Music 2000: The Best Hip Hop Albums
Contents
From Outkast to Missy Elliott, these are the best hip hop albums of the millennium so far.
Introduction
It’s no secret that hip hop is one of the most popular genres of music today. Whether you’re a fan of old-school rap or contemporary trap music, there’s no doubt that hip hop has had a significant impact on the music industry as a whole. In fact, many experts believe that hip hop is the most important genre of music to come out of the last few decades.
While there are countless great hip hop albums out there, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe are the best of the best. These are the albums that have had the biggest impact on the genre, and that have influenced other artists for years to come. If you’re looking for a true hip hop education, these are the albums you need to listen to.
Best Hip Hop Albums of 2000
The year 2000 was a big year for Hip Hop. Some amazing albums were released that are still considered classics today. In this article, we will be taking a look at the best Hip Hop albums of 2000.
Dr. Dre – 2001
Dr. Dre’s 2001 was not only the best hip hop album of 2000, but one of the best albums of the decade. Released just months after Dre’s G-funk classic The Chronic, 2001 found the producer/rapper at the top of his game, and helped to legitimize West Coast rap in the mainstream. Featuring a who’s who of early 2000s hip hop talent, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Nate Dogg, and Kurupt, 2001 is a timeless record that remains as fresh and relevant today as it did when it was first released.
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
On May 23, 2000, Eminem released his third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP. The album was the first hip hop album to ever beCertified Diamond, selling over 11 million copies in the United States. Along with being a commercial success, the album was also a critical success, being named the best hip hop album of 2000 by multiple publications.
Jay-Z – The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
Released in late 2000, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia was Jay-Z’s fifth studio album and the first album released on his Roc-A-Fella Records label. The album was a departure from Jay-Z’s previous albums, as it featured a more sombre and introspective tone. In terms of sales, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia was a success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over three million copies in the United States. The album was well-received by critics and is considered one of Jay-Z’s best albums.
Mos Def – Black on Both Sides
Black on Both Sides is the debut solo album by American rapper Mos Def, released October 12, 1999, on Rawkus Records and Priority Records. The album features an emphasis on positive messages and social commentary, with songs addressing Issues such as African-American culture, police brutality, religion, and personal relationships. Black on Both Sides was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000.
Outkast – Stankonia
Stankonia is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on October 31, 2000, by LaFace Records. The album was recorded in the duo’s recently purchased Atlanta recording facility Stankonia Studios, which allowed for fewer time and recording restrictions, and featured production from Earthtone III. Stankonia featured appearances from popular rappers such as slimm Calhoun, Killer Mike, and E-40.
Lyrically, the album reflects on themes of blackness, poverty, bragging rights, parenthood, relationships, and introspection. Stankonia was Outkast’s first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Three of its singles—”Ms. Jackson”, “So Fresh, So Clean”, and “B.O.B.”—attained mainstream success; “Ms. Jackson” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart while also earning a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Despite mixed reviews from music critics at the time of its release who praised its originality but criticized its bloated length and overindulgent tendencies,[9] Stankonia is today regularly praised as one of Outkast’s best albums and one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time by music critics and publications such as Pitchfork Media,[10] Complex,[11] Spin[12] and Rolling Stone.[13][14] In 2012 it was placed at number 541 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve taken a look at the best hip hop albums of 2000, it’s time to wrap things up. Overall, this was an excellent year for the genre, with many great albums being released. If you’re a fan of hip hop, then you definitely need to check out some of the albums on this list.
