Five Albums That Completely Shifted Rap Music

Rap seems to be an industry within an industry. Which albums made the art form so valuable?

It would be fair to proclaim that rap music is the most prevalent form of music in today’s industry and American culture. According to Rolling Stone, nearly a quarter of songs consumed by American citizens could be titled under the rap genre in 2018. And whether one believes that the music is incredibly powerful or obnoxiously cynical, there can be no denying that it has a rich history.

The art form was built from the ashes of marginalized communities, one in which artists were able to present their circumstances and perspectives through their music. From humble beginnings, rap music eventually became a multi-million dollar industry that allowed these marginalized artists, when good enough, to build wealth and fortune.

Objectively, the rise of rap music is a beautifully diverse and culturally rich narrative, and in many ways it can be told through the music alone. Here are five albums that completely changed the way rap music was both presented and digested by the public.

“The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Released in 1982, “The Message” remains one of the most important records not only in rap, but in music. It was the first truly successful rap album in terms of chart success, as it nearly reached the top 50 on the U.S. charts. It was also the group’s debut album, with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five ultimately paving the way for what a rap LP should look and sound like from a technical perspective. 

Yet beyond this, the title track known as “The Message” was influential in terms of presenting the perspective and lifestyle of people who live in inner city poverty. It was the genre’s first example of conscious lyricism and social commentary, which remains incredibly important within the art form. It remains one of the most important songs of all time, and in 1982 the NME named the song “Track of the Year.”

“It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” by Public Enemy

Speaking of socially conscious music, there may not be a more important album under that bubble than Public Enemy’s masterpiece. “It Take a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” was the group’s second album release, and the group was quoted as wanting to make an album as socially perplexing as Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” In many ways, that is exactly what they did.

The reason why is because it was heavily influenced by the anger and frustration that was absorbed by the black communities of America. It wasn’t an album that was methodical and careful with its diction. Instead, it was meant to be aggressive and blunt with its ideas and philosophies. If you want a sneak peek, just listen to the albums second track known as “Bring the Noise.”

“The Chronic” by Dr. Dre

This album by Dr. Dre, who was already known as a superstar thanks to his incredible mixing with the group N.W.A., was his first attempt at a solo record. Released through Death Row Records, “The Chronic” is often recognized as one of the best produced albums of all time, and it heavily influenced the career of Grammy nominated rapper Snoop Dogg.

Humorously, the album in many ways is a massive slap to the face towards Ruthless Records, which is a record label that was formerly owned by former N.W.A. member Eazy-E, who had a financial dispute with Dre at the time. Nevertheless, the album itself is much more important than presenting diss tracks. It created new ideas and approaches towards developing gangsta rap, which was the prevalent rap sub-genre in the greater Los Angeles area.

“Ready to Die” by The Notorious B.I.G.

Not many artists have developed as good of a debut album as Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls. “Ready to Die” remains one of the most special rap albums ever, and it’s not due to the message, or the hit tracks, rather it is all due to the ability of the rapper. Biggie’s flow and infectious wit was on full display on this LP, and it ultimately revived a dying East Coast hip hop tradition that was being outshined by the West Coast scene.

It also may be the most significant rap album that deals with the street mentality that absorbs the ghettos of America. Wallace, who was a former crack dealer as a teenager, tells his story through this album by giving intricate detail of his experiences while dealing, and several of his tracks incorporate rifts and soundbites that insinuate gang violence. Surely a controversial approach, but effective and important nonetheless.

“Illmatic” by Nas

Released during the same year as “Ready to Die,” a young New York rapper developed his own piece that hoped to give listeners a view of his perspective of New York, particularly in the streets of Queensbridge. That man was Nas, a 21-year old up-incoming rapper who signed with Columbia Records. The album “Illmatic” is now seen as one of the most important albums of our generation. It was all in the lyrics.

Nas’ incredible ability as a storyteller was one of the most important pieces behind the record’s success, which ended up being certified gold. It didn’t feel like rap music, it felt like listening to spoken word or a piece of poetry. Until this point, no one had been able to truly make lyricism the most important piece of their music, and Nas influenced several modern rappers such as Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, J. Cole and others. If one debut album can contend with Biggie’s “Ready to Die,” it is this one.