38. Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo-
One of the most influential emcees in the game to thios day is longtime Queens vet and former Juice Crew member Kool G. Rap. One of the true innovators of mafioso rap, KGR debuted with this crime-ridden, bleak storytelling classic, Road To The Riches. Known for the piano-laced title track, "Poison" and "Men At Work", this album marked the start of a successful and acclaimed career. Never had a raspy, lisp rhymer been so cool to hear. Without him, there would likely be no Scarface, Biggie, AZ, or Raekwon. Think about that.
37. Black Star- Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star
Seen as a dream team of sorts, the artist formerly known as Mos Def collaborated with Talib Kweli to present a simply dazzling album that stands as one of hip-hop's most conscious and intelligent albums to ever exist. A throwback to when rap had meaning and a positive message yet keeping people Black culture awake, they purposely stayed away from hedonism, materialism, gangsta tones, and everything else that set us as a people backwards. From the first single, the ol'school flavored "Definition" to other outstanding cuts like Def's reworking of Slick Rick's "Children's Story", "Twice Inna Lifetime" and "Brown Skin Lady", it's clear this album is truly special and deserves its place in the history of its genre.
36. Da Brat- Funkdafied
Chi-town's Da Brat was unlike anything seen in the game during her day. A tomboy much like MC Lyte with the swag of Snoop Dogg and a potty mouth like Too Short. She got up with Jermaine Dupri and delivered a tremendous debut. Her debut, Funkdafied, was filled with mid-tempo grooves and laid-back funk to either ride to or get high to, or both. Definitely laced with talent, this album was the first to go platinum from a female emcee, thus breaking down walls and barriers for the women of hip-hop. This nine-song EP was nearly flawless and still gets heavy rotation to this day.
35. Ras Kass- Soul On Ice
If there was ever a lyrical warlord on the mic to emerge from the west, it's unquestionably Carson's Ras Kass. This often times controversial emcee dropped one of the most impactful and much discussed debuts of the entire nineties with Soul On Ice. Tackling subjects like organized religion, Caucasian history, street life, and other personal matters, this is one of the most intelligent, yet occasionally uncomfortable, hip-hop albums you'll ever come across. While other albums like A.D.I.D.A.S., Spit Or Die, and his collab with searing Detroit producer Apollo Brown, Blasphemy, have been very impressive, this album remains his magnum opus and is an undisputed classic.
34. MC Lyte- Lyte As A Rock
All hail the b-girl of all b-girls. The pioneering emcee from Brooklyn was the first female to release a full-length album, and Lyte As A Rock hit has hard as one, maybe even as a boulder. There wasn't any filler on this groundbreaking release and is likely still the best album to ever come from a female emcee and served as the blueprint for all up-and-coming young ladies that wanted to pick up a mic. Hits like "Paper Thin" and "10% Dis" are still staples within hip-hop and will never be erased away.
33. Capone-N-Noreaga- The War Report
In '97, we were introduced to two young cats outta Queens, one from Lefrak City and the other from the infamous Queensbridge. They were known as Capone-N-Noreaga, and they had the streets wide open with their underground hits "Illegal Life" and "Stick You". While the buzz was hot, they struck with one of the bloodiest and paranoid albums in hip-hop memory. Their debut, The War Report, is among the most gritty and intimidating debuts you'll ever come from NYC. Combining the harrowing production of classics like Mobb Deep's Hell On Earth with the brutality of Kool G. Rap's Live & Let Die, this is one album that became a phenomenon of its own.
32. Big Pun- Capital Punishment
If Biggie had a rival in terms of technical ability and the ability to verbally dissect a mic with a rotund physical size to match, it was Chris "Big Pun" Rios. After lacing Fat Joe's excellent sophomore album Jealous One's Envy, and landing on the Soul In The Hole soundtrack, the anticipation was huge, and once he hit with "I Ain't A Playa", we knew this dude was amazing. Seemingly, it was crossover smash with Joe, the remix to "I Ain't A Playa" that people noticed his pop appeal without sacrificing his street strength. His debut is seen as one of the most impressive and formidable debuts to enter the game in the entire nineties. The album, Captial Punishment, is not only a complete album, but it was superior, it marked the first time a Latino emcee would hit the platinum mark, much less make that double. Sadly, it would be the only album he lived to see the benefits from, but rest assured, Pun and his debut were and still are one of a kind.
31. 50 Cent- Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
Was there a hotter debut in the millennium than this one? Not hardly. One of the most intriguing debuts of all-time was delivered by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, and it more than delivered. Aside from having one of the most rotated singles in the entire world during this time of 2000 with "In Da Club" and still causing a stir with his monster hit "Wanksta", the album was enough to sell nearly a million units within its first week, ultimately selling nearly diamond status, making it one of the most successful hip-hop albums in history. A star was born and ultimately made with this legendary release.
30. Ultramagnetic MCs- Critical Beatdown
A crew that doesn't get nearly the appreciation they deserve that emerged during the golden age of hip-hop was the Ultramagnetic MCs, captained by Kool Keith, but also included members Ced-Gee, TR Love, and DJ Moe Love. These cats laid a groundwork for sampling on their album that hadn't been done before except for another act named De La Soul. Their debut, Critical Beatdown, was ahead of its time in terms of lyrical structure and sampling techniques. A true golden oldie, this album didn't get the classic status it was due until years later when people needed to catch up. With cuts like "Watch Me Now", "Poppa Large", and "Ego Trippin", this was an album that got understood a lot better as time went along, but for its day, it was unappreciated monumental album.
29. Genius/GZA- Liquid Swords
When it came to lyrical technique and proper stylings and execution, GZA was the main one front and center of the Wu. Considered an elder statesman of the group, this master chess player on the mic sliced and diced wack, unintelligent so-called emcees on his wonderful debut, Liquid Swords. Coming out the same year as his Wu brother Raekwon dropped one of hip-hop's all-time seminal albums (see later), this was a tall task matching the intensity of it. The thing is, he didn't have to. This was arguably RZA's best constructed album production wise within his Wu camp. Track after track blended into each other and was seen as the best produced Wu album since 36 Chambers (again see later). He hammered heads with cuts like "Dual of the Iron Mic", "Gold", and "Living in the World Today", and was a intelligently crafted and manipulated album.
28. DMX- It's Dark & Hell Is Hot
Talk about a head-smasher. From Yonkers, NY came an intimidating emcee that commanded your utmost attention and respect. Earl "DMX" Simmons made his name a buzz in the streets on the incredible posse single from LL Cool J "4,3,2,1", but once his debut single "Get At Me Dog" hit the airwaves, the streets were wide open like they hadn't been in years. His debut,
It's Dark & Hell Is Hot, was a gritty collection of appealing, yet hardcore, cuts that ultimately sold in upwards of four million units. He was as hot as any newcomer to come along in the Def Jam era, and with other bangers like "Damien" and "Crime Story", there was no doubt DMX was a star, and this was the album that birthed his star power.
27. Black Moon- Enta Da Stage
In '93, hip-hop was riding the west coast wave of Deathrow, 2Pac, and others, and that the east was still doing well with acts like Tribe, EPMD, and LL making noise. However, there needed to be more ripples put in the game to bring the east back. Enter Black Moon. Two emcees and a DJ from Brooklyn uppercut the rap game with their knocking debut Enta Da Stage. A quintessential NYC album, Black Moon was filled with tough guy talk and gritty narratives that started the era of the crew that was the Boot Camp Clik. Very formidable and impactful debut.
26. The Game- The Documentary
When G-Unit was riding very high with albums from 50 and Lloyd Banks killing things at that time, eyes were getting set on a young Compton native known as The Game. Signed with G-Unit but a protege of Dr. Dre, he quickly had the most anticipated west coast album in years, and it delivered even better than expected. Setting the bar high with singles like "How We Do", Hate It Or Love It", and the Kanye-crafted "Dreams", this was poised to be a debut of huge proportions, and it was definitely that. Tales of hustling, street life, shady women, and true life tales of getting shot, The Game became a star with over four million units sold, and thus began a fairly impressive, although at times controversial, career.
25. Mos Def- Black On Both Sides
Brooklyn emcee par excellence, Mos Def (now known as Yasiin Bey) had been highly revered in the underground and the very early Rawkus days. After thoroughly impressing on albums such as Stakes Is High, Soundbombing, Lyricist Lounge Vol. 1, and Da Bush Babees' excellent, Gravity, it was time for Mos to finally get his solo shine (not to mention his collab album with Talib Kweli is among the best debuts to ever grace us...see earlier). Open from the jump with the infectious, Ayatollah-blessed "Ms. Fat Booty", we knew the debut, Black On Both Sides, would be insane. The album would end up being basically a modern day treasure. With eclectic musical styles and live instrumentation mixed with profound musicianship and lyricism of his own, this album was as incredible as we knew it would be. This was a long album but none of it contained any wasted space. Against the grain from most stuff that was out at that time, this was a new blueprint for artistic hip-hop that could sell nearly platinum units.
24. Outkast- Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
The rebirth of the South in the mainstream occurred when we saw the debut of Big Boi and Andre with their benchmark debut, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. In spite of the heat they endured from New Yorkers when The Source Awards aired from there for winning Best New Artist, this legendary moment paved the way for what would become one of the most successful careers in modern music. This album implored musical elements of funk and soul the likes of which made albums like Comin' Out Hard, Super Tight, and Til Death Do Us Part such acclaimed albums, but with a fresh sound to it. Not to mention the chemistry between these two cats made them as potent of a duo as UGK, Eightball & MJG, and east coast counterparts like EPMD and Mobb Deep. Needless to say, the South had officially arrived with this groundbreaking release.
23. Madvillain- Madvillainy
This millennium never had an album that would completely restructure the aesthetics and organic prowess of the underground quite like the collab between MF Doom and brilliant, yet grossly under-appreciated, producer Madlib, Madvillain. Doom ad been already revered for his Operation Doomsday debut as well as his album under the Viktor Vaughn alias, Vaudeville Villain, and Madlib had been known for his work with Lootpack and with Tha Alkaholiks and the highly underrated Cali Agents, not to mention his own work under his Quasimoto alias for his left field debut, The Unseen. Together, these two made magic and with cuts like "Figaro", "Fancy Cklown", and "All Caps", their debut, Madvillainy, became an album of legend and is considered one of alternative hip-hop's all-time treasures.
22. Scarface- Mr. Scarface Is Back
Brad Jordan is known as the godfather of the south to many a rapper south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and one of the best and influential emcees ever known, no matter your geographical presence. Making his mark known in The Geto Boys, it was solo debut time, and this was every bit what we expected from Mr. Face. This album blurred the line often times between wildly imaginative narratives and disturbing realities. This man was manic, cold-hearted, and methodical, but this was an album you couldn't turn off even if you tried. Utterly violent and macabre, Mr. Scarface Is Back is brutal but marked the beginning of a legendary career. Many call themselves "king" of the south, but all so-called "kings" bow down to the father of the south. This was the album that started it all.
21. Raekwon- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
When the conversation goes to "greatest Wu solo album", the unanimous verdict is Raekwon's solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Released during the rise of the mafiosos rap era, the chef delivered one of the most heraled and vivid albums to ever exist. The grittiness of this album is off the page, and it follows its own formula of drugs, crime, and revenge that follows the path albums like Live & Let Die and Ready To Die laid before it. Every track flowed easily into the next, and contained some of the best gems ever heard from the Wu camp such as the Nas-assisted "Verbal Intercourse", "Glaciers Of Ice", and "Guillotine". With the exception of Ghost's beyond superb sophomore effort, Supreme Clientele, and GZA's aforementioned Liquid Swords, this is the best album to emerge from the Wu family that isn't named Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Although, it may be easily as influential.
20. EPMD- Strictly Business
In the late eighties, two Long Island natives came together to become one of the most influential acts in all of hip-hop, past or present. Erick Sermon and Parrish "PMD" Smith were EPMD and their debut, Strictly Business, introduced a tag team that are like the Arn Anderson/Tully Blanchard (Google them if you're not familiar) of hip-hop. One emcee was more style and flash, while being noticeably effective, and the other was straight to the point and in your face. Their chemistry proved itself remarkable with an album that is still considered and revered as a classic.
19. Jay-Z- Reasonable Doubt
The start of the emcee-turned-businessman Jay-Z started with this seminal release. While artists like Nas, Biggie, and Jeru The Damaja were tearing up NYC, in came a protege of Jaz-O from Marcy, Brooklyn. Say what you will about Jay, but this remains his crowning effort. Released in the heart of the mafioso era (yet again), this album deals with street narratives, glamorizing money, a lavish lifestyle, and the crime-ridden tales from the block. One of the strongest efforts ever recorded from a Brooklyn artist, this became the new benchmark for New York hip-hop, competing with thew likes of Illmatic and Ready To Die. From heavy-hitting singles like "Ain't No Nigga" and "Can't Knock The Hustle" to street anthems like "D'Evils" and "Coming Of Age", this remains the quintessential Jay Hova album. While The Blueprint comes the closest, and albums like The Black Album and Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life are viable contenders, nothing will top this monumental debut.
18. Brand Nubian- One For All
At the dawn of the nineties, a crew of four came on board with the anthemic "Slow Down" and a five-percenter ideological viewpoint that was captivating and thus they dropped their monumental debut,
One For All. The group of Grand Puba, Sadat X, DJ Alamo, and the ever controversial Lord Jamar presented highly intelligent, yet at times flammable, rhymes that mostly consisted of Black empowerment and street knowledge education. This was a huge album during the era where Public Enemy, De La Soul, Jungle Brothers,and Tribe were making some of the most acclaimed music in the world. Widely considered a classic, and very rightfully so, this album continues to be the group's most acclaimed and beloved album, in spite of decent follow-ups like
In God We Trust and
Foundation.
17. Eazy-E- Eazy Duz It
The late Compton icon himself, and founder of N.W.A., became a character all in himself. Eazy-E heard the need for a solo album, and with Eazy Duz It, it was everything we knew it would be for everyone that copped Straight Outta Compton. This album, while very street, also was more humorous, witty, and at times straight out hilarious. Relentlessly funky and sampled, this album was subsequently an underground album, with no radio or TV playback or accessibility, in spite of "Eazy Duz It" and "We Want Eazy" being hot singles. Videos came later for these cuts. Selling nearly three million units, this became Eazy's finest hour.
16. De La Soul- 3 Feet High & Rising
Before the term 'hipster' was even thought about, these guys were the innovators of 'hipster rap'. Their debut, 3 Feet High & Rising, broke all molds before it, and became one of the most critically iconic albums ever recorded in music overall. With an earthy and uniquely aesthetic feel, this album was selected by the Library Of Congress to be included in the National Recording Registry, which is an astonishing honor in itself. Compared to Pink Floyd's iconic album, Dark Side Of The Moon, 3 Feet High & Rising is a musical kaleidoscope. A positive, yet occasionally quirky, release, they were seen as the "hippies" of hip-hop, and singles like "Me, Myself, & I", "Potholes In My Lawn" and the legendary posse cut with their fellow Native Tongues fam, "Buddy" only strengthen that label. One of the most original hip-hop albums ever created, De La Soul remain legends to this day, and this was the album that launched them into our consciousness.
15. Kanye West- The College Dropout
During the late nineties/early millennium, besides Bad Boy, there wasn't a more in-demand label than Roc-A-Fella, headed by Jay-Z, Dame Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Fresh off his incredible production work on Roc projects like The Blueprint, Philadelphia Freeway, and The Truth, producer extraordinaire Kanye West had a deep down love to be an emcee, not just a producer. He rolled the dice in 2004 with his debut single, the autobiographical "Through The Wire" and the results were captivating. It was time to drop his highly anticipated debut album, The College Dropout. This album marked a changing of the guard, as the album was the most acclaimed album out the Roc that wasn't The Blueprint or The Truth. Some argue it's even better than those releases. Amazing cuts like the religious ode "Jesus Walks", "Get 'Em High" with Common and Kweli, and the incredible "All Falls Down" showed his impressive artistic merit and with Grammys and over four million units sold. This album marked the apex of what would become an eye-opening and legendary career.
14. A Tribe Called Quest- People's Instinctive Travels In The Paths Of Rhythm
Much like De La Soul's aforementioned 3 Feet High & Rising, this album was unlike the wave of hip-hop at that time. Three Queens kids delivered a very bohemian type of album that had never been introduced to hip-hop before. A very relatable album, we saw the intriguing talent and charm of Q-Tip, and what we also saw were the playful antics of Jarobi, their DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammed, and a bright light known as Phife Dawg. These four young men had a very fun debut called People's Instinctive Travels In The Paths Of Rhythm, which contained bits of jazz elements, but this was a kind of hip-hop that was the complete antithesis of the gangsta motif of N.W.A. and definitely not the crassness of 2 Live Crew, yet not quite the aggressive aura of Black empowerment like Public Enemy. The clever stylings of "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo" and the insanely mellow love letter "Bonita Applebum" made this album a delightful treasure for one of music's most important and influential acts.
13. Kendrick Lamar- Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City
It's not often we hear comparisons to Nas in terms of lyrical ability, storytelling, and the prediction of being the most important emcee of the present generation. In 2012, we got exposed to a young Compton native named Kendrick Lamar Duckworth on a more national, mainstream level. He had ears bussing with his fantastic underground release, Section.80, but it when he was signed to Aftermath and delivered his highly anticipated debut, Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, that we knew these comparisons were very accurate. A stellar debut in all areas, this was a tale about a young man trying to escape the brutality and struggles of the streets, but occasionally falling into the pitfalls that have him there in the first place. While his next album defined a generation, this was the album that presented us with the excellence that is Kendrick and gets established as one of the most sincere debuts in recent memory.
12. Snoop Doggy Dogg- Doggystyle
With Dr. Dre riding to ultimately very influential levels with The Chronic (see later), his protege, Snoop Dogg, was building up a fanbase himself before even putting out an album. The super talented Long Beach native was featured heavily on The Chronic, and had a HIGHLY anticipated debut in Doggystyle. The result was an album that met and surpassed every expectation and is still his magnum opus to this day. With anthems like "Gin & Juice", "Ain't No Fun" and "The Shiznit", this is Calvin Broadus' signature work and took Deathrow to even higher heights.
11. Lauryn Hill- The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
One of the most celebrated and timeless debuts of our time belongs to a young Jersey native named Lauryn Hill. Getting her fame from being with The Fugees and being the obvious show stealer, her anticipation for a debut reached climatic levels, and when the debut dropped, it simply took our breath away. Sure, one could say half the album was already flooding radio such as cuts like "Lost Ones", "Ex Factor", Zion", and "Nothing Even Matters", but other incredible cuts like "Final Hour" and "When It Hurts So Bad" showed and expressed the aching heart and crying spirit of a woman trying to find relief from her tears through music. Another album entered into the National Recording Registry for its influence and game-changing piece of art, Ms. Hill will forever be an icon, and how many people you know become a legend from only one album?
10. Wu-Tang Clan- Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
In the eighties, we had the Juice Crew, a collective of numerous emcees that, when together, were unstoppable. Once they all went their separate ways, a void was left for a cohesive group that contained numerous talented cats in a virtual cipher. We did have the Native Tongues, but then we were introduced to nine vicious emcees from Staten Island and Brooklyn, and did they tear apart the game as we knew it. Known as the Wu-Tang Clan, the mic handlers of Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Genius/GZA, RZA, U-God, Inspectah Deck, and the mighty Ol' Dirty Bastard introduced us to a fresh new style on their iconic debut, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Armed with enough fire lyrics to cause numerous inferno to develop, each member had his own style and distinctive flow, but what put them over the top was the visceral, dusty basement production of RZA, which was as grimy and dirty as anything you would ever hear to this day. Insane cuts like "Protect Ya Neck", "Da Mystery Of Chessboxin", "Clan In Da Front", and their smash single "C.R.E.A.M." put them into the world's radar, and the result was a platinum effort and a permanent place in hip-hop's consciousness as one of the most influential acts of all-time.
9. Ice Cube- AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Fresh from leaving N.W.A., the jheri-curled "nigga you love to hate" delivered a highly anticipated album that was as full of venom and full-forced adrenaline as any debut in history. Getting up with Public Enemy's production crew, The Bomb Squad, his debut AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted was filled the same anger and passion that made him the lead lyricist of N.W.A. Among the angriest releases ever recorded, Cube became an official star, as the album went platinum within a month's time, and solidified him as a force to be reckoned with. There's no denying his follow-up Death Certificate, as well as other albums like Lethal Injection and The Predator, but it's his debut that remains his initial bomb upon the game, and we're so thankful for this eponymous album.
8. Slick Rick- The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Ah, the golden age. Arguably seen as the richest period ever in hip-hop. This is time period between '88 and '92. Only to be replicated by the period of '93-2000 of landmark hip-hop. In '88, we got the debut album from the young British rapper by way of Bronx, NY previously known as MC Ricky D. He, along with Doug E. Fresh, were responsible for one the most celebrated hip-hop singles of all-time in "The Show" as well as its B-side "Ladi Dadi". Some three years later, we got blessed with his debut, The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick, a fun, innovative album that showcased above everything else his storytelling abilities that were second to none on legendary cuts like "Children's Story" and "Teacher Teacher". Some of the funkiest cuts to ever grace our ears, courtesy of The Bomb Squad and Jam Master Jay, this is a groundbreaking album within hip-hop and should be greatly mentioned within the Hall Of Fame of hip-hop albums.
7. Dr. Dre- The Chronic
The definitive west coast album. Never has there been an album to emerge from the left coast that has been more influential and integral to the sound of the west and would garner more accolades and respect from other parts of the nation as well. An undisputed game-changer, Andre Young crafted the perfect album for the riders, partners, and smokers, not to mention the gangstas as well. His debut, The Chronic, became the go-to album for the parties or the gang-banging mash ups. Not to mention, this album introduced us to future stars like Snoop, RBX, Lady Of Rage, and Tha Dogg Pound. Cuts like "Dre Day" "Let Me Ride" and "Nuthin' But A G Thang" are iconic anthems that will always be rotated as timeless cuts that epitomized gangsta shit.
6. Notorious B.I.G.- Ready To Die
Just when we thought nothing could match or come close to the epic masterpiece of Illmatic in '94, in comes Christopher Wallace. This Brooklynite had the hood buzzing with his cuts "Dreams" and "Party & Bullshit", but it was his legendary rags-to-riches tale "Juicy" that had everybody open from the jump. Once we copped his debut album, Ready To Die, we were experiencing greatness right before our ears. Regarded as the only album that made people take Illmatic out their Sony Discman players, this album was riddled with violent themes and vivid storytelling. Not to mention Biggie's astounding lyrical presence. He hit number one with "Big Poppa" and the remix to "One More Chance", thus establishing his stardom. His debut ultimately sold platinum units and Brooklyn had its newest powerhouse.
5. Beastie Boys- Licensed To Ill
Three Jeweish New Yorkers forever shook the game up with this groundbreaking debut album, Licensed To Ill. First introduced to the game with the hot single "Hold It Now, Hit It", then followed up with "The New Style" and "Paul Revere" to have us be exposed to these three zany punk rock hip-hop kids. Don't get it twisted, just because they were attracting a largely White audience doesn't mean they weren't trying to get solified within the Black community as well. The album was half rock-rap and the other half was straight boom-bap. This was one of the ultimate party rap albums of the eighties and was very fitting for Ad-Rock, Mike D, and the late MCA. Did I mention they performed their own instruments as well? This album paved the way for White emcees such as Eminem, Cage, Apathy, Aesop Rock, and R.A. The Rugged Man, and this album proved it had room for the White boys too.
4. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton
The album that brought the west coast into mega-stardom. Regarded as the most controversial album of all-time, this album shattered ceilings, really pushed the envelope of the First Amendment, and established them as "the world's most dangerous group". Five young men from a relatively unknown city from California called Compton was placed on the map thanks to this landmark release. The guys of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella shook up the middle and upper class, but the suburbs were as intrigued as we were in the hood. Addressing topics that were typically hidden like crime life and police brutality at that time of '89, this made Whites and uppity Blacks blush profusely. Thanks to the riot-inducing anthem "Fuck The Police", a F.B.I. letter was sent to them letting them know how much they didn't appreciate their stance on the blue squad. We haven't had anything like that since. Selling upwards of three million units, this is one of the single most powerful debuts to ever exist in any genre.
3. Eric B & Rakim- Paid In Full
There was nothing or nobody like Rakim Allah. His commanding voice and his knack for intelligent rhymes that were cuss-free had the hip-hop game checking for him in a major way. Tag teaming with his DJ, Eric B, they presented Paid In Full, and was the album that unofficially introduced the golden age into the mainstream. Anthem after anthem after anthem were prevalent on this album. There were so many quotable it became innumerable to keep up with them all. He became the most influential emcee to ever exist lyrically and this was the genesis of the legacy of this icon in hip-hop.
2. Run-DMC- Run-DMC
Quite frankly folks, there would be no mainstream or worldwide success of hip-hop without Run, DMC, and the late Jam Master Jay. Period. End of story. This was the album that started it all. The "kings of rock" became the face of effective crossover hip-hop, and we couldn't be more proud of them. An album that goes beyond the title of legendary or iconic, this was the album that practically started hip-hop, and to these Rock & Roll Hall Of Famers, we will forever salute you. Long live JMJ.
1. Nas- Illmatic
Do I need to say anything else. It's Illmatic for God's sake. The only album to have classes taught on it, a book dissecting it, and a documentary showing the creation of it. No other hip-hop album has influenced more emcees and artists period than Nas' breakout debut. Even rivals like Biggie and Jay-Z were heavily inspired by the magic that was Illmatic. In terms of debuts, this is the genuine article. The greatest debut to ever be heard by anyone. This is hip-hop at its perfection. Poetry and insight mixed with introspection and the desire to be great. No other album changed the landscape of hip-hop from a debut album quite like this did. Run-DMC's debut brought hip-hop to the world as a whole, but Illmatic brought the simplistic of hip-hop back in timeless fashion. Lives have been changed by this album, and this album stands alone as the greatest debut in the recorded history of rap music.
Honorable Mentions
Big Daddy Kane- Long Live The Kane
LL Cool J- Radio
Jungle Brothers- Straight Out The Jungle
Pharoahe Monch- Internal Affairs
Boogie Down Productions- Criminal Minded
O.C.- Word...Life
Young Jeezy- Let's Get It: Thug Motivation
Busta Rhymes- The Coming
Beanie Sigel- The Truth
Puff Daddy & The Family- No Way Out
Black Rob- Life Story
Smif-N-Wessun- Dah Shinin'
Yo-Yo- Make Way For The Motherload
Too $hort- Born To Mack
Das EFX- Dead Serious
Young Buck- Straight Outta Cashville
Styles P- A Gangster & A Gentleman
Lupe Fiasco- Lupe FIasco's Food & Liquor
The Pharcyde- Bizarre Ryde II Tha Pharcyde
Showbiz & AG- Runaway Slave
Cypress Hill- Cypress Hill
Method Man & Redman- Blackout
Big L- Lifestyles Uv Tha Poor & Dangerous
Rapsody- The Idea Of Beautiful
Casual- Fear Itself
Quasimoto- The Unseen
Ghostface Killah- Ironman
Heavy D & The Boyz- Livin' Large
Blaq Poet- The Blaqprint
Screwball- Y2K
Souls Of Mischief- '93 Til Infinity
DJ Quik- Safe & Sound
Logic- Under Pressure
Big K.R.I.T.- Live From The Underground
Bun B- Trill
Bone Thugs N Harmony- Creepin' On Ah Come Up
Earl Sweatshirt- Doris
Company Flow- Funcrusher Plus
El-P- Fantastic Damage
Tha Dogg Pound- Dogg Food
Cannibal Ox- The Cold Vein
Killarmy- Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars
Naughty By Nature- Naughty By Nature
Drake- Thank Me Later
Vince Staples- Summertime '06
dead prez- let's get free
Random Axe- Random Axe
Little Brother- The Listening
Taleb Kweli- Quality
Above The Law- Livin' Like Hustlas
Spice 1- Spice 1
Pete Rock- Soul Survivor
Black Sheep- A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
Immortal Technique- Revolutionary Vol. 1
Chino XL- Here To Save You All
As you can tell, there are great amounts of exceptional debut albums we've been Blessed to hear. Most on the list have been game changers and have been highly influential in years to come. Don't worry, just because you didn't see your album on the top fifty list doesn't mean the album wasn't substantial. Thus the reason for th honorable mentions list. In fact, many on the list were very strong, viable contenders to be on the list. Perhaps oversight or just plain forgetfulness excluded them from the immediate list, but this shows there's still lots of love for them. Until next time folks, keep in a thousand.
