A lot of electrons have been spent this year on commemorating rap albums that came out in 1994. That's for two reasons: 1994 was 20 years ago, and 20 is a nice round number. Oh, and also, a ton of rap albums that came out that year were amazing. Here are our 10 favorites. 


Nas
lllmatic

Vivid writer Nas captured the sights and sounds from his Queensbridge project window on lllmatic, over the Columbia Records-funded production of the then absolute best producers in hip-hop.

Plus, the label provided unprecedented promotional support for the work, despite its not having much chance of crossing over.

Put all that together, and you have one of the most impactful releases in the genre's history.


Notorious B.I.G.
Ready to Die

The only album arguably more influential than Illmatic in 1994 was Biggie's debut Ready to Die.

Having only been rapping for three years (!) his masterful arsenal of flows, unmistakable voice and outstanding lyrics were the perfect tools for Sean “Puffy” Combs to carry out his full cinematic vision. Albums don't really get better than this.


Common Sense
Resurrection

Don't let the Gap commercials and supporting roles in forgettable movies fool you; at one point Common was a rapper who was paranoid about not being a success.

Rap journalist Andrew Noz has attributed the greatness of Resurrection – Common's sophomore work – to “a changing man being infinitely more interesting than a changed man.” Common, back when he had Sense, expresses his vulnerability without exploiting it.


O.C.
Word…Life

One of the great unsung hot streaks of '90s rap labels was that of New York imprint Wild Pitch, and you could make a case that its finest release was O.C.'s Word…Life.

A&Red by MC Serch – who also handled the aforementioned Illmatic – O.C. created a mountain of quotables on his debut single “Time'z Up.” Meanwhile, the album has unflinching grittiness throughout.


Organized Konfusion
Stress: The Extinction Agenda

Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po were perhaps the most evenly talented rap duo in history. Perfectly matched with contrasting styles that accentuated each others, their sophomore album Stress: The Extinction Agenda went high concept, with stellar imagery and complex lyrics.

Another great thing about 1994 is how many great remixes there were that year, such as this Large Professor take on the title track.


Outkast
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

Another evenly talented duo is, of course, Big Boi and Andre 3000 of Outkast. Before they were the ATLiens bringing you to Stankonia, they made their Organized Noize-produced debut in 1994 with Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.

With a sound that's more Souls of Mischief than Goodie Mob, the album introduced a generation to Southern hip-hop.


Scarface
The Diary

That's not to say there wasn't an incredible lineage of Southern hip-hop prior to 1994. In fact, one of the region's finest MCs, Scarface, put out an absolute masterpiece that year with The Diary, which is outstanding at face value and finer with each listen,.

In particular, Scarface deconstructs dealing with the media, and its effect on his life. In my opinion, he is everything an MC should be.


Saafir
Boxcar Sessions

1994 also was the year Saafir's Boxcar Sessions came out, planting the seeds for an entire generation of underground avant garde hip-hop.

It's a cult classic that's become a rite of passage for indie hip-hop fans.


Odd Squad
Fadanuf Fa'Erybody

Another great debut came from Devin the Dude's group Odd Squad's Fadanuf Fa'Erybody. An outrageously fun record, it's also subtle in its exploration of relationships.

Scarface himself considers it the finest entry in the Rap-A-Lot catalog.


Warren G.
Regulate…G Funk Era

If you're over the age of 25, you either know all the words to Warren G's “Regulate” or you're not cool.

Fear not, there's still time to catch-up, as its album Regulate…G Funk Era is full of well-aging bangers.

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