Top 5 Post-2000 Hip Hop Albums
Published:We’ll be honest, this list was much easier to compile than our Top 5 Pre-2000 Hip Hop Albums list because there are way fewer list-worthy Post-2000 albums! There have been many “very good” hip hop albums after the year 2000, but only a few “classics.” The handful of bona fide modern hip hop classics are presented here for your enjoyment!
1) Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
- Rap opera concept album set in a dystopian year 3030
- Abstract, dictionary-busting lyricism
- Wildly imaginative and unabashedly geeky
- Cameos from Prince Paul, Damon Albarn, and Sean Lennon
- Underground, intellectual hip hop classic
2) Madvillain - Madvillainy
- Highly anticipated collaboration between Madlib and MF Doom
- Ranked #2 on Fact's 100 Best Indie Hip-Hop Records of All Time
- Mix between obtuse beats & samples and some straight-up hip hop bumping
- MF Doom's unpredictable lyrical style fits nicely within Madlib's unconventional beats
- Aggregate score of 93/100 from Metacritic
3) Masta Ace - Disposable Arts
- Concept album follows a young Brooklyn man's release from prison, his return home, and his life at college
- Broods with anger, cynicism, and satire
- "Unfriendly Game" was used in the TV series The Wire
- "Take A Walk" was used in the video game Saints Row
- Tightly wrought thematically, musically, and lyrically
4) Reflection Eternal - Train of Thought
- Rap duo featuring Talib Kweli and Hi Tek
- Characterized by dynamic, high-tempo tracks and a neo soul sound
- Features themes of revolutionary mentality, love, the state of hip hop, and modern African-American culture
- Kweli offers his most poetic lyrics to date
- One of hip hop's best-kept secrets
5) Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
- Brooding mix of lyrically dense and sonically diverse tracks
- Praised and noted for Ghostface’s obscure and creative lyrics
- Guest appearances from Cappadonna, GZA, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon, Redman, RZA, U-God
- Gained strong reviews from critics despite its contrasting sound to previous Ghostface albums
- The last of the classic Wu-Tang albums
