{"id":360482,"date":"2026-07-31T17:26:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/the-top-rap-albums-of-every-year-since-the-dawn-of-rap-1989\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T17:26:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:26:18","slug":"the-top-rap-albums-of-every-year-since-the-dawn-of-rap-1989","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=360482","title":{"rendered":"THE TOP RAP ALBUMS OF EVERY YEAR \u2026 SINCE THE DAWN OF RAP: 1989"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In 1989, rap continued to expand and for the first time we get some true works of genius in our top 5\u2013albums that changed music, not just hip hop.<\/p>\n

I found 12 truly \u201cgreat\u201d albums of this year\u2026<\/p>\n

12. Unfinished Business by EPMD<\/strong>.\u00a0 I mean, The Big Payback alone is a reason to call this a classic.<\/p>\n

11.\u00a0 Raw Like Sushi by Neneh Cherry.\u00a0 <\/strong>Maybe more dance\/pop than rap, but those lines often blur in modern hip hop\u2013this album was ahead of its time.\u00a0 Key tracks: Buffalo Stance, Manchild, Kisses on the Wind.<\/p>\n

10. Walking With a Panther by LL Cool J.\u00a0 <\/strong>LL still has swagger and power, even three albums in.\u00a0 Best cut: Goin\u2019 Back to Cali.<\/p>\n

9. Road to the Riches by Kool G Rap and DJ Polo.<\/strong><\/p>\n

8. Done by the Forces of Nature by Jungle Brothers.\u00a0 <\/strong>Key tracks: What U Waitin\u2019 4, title track, Doin\u2019 Our Own Dang.<\/p>\n

7. No One Can Do It Better by The D.O.C.\u00a0 <\/strong>NWA\u2019s mentor\u2019s solo project.\u00a0 It was followed by surgery on his vocal cords that essentially ended his career.\u00a0 Key tracks: It\u2019s Funky Enough, Lend Me an Ear, The Grand Finale.<\/p>\n

6. The Iceberg\/Freedom of Speech\u2026 Just Watch What You Say! by Ice-T.\u00a0<\/strong> Not just a great rap album, also an early example of \u201crock rap\u201d on the song \u201cThe Girl Tried to Kill Me.\u201d\u00a0 Key tracks: Title track, Lethal Weapon, You Played Yourself.<\/p>\n

5. Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop by Boogie Down Productions.\u00a0<\/strong> It wasn\u2019t until I started making these lists for each year that I realized what a fantastic run KRS-One had on his early albums.\u00a0 Just one great one after another.\u00a0 Key songs; Bo! Bo! Bo! (my second favorite BDP song of all time, The Style You Haven\u2019t Done Yet, Why Is That?<\/p>\n

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4. The Cactus Album by 3d Bass.\u00a0 <\/strong>Two albums by white guys?!\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 MC Serch was the real deal.\u00a0 Key tracks: Product of My Environment, Steppin\u2019 to the AM, Brooklyn Queens.<\/p>\n

3. Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A.<\/b> It was so hard to decide whether to make this #2 or #3.\u00a0 I\u2019ve listened to both albums so many times.\u00a0 But in the end, as much fun as it is to hear this record, it doesn\u2019t have the range<\/i> or depth of my #1 pick.\u00a0 So it loses the race\u2026But just barely.\u00a0 In terms of influence and reach, though, it\u2019s definitely #1.\u00a0 Key tracks: Fuck the Police, title track, 8-Ball, Gangsta Gangsta.<\/p>\n

2. Three Feet High and Rising by De La Soul.\u00a0 <\/strong>Is this rap\u2019s first concept album?\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 Notwithstanding the Jungle Brothers\u2019 debut album in \u201988, Three Feet High was radically unlike anything we\u2019d heard before.\u00a0 Hippie rap, unbridled joy, and unmatched skills.\u00a0 Pure excellence.\u00a0 Key tracks: The Magic Number, Buddy, Say No Go, My Myself and I\u2026So many.<\/p>\n

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1. Paul\u2019s Boutique by The Beastie Boys.\u00a0 <\/strong>I know, I know, it\u2019s sacrilege to rank this above De La Soul\u2019s debut.\u00a0 But this is my list, and I have to be honest: I listen to this one a lot more often.\u00a0 Key tracks: Side two.\u00a0 It\u2019s deservedly compared to side two of Abbey Road.<\/p>\n

Other notable albums from 1989:<\/strong><\/p>\n