Top Ten RAP ALBUMS of the 2000s

[chazraps]

I'm a huge Hip-Hop head, from the shiniest of mainstream to the grittiest of underground, from all four coasts and their regional subsects, I love it. I've listened to a lot over the past decade, and here's my picks for the absolute best - popularopinions.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/chazs-top-ten-rap-albums-of-the-decade-not-named-supreme-clientele-c-a-t-t-l-e/

[rrm15]

Nice to see you showed T.I. some love. Sometimes i feel like the only person who felt that album was just a total masterpiece.

[Phosphor Glow]

I honestly haven't heard a single album on that list. I think I need to change that soon. Here's mine, including multiple entries by the same artist because I'm something of a newcomer to the genre (only been listening for like...3 or so years):

1) P.O.S. - Never Better
2) Weerd Science - Friends and Nervous Breakdowns
3) Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
4) Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust
5) El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
6) Jay-Z - The Black Album
7) Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor
8) Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
9) Saul Williams - The Inevitable RiseLiberation of NiggyTardust
10) Ludacris - Word of Mouf

...yup.

[Sickfit, King Of The Fits]

1. "The Cold Vein"-Cannibal Ox
2. "Late Registration"-Kanye West
3. "Donuts"-J Dilla
4. "The Blueprint"-Jay-Z
5. "Madvillainy"-Madvillain
6. "Be"-Common
7. "Stankonia" by Outkast
8. "Liberation" by Talib Kweli & Madlib
9. "Only Built For Cuban Linx II"-Raekwon
10. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead"-El-P

And DUDE, A+ for the Saul Williams love. Truly a great poet and hip-hop artist, sort of reminds of a neo-soul Gil Scott-Heron.

[chazraps]

Thanks for reading everybody!

Jan 31, 2010 14:45:59 GMT -5 @rrm15 said:

Nice to see you showed T.I. some love. Sometimes i feel like the only person who felt that album was just a total masterpiece.

I think a lot of that has to do with rap being so unpopular at the time. That, or people never getting a chance to listen to the album on a good soundsystem to hear how lush it truly is.

["Hollywood" Cactus Matt]

Giving props to Brother Ali = I am happy.

[eDemento2099]

Hunkty Krunkty

[LadyThrilla]

I'll just list some


The Game: The Documentary
Afroman: The Good Times
Jay-Z : The Dynasty
Kanye West: The College Dropout
50 Cent: Get Rich or Die Tryin
50 Cent: The Massacre
Eminem: Encore
Cam'Ron: Come Home With Me
JaRule: Pain Is Love


LadyThrilla

[dabossftw]

Not exactly a top ten, but these are my favorites of 1-1-00 to 1-1-10:

Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
Jay Z- The Blueprint (2001)
The Roots- Phrenology (2002)
OutKast- Stankonia (2002)
50 Cent- Get Rich Or Die Tryin' (2003)
Lil Wayne- The Carter (2004)
Ludacris- The Red Light District (2004)
Young Jeezy- Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (2005)
The Game- Documentary (2005)
Kanye West- College Dropout (2005)
NaS- Hip Hip Is Dead (2006)
Method Man- 4:21...The Day After (2006)

...and my favorite rap/hip-hop album of the decade:
Ghostface Killah- Fishscale (and More Fish) (2006)

[Phosphor Glow]

After looking over my list again, I have severely neglected some Kanye, Common, and Ghostface.

Dunno how I did that. I suck at making lists. Either way, that's usually why I do a top 20.

Jan 31, 2010 17:58:50 GMT -5 Sickfit, King Of The Fits said:

1. "The Cold Vein"-Cannibal Ox
2. "Late Registration"-Kanye West
3. "Donuts"-J Dilla
4. "The Blueprint"-Jay-Z
5. "Madvillainy"-Madvillain
6. "Be"-Common
7. "Stankonia" by Outkast
8. "Liberation" by Talib Kweli & Madlib
9. "Only Built For Cuban Linx II"-Raekwon
10. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead"-El-P

And DUDE, A+ for the Saul Williams love. Truly a great poet and hip-hop artist, sort of reminds of a neo-soul Gil Scott-Heron.

f*** yeah, man. Saul knows what's up.

[Toom E. Guci]

I can see Kanye interupting this thread any minute now!

[anticonscience]

Jan 31, 2010 19:53:53 GMT -5 "Hollywood" Cactus Matt said:

Giving props to Brother Ali = I am happy.

agreed, even though I feel that while "Shadows on the Sun" has some of the best individual songs of his career, I feel that "The Undisputed Truth" is the better overall ALBUM.

Ali is absolutely amazing live. If he ever comes to your area, GO!!!!!

We in Buffalo got a hell of a treat when he did a special warm up show in September prior to his European and Fresh Air tours, playing songs off of "Us" for the 1st time ever along with taking requests for whatever songs of his we wanted (except for "Picket Fence," which he refused to do but is alright since he did it last time in town a couple years before)

[chazraps]

Feb 1, 2010 2:43:05 GMT -5 anticonscience said:

Jan 31, 2010 19:53:53 GMT -5 "Hollywood" Cactus Matt said:

Giving props to Brother Ali = I am happy.

agreed, even though I feel that while "Shadows on the Sun" has some of the best individual songs of his career, I feel that "The Undisputed Truth" is the better overall ALBUM.

I've heard this from a few people and, while I love "The Undisputed Truth" to the point where I walked away from a writing gig when they asked me to change my review for it, I have a hard time digesting that preference. I'm curious, which did you hear first?

Also, to address the other comments and lists really quick:

-I didn't include Dilla's "Donuts" because there's no rapping on that album. Otherwise, absolute masterpiece. A top ten Hip-Hop album no doubt.

-I think Kanye's first album is great but marred by some horrendous guest appearances. His later albums didn't have the man himself improve as a rapper, so the "i'm trying soooo haaaarrrrrd" vibe from his debut became increasingly less tolerable. Also, as a producer I think he fares far better as a minimalist and "Late Registration" sounding like it was co-written by Danny Elfman made it sound overproduced. Look up the demo version of "Hey Mama," as opposed to the album version to get where I'm coming from.

-I honestly don't think Common made a good album last decade. I say this as someone who considers "Resurrection" one of the best rap albums of all time, but he was either experimenting with results he shouldn't have released (Electric Circus), being utterly forgettable (Be), reading People magazine over a beat (Finding Forever) or trying way too hard to be different (Universal Mind Control). 'Like Water for Chocolate' was probably the best of the bunch.

Glad to see some Hip-Hop discussion here.

[Sickfit, King Of The Fits]

Feb 1, 2010 4:06:19 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Feb 1, 2010 2:43:05 GMT -5 anticonscience said:

agreed, even though I feel that while "Shadows on the Sun" has some of the best individual songs of his career, I feel that "The Undisputed Truth" is the better overall ALBUM.

I've heard this from a few people and, while I love "The Undisputed Truth" to the point where I walked away from a writing gig when they asked me to change my review for it, I have a hard time digesting that preference. I'm curious, which did you hear first?

Also, to address the other comments and lists really quick:

-I didn't include Dilla's "Donuts" because there's no rapping on that album. Otherwise, absolute masterpiece. A top ten Hip-Hop album no doubt.

-I think Kanye's first album is great but marred by some horrendous guest appearances. His later albums didn't have the man himself improve as a rapper, so the "i'm trying soooo haaaarrrrrd" vibe from his debut became increasingly less tolerable. Also, as a producer I think he fares far better as a minimalist and "Late Registration" sounding like it was co-written by Danny Elfman made it sound overproduced. Look up the demo version of "Hey Mama," as opposed to the album version to get where I'm coming from.

-I honestly don't think Common made a good album last decade. I say this as someone who considers "Resurrection" one of the best rap albums of all time, but he was either experimenting with results he shouldn't have released (Electric Circus), being utterly forgettable (Be), reading People magazine over a beat (Finding Forever) or trying way too hard to be different (Universal Mind Control). 'Like Water for Chocolate' was probably the best of the bunch.

Glad to see some Hip-Hop discussion here.

I think to say "Be" was forgettable is a little harsh. To me, "Be" was probably one of the great records of the last decade, but was completely slept on because of Kanye's reign at the top. The beats suited Common like a glove. Sure, "Love Is" and "Real People" are kinda mired by sentimentality, but if you can't say "They Say" is one of the Top Ten hip-hop tracks of the past decade, you're lying through your teeth. Next to Donuts, this was probably the best produced hip-hop album of the past decade. This album alone shows that when Kanye wants to, he can be just as classic and innovative as J Dilla or Madlib. Hell, Common may have had the last two original Dilla beats before his death. That alone makes this album worth listening to.

You can say that Late Registration was bloated, but to say that "Be" was forgettable? That's either because you can't stomach conscious rap or you didn't listen to the record with the context the rest of the world was listening to at the time.

[Evilution E5150]

wow not a single rap album i purchased in the last 10 years is on that list

[chazraps]

Feb 1, 2010 7:00:34 GMT -5 Sickfit, King Of The Fits said:

I think to say "Be" was forgettable is a little harsh. To me, "Be" was probably one of the great records of the last decade, but was completely slept on because of Kanye's reign at the top. The beats suited Common like a glove. Sure, "Love Is" and "Real People" are kinda mired by sentimentality, but if you can't say "They Say" is one of the Top Ten hip-hop tracks of the past decade, you're lying through your teeth. Next to Donuts, this was probably the best produced hip-hop album of the past decade. This album alone shows that when Kanye wants to, he can be just as classic and innovative as J Dilla or Madlib. Hell, Common may have had the last two original Dilla beats before his death. That alone makes this album worth listening to.

You can say that Late Registration was bloated, but to say that "Be" was forgettable? That's either because you can't stomach conscious rap or you didn't listen to the record with the context the rest of the world was listening to at the time.

"They Say" is not one of the top Hip-Hop tracks of the decade. I don't like the term 'conscious rap,' it's always struck me as a reactionary term they means either "I don't want to say I like rap, but I want to like THESE rappers only" or "my rappers are smarter than your rappers."

I think it's forgettable because it's the first record where Common doesn't even sound like h enjoys rapping. As awful as 'Electric Circus' is, there's good 14 minutes where he's trying really hard. While 'Be' has moments like "The Food" (Common's last really good song) which are great so much of that album was just phoned in on both accounts. Listen to the "Be" demo here: www.cocaineblunts.com/blunts/?p=1396 and compare that to the album version.

Maybe the world and I had different context, but I'm from the midwest originally so I've been aware of what Kanye can do since his late-90s horrorcore phase. He's made some of the best beats of the decade ("B R Right," "Got Nowhere," "Some People Hate") but I look at 'Be' as his misfire point. His sound became stagnant, which was disappointing on "Be" and later frustrating on "Finding Forever." I admire Dilla even more, but never liked the match of him and Common. As great as the "Love Is..." beat is, Common's delivery and over-sentimentality just makes the whole thing sappy to the point where I risk diabetes listening.

Have you listened to Scarface's "The Fix?" I think you would like it. Everything you appreciate about that Common record is on it ten-fold. Two of Kanye's best beats are on it too.

[Black Swagger]

1.Lupe Fiasco-Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
2. Jay Z-The Black Album
3. AZ-Aziatic
4. Clipse-Lord Willin'
5. Common-Be
6. Kanye West-Graduation
7. 50 Cent-Get Rich or Die Tryin'
8. Talib Kweli-Quality (HOW CAN THIS ALBUM NOT BE MENTIONED)
9. Kanye West-College Dropout
10. Ludacris-Red Light District

[chazraps]

Feb 1, 2010 14:54:10 GMT -5 Black Swagger said:

8. Talib Kweli-Quality (HOW CAN THIS ALBUM NOT BE MENTIONED)

Well, it was a pretty big disappointment to those of us who had been following Kweli's career. He had promise in '97, but as someone who liked "Fortified Live" (if you've never heard it, you can download Talib's awesome debut single here - www.cocaineblunts.com/blunts/?p=3608 ) he never really developed and has sounded exactly the same for over a decade, continuing a steady stream of disappointment.

[King Fox -1017 Bricksquad]

Here's mine based on personal opinion....

10. Nelly - Country Grammar (Hate all you want but Nelly was on top for about 4 years)
9. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
8. Common - Be
7. Outkast - Speakerboxx/The Love Below
6. Young Jeezy - Thug Motivation 101: Let's Get It
5. T.I. - Trap Muzik
4. Nas - Stillmatic
3. Kanye West - College Dropout
2. 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin'
1. Jay-Z - The Blueprint

[Sickfit, King Of The Fits]

Feb 1, 2010 13:35:26 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Feb 1, 2010 7:00:34 GMT -5 Sickfit, King Of The Fits said:

I think to say "Be" was forgettable is a little harsh. To me, "Be" was probably one of the great records of the last decade, but was completely slept on because of Kanye's reign at the top. The beats suited Common like a glove. Sure, "Love Is" and "Real People" are kinda mired by sentimentality, but if you can't say "They Say" is one of the Top Ten hip-hop tracks of the past decade, you're lying through your teeth. Next to Donuts, this was probably the best produced hip-hop album of the past decade. This album alone shows that when Kanye wants to, he can be just as classic and innovative as J Dilla or Madlib. Hell, Common may have had the last two original Dilla beats before his death. That alone makes this album worth listening to.

You can say that Late Registration was bloated, but to say that "Be" was forgettable? That's either because you can't stomach conscious rap or you didn't listen to the record with the context the rest of the world was listening to at the time.

"They Say" is not one of the top Hip-Hop tracks of the decade. I don't like the term 'conscious rap,' it's always struck me as a reactionary term they means either "I don't want to say I like rap, but I want to like THESE rappers only" or "my rappers are smarter than your rappers."

I think it's forgettable because it's the first record where Common doesn't even sound like h enjoys rapping. As awful as 'Electric Circus' is, there's good 14 minutes where he's trying really hard. While 'Be' has moments like "The Food" (Common's last really good song) which are great so much of that album was just phoned in on both accounts. Listen to the "Be" demo here: www.cocaineblunts.com/blunts/?p=1396 and compare that to the album version.

Maybe the world and I had different context, but I'm from the midwest originally so I've been aware of what Kanye can do since his late-90s horrorcore phase. He's made some of the best beats of the decade ("B R Right," "Got Nowhere," "Some People Hate") but I look at 'Be' as his misfire point. His sound became stagnant, which was disappointing on "Be" and later frustrating on "Finding Forever." I admire Dilla even more, but never liked the match of him and Common. As great as the "Love Is..." beat is, Common's delivery and over-sentimentality just makes the whole thing sappy to the point where I risk diabetes listening.

Have you listened to Scarface's "The Fix?" I think you would like it. Everything you appreciate about that Common record is on it ten-fold. Two of Kanye's best beats are on it too.

I actually like "The Fix", great record.

Well, you make some good points, especially Common's tendency to be incredibly oversentimental, but I guess what I like about the album is it's ability to transport you into this chilled, urban setting where there is a plausibility for hope. Usually, with the best rap records, there is that intensity and rawness that fuels from the hells of urban life. But "Be" brings the same issues up without having to push "rawness". That's why I didn't like College Dropout. Kanye tried way too hard to show that he grew up on "the streets", but it was his more honest songs such as "Through The Wire", "Jesus Walks" and "All Falls Down" that really put him up on a pedestal. But Common does that all the time. He doesn't have to be the hardest rapper, but he still is able to get a message across. Sometimes, that's a welcome change in the rap community, when it seems all too often rappers can't too caught up in how many guns they can hold on their waist or how the man is putting them down. Common just tells like it is. Of course, he has his moments where he gets stagnant and sort of goes on auto-pilot (which is basically all of "Finding Forever".), but this record is probably the best balance, and probably the best reflection, of Common as an artist.

The only reason I say "They Say" is one of the best hip-hop records of the decade is because of it's charm and because of Common's declaration as a true head in hip-hop. While people knew Common before, this was the record that said "he's a veteran". Unfortunately, while the ball was in his court, he sorta screwed up with Finding Forever and UMC, trying to be Kanye.

But I still don't think "Be" is as boring as you say it is. I listen to the original demo of "Be" and while Common does come hard, the beat is annoying as hell and definitely doesn't touch the kind of classic feel of Kanye's beats on the record. The real "Be" has probably the lushest strings I've heard on a hip-hop record. It gives the record texture, which is something you don't see on hip-hop records, not in the mainstream at least. It gives you an atmosphere. That original "Be" beat was just a hip-hop beat, and nothing more. I mean, if you say "Be" was boring, you probably think "Below The Heavens" by Blu & Exile was a snoozefest. Meh, it's a matter of preference, I guess.