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Hip-Hop Albums for Beginners: 12 Places to Start

12 albums · Updated

If you are new to rap albums, the canon can look like homework. This list is shorter on purpose: twelve records, one or two per era and region, in release order so you can hear how the genre changed.

Each one is a complete album rather than a collection of singles, and each links to a full review that explains what to listen for. When one clicks, the reviews link onward to the artist's other albums and to similar records.

How this list works: One or two defining albums per era and region, listed in release order rather than by score. Scores are shown for reference; see the methodology.

  1. 1
    It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy album cover

    Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)

    Score: 10.0 · Read the review · Public Enemy albums ranked

    Start here to hear what political rap sounds like at full volume, and how much a sample-based beat can hold.

  2. 2
    The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest album cover

    A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory (1991)

    Score: 10.0 · Read the review · A Tribe Called Quest albums ranked

    The gentlest way in: jazz bass lines, conversational verses and nothing longer than it needs to be.

  3. 3
    The Chronic by Dr. Dre album cover

    Dr. Dre – The Chronic (1992)

    Score: 9.7 · Read the review · Dr. Dre albums ranked

    The West Coast in one record. Notice how much of it is played rather than sampled.

  4. 4
    Enter the Wu‐Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan album cover

    Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu‐Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

    Score: 10.0 · Read the review · Wu-Tang Clan albums ranked

    Nine rappers with nine distinct voices; try to tell them apart by the third listen.

  5. 5
    Illmatic by Nas album cover

    Nas – Illmatic (1994)

    Score: 10.0 · Read the review · Nas albums ranked

    The standard reference for lyricism. It is short, so play it twice.

  6. 6
    Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G. album cover

    The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die (1994)

    Score: 9.3 · Read the review · The Notorious B.I.G. albums ranked

    Storytelling and radio hits on the same record, and the clearest showcase of flow and timing.

  7. 7
    Aquemini by OutKast album cover

    OutKast – Aquemini (1998)

    Score: 9.7 · Read the review · OutKast albums ranked

    The South's case for itself: live instruments, two very different rappers, and room to experiment.

  8. 8
    The Blueprint by Jay-Z album cover

    Jay-Z – The Blueprint (2001)

    Score: 9.3 · Read the review · Jay-Z albums ranked

    Sped-up soul samples and a rapper at the peak of his confidence; the sound of early-2000s rap.

  9. 9
    The College Dropout by Kanye West album cover

    Kanye West – The College Dropout (2004)

    Score: 9.0 · Read the review · Kanye West albums ranked

    Funny, anxious and personal, and the record that opened rap up to new kinds of subject matter.

  10. 10
    Madvillainy by Madvillain album cover

    Madvillain – Madvillainy (2004)

    Score: 9.7 · Read the review · Madvillain albums ranked

    Your first underground record: short loops, no hooks, and verses that reward rewinding.

  11. 11
    good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar album cover

    Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)

    Score: 9.7 · Read the review · Kendrick Lamar albums ranked

    A full story from start to end; follow the skits and voicemails as part of the plot.

  12. 12
    IGOR by Tyler, The Creator album cover

    Tyler, The Creator – IGOR (2019)

    Score: 9.3 · Read the review · Tyler, The Creator albums ranked

    Where rap meets soul and synth-pop today; a reminder that the genre keeps changing.

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