We have assembled a draft listing of our top 100 hip hop albums. This list is only a rough draft as far as we’re concerned, and we are sure that with the help of everyone out there, we can tweak it to make it more finalized, and hopefully widely respected as a definitive listing of real hip hop. Let the arguments begin…

1. Illmatic – Nas (1994)
2. The Chronic – Dr. Dre (1992)
3. Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers – Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
4. The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest (1991)
5. Ready to Die – Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
6. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill (1998)
7. Me Against the World – 2Pac (1995)
8. Aquemini – Outkast (1998)
9. The Score – The Fugees (1996)
10. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx – Raekwon (1995)
11. The Slim Shady LP – Eminem (1999)
12. Endtroducing… – DJ Shadow (1996)
13. All Eyez On Me – 2Pac (1996)
14. Reasonable Doubt – Jay-Z (1996)
15. Daily Operation – Gang Starr (1992)
16. Liquid Swords – GZA (1995)
17. The Infamous… – Mobb Deep (1995)
18. Black On Both Sides – Mos Def (1999)
19. Life After Death – Notorious B.I.G. (1997)
20. Fear of a Black Planet – Public Enemy (1990)
21. Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star – Black Star (Mos Def/Talib Kweli) (1998)
22. 2001 – Dr. Dre (1999)
23. Breaking Atoms – Main Source (1991)
24. Things Fall Apart – The Roots (1998)
25. Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous – Big L (1995)
26. AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted – Ice Cube (1990)
27. Enta Da Stage – Black Moon (1993)
28. Step In the Arena – GangStarr (1992)
29. Midnight Marauders – A Tribe Called Quest (1993)
30. Bizarre Ride II Tha Pharcyde – The Pharcyde (1992)
31. DoggyStyle – Snoop Doggy Dogg (1993)
32. Resurrection – Common (1994)
33. Check Your Head – Beastie Boys (1992)
34. Death Certificate – Ice Cube (1991)
35. The Sun Rises in the East – Jeru the Damaja (1994)
36. A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing – Black Sheep (1991)
37. Whut? Thee Album – Redman (1992)
38. Don Killuminati: The 7-Day Theory – 2Pac/Makaveli (1996)
39. Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version – Ol’ Dirty Bastard (1995)
40. It Was Written – Nas (1996)
41. Nia – Blackalicious (1999 )
42. Hello Nasty – Beastie Boys (1998)
43. Supa Dupa Fly – Missy Elliott (1997)
44. ATLiens – Outkast (1996)
45. Wu-Tang Forever – Wu-Tang Clan (1997)
46. 93 Til Infinity – Souls of Mischief (1993)
47. De La Soul Is Dead – De La Soul (1991)
48. People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm – A Tribe Called Quest (1990)
49. Vol. 1: In My Lifetime – Jay-Z (1997)
50. Operation: Doomsday – MF Doom (1999)
51. Capital Punishment – Big Punisher (1998)
52. I Am… – Nas (1999)
53. Apocalypse ‘91: The Enemy Strikes Black – Public Enemy (1991)
54. Moment of Truth – Gang Starr (1998)
55. Reachin’: A New Refutation of Time and Space – Digable Planets (1993)
56. Word…Life – O.C. (1994)
57. One For All – Brand Nubian (1990)
58. Soul Food – Goodie MOB (1995)
59. Steal This Album – The Coup (1998)
60. Soul on Ice – Ras Kass (1996)
61. War Report – Capone-N-Noreaga (1997)
62. Runaway Slave – Showbiz & A.G. (1992)
63. Organized Konfusion – Organized Konfusion (1991)
64. Wrath of the Math – Jeru the Damaja (1996)
65. Internal Affairs – Pharoahe Monch (1999)
66. Ironman – Ghostface Killah (1996)
67. Labcabincalifornia – The Pharcyde (1995)
68. Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life – Jay-Z (1998)
69. 6 Feet Deep – Gravediggaz (1994)
70. Black Sunday – Cypress Hill (1993)
71. Jewelz – O.C. (1997)
72. Tical – Method Man (1994)
73. Stress: The Extinction Agenda – Organized Konfusion (1994)
74. Mecca and the Soul Brother – Pete Rock and CL Smooth (1992)
75. southernplayalisticadillacmuzik – Outkast (1994)
76. Wanted: Dead or Alive – Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (1990)
77. Do You Want More?!!!??! – The Roots (1994)
78. The Diary – Scarface (1994)
79. Dr. Octagonecologyst – Dr. Octagon/Kool Keith (1996)
80. Uncontrolled Substance – Inspectah Deck (1999)
81. Doe Or Die – AZ (1995)
82. Heavy Mental – Killah Priest (1998)
83. Live and Let Die – Kool G Rap & DJ Polo (1992)
84. Take a Look Around – Masta Ace (1990)
85. Don’t Sweat the Technique – Eric B. and Rakim (1992)
86. I Wish My Brother George Was Here – Del the Funkee Homosapien (1991)
87. A Prince Among Thieves – Prince Paul (1999)
88. Funcrusher Plus – Company Flow (1997)
89. The Main Ingredient – Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth (1994)
90. Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop – Diamond D (1992)
91. O.G.: Original Gangster – Ice-T (1991)
92. Hell on Earth – Mobb Deep (1996)
93. Mama Said Knock You Out – LL Cool J (1990)
94. Dah Shinin’ – Smif-N-Wessun (1995)
95. Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em – Eric B. & Rakim (1990)
96. Illadelph Halflife – The Roots (1996)
97. Hard to Earn – Gang Starr (1994)
98. Muddy Waterz – Redman (1996)
99. KRS-One – KRS-One (1995)
100. E. 1999-Eternal – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (1995)