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[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!
[Western Music] A landmark masterpiece in hip-hop history! A must-have essential album (1–10)
N.Y. State of MindNas
Even today, in the 2020s, many people may still associate hip-hop with a vague image of hyper-masculinity and delinquence.
But if you listen to “Illmatic,” the masterful debut album by Nas—known as the “son of God,” who raps with uniquely poetic lyricism about street realities, his own tough life, and social messages—that image will surely change.
Released in 1994, the album features a striking cover using a childhood photo of Nas himself.
At a time when the hip-hop scene was being dominated by the rise of West Coast G-funk, the emergence of a young, genius MC from New York sent shockwaves through the culture.
His composure and insight—remarkable for someone barely in his twenties—attest to Nas’s exceptional talent.
The album is also known for featuring legendary producers like DJ Premier, Pete Rock, and Large Professor, yet an important point is that it’s essentially composed solely of Nas’s rapping, with just one guest verse.
Many rappers cite this work as an influence; a documentary about the album was released in 2014, and in 2017 it was selected for permanent preservation in the Harvard Library—testament to its far-reaching impact.
AlrightKendrick Lamar
Since the 2010s, one of the most important figures in the hip-hop scene is undoubtedly Kendrick Lamar.
Born in 1987 and hailing from Compton, California, Kendrick is celebrated for his overwhelming rapping skill, musical sensibility, and lyrics that incisively depict American realities.
While being hailed by heavyweight West Coast rappers as the “new king of the West,” he himself stands apart from the gangsta world—an exquisite position that makes every move he makes a focal point of attention, a fact few would dispute.
Balancing artistic value and commercial appeal with remarkable consistency, Kendrick released his second major-label album, To Pimp a Butterfly, in 2015.
It is not only the most significant work in hip-hop of the 2010s but also a milestone in the broader history of popular music across genres.
With a jazzy, soulful groove driven by extensive use of live instrumentation, stellar guest performances placed with precision within masterfully produced tracks, and a wealth of brilliant lyrics delivered through Kendrick’s diverse flows, the album is a tour de force—16 tracks spanning over 78 minutes.
Its prestige is well deserved, as evidenced by its 11 Grammy nominations—the second-most in the award’s history—and five wins.
C.R.E.A.MWu Tang Clan
A quintessential East Coast hip-hop record of the ’90s and a masterpiece hailed as a landmark album! Known in Japan by the eyebrow-raising title “Moeyo Wu-Tang” to those unaware of the context, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is the explosive debut album released in 1993 by the Wu-Tang Clan—a large MC collective led by RZA, a.k.a.
Prince Rakeem, and packed with uniquely charismatic members.
It launched solo stars like Method Man and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who sadly passed away in 2004, while RZA himself has also found success in film scoring.
As longtime kung fu film fans might guess from the album title alone, this record is steeped in the members’ love of martial arts cinema, featuring a world-building aesthetic bursting with kung fu references, a raucous back-and-forth of wildly different MC styles, and dense, funk-drenched production from RZA.
Its cool factor is timeless, hitting just as hard no matter when you hear it.
If you want to explore a world different from today’s more delicate and introspective hip-hop, dive into the Wu-Tang universe!
AccordionMadvillain
Even the enigmatic cover—a black-and-white photo with an orange square—radiates a singular vibe.
Madvillain, the legendary duo of masked rapper MF DOOM and visionary producer Madlib, enjoys a cult following in the underground scene.
Their sole album, Madvillainy, released in 2004, is a masterpiece where distinctive beats—collaged from jazz and anime audio—intertwine with intricately cryptic rhymes.
Eschewing convention with short, fragmentary tracks, it draws listeners into a peculiar kind of addiction.
Produced in a studio converted from an air-raid shelter and lauded across numerous media outlets, its acclaim is unwavering.
If you’re seeking an offbeat musical experience, this is an absolute must-listen.
HypnotizeThe Notorious B.I.G.
With an extraordinary 10 million copies sold, the third best-selling album in hip-hop history is The Notorious B.I.G.’s second album, Life After Death, released in 1997.
Riding the success of his debut, Ready to Die, Biggie—The Notorious B.I.G.—had reportedly named the album with an eye toward the future, yet tragically, he was killed in an unsolved case before its release.
While factors like the East Coast–West Coast tensions of the era may have contributed to its sales, the value of this double album—29 tracks in total—stands far apart from such gossip-driven narratives.
From Hypnotize, whose cinematic music video became a sensation, to the equally massive Mo Money Mo Problems, the lineup is packed with hip-hop classics that fully showcase Biggie’s overwhelming presence and skill.
His flow is weighty yet accessible, making it easy for even newcomers to hip-hop to appreciate.
Be sure to dig into the autobiographical lyrics and the sources of the samples for an even richer experience!
Last Donut of the NightJ Dilla
Hailed as a “genius” by many renowned artists and still commanding immense influence after his passing, Detroit’s J Dilla was truly a “producer’s producer,” openly respected by figures like Kanye West.
In the midst of battling a serious illness, he crafted Donuts from his hospital bed and released it on his birthday in 2006.
Just three days after its release, J Dilla passed away, yet the album carries no sense of bleakness; it’s packed with humorous, love-filled beats, reconstructed by cutting and pasting records of soul, funk, and more.
Though an instrumental work without words, its resonance feels as if it’s sounding out life itself, moving the hearts of music fans across genres.
Life Goes On2Pac
Tupac, one of the most famous legends in hip-hop history, passed away at the young age of 25.
The feud between Tupac, who was based in California, and The Notorious B.I.G., a New York native who also died young, and the broader East Coast–West Coast rivalry was a tragic chapter in hip-hop history and remains remembered as a historic event.
Tupac’s very life embodied the history of ’90s hip-hop, and his final album released during his lifetime, his signature masterpiece All Eyez On Me, dropped in March 1996 and became a massive hit—an undeniable hip-hop classic.
Led by chart-topping anthems like the Dr.
Dre–produced lead single California Love and How Do U Want It featuring the brother duo K-Ci & JoJo, this sprawling double album is packed with tracks that make it indispensable to any discussion of hip-hop—a work truly deserving of the title “masterpiece.” His self-destructive lifestyle has since been mythologized, and Tupac is now spoken of alongside rock and pop superstars.
If you want to learn more about the man himself, consider watching the 2017 biopic of the same name as the album.