TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE DECADE

I felt the need to state my personal TOP ALBUMS LIST. I have seen many other lists and didn't necessarily agree with them all. This is expected because everyone has different tastes so I respect everyone's opinion. I know I will get a lot of debate and disagreement with my list but *shrugs* respect my cipha lol. Naw but without further adieu here is my personal TOP 10 HIP HOP ALBUMS OF THE DECADE: 2000s EDITION

(IN ORDER)

1. JAY-Z- THE BLUEPRINT (2001)
Jay-Z is ARGUABLY the greatest MC to ever do it. His debut album Reasonable Doubt is an undeniable classic. However, it wasn't until he dropped his magnum opus the Blueprint that he was able to stake claim to the word "Classic" again. Jay appears twice on my list so that alone tells the talent of the man. The Blueprint changed hip hop and brought Jay back to his essence. Little known producers at the time Kanye West and Just Blaze, provided Hov with musical backdrops of soulful samples and catchy melodies. Many albums have superb production but lyrically most do not match the music. Jay made sure this was not the case and gave the hip hop world some of his most honest and thoughtful lyrics of his career. It's impact was felt throughout the industry and even re-sparked the career of NAS via Jay's lethal diss track "Takeover." This album stamped his status in the G.O.A.T. conversation and in my opinion he holds that title. The Blueprint would provide the blueprints for many hip hop albums after its' release. (STANDOUT TRACKS: "SONG CRY" . "RENEGADE")

2. LUPE FIASCO- FOOD & LIQUOR (2006)

Skateboards, backpacks and anime. You usually don't associate these words with hip hop and rappers. A Chi town wordsmith would change all that though when he burst on the scene. Lupe hit the game hard with his debut album Food & Liquor. Possessing perfect flow and breath control along with a lyrical arsenal to rival any MC, Lupe brought to the forefront a part of the hip hop scene that was barely known. F&L was cosigned by Jay-Z and Kanye West, who served as executive producers. Through soulful production, Lupe presented the hip hop world with some of the most thought provoking lyrics hip hop has ever seen. High praise for a rookie album but it is rightfully earned. (STANDOUT TRACKS: "HURT ME SOUL", "THE COOL")

3. KANYE WEST-LATE REGISTRATION (2005)

Many people would argue that Kanye's The College Dropout is his best album. I personally feel that Late Registration is a slight notch above College Dropout. Lyrically, Kanye was sharper and behind the boards he was more creative. Enlisting composer Jon Brian to assist with production gave Kanye crisper backdrops and took his production to another level. Again, lyrically Kanye showed vast improvements from CD. Poised with a better flow and even more charisma, he showed why he was no one album fluke. Kanye was here to stay and would be a force to becreckoned with for years to come. (STANDOUT TRACKS: "BRING ME DOWN" "GONE")

4. JAY-Z- THE BLACK ALBUM (2003)

"What more can I say? What more can I do?" This is the chorus on "What More Can I Say" a track off what was supposed to be Jay's last album, The Black Album. If Jigga really had ended his career with this album, he would've went out with a bang. Fourteen tracks of Jay at his lyrical best, along with a host of A-List producer provided the perfect mixture for a classic album. The Black Album provided hip hop with verses and quotables that will stand the test of time. (STANDOUT TRACKS: "99 PROBLEMS" "MOMENT OF CLARITY")

5. KANYE WEST- THE COLLEGE DROPOUT (2004)

Kanye West can actually claim a lot of the credit for the direction and success of the top five albums on my list. He initially gained notoriety for his production work on Jay-Z's Blueprint. Kanye was solely supposed to be the ROC's in house producer but had bigger plans. This plan would be unveiled as West's debut album The College Dropout. Aligned with hit patent soulful sound and hard hitting drums, West proved his stature as a top notch MC as well. Every track just spewed with charisma, hunger and emotion. With this album, Kanye showed the music world that he was a dual threat that would have to be dealt with for years to come. (STANDOUT TRACKS: "SPACESHIP" "ALL FALLS DOWN")

6. SCARFACE-THE FIX (2002)

Mr. Scarface had been an icon in hip hop for years before the release of The Fix. Having released previous classic albums before, Scarface was not a stranger to the word. The Fix was his first release away from Rap-A-Lot Records and was released on Def Jam South. The album provided Face with some of the best production he has ever been granted and featured credits by Kanye West. Guests on the album were A-list and gave the album amazing impact. Nas, Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel to name a few, gave top notch performances. Lyrically, Scarface was at his honest and gritty and sounded hungrier than ever. This album is a must have for any hip hop fan.

7. 50 CENT-GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' (2003)

50 Cent burst onto the national scene in late 2002 with his mixtape smash single "Wanksta." However, he propelled to superstar status with the release of "In Da Club," the first single off of his officail debut album Get Rich Die Or Tryin. Eminem and Dr. Dre cosigned 50 and his G-Unit brand and the 50 era officially begun. The aura around the man and the album was undeniable. We all know the story, shot 9 times, dominated the mixtape scene and brought the "gangsta" back to hip hop and music as a whole. With a sing-a-long flow, aggressive lyrics and some of the catchiest hooks heard on record, 50 had the perfect formula for success. The album was an international success, boasting the highest first week total sales for a debut album in history. With GRODT, 50 was hear to make noise and it would sure we all were witnesses to hear it. (STANDOUT TRACKS: "PATIENTLY WAITING" , "DON'T PUSH ME")

8. EMINEM-THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP (2000)

Eminem crossed-over into international pop superstar with The Marshall Mathers LP. The definitive album of Slim Shady, it was a critical and commercial smash. The album went diamond and sold over 1.79 million records in a single week. His second album was a dark contrast to his debut Slim Shady LP. The biggest song off the album, "The Real Slim Shady" however, was a lighthearted pop smash. The sound of the album featured superb production from the usual suspects, Dr. Dre and Mel Man, Jeff Bass, and Eminem himself. Eminem in particular showed that he had really grown as a producer and his sound became harder to differentiate from that of his mentor Dr. Dre. Slim Shady also proved to be at his lyrical and honest best, staking claim to his case as the best in the game at that time. Eminem expanded on his lyrical content from his debut with subjects ranging from drug use, his childhood, family issues, his relationship with his on and off again wife Kim, and the Columbine shootings of that past year. The MM LP is widely regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all time and was the first hip hop album to ever be nominated for album of the year at the Grammy Awards. (STANDOUT TRACKS: "STAN", "WHO KNEW")

9. KID CUDI-MAN ON THE MOON: THE END OF DAY (2009)

Being from Cleveland, it's always a lovely thing to see an artist rise to stardom from the city. The unfortunate thing is that this doesn't happen much at all and hasn't occurred since Bone Thugs N Harmony rose to fame in the mid-90s. Kid Cudi's debut album and buzz was a welcomed positive to the city and music as a whole. Not your ideal rapper, Kid Cudi is better to be labeled as an artist. He isn't the most lyrical and won't capture your with exceptional wordplay but his honesty and creativity with his music made him standout amongst his peers. Cudi used his sing-a-long voice and heartfelt words to produce an album that was an artistic and creative enigma. Production ranged from pop to rock infused backdrops and was handled by several producers who were able to capture Cudi's vision perfectly. From the album's true opener, "Soundtrack to My Life," he took listeners into the mind of "Cudder's world." On first listen I was honestly shocked as to what Cudi came up with on this MOTM album. Any true fan of hip hop music should take a listen to this album. It will be worth your time. (STANDOUT TRACKS: "HYYER" , "MY WORLD")

10. THE GAME-THE DOCUMENTARY (2005)

"Wake up the west coast is back." This is what Game declared on the track "Higher" off his debut album, "The Documentary." A product of Compton, Game signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records and 50 Cent's G-Unit Records in 2003. Under the guidance of Dre and 50, Game crafted a memorable debut. Dre's hard hitting production brought out Game's hard gangsta to the core persona. A west coast rapper with an east coast flow, Game gave the hip hop community the best of both worlds and crossed over to the masses with ease. Featuring production and features from the likes of Eminem, Dr. Dre, Havoc, and Busta Rhymes, The Documentary was a superb effort from a talented MC. The Game came onto the scene to show and tell the rest of the game, he was reppin Cali to the fullest and this is "How We Do." (STANDOUT TRACKS: "START FROM SCRATCH" , "HATE IT OR LOVE IT")

BEST OF THE REST: NAS-STILLMATIC; LIL WAYNE-THE CARTER 2; OUTKAST-STANKONIA; SLIM THUG-ALREADY PLATINUM; T.I.-PAPER TRAIL; LUDACRIS-WORD OF MOUF; T.I.-TRAP MUZIK; NAS-GOD'S SON; YOUNG JEEZY-THUG MOTIVATION 101; CAMRON-COME HOME WITH ME