1) To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) 2015
2) Illmatic (Nas) 1994
3) Good Kid m.A.A.d City (Kendrick Lamar) 2012
4) Liquid Swords (GZA) 1995
5) Atrocity Exhibition (Danny Brown) 2016
6) Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (Little Simz) 2021
7) Black on Both Sides (Mos Def) 1999
8) Ready to Die (The Notorious B.I.G.) 1994
9) The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Lauryn Hill) 1998
10) Me Against the World (2pac) 1995

11) John Cena - You Can't See Me

Drake - CTLB

Rappers who allegedly ain't got writers

Okay Zack

Madvillainy, Black On Both Sides, and Relapse are up there.

Nigga what that’s like most hip hop albums

I don't count Madvillainy because Madvillain is a duo and Quas does rap on there, but I get where you're coming from and would agree obviously that the lyrical and musical caliber on display there is genre defining

You mean albums with no features?

Does this count if the artist uses writers for hooks and just general song construction? Cause if so get Kendrick off the list and most mainstream rappers period.

No Ice Cube album is better than Atrocity Exhibition, sure

Literally omits groups, instrumental hip hop albums, producer albums that have writers (Dre/Ye/Trav), and rappers with ghostwriters

Only care about the verses

Hook assist is fine by me it's just a hook

Stretch death certificate is a masterpiece

Insane that there's no KA or Hommy

It's literally called a preference my guy I love Cube too it's enough room at the table for everyone go post your list and give Cube his roses

I think on damn there’s a few writing credits that aren’t his

Reasonable Doubt
The Black Album
The Blueprint
4:44
American Gangster
The Blueprint 3
In My Lifetime Vol. 1
Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life
Volume 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
Magna Carta Holy Grail

Stillmatic

I don't care if people use writers for hooks, interpolate lyrics, or get song construction ideas. If you are reciting someone else's verses you can't get on this list.

I’m being facetious my guy, AE isn’t even top 3 danny brown

Real

That means you would have to exclude Lauryn Hill

there's an example of some sort of collaborative writing for most these artists.

hiphopdx.com/news/id.31390/title.nas-confirms-brothers-assistance-writing-one-mic#:~:text=During%20his%20appearance%20at%20Fun,his%20%E2%80%9COne%20Mic%E2%80%9D%20record.