Billboard has just unveiled its list of the 100 Greatest Rap Albums of all Times, as determined by their staff, and Nas‘ ‘Illmatic’ claimed the top spot, followed by Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ and Lauryn Hill’s ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,’ although the latter topped Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums of All Time.

‘Illmatic‘ is the debut album by American rapper Nas, released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records. With the assistance of MC Serch, Nas secured a deal with Columbia and recorded the album from 1992 to 1993 in several New York City studios. The production features contributions from DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself. Known for its hardcore hip-hop style, “Illmatic” showcases intricate multi-syllabic rhymes and vivid narratives reflecting Nas’ upbringing in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, New York.

The complete ranking is now available for viewing at Billboard’s Top 100 Rap Albums. Over the past few days, Billboard has been releasing 25 entries each day, culminating in today’s final reveal (July 11th). This approach is reminiscent of Apple’s rollout of their top 100 albums of all time. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Billboard’s selections.

They said the criteria needed to be chosen was:

• Full-length project that were commercially released (no mixtapes or EPs)
• Did the album break ground or just a different version of a popular album?
• Album’s impact and how it endured over time (Did it change the game?)
• Do people still play it?
• The albums commercial success (this was a lesser consideration)

Check out the list below:

1. Nas, Illmatic – 1994
2. Dr. Dre, The Chronic – 1992
3. Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – 1998
4. Outkast, Aquemeni – 1998
5. The Notorious B.I.G., Life After Death – 1997
6. 2Pac, All Eyez on Me – 1996
7. Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystyle – 1993
8. Eric B. & Rakim, Paid in Full – 1987
9. Jay-Z, The Blueprint – 2001
10. Slick Rick, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick – 1988
11. 50 Cent, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ – 2003
12. Raekwon, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx – 1995
13. A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory – 1991
14. Ye (Kanye West), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – 2010
15. Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. – 2017
16. Ice Cube, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted – 1990
17. De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising – 1989
18. N.W.A, Straight Outta Compton – 1988
19. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back – 1988
20. Missy Elliott, Supa Dupa Fly – 1997
21. DMX, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot – 1998
22. Dr. Dre, 2001 – 1999
23. Ye (Kanye West), Graduation – 2007
24. The Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die – 1994
25. Fugees, The Score – 1996
26. Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) – 1993
27. Ye (Kanye West), The College Dropout – 2004
28. Mobb Deep, The Infamous – 1995
29. Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy – 2018
30. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP – 2000
31. Drake, Take Care – 2011
32. Jay-Z, Reasonable Doubt – 1996
33. Scarface, The Fix – 2002
34. Big Daddy Kane, It’s a Big Daddy Thing – 1989
35. LL Cool J, Radio – 1985
36. Young Jeezy, Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 – 2005
37. Makaveli, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory – 1996
38. Gang Starr, Hard to Earn – 1992
39. Future, DS2 – 2015
40. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, E. 1999 Eternal – 1995
41. Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City – 2012
42. Jay-Z, The Black Album – 2003
43. Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele – 2000
44. Juvenile, 400 Degreez – 1998
45. Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique – 1989
46. Boogie Down Productions, Criminal Minded – 1987
47. Clipse, Lord Willin’ – 2002
48. Big Punisher, Capital Punishment – 1998
49. Lil Kim, Hardcore – 1996
50. Rick Ross, Teflon Don – 2010
51. Queen Latifah, All Hail the Queen – 1989
52. Common, Be – 2005
53. Drake, Nothing Was the Same – 2013
54. Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly – 2015
55. OutKast, Stankonia – 2000
56. GZA, Liquid Swords – 1995
57. Nas, It Was Written – 1996
58. Nipsey Hussle, Victory Lap – 2018
59. J. Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive – 2014
60. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter II – 2005
61. UGK, Ridin’ Dirty – 1996
62. DJ Quik, Rhythm-al-ism – 1998
63. A Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders – 1993
64. Warren G, Regulate… G Funk Era – None
65. T.I., Trap Muzik – 2003
66. Cam’Ron, Come Home With Me – 2002
67. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III – 2008
68. The Throne (Ye & Jay-Z), Watch the Throne – 2011
69. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday – 2010
70. Mos Def, Black on Both Sides – 1999
71. Lil Uzi Vert, Love Is Rage 2 – 2017
72. Tyler, the Creator, Call Me if You Get Lost – 2021
73. Redman, Muddy Waters – 1996
74. Chief Keef, Finally Rich – 2012
75. XXXTentacion, 17 – 2017
76. Cypress Hill, Cypress Hill – 1991
77. 8Ball & MJG, Coming Out Hard – 1993
78. Madvillain, Madvillainy – 2004
79. Travis $cott, Astroworld – 2018
80. Roddy Ricch, Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial – 2019
81. Missy Elliott, Miss E… So Addictive – 2001
82. MC Lyte, Lyte as a Rock – 1988
83. The Diplomats, Diplomatic Immunity – 2003
84. The D.O.C., No One Can Do It Better – 1989
85. Outkast, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik – 1994
86. The Game, The Documentary – 2005
87. The Roots, Things Fall Apart – 1999
88. Ice-T, O.G. Original Gangster – 1991
89. Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet – 1990
90. The Pharcyde, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde – 1992
91. Migos, Culture – 2017
92. Three Six Mafia, Mystic Stylez – 1995
93. B.G., Chopper City in the Ghetto – 1999
94. EPMD, Business as Usual – 1991
95. LL Cool J, Mama Said Knock You Out – 1990
96. Run-D.M.C., Raising Hell – 1986
97. Geto Boys, We Can’t Be Stopped – 1991
98. Do or Die, Picture This – 1996
99. E-40, In a Major Way – 1995
100. Lil Baby, My Turn – 2020

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