Top 5

5.

Album: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Artist: Public Enemy

Year: 1988

Why: It was extremely influential. The album's mix of The Bomb Squad's dense, sample-heavy production (about 40 samples per track!) and Chuck D's politically charged lyrics turned the album into a sensation. Several critics regard this as the greatest hip-hop album of all time including Vibe Magazine.

4.

Album: Illmatic

Artist: Nas

Year: 1994

Why: If you havent at least heard this album once, you are not a hip-hop fan. When this album came out it changed the entire face of hip-hop and gave the west coast a run for their money. Nas hasnt been able to top this album, and sadly he may never will. So what if there are only 10 tracks, each are the equivalent to an delacacy at a fancy restaurant.

3.

Album: The Chronic

Artist: Dr. Dre

Year: 1992

Why: The epitamy of a west coast gangsta album. There isnt one track on this album worth skipping. Even George Clinton himself admitted this album beat earlier hip-hop like KRS-One, Kool G Rap, and even Rakim. Several sources claim this is the greatest hip-hop album ever without argument. Plus this was one of (or maybe the) first album to have a melody over lyrical gangbanging. This is unanimously the greatest west coast album evar!

2.

Album: Paid in Full

Artist: Eric B & Rakim

Year: 1987

Why: It pretty much changed the whole style of hip-hop and was one of the defenitive albums of the Golden Age (1984-1993). This album is a must for hip-hop heads and why not. It had some of the greatest beats ever produced and some of the sickest lyrics ever spitted. Like "It's been a long time/ I shouldnt have left you", "I got soul/ that's why i came", and "Thinking of a Master Plan". Each track was priceless and worth listening to. Coutless fans of hip-hop have credited this to be the greatest rap album of all time.

1.

Album: Life After Death

Artist: The Notorious B.I.G.

Year: 1997

Why: While Ready to Die was a ground breaking album. Life After Death proved that Biggie was one of, if not, the most talented mc ever. Even though in all there are 24 tracks. Not one isnt a keeper. The album had something for everybody. Club Bangers (Hypnotize), Love Ballads (Fuck You Tonight), Dark Mafioso Stories (Niggas Bleed), Songs about Cash (I Love the Dough), and even a West Coast tribute (Going Back to Cali) and a track where he even sang (Playa Hater). Big proved he could spit fire over anything and everything. The album even had top notch producers such as the RZA, DJ Premier, Clark Kent, Mobb Deep's Havoc and the old school go-to producer, Easy Moe Bee! And the album was a complete success. It was one of the only 4 hip-hop albums to go Diamond. It was arguably the last "classic" hip-hop album to come out before the days of No Limit Records, and the Shiny Suit era. That's why Life After Death is the Greatest Hip-Hop Album of All Time.