BEST HIP-HOP ALBUMS
Nine of the best albums to test your system
Hip-hop has come a long way since the 1970s. From an underground movement combining music, culture and art, created by inner city African Americans and Latinos, it has grown into one of the most popular music genres in the world. We’ve compiled a selection of the best hip-hop albums for enjoying everything this genre has to offer, and for putting your sound system through its paces by offering tests of timing, dynamics, vocals and bass.
LOW END THEORY A TRIBE CALLED QUEST (1991)
On their second album, A Tribe Called Quest quickly perfected a stripped-back, jazzy sound that would influence artists for years to come. Don’t be fooled by the laid-back style; the production, word play and quality levels are unrivalled. A great test of timing and of your system’s handling of deep bass notes.
O.G. ORIGINAL GANGSTER ICE T (1991)
Ice-t really did put the gangster in gangster rap, and having become the second artist to carry the ‘explicit content’ label with 1987’s Rhyme Pays, he continued to deliver raps with no holds barred. The production is jazzier than a lot of gangster rap and there’s some clever use of samples, including Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath on the stand-out Midnight.
ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 CHAMBERS) WU-TANG CLAN (1993)
Clean, this isn’t (in every sense), but the deliberately dusty, grimy sound soon became synonymous with one of hip-hop’s most influential groups, and helped make chief producer, RZA, the go-to beat-maker for 90s underground hip-hop. The group never sounded as exciting and vital as on this debut album, which is a test of any system’s ability to communicate clearly and deliver excitement and energy.
ALL EYEZ ON ME 2PAC (1996)
The final opus from Tupac in his lifetime, All Eyez On Me, includes some West Coast classics and less filler than you might imagine for a 27-track double album. Legendary producers Daz Dillinger, Johnny “J” and Dr. Dre share the workload, delivering an unrivalled selection of tracks for Tupac’s legendary lyrical dexterity. Crisp, clear and California Love; what more could you ask for?
2001 DR. DRE (1999)
Dr. Dre was the go-to man when it came to crisp, punchy drums, solid bass and timeless hooks built around piano and strings. There are many excellent Dr. Dre productions, but we’ll go for the genredefining 2001, which rubber-stamped Andre Young’s return to the top table of rap.
THE DYNASTY: ROC LA FAMILIA JAY-Z (2000)
Jay-z’s fifth studio album is one of his more underrated, but we’ve picked it for its star-studded production line-up, including relative newcomers Just Blaze, Kanye West and The Neptunes. The range of producers and guest vocalists ensures an album of varied styles, but expect tight drums that test timing and layers of samples for your system to organise.
808s & HEARTBREAK KANYE WEST (2008)
It’s easy to forget the genius of Kanye West’s music productions, now his mind often seems elsewhere. His fourth studio album was a marked departure from the traditional hip-hop of his earlier work, and saw him exploring more abstract electronic sounds, including Auto-tune. Tracks such as Love Lockdown are a great test, thanks to low, aggressive bass notes, staccato drums and overblown distorted vocals.
TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY KENDRICK LAMAR (2015)
Kendrick Lamar draws on an all-star cast (Dr. Dre, Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Pharell Williams) to deliver a 360-degree tour of music through the ages, wrapped up in a 21st century hip-hop package. The sound effortlessly combines 90s West Coast rap, 70s funk, neo-soul and experimental electronica, and gives your system a thorough workout in the process.
PSYCHODRAMA DAVE (2019)
Rising through the ranks of UK grime, Santan Dave combines thought-provoking lyrics with a varied production style, drawing on his childhood spent composing tracks on the piano. Lesley, the tale of an abusive relationship, is an 11-minute epic, with Dave’s voice full of tension and drama. If you’re not enthralled by every bar, your system may be lacking a little insight and drama.