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The Top 200 Hip Hop Classics Of All Time
These are the Top 200 essential U.S. hip hop singles or albums you need in your life, representing the culture to the fullest. Entries (listed alphabetically) are strictly limited to one group and solo release per artist, and had nothing to do with sales, chart success, region, controversy, record label, age or style. Each entry was picked by HIPHOP.COM simply because it is a stone cold classic. Enjoy!
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| 2Pac |
All Eyez On Me (Death Row ALBUM 1996) |
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| 3rd Bass |
The Cactus Album (Def Jam ALBUM 1989) |
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| 45 King |
The 900 Number (Tuff City SINGLE 1987) |
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| 50 Cent |
Get Rich Or Die Tryin' (Interscope ALBUM 2003) |
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| A Tribe Called Quest |
The Low End Theory (Jive ALBUM 1991) |
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| Above The Law |
Livin' Like Hustlers (Ruthless ALBUM 1990) |
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| Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force |
Planet Rock (Tommy Boy SINGLE 1982) |
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| Akinyele |
Da Bomb (Interscope SINGLE 1993) |
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| Audio Two |
Top Billin (First Priority SINGLE 1987) |
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| B.G. |
Bling Bling (Cash Money SINGLE 1999) |
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| Beastie Boys |
Licensed To Ill (Def Jam ALBUM 1986) |
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| Big Daddy Kane |
Long Live The Kane (Cold Chillin' ALBUM 1988) |
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| Big L |
Ebonics (Fat Beats SINGLE 1998) |
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| Big Punisher |
Capital Punishment (Loud ALBUM 1998) |
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| Biz Markie |
Goin Off (Cold Chillin' ALBUM 1988) |
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| Black Moon |
Enta Da Stage (Nervous ALBUM 1993) |
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| Black Rob |
Whoa! (Bad Boy SINGLE 1999) |
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| Black Sheep |
A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing (Mercury ALBUM 1991) |
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| Black Star |
Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (Rawkus ALBUM 1998) |
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| Blahzay Blahzay |
Danger (Fader SINGLE 1995) |
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| Bone Thugs-N-Harmony |
Tha Crossroads (Ruthless SINGLE 1995) |
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| Boogie Down Productions |
Criminal Minded (B-Boy ALBUM 1987) |
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| Brand Nubian |
One For All (Elektra ALBUM 1990) |
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| Busta Rhymes |
Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See (Elektra SINGLE 1997) |
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| Busy Bee |
Making Cash Money (Sugar Hill SINGLE 1982) |
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| Cam'ron |
Horse & Carriage (Untertainment SINGLE 1998) |
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| Camp-Lo |
Uptown Saturday Night (Profile ALBUM 1997) |
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| Canibus |
Second Round KO (Universal SINGLE 1998) |
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| Cash Money & Marvelous |
Mighty Hard Rocker (Sleeping Bag SINGLE 1988) |
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| Chamillionaire |
Ridin' (Universal SINGLE 2006) |
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| Chubb Rock |
Treat Em Right (Select SINGLE 1990) |
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| Chuck D |
No (Def Jam SINGLE 1995) |
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| Clipse |
Lord Willin' (StarTrak ALBUM 2002) |
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| Cold Crush Brothers |
Fresh, Wild, Fly & Bold (Tuff City SINGLE 1984) |
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| Common Sense |
Resurrection (Relativity ALBUM 1994) |
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| Company Flow |
End To End Burners (Rawkus SINGLE 1997) |
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| Craig Mack |
Flava In Ya Ear (Remix) (Bad Boy SINGLE 1994) |
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| Crash Crew |
High Powered Rap (Mike & Dave SINGLE 1980) |
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| Crookyln Dodgers |
Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers (MCA SINGLE 1995) |
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| Cypress Hill |
Cypress Hill (Columbia ALBUM 1991) |
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| Das EFX |
Dead Serious (EastWest ALBUM 1992) |
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| David Banner |
Like A Pimp (SRC SINGLE 2003) |
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| De La Soul |
3 Feet High & Rising (Tommy Boy ALBUM 1989) |
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| Del Tha Funkee Homosapien |
Mistadobalina (EastWest SINGLE 1991) |
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| Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics |
Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop (Chemistry ALBUM 1992) |
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| Digable Planets |
The Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat) (Pendulum SINGLE 1993) |
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| Digital Underground |
Humpty Dance (Tommy Boy SINGLE 1990) |
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| Dilated Peoples |
Work The Angles (ABB SINGLE 1999) |
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| DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince |
Summertime (Jive SINGLE 1991) |
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| DJ Quik |
Quik Is The Name (Epic ALBUM 1991) |
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| DJ Shadow |
Entroducing (Mo Wax ALBUM 1996) |
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| DMX |
Get At Me Dog (Def Jam SINGLE 1998) |
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| Double Dee & Steinski |
The Lesson EP (Mastermix SINGLE 1983) |
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| Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew |
The Show/ La Di Da Di (Reality SINGLE 1985) |
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| Dr. Dre |
The Chronic (Death Row ALBUM 1992) |
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| Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde |
Genius Rap (Profile SINGLE 1981) |
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| Ed OG & Da Bulldogs |
I Got To Have It (PWL SINGLE 1991) |
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| Eminem |
The Slim Shady LP (Interscope ALBUM 1999) |
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| EPMD |
Unfinished Business (Sleeping Bag ALBUM 1989) |
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| Eric B & Rakim |
Paid In Full (4th & B'way ALBUM 1987) |
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| Erick Sermon |
Music (J SINGLE 2001) |
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| Fantasy Three |
It's Your Rock (Specific SINGLE 1983) |
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| Fearless Four |
Rockin' It (Enjoy SINGLE 1982) |
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| Freestyle Fellowship |
Hot Potato (Sun SINGLE 1991) |
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| Funky 4 +1 |
That's The Joint (Sugar Hill SINGLE 1981) |
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| Fu-Schnickens |
Ring The Alarm (Jive SINGLE 1992) |
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| G.L.O.B.E & Whiz Kid |
Play That Beat Mr DJ (Tommy Boy SINGLE 1983) |
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| Gang Starr |
Step In The Arena (Chrysalis ALBUM 1991) |
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| Geto Boys |
Mind Playing Tricks On Me (Rap-A-Lot SINGLE 1991) |
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| Ghostface Killah |
Ironman (Razor Sharp ALBUM 1996) |
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| Goodie Mob |
Soul Food (Laface ALBUM 1995) |
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| Grandmaster Flash |
The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel (Sugar Hill SINGLE 1981) |
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| Group Home |
Supa Star (Payday SINGLE 1995) |
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| GZA / Genius |
Liquid Swords (Geffen ALBUM 1995) |
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| Heavy D & The Boyz |
Don't Curse (Uptown SINGLE 1992) |
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| House Of Pain |
Jump Around (Tommy Boy SINGLE 1992) |
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| Ice Cube |
Death Certificate (Priority ALBUM 1991) |
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| Ice-T |
OG Original Gangster (Warner Bros ALBUM 1991) |
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| Jadakiss |
Why (Interscope SINGLE 2004) |
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| Jay-Z |
Reasonable Doubt (Roc-A-Fella ALBUM 1996) |
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| Jemini The Gifted One |
Funk Soul Sensation (Polygram SINGLE 1995) |
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| Jeru The Damaja |
The Sun Rises In The East (Payday ALBUM 1994) |
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| Jimmy Spicer |
Adventures Of Super Rhyme (Rap) (Dazz SINGLE 1980) |
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| Joeski Love |
Pee-Wee's Dance (Vintertainment SINGLE 1986) |
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| Jungle Brothers |
Straight Out The Jungle (Warner Bros ALBUM 1988) |
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| Jurassic 5 |
Jurassic 5 EP (Rumble ALBUM 1997) |
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| Just-Ice |
Cold Getting' Dumb (Fresh SINGLE 1986) |
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| Juvenile |
Back That Azz Up (Universal SINGLE 1998) |
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| JVC Force |
Strong Island (B-Boy SINGLE 1988) |
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| Kanye West |
The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella ALBUM 2003) |
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| Keith Murray |
The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World (Jive SINGLE 1994) |
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| Kid 'N Play |
Rollin' With Kid ‘N Play (Select SINGLE 1988) |
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| KMD |
Mr Hood (Elektra ALBUM 1991) |
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| Kool G Rap & DJ Polo |
Wanted: Dead Or Alive (Cold Chillin' ALBUM 1990) |
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| Kool Moe Dee |
How Ya Like Me Now (Jive SINGLE 1988) |
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| KRS-One |
Return Of The Boom Bap (Jive ALBUM 1993) |
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| K-Solo |
Spellbound (Atlantic SINGLE 1990) |
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| Kurtis Blow |
The Breaks (Mercury SINGLE 1980) |
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| Lakim Shabazz |
Pure Righteousness (Tuff City SINGLE 1989) |
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| Lauryn Hill |
The Miseducation Of (Columbia ALBUM 1998) |
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| Leaders Of The New School |
Case Of The PTA (Elektra SINGLE 1991) |
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| Lil Jon |
Get Low (TVT SINGLE 2005) |
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| Lil Wayne |
A Milli (Cash Money SINGLE 2008) |
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| LL Cool J |
Mama Said Knock You Out (Def Jam ALBUM 1990) |
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| Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth |
Funky Technician (Wild Pitch ALBUM 1992) |
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| Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz |
Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby) (Columbia SINGLE 1997) |
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| Lords Of The Underground |
Here Come The Lords (Pendulum ALBUM 1994) |
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| Lost Boyz |
Jeepz, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz (Uptown SINGLE 1995) |
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| Ludacris |
Southern Hospitality (Def Jam SINGLE 2000) |
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| Luniz |
I Got 5 On It (Noo Trybe SINGLE 1995) |
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| Lupe Fiasco |
Food & Liquor (Atlantic ALBUM 2006) |
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| M.O.P |
Ante Up (Loud SINGLE 2000) |
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| Main Source |
Breaking Atoms (Wild Pitch ALBUM 1991) |
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| Mantronix |
King Of Beats (Sleeping Bag SINGLE 1986) |
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| Marley Marl |
The Symphony (Cold Chillin' SINGLE 1988) |
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| Master Ace |
Take A Look Around (Cold Chillin' ALBUM 1990) |
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| Master P |
Make Em Say Uhh! (No Limit SINGLE 1997) |
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| MC Lyte |
Lyte As A Rock (First Priority ALBUM 1988) |
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| MC Shan |
Down By Law (Cold Chillin' ALBUM 1987) |
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| Melle Mel (credited as Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five) |
The Message (Sugar Hill SINGLE 1982) |
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| Method Man |
Bring The Pain (Def Jam SINGLE 1994) |
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| Mike Jones |
Still Tippin' (Asylum SINGLE 2005) |
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| Missy Elliott |
Get Ur Freak On (East West SINGLE 2001) |
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| Mobb Deep |
The Infamous (Loud ALBUM 1995) |
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| Mos Def |
Black On Both Sides (Rawkus ALBUM 1999) |
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| Mr Magic |
Magic's Message (There Has To Be A Better Way) (Posse SINGLE 1984) |
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| Mystikal |
Shake Ya Ass (Jive SINGLE 2000) |
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| Nas |
Illmatic (Columbia ALBUM 1994) |
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| Naughty By Nature |
Uptown Anthem (Tommy Boy SINGLE 1992) |
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| Nelly |
Country Grammar (MCA SINGLE 2000) |
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| Newcleus |
Jam On It (Sunnyview SINGLE 1984) |
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| Nice & Smooth |
Ain't A Damn Thing Changed (Def Jam ALBUM 1991) |
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| Noreaga |
Superthug (Tommy Boy SINGLE 1998) |
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| NWA |
Straight Outta Compton (Ruthless ALBUM 1988) |
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| O.C. |
Time's Up (Wild Pitch SINGLE 1994) |
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| Ol' Dirty Bastard |
Return To The 36 Chambers (Elektra ALBUM 1995) |
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| Onyx |
Throw Ya Gunz (Def Jam SINGLE 1993) |
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| Organized Konfusion |
Organized Konfusion (Hollywood Basic ALBUM 1991) |
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| OutKast |
Aquemini (LaFace ALBUM 1998) |
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| Pete Rock & CL Smooth |
Mecca & The Soul Brother (Elektra ALBUM 1992) |
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| Pharoahe Monch |
Internal Affairs (Rawkus ALBUM 1999) |
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| Poor Righteous Teachers |
Holy Intellect (Profile ALBUM 1990) |
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| Public Enemy |
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Def Jam ALBUM 1988) |
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| Puff Daddy & The Family |
It's All About The Benjamins (Bad Boy SINGLE 1997) |
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| Queen Latifah |
All Hail The Queen (Tommy Boy ALBUM 1989) |
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| Raekwon |
Only Built For Cuban Linx (Loud ALBUM 1995) |
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| Redman |
Whut? Thee Album (Def Jam ALBUM 1992) |
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| Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock |
It Takes Two (Profile SINGLE 1988) |
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| Rodney-O & Joe Cooley |
Everlasting Bass (Egyptian Empire SINGLE 1986) |
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| Roxanne Shante |
Have A Nice Day (Cold Chillin' SINGLE 1987) |
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| Run-DMC |
Raising Hell (Profile ALBUM 1986) |
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| Salt-N-Pepa |
My Mic Sounds Nice (Next Plateau SINGLE 1986) |
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| Scarface |
The Diary (Rap-A-Lot ALBUM 1994) |
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| Schooly D |
P.S.K. (Schooly D SINGLE 1985) |
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| Showbiz & AG |
Soul Clap (Payday SINGLE 1992) |
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| Slick Rick |
The Great Adventures Of (Def Jam ALBUM 1988) |
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| Smif-N-Wessun |
Bucktown (Nervous SINGLE 1995) |
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| Smoothe Da Hustler |
Broken Language (Profile SINGLE 1995) |
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| Snoop Doggy Dogg |
Doggy Style (Death Row ALBUM 1993) |
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| Souls Of Mischief |
93 Til Infinity (Jive SINGLE 1993) |
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| Special Ed |
I Got It Made (Profile SINGLE 1989) |
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| Spoonie Gee |
The New Rap Language (Enjoy SINGLE 1980) |
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| Stetsasonic |
Talkin All That Jazz (Tommy Boy SINGLE 1989) |
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| Stezo |
To The Max (Fresh SINGLE 1989) |
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| Stop The Violence Movement |
Self Destruction (Jive SINGLE 1989) |
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| Styles P |
Good Times (Interscope SINGLE 2002) |
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| Sugar Bear |
Don't Scandalize Mine (Next Plateau SINGLE 1988) |
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| Sugarhill Gang |
Rapper's Delight (Sugar Hill SINGLE 1979) |
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| Super Lover Cee & Casanover Rud |
Do The James (Citi-Beat SINGLE 1987) |
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| T La Rock & Jazzy Jay |
It's Yours (Partytime SINGLE 1984) |
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| T/Ski Valley |
Catch The Beat (Grand Groove SINGLE 1981) |
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| Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek |
Reflection Eternal (MCA ALBUM 2002) |
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| Tanya Winley |
Vicious Rap (Paul Winley SINGLE 1980) |
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| Terror Squad |
Lean Back (SRC SINGLE 2005) |
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| Tha Alkaholiks |
Make Room (Loud SINGLE 1993) |
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| The Beatnuts |
The Beatnuts (Relativity ALBUM 1994) |
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| The D.O.C |
No-One Can Do It Better (Ruthless ALBUM 1989) |
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| The Fat Boys |
Stick ‘Em (Sutra SINGLE 1984) |
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| The Fugees |
The Score (Ruffhouse ALBUM 1996) |
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| The Game |
The Documentary (Interscope ALBUM 2005) |
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| The Notorious B.I.G. |
Ready To Die (Bad Boy ALBUM 1994) |
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| The Pharcyde |
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde (Delicious Vinyl ALBUM 1992) |
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| The Roots |
Things Fall Apart (MCA ALBUM 1999) |
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| The World Famous Supreme Team |
Hey DJ (Island SINGLE 1984) |
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| Three 6 Mafia |
Stay Fly (Columbia SINGLE 2005) |
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| T.I. |
What You Know (Atlantic SINGLE 2006) |
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| Too Short |
Life Is... Too Short (Jive ALBUM 1988) |
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| Treacherous Three |
The Body Rock (Enjoy SINGLE 1980) |
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| U.T.F.O. |
Roxanne, Roxanne (Select SINGLE 1984) |
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| UGK |
Ridin Dirty (Jive ALBUM 1996) |
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| Ultramagnetic MC's |
Critical Beatdown (Next Plateau ALBUM 1988) |
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| U.M.C.s |
One To Grow On (Wild Pitch SINGLE 1994) |
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| Warren G |
Regulate (Death Row SINGLE 1994) |
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| West Street Mob |
Break Dance - Electric Boogie (Sugar Hill SINGLE 1983) |
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| Whistle |
Nothing Serious (Just Buggin') (Champion SINGLE 1985) |
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| Whodini |
Escape (Jive ALBUM 1984) |
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| Wu-Tang Clan |
Enter The 36 Chambers (Loud ALBUM 1993) |
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| X-Clan |
To The East Blackwards (4th & B'way ALBUM 1989) |
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| Xzibit |
Paparazzi (Loud SINGLE 1996) |
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| Young MC |
Know How (Delicious Vinyl SINGLE 1989) |
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