The first one with Nas seemed to get a little interest so I thought I'd continue the series on with his rival turned friend Jay-Z. This ain’t me telling you Jay-Z has the best discography (spoiler alert he doesn’t). This is me delving into some top tier artists discographies to give my thoughts on how I personally rank them. Upcoming threads will include other artists like Ghostface, Scarface, Kanye and Wayne.


Top 3: Takeover, Heart of the City, Never Change
Worst Track: NA

This is Jay-Z at his most confident… and that’s saying something! Musically this album is just beautiful and Jay’s boastful raps mixed with some more introspective tracks on the second half of the track list gives us a really well balanced album that just sounds timeless. This was Jay metaphorically and quite literally staking his claim on the crown by not only going at Nas (and Mobb Deep) but casually stating if he’s not better than Big he’s the closest one!


Top 3: The Story of OJ, 4:44, Marcy Me
Worst Track: NA

Easily Jay’s most personal album where he covers everything from infidelity, to his mothers sexuality to his fathers addictions. While his rapping is a little more slowed and more akin to spoken word for a lot of the album he reminds us what he’s capable of on the last verse of smile, while NoID doesn’t disappoint behind the boards with what may be Jay’s most consistent album when it comes to production. The placement of this album is probably a little controversial and maybe you have to have a certain amount of life experience to really appreciate this album but for me the replay value is second only to Blueprint.

Top 3: Dead Presidents II, D’Evils, Friend or Foe
Worst Track: Ain’t no Nigga

While most count this as Jays most definitive album I personally don’t, that’s not a slight on the album I just feel like he plays more of a character on this album than the two I’ve ranked above it, but that’s more to do with the trend at the time being mafioso rap (IWW, OB4CL, LAD). But while this may no longer be my go to Jay-Z album it’s an indisputable classic that’s stood the test of time and fares well with the other albums in the sub-genre even though I don’t play it anywhere near as much as the 3 albums I named earlier as examples.

Top 3: Encore, Public Service Announcement, Lucifer
Worst Track: Justify my Thug

At one point this was my favourite Jay-Z album (mostly because I’d overplayed Blueprint) and it contains one of my all time favourite Jay songs in PSA, but for some reason this is starting to sound much more dated than Blueprint to me despite being a couple of years younger. Don’t get me wrong I still really love the album and it’s a definite classic it’s just lost a little of its lustre in recent years for me, taking it out of his top 3. The album still holds up well though and would have made for a great retirement album.

Top 3: A Million and One Questions/Rhyme no More, Lucky Me, Where I’m From
Worst Track: I Know What Girls Like

Let’s get this out the way first; I Know What Girls Like and Sunshine are terrible songs and there are a couple of other tracks more at home on a Bad Boy Records album than a Jay-Z album, but aside from that some of Jay’s very best material is on this album, it may not have the consistency of the albums above it but that hasn’t stopped this being one of my most played Jay-Z albums. A controversial pick to put above American Gangster and while I’d agree it’s not as consistent the high points more than make up for it.

Top 3: Pray, Roc Boys, Success
Worst Track: Hello Brooklyn

A welcome return to form after the comeback album that had people wishing Jay had actually retired after TBA. Inspired by the movie of the same name and seeing him return to a more “street” style of rap, the album is very consistent if not quite hitting the highs of his best albums, although the track with Nas is so much better than Black Republicans.

Top 3: Hard Knock Life, Reservoir Dogs, Coming of Age
Worst Track: It’s Alright

If Volume 1 was his Bad Boy album, this one was his Ruff Ryders album, I’ve heard this called a classic more than a few times but some of the tracks have aged terribly, and it’s probably more to do with it being the album that broke Jay into the mainstream rather than the out and out quality of the album. The lead single with its Annie sample was a real touch of genius at the time with Jay taking a risk and is quite possibly the main reason Jay is as big as he is today.

Top 3: So Ghetto, It’s Hot, Come and get me
Worst Track: S. Carter

There are two versions of this album, the American version is the better of the two, but both have some awkward pop rap moments that really spoil the flow of what’s an otherwise solid album. Jay would soon realise Amil was not it, but the two tracks she appears on here are the lowlight of the album together with Things That u do which was a continuation of the ruff ryders sound he explored on volume 2. Timbaland is the most prevalent sound on this album with a strong showing together with another great Primo collabo. The European version also had an extra Swizz bonus track (Anything) which was far worse than the earlier song, and an extra Timbo track (Is that your B****) in place of There’s Been a Murder. Watch me was another track missing on the European version replaced by an extra Hova Interlude.

Top 3: Dynasty Intro, Streets is Talking, This Can’t be Life
Worst Track: Get Your Mind Right Mami

The first third of this album is great, as are the last few songs and while Beanie really adds a great dimension to this album and shines throughout others like Amil and Bleek really bring it down as does the fact that Jay is missing off a few tracks (as this was intended to be a label album). While it lacks the consistency of his albums before it (half is genius and half not so much), the good tracks on here really hold their own to this day. The Guilty Until Proven Innocent single with a certain incarcerated R&B singer really hasn’t aged too well which also led to two not to be mentioned collaboration albums that are better forgotten!

Top 3: The Watcher 2, Meet the Parents, Some How Some Way
Worst Track: What the Gonna Do

This really doesn’t feel like a true successor to the original, lacking the cohesiveness in favour of exploring different styles with varying results to make for an inconsistent listen. Whether the beef caused him to lose focus or maybe confidence, while a lot would argue the Blueprint over Stillmatic I don’t think you’d find many that would put this over Gods Son. Having said that, this album isn’t without its highlights. But Jay was quick to realise the bloated nature of this double album and came with a slimmed down version which was a much easier listen and probably would’ve ended up a couple of spots higher on this list

Top 3: The Prelude, Minority Report, Beach Chair
Worst Track: Anything

Considered by most to be his worst album, personally I think that’s more to do with it being a massive disappointment of a comeback album rather than being truly bad. Which doesn’t mean to say this is a great album, it’s really not, I would chose to listen to it over the last two albums on the list though.


Top 3: Thank You, DOA, Empire State of Mind
Worst Track: Venus vs Mars

It surprises me how much love this album gets on this site. I said BP2 didn’t feel like a true successor to the original but this is such a departure from the sound and feel that it almost makes the second one feel like a classic. Re listening to this I struggled to pick my top 3 tracks because in all honesty I could go the rest of my life without ever hearing a song off here again. The album has aged about as well as the sentiment of the lead single

Top 3: Oceans, Beach is Better, Nickels & Dimes
Worst Track: BBC

I think Jay really lost himself between American Gangster and 4:44, while his hookup with Kanye as the throne did bare fruit I really do credit that more to Kanye who at that time was yet to fall off and still making quality music. Seemingly wanting to continue on from the extravagance of WTT, left to his own devices it comes across much more forced with very little redeemable qualities. Jay just comes across as un-relatable and out of touch, and while most are quick to defend the production I just don’t think it’s that good, certainly not good enough to carry an otherwise empty album. Even BP3 got more play from me than this album! Luckily he came back to redeem himself with his next one.

like for Scarface next

like for Ghostface Killah next

Pics ain’t loading my g

These cool and informative but it’s Kanye West still

No drake

I enjoy this series. Tag me when you do GFK next.

i never read that first thread maybe i should

but drake

sorted

can tell you really think about these lists, respect.

its ye

All the ones just staying it’s x artist you’re missing the point. There isn’t a right answer, I’m just delving into some classic discographies from some top 10-20 rap artists of all time so please don’t get all butt hurt and either appreciate it or move on

Wayne and Drake have better discogs. Keep in mind discography doesn’t only mean studio albums. It’s every single piece of music recorded by said artist. Features, mixtapes, singles, albums, whatever.

If we were going by studio albums only then DOOM and Kanye have Jay beat

Yeah it’s just solo studio albums

Kingdom Come my first disappointment in music. The middle aged raps and dismissal of the current rap scene made Jay come off as a disgruntle elder statesmen of Rap. He sounded bitter and unsure of his place in Hip-Hop, almost as if he didn't want to be part of the scene and was doing this out of boredom. That wasn't what bothered me the most though. It was his change of cadence, sloppy flow and for the first time in his career production almost carried him the whole way. Things were looking rough for a moment but thank god he picked it up with American Gangster and returned to his throne. @Aftermath

Very good assessment! You wanna do the GFK one and I’ll take a break??

Maybe in a few weeks. GFK's large discography would be a heavy undertaking for anyone. Just skip over him for the next installments, if you can. If not, I'll make sure to leave my thoughts and discuss his catalog with y'all. I'm curious to hear about your experiences with Bulletproof Wallets and Fishscale.

Okay now we talking

100% facts !!!!

The GOAT!!!!!

It’s drake or ye

Tbh it’s not that bad with artists whose discographies I’m already familiar with. If I were to do an artist like say youngoby NBA for example I wouldn’t have a clue and I’m not about to give my views on an artist I haven’t been listening to over the years and who has an extensive discography

Drake

I've been overusing that image like crazy

seeing people sneaking drake into a best discog convo is hilarious lol

That's true, but there's albums that hit us differently now than yesteryear. Do you revisit these albums or simply go off of memory? With all due respect, If you were to do NBA Youngboy, I would've never clicked on this thread. lol

ive always found it a bit strange to assess an artist’s entire discog tbh, i only really care about their peak material

peak JAY-Z is top 3 solidified imo