Hip-hop and rap are unique genres in the world today.

Ever since the late 1970s, hip-hop and rap have evolved into a genre that has taken the world by storm. Starting off with groups like The Sugarhill Gang, hip-hop then became a multi-faceted genre in the late 1980s when groups like N.W.A made 'gangsta rap' a sought-after genre. In the 1990s, hip-hop and rap became even more iconic with rappers like 2Pac, Biggie Smalls and even Dr. Dre taking the airwaves and evolving the genre once again.

Below is a list of timeless hip-hop/rap albums that fans of the genre have listened to time and time again.

*Warning: many of these videos included have explicit lyrics that the creator recognizes but does not promote. Caution is advised.*

1. Illmatic (Nas; 1994)

The album that made Nas a household name is still regarded as one of the best albums ever made, with songs like "The World Is Yours" and "One Love (feat. Q-Tip)" on the ten-track list. Nas' debut album helped resurrect and perhaps built the foundation of 'East Coast Hip-Hop' that was started by the Wu-Tang Clan a year earlier.

(Youtube: NasVEVO)

2. 808s and Heartbreaks (Kanye West; 2008)

The genre was redefined by Kanye West in the early 2000s, and when 2008 came around, he went all out and changed his own sound with this pivotal album. Influencing artists like Travis $cott, this album fused autotune and supersonic sounds that created classic singles like "Heartless" and "Love Lockdown". Definitely one of the most important albums of the modern era.

(Youtube: KanyeWestVEVO)

3. All Eyez on Me (2Pac; 1996)

2Pac is one of the most polarizing figures of hip-hop/rap to this day, reinventing the genre's message and actually adding a unique voice to 'gangsta rap'. This album is considered one of his best albums, with tracks like "How Do U Want It?" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" on it. The album also inspired the title of 2Pac's biopic that was released in 2017.

(Youtube: Tupac Shakur- Topic)

4. To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar; 2015)

Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper in the game right now, releasing his latest album, DAMN. , in early 2017 that quickly became the most popular album of the year. However, Lamar's legacy was established with the release of his 2015 critically acclaimed album, To Pimp a Butterfly. Filled with spoken-word poetry as interludes against a backdrop of jazz-inspired beats, the album is filled with great tracks like 'King Kunta' and 'The Blacker The Berry' and is one of the best albums made during the 2010s.

(Youtube: KendrickLamarVEVO)

5. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) [Wu-Tang Clan; 1993]

Leading the renaissance of 'East Coast Hip-Hop', the Wu-Tang Clan are regarded as one of the most important groups in hip-hop/rap. Releasing this album was the beginning of what fans call 'hardcore hip-hop', with songs like "Method Man" and "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothing to F Wit" adding to this hardcore sound. A collective group with different styles that mesh together, this album is a groundbreaking project that influenced artists like Biggie Smalls and even Macklemore.

(Youtube: WuTangClanVEVO)

6. Midnight Marauders (A Tribe Called Quest; 1993)

Released ironically the same day as number five, A Tribe Called Quest's third album has some of the most important songs in hip-hop. "Electric Relaxation" is the most recognizable songs off the album (the instrumental itself also being found on J.Cole's song with Kendrick Lamar called "Forbidden Fruit"), with "Oh My God" and "Sucka *****" on it. This album helped further solidify the group as a harbinger of soul and jazz-inspired hip-hop during the early 1990s.

(Youtube: ATribeCalledQuestVEVO)

7. MM...FOOD (MF DOOM; 2004)

MF DOOM is simply your favorite artist's favorite artist. Blending a mixture of sample-based beats and a unique flow and personality, MF DOOM's most recognizable albums includes great tracks like "One Beer" and "Kon Karne" that propelled MF DOOM as an underrated rapper in a world of mainstream rappers. The mask is one thing and the lyrics are the other: MM...FOOD is the album that made MF DOOM a name to remember.

(Youtube: MF DOOM TV)

8. The Black Album (Jay-Z; 2003)

Jay-Z's career has seen multiple hints at retirement, and although he officially 'retired' in 2003, he has released a good amount of projects since then. In 2003, this album was promoted as his final project, and if his retirement was true, he went out with a bang. Including songs like "99 Problems", Hov went all out with bringing in multiple producers such as a young Kanye West and Rick Rubin. Definitely one of Jay-Z's purest albums.

(Youtube: JayZVEVO)

9. Ready to Die (The Notorious B.I.G.; 1994)

"It was all a dream...", those lyrics resonate with anyone who first listens to "Juicy" off this iconic album by the unique man himself, Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace. Released in early September, the album itself includes other great tracks like "Big Poppa" and "One More Chance". A very dedicated artist with a dedicated album. Hip-hop at it's finest with this album.

(Youtube: The Notorious B.I.G.)

Honorable Mentions: 2014 Forest Hills Drive (J.Cole); ATLiens (OutKast); g.o.o.d k.i.d, M.A.A.D City (Kendrick Lamar); Get Rich or Die Tryin' (50 Cent); Graduation (Kanye West); The Marshall Mathers LP (Eminem).

10. The Chronic (Dr. Dre; 1992)

Dr. Dre's debut album after N.W.A. ended was a huge success, where Dre became famous for his funk-inspired style of producing that spawned great cuts like "Let Me Ride" and "Nuthin' But a G Thang". Released in late 1992, Dr. Dre managed to make 'West Coast Hip-Hop' an important part of hip-hop that would later include Snoop Dogg, 2Pac and a host of others. Dr. Dre lit the torch of a decade-long rivalry between East Coast rappers and West Coast rappers.

(Youtube: DJSmile4)