Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of All Time

Country Grammar by Nelly is one of the highest-selling Rap albums of all time. The RIAA Diamond-certified album was released on June 27, 2000.

The eponymous lead single from the album reached no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Whereas, the second single titled E.I. debuted on the chart at number 16.

Several music critics praised the rapper’s vocal style and the overall production of the album. This album propelled Nelly to the height of the music scene topping the Billboard 200 chart for 5 weeks consecutively.

The Diamond-certified album has seventeen songs in total and some of them are mentioned in the list below:

• St. Louie
• Steal the Show (ft. St. Lunatics)
• Greed, Hate, Envy
• Utha Side
• Tho Dem Wrappas

Life After Death by The Notorious BIG is the second and final album from the rapper. It was released on March 25, 1997.

Featuring artists like Jay-Z, Lil’ Kim, and more, it was dropped through Bad Boy Records and Arista Records following Biggie’s demise. The album recorded sales of 690,000 copies in the first week of its release.

In nearly no time, the record topped the Billboard 200 chart. Rolling Stone magazine dubbed the album as the 500 Greatest Albums of all time.

Correspondingly, the album made it to number 179 on the list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time prepared by Rolling Stone magazine.

This album was nominated for various awards including Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Solo Performance. Life After Death includes these songs:

• My Downfall
• Another
• I Love the Dough
• Sky’s the Limit
• Last Day

The posthumous Greatest Hits by 2Pac is one of the best-selling Rap albums of all time. It was released on November 24, 1998.

Released two years after Pac passed away, one of the songs Changes was promoted as the first single prior to its release. Likewise, Changes makes the record the first and only posthumous single to be nominated for the category of Best Rap Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards.

This album reached the US Billboard 200 chart at number five, with recorded sales of 268,000 copies in the first week of its release.

The double-disc album comprises 25 songs in total. Besides Changes, Unconditional Love was released as the second single on January 26, 1999. We’ve listed some songs from the album:

• Keep Ya Head (ft. Dave Hollister)
• Temptations
• God Bless the Deas
• How Do U Want It (ft. K-Ci Me & JoJo)
• Dear Mama

2001 is the second album by the rapper Dr. Dre. It was distributed via Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records on November 16, 1999.

Dre, alongside Lord Finesse and Mel-Man, produced this landmark album. It features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Nate Dogg, Hittman, Xzibit, and Kurupt.

2001 made it to number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 516,000 copies in the first week of its release. A partial list of songs from Dr. Dre’s 2001 is listed below:

• The Watcher
• Still D.R.E.
• What’s the Difference ft. Eminem and Xzibit
• Ed-Ucation ft. Eddie Griffin
• Ackrite ft. Hittman.

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent contains Top Hip Hop Songs Of All Time, In da Club. The album sold 872,000 copies in its first week.

Released in February 2003, the record has guest appearances from artists including Eminem, Nate Dogg, Young Buck, and 50’s G-Unit co-members Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks.

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ topped the Billboard 200 chart in its first week. In the second week, the album recorded sales of 822,00 copies in addition to the copies sold from its first week.

Here are some tracks from the album:

• In da Club
• 21 Questions
• P.I.M.P.
• If I Can’t
• Many Men (Wish Death)

All Eyez On Me by 2Pac is his fourth album. It was the last album to be released during his lifetime.

Featuring guest appearances from artists like Redman, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, and more, this gangsta rap album showcases the rapper’s experiences of living in both luxury and poverty.

Released on February 13, 1996, this album was 2Pac’s second record to top the Billboard 200 chart. In the first week of its release itself, the album sold 566,000 copies.

Seven months post the release of this album, the rapper breathed his last after getting caught in a drive-by shooting on September 7, 1996. Some songs from the record are:

• California Love
• 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
• How Do U Want It
• I Ain’t Mad at Cha
• Only God Can Judge Me

Speakerboxx/ The Love Below by Outkast was released on September 23, 2003. It was distributed through Arista Records.

This album topped the Billboard 200 chart with recorded sales of 510,000 copies in its first week of release. Eventually, it topped the chart for 7 non-consecutive weeks.

This is a RIAA Diamond-certified album. It bagged Album of the Year and Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards.

A two-disc set, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, comprises 39 tracks which include interludes and postludes. A partial list of the songs from this prominent album is listed below:

• Ghetto Musick
• The Way You Move ft. Sleepy Brown
• Love Hater
• Prototype
• Roses

The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem is undoubtedly one of the top 10 Rap Albums Of All Time. It was released via Aftermath and Interscope Records.

Eminem dropped his third album on May 23, 2000. It features artists including Sticky Fingaz, Snoop Dogg, Bizarre, Dido, RBX, Nate Dogg, D12, and Xzibit.

Despite being surrounded by controversy, it led the rapper to the forefront of the music scene. The album topped the Billboard 200 and maintained its position for 8 consecutive weeks.

Some of the songs from The Marshall Mathers LP include:

• Stan
• Criminal
• Public Service Announcement 2000
• I’m Back
• Who Knew

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is one of the best Hip Hop Albums of All Time. It was released as her debut album on August 25, 1998.

Lauded with positive reviews, this album made it to the list of most acclaimed albums of 1998. The Education of Sonny Carson and The Mis-Education of the Negro are the inspirations behind this reggae and hip hop soul-based album’s title.

Out of ten Grammy nominations, it won five awards, making her the first woman to bag that many awards and nominations in just one night.

With recorded sales of over 422,000 copies in its first week, the album debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at number one. In nearly no time, the album’s success propelled Lauryn to mainstream attention.

Released over two decades ago, it was certified Diamond by RIAA in 2021. Some of the songs from this album include:

• I Used to Love Him
• To Zion
• Every Ghetto, Every City
• Ex-Factor
• When It Hurts So Bad

The Eminem Show sits atop this list because it sold 27 million copies across the globe. It was released on May 26, 2002.

Distributed via Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records, this album was highly praised.

The Eminem Show made it to the top of the Billboard 200. Also, it maintained the position for six non-consecutive weeks.

Not to forget, The Eminem Show is a recipient of the Grammy Awards in 2003 for the category of Best Rap Album. Correspondingly, it is also an RIAA Diamond-certified album.

This album comprises 38 songs in total; 20 songs in the basic version whereas the expanded version has 18 more songs. A partial list of the songs are:

• White America
• Cleanin’ Out My Closet
• Without Me
• Sing for the Moment
• Superman ft. Dina Rae