12 greatest hip hop albums of all time

 2pac- All Eyez On Me album. (Courtesy)

On August 11, 1973, an 18-year-old, Jamaican-American DJ who went by the name of Kool Herc threw a back-to-school jam. During his set, he decided to do something different.

Instead of playing the songs in full, he played only their instrumental sections, or “breaks” - sections where he noticed the crowd went wild. During these “breaks” his friend Coke La Rock hyped up the crowd with a microphone. And with that, Hip Hop was born.

With that in mind we look into some timeless phenomenal albums that were and still are the bomb in no particular order.

Dr. Dre- The Chronic

This is the debut studio album by Dr Dre and was released in 1992. The album is named after a slang term for high-grade cannabis. It was Dr. Dre's first solo album after he had departed from hip hop group N.W.A and its label Ruthless Records.

The album's lyrics caused some controversy, as the subject matter included sexism and violent representations. While at it Dr. Dre addressed and dissed his former label mates.

This album also acted as Snoop Dogg’s launching pad for his solo career since he was featured in.

Wu-Tang Clan: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan released this album in 1993 and they are said to be the ones to create a blueprint for Hardcore HipHop due to the gritty and distinctive sound.

Its sound also became greatly influential in modern hip hop production, while the group members' explicit, humourous, and free-associative lyrics have served as a template for many subsequent hip hop records. Its influence helped lead the way for several rappers, including Nas, Notorious B.I.G, Mobb Deep and Jay-Z.

Nas- Illmatic

After signing with Colombia Records, Nas released his debut album in 1994 addressing gang rivalries, desolation, and the ravages of urban poverty. Illmatic received rave reviews from most music critics, who praised its production and Nas' lyricism.

Since its initial reception, it has been recognised by writers and music critics as a landmark album in East Coast hip hop. Its influence on subsequent hip hop artistes has been attributed to the album's production and Nas' lyricism. The album is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential hip hop albums of all time.

Makaveli- The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day theory

This is the fifth studio album and first posthumous album by Tupac Shakur, credited as the alias Makaveli. It was released almost two months after his death. Report has it that the album was completely finished in seven days during the first week of August 1996.

These were the last songs Tupac recorded before he was shot on September 7, 1996. The album's preliminary title was "The 3 Day Theory", but Tupac wanted the album to be called; Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, with Makaveli the Don as the artiste name.

2pac- All Eyez On Me

2Pac’s fourth and final album to be released during his lifetime was one of a kind. The 27-track album was released after spending eleven months in jail for sexual assault.

The songs on All Eyez on Me are, in general, unapologetic celebrations of living the "Thug Lifestyle". The songs allude to the feeling of being watched. With songs like "Can't C Me" and "All Eyez on Me", 2Pac made it known that he felt the presence of surveillance, most notably by the police.

50 Cent- Get Rich Or Die Tryin'

In 2003, with the clear sound of a half-dollar coin dropping on a table, 50 Cent introduced himself to the world on the intro to his groundbreaking debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’. After flooding the mixtape market, anticipation was at a fever pitch.

The G-Unit General more than delivered with a genre-bending 16-song classic album.

Following nine gunshots, he arrived like a sculpted superhero with a poetic flare 50 and worked with Dr. Dre, combining the gangsta rap and R&B combination and dropped his first studio album.

The album contained guest appearances from Eminem, Young Buck, and Nate Dogg, as well as features from G-Unit co-members Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo.

The Notorious B.I.G.- Life After Death

This was the second and the last album by Biggie which was released 16 days after his death. The album was a sequel to his first album, Ready To Die, where it featured guest artistes such as 112, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Mase, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort, Angela Winbush, D.M.C., R. Kelly, The Lox, and Puff Daddy.

Conflict with other rappers is a major theme throughout the album and numerous songs contain references to B.I.G.'s rivals, some subtle and some obvious.

DMX- It's Dark and Hell Is Hot

This was the debut studio album by legendary rapper DMX that was released in 1998. It was not only the springboard for the Ruff Ryders campaign, launching the careers of Swizz Beatz, Eve, Cassidy, and Jin, it is a classic masterpiece that explores the nature of sin, highlighting acts of violence, wrath, greed, treachery, and lust.

The album exposes an internal struggle waged between a man and his demons.

Eminem- The Slim Shady LP

The ‘white people can’t rap’ notion was laid to rest in 1999 when Eminem released his second studio album. The majority of The Slim Shady LP's lyrical content was written from the perspective of Eminem's alter ego, named Slim Shady, whom he created on the Slim Shady EP (1997).

This LP contains cartoonish depictions of violence and heavy use of profanity. Although many of the lyrics on the album are considered to be satirical, Eminem also depicts his frustrations of living in poverty. While its success turned Eminem from an underground rapper into a high-profile celebrity, he became a highly controversial figure due to his lyrical content

Jay-Z- The Blueprint

Shawn Corey Carter has continuously been rising through the ranks in hip-hop circle and his sixth studio album is considered one of his best albums and has also been labeled as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. The Blueprint features soul-based sampling and production handled primarily by Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Bink, as well as Timbaland, Trackmasters, and Eminem, who also contributes to the album's sole guest feature.

Although at the time of the album's recording, Jay-Z was awaiting two criminal trials, the popularity and commercial success of The Blueprint established Kanye West and Just Blaze as two of hip hop's most celebrated producers.

Kanye West- 808s & Heartbreak

Kanye West is hailed in the hip hop community as one of the greatest rappers of all time, a genius for that matter. West has been putting out masterpieces of albums since his 2004 debut “The College Dropout.” Each new creation encompasses his characteristically visionary and immersive production, and his uncanny ability to master any type of flow and attitude, from melodic and touching like on

His fourth studio album “808s and Heartbreak,” is considered one of the most influential rap albums ever. This album marked a stark departure from the mood and tone of his previous work.  This was his first release after the passing of his mother, Donda.

Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp A Butterfly

Kendrick Lamar's 2015 record "To Pimp a Butterfly" is a landmark in recent Hip-Hop, it is revolutionary and beautiful, and is close to perfect.

Butterfly is a 16-track studio album and Kendrick's third studio project, and won a Grammy for best rap album in 2015. Throughout the record, Kendrick incorporates jazz infused instrumentals and sounds and demonstrates his talent for writing.