What is the best hip-hop album of the 1990s?

The golden age of hip-hop delivered classic after classic in the 1990s — from Biggie and Tupac to Jay-Z and Eminem. Which album stands tallest?

1

Nas – Illmatic

Nas's flawless 1994 debut, a 10-track masterpiece of New York street poetry widely considered one of the greatest rap albums ever made.

2

The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die

Biggie's 1994 debut, a cinematic journey through Brooklyn life that defined East Coast rap.

3

Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt

Jay-Z's 1996 debut album, a sophisticated portrait of street life and hustle that launched one of rap's greatest careers.

4

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

Wu-Tang Clan's 1993 debut that revolutionized hip-hop with its grimy production, kung-fu mythology, and nine MCs.

5

Dr. Dre – The Chronic

Dr. Dre's 1992 solo debut that introduced G-funk to the world and launched Death Row Records.

6

Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle

Snoop Dogg's 1993 debut, a smash record that cemented G-funk as the defining sound of West Coast hip-hop.

7

2Pac – All Eyez on Me

2Pac's sprawling 1996 double album, the first double album in hip-hop history and a West Coast landmark.

8

A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory

ATCQ's 1991 jazz-infused masterpiece that refined alternative hip-hop with bass-heavy beats and philosophical rhymes.

9

Mobb Deep – The Infamous

Mobb Deep's 1995 cold and gritty portrait of Queensbridge life, a pinnacle of hardcore East Coast rap.

10

Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...

Raekwon's 1995 cinematic crime epic, widely regarded as one of the greatest albums in Wu-Tang's extended universe.

11

Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill's 1998 Grammy-sweeping debut solo album blending hip-hop, R&B, and soul with deeply personal songwriting.

12

GZA – Liquid Swords

GZA's 1995 Wu-Tang solo debut, a chess-and-kung-fu themed lyrical tour de force with RZA's atmospheric production.

13

Outkast – ATLiens

Outkast's 1996 sophomore album where the Atlanta duo began their journey into alien-themed, otherworldly hip-hop.

14

Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

Ice Cube's 1990 post-NWA debut, a furious and politically charged classic produced by the Bomb Squad.

15

Eminem – The Slim Shady LP

Eminem's major-label debut in 1999 that introduced his chaotic alter ego with razor wit and shock-value storytelling.

16

Outkast – Aquemini

Outkast's 1998 double-platinum album that pushed their sound into experimental territory with sprawling compositions.

17

Big Pun – Capital Punishment

Big Pun's 1998 debut, the first Latin rap album to go platinum, showcasing his breathtaking technical skill.

18

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal

Bone Thugs' 1995 breakthrough double EP that blended rapid-fire rhymes with melodic hooks to mass commercial success.

19

DMX – It's Dark and Hell Is Hot

DMX's ferocious 1998 debut that debuted at number one, introducing his barking delivery and dark street anthems.

20

Missy Elliott – Supa Dupa Fly

Missy Elliott's 1997 debut, a wildly inventive record produced by Timbaland that redefined hip-hop and R&B.