Recommendations

The following records all scored 9 or higher (out of 10)

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Armor of God
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
The Element of Surprise
Elmatic
The Greatest Story Never Told
Handshakes and Middle Fingers
New Age Middle Finger
Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme
Said Person of That Ability

2010

ArchAndroid
Atomic Clock
Death is Silent
Dinner and a Movie
Distant Relatives
Dragon Slayer
How I Got Over
Live From the Tape Deck
Melatonin Magick
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Revolutions Per Minute
Sir Luscious Left Foot
The Stimulus Package

2009

Ali’Yah
The Best Best of Fela Kuti
Better Late Than Never
The Blood Doctrine
By the Throat
Escape 2 Mars
Ethiopium
Felt 3
K.O.D. (King of Darkness)
Let the Children Die
Long Story Short
Man on the Moon
Montezuma’s Revenge
Never Better
The Process of Addiction Has Its Costs
Slaughterhouse
So Far Gone
Solitary Confinement
stop.think.run
Survival Skills
Tales from the Sick
Tear Gas
The TreEP
We Are to Answer
What the F*ck is a Jay Electronica
The World is My Block
Us
Yes!

2008

Absolute Value
And I Love Her
The Beauty in Distortion
The Book
Brokelore
Ego Trippin’
The Gas
The IV Edition
Jeanius
Late Night Cinema
Like This
Man in the Mirror
March on Washington
New Amerykah Part One
The Odd Couple
Ode to the Ghetto
The Old Prince
Paper Trail
The Preface
Rising Down
Same As It Never Was
Spektrum
Theater of the Mind
The 3rd World
Vulture’s Wisdom
When Life Gives You Lemons

2007

American Gangster
Arular
The Baydestrian
Carnival Vol. II
Common Market
The Cool
Desire
Ear Drum
False Hopes
Finding Forever
Get Back
How To Sell Your Soul…
Human Death Dance
I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead
I’m Still Livin’ (Chopped and Screwed)
Instrumentals
Jazzmatazz Vol. 4
Kala
Mix Tape Messiah 3
Overnite Encore
The Release Party
Riding in Fast Cars With Your Momma
Rise Up
The Signal
The Tortoise Hustle
Ultimate Victory
Underground Kingz
The Undisputed Truth
The Weatherman LP

2006

The Audience’s Listening
Black Magic
Crown Control
Doctor’s Advocate
Donuts
Exodus into Unheard Rhythms
Expressions
Feedback
Food and Liquor
Game Theory
The Healing
Hell Hath No Fury
Hip Hop is Dead
I’m Still Livin’
The Impossible Mission
It’s Called Life
Magnificent City Instrumentals
The 911 Report
The Shining
Things Go Better With RJ and Al

2005

A.W.O.L.
Bittersweet
Black Dialogue
Certified
The Craft
Exclusive Collection
Felt 2
Good Music
Home Sweet Home
Hell’s Winter
The Jack Artist
Late Registration
Life’s a Collection of Experiences
Likwit Junkies
The Minstrel Show
1988
Petestrumentals
Right About Now
Same Sh*t Different Day
Samplin’ to the Beat of the Drum
Starchild
Steal This Double Album
The Testament
3:16
Triangulation Station
True & Livin’
You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having

2004

2003

Balance
The Black Album
Clear Blue Skies
Galt, Up from the Basement
The Horror
I, Phantom
Kristyles
Life Sentence
The Listening
Love & Hate
Mind Over Matter
Now
Open Canvas
The Ownerz
Ravipops
Rip the Jacker
Simple Moves
Something’s Gotta Give
SouthernUnderground
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Unlimited EP
Vaudeville Villain
Visions of Gandhi
Youth is Yours

2002

All of the Above
Arrhythmia
Attack of the Attacking Things
Aziatic
The Ballpoint Composer
Blazing Arrow
Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections
Dangerous Connection
A Declaration of Independents
The Embodiment of Instrumentation
The Future is Now
Incredible DJ’s
Legend of the Liquid Sword
The Night We Called It a Day
Original Pirate Material
Personal Journals
Pimps Don’t Pay Taxes
Power in Numbers
The Private Press
Quality
Scribes of Life
Since I Left You
Sunch Punch
Uncharted Terrain
Under Tha Influence
Varsity Blues
Won

2001

Accepted Eclectic
Ascension
The Best Part
Date of Birth
Even in Darkness
Hip Hop
Neva Stop Diggin’
One
Run Come Save Me
The Soul Purpose
Stillmatic
Supa Sista
Typical Cats
The Up to Speed EP
Vocal Studies

2000

A Bottle of Whup Ass
Art Official Intelligence
Balance and Options
The Debut Album
Deltron 3030
D.I.T.C.
The EP
Float
Jazzmatazz Streetsoul
Journey to Anywhere
Like Water for Chocolate
Masters of Illusion
Masters of the Universe
A Much Better Tomorrow
Nia
Operation Doomsday
Pages of Life
The Piece Maker
Restless
Return of the Drifter
Stankonia
Supreme Clientele
Train of Thought
Unforeseen Shadows
The Unseen
Warriorz

1999

Black on Both Sides
Cater to the DJ
The Chronic 2001
Full Clip
Hell’s Kitchen
Imaginarium
Internal Affairs
Rapper Gone Bad
Prince Among Thieves
So How’s Your Girl?
There’s a POISON Goin’ On
2000 Fold

1998

A Book of Human Language
BlackStar
Capital Punishment
First Family 4 Life
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
Foundation
Masquerades and Silhouettes
Moment of Truth
Rhythm-Al-Ism
Soul Survivor
3rd Eye Vision

1997

The 18th Letter
Factors of the Seven
Funcrusher Plus
Gravity
In My Lifetime Vol. 1
Instrumentalyst
Latryx
New York Reality Check 101
No Way Out
Traffic Jams
Uptown Saturday Night
When Disaster Strikes

1996

ATLiens
Bow Down
Da Storm
Do You Know the Way?
Dr. Octagon
Endtroducing
Here To Save You All
Illadelph Halflife
Muddy Waters
Musical Meltdown
Psychoanalysis
Reasonable Doubt
Ridin’ Dirty
Stakes Is High
Time Will Reveal
Wrath of the Math

1995

All We Got Iz Us
Coast II Coast
Dah Shinin’
E.1999 Eternal
Goodfellas
The Infamous
Labcabincalifornia
Lifestyles Ov Da Poor N Dangerous
Liquid Swords
Maxinquaye
Me Against the World
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
Operation Stackola
Psychological Enslavement
Return to the 36 Chambers
Sittin’ On Chrome
Soul Food
Subliminal Simulation

1994

Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Blowout Comb
Creepin’ On Ah Come Up
Dare Iz A Darkside
The Diary
Genocide & Juice
Illmatic
The Main Ingredient
Ready to Die
Resurrection
6 Feet Deep
Stress: The Extinction Agenda
The Sun Rises in the East
Super Tight
Tical
Word…Life

1993

Buhloone Mindstate
Doggystyle
Enter the Wu-Tang
Jazzmatazz Vol. 1
Midnight Marauders
Neva Again
The New Jim Jones
93 ‘Til Infinity
Reachin’
Young Black Brotha

1992

Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
Business Never Personal
The Chronic
Daily Operation
Dead Serious
Funk Your Head Up
The Low End Theory
Mecca and the Soul Brother
Sex & Violence
Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop
Too Hard to Swallow
Whut? Thee Album

1991

All Souled Out
Breaking Atoms
Death Certificate
De La Soul is Dead
Efil4Zaggin
The Horns of Jericho
I Wish My Brother George Was Here
Organized Konfusion
Original Gangster
People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
Positive Reaction
To Whom It May Concern
We Can’t Be Stopped

1990

AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
Business as Usual
Fear of a Black Planet
Funky Technician
Mama Said Knock You Out
No One Can Do It Better
Righteous but Ruthless
Take a Look Around
To the East Blackwards

1989

Paul’s Boutique
Road to the Riches
Strictly Business
3 Feet High and Rising
Youngest in Charge

1988

1987

1986

1984

Run D.M.C.

Greatest Hits

Big Daddy Kane: The Very Best of Big Daddy Kane
Biz Markie: Greatest Hits
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien: The Best of Del (The Elektra Years)
Ghostface Killah: Shaolin’s Finest
IAM: Anthologie 1991-2004
Mac Dre: Tha Best of Mac Dre
M.O.P.: 10 Years and Gunnin’
Nas: Greatest Hits
N.W.A.: The Best of N.W.A.: The Strength of Street Knowledge
Public Enemy: Power to the People and the Beats
The Roots: The Best Of…

Re-Issues

Aceyalone: All Balls Don’t Bounce – Revisited
Dr. Dre: The Chronic: Relit and From the Vault
GZA: Liquid Swords – The Chess Box
Jurassic 5: J5 Deluxe Re-Issue
Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die – The Remaster CD & DVD
Nas: Illmatic XX

Miscellaneous

Aberfoyle Springs Compilation
The Allies: D-Day
Bad Brains: Bad Brains
Big Fun in the Big Town (DVD)
Centrifugal Phorce Records Presents: Euphony
Chrome Children
Creators: The Weight
Deeper Concentration 3
Dillinger: CB200 + Bionic Dread
DJ Craze: Crazee Music
DJ Logic: The Anomaly
DJ T-Rock: Sikinthehed
Ego Trip: The Big Playback
The French Connection
Funkadelic: Maggot Brain
The Funky 16 Corners
Halftooth Records Presents: You Don’t Know the Half
Gil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Godflesh: Love and Hate in Dub
Grand Theft Auto Vice City O.S.T. – Volume 5: Wildstyle Pirate Radio
Hil St. Soul: Black Rose
Jay-Z: The Black Album Acappella
Rawkus Records – Best of Decade I (1995-2005)
Return of the DJ Vol. 4
School of Emceeing – Volume 1
Scientist: The Best Dub Album in the World
Sean Paul: Dutty Rock
SoleSides Greatest Bumps
Soundbombing 2
Stones Throw 101 (CD + DVD)
Solange Knowles: A Seat at the Table
The Harder They Come Soundtrack
Tommy Boy Presents: Hip Hop Roots
Turntables by the Bay
WWF Aggression