The list below represents the work of over a year of my life. I’d actually hazard it took close to 18 months to compile and rank this list. And hey, it’s only a little over a year late. As you might guess, I’m into hip-hop, like, REALLY into hip-hop. So when I saw all of the “Best of the Decade” lists pop up in various media around mid-2009, I decided to compile my own centering on hip-hop music. This list was first conceived as a Top 500, but grew to Top 600. Truthfully, I could have turned it into a Top 700 (I’ve got up to #676 loosely mapped out), but that seemed gratuitous even to me.
Okay, some general notes about the list:
1. It a list of MY favorite hip-hop albums released between 1/1/00 and 12/31/09. Releases from the year 2010 are not included.
2. It’s a list based on MY personal tastes and preferences. It does not factor in sales or “impact” or “relevance,” just what I liked the most.
3. Here’s what I did not include on the list of 600:
a. Hip-Hop EPs; they’re on a separate list.
b. Releases of albums/material originally intended to be released before 2000, or compilations of material that was released before 2000; they’re on a separate list.
c. Non-exclusive hip-hop albums released by hip-hop artists; the definition gets a little dicey sometimes, but I tried to keep it as consistent as possible, and yes, they got their own list.
d. Mixtapes. I didn’t get/download enough of these to really put together a comprehensive list. However, I included a separate list with my five favorites.
If you don’t see an album on the list, here are the potential reasons:
1. I didn’t hear it. It’s possible: even I can’t listen to everything. I certainly tried though, as I sought out A LOT of albums I hadn’t heard before putting this list together, and listened to them multiple times whenever possible. Many of them got included on this list.
2. I heard it and liked it but forgot to include it. Less likely, as I tried to be as exhaustive as possible. But my mind does not have an airtight seal; things can slip through.
3. There are, in my opinion, 600 hip-hop albums better than that album.
Last few notes: This list reflects my order of preference right now as I type this. I’ve edited this list countless times. Hell, I’ve edited it a few times since I started writing this intro. The order could be different 10 months or 10 minutes from now. So, if you’re wondering why one particular album is only #X in the list, it’s because I right now like #Y hip-hop albums more than that one.
I’ve listened to just about every album on here multiple times since I started putting it together, ESPECIALLY the ones that are ranked towards the end. There were A LOT of dope/great albums released between 1/1/00 and 12/31/09, which I why I expanded the length of this list from 500 to 600.
Also, I’m old enough that I’ll give just about anything its day in court, but be aware that there is a certain style of hip-hop that I prefer, and the list below reflects my tastes. That said, there’s stuff for everyone to hate about how I ranked these albums, but it’s an as accurate reflection of my beliefs right now as can be expected.
And, if after all that anyone wants to complain about this list, honestly, kiss my ass.
See without further ado, here’s the list:
Top 600 Hip-Hop albums of the ’00s.
1. Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele
2. Cannibal Ox – The Cold Vein
3. Outkast – Stankonia
4. Madvillain – Madvillainy
5. Edan – Beauty and the Beat
6. Jay-Z – Blueprint
7. People Under the Stairs – O.S.T.
8. Mr. Lif – I, Phantom
9. Blueprint – 1988
10. Reflection Eternal – Train of Thought
11. Blu and Exile – Below the Heavens
12. People Under the Stairs – Fun-DMC
13. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2
14. Masta Ace – Disposable Arts
15. De La Soul – The Grind Date
16. Third Sight – Symbonese Liberation Album
17. Roosevelt Franklin – Something’s Gotta Give
18. Viktor Vaughn – Vaudville Villain
19. Atmosphere – You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having
20. Slum Village – Fantastic, Vol. 2
21. El-P – I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead
22. J-Zone – A Job Ain’t Nothin’ But Work
23. Wu-Tang Clan – Iron Flag
24. Asheru and Blue Black – Soon Come…
25. Count Bass D – Dwight Spitz
26. MURS – End of the Beginning
27. The Roots – The Tipping Point
28. CunninLynguists – A Piece of Strange
29. Immortal Technique – Revolutionary Vol. 2
30. People Under the Stairs – Stepfather
31. Aesop Rock – Labor Days
32. Brother Ali – Shadows of the Sun
33. Insight – The Blast Radius
34. Jaylib – Champion Sound
35. Juggaknots – Use Your Confusion
36. Porn Theater Ushers - Taxachusetts
37. Little Brother – The Listening
38. Kanye West – Late Registration
39. Quasimoto – The Further Adventures of…
40. The Roots – Rising Down
41. J-Zone - $ick of Being Rich
42. Wu-Tang Clan – The W
43. The Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
44. J-Live – All of the Above
45. Illogic – Celestial Clockwork
46. The Roots –Game Theory
47. Willie Evans Jr. – Communication
48. Akrobatik – Balance
49. Kanye West – Graduation
50. Mr. Lif – I Heard It Today
51. Quasimoto – The Unseen
52. P.O.S. – Audition
53. Roddy Rod – Blunt Park Sessions 2.0
54. Devin the Dude – To Tha X-Treme
55. Maspyke – Blackout
56. Diamond District – In the Ruff
57. Super Chron Flight Brothers – Emergency Powers
58. Konceptual Dominance
59. Akrobatik – Absolute Value
60. Edan – Primitive Plus
61. J-Zone – Pimps Don’t Play Taxes
62. Atmosphere – God Loves Ugly
63. Asamov – And Now
64. Blackalicious – Blazing Arrow
65. Common – Like Water For Chocolate
66. Tanya Morgan – Brooklynatti
67. Tony Touch – The Piece Maker
68. MF DOOM – MM… Food?
69. Jedi Mind Tricks – Violent By Design
70. El-P – Fantastic Damage
71. Dilated Peoples – Expansion Team
72. RJD2 – Deadringer
73. All Natural – Second Nature
74. Five Deez – Kool Motor
75. De La Soul – Art Official Intelligence Vol. 1: Mosiac Thump
76. Azeem – Craft Classic
77. Kanye West – College Dropout
78. Jurassic Five – Power in Numbers
79. Beanie Sigel – The B. Coming
80. M.O.P. – Warriorz
81. Capital D – Insomnia
82. Brother Ali – Undisputed Truth
83. Big Boi – Speakerboxxx
84. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale
85. Jay-Z – American Gangster
86. Gangstarr – The Ownerz
87. Babbletron – Mechanical Royalty
88. Murs and 9th Wonder – MURS 3:16
89. Soul Position – Things Go Better With RJ and Al
90. The UN – UN Or U Out?
91. Prophetix – High Risk
92. People Under the Stairs – Carried Away
93. Perceptionists – Black Dialogue
94. Binary Star –Masters of the Universe
95. Hieroglyphics – Full Circle
96. CunninLynguists – Dirty Acres
97. Jake One – White Van Music
98. Styles of Beyond – Megadef
99. Louis Logic – Misery Loves Comedy
100. Guilty Simpson – Ode to the Ghetto
101. Jon Doe – Meet Jon Doe
102. One Be Lo – S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
103. Mos Def – The Ecstatic
104. Semi.Official – The Anti-Album
105. Wisemen – Wisemen Approaching
106. Capital D – Return of the Renegade
107. Jedi Mind Tricks – Visions of Gandhi
108. Non-Phixion – The Future is Now
109. Little Brother – The Minstrel Show
110. Sean Price – Monkey Barz
111. Slug & Murs - Felt 2: A Tribute To Lisa Bonet
112. Foreign Exchange – Connected
113. Scarface – The Fix
114. Uncut Raw – First Toke
115. Ghostface Killah – The Pretty Toney Album
116. Soul Position – 8 Million Stories
117. King Geedorah – Take Me To Your Leader
118. People Under the Stairs – Question in the Form of An Answer
119. J Dilla – Donuts
120. Dilated Peoples – The Platform
121. Pep Love – Ascension
122. Atmosphere – Seven’s Travels
123. Black Milk – Tronic
124. Dagha – The Divorce
125. P.O.S. – Never Better
126. The Roots – Phrenology
127. Living Legends – Almost Famous
128. Esoteric – Egoclapper
129. Y Society – Travel At Your Own Pace
130. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
131. Cunninlynguists – SouthernUnderground
132. Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass
133. Scarface – The Last of Dying Breed
134. Sean Price – Jesus Price Superstar
135. Tony Touch – The Piece Maker 2
136. Five Deez – Kinynasti
137. Invincible – Shape Shifters
138. Zion I & The Grouch – Heroes in the City of Dope
139. Fashawn – Boys Meets World
140. Esoteric – Saving Seamus Ryan
141. Swollen Members – Bad Dreams
142. Ghostface Killah – Bulletproof Wallets
143. Brother Ali – Us
144. The Mighty Underdogs – Droppin Science Fiction
145. Canibus – Rip the Jacker
146. Ugly Duckling – Taste the Secret
147. Binkis – The Reign Begins
148. D12 – Devil’s Night
149. Danger Doom – Mouse and the Mask
150. G&E – Say G&E
151. Jurassic Five – Quality Control
152. Smut Peddlers – Porn Again
153. Del – Both Sides of the Brain
154. Zion I – Mind Over Matter
155. Count Bass D – Act Your Waist Size
156. Aesop Rock – Bazooka Tooth
157. Azeem – Air Cartoons
158. DOOM – Born Like This
159. Nas – Hip-Hop is Dead
160. Esoteric – Esoteric Vs. Japan
161. Smile Rays – Smilin On You
162. Murs & Ninth Wonder – Murray’s Revenge
163. J. Rawls – The Essence of J. Rawls
164. Zion I – The Takeover
165. Exile – Radio
166. Dr. Oop – Mad Hueman Disease
167. Wee Bee Foolish – Brighton Beach Memoirs
168. Jay-Z – The Black Album
169. 7L and Esoteric – A New Dope
170. All Natural – Vintage
171. Strange Fruit Project – The Healing
172. Blackalicious – The Craft
173. The Molemen – The Ritual of the Molemen
174. Common – Be
175. Devin the Dude – Just Tryin’ to Live
176. A.G. – Get Dirty Radio
177. Sacred Hoop – Go Hogwild
178. Masta Ace - Long Hot Summer
179. Mr. Lif – Mo’ Mega
180. Illogic –Got Lyrics?
181. Cool Calm Pete – Lost
182. Lifesavas – Gutterfly
183. Zeph & Azeem – Rise Up
184. Iomos Marad – Deeply Rooted
185. Lifesavas – Spirit in Stone
186. Mr. Len – Pity the Fool
187. Ed O.G. – The Truth Hurts
188. Souls of Mischief – Montezuma’s Revenge
189. Johnny Five – Summer
190. K-Otix – Universal
191. Louis Logic – Sin-A-Matic
192. Nappy Roots – Watermelon, Chicken, and Gritz
193. The Beatnuts – Take It and Squeeze It
194. Motion Man – Clearing the Field
195. Tanya Morgan – Moonlighting
196. Cut Chemist – The Audience is Listening
197. Heltah Skeltah – D.I.R.T.
198. Ken Starr – Starr Status
199. Cage – Hell’s Winter
200. The High and Mighty – Highlite Zone
201. CunninLynguists – Strange Journey Vol. 1 & 2
202. Sound Providers – An Evening With the Sound Providers
203. Porn Theater Ushers – Sloppy Seconds
204. Ghostface Killah – More Fish
205. Redman – Malpractice
206. T.I. – King
207. Busta Rhymes – Anarchy
208. Little Brother – The Getback
209. Five Deez – Kommunicator
210. Mr. Dibbs – The 30th Song
211. Executive Lounge
212. Immortal Technique – Revolutionary Vol. 1
213. Beatnuts – The Originators
214. The Last Emperor – Music, Man, Myth
215. Gift of Gab – 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up
216. Deltron – Deltron 3030
217. DJ Shadow – Private Press
218. DJ Drez – Capture of Sound
219. One Be Lo – The R.E.B.I.R.T.H.
220. Freddie Foxxx – Industry Shakedown
221. Marco Polo – Port Authority
222. Jedi Mind Tricks – Legacy of Blood
223. DJ Rob Swift – Sound Event
224. 7L and Esoteric – Soul Purpose
225. Aceyalone – Accepted Eclectic
226. J-Live – Then What Happened
227. Torae and Marco Polo – Double Barrel
228. Killer Mike – Monster
229. Wu-Tang Clan – The 8 Diagrams
230. J Dilla – The Shining
231. Paten Locke – Super Ramen Spaceship
232. Masta Killah – No Said Date
233. Decompoze – Decomposition
234. De La Soul – Are You In?
235. Nas – Stillmatic
236. Leak Bros. – Waterworld
237. Masterminds – Stone Soup
238. Prince Paul – Itstrumental
239. Hell Razah – Razah’s Ladder
240. Chamillionaire – Ultimate Victory
241. Cam’Ron – Purple Haze
242. Arsonists – Date of Birth
243. Aesop Rock – Float
244. D.I.T.C. – D.I.T.C.
245. yU – Before Taxes
246. Dela – Changes in Atmosphere
247. Dynas – The Apartment
248. Masterminds – Underground Railroad
249. Cali Agents – How the West Was Won
250. Percee P – Perseverance
251. Grayskul – Deadlivers
252. All Natural – Elements/Fire
253. Foreign Legion – Kidnapper Van
254. Cunninlynguists – Will Rap For Food
255. EMC – The Show
256. Keely and Zaire – Ridin High
257. Casual – He Think He Raw
258. C-Rayz Walz – Year of the Beast
259. Finale – A Pipe Dream and a Promise
260. K’Naan – Troubadour
261. J Dilla – Jay Stay Paid
262. Murs – Murs 4 President
263. Greenhouse Effect – Columbus or Bust
264. Atmosphere – Lucy Ford
265. Stimulated Vol. 1
266. Eastern Conference All-Stars Vol. 2
267. Ghostface Killah – The Big Doe Rehab
268. Copywrite – The High Exhaulted
269. The Opus – First Contact 001
270. Aceyalone – Magnificent City
271. Dead Prez – Let’s Get Free
272. Q-Tip – Renaissance
273. CMA – All Over
274. Boss Hogg Barbarians – Every Hog Has Its Day
275. L’Roneous & Elusive – Dreamweavers
276. Hangar 18 – Sweep the Leg
277. Casual – Smash Rockwell
278. Cap D & The Molemen – The Writer’s Block
279. Turf Talk – West Coast Vaccine
280. Eminem – The Eminem Show
281. Sadat X – Black October
282. Murs – Murs Rules the World
283. Da Beatminerz – Fully Loaded With Statik
284. RZA – Digital Bullet
285. DJ Jazzy Jeff – Return of the Magnificent
286. Z-Trip – Shifting Gears
287. Cryptic One – The Anti-Mobius Strip Theory
288. Vakill – The Darkest Cloud
289. Single Minded Pros – From Now On…
290. Phenetiks – Revolutionary Non-Pollutionary Mechanical Wonder
291. Nas - Street’s Disciple
292. 7L and Esoteric – DC 2: Bars of Death
293. Sadat X – Experience and Education
294. Pigeon John – And the Summertime Pool Party
295. Lyrics Born – Later That Day
296. Ludacris – Back For the First Time
297. Unsung Heroes – Unleashed
298. Atmosphere – Strickly Leakage
299. Kan Kick – From Artz Unknown
300. Boot Camp Clik – Casualties of War
301. Dynas – Me, Myself, & Rhymes
302. Thirstin Howl III – Skillitary
303. Da Beatminerz – Brace 4 Impak
304. Sage Francis – A Healthy Distrust
305. DJ Spinna – Sonic Smash
306. DJ Zeph – Sunset Scavenger
307. The Beatnuts – Milk Me
308. The Grouch – Making Perfect Sense
309. Fresh Daily – The Gorgeous Killer in Crimes of Passion
310. Homeboy Sandman – Actual Factual Pterodactyl
311. Sandpeople – Honest Racket
312. Pharoahe Monch – Desire
313. Laid in Full Vol. 2
314. The Nextmen – Amongst the Madness
315. Esoteric – Serve or Suffer
316. Sene & Blu – Day Late and a Dollar Short
317. Count Bass D – L7
318. Phife Dawg – Ventilation
319. Super Chron Flight Brothers – Indonesia
320. Slum Village – Detroit Deli
321. Kidz N the Hall – School is My Hustle
322. Clipse – ‘Til the Casket Drops
323. Vast Aire – Look Ma, No Hands
324. T.I. – Trap Muzik
325. Opio – Traingulation Station
326. The Clipse – Lord Willin’
327. Young Jeezy – The Recession
328. The Coup – Party Music
329. L’Roneous – Purposely Powerful
330. Outkast – Idlewild
331. Hell Razah – Renaissance Child
332. Sacred Hoop – Sleep Over
333. Talib Kweli – Eardrum
334. Mission – One
335. Sage Francis – Personal Journals
336. Electric – Life’s a Struggle
337. MC Paul Barman – Paullelujah
338. Masters of Illusion
339. Phat Kat – Carte Blanche
340. BK One – Radio Do Canibal
341. Side Two
342. Jedi Mind Tricks – History of Violence
343. Doomtree – Doomtree
344. Prefuse 73 – Vocal Studies and Uprock Narratives
345. A & E – Arts and Entertainment
346. Beastie Boys – To the 5 Boroughs
347. Large Professor – Main Source
348. Big Tone – The Art of Ink
349. Nobody – Soulmates
350. SA Smash – Smashy Trashy
351. Army of the Pharaohs – The Torture Papers
352. Planet Asia – The Medicine
353. Jedi Mind Tricks – Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
354. Danger Mouse & Jemini – Ghetto Pop Life
355. Blame One – Days Chasing Days
356. Wu-Tang Clan – Chamber Music
357. El Da Sensei – The Unusual
358. The Game – Documentary
359. Devin the Dude - Landing Gear
360. The High and Mighty – The 12th Man
361. Kidz N the Hall – The In-Crowd
362. Slug and MURS – Felt 3: Tribute to Rosie Perez
363. Maspyke – Static
364. Tek and Steele – Reloaded
365. Bus Driver – Fear of a Black Tangent
366. Jay Dee – Welcome to Detroit
367. Encore – Self Preservation
368. Jel – 10 Seconds
369. Spank Rock – YoYoYoYoYo
370. Elzhi – The Preface
371. Dabrye – Two/Three
372. Ludacris – Theater of the Mind
373. DJ Zeph – DJ Zeph
374. Toki Wright – A Different Mirror
375. Three Melancholy Gypsies – Grand Caravan to the Rim of the World
376. Azeem – Show Business
377. Masai Bey – Art of the Covenant
378. Wu-Tang Meets Indie Culture
379. Souls of Mischief – Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution
380. Jay-Z – Kingdom Come
381. Embedded – The Bedford Files
382. Buc Fifty – Bad Man
383. Dillon & Paten Locke – Studies in Hunger
384. Dizzee Razcal – Maths + English
385. GZA – Pro Tools
386. Rapper Big Pooh – Sleepers
387. Supastition – Chain Letters
388. Convexed
389. The War Compilation
390. 007 Bond – Golden Gunn
391. 7L and Esoteric – Dangerous Connection
392. Hangar 18 – Multi-Platinum Debut Album
393. The Dwellas – The Last Shall Come First
394. C-Rayz Walz – Ravipops (The Substance)
395. The Coup – Pick a Bigger Weapon
396. Mac Lethal – 11:11
397. Nappy Roots – The Humdinger
398. Jigmastas – Infectious
399. Common – Electric Circus
400. Fakts One – Long Range
401. G & E – No More Greener Grasses
402. Black Panther – Darkest Night Ever
403. Euphony compilation
404. P.O.S. – Ipecac Neat
405. Vordhul Mega – Mega Graphitti
406. Raw Produce – Feeling of Now
407. Brooklyn Academy – Bored of Education
408. Abstract Rude – Rejuvenation
409. The Reavers – Terra Firma
410. Nas – God’s Son
411. Jay-Z – Roc-A-La-Familia
412. LA Symphony – Disappear Here
413. Billy Woods – Camouflage
414. Shawn Jackson – First of All…
415. Method Man & Redman – Blackout 2!
416. Freeway – Philadelphia Freeway
417. Dizzee Rascal – Boy in the Corner
418. Topr – Parade of Shame
419. The Micranots – The Emperor & the Assassin
420. Sage Francis – Hueman Death Dance
421. Bus Driver – Roadkill Overcoat
422. Sharkey – Sharkey’s Machine
423. Project: Polaroid
424. Kirby Dominant – Starr: Contemplations of a Dominator
425. The Procussions – …As Iron Sharpens Iron
426. Black Spade – To Serve With Love
427. Nappy Roots – Wooden Leather
428. RJD2 – Since We Last Spoke
429. Non-Prophets – Hope
430. Wild Child – Secondary Protocol
431. Young Jeezy – Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
432. K’Naan – Dusty Foot Philosopher
433. Johnson and Jonson – Johnson and Jonson
434. Crown City Rockers – Earthtones
435. Buck 65 – Man Overboard
436. Qwel – If It Ain’t Been in a Pawnshop Then It Can’t Play the Blues
437. Lone Catalysts – Hip-Hop
438. Mars Ill – ProPain
439. P.E.A.C.E. - Negabyte
440. Poison Pen – Pick Your Poison: Mark of the East
441. Earatik Statik – Feeling Earatik
442. Tajai – Power Movement
443. Jurassic Five – Feedback
444. Virtuoso – World War One – The Voice of Reason
445. Monsta Island Czars – Escape From Monsta Island
446. Diverse – One A.M.
447. Project Blowed Presents: The Good Brothers
448. The Grouch – Three Eyes Off the Time
449. Bubba Sparxxx – Deliverance
450. K-The-I??? – Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow
451. Grieves – 88 Keys and Counting
452. The Jacka – Tear Gas
453. Lo Deck & Omega One – Postcards From the Third Rock
454. The Grouch – Crusader For Justice
455. Oddiesse – Mental Liberation
456. DJ Muggs and GZA – Grandmasters
457. Matllock – Moonshine
458. Kool Keith – Matthew
459. k-the-i????? – Broken Love Letter
460. Blue Scholars – Bayani
461. Vast Aire and Mighty Mi – The Best Damn Rap Show
462. Black Milk – Popular Demand
463. Lupe Fiasco – Food and Liquor
464. Dujeous – City Life
465. Weightless – The Weightroom
466. East Coast Avengers – Prison Planet
467. Canibus – Mic Club
468. Junk Science – Gran’dad’s Nerve Tonic
469. Mykil Myers – Long Time Coming
470. Substantial – Sacrifice
471. Lone Catalysts – Good Music
472. Devin the Dude – Waiting To Inhale
473. Boot Camp Clik – The Last Stand
474. DJ Murge – Search and Rescue
475. Tame One and Del – Parallell Uni-Verses
476. Triple Threat – Many Styles
477. 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’
478. G-Unit – Beg For Mercy
479. tRebleFree - Return of the Dirty Cymbals
480. Jern Eye – Vision
481. Atmosphere – When Life Gives You Lemons, Pain That Shit Gold
482. Antipop Consortium – Arrhythmia
483. 14kt - The Golden Hour
484. Dilated Peoples – Neighborhood Watch
485. Aceyalone – Love and Hate
486. The Are – Hustler’s Theme
487. Nabo Rawk – Mt. Olympus Steeze
488. Douljah Raze – Where Are You?
489. L.E.G.A.C.Y.
490. Zion I – True and Livin’
491. Shapeshiftaz – Shapeshiftaz Was Here
492. Zion I – Deep Water Slang 2.0
493. Together Brothers
494. Blueprint – Chamber Music
495. Z-Man – Dope or Dog Food
496. Screwball – Y2K
497. D-Tension – Contacts & Contracts
498. J-Live –The Hear After
499. Nighthawks
500. Nabo Rawk - Teched Out Neanderthals
501. De La Soul – Art Official Intellgence Vol. 2 – Bionix
502. Slaughterhouse
503. Young Buck – Straight Outta Cashville
504. Mystik Journeymen – Magic
505. 50 Cent – Before I Self Destruct
506. Rick Ross – Deeper Than Rap
507. Army of the Pharaohs – Ritual of Battle
508. Josh Martinez – World Famous Sex Buffet
509. Rasco – Hostile Environment
510. Scienz of Life – Project: Overground
511. Hi-Tek – Hi-Teknology
512. Buff-1 – There’s Only One
513. Apathy – Wanna Snuggle?
514. Chief Kamachi & The Ju-Ju Mob – Black Candles
515. Rob Sonic – Telicatessen
516. Grayskul – Bloody Radio
517. Wordsworth – Mirror Music
518. Primeridian – Da Allnighta
519. The Grouch - Show You the World
520. Sadat X – Generation X
521. Abstract Rude and Tribe Unique – P.A.I.N.T.
522. Snoop Dogg – R & G: Masterpiece
523. Lord Jamar – The 5% Album
524. Sixtoo – Songs I Hate (And Other People Moments)
525. Panacea – Ink is My Drink
526. Jay-Z – Blueprint 3
527. Cam’Ron – Come Home With Me
528. KRS-One – The Sneak Attack
529. Dilated Peoples – 20/20 Vision
530. Tame One – When Rappers Attack
531. X-Ecutioners – Built From Scratch
532. Protoman – Grey Area
533. Micranots – Obelisk Movements
534. Ill Bill – The Hour of Reprisal
535. A-Plus – My Last Good Deed
536. Rasco – Escape From Alcatraz
537. Common – Finding Forever
538. Lyrics Born – Everything at Once
539. Akbar – Big Bang Boogie
540. GZA – Legend of a Liquid Sword
541. Eligh – Poltergeist
542. Gift of Gab – Escape 2 Mars
543. Black Moon – Total Eclipse
544. Invizzibil Men – The Unveiling
545. Verbal Kent – Fist Shaking
546. Common Market
547. Haiku De’Tat – Haiku De’Tat
548. Jean Grae – The Attack of the Attacking Things
549. MF Grimm – The Downfall of Ibliss
550. Mayday
551. Sole – Selling Live Water
552. Odd Jobs – Drums
553. Eyedea & Abilties – E&A
554. Themselves – Them
555. Big City – The City Never Sleeps
556. Evidence – The Weatherman
557. Afu-Ra – Body of the Life Force
558. Rasco – The Dick Swanson Story
559. El Da Sensei – Relax, Relate, Release
560. 88 Keys – The Death of Adam
561. Pete Rock – NY’s Finest
562. Thawfor – Where Thawght is Worshipped
563. Rick Ross – Port of Miami
564. Coremega – Legal Hustle
565. Eyedea & Abilities – First Born
566. Analog Brothers – Pimp to Eat
567. Outsidaz – The Bricks
568. Talib Kweli – Quality
569. Ugly Duckling – Bang For the Buck
570. Outerspace – Blood Brothers
571. DJ JS-1 – No Sell Out
572. Dungeon Family – Even in Darkness
573. Statik Selektah – Spell My Name Right
574. Adeem & Shalem – Transitions
575. Son Doobie – Funk Superhero
576. Self-Jupiter – Hard Hat Area
577. Krukid – Af-I-Can
578. Panoramic Utopia
579. Cymarshall Law –Hip-Hop in the Flesh
580. Hezekiah – I Predict a Riot
581. Span Fly – Two Weeks Notice
582. Hobo Junction – Industrial Strength People
583. Kool Keith – Spankmaster
584. Wale – Attention Deficit
585. The Knux – Remind Me in 3 Days
586. Young Jeezy – The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102
587. Barak Yalad – A Loss For Words
588. The Procussions – 5 Sparrows and 2 Cards
589. Grand Agent – Peak Oil
590. Hezekiah – Hurry Up and Wait
591. Embedded Joints
592. Foreign Legion – Play Tight
593. 7Heads R Better Than 1
594. Themselves – The No Music
595. Living Legends – Classic
596. Slum Village – Trinity
597. Sadat X – Brand New Bein’
598. Murs and 9th Wonder – Sweet Lord
599. KRS-One – Kris-Styles
600. Hip-Hop 101 compilation
Here’s my 15 favorite “not-exclusively hip-hop” albums by “hip-hop” artists. Yeah, the definition is dicey, but I just felt weird incorporating these into the list:
1. Andre 3000 – The Love Below
2. K-Os! – Atlantis: Hymns For Disco
3. Avalanches – Since I Left You
4. Cee-Lo – Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections
5. Willi.am – Songs About Girls
6. DJ Spinna – Here to There
7. Djini Brown – Surround Sound
8. Breakestra – Hit the Floor
9. Plate Fork Knife Spoon
10. DJ Jazzy Jeff – The Magnificent
11. Wale Oyejide – Africa Hot!
12. Handsome Boy Modeling School – White People
13. El-P – High Water
14. DJ Vaddim – The Art of Listening
15. Roddy Rod – Cuba After Market
Here are my favorite EPs of the ’00s. Wish I could come with 50 of them, but 46 will have to do:
1. Mr. Lif – Emergency Powers
2. Brother Ali – Champion
3. Aesop Rock – Fast Cars, Danger, Fire, and Knives
4. Mr. Lif – Enters the Colossus
5. Aesop Rock – Daylight
6. People Under the Stairs - …Or Stay Tuned
7. J Dilla – Ruff Draft EP
8. The High and Mighty – Air Force One
9. Atmosphere – Sad Face Clown Season EPs
10. Blueprint – Blueprint vs. Funkadelic EP
11. Third Sight – Murderdeathkill EP
12. Sadat X – The State of New York vs. Derek Murphy
13. RJD2 – The Horror
14. Blueprint – Printmattic
15. J-Live – Always Will Be
16. DVS & Treblefree – Nigga, I Know James
17. Talib Kweli and Madlib – Liberation
18. Count Bass D – Begborrowsteel
19. Maroons – Ambush
20. Romanowski – Part in My Pants
21. J-Live – Time Will Reveal
22. Missin Linx – Exhibit A
23. Living Legends – The Gathering
24. Cool Kids – Bake Sale EP
25. Outsidaz – Night Life
26. Blu – HerFavouriteColo(u)r EP
27. Pumpkinhead – A Beautiful Mind
28. C-Rayz Walz – Black Samurai/We Live
29. The Waldorf and Statler Experience – Balcony Music, Volume One
30. The Opus – 000
31. Atmosphere – Leak at Will EP
32. Dujeous – As Promised
33. Ritchy Pitch – Live at Home
34. Brother Ali – Truth is Here
35. 14KT – Nowalataz EP
36. Dumhi - Yoga At Home EP
37. Kirby Dominant – Prostitute EP
38. Spank Rock & Benny Blanco – Bangers and Cash
39. Tanya Morgan – The Bridge EP
40. Demigodz – The God’s Must Be Crazy
41. Mighty Underdogs – The Prelude
42. Jean Grae – The Bootleg of a Bootleg EP
43. Evidence – The Layover
44. Foreign Legion – Secret Knock
45. Cage – Weatherproof
46. Chicharones – Swine Country
Here are my favorite compilations of previously released/unreleased material. It includes full albums originally scheduled to drop in the 1990s but were shelved:
J-Live – The Best Part
Juggaknots – Re: Release
Nas – The Lost Tapes
KMD – Black Bastards
Company Flow – Class X
Thirstin Howl III – Skilligan’s Island
Large Professor – The LP
One Be Lo – Project F.E.T.U.S.
Pep Love – Ascension (Side C)
J-Live – Always Has Been EP
Asheru & Blue Black – 48 Months
Molemen – Lost Sessions
El-P – Collecting the Kid
Casual – Truck Driver
Lootpack – The Lost Tapes
Five Deez – Slow Children Crossing
Kwest the Mad Ladd – These Are My Unreleased Recordings
MC Serch – M.any Y.oung L.ives A.Go: The 1994 Sessions
Living Legends – Crappy Old Shit
Outerspace
Brand Nubian – Time is Running Out
And here are my five favorite mixtapes released between 2000 and 2009:
Oddisee – Foot in the Door
Kirb and Chris – Niggaz and White Girls
Super Chron Flight Bros. – Deleted Scenes
Prodigy – Return of the Mac
G-Side – Huntsville International
So, that’s it, to the fruits of 18 months of work. Even if you don’t agree with the lists, you’ve got to appreciate the effort.
