When talking about the greatest hip hop albums of all time record sales really don’t matter. We are talking hip hop classics, which have been respected, and lasted through the test of time. We are talking quality music you can put into your stereo and not press another button. Albums that once you listen to you will not want to hear anything else. There have been a plethora of great albums made in hip hop; however there can only be 5. Therefore if your favorite album is not on MY list just argue why you think it should be considered one of the greatest albums. The categories i am basing my list on is Lyrics, production, guest features, substance, versatility, consistency, and has the album withstood the test of time. Another thing that everyone should consider it doesn’t take the greatest rapper of all time to make a hip hop classic. As mentioned in the greatest rapper debate rap has prospered all over so everyone’s list should have music from all over not just one section of U.S.

5. The Predator (Ice Cube)

A surprise to some, but not to those who have been in love with hip hop from day one. The once N.W.A member Ice cube went off to do his own thing with the legendary Predator album. You talk about ahead of his time; Ice Cube came with the most versatile album I have ever heard. Consisting of that West coast flow mixed with some east coast flavor gives Cube the variety every classic album should have. Cube opened the doors for a lot of gangster rappers while raging his feelings on a variety of topics on this classic album. He spoke of politics, struggles, drugs, and relationships. He even had a smash hit with Today was a Good day, at one point we all was walking around saying “I aint even have to use my AK, I gotta say it was a good day”, or how about “you know im trouble, last week F*D around and got a triple double” LOL. The Predator album, released in 1992 was so versatile you could pop it in today and still blast it and not sound out dated. Lol. Cube really laid the foundation down on this album, he came with the slow flow and the fast flow, he gave you power with the controversial subjects, and he even mellowed you out with the ever popular It was a good day. This belongs in your collection if you consider yourself a true hip hop head.

4. The Untouchable (Scarface)

I am sure this was expected in a list by AMJ himself…lol. However you cannot deny Mr. Scarface his place in history with this album. The album came with that serious flow; you could feel the anger, the pain or whatever emotion he was expressing in each track. The Untouchable had not one wasted track, every single track has a purpose, and every single track gave you a feeling of wanting more. For all the Pac fans out there you had to love the single off The Untouchable, which was Smile. When you listen to that track you actually can feel Face and Pac’s pain with every single word. Although I have never been the biggest Pac fan after listening to this track I had to reconsider every thing I have ever said about Pac. He came with that heat, not so much in a lyrical fashion, but with a serious message. On The Untouchable all subjects were touch as should be on a classic album. My favorite track on the album is “YA MONEY FOR YA LIFE”, the production and lyrics make that one of the greatest single tracks of all time in my opinion. Say what you want about record sales, and popularity, but this is an album that should always be included when discussing hip hop’s elite albums.

NUMBER 3 FEATURES A TIE.

3. Reasonable Doubt (Jay-Z)

Obviously this could have EASILY been my number one choice, however i am not blinded by the fact Jay is my favorite rapper.LOL. This album came at a time where hip hop needed to be refreshed, and Jay came with heat on every track. Jay’s flow was defined with Reasonable Doubt. The way his flow meshed with each and every beat perfectly can only be said for FEW others. With tracks like twenty two two’s, Can I Live, and Friend or Foe is where Jay-z supremacy was born. Each song had its own concept, yet they all came together to form one concept on the CD. Jay also gave every hip hop head a dose of one of the most legendary collaboration with the track Brooklyn’s Finest. Without doubt everyone respects Jay, and Big as two of the games greatest and you get that electric flow from both on this defining track. Without question this album belongs on any list of hip hop’s greatest albums

3. Ready To Die (Notorious B.I.G.)

Without question this is one of the most respected albums of all time. Without experience in making a previous CD Biggie came with one of the greatest albums of all time. His mentioning of selling drugs, robbing, and surviving were definitely ahead of its time. Biggie had a way of making you visualize everything he said, almost everything he said you believed with no questions asked. He told a story in a way that put fear in your heart. He had a way of telling a story like it was a movie. His production backed by his supreme lyrical content made this album one of the greatest of all time. Although it is not my number 1 choice you can always argue it belongs on top of any list of hip hop best albums. Tracks like Warning, Ready to Die, and Unbelievable consistently deliver one of the most lyrical, and gangster albums of all time. We all wish his life would not have been tragically cut short so we could have had more of the same from one of the games greatest. If you have any question on anything I was talking about on his album just listen to the track Unbelievable, you will be hard pressed to find a track that mastered the art of production and lyrical assault like Unbelievable. That beat followed by the lyrical assistance of B.I.G. is easily one of the single most lyrical tracks I have ever listened too. He even had two of the hottest singles of all time, Juicy, and One more chance, we all was bouncing to sounds of Biggies hottest singles. BIGGIE BIGGIE GIMME ONE MORE CHANCE, BIGGIE BIGGIE GIMME ONE MORE CHANCE! Or how bout “YOU NEVER THOUGHT HIP HOP WOULD TAKE IT THIS FAR, NOW IM IN THE LIME LIGHT CUS I RHYME TIGHT, TIME TO GET PAID BLOW UP LIKE THE WORLD TRADE”....lol. This album will be in the rock and roll hall of fame soon as it’s eligible. Legend without question.

2. Follow the Leader (Eric B. & Rakim)

Let me tell you one thing, if you have never listened to Follow the Leader, or you have no clue about the history of Eric B. & Rakim you can not call yourself a true hip hop head. My Uncle Mike who introduced me to hip hop used this cd to lay the foundation on what a true hip hop cd is. A real dj, and a real Lyricist. When you consider what this album embodies you have to appreciate the true essence of this album. The album delivered a message, it delivered soul through beats, and it put you in a zone in which you became a fiend…..A Microphone Fiend. The CD was even used in one of the first major hip hop movies…Juice. Follow the Leader was a track that will live in hip hop eternally.

1. Illmatic (Nas)

This may be a surprise because some think i am bias to Jay-z, or Scarface, but its no surprise to anyone who really loves hip hop. This was the album that did it for me. The games best story teller, one of the games best lyricists came with the games single best effort. Hip Hop in its truest form, he delivered one of the most original Lp’s this game has ever seen. Nas did not have to have 22 tracks on this album; he gave you everything you needed in just 10 of the most powerful tracks. He had hood anthems, he had street tales, and he had everything you could ask for in just 10 tracks. One of the most respected and copied albums of all time without question belong at the top. Sure some will argue, but I will bet if you ask any rapper, producer or any person involved with hip hop to name their top 5 albums and in 99% of the responses Illmatic will fall somewhere in the top 5. Lyrically Ny State of Mind might be in the top 3 of greatest single tracks. Production and lyrics are at its finest with the 1994 classic release by God’s son. The album takes you from angry to mellow, with the variety he displays on the album. Nas without question cemented his place in hip hop supremacy with the greatest album of all time.

Now of course many will crucify my opinion, for not having any of Pac’s albums, or any Lil Wayne albums (That’s a Joke). Please understand I wanted to put so many more, however it’s just a top 5, and I cheated by putting a tie for 3rd place.However I will say this, after writing this I’m ashamed for not having The Chronic, and Doggystyle in this list, because for me those two albums opened my eyes to a whole other brand of hip hop. Other albums I am ashamed I couldn’t fit on my list was Wu Forever, Aquemini, Blueprint, All Eyez On ME, The Diary, and Resurrection by Common. Of course there are more but those are the first to come to mind.