10 Greatest Rap Albums Of All Time

Hip Hop is no doubt one of the most popular and relevant music genres in the entire world. The Genre which began with a birthday party in the recreation room of an apartment building, in New York City has grown into a culture, movement, and one of the most practiced genres worldwide. In honor of the pioneers, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 greatest rap albums of all time.

Read More:

• Top 10 Greatest Rappers of all Time
• The 10 Richest Rappers In The World (2022)
• Top 10 Best Selling Albums of All Time

1. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die (1994)

Ready to Die is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., and no doubt the greatest hip hop album of all time. It was released on September 13, 1994. The partly autobiographical album tells the story of the rapper’s experiences as a young criminal and was the only studio album released during his lifetime.

Ready to Die peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and was subject to widespread critical acclaim and soon a commercial success. It was also certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album was significant for revitalizing the East Coast hip hop scene, amid West Coast hip hop’s commercial dominance.

2. Nas – Illmatic (1994)

Nas’s debut album, Illmatic, takes second place among the greatest hip hop albums of all time. It was released on April 19, 1994, featuring multi-syllabic internal rhymes and inner-city narratives based on Nas’ experiences growing up in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, New York City.

The album debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart and received rave reviews from most music critics, who praised its production and Nas’ lyricism. Illmatic has been recognized by writers and music critics as a landmark album in East Coast hip hop. It also contributed to the revival of the New York City rap scene, introducing a number of stylistic trends to the region. The album is certified Double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, having sold 2 million copies in the United States.

3. Dr. Dre – The Chronic (1992)

The Chronic is Dr. Dre’s debut studio album and one of the greatest rap albums of all time. It was released on December 15, 1992, featuring many appearances by then-emerging American rapper Snoop Dogg.  The title derives from a slang term for high-grade cannabis, and its cover is an homage to Zig-Zag rolling papers.

The Album reached number three on the Billboard 200 and has been certified triple platinum with sales of three million copies in the United States. It is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential albums of the 1990s and one of the best-produced hip hop albums. In 2020, the album was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”

4. Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on June 28, 1988. The album received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its production techniques and Chuck D’s socially and politically charged lyricism. It also appeared on many publications’ year-end top album lists for 1988.

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back charted for 47 weeks on the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 42, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 1989.  The album is regarded by music writers and publications as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time.

5. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

Kendrick Lamar’s third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly, takes fifth place among the greatest rap albums of all time. The album was released on March 15, 2015, and it features political commentary and personal themes concerning African American culture, racial inequality, depression, and institutional discrimination.

To Pimp a Butterfly debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, and also on the UK album chart. It is also certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album has received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its musical scope and the social relevance of Lamar’s lyrics. It earned Lamar seven nominations at the 2016 Grammy Awards, including a win for Best Rap Album and an Album of the Year nomination.

6. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

Eminem’s third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP is not just the fastest-selling studio album in the United States but also one of the greatest rap albums of all time. It was released on May 23, 2000, and it features more introspective lyricism, including Eminem’s thoughts on his rise from rags to riches, the criticism of his music, and his estrangement from his family and wife.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, staying atop for eight consecutive weeks. It is widely regarded as Eminem’s best album and has sold 25 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.  It was nominated for Album of the Year and won Best Rap Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

7. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

Kanye West  Fifth studio album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, released on November 22, 2010, is one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The album explores West’s status as a celebrity, consumer culture, race, and the idealism of the American Dream.

Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and is certified triple platinum certification by RIAA. It also won Best Rap Album at the 2012 Grammy Awards and is widely considered Kanye West’s best album. It was named the best album of 2010 in many publications’ year-end lists

8. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on November 9, 1993. The album is believed to have created the blueprint for hardcore hip hop during the 1990s, serving as a template for many subsequent hip hop records.

The album peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard 200 chart and is certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in October 2018.  Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is widely regarded as one of the most significant albums of the 1990s, as well as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

9. Jay-Z – The Blueprint (2001)

The Blueprint is the sixth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on September 11, 2001. It is considered one of his best albums and has also been labeled as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. The Blueprint revived musical sampling as a common practice in hip-hop music, dislodging the digital keyboard-driven production style as the dominant sound in hip-hop music.

Despite its release coinciding with the September 11 attacks, it sold over 427,000 copies in its opening week and debuted at number one in the US, holding the spot for three weeks. It was later certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

10. Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the debut solo album by American singer and rapper Lauryn Hill. It was released on August 25, 1998.  The album touches upon Hill’s pregnancy and the turmoil within her former group the Fugees, along with themes of love and God.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was among the most acclaimed albums of 1998, as most critics praised Hill’s presentation of a woman’s view on life and love, along with her artistic range. At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill earned 10 nominations, winning five awards.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and has sold over 20 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time, the best-selling album by a female rapper.

Summary

Here is a summary of the top 10 greatest rap albums of all time.

1. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die (1994)
2. Nas – Illmatic (1994)
3. Dr. Dre – The Chronic (1992)
4. Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
5. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
6. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
7. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
8. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
9. Jay-Z – The Blueprint (2001)
10. Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
11. All Eyez on Me – 2Pac
12. Straight Outta Compton – N.W.A.