Essential Hip Hop Albums

got the idea from RagnaViper 👆

so what do you guyz think:

off the top of my head, im gonna say

Gza- Liquid Swords
Nas- Illmatic
Common- Ressurection
Binary Star- Masters of the Universe
A Tribe Called Quest- Low End Theory
Cannibal Ox- Cold Vein
Cormega- The Realness
Gangstarr- Moment of Truth
Organized Konfusion- Stress The Extinction Agenda
Ultramagnetic MC's- Critical Beatdown
Kurious- A Constipated Monkey
Souls of Mischief- 93' Til Infinity
MF Doom- Doomsday

what else?

Great call with the Cormega album, both on choice of CD and the guy himself. Personally I think he's a better lyricist than Nas. Verbal Grafitti is a personal classic.

Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride
Black Moon - Enta Da Stage
Ice Cube - The Predator
Organized Confusion - s/t (can't have one without the other)
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
GZA - Liquid Swords
Raekwon - Cuban Linx
Sunz of Man - Last Shall Be First
Jedi Mind Tricks - Violent By Design
Cunninlynguists - Southernunderground
Viktor Vaughn - Vaudeville Villain
Smiff N' Wessun - Dah Shinin'
Monsta Island Czars - Escape From Monster Island
De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead
Ras Kass - Soul On Ice
Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst
El-P - Fantastic Damage
Quasimoto - The Unseen
Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions

A lot, basically ✅

Monsta Island Czars - Escape From Monster Island

😬 it was good, but i wouldn't say it's essential. maybe i should give it another listen.

Originally posted by Deathblow

Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions

Probably my favourite hip hop album.

I always love listening to Blackout! as well, slightly lighter side of hip hop though.

Wu-tang clan - Enter the Wu-tang (36 chambers)
Wu-tang Forever
Tha Alkoholics - Likwidation
Rahzel - MTM 200
ODB - return to the 36 chambers

Zion I- Mind Over Matter
The Pharcyde- Bizarre Ride II
Latyrx- Album
Blackalicious- Nia
Lord Finesse- Return of the Funky Man

Great thread! 👆

Old Skool albums:
Public Ememy - Yo Bumrush the show & It takes a nation of millions
BDP - Criminal Minded & Edutainment
Ice Cube - Amerikkkas most wanted & Death Certificate
Ice T - OG
Big Daddy Kane - It's A Big Daddy Thing
Paris - The Devil made me do it
EPMD - Bussines as usual
Kool G Rap - Wanted dead or alive
Masta Ace - Take a look around
Kool Moe Dee - Knowledge is king

Newer Albums:
Blackalicious - Nia & Blazing Arrow
Mr Lif - Emergency Rations & I Phantom
Brother Ali - Shadows on the sun
Aesop Rock - Labor Days
Sage Francis - Personal Journals
A tribe called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Mos Def - Black on both sides
Blackstar - Blackstar
Edan - Beauty and the beat
Eyedea - First Born
Illogic - Unforseen Shadows, Got Lyrics, Celestial Clockwork
Immortal Technique - Rev 1&2
JMT - Violent by design
Jurassic 5 - Quality control
Roots Manuva - Run come save me
Wu Tang - 36 Chambers

Thats it for now, i consider all of those essential. 😄

Originally posted by Dr. Octagon
Zion I- Mind Over Matter
The Pharcyde- Bizarre Ride II
Latyrx- Album
Blackalicious- Nia
Lord Finesse- Return of the Funky Man

Yeah said The Pharcyde one, I think I've listened to that album more than any other album in any genre, apart from maybe Orchid. As for Monsta Island, it's almost 36 Chambers meets Godzilla, that's essential!

Also:

Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep
Aesop Rock - Labor Days
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien - Both Sides Of The Brain
Slick Rick - The Great Adventures Of
Murs - 3:16
The Roots - Things Falling Apart

And almost, but not quite, essential:

Non Phixion - The Future Is Now
Hieroglyphics - Third Eye Vision
Canibus - Rip The Jacker
Mr. Lif - I Phantom
Masta Ace - Slaughta House
C-Rayz Walz - Ravipops
Method Man - Tical
Vordul Mega - Revolution Of Yung Havoks
Cage - Movies For The Blind
Hangar 18 - The Multi-Paltinum Debut Album

others:

Outkast- ATLiens
The Fugees- The Score
Saafir- Boxcar Sessions
Mac Dre- Thizzelle Washington
Masta Ace- Disposable Arts

Originally posted by koolruningz
Jurassic 5 - Quality control

👆

Chino XL- Here To Save You All

36 Chambers Of Wu-Tang and The Infamous. Illmatic was good too

I honestly prefer The Realness to Illmatic, and The True Meaning to everything else Nas has done.

Originally posted by Deathblow
I honestly prefer The Realness to Illmatic, and The True Meaning to everything else Nas has done.

Nas and Cormega are thinking about working on an album together. i think thats a great idea.

Uncontrolled Substance was good too

close to being essential:

Dangermouse & Jemini- Ghetto Pop Life

Originally posted by Inspectah Deck
Uncontrolled Substance was good too

it was good, i was just hoping it would be more like the verse he had on 'Triumph' and older songs...

Originally posted by Dr. Octagon
Nas and Cormega are thinking about working on an album together. i think thats a great idea.

Awesome.

Uncontrolled Substance was good too

Just above average, IMO. 9th Chamber was a great song, but it stood out above everything else by so far. Anyway, INS is the only member of the Clan who can get away with weak solos, seeing as he's consistently the strongest link on every Wu-Tang album to date.

Originally posted by Deathblow
Awesome.

Just above average, IMO. 9th Chamber was a great song, but it stood out above everything else by so far. Anyway, INS is the only member of the Clan who can get away with weak solos, seeing as he's consistently the strongest link on every Wu-Tang album to date.

✅ He's recent cd, The Movement wasn't as good as his first

Yeah agreed...what Wu albums have you got (solos included) ?