Since 1979 when the Fatback Band dropped "King Tim III" (yes, the FIRST rap record), Hip Hop has been a source of many classic records. Here's a list of the albums which I feel deserve classic status do to their overwhelming quality, their strong influence in the direction of Hip Hop, or their uniqueness. See how many you own or have heard.




2 Live Crew 2 Live Is What We Are
2 Pac Me Against the World
Above the Law Livin' Like Hustlers
A Tribe Called Quest People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory
Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill
Big Daddy Kane Long Live the Kane
Biz Markie Goin' Off
Black Moon Enta Da Stage
Boogie Down Productions By All Means Necessary
Boogie Down Productions Criminal Minded
Cypress Hill Cypress Hill
De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising
D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the fresh Prince Rock the House
Dr. Dre The Chronic
Eazy E Eazy-Duz-It
EPMD Strictly Business
EPMD Unfinished Business
Eric B. & Rakim Follow the Leader
Eric B. & Rakim Let the Ryhthm Hit 'Em
Eric B. & Rakim Paid In Full
Fat Boys Fat Boys
Gangstarr Step In the Arena
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five Greatest Messages
Ice Cube AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Just-Ice Back to the Old School
Kool G Rap Wanted Dead Or Alive
L.L. Cool J Bigger and Deffer
L.L. Cool J Radio
Main Source Breaking Atoms
Mantronix Music Madness
Nas Illmatic
The Notorious Big Ready to Die
N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A. Niggaz4Life
Pete Rock & CL Smooth Mecca and the Soul Brother
Public Enemy Fear of A Black Planet
Public Enemy It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Public Enemy Yo! Bum Rush the Show
Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C. Run-D.M.C.
Schoolly D Saturday Night • The Album
Slick Rick The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Snoop Doggy Dogg Doggystyle
Sugarhill Gang Sugarhill Gang
Too Short Born to Mack
Ultramagnetic MCs Critical Beatdown
Whodini Back In Black
Wild Style — soundtrack
Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang
X-Clan To the East Blackwards




If you feel I missed an album you consider a classic, email me and I might add it.



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