[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 landmark album in hip-hop history! One essential record you should know (21–30)
You Got Me (ft. Erykah Badu)The Roots
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.
Take Care ft. RihannaDrake
Drake is known for his mellow rap that incorporates vocals.
When people think of hip-hop, many imagine a “bad boy” vibe, but that’s not really the case with him.
Although his parents divorced, he grew up in a relatively peaceful household, so he doesn’t have many hardcore “thug” tracks.
His music tends to be more stylish.
His album Take Care, released in 2011, reached No.
1 on the Billboard charts.
It’s a mellow record that works great whether you listen closely or just have it on as background music.
The Mint (ft. Navy Blue)Earl Sweatshirt
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, 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.
No Sleep Till BrooklynBeastie Boys
Hailing from New York, the Beastie Boys are a group that has exerted tremendous influence not only on the music scene but also on fashion and social activism, and they continue to be respected by many artists in the 2020s as the best-selling white rap group.
Their freewheeling musical approach shattered the boundary between rock and hip-hop; their own label, Grand Royal—launched with a DIY spirit emblematic of ’90s subculture—was ahead of its time; and the large-scale, socially meaningful Tibetan Freedom Concert they organized is just one of countless achievements.
While every work they left behind is a classic, let’s focus on their landmark 1986 debut album, Licensed to Ill.
Their outrageous lyrics and irony-soaked music videos—born from their youthful, mischievous energy—might strike some as a bit inappropriate by today’s standards.
But such issues are minor compared to the sheer, overwhelming power that bulldozes through all the nitpicking: their fierce rapping over hard rock–inflected tracks, led by the anthemic “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!),” and “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” which features Slayer’s Kerry King.
Even if they were under the influence of Run-D.M.C., the impact remains shocking to this day.
Including their skillful use of extensive sampling, I hope younger listeners will (re)discover the remarkable appeal of this album.
