Classic Rap Albums from 2015-2019: What does the Coli think? (Courtesy of NFR Podcast)

[King Harlem]

2015
Travis Scott - Rodeo
Future - Dirty Sprite 2
Drake & Future - What A Time To Be Alive
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
Drake - If You're Reading This Than It's Too Late

2016
Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
Drake - Views
J Cole - For Your Eyes Only

2017
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN
Migos - Culture
Tyler, the Creator - Flowerboy
Jay Z - 4:44

2018
Travis Scott - Astroworld
Kanye West & Kid Cudi - Kids See Ghosts
Pusha T - Daytona
Mac Miller - Swimming

2019
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana
Tyler, the Creator - Egor

Do you agree?
What would you remove?
What would you add?

 

[MINT]

Only the Kendrick, Tyler and Jay albums were considered as classics, praised as classics.

rest is basically rewriting history...unless we consider the rest aren't the same level of classic albums.

 

[Mr 18]

Only the Kendrick, Tyler and Jay albums were considered as classics, praised as classics.

rest is basically rewriting history...unless we consider the rest aren't the same level of classic albums.

This. Although I'm not sure Flowerboy and Egor were in that discussion

 

[King Harlem]

Only the Kendrick, Tyler and Jay albums were considered as classics, praised as classics.

rest is basically rewriting history...unless we consider the rest aren't the same level of classic albums.

I hear you. I'm trying to be more open minded about what exactly a Classic album is.
Even with Hip Hop in its current state, I'm not sure we are going an entire year without a classic album being made.

 

[Hersh]

that's his opinion.

1.444
2.tpab
3.daytona

rest prob a level below

 

[derro13]

The only albums that met every criteria for an album being a classic are TPAB, DAMN and possibly 4:44 although it didn"t really have any impact/influence. Tpab alone revived the jazz scene in LA, influenced the likes of Prince, Bowie and Herbie Hancock... Damn was also universally acclaimed, and managed to be the 2nd biggest rap album of the past 25 years in terms of pure chart performance.

I guess 4:44 made it clear it was still possible for older rappers to still release a great project.

 

[derro13]

Id throw in Summertime 06

 

[Reptile]

rest is basically rewriting history...unless we consider the rest aren't the same level of classic albums.

Dumbass post. Calling something a classic is by hindsight. Hindsight aint rewriting history. If something was considered a classic then, is it really a classic? Yall ruined that word and I fukking hate it.

 

[King Harlem]

After thinking about it, I would consider these:

2018: Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy (Not really for me, but the impact was undeniable).
2018: Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap (self-explanatory)

I think you could argue a few more, but these two I think are the biggest omissions.

 

[GunRanger]

WATTBA is a terrible album and aged like shyt.

IYRTITL is a classic, Views is not.


DS2 is for sure.

 

[Damnshow]

A classic album is when a whole record sounds great with as minimal skipping material as possible.

Since we are long gone from the vinyl record era, many artists half ass a lot of their songs cause fukk it, do the singles, give them few more ok songs and the rest is just a filler tracks.

The guy in the video was way too generous labelling some of those albums as classics.

 

[Reptile]

A classic album is when a whole record sounds great with as minimal skipping material as possible.

Not the only criterion for a classic album.

 

[Damnshow]

Not the only criterion for a classic album.

It's not the only criteria, but I don't know any classic album that had several skippable songs.

 

[King Harlem]

A classic album is when a whole record sounds great with as minimal skipping material as possible.

Since we are long gone from the vinyl record era, many artists half ass a lot of their songs cause fukk it, do the singles, give them few more ok songs and the rest is just a filler tracks.

The guy in the video was way too generous labelling some of those albums as classics.

I know a lot of people use this definition for classic albums, but for me the album needs impact and some type of lasting power to be a classic.
For example: You Got My Mind Messed Up by James Carr (1967) is one of best Soul/R&B albums of all time, but it's just not impactful enough to be considered a classic.

 

[Reptile]

It's not the only criteria, but I don't know any classic album that had several skippable songs.

Theres plenty album without many skips that arent classics.