- De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead (1991)
- GZA - Liquid Swords (1995)
- Outkast - Aquemini (1998)
- Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black (1991)
- Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
- Goodie Mob - Soul Food (1995)
- A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory (1991)
- Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus (1997)
- Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Live And Let Die (1992)
- MF Doom - Operation: Doomsday (1999)
- Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night (1997)
- Prince Paul - A Prince Among Thieves (1999)
- Digital Underground - Sex Packets (1990)
- Digable Planets - Blowout Comb (1994)
- The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die (1994)
- The Coup - Steal This Album (1998)
- Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995)
- Freestyle Fellowship - Innercity Griots (1993)
- Siah & Yeshua DapoED - The Visualz EP (1996)
- Wu-Tang Clan - Forever (1997)
- Rawkus Presents Soundbombing II (1999)
- Gang Starr - Daily Operation (1992)
- Das EFX - Dead Serious (1992)
- Nas - Illmatic (1994)
- Black Moon - Enta Da Stage (1993)
- DJ Q-Bert - Wave Twisters - Episode 7 Million: Sonic Wars Within The Protons (1998)
- L'Roneous da Versifier - Imaginarium (1998)
- Dr. Dre - The Chronic (1992)
- Aceyalone - All Balls Don't Bounce (1995)
- The Roots - Things Fall Apart (1999)
- The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??! (1995)
- LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)
- The U.M.C.'s - Fruits of Nature (1991)
- The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury (1992)
- Black Sheep - A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing (1991)
- The Roots - Illadelph Halflife (1996)
- De La Soul - Stakes is High (1996)
- Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) (1993)
- Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst (1996)
- Main Source - Breaking Atoms (1991)
- De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate (1993)
- GZA - Beneath the Surface (1999)
- 2Pac - All Eyez on Me (1996)
- Mos Def & Talib Kweli - Black Star (1998)
- Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet (1990)
- Goodie Mob - Still Standing (1998)
- Killarmy - Dirty Weaponry (1998)
- Ghostface Killah - Ironman (1996)
- A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders (1993)
- Justice System - Rooftop Soundcheck (1994)
- Digital Underground - Sons Of The P (1991)
- The Coup - Genocide & Juice (1994)
- DMX - Its Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998)
- Haiku D'Etat - Haiku D'etat (1999)
- Mike Ladd - Welcome To The Afterfuture (1999)
- Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Wanted: Dead Or Alive (1990)
- Ice Cube - Amerikkka's Most Wanted (1990)
- Juvenile - 400 Degreez (1997)
- Redman - Muddy Waters (1996)
- Ol' Dirty Bastard - Return To The 36 Chambers (1995)
- M.O.P. - First Family 4 Life (1998)
- DJ Shadow - Endtroducing (1996)
- Onyx - All We Got Iz Us (1995)
- Gang Starr - Step In The Arena (1991)
- Young MC - Brainstorm (1991)
- Souls Of Mischief - 93 'Til Infinity (1993)
- Freestyle Fellowship - To Whom It May Concern... (1991)
- Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994)
- Public Enemy - There's A Poison Goin On (1999)
- Esham - Judgement Day Vol. 1 (Day) (1992)
- Diamond D - Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop (1992)
- Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Mecca And The Soul Brother (1992)
- Method Man - Tical (1994)
- The Fugees - The Score (1996)
- Black Eyed Peas - Behind The Front (1998)
- Jeru The Damaja - The Sun Rises In The East (1994)
- Masta Ace - Slaughtahouse (1993)
- Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle (1993)
- Chunk - Menace to the Game (1991)
- Queen Latifah - Black Reign (1993)
- Count Bass D - Pre-Life Crisis (1995)
- 2Pac - Me Against the World (1995)
- Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth - Funky Technician (1990)
- The Beatnuts - Stone Crazy (1997)
- Scarface - The Diary (1994)
- KRS-One - KRS-One (1995)
- Bahamadia - Kollage (1996)
- Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hil (1997)
- Aceyalone - A Book Of Human Language (1998)
- Ice Cube - Death Certificate (1991)
- Pharoahe Monch - Internal Affairs (1999)
- Micranots - Return Of The Travellahs (1996)
- Killah Priest - Heavy Mental (1998)
- Organized Konfusion - Organized Konfusion (1991)
- Bakers of the Holy Bread - The End of a Cold Experience (1995)
- Artifacts - Between a Rock and a Hard Place (1994)
- Heavy D and The Boyz - Peaceful Journey (1991)
- Paris - Sleeping with the Enemy (1992)
- Mobb Deep - Hell On Earth (1996)
- Gang Starr - Moment Of Truth (1998)
- P.M. Dawn - Of the Heart, of the Soul, and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience (1991)
- WC and the Maad Circle - Curb Servin (1995)
- Spearhead - Home (1994)
- Inspectah Deck - Uncontrolled Substance (1999)
- The Beatnuts - A Musical Massacre (1999)
- Young Bleed - My Balls And My Word (1998)
- The Juggaknots - The Juggaknots (1996)
- Latyrx - The Album (1997)
- Mr. Serv-On - Da Next Level (1999)
- Showbiz & A.G. - Runaway Slave (1992)
- Showbiz & A.G. - Goodfellas (1995)
- The Psycho Realm - The Psycho Realm (1997)
- Common - Resurrection (1994)
- The High & Mighty - Home Field Advantage (1999)
- Arsonists - As The World Burns (1999)
- O.C. - Word...Life (1994)
- Brand Nubian - One for All (1990)
- Young Bleed - My Own (1999)
- Organized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction Agenda (1994)
- Paris - Guerrilla Funk (1994)
- EPMD - Business Never Personal (1992)
- Juvenile - Solja Rags (1997)
- DJ Krush - Meiso (1995)
- Common - One Day It'll All Make Sense (1997)
- Soundbombing (1997)
- Guru - Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 (1993)
- Soul in the Hole Soundtrack (1997)
- Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots (1993)
- Dred Scott - Breakin' Combs (1994)
- Slick Rick - The Ruler's Back (1991)
- Big Punisher - Capital Punishment (1998)
- Illogic - Unforseen Shadows (1999)
- M.O.P. - Firing Squad (1996)
- Nas - It Was Written (1996)
- Above the Law - Uncle Sam's Curse (1994)
- Arrested Development - 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of... (1992)
- A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990)
- Mobb Deep - The Infamous (1995)
- Poor Righteous Teachers - Holy Intellect (1990)
- Smif-N-Wessun - Dah Shinin' (1995)
- Paris - The Devil Made Me Do It (1990)
- Clever Jeff - Jazz Hop Soul (1994)
- Blahzay Blahzay - Blah Blah Blah (1996)
- Gang Starr - Hard To Earn (1994)
- Mr. Serv-On - Life Insurance (1997)
- Kurupt - Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha (1999)
- Phoenix Orion - Zimulated Experiencez (1998)
- Dose One - Hemispheres (1998)
- Aesop Rock - Appleseed (1999)
- Outkast - ATLiens (1996)
- Binary Star - Water World (1999)
- Brand Nubian - Foundation (1998)
- Mr. Dibbs - Turntable Scientifics (1995)
- All Natural - No Additives No Preservatives (1998)
- DJ Eddie Def - Wax People (1999)
- The Goats - Tricks Of The Shade (1992)
- Konceptual Dominance - Savage Intelligence (1999)
- Akinyele - Put It In Your Mouth (1996)
- Killarmy - Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars (1997)
- The Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia (1995)
- Jay-Z - Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (1998)
- A.D.O.R. - The Concrete (1994)
- Blackalicious - Nia (1999)
- Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai Soundtrack (1999)
- Dream Warriors - And Now The Legacy Begins (1991)
- 2Pac - Makaveli - The Don Killuminati (The 7 Day Theory) (1996)
- Mysterme & DJ 20/20 - Let Me Explain (1993)
- Styles Of Beyond - 2000 Fold (1998)
- Kurious - A Constipated Monkey (1994)
- The Nonce - World Ultimate (1995)
- Noreaga - N.O.R.E. (1998)
- Questionmark Asylum - The Album (1995)
- A.T.B.A.N. Klann - Grass Roots (1992)
- EPMD - Business As Usual (1990)
- N.W.A. - 100 Miles and Runnin (1990)
- Lootpack - Soundpieces: Da Antidote! (1999)
- Mike Ladd - Easy Listening 4 Armageddon (1997)
- The Troubleneck Brothers - Fuck All Ya'll (1992)
- Adlib - Vs. (1998)
- Poor Righteous Teachers - The New World Order (1996)
- Akinyele - Vagina Diner (1993)
- Lost Boyz - Legal Drug Money (1996)
- Capone-N-Noreaga - The War Report (1997)
- Del The Funky Homosapian - Future Development (1997)
- Cru - Da Dirty 30 (1997)
- MC Ren - Kizz My Black Azz (1992)
- Dalek - Negro Necro Nekros (1998)
- Caveman - Positive reaction (1991)
- Geto Boys - We Can't Be Stopped (1993)
- Sunz Of Man - The Last Shall Be First (1998)
- Da King & I - Contemporary Jeep Music (1993)
- KMC - Three Men with the Power of Ten (1991)
- Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep (1994)
- Richie Rich - Don't Do It (1990)
- Justin Warfield - My Field Trip to Planet 9 (1993)
- Master P - Ice Cream Man (1996)
- Funkdoobiest - Which Doobie U B? (1993)
- Mos Def - Black on Both Sides (1999)
- anticon. - Music for the Advancement of Hip Hop (1999)
- Willie D - I'm Goin' Out Lika Soldier (1992)
- Jim Crow - Crow's Nest (1999)
- Insane Poetry - Grim Reality (1992)
- Mystikal - Unpredictable (1997)
- Rob Swift - The Ablist (1999)
- Cappadonna - The Pillage (1998)
- Hijack - The Horns of Jericho (1991)
- Lords of the Underground - Here Come the Lords (1993)
- Eric B. and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (1992)
- LL Cool J - Mr. Smith (1995)
- Boss - Born Gangstaz (1992)
- Rakim - The 18th Letter (1997)
- CVE - Declassified (1998)
- 2Pac - Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993)
- Originoo Gunn Clappaz - Da Storm (1996)
- Jay-Z - In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997)
- Busta Rhymes - When Disater Strikes (1997)
- Mood - Doom (1997)
- The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde (1992)
- Boogie Down Productions - Edutainment (1990)
- Boogiemonsters - Riders of the Storm (The Underwater Album) (1994)
- Lord Finesse - The Awakening (1996)
- The Beatnuts - The Beatnuts: Street Level (1994)
- U.G.K. - Too Hard To Swallow (1992)
- Ice Cube - The Predator (1992)
- Outlaw Posse - My Afro's on Fire (1990)
- Ultra - Big Time (1996)
- LPG - The Earthworm (1995)
- Sixtoo - 4 Elements (1995)
- Tha Alkaholiks - Likwidation (1997)
- Real Live - The Turnaround: A Long Awaited Drama (1996)
- Wyclef Jean - The Carnival (1997)
- Onyx - Bacdafucup (1993)
- Heavy D and The Boyz - Blue Funk (1992)
- Mac - Shell Shocked (1998)
- Onyx - Shut 'Em Down (1998)
- Artifacts - That's Them (1997)
- Wu-Tang Killa Bees - The Swarm Volume 1 (1998)
- Del The Funky Homosapien - I Wish my Brother George Was Here (1991)
- Quannum Spectrum (1999)
- Jeru The Damaja - Wrath of the Math (1996)
- Chubb Rock - The One (1991)
- Big Daddy Kane - Looks Like a Job For… (1993)
- MC Lyte - Act Like You Know (1991)
- Black Moon - War Zone (1999)
- Fat Joe - Jealous Ones Envy (1995)
- Scarface - Mr. Scarface Is Back (1991)
- Mac - World War III (1999)
- O.C. - Jewelz (1997)
- Eminem - The Slim Shady LP (1999)
- Slum Village - Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) (1997)
Fatcon: Where is whut? thee album!!!
midwestmac: yeah where the fuck is whut? thee album
It would have made the top 300, but like most Redman albums, there’s a lot of filler tracks and retarded skits that were supposed to be funny but aren’t.
Piazzajordan2: Is reasonable doubt on this?
Reasonable Doubt could be viewed as a weaker version of about 10-15 albums that were released before it. Be original or be better. Reasonable Doubt didn't achieve either. Don't get me wrong. It's still a good album, but I don't understand why every critic and fan thinks it's an unquestionable classic.
IIIhueyIII: i though mech would rank Funcrusher Plus and Daily Operation in the top 5.
Funcrusher Plus is #8, so it’s not that far off, and I’ve always said Daily Operation is Gang Starr’s best album, but I don’t think I’ve ever said anything that would imply that Daily Operation would be in my top 5 of the 90s.
IIIhueyIII: and Soul Food would have been lower
Soul Food is everything that Southern hip hop should be. The South is basically the home of social injustice. Why do most Southern rappers rap about nothing but luxuries? Plus the production is actually good instead of every song sounding like a rip off of a Mannie Fresh or Beats By the Pound beat.
IIIhueyIII: and just for curiosity's sake, what album would have been #251?
Ram Squad – Thee Album Regardless
Nexx: Wow, I don't know how to use this chat thing. Anyway what I was trying to say is, things I'm surprised about are: 1. Sons of the P being so high. I don't think I've seen Sons of the P on anyone else's list ever.
It’s a shame that Digital Underground is viewed as one-hit wonders because they’re one of the most creative groups in hip hop. Sons of the P is usually overlooked because it doesn’t have The Humpty Dance on it, but it’s not that far behind Sex Packets.
Nexx: 2. Stone Crazy? Really? I thought that album sucked.The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill being so low.
Stone Crazy has excellent production. It also benefitted from being released in 1997 when there weren’t many really great albums. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was hard for me to rank because it’s definitely a hip hop album as opposed to an R&B album, but the R&B aspects of are the main reason it was such a good album. #88 isn’t really that low either.
Piazzajordan2: Me Against the World being that low and All Eyez on Me being that high is almost laughable.
They’re basically on par with each other in terms of overall quality. This is the rare case where being a double disc album is what makes All Eyez on Me a better album. Not that much better, but it’s still better. Again, #82 isn’t that low.
Hohokev: anyway i approve of number 25
I’ve been underrating Wave Twisters for a long time. When I listened to it recently, I realized how good it is. It’s actually the best turntablism album ever, even though I have said Phantasmagorea is in the past.
Hohokev: i thought this album sucked balls P.M. Dawn - Of the Heart, of the Soul, and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience (1991)
Actually, it doesn’t suck balls. PM Dawn is awesome. The Bliss album would have been pretty high on this list too, but I decided it leaned more toward R&B than hip hop.
Nexx: and also I don't know anyone who besides Mech who thinks Vol. 2 is better than both Vol. 1 and Reasonable Doubt
I always had Vol. 1 ahead of Vol. 2 before I made this list. Vol. 1 is better than Reasonable Doubt because it had more diversity and originality. Vol. 2 was actually another step in that direction.
Hohokev: ew, an alkaholiks album?
Tha Liks are dope. Coast II Coast also only missed the list by a few spots.
Nexx: also, some albums I expected to see that weren't there (unless I missed them): Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous, Life After Death, Doe or Die, Let the Rhythm Hit Em, Naughty By Nature, and Soul On Ice. Found it kinda weird that they weren't there. Other than that, great list. I got a lot of stuff to check out now.
Aside from Soul on Ice where I’m just going to make the common complaint that the production sucked and ruined one of the best lyrical performances ever, they all had too many songs that were just ok and/or they lacked originality.
IIIhueyIII: queen latifah #80
Queen Latifah’s is inconsistent, but she did put a out a couple of great albums, Black Reign being her best, and the best hip hop album by a female before Jean Grae came along.
IIIhueyIII: plus, why the fuck is Imaginarium at #26? and does Forever really deserve to be at 20?
Find another list that has Imaginarium ranked higher. I’ve ranked Imaginarium higher before, but I think I was rating it too high just because it’s so overlooked. I’ve always said Disc 1 of Forever is better than 36 Chambers. The only flaw on Forever is the awful last few tracks.
IIIhueyIII: and Jewelz should be much higher than 248
Every album on this list is dope. Some are just doper than others. There just happened to be 247 albums that are doper than Jewelz.
Real54: It's about a million times better than the 00's list.
I organized this list a lot better than the 00s list. Plus the 90s were better and there weren’t as many albums to diversify people’s opinions.
Real54: Obviously I disapprove of Moment Of Truth at #100
Just be happy that three Gang Starr albums made the top 100
Real54: Oh and Apocalypse 91 is number 4?
For some reason I always thought Apocalypse 91 was inferior to It Takes a Nation and Fear of a Black Planet, which is why I rarely listened to it, but listening to it recently, it’s about as good as It Takes a Nation, and a step forward from Fear of a Black Planet.
Hohokev: whar iz 2 live crew??!?
I don’t know if this is a serious question. 2 Live Crew sucks, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone say any of their 90s albums are good.
Hohokev: i dont think steal this album should be that high either
It has some of the funkiest production ever, and some of the most purposeful lyrics.
Real54: Oh, BTW I'm REALLY surprised to see DMX at number 53.
Real54: I didn't think you liked DMX
DMX was dope when he first came out, but he was gimmicky. He got repetitive and boring quick, but his first album was really original.
Hohokev: i think the Diary should be higher
It would have been higher if he wasn’t just rehashing the same subject matter he covered on his previous solo albums and Geto Boys albums. It was an improvement over those albums, but still basically the same type of album.
Hohokev: DOSE ONE?@!?!?!!
A lot of that abstract stuff that made my 00s list can be traced back to Dose One.
Real54: Oh, I'm glad First Family 4 Life was sort of high.
Real54: Also, Illadelph Halflife > Things Fall Apart
Real54: But they are basically equal and both are way better than Do You Want More
Real54: I wouldn't even put Do You Want More on my list.
They’re all basically interchangeable. There aren’t too many groups that could change their vibe from one album to the next and still pump out classics.
Hohokev: where is Hotsauce in the Dickhole? Lol
Great for a turntablism album, but it doesn’t quite make this list.
Real54: The lack of the good EPMD albums annoys me.
Real54: Back In Business and Out Of Business aren't on here. Also PMD - Business Is Business is better than those early 90's EPMD albums.
Real54: But, most older heads disagree with me on that, so its to be expected.
EPMD as a late 80s/early 90s group that sounded like a mid-late 90s groups was more distinctive than the mid-late 90s EPMD that sounded like a mid-late 90s group. Being ahead of the times is better than being in the times.
Real54: Not having Return Of The Boom Bap on there in the words of Cap "gives me aids."
It’s too inconsistent. There’s too much of a gap between the best songs and the worst songs.
Real54: I agree with UMC's Fruits Of Nature being high. It's really underrated. I wouldn't put it at 32, but it would be high on my list.
I don’t know how that album only produced one popular single. Half of the tracks sound like they could have been top 10 singles back in 1991.
Real54: Craftsman would complain about the lack of Naughty By Nature albums.
They made a few good albums, but I don’t think they ever really put it all together for a complete album.
Real54: Oh, yeah, props for putting Hell On Earth above The Infamous.
Real54: Too many tards out there mindlessly put the older one first. Hell On Earth is miles beyond The Infamous.
They’re pretty much on the same level. It doesn’t make sense why there’s not a 50/50 split on which is a better album. There definitely shouldn’t be a 95/5 split in favor of The Infamous.
BUNKERBOO: You really have a black eyed peas album over Reasonable Doubt?
Actually, two Black Eyed Peas Albums over Reasonable Doubt if you include the A.T.B.A.N. Klann album. I have to assume you've never heard pre-Fergie Black Eyed Peas.
Hohokev: >>> Where is The Main Ingredient?!?!?!?
The Main Ingredient was basically the same as Mecca & The Soul Brother except there weren't as many standout tracks, C.L. Smooth was worse, and it came out two years later. Pete Rock refined his technique on The Main Ingredient but it didn't necessarily yield better results. I would have had All Souled out on the list before The Main Ingredient, but like most albums that people have mentioned, it probably would have made it if I went to 300.
Tyrone Biggums: Why didn't Livin' Proof and So.. How's Your Girl make the list?
Livin Proof has some of DJ Premier's best production (not his best production), but it's really not that much better than anything else he'd done at the time, and Group Home is garbage. Wrath of the Math was only #240 on my list, and it's a lot better than Livin Proof because it only has slightly worse production and way better lyrics. So...How's You Girl is the type of album that's either kind of creative or kind of corny, and even if it's creative, it's not that creative and it wasn't executed as well as it could have been executed.
Piazzajordan2: I also don't understand why INI - Center of Attention didn't make this list. (Maybe cause it didn't officially get released till 2003)
I included a few albums that were shelved when they were originally supposed to be released, but people tend to overrate albums just because they're good and got shelved. Center of Attention was one of the next albums in line, but it didn't quite make it.
Blockboy1: how the fuck is Black Star not top 20?
The production was very good, but it wasn't exactly top-notch. Of my top 10 albums from 1998, Black Star would rank 10th in production.
Piazzajordan2: No Leaders of the New School? --->
Neither LONS album was in contention for this list. If it was a list of the most overrated albums of the 90s, A Future Without a Past would be in the top 5. Maybe even #1.
Notoriouslybigwang: and why is the slim shady LP not higher? i'm not angry, just looking for clarification/justification.
Eminem was really annoying on a few songs and the production was occasionally boring.
IIIhueyIII: what? 58 is ridic
IIIhueyIII: juvenile is at 122 also
Juvenile has one of the dopest deliveries in hip hop and actually has some good lyrical content. Mannie Fresh is a great producer who at one point had a lot of diversity before he found a formula that sold records and decided to never divert from that formula again.
Yourevilconscience: BTW, I'm very disappointed not to see "here to save you all" on this list
Here to Save You All is like Soul on Ice, except the production is even worse on Here to Save You All.
Yourevilconscience: Master P is on this list as well
Ice Cream Man was dope because Master P was still straight gangsta and Beats by the Pound weren’t even watered down yet by putting out 20 albums per year.
Yourevilconscience: Oh yea, No Intelligent hoodlum album makes me also (sad face)
Saga of a Hoodlum wasn’t too far from making the list. I never saw anything special in Tragedy Khadafi. He’s really just another rapper.
