Back in 2003, Rolling Stone published their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. At the time, there was plenty of controversy and debate. Now, 17 years later, the prestigious outlet has revamped their original list and some fans are up and arms.
Topping the greatest rap albums ever is Lauryn Hill with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill at No. 10. The 1998 GRAMMY-winning effort was Lauryn’s big breakout and her only real project to her name (besides her work with The Fugees).
Other rap notables in the Top 20 include Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (No. 15), Kanye West‘s opus My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (No. 17) and Kendrick Lamar‘s To Pimp A Butterfly (No. 19).
Marvin Gaye‘s What’s Going On topped the list at No. 1, with The Beach Boys and Joni Mitchell rounding out the Top 3 on there.
Stevie Wonder, Prince and the Revolution and Michael Jackson also made the Top 10.
If you’re wondering where other acts like The Notorious B.I.G., and Wu-Tang Clan fared, Biggie was No. 22 with Ready To Die, while Wu came in at No. 27 with Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Beyonce‘s LEMONADE was the newest entry to crack the Top 40, coming in at No. 32.
Whether you agree with the list or not, the facts are no list will ever please everyone, so debate it and argue it until you’re blue in the face.
Or go back and discover some of these “greatest” albums you’ve never heard.