XXL highlights the best 15 in hip-hop history below. Think back to the first time you heard either of those albums, and you can instantly recall how the music made you feel: untouchable.Ĭhoosing the most beloved debut hip-hop albums of all time is no easy task. 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle are also among the elite rap debuts to stand the test of time. From N.W.A, who released Straight Outta Compton in 1988, and helped establish Compton as the stronghold in hip-hop that remains today, to Kanye West, who forever blurred the line separating the backpack scene and the mainstream with The College Dropout in 2004, these albums hold significant weight as artistic statements that are a reflection of the best that hip-hop has to offer. Dre, with the duo acting as the albums executive producers, who worked to combine the gangsta rap and R&B combo prevalent in New York hip hop. 1 After signing with Eminem, 50 Cent also worked heavily with Dr. Other albums include Eminem’s The Slim Shady LP, Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter and more. It was released on February 6, 2003, by Shady, Aftermath and Interscope. Leading the charge will be 50 Cent’s Diamond debut album Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ which will receive a 10-year anniversary platinum vinyl edition on November 12th.
Over the past 47 years and counting, countless debut albums have been recorded and released, however, there is a short list of debut projects that have impacted the culture, influenced and inspired peers and fans alike, and still hold up as masterpieces to this day. Get Rich or Die Tryin is the debut studio album by American rapper 50 Cent.
In addition, a great conceptual effort, where the rapper plays off a central plot, is a great mark of an album that will have an impact far beyond its release date. Whether you're talking about fighting the power or are waxing poetic about the drug trade, the level of lyrical mastery and the sound of the beats are what takes the themes and adds color and flavor to them. When appraising the quality of a debut album, there are a few attributes that are necessary to garner consideration as a classic: lyrics, production, cohesion and originality.
In hip-hop, the debut album is integral to building the mystique and cache that separates the legendary solo artists, duos and crews from the rest of the pack. I'ma pop him like a pimple Get rich or die tryin', I'm feelin' like 50 Brand new chopper got double-D titties Nigga. Plus, more times than not, there are plenty of lyrics included that detail the future once they've attained a level of success they're content with. Gon' get an F if a nigga try testin' me Whole lotta money. It's an amalgamation of their thoughts, ideas and experiences up to that point, as well as a solidified introductory of their artistry. Within minutes a skillful hacker could get into a billion-dollar business server. The release of a rapper's debut album is a landmark moment in their creative journey.