It was hard to pick just an album from Tyler, The Creator, as he’s had so many great albums, but I think that Flower Boy is the most easily listenable. Tyler has a very noticeable increase in the quality of music in this album, which will continue to be a trend for him, as it was released in 2017. The mix of hard rap with popish and bright-sounding sound makes him so unique. He really establishes his own sound on this album and his previous few albums. Every song is a very nice listen and will easily impress someone getting into hip-hop. It is also a great introduction to the good side of modern hip-hop music.

I thought it would be good to include a more recent album that goes into the more lyrical side of hip-hop. Freddie Gibbs is one of the most consistent rappers you will find, and this album is perfection. As you listen to more and more hip-hop, the name The Alchemist will show up. He is absolutely perfect at producing using sample-based production. The chemistry between The Alchemist and Gibbs creates a high level of hip-hop music. Alfredo will help someone get into lyrical hip-hop and get into rappers that are similar.

Illmatic is one of the most iconic hip-hop/rap albums, and many consider it the greatest of all time. This is because Nas is one of the best rappers to ever do it. This album will introduce someone to the 90’s style of hip-hop, which is a great era of rap music. The lyrics from Nas and the hard-hitting production make this album a masterclass. The fact that Illmatic is a debut album makes it ten times more impressive.

One of the coolest rappers is MF DOOM. He is not a popular artist, but is definitely a well-known rapper in the hip-hop community. He has great lyrical abilities, especially paired with the funky production from frequent samples from superhero cartoons. MM..FOOD has consistently good songs with some awesome instrumental songs included as well. MF DOOM will help you get into more underground music.

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is another absolute classic that was released in the 90s. This album will introduce you to group style hip-hop, and it’s some of the most fun music you’ll listen to. This large group of artists created some of the most iconic songs in rap with their level of rapping and lyrics, while including comedy and awesome production. This album will also help you branch out into some of the members’ solo music, like GZA and Raekwon. Don’t call yourself a real hip-hop fan if you haven’t listened to Wu-Tang Clan.

Another rap group album that was released in the 90s, but this is another classic album. This is one of the first very good “Jazz rap” albums, even having a song called “Jazz (We’ve Got)”. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg are a perfect match in rapping, and production from Ali Shaheed Muhammed is perfect. There are such smooth and buttery sounds paired with clever lyrics that are hard to find during that time. You will start to hear sounds that are moving away from that basic 80’s sound and moving into the more 90’s and 2000’s sounds. A Tribe Called Quest were ahead of their time, and this album is a must-listen.

I personally think that Aquemini by Outkast is one of the greatest albums of all time from one of my favorite artists ever. Andre 3000 and Big Boi never seem to fail at impressing you. There is hit after hit on this album, and the runtime that is over an hour long will never bore you. Their lyrism and futuristic production will make you never believe it was released in 1998. There were many albums from Outkast I could’ve picked, but I personally think Aquemini is their magnum opus.

Kid Cudi had a great run of music in the 2000s, but this is considered his best. If you want some of the most relatable music and lyrics, then this album is for you. Kid Cudi tells a story throughout the whole album while rapping and singing about struggles. These are some of the easiest songs to listen to, and there is something for everybody. A mix of atmospheric beats with some hard-hitting beats makes his sound hard to replicate. If you’re looking for the most accessible hip-hop album, then this is a great start.

I think that Kendrick Lamar is a consistent artist out there, and that’s why he’s considered one of the best. Many will say that his album To Pimp a Butterfly is his best, but I think this album is better. Lamar tells a story about his experiences in Compton and the struggles of gang violence and peer pressure. Along with the masterclass of rapping music, the short audio clips help tell the story throughout the whole album. You will be engaged the whole time, and nothing compares to the combination of hits and deep, thoughtful songs. This album will introduce you to storytelling in rap and just one of the best rappers to ever do it.

Kanye West is becoming a very controversial person as of now, but for this album, I am going to separate the art from the artist. This might be my favorite album ever, as it is very special to me. The College Dropout was one of the first hip-hop albums I had ever listened to, and it introduced me to the one and only Kanye West. His musical run from 2004 to 2021 is the best catalog in music. I had over 15,000 minutes listening to Kanye West in 2022. This album always stuck out to me, though. The ambitious story behind this album from him, starting as a producer and trying to get the reputation of a rapper, is stunning. Every song becomes a favorite at one point. Every beat seems to have so much thought and personality put into it, which is what makes it so good. Kanye West’s smart and funny lyrics are what made him stand out. He revolutionized the 2000s sound, and his use of samples is innovative. I hope that everyone who wants to get into hip-hop starts with this album or at least listens to Kanye West at one point.