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“Sometimes I just feel like, quittin I still might

Best Hip Hop Albums Ever

The Marshall Mathers LP (Eminem)
This album won critical acclaim and was also one of the most popular hip hop albums in the world. With nearly 1.76 millions of albums sold, it is the fastest selling and also the best hip hop albums of all time. Although critics praised this album, some of the lyrics are censored. Read more on Eminem.

Reasonable Doubt (Jay Z)
Debut album of Jay Z, Reasonable Doubt was acclaimed all over the world for its lyrics. It ranked 23 on Billboard 200. It is ironic that nearly all other Jay Z’s albums ranked higher than this album but Reasonable Doubt is considered his best and also one of the best hip hop albums of all times. Read more on Jay Z.

The Chronic (Dr. Dre)
Although a debut solo album, The Chronic is a remarkable and ground-breaking album of Dr. Dre. Some of the lyrics of the singles in the album were based on arguable topics which led to a controversy when the album was released. Famous rapper Snoop Dogg had an important role to play in this album and was indeed praised for his performance.

Illmatic (Nas)
Illmatic was Nas’s debut album that created a new age in the hip hop music. It is always considered as the best hip hop albums of all time as it represents the perfect example of quality and class of hip hop music. It also ranked 12 on Billboard 200 and 2nd on U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart.

It Takes A Nation Of Millions (Public Enemy)
It is one of the most popular albums among all the hip hop albums. It ranked 1st on U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart and 42nd on Billboard 200. It is even considered as the group’s one of the most influential albums.

Enter The Wu-Tang (Wu-Tang Clan)
This was rather a unique album as it included some clips of martial arts and soul music samples. The group and the album is said to have literally reinvented hip hop music. The album consists of hard core music pieces with brilliant lyrics.

Doggystyle (Snoop Dogg)
Once again a debut album is the best hip hop albums of all time. Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle was praised for its distinct vocal flow and originality. Although the lyrics are based on controversial topics, this album won acclaim even from the critics. Read more on Snoop Dogg.

The Infamous (Mobb Deep)
The second album of the duo Mobb Deep was marked by hard or rugged beats. Along with the distinct music, it also had visual lyrics with dark rhymes. This type of rap became popular after the success of this album.

Low End Theory (A Tribe Called Quest)
This second album of the group is considered as the perfect example of hip hop from the 1980s. One can find excellent combination of vocals and bass drum in this album. Along with Low End Theory, the group’s Midnight Marauders is also considered as the best hip hop albums ever.

Paid in Full (Eric B. & Rakim)
The duo’s debut album, Paid in Full created a different pattern of music and consequently creating a template for rappers in the future. Along with music and jazz, Rakim’s voice played an important role in the success of the album.

Other Best Hip Hop Albums

• Freedom (Akon)
• In da Club (50 Cent)
• Chemical Warfare (The Alchemist)
• Confessions (Usher)
• The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Frankee)
• Death Certificate (Ice Cube)
• The E.N.D (Black Eyed Peas)
• Dedication 3 (Lil’ Wayne)
• Venom (Chamillionaire)
• Ready to Die (Notorious B.I.G)
• The Don Killuminati (Tupac)
• cLOUDDEAD (cLOUDDEAD)

There are many rap albums which are considered the best rap albums ever, which have ruled the charts for several years, some are among the top even today. These best selling rap albums are works of some of the greatest rap artists such as Eminem, Dr. Dre., Tupac, NWA, and many others similar rap singers.

Best Rap Albums of All Time

Stakonia (Outkast)
This album was released by American rap artist Outkast in 2002. Outcast is one of the very artists who entirely show new niches in each music album they release. This album reached the second position on the Billboard 200 chart, and sold more than 530,000 copies in the very first week after its release.

Some Notable Tracks: Pre-Nump, Drinkin’ Again, and Spaghetti Junction.

Poverty’s Paradise (Naughty by Nature)
This fourth rap album from Naughty by Nature was released in 1996, and the singles ‘Feel Me Flow’ and ‘Craziest’ climbed to strong positions on the Billboard 100 charts. It got a platinum RIAA certification, and also climbed to the 10th position of the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Some Notable Tracks: Poverty’s Paradise, Sunshine, and World Go Round.

The Eminem Show (Eminem)
This album was one of best-grossing album released in 2002. It has been certified 8x platinum by the RIAA, and it sold more than 9.2 million copies in the US alone, and around 19 million copies around the globe. Mano of the album’s tracks were included in the UK Top 40, Hot Rap Singles, and Rhythmic Top 40 list.

Some Notable Tracks: White America, Without Me, and My Dad’s Gone Crazy.

Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life (Jay-Z)
This third album released by rapper Jay-Z proved to be very helpful for Jay-Z’s career. It won the best rap album award in the Grammy of 1999. It sold approximately 10 million units in the US alone, and was diamond certified.

Some Notable Tracks: Ride or Die, Paper Chase, and Hand it Down.

Late Registration (Kayne West)
This is the second album by American rap artist Kayne West, that was released in 2005. It sold more than 860,000 copies in just its first week of release. It received the best rap album and many other international awards for that year.

Some Notable Tracks: Hey Mama, My Way Home, and Touch the Sky.

No Way Out (Puff Daddy & the Family)
This was a debut album of Puff Daddy & the Family, released in 1997, which was on the top of the charts with around 561,000 copies sold in the US. It won the 1998 Grammy award for the best rap album, and was also included in many other billboard charts.

Some Notable Tracks: Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down, I’ll Be Missing You, and Been Around the World.

Graduation (Kayne West)
This was the third album by Kayne West, which sold over 957,000 copies in the very first week of its release. Another best from Kayne West, it received the best rap album Grammy award in 2008. This major award helped it to figure a place in the UK, Swedish, Australian, and Belgium chart positions.

Some Notable Tracks: I Wonder, Good Morning, and Champion.

Other Good Rap Albums

Some of the other good and notable rap albums include:

• Tha Carter III (Lil Wayne)
• Release Therapy (Ludacris)
• The College Dropout (Kanye West)
• Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below (Outkast)
• The Marshall Mathers LP (Eminem)
• The Slim Shady LP (Eminem)

You would also like to read about the best rap songs of all time.

Note: The above mentioned albums are not sorted as per ranks, they are just albums which have grossed significantly, selling a considerable amount of copies.

These were just few of the best best rap albums of all time which topped the charts and also sold substantial amount of copies. However, there are many more albums from different rap artists which also come under the ‘best best rap albums of all time’ category.

“It’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes
You’re paralyzed…
‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one’s gonna save you from the beast about strike
You know it’s thriller, thriller night
You’re fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight…” ~ Michael Jackson Thriller

Best Selling Albums of All Time: Before 1980s
‘Old is Gold’, that’s what my grandmother always used to say. These blast from the past best selling albums of all time will surely make you get up and dance.

• The Sound of Music – Original Cast Recording
• Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life
• Bee Gees – Saturday Night Fever
• Iron Butterfly – In-A-Dadda-Da-Vida
• The Beatles – White Album
• Pink Floyd – The Wall
• West Side Story Soundtrack
• AC/DC – Back in Black
• Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
• Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV
• Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
• Billy Joel – 52nd Street

Best Selling Albums of All Time: 1981 – 2000
The 80s saw wonders from Michael Jackson and Madonna, Gangster Rap was just introduced, and Hair/Glam Metal ruled the charts.

• Michael Jackson – Thriller
• Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.
• Shania Twain – Come on Over
• Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill
• Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
• Madonna – Like a Virgin
• Metallica – Metallica
• Hootie and the Blowfish – Cracked Rear View
• Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
• George Michael – Faith
• Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction
• Santana – Supernatural

Best Selling Albums of All Time: Contemporary
These contemporary best selling albums so far are among the favorites. I bet these best selling albums of all time will make you want to sing as you go through the list.

• Taylor Swift – Fearless
• Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
• Eminem – The Eminem Show
• Mariah Carey – The Emancipation of Mimi
• Norah Jones – Come Away With Me
• High School Musical Soundtrack
• 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’
• Garth Brooks – Ropin’ The Wind
• Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation 1814
• Outkast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
• Usher – Confessions