B-Side Guys

The Best Hip-Hop & Rap Albums

The best Hip-Hop & Rap albums, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: every critic's score on one 0 to 100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

The top three

Album cover for It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy1Public EnemyIt Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back100 A+ · 1988Album cover for Paul’s Boutique by Beastie Boys2Beastie BoysPaul’s Boutique98 A+ · 1989Album cover for Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys3Beastie BoysLicensed to Ill95 A · 1986
Average Breakdown72Number 8 of the 9 genres.
Liked44%of Hip-Hop & Rap albums scored 75 or higher. Across every genre it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousBone Thugs-n-Harmony, The Art of War split the critics more than any other album in the genre.A-Sides3.1%of Hip-Hop & Rap albums earned an A-Side. Across every genre it's 6.6%.

The best Hip-Hop & Rap albums of all time

  1. 1Album cover for It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy
    Public EnemyIt Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us BackJune 28, 1988 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    100A+
  2. 2Album cover for Paul’s Boutique by Beastie Boys
    Beastie BoysPaul’s BoutiqueJuly 25, 1989 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  3. 3Album cover for Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys
    Beastie BoysLicensed to IllNovember 15, 1986 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  4. 4Album cover for Hell Hath No Fury by Clipse
    ClipseHell Hath No FuryNovember 28, 2006 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  5. 5Album cover for 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul
    De La Soul3 Feet High and RisingMay 14, 1989 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Divided
    92A-
  6. 6Album cover for Aquemini by OutKast
    OutKastAqueminiSeptember 28, 1998 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  7. 7Album cover for Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z
    Jay-ZReasonable DoubtJune 25, 1996 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  8. 8Album cover for To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
    Kendrick LamarTo Pimp a ButterflyMarch 15, 2015 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  9. 9Album cover for Boy in da Corner by Dizzee Rascal
    Dizzee RascalBoy in da CornerJuly 21, 2003 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  10. 10Album cover for Stankonia by OutKast
    OutKastStankoniaOctober 23, 2000 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    91A-

Hip-Hop & Rap, decade by decade

Average Breakdown of the genre's albums in each decade.

1980s83
1990s76
2000s71
2010s70
2020s69
  1. 11Album cover for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
    Kanye WestMy Beautiful Dark Twisted FantasyNovember 19, 2010 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  2. 12Album cover for The Diary by Scarface
    ScarfaceThe DiaryOctober 18, 1994 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  3. 13Album cover for The Infamous by Mobb Deep
    Mobb DeepThe InfamousApril 18, 1995 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  4. 14Album cover for DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar
    Kendrick LamarDAMN.April 14, 2017 · 13 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    91A-
  5. 15Album cover for Radio by LL Cool J
    LL Cool JRadioNovember 18, 1985 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  6. 16Album cover for Ironman by Ghostface Killah
    Ghostface KillahIronmanOctober 29, 1996 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    90A-
  7. 17Album cover for Liquid Swords by GZA
    GZALiquid SwordsNovember 7, 1995 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  8. 18Album cover for Bandana by Madlib
    MadlibBandanaJune 28, 2019 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  9. 19Album cover for Run–D.M.C. by Run-DMC
    Run-DMCRun–D.M.C.March 27, 1984 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  10. 20Album cover for Mecca and the Soul Brother by Pete Rock & CL Smooth
    Pete Rock & CL SmoothMecca and the Soul BrotherJune 9, 1992 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  11. 21Album cover for Daily Operation by Gang Starr
    Gang StarrDaily OperationMay 5, 1992 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  12. 22Album cover for Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… by Raekwon
    RaekwonOnly Built 4 Cuban Linx…August 1, 1995 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  13. 23Album cover for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by OutKast
    OutKastSpeakerboxxx/The Love BelowSeptember 23, 2003 · 12 reviews · 92% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  14. 24Album cover for Labor Days by Aesop Rock
    Aesop RockLabor DaysSeptember 18, 2001 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    88B+
  15. 25Album cover for Check Your Head by Beastie Boys
    Beastie BoysCheck Your HeadApril 21, 1992 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Some debate
    88B+

Which outlets like Hip-Hop & Rap most

Share of each outlet's Hip-Hop & Rap reviews that score 75 or higher, for outlets with 30 or more.

Most generous

Entertainment Weekly95%
The A.V. Club92%
Robert Christgau86%
XXL81%
Consequence80%

Hardest to win over

Spectrum Culture16%
Slant21%
Rolling Stone25%
PopMatters29%
Spin35%
  1. 26Album cover for We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service by A Tribe Called Quest
    A Tribe Called QuestWe Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your ServiceNovember 11, 2016 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  2. 27Album cover for Some Rap Songs by Earl Sweatshirt
    Earl SweatshirtSome Rap SongsNovember 30, 2018 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  3. 28Album cover for Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black by Public Enemy
    Public EnemyApocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes BlackOctober 1, 1991 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  4. 29Album cover for Good Kid, M.A.A.D City by Kendrick Lamar
    Kendrick LamarGood Kid, M.A.A.D CityOctober 22, 2012 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  5. 30Album cover for The Sun Rises in the East by Jeru the Damaja
    Jeru the DamajaThe Sun Rises in the EastMay 24, 1994 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  6. 31Album cover for People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm by A Tribe Called Quest
    A Tribe Called QuestPeople’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of RhythmApril 17, 1990 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  7. 32Album cover for Buhloone Mindstate by De La Soul
    De La SoulBuhloone MindstateSeptember 21, 1993 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  8. 33Album cover for Astroworld by Travis Scott
    Travis ScottAstroworldAugust 3, 2018 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  9. 34Album cover for Yeezus by Kanye West
    Kanye WestYeezusJune 18, 2013 · 11 reviews · 91% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  10. 35Album cover for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar
    Kendrick LamarMr. Morale & the Big SteppersMay 13, 2022 · 14 reviews · 93% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  11. 36Album cover for Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs
    Freddie GibbsAlfredoMay 29, 2020 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  12. 37Album cover for Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg
    Snoop DoggDoggystyleNovember 23, 1993 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  13. 38Album cover for Things Fall Apart by The Roots
    The RootsThings Fall ApartFebruary 22, 1999 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  14. 39Album cover for Madvillainy by Madvillain
    MadvillainMadvillainyMarch 19, 2004 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    86B
  15. 40Album cover for Hello Nasty by Beastie Boys
    Beastie BoysHello NastyJune 29, 1998 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  16. 41Album cover for Cypress Hill by Cypress Hill
    Cypress HillCypress HillAugust 13, 1991 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Some debate
    86B
  17. 42Album cover for The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem
    EminemThe Marshall Mathers LPMay 22, 2000 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  18. 43Album cover for Call Me If You Get Lost by Tyler, the Creator
    Tyler, the CreatorCall Me If You Get LostJune 25, 2021 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  19. 44Album cover for GNX by Kendrick Lamar
    Kendrick LamarGNXNovember 22, 2024 · 13 reviews · 92% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  20. 45Album cover for Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II by Raekwon
    RaekwonOnly Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. IISeptember 7, 2009 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    85B
  21. 46Album cover for Miss E… So Addictive by Missy Elliott
    Missy ElliottMiss E… So AddictiveMay 14, 2001 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  22. 47Album cover for Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J
    LL Cool JMama Said Knock You OutSeptember 18, 1990 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  23. 48Album cover for Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde by The Pharcyde
    The PharcydeBizarre Ride II the PharcydeNovember 24, 1992 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    85B
  24. 49Album cover for Culture by Migos
    MigosCultureJanuary 26, 2017 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    85B
  25. 50Album cover for Life After Death by The Notorious B.I.G.
    The Notorious B.I.G.Life After DeathMarch 25, 1997 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    85B

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