I’m ranking my personal favorite rap albums for each year. I stress: These are my favorites, i.e., the ones I most like to actually listen to–not the most important rap albums of each year (although there is definitely crossover) and not your favorite rap albums. Also, these are albums that still hold up today–ones that I still actually listen to, end to end.
If I’ve missed any, fee free to drop me a comment and lmk. However, if you’re going to tell me I should have included Illadelph Halflife, please don’t. I’m just not a fan of The Roots. Not everyone has to like them.
We’re up to the year 1996.
After a fairly disappointing 1995, 1996 is much better year to be a rap fan. It was also the year Eminem debuted with his independent “Infinite” album. Yeah, it’s largely forgettable, but still worth noting.
So, I had trouble keeping my list to 10–and I pushed it to 11.
Finally, make sure you read all the way to the bottom–several of the honorable mentions are near-classics. Chino XL’s album, for example, almost got me to make this a list of 12. Same with Heltah Skeltah.
11. Clear Blue Skies by The Juggaknots. Also known just as “The Juggaknots,” this was the first album by the NYC trio of Buddy Slim, Queen Herawin and Breeze Brewin’. It’s widely recognized as one of the most important independent rap albums of the ’90s. They would release one more proper album but never realized the potential of this incredible record.
10. Soul on Ice by Ras Kass. Ras Kass has made several good albums, but this one is his masterpiece.
9. The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory by Makaveli. I may be the only one who feels this way, but there are days when I think this may be my favorite 2Pac album. The rage and power are palpable on songs like Hail Mary, and none of the cuts suffer from being overplayed.
8. Ironman by Ghostface Killah. GFK’s best album of the ’90s and the second-best of his entire career (behind Fishscale, of course). Key cuts: The classic All That I Got Is You with Mary J Blige; Assassination Day with Wu Tang members Rae, Inspectah Deck, and RZA; Poisonous Darts; Winter Warz featuring Cappadonna, Masta Killa, Raekwon, and U-God; and of course Daytona 500.
7. Stakes is High by De La Soul. This group continues to surprise and defy expectations. My favorite cuts here include Stakes is High and Itzsoweezee (Hot).
6. Hard Core by Lil Kim. I’m making these lists organically and chronologically, and it’s much to my surprise that Lil’ Kim is the first woman rapper to make one of my top 10s. This is such a great album, though. Best songs: Big Momma Thang feat. Jay-Z, Drugs feat. Notorious B.I.G., and Not Tonight with Jermaine Dupri.
5. Ridin’ Dirty by UGK. With this record, The Underground Kings (Bun B and Pimp C) pour the unbreakable foundation for their reputations as two of the most important men in Southern rap history. Maybe even the two most important men. Trap wouldn’t be what it is today without this album. Key tracks (but every single one is a winner) include Diamonds and Wood, 3 in the Mornin’, and, of course, the title cut.
4. ATLiens by Outkast. For their second album, Outkast insert a kind of psychedelic/cosmic feel to their trunk-funk brand of trap. Great songs include Wheelz of Steel, Elevators (Me and You), and the anthemic 13th Floor / Growing Old.
3. All Eyez On Me by 2Pac. Most double albums are overstuffed, but not this one. It kicks in with hungry “Ambitionz Az A Ridah,” followed by songs with Doggs (Snoop, Nate and Pound, consecutively), and has phenomenal guest appearances by Dr. Dre, Rappin’ 4-Tay, and E-40. It’s also got my personal favorite 2Pac song: Picture Me Rollin’.
2. The Score by The Fugees. Wyclef’s Brooklyn Basement trio never gets better than this. Well, at least Wyclef and Pras don’t. It’s got it all: Street songs like The Beast, party cuts like Ready or Not, and all rounded out with covers of Bob Marley and Roberta Flack. This almost took the #1 slot.
1. Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z. Hova debuts with one of the best albums of his career–if not the absolute best. Seemingly effortlessly, Jay-Z changed the entire rap game when he came on the scene. Every song is a monster, but my personal top 3 are Can’t Knock the Hustle featuring Mary J Blige, 22 Twos, and Dead Presidents II.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Here to Save You All by Chino XL
- Nocturnal by Heltah Skeltah. Ruck and Rock’s first album is one of the (many) reasons Sean Price is remembered as one of the GOATs. Best cuts: Intro (Here We Come) featuring Starang Wondah; Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka featuring O.G.C.; and Operation Lockdown.
- Autobiography of Mistachuck by Chuck D. I dug this record. I know not everyone did.
- Entroducing by DJ Shadow. An instrumental album. I’m not into beat-tapes but…This one is remarkable.
- Dr. Octagonecologyst. Kool Keith’s first album, under a pseudonym. I appreciate Kool Keith but I’ve never been able to listen to him except in small doses–with the exceptions of this album and his amazing Analog Brothers collaboration with Ice-T.
Beats, Rhymes and Life by Tribe Called Quest. The group’s least-excellent album.- It Was Written by Nas. It’s impossible not to disappoint when you drop a follow up what is considered by many to be the greatest rap record of all time. And no, this isn’t even close to Illmatic. Nevertheless, this is a solidly good record.
WORST OF THE YEAR…
You Can’t Stop the Reign by Shaquille O’Neal. Believe it or not, several songs charted and this was his THIRD album. Ice-T’s sixth album is also a candidate for this “award.” How quickly he turned from GOAT to unlistenable and boring. And Tha Doggfather is worth mentioning because Snoop’s debut is one of the best rap albums of the ’90s and this, his second album, is just plain tedious.
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