Chris Rock's Top 25 Rap Albums

Salt-N-Pepa were straight? Kinda shocking, no?

Good list, though!

Good list. Snoop Dogg would be my #1. Lack of Biggie makes sense given his top albums are largely from "west coast" rappers. Love seeing Pharcyde and OutKast on there. Didn't expect to see Wyclef on there, but Carnival was a great album. It's one of those where each track you say, "I love this song. No I love this song." Tribe and Beastie were givens; such classic albums.

Feels blasphemous to not have P.E. in the Top 5.

Love the respect for The D.O.C. [No One Can Do It Better was my album in 89]Nas, and The Pharcyde.

And his comments on DMC are spot on. Raising Hell is still the bomb.

WTF? Rock's taste in hip-hop is pretty dubious if you ask me. At the very least his list includes some real head scratchers...

He includes Nas' Stillmatic in his Top 25 but not Illmatic, the infiitely superior debut (and best hip-hop album ever candidate) whose magic and sense of pure hunger Nas was supposedly trying to recapture?

2Pac hasn't produced an album worthy of anywhere near Top 25 honors. Rock includes a 'Pac mixtape.

Wyclef Jean's 'The Carnival' makes it but no love for either of Big Daddy Kane's first two albums? Dizzee Rascal gets the nod over 'Mecca & The Soul Brother' by Pete Rock & CL Smooth or 'The Great Adventures of Slick Rick'? Christopher was clearly smoking the crack rock harder than Pookie when he compiled this list...

Tribe never reached the level of The Low End Theory again? Sure, if you overlook their even better 1993 follow-up Midnight Marauders...

It was an eclectic list, with a sense of history, that's what i appreciate about it. <Wyclef Jean is the only choice that out and out offends my sensibilities> I remember reading it five years ago, so maybe I was a little more annoyed then.

Also, Stillmatic is damn underrated.

I always found Pete Rock & CL Smooth East Coast at its dullest, but I'll back ya on Slick Rick and Kane.

Stillmatic has its moments, Elvis, I'll grant you that - I'm just baffled why anyone would prefer it to Illmatic, an album that to me is near-perfect.

I like that Rock chose Buhloone Mindstate as his favourite from the De La Soul canon. De La's canon is so exceptional and eclectic that, with the possible exception of the two records in their incomplete AOI trilogy, you can argue the case for any of their albums being their best work. Me, I'm partial to the state-of-the-union address that was Stakes Is High, but also the far less heralded The Grind Date from 2004.

It's a really great list, with some pretty insightful commentary (more important than ratings in my book.) I always appreciate someone dropping a semi-obscure mix tape or less heralded album in their list, too - I REALLY don't need another fucking list telling me to listen to Public Enemy and Illmatic.


And fuck the myth, the t-shirts and the occasionally dubious taste in production: at his best, Tupac went hard, dude's one of the most thrillingly agressive MCs I've ever heard. All Eyez On Me would totally make my top25.

I'm not at all suprised Rock would like a "lesser" album in someone's canon then a "superior" work. It's not a critics list. It's his favorites. Taste is a subjective thing I know for me I don't always like what is deemed to be an artists best work more then something that isn't thought that highly of.

I always find these personal top 25 lists to be more interesting than the Best of the Year type lists. For me a sort of random inclusion on my top 25 rap albums list would probably be "The Nine Yards" by Paperboy. Doesn't belong on a top list at all, but it's one of those things I grew up with and enjoy immensely. Any random "out of place" albums on your top list?

Now we're talking...

It's fashionable to knock them these days -actually, it was fashionable to knock them by late 1993- but Das EFX were my shit for a hot second, and, however gimmicky the duo's delivery, their energetic debut 'Dead Serious' is a supremely fun listen to this day.

'Uptown Saturday Night' by Camp Lo - cohesive's the word here, as the duo basically talk nonsense inspired by 70s soul cinema over luxurious backdrops.

'Living Proof' by Group Home. Lil Dap and Melachi could most generously be described as 'competent' on the mic, but here their, er, competent rhymes are treated to arguably Premier's finest ever collection of beats.

It's not a head-to-toe great album, but Big L's debut 'Lifestylez of da Poor and Dangerous' is a nifty showcase for the late emcee's brand of post-Lord Finesse punchline rap.

Souls of Mischief's '93 til Infinity'. I could happily listen to the mesmerising title track until -yes!- infinity, but the rest of the album's also pretty great.

I'd throw in M.O.P.s 'Warriorz' set, too - it's the absolute apex of their unmistakable brand of larynx-damaging gun-centric hardcore rap.

The most recent act to crack my top 25 would be Little Brother. I'd happily throw either of their first two albums -'The Listening' and 'The Minstrel Show' into the mix.

I have no idea how they hold up today, but I was a big fan of Kwame the Boy Genius' first two records. <Didn't rock the polka dots, I swear!>

Digital Underground Sex Packets was a mind blower almost on par with Paul's Boutique and 3 Feet High and Rising

Does anybody even remember The Jungle Brothers? Done By the Forces of Nature was absolutely brilliant.

The very definition of flawed masterpiece, Eazy-E's Eazy-Duz-It --this Straight Outta Compton companion piece had everything the 15 year old mindset needed.

Run D.M.C. Tougher Than Leather--If Raising Hell is their Sgt. Peppers this is Abbey Road. "Run's House" is the greatest Hip Hop album opener ever!

L.L. Cool J Radio--Reduced by Rick Rubin. When everyone else was discovering Biggie in 94 I was still rocking the bells with L.L.'s debut. The Future of the Funk was fast, furious and funny.

Eric B. & Rakim Don't Sweat the Technique--the underrated swan song. "Know The Ledge" was Rakim at his fiercest. At the time of the break up, Eric B.'s production was knocked for sounding old school in a Dr. Dre world, but i think the jazz-y soundscape gives it a timeless quality.

EPMD Business Never Personal--like Rock said, the only Hip-Hop duo to approach RUN DMC. I prefer the first two albums, but this snarling return to form is an underrated 'Mama Said Knock You Out'.

Beastie Boys-Licensed to Ill--everyone thumbs their nose at this record now, but it is a lot more clever than given credit for. The joke IS hilarious. The ultimate party record. You can't argue against "Hold It, Now Hit It", "The New Style", "Paul Revere" and "Rhymin and Stealin".

Sex Packets is indeed greatness, Elvis, as is Done By The Forces of Nature - The Jungle Brothers aren't as revered as fellow Native Tongue members De La and Tribe, but they set the movement off in fine style.

Don't, Sweat The Technique is definitely underrated, and I echo your love for the truly exhilarating Juice (Know The Ledge). As a side note, the use of that song in Juice makes for one of my favourite opening credit sequences ever, and it's quickly followed by an equally splendid use of Big Daddy Kane's Nuff Respect as Tupac, Omar Epps and friends prepare for their day of playing hooky and frequenting bars where EPMD are patrons.

Okay, I'm game... and then I'd include 'Dah Shinin' by Smif-N-Wessun for complete blunted-out grittiness, and 'Blowout Comb' by Digable Planets, which has been completely forgotten it seems, but has got some of the best damn hiphop productions ever.

I love the song Know The Ledge. Just hits me hard every time.

Never heard his whole album, but I remember liking Lucas' "Lucas With the Lid Off" single and I still rock the shit out of Us3's "Cantalope".

Both great albums, and robust examples of superior early 90s east coast hip-hop. Dah Shinin' makes a great Boot Camp Clik double bill with Black Moon's Enta Da Stage.

YES, another great classic. That kind of production style has gone the way of the dodo, unfortunately.

Jungle Brothers are definitely on my list, although I can never decide if I like Done by the Forces of Nature better, or Jay-Beez With tha Remedeez. My other "random" pick would be the second Digable Planets album, Blowout Comb, which is absolutely top-five for me.

No love for Binary Star? Or Madvillain? The first Quasimoto album never gets old. But ah, while I enjoy some Public Enemy and early Nas, I lack much tolerance for thuggish rap.

EDIT: Oh yeah, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy is probably the best entry-point for disaffected suburban white kids like myself*.

*weaned on rock music

MadVillain has some excellent tracks, but for a concentrated blast of DOOM, I'll take his 'Operation Doomsday' set. The crowning achievement of the late 90s underground renaissance and perhaps the greatest, most poignant ever display of self-reinvention by a previously dormant rapper.