u/adorani1991

1994 is universally agreed upon as one of the absolute peaks of hip hop history. We got arguably the two greatest debut albums of all time from Nas and Biggie, the arrival of a southern powerhouse in OutKast, and flawless production stretches from the likes of Premier, Pete Rock, and RZA. The variety of elite lyricism and production across the board proved that hip hop could be commercially dominant without sacrificing an ounce of its raw, artistic integrity. It truly was an era that still hasn't been matched.

Nas - Illmatic
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
OutKast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Scarface - The Diary
Gang Starr - Hard to Earn
Method Man - Tical
Jeru the Damaja - The Sun Rises in the East
Common - Resurrection
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - The Main Ingredient
Organized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction Agenda

Looking back at this run, 1994 wasn't just a stellar moment for the genre. It was a definitive turning point that shaped the entire trajectory of the culture. So.. are there any albums on this list unaccounted for? Let me know in the comments ✌️

The "Sophomore Slump" is one of the most storied hurdles in hip-hop. After a lifetime of preparation goes into a debut, the pressure to evolve while maintaining momentum often leads to a flop. However, the artists below didn't just avoid the slump, but they used their second outings to expand their sound, sharpen their lyricism, and cement their place in Hip-Hop.

• The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
• OutKast – ATLiens
• Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
• Nas – It Was Written
• Lupe Fiasco – The Cool
• Kanye West – Late Registration
• DMX – Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
• Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
• Mobb Deep – The Infamous
• A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
• Jay-Z – In My Lifetime, Vol. 1

Whether they took a more commercial turn to reach the masses or retreated into a darker, more experimental world, these albums represent the moment these rappers proved they were more than just one-hit wonders. They turned the slump into a springboard, delivering albums that are not only classics, but that many fans argue are even better than their debuts.

What do you guys think of the list? Which albums are missing from this list? Let me know in the comments ✌️✌️

The 90s gave us the greatest era of hip-hop groups, hands down. No other decade compares to this period for collective talent and lyrical depth. With that said, who are the best groups of one of the most competitive eras? The below list focuses on the essential crews, duos, and collectives that defined the sound of their respective regions:

• Wu-Tang Clan
• OutKast
• A Tribe Called Quest
• Mobb Deep
• The Roots
• UGK
• The Fugees
• De La Soul
• Gang Starr
• The LOX
• Cypress Hill
• Goodie Mob
• 8Ball & MJG

Who did I miss? Either way, no list can be complete without the above groups.

1988 wasn't just a good year for Hip Hop, but it can be considered the year that birthed the blueprint of lyrical mainstream music for the genre over the next four decades. From the birth of the West Coast's gangsta dominance to the smooth and lyrical style of the East Coast, these are the albums that defined and shaped the golden era of Hip-Hop:

Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton (release date debated)
Big Daddy Kane – Long Live the Kane
Slick Rick – The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
EPMD – Strictly Business
Boogie Down Productions – By All Means Necessary
Ultramagnetic MCs – Critical Beatdown
Jungle Brothers – Straight Out the Jungle

Pretty wild how many dope projects were released in 1988. These albums took hip hop from the block to the global stage and the genre pretty much never looked back.

What you think? Any albums I missed?

L.A. Rap is not only its own genre, but it’s the backbone of West Coast Hip-Hop. From South Central to Long Beach, and the shift from the G-Funk sound in the 80s/90s to the new wave of conscious rap in the 2010s/2020s, LA has created a variety of rap styles that have conquered the airwaves and have even influenced other cities.

This list doesn’t revolve around hype. It’s about the names that actually built the sound and kept the city on the map for decades. Below is a long list of rappers that should be considered the best from LA:

Ice Cube
Kendrick Lamar
Dr. Dre
Snoop Dogg
The Game
Nipsey Hussle
Eazy-E
Kurupt
Tyler, The Creator

Every one of these names did something to move the needle for the city. Depending on when you grew up or what neighborhood you’re from in LA, your “best” is probably going to look different than many others here.

So, who’s your undisputed #1? Is there someone from the underground or the new era that deserves a spot on this list? Drop your thoughts below and let’s see where the city really stands.

It’s about time! We have to take it uptown to the birthplace of style. Harlem has always been the trendsetter for the culture. Not just in music, but in fashion and personality. From the pioneers like Doug E. Fresh to Dipset and the A$AP mob, the talent here is heavy, albeit limited.

Here is my list of the best rappers coming out of Harlem:

1. Big L
2. Cam'ron
3. Ma$e
4. A$AP Rocky
5. Doug E. Fresh

Honorable mentions include Juelz Santana, Ferg, Jim Jones and Dave East. In this case, these honorable mentions are heavy hitters that can arguably be included in a Harlem’s Top 5.

Who’s on your list? Did I miss out on anyone?

New Orleans didn't just give us a new southern sound in the 90s and 2000s, it gave us two of the most dominant empires in music history with Cash Money and No Limit.

Who do you think should be included in a list of the best rappers from NOLA? The city has Grammy Award Winners, street legends, and everything in between. Here’s my list of the best Hip Hop artists from New Orleans:

1. Lil Wayne
2. Juvenile 
3. Mystikal
4. B.G.
5. Curren$y

What do you think of the above list? I know I missed out on an army of people from Cash Money & No Limit, so jump in the comments and let me know who needs to be added.

Who had the better rap talent in the 90s? Queens or Brooklyn? The debate between Queens and Brooklyn isn’t just about lyricism and the music the borough produced. It’s about the what each borough brought to the genre of Hip-Hop.

Queens dominated with that gritty, cinematic street reporting and the birth of the "mafioso" rap, from the likes of Nas and Mobb Deep. Meanwhile, Brooklyn brought unmatched style and lyrical finesse to the genre from the likes of HOV and Big Daddy Kane.

If you had to pick one borough’s 90s Hip-Hop output to live with forever, which one is it?

Queens (90s Era):

1. Nas
2. Mobb Deep (Prodigy & Havoc) 
3. Kool G Rap
4. A Tribe Called Quest
5. LL Cool J
6. Pharaohe Monch
7. Capone-N-Noreaga

Brooklyn (90s Era):

1. The Notorious B.I.G.
2. Jay-Z
3. Big Daddy Kane
4. Gang Starr (Guru & DJ Premier)
5. Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli)
6. Busta Rhymes
7. Jeru The Damaja

So, which borough of NYC do you think produced the best Hip-Hip in the 90s? Who did I leave out that may sway direction towards one borough over another? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

When it comes to East Coast Hip-Hop, New York always gets its flowers, but we can't ignore the massive impact Philly has had on Hip-Hop. From the lyricism of their underground battle rap scene, to the heavy hitters that ran the charts, the talent coming out of Philly has always been top-tier.

Here’s my list of the best rappers from the 215:

1. Black Thought
2. Beanie Sigel
3. Cassidy
4. Meek Mill
5. Freeway

Let me know your thoughts. Who do you think are the best rappers from Philly? Who did I miss on this list?