Released on the cusp of a new millennium, ‘The Slim Shady LP’ found Eminem starting one of the greatest runs in hip-hop history.
Drake’s surprise mixtape ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late’ saw the Toronto MC get existential, toeing the line between introspection and aggression.
With ‘Rebirth,’ Lil Wayne threw down the rap-rock gauntlet, resulting in one of the most unlikely success stories – and influential albums – of the 2010s.
On his sophomore solo album, ‘2001’, Dr. Dre was back for the throne with a new generation of talent and a record that would define an era.
A coming-of-age tale set to thumping bass and wheezing synths, ‘Kaleidoscope’ saw Kelis set the standard for a new era of experimental R&B.
A “lost album” of the 00s, Kelis’ Neptunes-produced ‘Wanderland’ foretold the fusion of pop and hip-hop, and more then deserves its due.
The best Lil Wayne songs find the self-proclaimed “best rapper alive” mastering hooks, dominating guest spots, and out-rapping the competition with ease.
The ‘Comeback Season’ mixtape is not only a testament to Drake’s longevity, but to how long he’s been on top with his versatile approach to hip-hop & R&B.
A decade in the making, ‘Watch The Throne found the two titans of hip-hop, Kanye West and Jay-Z, joining up to create hip-hop’s grand spectacle.
On their 2001 debut album, ‘In Search Of…’, hip-hop hitmakers N*E*R*D subverted the genre’s clichés to create a new sound – becoming rock stars in the process.
In its quest for a fresh start, Tame Impala’s ‘Currents’ reveals layers of hope, uncertainty and anxiety beneath its warm, inviting surface.
‘The Tipping Point’ is populated by hip-hop’s forgotten heroes, and catches The Roots still finding their place in the pop culture pantheon.
‘Scorpion’ allowed Drake to reconcile both side of his personalities: the tough-talking MC and the vulnerable R&B singer, all in one slick package.
The best Tupac songs reveal a complex body of work straddling mediations on life and death, party jams, and some of the most thoughtful hip-hop in history.
With ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’, Eminem catapulted rap to the forefront of the pop world and proved himself hip-hop’s greatest instigator.
