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If you're looking to start listening to rap music, here are ten essential albums that have had a significant impact on the genre and represent a range of styles and eras within rap music.
Run-DMC - "Raising Hell" (1986)
'Raising Hell' is considered one of the most influential and important albums in the history of rap music. The album features some of the earliest examples of rap rock fusion and helped to popularize the genre of hip hop.
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Public Enemy - "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" (1988)
Public Enemy's second album is a political and social commentary on black experience in America. The album features dense, layered production, and aggressive delivery that helped to push rap music further into the mainstream.
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N.W.A. - "Straight Outta Compton" (1988)
N.W.A.'s debut album is one of the most significant works in the history of gangsta rap, and helped to introduce a new style and perspective to the genre. The album tackled themes of police brutality, gang violence, and poverty with unapologetic rawness.
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Nas - "Illmatic" (1994)
'Illmatic' is widely regarded as one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The album features impeccable storytelling and vivid lyricism that helped to elevate rap music as an art form. It's a quintessential example of the Golden Age of Hip Hop.
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Wu-Tang Clan - "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" (1993)
'Enter the Wu-Tang' is a classic example of the gritty, street-wise hip-hop that emerged in the 1990s. The album's raw production, distinctive sampling, and vivid lyrics helped to establish Wu-Tang Clan as one of the most influential groups in the genre's history.
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Outkast - "Aquemini" (1998)
Outkast's third album is a genre-bending masterpiece that blended hip-hop, funk, soul, and psychedelia into a seamless whole. The album features André 3000 and Big Boi at their creative peak and helped to solidify Outkast's place in hip hop history.
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Jay-Z - "Reasonable Doubt" (1996)
Jay-Z's debut album established him as a lyrical force, featuring his slick wordplay, street narratives, and hustler's mentality, becoming a blueprint for his future success.
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Kendrick Lamar - "To Pimp a Butterfly" (2015)
'To Pimp a Butterfly' is a landmark album that helped to usher in a new era of socially conscious rap music. The album features dense, poetic lyrics that grapple with issues of race, identity, and power, and has been hailed as a masterpiece by critics and fans alike.
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Dr. Dre - "The Chronic" (1992)
This album introduced G-funk and propelled West Coast rap into the mainstream, featuring iconic production and collaborations.
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2Pac - "Me Against the World" (1995)
This album by 2Pac is a significant entry in his discography, showcasing his introspection, vulnerability, and social commentary, while also exploring themes of love and struggle.
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These ten albums were chosen for their historical significance, musical influence and critical acclaim within the rap genre. Each album represents a significant moment in the evolution of rap music, from its early beginnings as a party genre to its current status as a global cultural force. Overall, these albums showcase the diversity and creativity of the rap genre and provide an entry point for new listeners to discover some of the most influential and groundbreaking works in rap history. By exploring these albums, you can gain a greater appreciation for the history and evolution of rap music, and discover some of the most iconic and important artists in the genre.
| Run-DMC | Raising Hell | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |
| Public Enemy | It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |
| N.W.A. | Straight Outta Compton | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |
| Nas | Illmatic | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |
| Wu-Tang Clan | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |
| Outkast | Aquemini | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |
| Jay-Z | Reasonable Doubt | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |
| Kendrick Lamar | To Pimp a Butterfly | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |
| Dr. Dre | The Chronic | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |
| 2Pac | Me Against the World | apple | youtube | spotify | tidal |