Top 10 Greatest Rap Albums of All Time

There is no faster way to end a friendship than a top ten albums list — so naturally, I made one. These are the ten rap albums I’ll defend against anybody, and the criteria I used to get there.

The Criteria Matter

Before the list, the rules. Impact at the time of release. Replay value decades later. Influence on everything that came after. An album can be great and not be important — this list is for the ones that are both.

The Untouchables

There’s a tier of albums that show up on every credible list for a reason — the records that changed the sound of the genre the day they dropped. The episode goes through mine one by one, with the case for each.

The Fights

Then there are the picks where it gets personal — the albums I put above their “safer” competition and the classics I left off entirely. That’s where the comments come in, and I welcome all smoke.

“An album can be great and not be important. This list is for the ones that are both.”

Come see the full ten and start your arguments. Watch the episode on YouTube →

RAP is bigger than a podcast — houses, dinners, and a creative network in five cities. Explore the RAP App →