What is the best debut rap album of all time?

First impressions matter — these debut rap albums set a sky-high bar from day one. Which debut do you think is the greatest of all time?

1

Nas – Illmatic

Nas's 1994 debut, a ten-track album recorded when he was 20 years old, universally considered one of the greatest rap albums ever.

2

The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die

Biggie's sprawling 1994 debut that took him from Brooklyn block parties to international superstardom in one album.

3

Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt

Jay-Z's 1996 debut album crafted in collaboration with DJ Premier and Clark Kent, establishing him as a top-tier MC.

4

Kanye West – The College Dropout

Kanye's 2004 debut that defied expectations of what a rapper should talk about, becoming a generational statement.

5

50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin'

50 Cent's 2003 debut produced largely by Dr. Dre and Eminem, one of the biggest-selling rap debuts ever.

6

Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

Ice Cube's 1990 solo debut after leaving NWA, a Bomb Squad-produced political firestorm.

7

Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan's 1993 debut that changed hip-hop with nine MCs, RZA's raw production, and cinematic mythology.

8

Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill

Beastie Boys' 1986 debut, the first rap album to reach number one on the Billboard 200.

9

Run-DMC – Run-DMC

Run-DMC's self-titled 1984 debut, the first rap album to be certified gold and platinum.

10

LL Cool J – Radio

LL Cool J's 1985 debut on Def Jam, the first hip-hop album to blend hard beats with street credibility at scale.

11

A Tribe Called Quest – People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

ATCQ's eclectic 1990 debut that introduced their jazz-infused, freewheeling approach to hip-hop.

12

De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising

De La Soul's 1989 debut, a playful and innovative record that challenged hip-hop's emerging toughness.

13

Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy

Cardi B's 2018 debut that became the first rap debut album by a woman to go Diamond, sweeping the Grammys.

14

Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill's 1998 debut solo album that won five Grammys and fused hip-hop, R&B, and soul masterfully.

15

Kendrick Lamar – Section.80

Kendrick Lamar's 2011 indie breakthrough debut that introduced his generation-defining voice and ambition.

16

Eminem – The Slim Shady LP

Eminem's 1999 major-label debut that introduced the world to Slim Shady and sold over 18 million copies worldwide.