Shad Reed goes back down the rabbit hole with seven more albums that changed Hip-Hop.
In part deux of my Seven Wonders of the Hip-Hop World, I name seven more albums—this time spanning from the mid-90s to the 2010s. (Longevity is one of the factors I considered. So, while more modern, anything newer still has to stand the test of time before being placed in any “all-time” conversation.)
As indicated in Part I of this write-up, there was a “winning” list of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, but it was very controversial. In a nutshell, it was 22 finalists voted down to seven.
That said, here are a few albums that didn’t make my picks for the modern seven but would still receive no objection to being placed there: The Infamous, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Capital Punishment, Trap Muzik, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, and Tha Carter III, to name a few.
Me Against the World – 2Pac (1995)
This album perfectly balances Tupac’s complex personality. His ability to present strength in vulnerability (“Dear Mama”), as well as his “just don’t give a f###” attitude (“F### the World”) is astonishing. Me Against the World is Pac’s most well-rounded collection of music. His follow-up, All Eyez On Me, was of course a gargantuan success. Still, I interpret that (despite all the controversy surrounding his move to Death Row Records) as more of a victory lap stemming from the credibility and connections he made with the public through this release. Right from the jump, the way the album starts with the intro and flows into “If I Die 2Nite” with “A coward dies a thousand deaths, a soldier dies but once”—damn!
Reasonable Doubt – Jay-Z (1996)
Despite taking 10 years to sell 1.5 million copies, Jay-Z’s debut, in the eyes of many, remains his magnum opus. While the hustling themes were nothing new, this album delved into the emotional toll such activity took on a person. That, coupled with the temptations of such a lifestyle (which also get addressed), makes for a captivating listening experience. “Can I Live,” with its Isaac Hayes sample, is a standout, as well as the DJ Premier-produced “D’Evils.”
Life After Death – The Notorious B.I.G. (1997)
In Unbelievable: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of the Notorious B.I.G., author Cheo Hodari Coker perfectly compares Biggie’s debut and this second album to the first two Terminator films. Both are equally significant, but the latter is grander in scale and scope. And at a time when Hip-Hop was mourning (2Pac died in September ’96, and Biggie died just two weeks before this album’s release in March ’97), Life After Death served as an olive branch for the rap community too, featuring collaborations with a wide range of artists such as Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too Short, and D.M.C., among others.
Aquemini – Outkast (1998)
This is the best—right in the center of a perfect four-album run by Big Boi and André 3000. AllHipHop.com co-founder Grouchy Greg Watkins summed the album up perfectly in a 2013 article: “Aquemini is a Hip-Hop classic that pushes the limits of what we normally consider Hip-Hop, yet is decidedly true to its roots.” When Three Stacks famously stated, “The South got something to say. That’s all I got to say,” they let the music do the talking. And it all led up to this just a few short years later: a flawless musical statement that remains unrivaled and continues to inspire fans and artists alike.
The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem (2000)
This album transcended Hip-Hop and became a fixture in mainstream culture. Fortunately, it also lived up to the hype. The masterful bait-and-switch of “The Real Slim Shady” dominating radio and MTV got millions to purchase the album—and in return, listeners got a commercial song and seventeen more tracks filled with personal and uncensored insight into Eminem’s emotions, struggles, and the pressures of newfound fame. He also reconciled with issues in his personal life. The album is funny, brutal, entertaining, and honest all at once.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West (2010)
After damaging his reputation by interrupting Taylor Swift at the MTV VMAs (which pales compared to Ye’s more recent controversies), Mr. West retreated to Hawaii to begin work on his fifth album. The result was an unexpected masterpiece that exceeded all expectations. Building on stadium sounds first explored with Graduation’s “Stronger,” he upped the ante with songs like “Power.” The epic “All of the Lights” reportedly took two years to create. He even responded to being mocked on South Park by threatening to choke the show’s writers with a fish stick on “Gorgeous.” And the guests? They all got time to shine—Nicki Minaj’s “Monster” verse, Jay-Z’s bar on “So Appalled,” and even Chris Rock’s ad-libs on “Blame Game” add to an already astonishing blockbuster. Sadly, MBDTF didn’t even receive a nomination for Album of the Year at the 54th Annual Grammys.
To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar (2015)
To Pimp a Butterfly solidified Kendrick Lamar as the voice of his generation. Influenced by a trip to Africa, infused with vast musical input, and filled with socially conscious lyrics—no stone was left unturned. Highlights include “Alright,” which became a protest anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement, and “King Kunta,” where Kendrick addresses ghostwriting with lines like: “I swore I wouldn’t tell / But most of y’all sharing bars like you got the bottom bunk in a two-man cell.” Then there’s the closer, “Mortal Man”—one of the most powerful conclusions to any LP. Clocking in at just over 12 minutes and closing with a faux interview with 2Pac, it brings the album full circle. Despite subverting traditional song structures, it remains one of the most respected tracks in Kendrick’s already outstanding catalog.
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