#30 The Ecstatic - Mos Def (2009)
Mos manged to find time in his busy acting schedule to throw together one of the best albums of 2009. After a couple of releases that were just OK, Mos get's back to his roots a little bit here and the result was a very solid effort. Note Mos, you're not THAT good of a singer, more rapping = more success for you.
#29 Quality - Talib Kweli (2002)
One of the albums that most exemplified what the Soulquarians were all about in the late 90's and early 00's. It's emotionally honest, spiritually driven and smooth. Kweli seems to legitimately think he has the ability to change the world with his music. It's one of my favorite albums from a production standpoint, as well. Pre-superstar status Kanye, in particular does a great job.
#28 The Blueprint - Jay-Z (2001)
Speaking of pre-superstar Kanye, I really hope Jay-Z calls him every day and thanks him for saving his career and Kanye in turn thanks Jay for giving him a career. Coming off of the disastrous failure that was The Dynasty, Jay needed to deliver on his subsequent album. He responded by bringing in Kanye and Just Blaze, who were nobodies at the time, but are now probably two of the top 5 most popular in the game. Jay-Z sticks to his standard fare for the most part, namely how awesome and rich he is. Honestly, he get's outshone by the production, but he's not bad by any means. Oh, and Jay didn't like Nas very much in 2001, either.
#27 The Fix - Scarface (2002)
I swear, I didn't mean for there to be this much early Kanye production in this portion, it just happened. If this album had just stopped after the first 8 tracks, it would probably be in the top 10. The Neptunes seem to have an uncanny ability to show up where they aren't needed, though and that's where I usually turn off this album. Somehow, or another, Scarface managed to get Nas and Jay-Z to appear on the same album in 2002, with Nas delivering arguably the best verse on the album. Scarface is the progenitor of drug game rapping, he shows here that he's still one of the best at it. (or at least he was in 2002)
#26 Fishscale - Ghostface Killah (2006)
With albums like this, I don't understand why Ghostface isn't universally considered one of, if not the best storyteller in hip-hop. He gives some of the most vivid, graphic descriptions of the world around him that you will ever hear. I don't think I would call this a concept album per se, so much as a themed album. Surprise! The theme is cocaine... Who didn't see that coming?
#25 The Best Part - J-Live (2001)
If this album had been released when it was supposed to have been (1997), J-Live would probably be one of the most universally respected MCs around. Unfortunately, record label problems kept delaying the release further and further, eventually culminating in an independent release, with little fanfare, 5 years past its time. J-Live muses for well over an hour on what it means to be an MC and the impact hip-hop has on communities. He shows diverse flow and brilliant lyrics, throughout. J-Live is truly one of the more tragic stories in hip-hop.
#24 S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. - One Be Lo (2005)
If someone were to ask me to suggest them one album that exemplifies underground hip-hop, S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. might be the one I'd choose. Lo-Fi production throughout with plenty of crate digging, tracks about doing hip-hop just for the sake of hip-hop, tracks about the shallowness of the record industry and a healthy portion of philosophy thrown in for good measure, I can't think of a more prototypical underground album.
#23 The Marshal Mathers LP - Eminem (2000)
This is without a doubt, the most ubiquitous album that I can remember, any genre. You literally couldn't not hear this album 2000, my grandma has probably heard this album in it's entirety. That alone makes this the most important hip-hop album of the past 20 years, bar none. It turned hip-hop into something that wasn't just a "black thing," brought it into the suburbs. Being as popular as it was, it's kind of surprising how good of an album it actually is. Maybe I'm just cynical, but I don't expect an album that sells 15 million copies to be as witty and emotional as MMLP is. The controversy that came with that openness only managed to fuel the sales.
#22 Train of Thought - Reflection Eternal (2000)
Talib Kweli created one of the greatest masterpieces of lyricism in hip-hop history in 2000, and he knew it. If he wasn't so preachy and cocky about it, this could be a lot higher. Hi-Tek brings out plenty of deep basslines for Kweli to riff over and gives the whole record a very Neosoul-esque sound. Again, very Soulquarians standard.
#21 Fantastic Vol. 2 - Slum Village (2000)
This album is remembered for J. Dilla's production almost exclusively, with good reason. Dilla's beats are unquestionably fantastic here. However, I feel the rapping is under-appreciated because the beats are so good. Slum Village's MCs have an unwarranted reputation for being poor lyricists. Granted, they're not Talib Kweli, by any means but, as a group they play off each other very well and do a great job letting the beats set the tone. Nobody wouldn't have been overshadowed by Dilla on this album, the MCs of Slum Village simply know their role and perform it admirably.
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