[Western Music] A landmark masterpiece in hip-hop history! A fundamental album you should know
Hip-hop has a long history, and its influence extends not only to other genres but also to culture and fashion.
Here in Japan, there are many examples of outstanding artists achieving commercial success, yet many people may still shy away from the genre due to certain lingering images.
In this article, we’ve compiled a collection of classic albums—centered on epoch-making works from each era—of hip-hop, which is no exaggeration to say has become the core of popular music overseas.
Take this opportunity to savor hip-hop, a musical form that continues to evolve!
- A roundup of 90s Western hip-hop: classics from the golden era
- [Hip-Hop Classics] Timeless HIPHOP / Golden Oldies
- [US] Great Hip-Hop Classic
- Stylish hip-hop! A roundup of classic albums in Western jazzy hip-hop
- [2026] A Compilation of Classic and Popular Tracks for Hip-Hop Beginners
- A 90s rapper. An artist who was active during the golden age of US hip-hop.
- A Guide to Western Rap: Introducing Legendary Classics
- Western Hip-Hop Popularity Rankings [2026]
- Great Black Music: Recommended Masterpieces
- [Western music] Classic upbeat hip-hop tracks
- Popular overseas rappers. Recommended Western/English-language rappers.
- Hip-hop classics that changed history
- Classic rap songs recommended for people in their 20s
[Western Music] A legendary album in hip-hop history! One essential record you should know (11–20)
Shook Ones, Pt. IIMobb Deep
Mobb Deep is the legendary duo that emerged from the Queensbridge projects in New York, known for their unflinching depictions of street reality.
Their second album, The Infamous, released in 1995, is revered as a monument of East Coast hardcore in hip-hop history.
Created after the disappointment of their debut, the album crackles with tension born from Havoc’s bleak, gritty beats and the late Prodigy’s understated flow.
With contributions from Nas and members of the Wu-Tang Clan, it achieves a level of completeness that feels like vacuum-sealing the atmosphere of New York at the time.
Featuring the classic Shook Ones Pt.
II, which was quoted in the film 8 Mile, the album has been certified platinum.
If you want to immerse yourself in a dark, heavyweight soundscape, give it a listen!
All Falls Down ft. Syleena JohnsonKanye West
Kanye West, aka Ye, is a genius whose unruly persona continues to make headlines even beyond the 2020s.
He has found success not only as a solo artist, but also as a producer and fashion designer, and it’s no exaggeration to say he is one of the most prominent cross-genre artists since the 2000s.
Most of his solo albums have topped the U.S.
charts, and he has continued to release provocative, often controversial works.
Here, we introduce The College Dropout, his acclaimed 2004 debut album that marked his first step as a solo artist.
The album title stems from the fact that he dropped out of college to focus on producing.
The brilliance of this record can be seen in how even people who weren’t into hip-hop at the time praised it unanimously.
Its deft sampling of soul music, striking drum patterns, sophisticated arrangements with strings and choral parts, and Kanye’s presence that shines without being overshadowed by the star-studded guest lineup—all of it is the work of a true genius.
While we hope you’ll read deeply into the lyrics born from Kanye’s life experiences, the album as a whole is soulful, catchy, and pop-oriented, making it highly recommended even for those who aren’t fans of harder-edged hip-hop.
Woman (feat. Cleo Sol)Little Simz
When it comes to emblematic figures of the UK scene in the 2020s, it’s undoubtedly Little Simz.
Born in London with Nigerian roots, she’s a multi-talented artist who also works as an actor.
Her fourth album, 2021’s “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” is a sweeping masterpiece that transcends hip-hop and deserves a place in music history.
With a cinematic orchestral palette and Afrobeat influences, and a structure where introspection intersects with social commentary, it’s astonishing that all of this was created independently.
The album won the Mercury Prize and was met with critical acclaim.
Its story of dialogue with the self will resonate with music fans across genres—so make sure to experience it for yourself!
Walk This WayRun-D.M.C.
The historic classic “Walk This Way,” which achieved an innovative fusion of rock and hip-hop, is a song that many people have likely heard, even if they’re not interested in hip-hop.
The music video, which also featured Aerosmith—the creators of the original—became so famous that it spawned countless parodies.
The legendary hip-hop unit that brought this track into the world is Run-D.M.C., who began their activities in the early 1980s.
Rather than coming from impoverished backgrounds, the members were middle-class youths from Queens, and with their distinctive style of Adidas three-stripe tracksuits and Superstars, they set a variety of records in hip-hop history.
The trio’s third album, released in 1986 and including the aforementioned “Walk This Way,” is Raising Hell.
This work became the first multi-platinum record in hip-hop history, and its music videos were the first in the genre to air on MTV—an epoch-making album that will be remembered as a timeless masterpiece among masterpieces.
A classic hip-hop album beyond dispute, it popularized the technique of sampling and became a hit that drew in rock listeners as well.
It’s universally acknowledged as one of the essential works that cannot be overlooked when exploring hip-hop.
Bring The NoisePublic Enemy
No question about it: this is one of the most influential works in hip-hop history, and its barrage of powerful messages cuts even sharper precisely because of today’s chaotic world.
Led by the charismatic MC Chuck D, Public Enemy—hailing from New York—is a quintessential hip-hop group known for its serious, message-driven stance.
Beyond their lyrics and groundbreaking production, they expanded their scope with a flexible, era-conscious approach, collaborating and touring with rock and metal bands to exert a genre-crossing impact.
Their second album, 1988’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, hits with an absolutely ferocious, noisy-yet-funky, hard-hitting sound crafted by the Bomb Squad, whose production is staggering—matched by the commanding presence of the early member Terminator X on the turntables.
It’s a record born of necessity at the intersection of gifted musicians and the late 1980s; remove any one element and it wouldn’t exist as it does.
A masterpiece that every rock fan—especially those who love bands like Rage Against the Machine or Linkin Park—should hear at least once!
Doo-Wop (That Thing)Lauryn Hill
Even now, well past the mid-2020s, this remains the only original album released under her solo name—and it is a legendary work in every respect that Lauryn Hill created and released at the remarkably young age of 22–23.
Beyond sweeping the Grammys, earning raves from music media, and achieving record-breaking commercial success, as mentioned at the outset, it’s moving—and frankly stunning—every time to hear how, in her early twenties and through experiences like motherhood, Lauryn crafted messages that resonate across identity as a woman, faith, race, and gender, delivering them with the skill of a lyricist who raps with finesse and the power of a singer with overwhelming vocal ability.
The album is filled with songs that never fade and continue to shine.
More than just a landmark in hip-hop history, this work wields immense influence in music history and culture at large.
Please give it a listen at least once.
[Western Music] A landmark album in hip-hop history! One essential record you should know (21–30)
Me Myself and I (With Intro)De La Soul
Even just looking at the jackets of this well-defined trio, you can feel a cheerful vibe, right? Formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York, De La Soul is a popular hip-hop trio that has long thrived with an unshakable lineup of two MCs and one DJ.
In 2006, they won a Grammy for “Feel Good Inc.,” a collaboration with the UK virtual band Gorillaz, expanding their appeal beyond hip-hop fans to rock enthusiasts as well.
Their landmark debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, was released in 1989.
A masterpiece that stood apart from hardcore hip-hop, it blended a wide range of styles—rock, pop, jazz, soul, and funk—and built a vivid soundscape through skillful sampling.
It’s said to have influenced later jazz hip-hop and alternative hip-hop, and its timeless gems continue to captivate a broad audience of music lovers.
Unfortunately, due to disputes over sampling rights with their original label, the album still hasn’t been made available on digital platforms.
Even so, we highly recommend picking it up on CD or vinyl rather than waiting for a digital release.