Will get this out of the way, since my 

 days, i've always had unconventional/unpopular opinions on hiphop - most would toss tomatoes at me but my opinions are just that.
A lot of that old school stuff doens't belong on there (i've had quite a few of them on cd during my hard core golden era/back packer phase) - but that's prolly cuz they sound so outdated (Straight out the jungle and any of cube's albums before predator didn't digest well with me).
Muddy Waters isn't on there? Ridiculous.
Smif and Wessun's Da Shinin' should DEFINITELY be up there. Enta Da Stage should get a nod.
Other honorable mentions i consider classics by replay value, influence, production, impact and overal experience (i'm not a lyrics guy):
Mase: Harlem World
Rappin' 4 Tay - Don't Fight The Feeling
Camp Lo - Uptown Sat Night
Return of the 36 (as a matter of fact, i enjoy this album more than liquid swords, iron man, Cuban Links - you name it).
Deltron 3030
Master P - Ghetto D
Em - Slim Shade LP
Cormega - The Realness
Dr Octagon - Octogonocologist
Diamond D - Stunts Blunts
Do or Die - Picture This
Jeezy - Recession (this is arguable, but imo, a modern day classic... i'll take the tomatoes in full barrage on this, but i stand by this album).
Timbaland and Magoo - Welcome To Our World
DMX - Its Dark.
JD - Life in 1472
Bone - Creepin On uh Come Up
MF - Operation Dooms
Illadelph Halflife
O.C. - Word Life
Pete/Cl - Main Ingredient
Mos - Black on Both
Eric and Ra - Don't Sweat the Tech
Gangstarr - hard to earn
------
Never understood why The Score and Reasonable Doubt always make these coveted lists. As a matter of fukkin fact. Doe Or Die >>>>>> RD.
Miseducation was always shiit to me too.
Also, i really enjoyed Big L's Lifestyles. Never makes anybody's top 10 but that shiit was flames.
And i'm going to be deemed ratchet for this and any respect or credibility revoked but here it is...
Diplomatic Immunity.
.