Remember this is not a ranked list....but these are more of my favorites, check out part 1 here
http://maxreviewsandthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/08/my-favorite-rap-albums-ever-up-to-2015.html
http://maxreviewsandthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/08/my-favorite-rap-albums-ever-up-to-2015.html
1.
From
Nothing to Somethin(2007) :Fabolous-I have a lot of fond memories of this
album. Fab spits fire on these cohesive beats. Yes there’s some filler but its
hard to deny the singles as some of his best songs to date. FF: I bought this
really soon after it came out along with the video game Mario Kart DS lol. FT:
Brooklyn, Return of the Hustle, Make Me Better
2.
Raw
Footage(2008): Ice Cube-Perhaps the last great Ice Cube album. He hits hard
and spits fire on topics of extreme relevance. I wasn’t really a fan of Cube
till I heard this album. Some critics rated it higher than Game’s L.A.X. album
so I had to peep it. FF: This is the album that made me a fan of Cube…funny
right? FT: It Takes a Nation, Hood Mentality, Thank God
3.
Ultimate
Victory(2007): Chamillionaire-Cham’s 2nd album is incredible.
There’s so much cohesion and lyrical dexterity here. The production aint bad
either. FF: The album has no cussing lol…no seriously. FT: Hip Hop Police,
Morning News, The Bill Collecta
4.
Chicken
& Beer(2003): Ludacris-This is a terrific album. I love how it feels
very similar to Word of Mouf, yet very different as well. Lyrically Luda is no
slouch and he’s had a lot of fun on this one. The production is terrific as
well. FF: I bought this album the same day as Jay-z’s Black Album and it competed
well I remember. FT: Stand Up, We Got, Eyebrows Down
5.
The
Blueprint 3(2009):Jay-z-A fairly high anticipated conclusion to a great
trilogy. Jay spit a lot harder than he did on BP2. BP3 has terrificly cohesive
production. There’s also a perfect amount of guest spots. FF: I didn’t know the
sample for Young Forever was also in the movie Napoleon Dynamite. FT: D.O.A.,
Run This Town, Venus Vs. Mars
6.
The
Documetary(2005):The Game-A terrific album. It put Game on the map. 50 Cent
co-produced it along with Dr. Dre. It’s one of those albums where I’m not
really sure what the best songs are. FF: This is the album that made me a fan
of The Game.(big surprise lol). FT: Dreams, Higher, Hate It or Love It
7.
8
Mile Soundtrack(2002): Eminem & Various Artists-This is one incredibly
successful soundtrack. The 4 Eminem songs are very good, in fact Loose Yourself
is arguably his best song. Why? In short, he was rapping in character on the
song, and he murdred it lyrically! The other songs aren’t bad either….and the
songs from the other rappers aren’t bad either. OK OK…lol Fun fact: This was
the first time I got to hear 50 Cent…Favorite Tracks: Loose Yourself, Wanksta,
8 Mile
8.
Curtis(2007):50
Cent-Ah Curtis…perhaps the weirdest of the 50 Cent discography. For one it
was supposed to be called before I self destruct. It was kind of the twilight
of 50’s megastardom. Everything is dumb downed from GRoDT and The Massacre….but
alas it’s an album I love man. FF: I bought this with Kanye’s Graduation album
in 2007 and played them both pretty equally at the time. FT: Ayo Technology, I
Get Money, Fire
9.
God’s
Son(2002): Nas-This is an odd album to me. Not because of the actual music,
but ….we’ll get to that. Nas was still on top of his game but he rapped like he
had less to prove. Production wise, its about as good as any in his catalog.
You’ve got to remember he still wasn’t cool with Jigga in 2002 so….yeah. FF: I
had this album stolen from me….it took me a while to rebuy it. Then I lost it,
and then bought it recently lol. FT:The Cross, Made You Look, I Can
10.
Im A
Hustla(2005):Cassidy-Another cult classic(another album I love). Cassidy
spits really hard on this and the Swizz Beatz beats are dope as hell. I think
this is his best album. FF: I didn’t hear this album until 2006 lol. FT: B-Boy
Stance, 6 Minutes, I’m A Hustla
11.
Man
on the Moon II-The Legend of Mr. Rager(2010):Kid Cudi-A truly underrated
album. Kid Cudi reminds us all on this that there’s no rapper with this exact
style. I love the hooks and the creepy yet bouncy beats. I think he could have
used a few more guests but its dope. FF: I listened to this an awful lot when I
first got it….like another album I bought later that year. FT: REVOFEV, Erase
Me, Mojo So Dope
12.
Nellyville(2002):Nelly-This
is arguably his best album. It has lots of singles on it. One of those is Hot in
Herre; one of rap’s best part songs. The album features great production, and
very catchy choruses. FF: I had this album stolen, but then I bought the
unedited version years later. FT: #1, Hot in Herre, Air Force Ones
13.
Relapse(2009):Eminem-This
is no doubt Em’s most graphic album, even if you thought SSLP and MMLP were
tough to stomach. The album does however have good lyricism and decent beats.I
liked this album more back in 2009 than I do now, but its still dope. FF: Its
no secret that Eminem himself hates this album because of what it represents
for him…. FT: We Made You, Beautiful, Medicine Ball
14.
Doctor’s
Advocate(2006):The Game-DA is a great album that had to be great because
Game was kicked out of G-Unit. In other words, he had something to prove. Game
sounds fierce as ever, even if lyrically it’s no better than the debut. FF: I
bought this along with Lupe Fiasco’s first album in 2006….one of the best 1, 2
purchases ever.
15.
Theater
of the Mind(2008):Ludacris-In 2008 Luda returned to form with a great album.
This one was a little odd compared to his past works. He was having fun, but
also standing toe to toe with the likes of Jay-z and Nas! It’s a cinematic type
album in terms of theme. FF: Some say this was actually the best rap album of
2008, but not me lol. Also it featured T.I. for the first time. FT: What Them Girls
Like, I Do it For Hip Hop,, Undisputed
16.
The
Carter II(2005):Lil Wayne-Lil Wayne’s Carter II was his ascent to the
elites of the rap game. It’s evident he was in the conversation for best dirty
south rapper at this time. I like C2, but not quite as much as C3, but more
than C4 of course. FF:I got this album when I went to college back in 06’. FT:
Fireman, Best Rapper Alive, Hustler Musick
17.
Joe
Budden(2004): Joe Budden-You know you don’t see many self titled rap
albums. This one is fire. Joe takes you to the club with some songs, and tells
you about his personal struggles on some others. I don’t think he’s made an
album like this since though. FF: Another cd I lost, but hey it was saved on my
computer so ha! FT: Pump It Up, Give Me a Reason, #1
18.
Loso’s
Way(2009): Fabolous-Another cult classic. Sure it wasn’t the best album
that year, but it was on repeat for me. Fabolous shows a spectacular flow here.
FF:I ended up bootlegging it and then buying years later lol. FT: Imma Do It,
Throw it In the Bag, It’s My Time
19.
Recovery(2010):Eminem-This
is a very weird Eminem album. Its not normal for him(or at least it wasn’t),
and there’s no skits. The album is one of my favorites for a few reasons. Its
his recovery from the relapse! Yeah….well anyway there’s a new Popish sound
here and its hot. Yes for the first time there are no Dr. Dre beats for Em on
his album. FF: I bought this after bootlegging it. Man I loved it, maybe not as
much as in 2010 though. FT: No Love, Love The Way You Lie, Not Afraid
20.
Hip
Hop Is Dead(2006):Nas-Nas declared rap dead in 2006, and then he quickly
performs CPR on it. I really like the production on this album. Its solid. The
theme is kind of loose compared to some other Nas albums but it’s a win. FF:
Nas used the beat for Hip Hop is Dead(the song) previously on Thief’s Theme on
Street’s Dispiple. FT: Hip Hop is Dead, Blunt Ashes, Black Republican
21.
My
Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy(2010):Kanye West-Kanye’s masterpiece. It’s
got everything going for it; Out of this world beats, strong thoughtful lyrics,
and just great creativity. It’s aged well, but I admit I’ve listened to it an
awful lot. Kanye will be remembered for that one. FF: The deluxe version
shipped with the movie Runaway. FT: All of the Lights, Power, Dark Fantasy
22.
Tetsuo
& Youth(2015): Lupe Fiasco- Lupe’s masterpiece. Its so complex and so lyrically
dense. It really blows away much of his past work. Whether it’s the lyrical
onslaught of Mural or the immense storytelling of Prisoner 1 & 2, this is a
great album. FF: I really thought Lupe had the best album of 2015. FT: Mural,
Dots & Lines, Prisoner 1&2
23.
The Marshall
Mathers LP(2000):Eminem-Eminem’s best album to date. Its very much similar
to Slimshady LP, but it’s got stronger singles. It also helps that he’s a
lyrical force with beats to match. FF: I was given the first 2 Em albums back in
2002 I think, and my father wouldn’t let me listen to all the songs at first.
FT: The Real Slimshady, Criminals, The Way I Am
24.
Nothing
Was the Same(2013): Drake-Okay so my apologies but this is Drake’s best
album imo. He’s more fierce and the album is very deep. The beats are good too.
Drake finally made a great album, not that his others weren’t great. FF: I bootlegged
this album too, but I bought it soon after! FT: Hold On We’re Going Home,
Started From the Bottom, Worst Behavior
25.
The
Pinkprint(2014):Nicki Minaj-Okay this is Nicki’s best album (put the chair
down reader). Sorry that was unintentional to put them in a row like this lol.
Nicki seems to have CALMED DOWN a bit and stopped with the Roman ish. The
result is she sounds more focused lyrically here and this album has a little
bit for everybody. FF: I had to buy this from Itunes, the deluxe version. FT: The
Night is Still Young, Anaconda, Pills N Potions