There were about a million things that happened in hip-hop this decade: it went gangster (again), went pop (again), traveled below the Mason-Dixon line, took a detour to Houston, got crunk, got hyphy, beefed with its brothers, embraced its roots, looked to the future, counted its money, flexed its muscle, bemoaned its impotence, sulked in the corner, fell in love, broke up, went to counseling, and embarked on a world tour. There was 50 Cent, Mike Jones, Cee-Lo, T.I., Lupe, Weezy, Jeezy and , Yeezy. There were basements, clubs and prisons -- black presidents, Jewish Rastafarians and masked supervillains. Anthems came and went, we got low and got blunted. All in all, it was a good decade, not without its disappoints, but certainly not without its triumphs. We’ve tried to assemble some of those triumphs. Try not to get too cross-eyed about who did or didn’t make it -- if your horse didn’t place, let us know in the comments box.
25.
The Roots
Phrenology, 2002
The Bad Brains homage "!!!!!" ends in the nick of 25 seconds, "Quills" is sadistic in an arty way -- two more sinful episodes in a cheating-song cycle where the guitar of new blood Ben Kenney takes hip-hop from behind and calls the baby rock 'n' roll. This isn't some critical metaphor. It's the plot of the tale of betrayal and recompense told by 2002's freshest roots rock track and jamming-est avant rap track: the album's centerpiece, "The Seed (2.0)." You can glean the backstory, if there is one, from the gossip industry. I'll just note that on this record Kamal's keyboard hooks could pass for piano. And believe that after years of racial mythology, the Roots found it in their talent to put black music's long tradition of tune and structure into practice. -- R. Christgau
24. Jay-Z
The Black Album, 2003
Whereas Jigga's confessional raps have always been confined to the margins, the self-anointed God emcee pushes introspection to the forefront on the Black Album. "Allure" draws a parallel between drug addiction and the pull of hip-hop, while "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)" finds Jay-Z wrestling with the possibility of personal transformation, concluding, "You was who you was 'fore you got here/ Only God can judge." Hits "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "99 Problems" are among the catchiest in Jigga's career, and "What More Can I Say" finds him dealing with his premature retirement. -- Sam Chennault
23. Scarface
The Fix, 2002
After nearly 15 years on the mic, Scarface still delivers thoughtful street narratives like no other. For his seventh solo album, the veteran Houston emcee enlists a slew of guests, including Jay-Z, Nas and Faith Evans. The Fix is top-notch storytelling rap. Standouts include "On My Block" and "Guess Who's Back." -- Brolin Winning
22. Mac Dre
Thizzelle Washington, 2002
As Mac Dre proves on Thizzelle Washington, the Bay Area is perhaps the only place in the hip-hop universe where it's OK for a gangsta to be goofy. Classic G-funk meets psychedelia on "Stuart Littles" and the now-classic "Thizzelle Dance." Interludes and guest spots abound, reinforcing the street corner/acid casualness that permeates the disc. -- S.C.
21. The Coup
Pick a Bigger Weapon, 2006
The Coup understand that there are no easy answers in life or politics, so instead of going the route of anti-Bush screeds, the true heirs to Public Enemy's throne of agitprop hip-hop opt for the dicey task of negotiating political disillusionment with personal salvation. "I'm a walking contradiction like bullets and love mixin'" is the album's first line, and over the course of Weapon's 17 tracks, frontman Boots declares himself "Kunta Kinte with a Mack 10," reassures his girlfriend that they're "in bed together like Bush and Hussein" and confesses that "I'm here to laugh, love, f*ck and drink liquor/ And make the revolution come quicker." The album reaches its zenith on the sultry and apocalyptic "BabyLet'sHaveABabyBeforeBushDoSomethingCrazy." Good luck finding a better hip-hop album this year. -- S.C.
20.
Eminem
The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000
Though the template of laying irreverent societal critique over bouncy Dr. Dre beats is left essentially intact, Marshall Mathers is darker and meaner than Eminem's previous releases. It mixes homophobia and misogyny with murder fantasies. The epic narrative "Stan" was Eminem's attempt to reconcile his responsibility as an influential public figure with his role as an entertainer and artist. But the distance between art and reality wasn't as clear as the song would lead us to believe, and the violent fantasy "Kim" reportedly led his wife, the song's subject, to attempt suicide. This is volatile, obscene and great art. -- S.C.
19. Lil Wayne
Tha Carter, 2004
The Cash Money Millionaire and Hot Boy representative continues his reign as one of New Orleans' most consistent and charismatic rappers. Produced by in-house beat specialist Mannie Fresh, Wayne's third solo album finds him serving up swift rhymes about the Dirty South drug trade and his lavish, ice-drenched lifestyle. Check out the jumpy lead single "Bring It Back." -- B.W.
18. Mos Def
The Ecstatic, 2009
Mos Def has largely abandoned traditional song structure. Verse-chorus-bridge-coda? Forget about it. The raps here are rambling, stream-of-consciousness rants that appropriate the griot braggadocio of spiritual enlightenment before pivoting to the apocalyptic fury of political fear and loathing. Songs barely reach the two-minute mark, while the sound ranges from twisting Bollywood pomp to weepy Mediterranean psych. And just when you think it's over, Dilla shows up on an unexpected Black Star reunion. The album is a rabbit hole, and its stab at hip-hop transcendentalism is as messy as it is beautiful. -- S.C.
17. MF DOOM
King Geedorah, Take Me to Your Leader, 2003
Top-notch hip-hop from the enigmatic MF Doom. Taking his alias from the three-headed space dragon/Godzilla challenger, Geedorah throws down grimy but soulful production and an abundance of ill wordplay, interspersed with cinematic skits and thunderous collaborations. Check out "Fazers," "Next Levels" and "Anti-Matter." -- B.W.
15. (tie) Jay-Z
The Blueprint, 2001
Blueprint marked Jigga's return to boom-bap formalism, but rarely has a retreat sounded so enticing. Chipmunk soul beats provided by newcomers Kanye West and Just Blaze made yesterday's swagger seem like tomorrow's sound, while the dearth of guest spots and club bangers allowed Jay to focus on Jay. There are at least three classics here, and the album is listenable from front to back. You could argue that this was a high water mark for the B-K vet. -- S.C.
15. (tie) Nas
Stillmatic, 2003
Nas comes back hard on his fifth album, retaliating against Jay-Z and haters worldwide. Stellar beats come courtesy of Premier and Large Professor, while Mr. Jones finally drops the Escobar nonsense and returns to his Nastier style. Check out "2nd Childhood," "Rewind" and "Ether." -- B.W.
14. Blu and Exile
Below the Heavens, 2007
In 2007, while hip-hop had diverted into fantasyland, the debut from L.A. combo Blu and Exile strove to paint the minutiae of everyday lives. On the vibe-anchored "Simply Amazin'," Exile's rickety, lo-fi hip-hop recalls early Reflection Eternal or the masterworks of Common producer No I.D. Emcee Blu, meanwhile, has a knack for day-in-the-life vignettes that are emotionally transparent and project a quaint, b-boy charm. The contrast between Blu's spiritual ambitions and his dirty-curb, urban existence is a well-worn formula that works here. -- S.C.
13. Slum Village
Fantastic, Vol. 2, 2000
One of 2000's most celebrated CDs, Fantastic is the link between neo-soul and underground hip-hop, though it would not strictly adhere to the parameters of either. From the atmospherics of "Players" to the stomp of "Raise It Up," the album's production -- courtesy J Dilla -- was groundbreaking and provided a nice counterpoint to the group's misogynistic playboy raps. -- S.C.
12. Nas
God’s Son, 2003
During the recording of God's Son, Nas' mother died, the rapper was besieged by jealous rivals, and he separated from his longtime companion, Carmen -- who was having an affair with Jay-Z. Understandably, God's Son is Nas' most emotionally raw album to date. "The Cross" finds him playing the role of hip-hop martyr, while "Last Real N*gga Alive" provides a semi-objective look at his duel with Jay-Z. The album's denouement, "Heaven," is an intense meditation on mortality that explores suicide and salvation. Over the track's odd 6/8 tempo, Nas raps, "This world is my home/ But world I would leave you." -- S.C.
11. T.I.
Trap Muzik, 2003
Though his first LP, I'm Serious, failed to generate much hype or sales, Atlanta's T.I. stayed on the grind and came back huge with Trap Muzik. Seriously thumping beats, soulful keyboards and charismatic flows abound throughout the album, especially on "24's," "Rubber Band Man" and the Kanye West-produced, Zapp-influenced "Let Me Tell You Something.” -- B.W.
10.
Cam’Ron
Purple Haze, 2004
Purple Haze takes the gangsta mindset to its hyper-masculine logical conclusion, inadvertently uprooting any connection the music may have to reality and placing it squarely in the realm of fantasy. Crack anthems such as "More Gangsta Music" and "The Dope Man" can't -- and shouldn't be -- taken too seriously, which makes them comfort food for laptop hustlas. -- S.C.
9. Ghostface Killah
Fishscale, 2006
Crackling samples, loose soul loops and doo-wop harmonies waft through the mix as Ghost pleads, coos and threatens on vignettes "Beauty Jackson," "Columbus Exchange/Crackspot" and "Big Girl." The LP is bathed in shadows and dread, and populated with characters held hostage by cruelty and obsession, making Fishscale the equivalent of postmodern urban noir. Another classic from Ghost. -- S.C.
8. El-P
Fantastic Damage, 2002
Dark, cavernous and confrontational, Fantastic Damage is more concerned with being respected than it is liked, which makes it the perfect soundtrack for a post-9/11 U.S. Throughout, El-P's jaded rhymes are oblique and delivered in halting rhythms, while the album's lo-fi, electro-infused production is simply jarring. A landmark indie release. -- S.C.
7. Madlib (aka Quasimoto)
The Unseen, 2000
Madlib and alter ego Quasimoto take a weird, tangential and nuanced journey through the day in the life of a blunted b-boy. The production revisits Prince Paul's sampledelica, while Id surrogate Quas raps about hos and blunts. This is what happens when hip-hop's tightly wound world collides with psych's expansive inner-space. In a word: classic. -- S.C.
6. Outkast
Stankonia, 2000
This was a hell of a way to begin the decade. Dark, sexy, weird and wild, Outkast’s fourth album exploded on the pop charts, featuring what still may be pop’s most difficult single of the decade, “B.O.B.,” as well the revolutionary “Ms. Jackson," which seemed to be an indictment of hip-hop’s misogyny. The music here travels the back roads of funk, from the dark stomp of “Gasoline Dreams” to the murky psych of “Snappin’ & Trappin’” to the smooth roll of “So Fresh, So Clean.” This album contained multitudes, and nearly a decade later, its complexities are only now beginning to unravel. -- S.C.
5. Cannibal Ox
The Cold Vein, 2001
Produced entirely by sonic adventurer El-P, Cann Ox's debut album rocks some of the fiercest, weirdest beats ever laid to wax. Densely layered, post-apocalyptic soundscapes lay the foundation for wordy but rowdy mic attacks from Vast and Vordul, exploring the science of life in the city. Unlike any other LP before or since, the Cold Vein is uncompromisingly ill.
4. Kanye West
College Dropout, 2004
Loaded with quotable verses and exceptional beats, College Dropout is one of the most anticipated debuts of 2004. Chicago emcee and Roc-A-Fella super-producer Kanye West comes through with his signature soul-sampling tracks, while Jay-Z and Ludacris show up for quality cameos. Believe the hype. -- B.W.
3. J Dilla
Donuts, 2006
Dilla has always been one of the most stylistically adventurous producers in hip-hop, flipping between the warm, jazzy boom-bap of his earlier years and the colder, more forceful electro of his middle period. But Donuts -- in its fractured, ADD glory -- presented the producer at his most naked. Culled from a series of beat CDs that had been circulating for some time, most of the songs on Donuts are little more than sketches. No song touches the two-minute mark, and a few barely even progress beyond simple loops. Though fragments, they collectively offer an intensely personal meditation on the soul music that dominated Dilla’s childhood in Detroit. -- S.C.
2. Ghostface Killah
Supreme Clientele, 2000
Ghostface has never been the best lyricist in hip-hop, but he is consistently the most exciting and the most unpredictable. And, by most accounts, Supreme Clientele is his masterpiece. Throughout, there’s desperation in his voice, a 3 A.M. laced-blunt paranoia that pulls the listener into the Shaolin master’s warped world. And once there, you’re confronted with a ghetto-surrealist, stream-of-consciousness collage that suggests equal parts Romare Bearden, Jack Kerouac, and Slick Rick. It’s supremely subjective and scarily intimate. -- S.C.
1. Madvillain
Madvillainy, 2004
The collaboration between underground hip-hop’s most adventurous producer (Madlib) and its most treasured lyricist (MF DOOM), Madvillainy was the most singular hip-hop album of the decade. It is full of dark alleys and trapdoors, both musically and lyrically. DOOM still has a knack for recycling and warping antiquated clich�s -- like in "Great Day," when he instructs us to "Put ya'self in your own shoes" -- and for engaging in extended vocabulary workouts that employ polysyllabic, inner and slant rhymes; ample doses of alliteration; and sudden line drops, such as the one in "Meat Grinder": "Trouble with the script/ Digits double dipped, bubble lipped, subtle lisp/ Midget/ Borderline schizo/ Sorta fine tits though." Yet there are times when Dumile peers through the Dada-ist carnival of words and speaks directly, honestly. In "Accordion," he acknowledges his age, rapping, "Living off borrowed time the clock ticks faster," before later concluding that it's "nice to be old." Madlib’s production, meanwhile, is pure pastiche, a smorgasbord of world music, classic soul and outsider music. Snippets of childhood recordings rub against each other with Sun Ra and Sonny Rollins. It’s dark, funny, strange and sudden. S.C.
Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
David Banner, Mississippi Chopped and Screwed
Devin the Dude, To The X-Treme
Prodigy, Return of the Mac
Jaylib, Champion Sound
Black Milk, Tronic
Oh No, Dr. No's Oxperiment
Messy Marv, Keak Da Sneak, PSD, Da Bidness
Lil’ Wayne, Tha Carter III
Wu Tang, 8 Diagrams
Q-Tip, The Renaissance
Nas, Untitled
Lupe Fiasco, The Cool
Madlib, Beat Konducta
Mos Def, The New Danger
Cee-Lo Green, Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections
Kanye West, Graduation
Three 6 Mafia, Da Unbreakables
UGK, UGK 4 Life
Scarface, MADE
Missy Elliott, Under Construction
Lil’ Wayne, Tha Carter II
MIA, Kala
Dizzee Rascal, Boy in Da Corner
Andre Nickatina, Conversations with a Devil
GZA, Legend of the Liquid Sword
Pimp C, The Sweet James Jones Story
Federation, It's Whateva
Turf Talk, West Coast VAccine
Traxamillion, The Slap Addict
Deltron 3030
Dj Quik + Kurupt, Blaqkout
Young Jeezy, The Recession
Tayne Morgan, Brooklynati
Flying Lotus, Los Angeles
Juvenile, Reality Check
Killer Mike,
Bubba Sparx, Deliverance
Ludacris, Word Of Mouf
Big L, The Big Picture
Ghostface, Pretty Toney
AZ, AWOL
RJD2, DeadRinger
Prefuse 73, Vocal Studies and Uprock Narratives
Haiku D'Etat, Coup De Theatre
The Roots, Game Theory
Zion I, The Takeover
The Game, The Documentary
Murs, Murs 3:16
Little Brother, The Listening
Dalek, From the Filthy Tongues of Gods and Griots
Onra, Chinoiseries
Madlib, Beat Konducta 5-6
Phrenology, 2002
The Bad Brains homage "!!!!!" ends in the nick of 25 seconds, "Quills" is sadistic in an arty way -- two more sinful episodes in a cheating-song cycle where the guitar of new blood Ben Kenney takes hip-hop from behind and calls the baby rock 'n' roll. This isn't some critical metaphor. It's the plot of the tale of betrayal and recompense told by 2002's freshest roots rock track and jamming-est avant rap track: the album's centerpiece, "The Seed (2.0)." You can glean the backstory, if there is one, from the gossip industry. I'll just note that on this record Kamal's keyboard hooks could pass for piano. And believe that after years of racial mythology, the Roots found it in their talent to put black music's long tradition of tune and structure into practice. -- R. Christgau
24. Jay-Z
The Black Album, 2003
Whereas Jigga's confessional raps have always been confined to the margins, the self-anointed God emcee pushes introspection to the forefront on the Black Album. "Allure" draws a parallel between drug addiction and the pull of hip-hop, while "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)" finds Jay-Z wrestling with the possibility of personal transformation, concluding, "You was who you was 'fore you got here/ Only God can judge." Hits "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "99 Problems" are among the catchiest in Jigga's career, and "What More Can I Say" finds him dealing with his premature retirement. -- Sam Chennault
23. Scarface
The Fix, 2002
After nearly 15 years on the mic, Scarface still delivers thoughtful street narratives like no other. For his seventh solo album, the veteran Houston emcee enlists a slew of guests, including Jay-Z, Nas and Faith Evans. The Fix is top-notch storytelling rap. Standouts include "On My Block" and "Guess Who's Back." -- Brolin Winning
22. Mac Dre
Thizzelle Washington, 2002
As Mac Dre proves on Thizzelle Washington, the Bay Area is perhaps the only place in the hip-hop universe where it's OK for a gangsta to be goofy. Classic G-funk meets psychedelia on "Stuart Littles" and the now-classic "Thizzelle Dance." Interludes and guest spots abound, reinforcing the street corner/acid casualness that permeates the disc. -- S.C.
21. The Coup
Pick a Bigger Weapon, 2006
The Coup understand that there are no easy answers in life or politics, so instead of going the route of anti-Bush screeds, the true heirs to Public Enemy's throne of agitprop hip-hop opt for the dicey task of negotiating political disillusionment with personal salvation. "I'm a walking contradiction like bullets and love mixin'" is the album's first line, and over the course of Weapon's 17 tracks, frontman Boots declares himself "Kunta Kinte with a Mack 10," reassures his girlfriend that they're "in bed together like Bush and Hussein" and confesses that "I'm here to laugh, love, f*ck and drink liquor/ And make the revolution come quicker." The album reaches its zenith on the sultry and apocalyptic "BabyLet'sHaveABabyBeforeBushDoSomethingCrazy." Good luck finding a better hip-hop album this year. -- S.C.
20.
EminemThe Marshall Mathers LP, 2000
Though the template of laying irreverent societal critique over bouncy Dr. Dre beats is left essentially intact, Marshall Mathers is darker and meaner than Eminem's previous releases. It mixes homophobia and misogyny with murder fantasies. The epic narrative "Stan" was Eminem's attempt to reconcile his responsibility as an influential public figure with his role as an entertainer and artist. But the distance between art and reality wasn't as clear as the song would lead us to believe, and the violent fantasy "Kim" reportedly led his wife, the song's subject, to attempt suicide. This is volatile, obscene and great art. -- S.C.
19. Lil Wayne
Tha Carter, 2004
The Cash Money Millionaire and Hot Boy representative continues his reign as one of New Orleans' most consistent and charismatic rappers. Produced by in-house beat specialist Mannie Fresh, Wayne's third solo album finds him serving up swift rhymes about the Dirty South drug trade and his lavish, ice-drenched lifestyle. Check out the jumpy lead single "Bring It Back." -- B.W.
18. Mos Def
The Ecstatic, 2009
Mos Def has largely abandoned traditional song structure. Verse-chorus-bridge-coda? Forget about it. The raps here are rambling, stream-of-consciousness rants that appropriate the griot braggadocio of spiritual enlightenment before pivoting to the apocalyptic fury of political fear and loathing. Songs barely reach the two-minute mark, while the sound ranges from twisting Bollywood pomp to weepy Mediterranean psych. And just when you think it's over, Dilla shows up on an unexpected Black Star reunion. The album is a rabbit hole, and its stab at hip-hop transcendentalism is as messy as it is beautiful. -- S.C.
17. MF DOOM
King Geedorah, Take Me to Your Leader, 2003
Top-notch hip-hop from the enigmatic MF Doom. Taking his alias from the three-headed space dragon/Godzilla challenger, Geedorah throws down grimy but soulful production and an abundance of ill wordplay, interspersed with cinematic skits and thunderous collaborations. Check out "Fazers," "Next Levels" and "Anti-Matter." -- B.W.
15. (tie) Jay-Z
The Blueprint, 2001
Blueprint marked Jigga's return to boom-bap formalism, but rarely has a retreat sounded so enticing. Chipmunk soul beats provided by newcomers Kanye West and Just Blaze made yesterday's swagger seem like tomorrow's sound, while the dearth of guest spots and club bangers allowed Jay to focus on Jay. There are at least three classics here, and the album is listenable from front to back. You could argue that this was a high water mark for the B-K vet. -- S.C.
15. (tie) Nas
Stillmatic, 2003
Nas comes back hard on his fifth album, retaliating against Jay-Z and haters worldwide. Stellar beats come courtesy of Premier and Large Professor, while Mr. Jones finally drops the Escobar nonsense and returns to his Nastier style. Check out "2nd Childhood," "Rewind" and "Ether." -- B.W.
14. Blu and Exile
Below the Heavens, 2007
In 2007, while hip-hop had diverted into fantasyland, the debut from L.A. combo Blu and Exile strove to paint the minutiae of everyday lives. On the vibe-anchored "Simply Amazin'," Exile's rickety, lo-fi hip-hop recalls early Reflection Eternal or the masterworks of Common producer No I.D. Emcee Blu, meanwhile, has a knack for day-in-the-life vignettes that are emotionally transparent and project a quaint, b-boy charm. The contrast between Blu's spiritual ambitions and his dirty-curb, urban existence is a well-worn formula that works here. -- S.C.
13. Slum Village
Fantastic, Vol. 2, 2000
One of 2000's most celebrated CDs, Fantastic is the link between neo-soul and underground hip-hop, though it would not strictly adhere to the parameters of either. From the atmospherics of "Players" to the stomp of "Raise It Up," the album's production -- courtesy J Dilla -- was groundbreaking and provided a nice counterpoint to the group's misogynistic playboy raps. -- S.C.
12. Nas
God’s Son, 2003
During the recording of God's Son, Nas' mother died, the rapper was besieged by jealous rivals, and he separated from his longtime companion, Carmen -- who was having an affair with Jay-Z. Understandably, God's Son is Nas' most emotionally raw album to date. "The Cross" finds him playing the role of hip-hop martyr, while "Last Real N*gga Alive" provides a semi-objective look at his duel with Jay-Z. The album's denouement, "Heaven," is an intense meditation on mortality that explores suicide and salvation. Over the track's odd 6/8 tempo, Nas raps, "This world is my home/ But world I would leave you." -- S.C.
11. T.I.
Trap Muzik, 2003
Though his first LP, I'm Serious, failed to generate much hype or sales, Atlanta's T.I. stayed on the grind and came back huge with Trap Muzik. Seriously thumping beats, soulful keyboards and charismatic flows abound throughout the album, especially on "24's," "Rubber Band Man" and the Kanye West-produced, Zapp-influenced "Let Me Tell You Something.” -- B.W.
10.
Cam’Ron Purple Haze, 2004
Purple Haze takes the gangsta mindset to its hyper-masculine logical conclusion, inadvertently uprooting any connection the music may have to reality and placing it squarely in the realm of fantasy. Crack anthems such as "More Gangsta Music" and "The Dope Man" can't -- and shouldn't be -- taken too seriously, which makes them comfort food for laptop hustlas. -- S.C.
9. Ghostface Killah
Fishscale, 2006
Crackling samples, loose soul loops and doo-wop harmonies waft through the mix as Ghost pleads, coos and threatens on vignettes "Beauty Jackson," "Columbus Exchange/Crackspot" and "Big Girl." The LP is bathed in shadows and dread, and populated with characters held hostage by cruelty and obsession, making Fishscale the equivalent of postmodern urban noir. Another classic from Ghost. -- S.C.
8. El-P
Fantastic Damage, 2002
Dark, cavernous and confrontational, Fantastic Damage is more concerned with being respected than it is liked, which makes it the perfect soundtrack for a post-9/11 U.S. Throughout, El-P's jaded rhymes are oblique and delivered in halting rhythms, while the album's lo-fi, electro-infused production is simply jarring. A landmark indie release. -- S.C.
7. Madlib (aka Quasimoto)
The Unseen, 2000
Madlib and alter ego Quasimoto take a weird, tangential and nuanced journey through the day in the life of a blunted b-boy. The production revisits Prince Paul's sampledelica, while Id surrogate Quas raps about hos and blunts. This is what happens when hip-hop's tightly wound world collides with psych's expansive inner-space. In a word: classic. -- S.C.
6. Outkast
Stankonia, 2000
This was a hell of a way to begin the decade. Dark, sexy, weird and wild, Outkast’s fourth album exploded on the pop charts, featuring what still may be pop’s most difficult single of the decade, “B.O.B.,” as well the revolutionary “Ms. Jackson," which seemed to be an indictment of hip-hop’s misogyny. The music here travels the back roads of funk, from the dark stomp of “Gasoline Dreams” to the murky psych of “Snappin’ & Trappin’” to the smooth roll of “So Fresh, So Clean.” This album contained multitudes, and nearly a decade later, its complexities are only now beginning to unravel. -- S.C.
5. Cannibal Ox
The Cold Vein, 2001
Produced entirely by sonic adventurer El-P, Cann Ox's debut album rocks some of the fiercest, weirdest beats ever laid to wax. Densely layered, post-apocalyptic soundscapes lay the foundation for wordy but rowdy mic attacks from Vast and Vordul, exploring the science of life in the city. Unlike any other LP before or since, the Cold Vein is uncompromisingly ill. 4. Kanye West
College Dropout, 2004
Loaded with quotable verses and exceptional beats, College Dropout is one of the most anticipated debuts of 2004. Chicago emcee and Roc-A-Fella super-producer Kanye West comes through with his signature soul-sampling tracks, while Jay-Z and Ludacris show up for quality cameos. Believe the hype. -- B.W.
3. J Dilla
Donuts, 2006
Dilla has always been one of the most stylistically adventurous producers in hip-hop, flipping between the warm, jazzy boom-bap of his earlier years and the colder, more forceful electro of his middle period. But Donuts -- in its fractured, ADD glory -- presented the producer at his most naked. Culled from a series of beat CDs that had been circulating for some time, most of the songs on Donuts are little more than sketches. No song touches the two-minute mark, and a few barely even progress beyond simple loops. Though fragments, they collectively offer an intensely personal meditation on the soul music that dominated Dilla’s childhood in Detroit. -- S.C.2. Ghostface Killah
Supreme Clientele, 2000
Ghostface has never been the best lyricist in hip-hop, but he is consistently the most exciting and the most unpredictable. And, by most accounts, Supreme Clientele is his masterpiece. Throughout, there’s desperation in his voice, a 3 A.M. laced-blunt paranoia that pulls the listener into the Shaolin master’s warped world. And once there, you’re confronted with a ghetto-surrealist, stream-of-consciousness collage that suggests equal parts Romare Bearden, Jack Kerouac, and Slick Rick. It’s supremely subjective and scarily intimate. -- S.C.
1. Madvillain
Madvillainy, 2004
The collaboration between underground hip-hop’s most adventurous producer (Madlib) and its most treasured lyricist (MF DOOM), Madvillainy was the most singular hip-hop album of the decade. It is full of dark alleys and trapdoors, both musically and lyrically. DOOM still has a knack for recycling and warping antiquated clich�s -- like in "Great Day," when he instructs us to "Put ya'self in your own shoes" -- and for engaging in extended vocabulary workouts that employ polysyllabic, inner and slant rhymes; ample doses of alliteration; and sudden line drops, such as the one in "Meat Grinder": "Trouble with the script/ Digits double dipped, bubble lipped, subtle lisp/ Midget/ Borderline schizo/ Sorta fine tits though." Yet there are times when Dumile peers through the Dada-ist carnival of words and speaks directly, honestly. In "Accordion," he acknowledges his age, rapping, "Living off borrowed time the clock ticks faster," before later concluding that it's "nice to be old." Madlib’s production, meanwhile, is pure pastiche, a smorgasbord of world music, classic soul and outsider music. Snippets of childhood recordings rub against each other with Sun Ra and Sonny Rollins. It’s dark, funny, strange and sudden. S.C. Honorable Mention (in no particular order)
David Banner, Mississippi Chopped and Screwed
Devin the Dude, To The X-Treme
Prodigy, Return of the Mac
Jaylib, Champion Sound
Black Milk, Tronic
Oh No, Dr. No's Oxperiment
Messy Marv, Keak Da Sneak, PSD, Da Bidness
Lil’ Wayne, Tha Carter III
Wu Tang, 8 Diagrams
Q-Tip, The Renaissance
Nas, Untitled
Lupe Fiasco, The Cool
Madlib, Beat Konducta
Mos Def, The New Danger
Cee-Lo Green, Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections
Kanye West, Graduation
Three 6 Mafia, Da Unbreakables
UGK, UGK 4 Life
Scarface, MADE
Missy Elliott, Under Construction
Lil’ Wayne, Tha Carter II
MIA, Kala
Dizzee Rascal, Boy in Da Corner
Andre Nickatina, Conversations with a Devil
GZA, Legend of the Liquid Sword
Pimp C, The Sweet James Jones Story
Federation, It's Whateva
Turf Talk, West Coast VAccine
Traxamillion, The Slap Addict
Deltron 3030
Dj Quik + Kurupt, Blaqkout
Young Jeezy, The Recession
Tayne Morgan, Brooklynati
Flying Lotus, Los Angeles
Juvenile, Reality Check
Killer Mike,
Bubba Sparx, Deliverance
Ludacris, Word Of Mouf
Big L, The Big Picture
Ghostface, Pretty Toney
AZ, AWOL
RJD2, DeadRinger
Prefuse 73, Vocal Studies and Uprock Narratives
Haiku D'Etat, Coup De Theatre
The Roots, Game Theory
Zion I, The Takeover
The Game, The Documentary
Murs, Murs 3:16
Little Brother, The Listening
Dalek, From the Filthy Tongues of Gods and Griots
Onra, Chinoiseries
Madlib, Beat Konducta 5-6
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Portions of album content provided by All Music Guide © 2011 All Media Guide, LLC ® 1999-2011 Rhapsody International Inc.
Hey we can't forget DMX on this list. Might just be my sole opinion but I think he is one of the best MC's out there. 5 chart-topping albums should say enough. Thanks for this list though. Agreed! One Love
It's okay but a loooooot of dope LPs were not listed. How is Pharoahe Monche NOT on the list?!! Nothing from People Under The Stairs, J-Zone (!!!), Immortal Technique, Jean Grae, Mr. Lif, Evidence, Atmosphere, Edan (WHAT?), Akrobatic, Jazzy Jeff (that's criminal)...even the honorable mentions were hastily put together. Dude did not do enough homework...
U tried but u sure didn't do ur homework properly, where is Lupe Fiasco-food & liquor,The chronic-Dr. Dre..etc and Nas's Stillmatic wz 2001 not 2003.....
Having Lil Wayne on there invalidates your whole lost, by default. Sorry.
How was this compiled? You use the editorial "we" in the lead and use text from three reviewers, but one (Christgau) was writing in the Village Voice six years ago, so unlikely to be part of some Rhapsody pow-wow. It's your list, but using text from two other guys?
This is the most incomplete list ever compiled. End of story.
where's raek on this list? not even honorable mention? what's wrong with you? best album of 09 no question
Hey,
I'm the guy who put this together. Just to answer some of these comments. The Chronic wasn't released this decade. DMX was great...in the 90s. Jean Grae, Mr. Lif and Edan all released good albums, and I agree that they deserved to be included in the honorable mention, but so did a lot of other cats. This is subjective. You say I missed Immortal Technique and the next guy is going to mention Z-Ro or E-40. Don't be so sensitive. Different people have different opinions.
BTW, Christgau's reviews are threaded throughout Rhapsody, and most of the above blurbs are album reviews available to read anytime on our site.
this is a good list.
there. i said it. because everyone else has nothing positive to say. it really makes me sick how so-called hip hoppers will nit-pick to no end. c'mon, opinions are like @ssholes. seriously, evolve..
that said, i agree with the lil wayne criticism.
but, good on you for blu, el-p [fan dam is my #1], can ox, mf, and mos def. good honorable mentions w/ murs, little brother, haiku, and big l.
would'a loved to see aes rock, j-live, blackalicious [blazing arrow!?], living legends, mf grimm, and people under the stairs, in at least the honorable mentions.
for anyone who's still gonna post bs, you make a top 25 list, and post it on your soapbox and see what kind of responses you get. give us a break.
This list is okay. I've got some issues with the inclusions of T.I., Cam'ron, and Wayne. I also would have liked to see Deltron 3030 and Blazing Arrows and/or Nia make the list. Props for Below The Heavens, The Cold Vein, Madvillainy (although that should have been WAY higher), The Unseen, etc... Stillmatic is good, but doesn't belong on this list (same goes for God's Son). Also where is Little Brother and/or Foreign Exchange? I'm all for Take Me To Your Leader, but if any of DOOM's solo aliases belong on here it should be Viktor Vaughn's Vaudeville Villain. Finally my biggest issue is the lack of Common. Be should be on here. And futhermore, in my personal opinion the number one spot overall should belong to Like Water For Chocolate (official release March 2000). Without LWFC this list just doesn't stand up. I appreciate that this is a big undertaking and very difficult to create such a list. Even as I write right now I get the feeling that I'm leaving out many deserving albums....
Spot on! Why didn't you make a station for this collection?! Where are your heads?
Late Registration > College Dropout :) Wasn't surprised to see you place God's Son over Stillmatic, but I'd make the argument for Stillmatic on top.
First off let me say thank you for not putting the Carter 3 on this cause that ablum did not live up to the hype. My biggest problem is there is no Atmoshpere they are definitely an important and ifluential group. also De la soul should be somewhere because even though they have been around for almost 20 years they are still putting out good stuff. i can definitely tell your a New York type of guy, but ghostface should not have 2 albums up here,other than that, its a decent list definitely stuff missing but you suprised me with some of your picks good job.
I agree with you Solver ... this is a good list (I disagree with the Lil' Wayne criticism, he's a hot emcee like it or not).
To everyone else, like S.C. responded, it IS subjective. To that end, S.C., I also agree it [the list] is incomplete, New York heavy, and appears hastily put together. Talib Kweli is not even in the Honorable Mentions!?!?
In attempt to meet Solver's challenge, here is my own Top 25 list for the '00's time capsule. I tried to pick my faves from all over the country.
All Comments Welcome :D
25. (TIE) Snoop Dogg: R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece, 2004 & Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, 2006
24. Young Jeezy: The Inspiration, 2006
23. The Coup: Pick a Bigger Weapon, 2006
22. Mos Def: The Ecstatic, 2009
21. Cee-Lo: Cee-Lo Green & His Perfect Imperfections, 2002
20. UGK: UGK (Underground Kingz), 2007
19. E-40: My Ghetto Report Card, 2006
18. J Dilla: Donuts, 2005
17. Nappy Roots: Watermelon, Chicken, and Gritz, 2002
16. Common: Be, 2005
15. The Game: The Documentary, 2005
14. Jaylib: Champion Sound, 2003
13. 50 Cent: Get Rich Or Die Tryin', 2003
12. Missy Elliott: Under Construction, 2002
11. The Roots: Phrenology, 2002
10. Madvillain: Madvillainy, 2004
9. Ghostface Killah: Supreme Clientele, 2000
8. T.I.: Trap Muzik, 2003
7. Scarface: The Fix, 2002
6. Lil’ Wayne: Tha Carter II, 2005
5. Outkast: Stankonia, 2000
4. Kanye West: College Dropout, 2004
3. (TIE) Nas/Jay-Z: Stillmatic, 2001 & The Black Album, 2003
2. (TIE)Jay-Z/Nas: The BluePrint, 2001 & God’s Son, 2003
1. Talib Kweli: Quality, 2002
Where the hell is Easy e,there is NO hip hop list without EASY.
Where is Reflection Eternal? Seriously?
You've got multiples by 4 different artists and nothing by Common, Talib, or Buckshot. They're not even in the honorable mentions. I realize the albums by Nas, Jay, Madlib, and Ghostface are good albums. I'm not arguing that. However, having 4 artists compile 1/3 or your list is clearly playing favorites.
I realize that these lists are compiled by individuals and their personal tastes. However, to completely omit Talib, Common, Buckshot and for that matter K-oS, is hard to understand. It's not as confusing however as not having Reflection Eternal somewhere in your top 10.
Good choices though with Mos Def, Blu & Exile, The Coup, The Roots, and Slum Village.
No Get Rich or Die Trying? CLipse? Seriously?
Good list. But it's insane that Clipse isn't on there. Get Rich or Die Trying was is easily in the top 5 of the decade. Also, Only Built for Cuban Linx II, although recent, has to be in the top 10 of the decade. It's a culmination of so many great things - featuring Ghostface and some great Dilla production. Also, there should be more Rhymesayers/Anticon on the list. Not that I love that stuff, but clearly a force in the last decade: Sage Francis, Brother Ali, P.O.S all put out excellent albums.
tough to put together a list like this. you're never going to make everybody happy. no doubt madlib and DOOM led the way in the noughts. but mac dre? cam'ron? TI? c'mon! and ghostface was ahead of j-dilla? no jaylib? nutz! i'd have to add maspyke to this list!
I was looking online for this topic "Hip-Hop’s Best Albums of the Decade" and what came up was dumbfounding to me. People had albums from artist like Kid Kudi and Big Tymers in there top ten. This is by far the best list I have seen on the net. The only albums I would have added would be Raekwon's Only built 4 Cuban Linx 2, DangerDoom's The Mouse and the Mask, Talib Kweli's Eardrum, Quality and Reflection Eternal's Train of Thought with Hi-Tek. Also Hi-Tek's Hi-Teknology pt.1, but those would be in the honorable mentions category. Oh and I don't know about Madvillany as #1. Its a great album but I don't think it deserves the one spot.
Kweli and Hi-Teks Train of Thought should be on there and De la Souls The Grind Date. And DangerDooms The Mouse and the Mask. But in all it's an ok list, it would even be good if you excluded T.I and Wayne..
chronic 2001?-can't argue that
The Chronic 2001 did not come out last decade. It came out in the 90s. Look it up.
When I saw Purple Haze over The Blueprint and more importantly Below The Heavens by Blu and Exile, I suddenly lost all respect for this list. It is insanely stupid to put Killa Cam's Purple Haze over such classic masterpieces! C'mon!
And you have also forgot a lot of albums from the underground (AND overground for that matter) that outshines most of your choises...
Brother Ali - 'Shadows On The Sun'
Blue Scholars - 'Bayani'
Atmosphere - 'When Life Gives You Lemons'
Lupe Fiasco - 'The Cool' (it doesn't belong in 'honorable mentions?!)
P.O.S. - 'Audition'
The Game - 'Documentary'
CunninLynguists - 'A Piece Of Strange'
and many many many more.
Ridiculous list, I strongly disagree...
By the way, what's up with the Blueprint/Stillmatic tie? Stillmatic is one the Nas' weakest releases.
Aesop Rock "Labor Days"
Buck 65 "Talkin Honky Blues"
Anticon "Music for the Advancement of Hip-Hop"
Alias "The Other Side of the Looking Glass"
to name a very small few.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. 2
I can't believe thats not on the list...And get Tha Carter III off of this list. The list is pretty good, but some of these albums are commercial and they are not good at all.
The Eminem Show, Speakerboxx/The Love Below, Graduation, The Cool
I'll sleep when your dead? None shall pass? Preperations? The W?
I hope in time you see how f*cking stupid your list is. Take me to your leader? That's generous. Madvillany #1? think again. Yeah that's one of the best but.. And who the f*ck is little Wayne and eminem? Mos def, exile and blu, these people are not podium worthy.
This list needs more Midwest...
WOW i love hip hop...
To ever compiled this list, don't listen to these nutjobs. I don't agree with everything, but who would? I definitely agree with the top two picks, which is why I'm writing this. Doom transcends hip hop, end of story. . No one has ever had the sheer quantity/quality of mind bending rhymes than Dumile. The only rival is Ghost on Supreme Clientele. There are brief flashes where he even surpasses Doom in sheer jaw-dropping amazingness. These two albums are art of the highest order, no questions about it. I love the guy whose so flabbergasted that Madvillainy's #1 then goes on to say it's "one of the best, but...". Having those 2 albums at the top show you know what the deal is. All the haters just love to wank off on there name dropping. A lot of underground rap is overrated(not all of it, cLOUDDEAD's great, so is Sage Francis) I'd take Cam's "Purple Haze" over most of that stuff anyways. Good on you.