List of hip hop albums considered the best

This article is a work in progress, and will feature incomplete elements.

This list of hip hop albums considered the best is a compilation of lists from a variety of sources that state the greatest hip hop albums.

List

About.com - 100 Best Hip-Hop Albums

Article written by Henry Adaso.

1. Illmatic - Nas (1994)
2. Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
3. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy (1988)
4. Paid in Full - Eric B. & Rakim (1986)
5. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... - Raekwon (1995)
6. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
7. The Chronic - Dr. Dre (1992)
8. Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A (1988)
9. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest (1991)
10. Me Against the World - 2Pac (1995)
11. Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z (1996)
12. Death Certificate - Ice Cube (1991)
13. Aquemini - OutKast (1998)
14. Criminal Minded - Boogie Down Productions (1986)
15. Licensed to Ill - Beastie Boys (1986)
16. The Score - Fugees (1996)
17. Doggystyle - Snoop Doggy Dogg (1993)
18. Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill (1991)
19. Resurrection - Common Sense (1994)
20. Breaking Atoms - Main Source (1991)
21. Looking for the Perfect Beat 1980-1985 - Afrika Bambaataa (2001)
22. Strictly Business - EPMD (1988)
23. No One Can Do It Better - The D.O.C. (1989)
24. Raising Hell - Run-D.M.C. (1986)
25. Critical Beatdown - Ultramagnetic MC's (1988)
26. Midnight Marauders - A Tribe Called Quest (1993)
27. Long Live the Kane - Big Daddy Kane (1988)
28. The Diary - Scarface (1994)
29. The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory - Makaveli
30. Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J (1990)
31. Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys (1989)
32. Whut? Thee Album - Redman (1992)
33. AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted - Ice Cube (1990)
34. Ironman - Ghostface Killah (1996)
35. Fear of a Black Planet - Public Enemy (1991)
36. Let's Get Free - dead prez (2000)
37. Mecca and the Soul Brother - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth (1992)
38. People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm - A Tribe Called Quest (1990)
39. Hard to Earn - Gang Starr (1994)
40. Life After Death - The Notorious B.I.G. (1997)
41. Power - Ice-T (1988)
42. Unfinished Business - EPMD (1989)
43. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill (1998)
44. One for All - Brand Nubian (1990)
45. Radio - LL Cool J (1985)
46. Stress: The Extinction Agenda - Organized Konfusion (1994)
47. Do You Want More?!!!??! - The Roots (1995)
48. ATLiens - OutKast (1996)
49. Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star - Black Star (1998)
50. Capital Punishment - Big Pun (1998)
51. Genocide & Juice - The Coup (1994)
52. 2001 - Dr. Dre (1999)
53. Madvillainy - Madvillain (2004)
54. Road to the Riches - Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (1989)
55. The Blueprint - Jay-Z (2001)
56. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik - OutKast (1993)
57. De La Soul Is Dead - De La Soul (1991)
58. Stankonia - OutKast (2000)
59. It Was Written - Nas (1996)
60. Stillmatic - Nas (2001)
61. Black on Both Sides - Mos Def (1999)
62. Liquid Swords - GZA (1995)
63. Ridin' Dirty - UGK (1996)
64. By All Means Necessary - Boogie Down Productions (1988)
65. Doe or Die - AZ (1995)
66. Endtroducing..... - DJ Shadow (1996)
67. All Hail the Queen - Queen Latifah (1989)
68. We Can't Be Stopped - Geto Boys (1991)
69. Late Registration - Kanye West (2005)
70. Goin' Off - Biz Markie (1988)
71. The Infamous - Mobb Deep (1995)
72. To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar (2015)
73. Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde - The Pharcyde (1992)
74. Step in the Arena - Gang Starr (1991)
75. Straight out the Jungle - Jungle Brothers (1988)
76. The Slim Shady LP - Eminem (1999)
77. It's Dark and Hell Is Hot - DMX (1998)
78. The College Dropout - Kanye West (2004)
79. Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop - Diamond D (1992)
80. All Eyez on Me - 2Pac (1996)
81. The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem (2000)
82. Lyte as a Rock - MC Lyte (1988)
83. When Disaster Strikes... - Busta Rhymes (1997)
84. Illadelph Halflife - The Roots (1996)
85. The Fix - Scarface (2002)
86. The Carnival - Wyclef Jean (1997)
87. Enta da Stage - Black Moon (1993)
88. Fantastic, Vol. 2 - Slum Village (1998)
89. Train of Thought - Reflection Eternal (2000)
90. 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz - Xzibit (1998)
91. I Wish My Brother George Was Here - Del the Funky Homosapien (1991)
92. Things Fall Apart - The Roots (1999)
93. 400 Degreez - Juvenile (1998)
94. good kid, m.A.A.d city - Kendrick Lamar (2012)
95. The Sun Rises in the East - Jeru the Damaja (1993)
96. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels (2013)
97. Internal Affairs - Pharoahe Monch (1999)
98. Born to Mack - Too $hort (1987)
99. To Whom It May Concern... - Freestyle Fellowship (1991)
100. Operation: Doomsday - MF DOOM (1998)