 Chambers, truly a masterpiece.

You can listen to this album from front to back.