two turntables and a microphone · from the Bronx block party to the world
🇫🇷 FR

The Hip-Hop 100

two turntables and a microphone · from the Bronx block party to the world

Sub-universesThe French Rap 100
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Status
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Raising Hell — Run-DMC
No. 33
Raising Hell
Run-DMC
1986🇺🇸Rock rap
Licensed to Ill — Beastie Boys
No. 67
Licensed to Ill
Beastie Boys
1986🇺🇸Frat rap
Paid in Full — Eric B. & Rakim
No. 8
Paid in Full
Eric B. & Rakim
1987🇺🇸Golden age flow
Criminal Minded — Boogie Down Productions
No. 32
Criminal Minded
Boogie Down Productions
1987🇺🇸Bronx blueprint
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back — Public Enemy
No. 2
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
1988🇺🇸Political rap
Straight Outta Compton — N.W.A
No. 12
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A
1988🇺🇸Gangsta rap
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick — Slick Rick
No. 63
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Slick Rick
1988🇺🇸Storytelling
Strictly Business — EPMD
No. 64
Strictly Business
EPMD
1988🇺🇸Funk rap
Long Live the Kane — Big Daddy Kane
No. 65
Long Live the Kane
Big Daddy Kane
1988🇺🇸Golden age flow
Critical Beatdown — Ultramagnetic MC's
No. 66
Critical Beatdown
Ultramagnetic MC's
1988🇺🇸Abstract funk
3 Feet High and Rising — De La Soul
No. 17
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
1989🇺🇸Daisy age
Paul's Boutique — Beastie Boys
No. 29
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
1989🇺🇸Sample collage
Fear of a Black Planet — Public Enemy
No. 34
Fear of a Black Planet
Public Enemy
1990🇺🇸Noise politics
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted — Ice Cube
No. 74
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
1990🇺🇸Political gangsta
The Low End Theory — A Tribe Called Quest
No. 9
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
1991🇺🇸Jazz rap
Death Certificate — Ice Cube
No. 43
Death Certificate
Ice Cube
1991🇺🇸Political gangsta
Cypress Hill — Cypress Hill
No. 68
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
1991🇺🇸Latin stoner rap
De La Soul Is Dead — De La Soul
No. 75
De La Soul Is Dead
De La Soul
1991🇺🇸Daisy age noir
Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo — MC Solaar
No. 97
Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo
MC Solaar
1991🇫🇷Jazz rap français
The Chronic — Dr. Dre
No. 7
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
1992🇺🇸G-funk
Mecca and the Soul Brother — Pete Rock & CL Smooth
No. 52
Mecca and the Soul Brother
Pete Rock & CL Smooth
1992🇺🇸Boom bap soul
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde — The Pharcyde
No. 69
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
1992🇺🇸Playful jazz rap
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) — Wu-Tang Clan
No. 3
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
1993🇺🇸Hardcore rap
Doggystyle — Snoop Doggy Dogg
No. 16
Doggystyle
Snoop Doggy Dogg
1993🇺🇸G-funk
Midnight Marauders — A Tribe Called Quest
No. 25
Midnight Marauders
A Tribe Called Quest
1993🇺🇸Jazz rap
93 'til Infinity — Souls of Mischief
No. 70
93 'til Infinity
Souls of Mischief
1993🇺🇸Oakland jazz rap
Illmatic — Nas
No. 1
Illmatic
Nas
1994🇺🇸East Coast rap
Ready to Die — The Notorious B.I.G.
No. 5
Ready to Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
1994🇺🇸Mafioso rap
The Diary — Scarface
No. 46
The Diary
Scarface
1994🇺🇸Houston noir
Resurrection — Common
No. 71
Resurrection
Common
1994🇺🇸Conscious rap
Liquid Swords — GZA
No. 18
Liquid Swords
GZA
1995🇺🇸Wu chess rap
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… — Raekwon
No. 19
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
Raekwon
1995🇺🇸Mafioso rap
The Infamous — Mobb Deep
No. 20
The Infamous
Mobb Deep
1995🇺🇸Queensbridge noir
Me Against the World — 2Pac
No. 24
Me Against the World
2Pac
1995🇺🇸Confessional rap
E. 1999 Eternal — Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
No. 47
E. 1999 Eternal
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
1995🇺🇸Melodic speed rap
Mystic Stylez — Three 6 Mafia
No. 48
Mystic Stylez
Three 6 Mafia
1995🇺🇸Memphis horror
Paris sous les bombes — Suprême NTM
No. 60
Paris sous les bombes
Suprême NTM
1995🇫🇷Rap parisien
Reasonable Doubt — Jay-Z
No. 22
Reasonable Doubt
Jay-Z
1996🇺🇸Hustler rap
All Eyez on Me — 2Pac
No. 23
All Eyez on Me
2Pac
1996🇺🇸West coast epic
The Score — Fugees
No. 31
The Score
Fugees
1996🇺🇸Refugee soul
Endtroducing….. — DJ Shadow
No. 36
Endtroducing…..
DJ Shadow
1996🇺🇸Sampledelia
It Was Written — Nas
No. 42
It Was Written
Nas
1996🇺🇸Mafioso rap
ATLiens — OutKast
No. 44
ATLiens
OutKast
1996🇺🇸Southern space
Ridin' Dirty — UGK
No. 45
Ridin' Dirty
UGK
1996🇺🇸Texas soul
Ironman — Ghostface Killah
No. 73
Ironman
Ghostface Killah
1996🇺🇸Wu soul
Life After Death — The Notorious B.I.G.
No. 21
Life After Death
The Notorious B.I.G.
1997🇺🇸Mafioso rap
Supa Dupa Fly — Missy Elliott
No. 35
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
1997🇺🇸Future funk
L'École du micro d'argent — IAM
No. 41
L'École du micro d'argent
IAM
1997🇫🇷Rap marseillais
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill — Lauryn Hill
No. 6
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
1998🇺🇸Neo-soul
Aquemini — OutKast
No. 10
Aquemini
OutKast
1998🇺🇸Southern funk
Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star — Black Star
No. 40
Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
Black Star
1998🇺🇸Conscious rap
400 Degreez — Juvenile
No. 49
400 Degreez
Juvenile
1998🇺🇸Bounce
Moment of Truth — Gang Starr
No. 50
Moment of Truth
Gang Starr
1998🇺🇸Boom bap
Capital Punishment — Big Pun
No. 53
Capital Punishment
Big Pun
1998🇺🇸Latin lyricism
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot — DMX
No. 54
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
DMX
1998🇺🇸Gospel growl
Things Fall Apart — The Roots
No. 37
Things Fall Apart
The Roots
1999🇺🇸Live hip-hop
Black on Both Sides — Mos Def
No. 38
Black on Both Sides
Mos Def
1999🇺🇸Conscious rap
Operation: Doomsday — MF DOOM
No. 39
Operation: Doomsday
MF DOOM
1999🇺🇸Villain rap
The Slim Shady LP — Eminem
No. 55
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
1999🇺🇸Horrorcore pop
2001 — Dr. Dre
No. 56
2001
Dr. Dre
1999🇺🇸G-funk 2.0
Stankonia — OutKast
No. 26
Stankonia
OutKast
2000🇺🇸Southern futurism
The Marshall Mathers LP — Eminem
No. 27
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
2000🇺🇸Horrorcore pop
Supreme Clientele — Ghostface Killah
No. 30
Supreme Clientele
Ghostface Killah
2000🇺🇸Wu surrealism
The Blueprint — Jay-Z
No. 14
The Blueprint
Jay-Z
2001🇺🇸Soul rap
The Cold Vein — Cannibal Ox
No. 72
The Cold Vein
Cannibal Ox
2001🇺🇸Sci-fi underground
Original Pirate Material — The Streets
No. 96
Original Pirate Material
The Streets
2002🇬🇧Garage rap
Boy in da Corner — Dizzee Rascal
No. 51
Boy in da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
2003🇬🇧Grime
Get Rich or Die Tryin' — 50 Cent
No. 58
Get Rich or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
2003🇺🇸Bulletproof pop
Trap Muzik — T.I.
No. 61
Trap Muzik
T.I.
2003🇺🇸Trap
Madvillainy — Madvillain
No. 15
Madvillainy
Madvillain
2004🇺🇸Abstract rap
The College Dropout — Kanye West
No. 28
The College Dropout
Kanye West
2004🇺🇸Chipmunk soul
Late Registration — Kanye West
No. 57
Late Registration
Kanye West
2005🇺🇸Orchestral soul
Hell Hath No Fury — Clipse
No. 62
Hell Hath No Fury
Clipse
2006🇺🇸Coke rap minimal
Below the Heavens — Blu & Exile
No. 76
Below the Heavens
Blu & Exile
2007🇺🇸Soulful underground
Tha Carter III — Lil Wayne
No. 59
Tha Carter III
Lil Wayne
2008🇺🇸Martian rap
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy — Kanye West
No. 11
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
2010🇺🇸Maximalist rap
Take Care — Drake
No. 77
Take Care
Drake
2011🇨🇦Melancholy rap
good kid, m.A.A.d city — Kendrick Lamar
No. 13
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
2012🇺🇸Compton cinema
Acid Rap — Chance the Rapper
No. 79
Acid Rap
Chance the Rapper
2013🇺🇸Gospel juke
2014 Forest Hills Drive — J. Cole
No. 80
2014 Forest Hills Drive
J. Cole
2014🇺🇸Introspective rap
Run the Jewels 2 — Run the Jewels
No. 87
Run the Jewels 2
Run the Jewels
2014🇺🇸Rap fusillade
To Pimp a Butterfly — Kendrick Lamar
No. 4
To Pimp a Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
2015🇺🇸Jazz rap
DS2 — Future
No. 82
DS2
Future
2015🇺🇸Toxic trap
Atrocity Exhibition — Danny Brown
No. 88
Atrocity Exhibition
Danny Brown
2016🇺🇸Post-punk rap
Dans la légende — PNL
No. 98
Dans la légende
PNL
2016🇫🇷Cloud rap
DAMN. — Kendrick Lamar
No. 78
DAMN.
Kendrick Lamar
2017🇺🇸Pulitzer rap
Culture — Migos
No. 83
Culture
Migos
2017🇺🇸Triplet trap
Flower Boy — Tyler, the Creator
No. 85
Flower Boy
Tyler, the Creator
2017🇺🇸Sunlit confession
Astroworld — Travis Scott
No. 84
Astroworld
Travis Scott
2018🇺🇸Psychedelic trap
Some Rap Songs — Earl Sweatshirt
No. 89
Some Rap Songs
Earl Sweatshirt
2018🇺🇸Loop confessional
Daytona — Pusha T
No. 90
Daytona
Pusha T
2018🇺🇸Coke rap minimal
Veteran — JPEGMAFIA
No. 91
Veteran
JPEGMAFIA
2018🇺🇸Glitch rap
Invasion of Privacy — Cardi B
No. 92
Invasion of Privacy
Cardi B
2018🇺🇸Bronx pop rap
Swimming — Mac Miller
No. 93
Swimming
Mac Miller
2018🇺🇸Bruised funk
Room 25 — Noname
No. 94
Room 25
Noname
2018🇺🇸Jazz poetry
IGOR — Tyler, the Creator
No. 86
IGOR
Tyler, the Creator
2019🇺🇸Synth heartbreak
Psychodrama — Dave
No. 95
Psychodrama
Dave
2019🇬🇧UK drill drama
Alfredo — Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
No. 99
Alfredo
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
2020🇺🇸Coke rap gourmet
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert — Little Simz
No. 81
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Little Simz
2021🇬🇧Orchestral UK rap
The Forever Story — JID
No. 100
The Forever Story
JID
2022🇺🇸Atlanta lyricism

Curation notes

  • Crossed from Rolling Stone's 200 greatest hip-hop albums, RateYourMusic charts and per-scene canons (old school, golden age, both coasts, the South, underground, French and UK rap), 1986–2022.
  • At most three albums per artist: Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West and OutKast are at the cap; everyone else holds one or two.
  • Studio albums only, no mixtapes (Da Drought 3, the 50 Cent tapes…) — one assumed exception: Acid Rap.
  • Hip-hop speaks several languages here: four French classics (IAM, NTM, MC Solaar, PNL) and four UK landmarks (Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, Dave, Little Simz).
  • Boundaries: R&B and neo-soul stay out (D'Angelo, Frank Ocean); UK trip-hop lives on the electronic shelf, and Endtroducing is shared with it.
  • Narrowly missed: Yeezus, 808s & Heartbreak, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, Miss E… So Addictive, Lord Willin', Mauvais œil, Man on the Moon…