30 of the best hip-hop releases in the last 25 years

It's hard to believe Nas dropped his debut album, "Illmatic," 25 years ago. Not only is the album regarded as a staple, particularly for East Coast hip-hop, but Nas also has always been regarded as one the best lyricists in rap history. The album featured singles such as "It Ain't Hard To Tell" along with "The World Is Yours" and became a top 20 hit on the Billboard 200 chart. 

Hip-hop had a rivalry occurring between East Coast and West Coast rappers, and The Notorious B.I.G. was right in front of it. On his second studio album, "Life After Death," he had some subtle and not-so-subtle words in reference to a few other rappers. However, besides the feuds being a major storyline, Biggie's singles like "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems" helped the album gain rave reviews. 

2009 marked the year for a new generation of rappers, and Kid Cudi was at the forefront. Cudi is often lauded as one of the biggest predecessors for emo rap who is heard today, and the style was categorized due to some of his biggest hits like "Pursuit of Happiness" and "Day 'n' Night." Cudi's discography beams with making listeners feel comfortable with being emotional.

Mobb Deep members Havoc and Prodigy used their sophomore album, "The Infamous," to tell stories about growing up in New York's Queensbridge neighborhood. Instead of giving listeners hardcore rap production, they made sure the album incorporated jazz samples for a more mellow tone. Some of the album's hit singles included "Survival of the Fittest" and "Shook Ones Pt. II." 

Looking back on Dr. Dre's career, he's always held himself to a higher standard as a producer rather than as an MC. Solo albums from Dre come few and far in between, and his second solo project, "2001," came seven years after his massive debut, "The Chronic." Dre is heavily known for his infectious production with the genius ability to master an album sonically, both of which were evident on singles such as "Forgot About Dre" and "The Next Episode." 

Over the years, the TDE record label has built up quite a roster, and one of the label's promising stars is ScHoolboy Q. "Oxymoron" was ScHoolboy's first major label album, and it focused more eyes on what TDE was brewing. With singles such as "Man of the Year" and "Collard Greens," the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. 

After hearing Lupe Fiasco's work on Kanye West's "Touch the Sky," Jay Z decided to work with him on his debut album, "Food and Liquor." Fiasco gave listeners a new taste of artists hailing from the Midwest with singles such as "Kick, Push" and "Daydreamin.'" 

Raekwon will always be recognized as one of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan; however he's also had a bright solo career. Fellow Wu-Tang member RZA was the executive producer on Raekwon's solo debut and helped the rapper tell his stories of inner city life on songs like "Heaven and Hell" and "Criminology." 

After producing hit songs for artists like Jay Z, Janet Jackson, Talib Kweli and Alicia Keys, Kanye West decided to show the world his MC skills. His debut album, "The College Dropout," continued to feature his soulful production with singles such as "Jesus Walks," "Through the Wire" and "All Falls Down." 

Jay Z first came onto the scene nearly 25 years ago, and now he's known as one of hip-hop's billionaires. When fans debate about which Jay Z album is the best, "The Blueprint" is always in a top ranking. Not only did the album produce hit singles like "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and "Song Cry," but it also helped make Kanye West and Just Blaze two of the most sought-after producers. 

Rick Ross is known for mentioning some of the most high-profile gangsters of all time in his music, which was evident on the title of his fourth album, "Teflon Don." Ross can make a club hit like "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" or a smooth love track like "Aston Martin Music." 

When T.I. first came onto the scene in the early 2000s, he deemed himself the "King of the South." He always had pride for his hometown of Atlanta and continued to broaden the city's rap scene on his sixth album, "Paper Trail." It featured some of T.I.'s biggest records including "Swagga Like Us," "Whatever U Like" and the Rihanna-assisted track "Live Your Life." 

The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album, "Ready to Die," showed how much the hip-hop community is influenced by musicians who came before. On singles such as "Big Poppa" and "One More Chance," Biggie sampled sounds from artists like The Isley Brothers and DeBarge and also showcased the production style of his main collaborator, Diddy.  

Rapper, singer, songwriter, producer — Missy Elliott holds many titles and is deserving of each one. However, one title Missy doesn't always get enough credit for is being a visionary for her astronomical music videos. Along with her longtime collaborator, Timbaland, she continued to push boundaries visually and musically on her third album, "Miss E... So Addictive." The project garnered singles such as "Get Ur Freak On" and "One Minute Man" and proved how much Missy is a game changer. 

Although many rappers have followed in the footsteps of 2Pac, his "All Eyez on Me" project became the first double album in hip-hop history. The album spawned some of 2Pac's most notable hits, including "California Love" and "How Do U Want It." 

Although Kendrick Lamar's name was buzzing with his early mixtapes, his major label debut, "good kid, m.A.A.d city," helped put him on the mainstream scene. It also didn't hurt to have a co-sign from Dr. Dre. Kendrick is a master at storytelling, and it's evident on singles such as "The Recipe," "Swimming Pools (Drank)" and "Poetic Justice." 

At the 1995 Source Awards, Outkast was met with boos after winning for Best New Rap Group. Member Andre 3000 made sure to tell the audience, "the South got something to say" and prophesized how more people will respect their art in time. Andre 3000 and Big Boi experimented beyond their typical sound on "Stankonia" and earned massive hits with their singles "Ms. Jackson" and "So Fresh, So Clean."

The Fugees blew up the rap scene in the '90s and its final studio album, "The Score," helped define the group collectively and each member individually. Not only was their music heavily influenced by early hip-hop, but it also was old-school and reggae. With singles such as "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not," the group won a Grammy for Best Rap Album. 

After making waves with his debut under Dr. Dre's label Aftermath, Eminem followed up with his third studio album, "The Marshall Mathers LP." Not only did the album sell almost two million copies in its first week, but it also earned Eminem his second Grammy. The album featured hit singles including "The Real Slim Shady," "The Way I Am" and "Stan." 

Before Ludacris was known for his role in the "Fast and Furious" film franchise, he was one of the most dominant rappers representing the south. He had a rap style filled with speedy and comical nuances with a vision for eye-catching music videos. His third album, "Word of Mouf," featured some of his biggest hits, including "Area Codes" and "Move B***h." 

After the Fugees disbanded, Lauryn Hill decided to venture out on her own and released her solo debut, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill." The neo-soul and hip-hop blend helped showcase Hill's prowess as a rapper and singer on singles such as "Ex-Factor" and "Doo Wop (That Thing)." Lauryn hasn't released another solo album since then; however she still continues to tour with this project. 

It wasn't until J. Cole's third album, "2014 Forest Hills Drive," that he earned the ongoing narrative of going platinum without any features. Cole decided to try a different approach of releasing the album without any promotion or singles. Not only is the album titled after the address of his childhood home, but he also invited a few lucky fans to that home to hear the album exclusively before it was released to the public. 

Before 50 Cent became known for his business ventures, TV production deals and masterful ionternet trolling, his debut album caught the eyes and ears of many in the early 2000s. Coming onto the scene as Eminem's signee, 50 Cent's "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 thanks to singles such as "21 Questions" and "In Da Club." 

Lil Wayne has been in the rap game for over two decades, and one of his career-defining moments is his release of "Tha Carter" series. On "Tha Carter III," he earned a number of top 10 singles ,including "A Milli," "Got Money" and "Lollipop." 

Drake is one of the industry's few triple-threats as a rapper, singer and actor, which has essentially made him one of the biggest entertainers in the world. His star began to shine even brighter on his second studio album, "Take Care," as he continued putting his feelings into his music and gaining features from artists like The Weeknd, Andre 3000 and Rihanna. 

Nicki Minaj was a dominant force in the rap game since 2010. Her third album, "The Pinkprint," helped solidify her place with singles such as "Anaconda," "Only," and "Truffle Butter." 

After a number of mixtapes including "The Marathon" and "Crenshaw," Nipsey Hussle released his major label debut album, "Victory Lap," in 2018. Nipsey was known for telling relatable stories in his music and for offering words of encouragement and inspiration, which was evident on songs such as "Dedication" and "Hussle & Motivate."

Nelly first came onto the scene in 2000 and helped put St. Louis on a music fan's radar. After his debut album became a massive hit, he followed up with his sophomore effort, "Nellyville." The album produced six singles, including "Hot in Herre," "Dilemma" and "Air Force Ones." Not only did his songs keep people on the dance floor, but they also had fans going sneaker shopping. 

When music listeners think about rappers hailing from the Bay Area, E40 always comes to mind. His ninth album, "My Ghetto Report Card," is his most commercially successful project to date, debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and becoming a staple during the Hyphy movement. His Bay Area lingo and solid production on songs such as "Tell Me When To Go" and "U and Dat" helped him earn rave reviews. 

Over the course of a few years, Cardi B went from viral internet sensation, to reality TV star to a record-breaking act in hip-hop. Her debut album, "Invasion of Privacy," featured singles such as "Bodak Yellow" and "I Like It," helping the Bronx native become the first female solo artist to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album.