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Hip-Hop Vinyl Collection: Essential Albums Every Collector Should Own
15
items Hip-hop has been part of my life for years, and collecting vinyl became a natural extension of that. This collection brings together the albums I think every fan should know, organized by region and style. I'll keep adding new records as I discover m...
Sections
2
West Coast
East Coast
West Coast
If I could only recommend one West Coast album, this would probably be it. I still come back to it years later, and it never gets old.
Dr. Dre - The Chronic (1992) Vinyl
Whenever someone asks where to start with Dr. Dre, I usually mention this right after The Chronic. It still sounds incredibly fresh today.
Dr. Dre - 2001 (1999) Vinyl
This is one of those records I'd never leave out of a West Coast collection. Every time I put it on, it reminds me why it's still a classic.
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton (1988) Vinyl
This is the Pac album I reach for when I want to hear a different side of him. It feels more personal from start to finish.
2Pac - Me Against The World [30th Anniversary Edition] [Midnight Mist 2 LP]
Whenever someone asks me to recommend a 2Pac album, this is usually the first one that comes to mind. It's packed with classics.
2Pac - All Eyez On Me [4 LP]
Ice Cube was at his absolute best here. Every time I revisit this album, I notice something I missed before.
Ice Cube - Death Certificate [LP]
DJ Quik doesn't always get the same attention as Dre or Snoop, but this record deserves a spot in any West Coast collection.
DJ Quik - Quik Is the Name (1990) Vinyl
Some albums never leave the rotation. This is one of those records I can play all the way through without skipping a track.
Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle [Clear Vinyl]
No West Coast collection feels complete without Cypress Hill. This is still one of the first records I think of when someone mentions '90s hip-hop.
Cypress Hill - Black Sunday [LP]
East Coast
This is the record I put on when I want that unmistakable '90s New York sound. It never disappoints.
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995) Vinyl
Every hip-hop fan has that one album they keep coming back to. For me, Illmatic is one of them.
Nas - Illmatic (1994) Vinyl LP
Raw, gritty, and impossible to ignore. This is where the Wu-Tang story begins, and it's still an incredible listen.
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Vinyl LP
Late-night headphones, city lights, and this album just fits. The atmosphere is hard to beat.
Mobb Deep - The Infamous (1995) Vinyl LP
DMX brought a different kind of energy, and this album captures it perfectly. It always hits with the same intensity.
DMX - Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood [Translucent Ruby Red 2 LP]
Whenever I'm in the mood for pure boom bap, this is one of the first records I reach for.
KRS-One - Return of the Boom Bap [Vinyl LP]