OT - Greatest Rap Albums

Your list of greatest rap albums. I'll start...

Okay, a warning. I'm old school. I remember hearing the Sugar Hill Gang on the radio. I'm not much about the mumbling into the mic the kids do nowadays. I don't know who the fuck Travis Scott is, and I'm pretty sure that Takeshi 69 video I saw once was an actual nightmare and not a real thing. That being said:

1. Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.

Accept no substitutes. This makes my top five albums regardless of genre. Chuck D's lyrics, his flow--the power of his voice as an musical instrument are still unmatched. He introduced a political militance to hip hop, when the lyrics had mostly been devoted to rocking the party and keeping booties shaking. The Bomb Squad brought a heavy element of dissonance that turned a lot of listeners off. Not me, though--I'm so into dissonance that I've got about five Sonic Youth albums. There's the contrast between Flava Flav bouncing off the walls and the S1Ws keeping it on lock-down. Every cut on the this album holds up as a classic in it's own right.

2. The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

There are many contenders for this spot, and, truthfully, I would've placed Amerikkka's Most Wanted by Ice Cube here up until a few years ago, but that album has not aged well. The Pharcyde are worthy here though. Every cut flashes a different style but each is great in its own way. The lyricism is simply brilliant throughout, and the songs sum as a great illustration of the rich variety of styles before MTV codified gangsta and bling as the ONLY forms. This is basically album about middle class Black kids being kids. I only wish the Pharcyde had more than two albums in them.

3. Nas - Illmatic

This could've been at two. A perfect match of brilliant lyrical flow and killer beats. This album introduced the use of jazz in hip hop, which traces rap back to the traditions of beat poetry, the Last Poets, and Gil Scott-Heron. This album is iconic for a reason.

4. Cypress Hill - Black Sunday

A toss-up for me here between their eponymous first album or this one. Gotta go with Black Sunday though for "Insane in the Brain" and "Break 'Em Off Some." Propulsive driving power is the name of game here. These are songs that make you want to wreck shit...but in a, um, good way. B-Real and Sen Dog play off each other brilliantly, and the use of Latin instruments and rhythms was and is revolutionary.

5. The Roots - Things Fall Apart

This could've been higher. It's The Roots, man. This is the album on the list you're most likely listening to with your parents or your kids, or you're throwing on at the cook-out. Consciousness rap over a live band mixing jazz and soul--it's like punk once they finally learned how to play their instruments--it's not as raw and maybe you can't slam dance to it anymore, but, damn, is it great.

6. MC 900 Ft. Jesus - Hell with the Lid Off

A curve ball for y'all: Like the Pharcyde, a relatively forgotten artist, this album, a collaboration with D.J. Zero has all. It's funny, shocking, twisted sometimes all at once. I really love the minimalist beats which mix in elements of electronica to great effect.

7. The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury

There's a good chance you've never heard of this album, but that's okay. Google it now! Michael Franti still performs with Spearhead, but this album was groundbreaking. Wildly kinetic beats paired with political lyrics that directly confront and indict commericialism and conspicuous consumption. Franti has definitely read Walter Benjamin. 

8. Beastie Boys - Ill Communication

Oh yeah, they have to be on here. Everybody's got a favorite Beastie Boys album, and this one is mine. Come on, son. We're talking, "Sure Shot," Root Down," "Sabotage," "Flute Loop," "Bodhisattva Vow." So, so good throughout.

9. Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise

Look, don't scoff. Just sit down, clear your mind, and listen to the whole thing. You'll see I'm right. Gangsta's Paradise is a like Mack Daddy by Sir Mix-a-Lot in that way. Both albums are known for a singular hit but are actually great throughout with many songs that are better than the singular hit.

10. KRS-One - Return of the Boom Bap

The brotha is fierce. The brotha is uncompromising. KRS is a true O.G. Picking a favorite KRS album is a challenge. There's his work with Scott LaRock as Boogie Down Productions then there's the extensive solo career after his tragic death. The classic cuts on this one win out: "Outta Here" is one a the great hip cuts of all.

Alright, that's my list. There are obviously big names left off here that would make a longer list of albums or a list of standalone songs. There's no Run-D.M.C. though I can and have spent hours listening to "It's Tricky," or "Mary, Mary" on repeat. There's nothing by Dre or Snoop though would say the same of "Deep Cover." Anyway...what's your list?