HotNewHipHop has published “15 Classic Hip Hop Debuts,” a list of debut albums that the publication deems worthy of the “classic” label.
“50 Cent’s debut album was a hotly anticipated project at the time boasting production from Dr Dre and Eminem,” the site says. “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ set off a real bomb when it was released, selling around 12 million units. 50 Cent’s thug image, and stories lived up the hype of the record which candidly told the story of defeating a life of crime and violence.”
Kanye West’s College Dropout, Jay Z’s Reasonable Doubt and Nas’ Illmatic also made the list.
“20 years later, [Nas] continues to draw in crowds performing the album in its entirely at music festivals this past year,” the site says. “Nas’ Illmatic is respected for its poetic flair. Furthermore, the OG was not afraid to talk about some heavy issues prevalent at the time such as violence, drugs and crime– all with an acute sense of reality.”
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For more on Illmatic, which celebrated its 20-year anniversary this year, check the clip below, which features several rappers speaking about the debut album’s impact.
To view the full list, visit HotNewHipHop.
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