Barring any sort of miraculous reemerged from the Frozen soundtrack, Big Sean is poised the nab his first No. 1 album for his fantastic third album, Dark Sky Paradise.
He’s joining some pretty exclusive company as we took the liberty to compile the best rap albums to hit No. 1 on the Billboard.
While there has been some trash over the years, all the top entries are in the gallery below. You should be intrigued to know that the likes of Jay-Z’s The Black Album, Slim’s The Eminem Show, Nas’ It Was Written and N.W.A.’s EFIL4ZAGGIN got omitted for competition purposes. Check ’em out.
The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
Biggie never got to live to see how his sophomore swan song(s) would go on to change the culture. It’s a shame.
Jay-Z – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
From October 17 to November 14 of 1998, Jiggaman showed he would go on to become a critical and commercial force to be reckoned until…hmmm. A diamond must be forever.
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal
The quintet from Cleveland gave Eazy-E a reason to smile in the afterlife by getting their classic to the top of the charts in August 1995.
Snoop Doggy Doggy – Doggystyle
Snoop has several No. 1 albums and it’s obvious which one leads the pack in every statistical category.
Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill
The original rap frat party boys had the charts on lock during most of the spring of 1987.
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
Often cited as Slim Shady’s magnum opus, it came as no surprise that this album held down considerable space on the Billboard Charts.
The Fugees – The Score
While heads are still dropping from lack of oxygen waiting on the trio to return, we still have this all-time great of an album.
Master P – Ghetto D
The real beginning of The Colonel’s $350 million fortune came when his unapologetic street classic hit No. 1 on September 20, 1997.
Makaveli (2Pac) – The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Like B.I.G., Pac went out with a bang on the musical front, leaving plenty of more records to be sold in the afterlife.
Puff Daddy & The Family – No Way Out
P. Diddy and the fam, who you know do it better? Apparently no one in the late summer of 1997.
DMX – It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot
A true game changer that returned gritty raps back to the forefront of Hip-Hop. Barks were heard and shiny suits were burned.
DMX – Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
And dammit, he did it again seven months later.
50 Cent – Get Rich Or Die Tryin’
Fiddy’s groundbreaking debut returned to the No. 1 spot three times during 2003. No easy feat.
Friday Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
One of the greatest Hip-Hop movies of all-time also has one of the best OST, released in 1995.
Outkast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
The rap legends from the heart of ATL would go on to be certified diamond and win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year after taking control of the charts several times throughout 2003.
Kanye West – Late Registration
Surprisingly, The College Dropout didn’t debut at No. 1 in 2004 (blame Norah Jones) but Yeezy returned with an even bigger mainstream orientated album the following year.
Jay-Z – The Blueprint
The only good thing to happen on September 11, 2001 commanded the charts for three weeks after its release.
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
From a professional critics standpoint, this is the definition of a perfect album. After debuting at No. 1 on November 29, 2010, it would go on to spend 32 weeks on the charts.
Dogg Food – Tha Dogg Pound
Kurupt and Daz Dillinger are the creators of the first independent album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Respect.
Kanye West – Graduation
A highly publicized “sales battle” with 50 Cent landed Ye on that #1 spot in September of 2007. It didn’t hurt that the compositions were Dean’s List worthy.
2Pac – All Eyez on Me
Sort of off topic but is All Eyez On Me Hip-Hop equivalent to Michael Jackson’s Thriller? Please discuss.
Ma$e – Harlem World
This 1997 gem is the only reason why Betha still has an ounce of credibility in the news.
The Game – The Documentary
Jayceon’s drama-filled 2005 was sparked after he hit No. 1 on February 19.
MC Hammer – Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em
For 21 weeks in 1991, Hammer told the rest of the comp…you guessed it, they “can’t touch this.” It’s also the first Hip-Hop LP to be certified diamond by the RIAA. Ironically, its direct successor was the wackness that was Vanilla Ice’s To the Extreme.
The Best Albums To Hit No. 1 On The Billboard Charts
