Soul In Stereo’s 100 Greatest Albums

First thing’s first: This is NOT a list of the 100 best albums ever recorded.

I always find lists that make that claim to be inherently flawed. Y’all know I take my rankings very seriously – to claim that a list has chosen the 100 best albums ever made means you must have listened to EVERY album ever made, and intelligently made your picks after a painstaking selection process, right? RIGHT????

…Or maybe you just had a bunch of interns pick names out of a hat, making sure the artists with lots of Twitter clout place high on the list. Gotta feed those algorithms!

After reading one too many horrible “greatest albums of all time” lists, I decided to be the change I sought. But instead of claiming to pick the best albums of all time – probably neglecting some 5-star polka album from the 40s in the process – I took a different route.

I’m counting down the 100 best albums that best reflect what we believe in here at Soul In Stereo. The classic rap albums that shaped hip-hop culture, and the ones that made it a mainstream phenomenon worldwide. The stellar R&B albums that are fueled by the passionate performances of some of the greatest vocalists of the past 60 years. The classic jazz, gospel and soul records that served as the foundation for modern rap and R&B greats. And, of course, those underappreciated gems that rarely get headlines but deserve all the praise in the world. They’re getting flowers today.

These aren’t my personal favorite albums. But they are the albums that built the music we love – the albums that have been the foundation of this very site for more than a decade.

No clout chasing, no algorithm manipulation here. Just the 100 greatest albums that mean the most to what we love.

100. Common, Like Water For Chocolate

I know some of y’all are like “BUT WHAT ABOUT BE???” It’s nearly impossible to decide which of Common’s top two albums is the better work. Be is better produced; Like Water for Chocolate boasts tighter lyrics and concepts. But I think Like Water for Chocolate gets the edge for this slight reason – Be is celebrated as the ultimate partnership between Kanye West and Common, but Like Water for Chocolate is ALL Common. Don’t get me wrong, much of this album’s success is due to an all-star array of producers (J Dilla specifically knocks it out the park) but Common and his hard-hitting yet heartfelt wordplay are always the showcase.  Like Water for Chocolate is the quintessential Common album, and one of hip-hop’s greatest treasures.

99. TLC, CrazySexyCool

98. Janet Jackson, The Velvet Rope

97. Mariah Carey, Butterfly

96. MC Lyte, Lyte as a Rock

95. Kanye West, Late Registration

94. Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city

93. Usher, Confessions

92. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

91. Sade, Love Deluxe

90. The Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die

Let me duck because I know the rocks are flying right now. It’s no question that I LOUDLY proclaim as Christopher Wallace the greatest rapper who ever lived. So why does his beloved debut land so “low” here? While it’s not QUITE as perfect as its rep often claims (there are a few weaker tracks on the second half) it still can be summed up with two words: Game changer. Biggie’s semi-biographical debut is kin to a cinematic masterpiece. Biggie’s razor-sharp wit will make you smile, but the bleak realities of his street life will break your heart. When he embraces suicide on the album’s final track, you feel his pain — and you hold your breath hoping for resolution. Ready to Die is an emotional journey the likes hip-hop had never seen. A true classic.

89. Michael Jackson, Bad

88. Kirk Franklin & the Family, Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas

87. Big Pun, Capital Punishment

86. Anita Baker, Rapture

85. Prince, Dirty Mind

84. Kendrick Lamar, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers

83. Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston

82. De La Soul, De La Soul Is Dead

81. Black Star, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

80. Gang Starr, Moment of Truth

Honestly, any of Gang Starr’s 90s albums deserve consideration, but 26 years later and Moment of Truth still seems to rise above the pack. After a bit of a layoff, the duo roared back as mighty as ever, thanks to an influx of jazzy production and Guru’s conversational yet poignant flow. Guru is still greatly missed today but Moment of Truth may stand as he and DJ Premier’s greatest gift to hip-hop.

79. AZ, Doe or Die

78. Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele

77. Nas, Life is Good

76. Maxwell, Embrya

75. 112, 112

74. Tamia, Tamia

73. Alicia Keys, The Diary of Alicia Keys

72. 112, Room 112

71. Nas, Stillmatic

70. Kelly Price, Soul of a Woman

If you know me, you knew this album would make the list. Kelly Price’s debut album, in my humble opinion, is one of the most pure, passionate and powerful R&B releases in the modern era. Yes, the “Friend of Mine Remix” is what gets all the attention all these years later, but that’s just a morsel. Soul of a Woman boasts a flawless collection of album cuts that flow seamlessly from beginning to end with no pitfalls. The production is top-notch and vocally, Kelly is absolutely unmatched. Y’all can call me biased – Soul of a Woman is my favorite R&B album of all time – but the facts speak for themselves. It’s unquestionably Kelly’s greatest work.

69. Mary J. Blige, Share My World

68. Tevin Campbell, T.E.V.I.N.

67. Ice Cube, Death Certificate

66. New Edition, Heart Break

65. Dru Hill, Dru Hill

64. Keith Sweat, Make It Last Forever

63. NWA, Straight Outta Compton

62. Mississippi Mass Choir, The Mississippi Mass Choir

61. Bobby Brown, Don’t Be Cruel

60. Ice Cube, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted

Before he was the the friendliest guy in Hollywood, Ice Cube was the most fearsome rapper in the game. After splitting from NWA post Straight Outta Compton, Cube immediately proved he could stand on his own, delivering his own classic right out of the gate. Like in his NWA days, Cube served as hip-hop’s hood reporter, delivering a raw and unfiltered look at Black America on the West Side. But AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted pushed things much further than its predecessor – Cube’s rhymes were more venomous, his concepts more visceral and none of his targets were safe. Cube’s honest brutality would make even the most hardened OGs cringe, but that’s what makes it such a landmark album.

59. Keith Sweat, Keith Sweat

58. Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury

57. Lupe Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor

56. The Stylistics, The Stylistics

55. Boogie Down Productions, Criminal Minded

54. LL Cool J, Radio

53. The Fugees, The Score

52. Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds

51. Faith Evans, Faith

50. Waiting to Exhale Soundtrack

There hasn’t been a better showcase for female R&B artists before or since the Waiting to Exhale Soundtrack. Babyface’s pen and the greatest collection of talent of that era made magic, crafting classic songs that detailed love gained, love lost and the bonds of sisterhood. In an era of stellar soundtracks that often threatened to overshadow the films they promoted, Waiting to Exhale sit sits in rarified air.

49. D’Angelo, Brown Sugar

48. Erykah Badu, Baduizm

47. Run DMC, Raising Hell

46. Boomerang Soundtrack

45. DMX, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot

44. Jay Z, The Blueprint

43. Janet Jackson, Rhythm Nation 1814

42. Jay Z, Reasonable Doubt

41. Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle

40. Issac Hayes, Shaft

I’m sure if you’re reading this, you know the “Theme from Shaft.” But what you might not know is the impressive instrumental album from where that hit resides. Issac Hayes’ soundtrack to Shaft, in my oh so humble opinion, is probably the best instrumental album I’ve heard, a landmark release in the unapologetically funky blaxploitation era. Not only did it raise the bar on wax, it also changed the way music was incorporated for film, especially Black cinema. Can you dig it?

39. Eric B and Rakim, Paid in Full

38. Stevie Wonder, Hotter Than July

37. Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly

36. Outkast, Aquemini

35. The Notorious B.I.G., Life After Death

34. Luther Vandross, Never Too Much

33. Kanye West, The College Dropout

32. Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

31. Dr. Dre, The Chronic

30. A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory

Many heads consider Low End not only Tribe’s best album, but one of the greatest in rap history. They’re not wrong about the latter and it’s very difficult to argue the former. Consistency is the name of the game here – I dare you to find an album that flows as seamlessly as Tribe’s sophomore effort. While Tip clearly was the star MC on their debut, Phife really comes into his own here, adding to the poignant reflections on life, relationships and the industry that would make this LP legendary.

29. A Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders

28. Toni Braxton, Toni Braxton

27. The Isley Bros., The Heat Is On

26. Stevie Wonder, Fulfillingness’ First Finale

25. Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet

24. Raekwon, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

23. The Isley Bros., 3 + 3

22. Prince, 1999

21. Marvin Gaye, Let’s Get It On

20. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Considered in some circles as the greatest rap project ever made (I wouldn’t go quite that far, but it’s very, very close) PE’s sophomore album still stands as the pinnacle of revolutionary hip-hop. Conscious rap resides in the lane that Chuck D first bulldozed with his unapologetic, fiery barbs that took rap out of the party in squarely into the political realm. As heavy as the subject matter is, a true MC knows how to keep the crowd moving. The Bomb Squad’s blistering production, Flavor Flav’s manic energy and Chuck D’s towering presence produced an album that was as fun as it was ferocious. A classic in every sense of the word.

19. Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

18. Mary J. Blige, My Life

17. Curtis Mayfield, Superfly

16. Mahalia Jackson, The World’s Greatest Gospel Singer

15. Boyz II Men, II

14. Aretha Franklin, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

13. Marvin Gaye, Here, My Dear

12. Stevie Wonder, Innervisions

11. Prince, Purple Rain

10. Sam Cooke, Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963

“If you wanted to buy a Sam Cooke album, where would ya go?” I have to hear that dumb joke once a week, thanks to my Prince-obsessed wife. But if I had to buy one Sam Cooke album, this is the one. Often called one of the greatest live albums ever recorded (stay tuned for one that’s even better…), Cooke took a big chance by recording a live album with a much grittier edge than his previous works. In fact, it was so controversial that it didn’t see the light of day until the early 80s – which was a perfect time for yours truly to discover it. It’s Cooke’s raw performance that catapults into our top 10, taking previously established hits but delivering them in an emotional, unpolished form. When you hear me complain about modern artists lacking emotional presence in their songs, it’s because I came up hearing the best. Cooke made you feel every note, every emotion, every drip of love and sorrow. This is a must-hear for every R&B artist.

9. Miles Davis, Kind of Blue

While I’m usually known as your humble Unbiased Music Reviewer, I have to admit I have a strong attachment to this album, which played a big part of my wedding ceremony. Though we should in no way condone some of the more contemptible actions of his family life, Kind of Blue still stands as a benchmark in jazz, unquestionably the strongest jazz project I’ve ever heard. Thanks to this album, Davis’ fingerprints have made their way into many other genres, influencing rock, hip-hop, R&B – nearly every album on this list, in fact. Kind of Blue is an album that makes memories with every note. I can certainly relate to that.

8. Nas, Illmatic

Before Illmatic, many rap albums were just a random collection of tracks. Sure, those individual songs told powerful stories but Nas took that concept to the next level, using every single song to paint one large picture of inner-city life. It wasn’t just his story, it was our story. That’s why it meant so much. Illmatic changed the way rappers approached their craft. It revolutionized the game.

Illmatic isn’t just the best rap album of its era. It’s the best rap album of all time, period.

7. Prince, Sign O The Times

 In the eyes of the mainstream, Purple Rain is Prince’s signature album, the best characterization of Prince the rock star. But in my eyes, Sign o’ the Times is the best depiction of Prince Rogers Nelson the man. The hilarious party starter, the socially conscious Black man, the insatiable and one of the greatest guitarists to ever grace the planet. Sign o’ the Times combines every facet of Prince’s personality into one daring package. On top of that, it may be the best produced album in music history. In a catalog filled with classics, this one stands above them all – one of the greatest albums ever recorded.

6. Earth, Wind & Fire, That’s the Way of the World

At this point on our list, you could find every one of the subsequent albums in every Black household in the 80s. If your folks only had one EWF album, it likely was this one. That’s The Way of the World feels like the Elements’ greatest hits collection – “Reasons,” “Shining Star,” the title track are all here, but the album cuts match their soulful majesty in every way. This album was more than housecleaning background music for us 80s babies, it was a soulful experience that felt downright spiritual at times. EWF have an incredible catalog, but this album may always reign supreme.

5. Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On

For years, Soul In Stereo readers have asked me to rank Marvin Gaye’s discography. My response: “You know this man has 25 albums, right?” And that’s not even counting about a dozen other projects! Give a playa some grace, that’s gonna take awhile. But until I can definitively dig my way through every Marvin release, What’s Going On reigns in my eyes as not only his best work, but one of the most important albums in American history. What’s Going On is essentially the view of America through the eyes of a returning Vietnam veteran. Poverty, war, division, pollution – all our country’s sins are thrust into the light thanks to an array of classic soul standards. It’s quite easily the greatest protest record ever made.

4. James Brown, Live at the Apollo

There was no way I’d do a GOAT list without an appearance from the Godfather. James Brown’s first live album is still THE best alive album I’ve ever heard. In just 30 minutes, Brown reestablished not just R&B for the 1960, but also raised the bar for showmanship. Every track here sounds exhausting in the best ways, with Brown’s vocal group The Famous Flames standing as the MVPs of the project. There are very, very few albums in music history that are unanimously celebrated as 5-star affairs – Live at the Apollo is one of those albums, for good reason. It’s more than just an album, it’s a blueprint for Black artistry.

3. Michael Jackson, Off the Wall

The debate to definitively name Michael’s greatest album will rage until the end of time and Off the Wall makes a strong, strong case for the crown. Coming off his star-making role in The Wiz, MJ capitalized on that momentum with an album that turned the music industry on its ear. MJ’s brand of pop soul (with a dash of disco) created an ENTIRE ALBUM of timeless tracks – almost 40 years later, they still burst with boundless energy. Off the Wall is the very definition of a classic album – it revolutionized the music industry. But Michael topped it just three years later.

2. Michael Jackson, Thriller

Let’s ignore the fact that Thriller is the best-selling album IN THE HISTORY OF THE PLANET or that its album cover is one of the most recognized in music history. Thriller earns its place atop this list because in just nine tracks, it rewrote all the rules. The title track is almost a clichéd Halloween song in 2018, but in its heyday the 14-minute video broke barriers for artists of color. “Billie Jean” was so popular that it forced MTV to not only pay  more attention to black artists, but also caused it to shift its programming focus to pop and R&B records. Every single track is instantly recognizable to even novice music fans and the album was so good that it became MJ’s curse – he was never able to top it, so all subsequent releases were slighted by fans and critics. Thriller opened doors for musicians of color, put music videos on the map and made Michael Jackson the greatest performer of all time.

1. Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life

Stevie Wonder is a national treasure, and no gem shines brighter in his chest than this. Thanks to decades of covers and samples its legacy is escapable. Even if you haven’t heard this album, trust me, you’ve heard this album. I can’t say enough about the construction of this piece of art – from the weeping, harrowing strings on “Village Ghetto Land” to the pulsating funk of “Contusion” to the iconic horns of Sir Duke, the poetic writing of “If It’s Magic” each track is a course in music theory. And despite coming out more than 40 years ago, this double disc set doesn’t feel like it has aged a day. Songs in the Key of Life may forever be music’s measuring stick, the pinnacle of artistry, Soul In Stereo’s greatest album.

Whew. Those are our picks for the 100 best albums. I KNOW y’all have opinions, unleash your fury below.