[Western Music] A landmark masterpiece in hip-hop history! A fundamental album you should know

How’s It Goin’ DownDMX

DMX – How’s It Goin’ Down

DMX, who raps with a deep, bark-like voice, hails from New York and stands as an iconic figure who led hardcore hip-hop in the late ’90s.

Emerging as the core of the Ruff Ryders and thriving as an actor as well, he was a one-of-a-kind rapper brimming with charisma.

His debut album, 1998’s “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot,” hit No.

1 in the U.S., marking the start of a historic run of five consecutive chart-topping albums from his debut.

Over heavy, foreboding beats crafted by Swizz Beatz and others, he unleashes soul-baring cries caught between violence and faith—truly overwhelming.

This work, where hellish darkness coexists with prayers for salvation, is a monumental masterpiece that rock listeners seeking intense emotional expression should not miss.

You Got Me (ft. Erykah Badu)The Roots

The Roots – You Got Me ft. Erykah Badu

Formed in Philadelphia in 1987 and now known as the house band of a popular TV show, The Roots are pioneers who established a style of expressing hip-hop through live instrumentation.

The album featured here, Things Fall Apart, released in 1999, is a masterpiece that brought them their first commercial success.

Its quality is evident from the fact that they won a Grammy for You Got Me, featuring Erykah Badu.

Blending organically grooving, live-reconstructed jazz and soul with intelligent lyrics, they created an incredibly cool sound.

This historic masterpiece is a must-listen not only for hip-hop fans but for everyone who loves jazz and neo-soul.

The Mint (ft. Navy Blue)Earl Sweatshirt

Earl Sweatshirt – The Mint (Official Audio) ft. Navy Blue

In the underground hip-hop scene of the 2010s, the undisputed maverick is Earl Sweatshirt.

Though he rose to prominence as a member of Odd Future, Earl has always followed his own path, and his third album, Some Rap Songs, released in 2018, stands as a pivotal work in his career.

Collaging the voices of his late father and his scholar mother, his lyrics confront his own depression and sense of loss; paired with lo-fi, experimental beats built on short loops, they cut deeply into the listener.

Tied to a short film, the album is a highly artistic piece that earned widespread critical acclaim.

For anyone seeking introspective music that resonates in the depths of the heart, this is a masterpiece you should definitely hear.

Stick TalkFUTURE

Future – Stick Talk (Official Music Video)

Future, a charismatic figure who rose from Atlanta’s mixtape culture, leads today’s trap scene with melodious, Auto-Tune–driven rap.

His signature work, DS2, released in 2015 as his third studio album, became his first to top the U.S.

charts.

Created as a sequel to one of his fan favorites, the album is packed with dark, addictive beats from producers like Metro Boomin.

By forgoing guest features aside from Drake and rapping in a steady, unflinching tone about his inner life and street realities, he delivers what could be called the perfected form of trap.

It’s a masterpiece for anyone who wants to trace modern hip-hop to its source or sink into a dope, nocturnal atmosphere on a night drive.

ApparentlyJ. Cole

J. Cole – Apparently

J.

Cole is an intellectual rapper who also has a background as a basketball player.

He graduated college with excellent grades and, thanks to his masterful storytelling, can be considered one of today’s most important figures.

His 2014 release, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, is a classic that represents a return to his roots, titled after the address of his childhood home.

Notably, the album features no guest artists and consists solely of his own rapping.

Even so, it topped the U.S.

charts and went platinum—an achievement that has become the stuff of legend.

Blending warm, soulful beats with introspective lyrics, the album should resonate even with listeners who aren’t fond of flashy tracks.

Singing of success, inner conflict, and love for his hometown, this is a masterpiece for anyone who wants to cherish their roots.

Children’s StorySlick Rick

Slick Rick – Children’s Story (Official Music Video)

Slick Rick, born in London and raised in the Bronx, is known for his signature eyepatch.

His 1988 debut, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, is a landmark that cemented storytelling in hip-hop.

His cinematic, humor-laced depictions of crime and everyday life influenced many who followed, including Nas and Snoop Dogg.

The moral lessons in his lyrics and his expressive ability to play multiple characters with a distinctive accent showcase Slick Rick’s exceptional talent.

Sampled countless times and still referenced today, this album is essential listening for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of hip-hop history.

YonkersTyler, The Creator

Tyler The Creator – Yonkers

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this a defining record that heralded the dawn of the 2010s alternative hip-hop scene.

Goblin is the first full-fledged solo debut by Tyler, the Creator—founding member of the new-generation collective Odd Future, who emerged in the early 2010s and continues, even into the 2020s, to release highly acclaimed and commercially successful work as a top-tier artist.

At the time, Odd Future—a young, exceptionally talented group—was gaining attention among sharp-eared music fans online, and when it was revealed that Tyler’s album would be released on the prestigious XL Recordings, it became a major talking point not only among hip-hop heads but also listeners devoted to indie rock.

Showcasing the full scope of Tyler’s prodigious talent just as he turned 20, the album made a powerful impact with the provocative music video for its lead single, Yonkers.

Of course, it wasn’t mere hype: the heavy yet weightless beats intertwined with his deep-voiced rapping created a strange sonic world that laid his talent bare.

Now, in the 2020s, more than a decade since its release, it’s the perfect time to rediscover what makes this record so compelling.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem