Rap Debut Albums That Are Among The Best

For most artists, the release of their debut rap album isn't exactly their 8 Mile moment. It takes years crafting their pen game in the studio before they gain an ounce of notoriety. However, there are a select few artists whose debut rap projects have immediately catapulted them to the top of rap. Debut albums are a fascinating insight into an artist's mindset before fame, as they often reflect on their formative childhood years.

Kanye West's The College Dropout is an eye-opening look into his struggle to become noticed as he battled deep bouts of depression. 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' is a classic underdog story that sees the Queens MC rise from the impoverished streets to the top of the rap world. Releasing a critically acclaimed debut album can be both a blessing and a curse for an MC. While the project catapults the artist to stardom, many have struggled to meet the lofty expectations of their debut. Here are a few that have gone down in hip hop history.

Has there ever been a more star-studded rap group than N.W.A.? The Compton-based group consisted of Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. Rapping about West Coast drug use and violence, the group brought the dark stories of their community to light with their debut rap album, Straight Outta Compton. Full of tracks that would become multi-decade-long anthems, "F**k tha Police" continues a chorus that rap fans still sing. The anti-establishment undertones of Straight Outta Compton did more than solely influence the rap scene. The project foreshadowed many racial tensions and mainstream scrutiny of police treatment of minorities in the US.

Arguably, Kanye West has created more critically acclaimed albums than any other MC. Sporting a career that ventures from the electronic soundscapes of 808s and Heartbreak to the grandiosity of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the common opinion that The College Dropout remains Ye's greatest project speaks volumes to the album's nostalgic beats and heartbreaking lyricism.

Before The College Dropout was released, Ye had already begun making waves under the tutelage of Jay-Z. Promoting himself from his messy bedroom to becoming Hov's go-to producer, the Chicago kid was carving out a new sound in the hip-hop scene. In fact, many questioned how successful the record would be before its release. However, The College Dropout would win Best Rap Album at the 2005 Grammys. Tracks such as "Jesus Walks" and "Through the Wire" remain some of his iconic songs.

50 Cent's calculated cockiness saw him rise to the top of hip-hop with the release of his debut rap album, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. The Queens-based MC signed a joint deal with Dr. Dre's Aftermath and Eminem's Shady Records. The move would make for a formidable duo to market his record. However, 50 Cent's immediate success can be most directly accredited to Eminem. After hearing one of 50 Cent's mixtapes, the Detroit icon immediately moved to sign the rapper. Connecting with the industries' household names enabled 50 Cent to recruit the likes of Eminem and Nate Dogg to the project.

Get Rich or Die Tryin' represents years of rage piled into an expensive sonic experience. After years of being shunned to the side by the music industry, 50 Cent resorted to kicking down the door himself. The record is headlined by chart-topping hits "In Da Club" and "21 Questions." The defining record of the bling era, the project hasn't at all over the past two decades.

Snoop Dogg was already a star before the release of his debut rap album, Doggystyle. The Dr. Dre recruit was featured throughout The Chronic, delivering his trademark California flow throughout the iconic project. When it was time for the release of Doggystyle, the record served to cement his status as an influential solo act rather than solely a feature artist. A project bound to be successful, the album debuted atop the Billboard 200 charts with over 800,000 copies sold. Produced entirely by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg's lackadaisical flow helped bring gangsta rap to the mainstream. Tracks such as "Gin and Juice" and "Who Am I (What's My Name)?" would rise to the top of the charts.

Following Dr. Dre's controversial departure from N.W.A, many questioned whether the iconic producer could match his success as a solo act. Without Ice Cube's and Eazy-E's backing, he was temporarily lost in the music industry. Even though the West Coast MC was widely known as one of the greatest hip-hop producers out, various legal battles and controversies meant that no one would touch him.

With The Chronic, Dr. Dre was forced to get resourceful with the tide of the industry against him. He found that spark in a laid-back ex-drug dealer from Long Beach: Snoop Dogg. The record further cemented California as the epicenter of hip-hop. Tracks such as "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang" brought Dr. Dre out of the umbrella of his N.W.A. association. The Chronic helped popularize the sub-genre of G-funk.

Jay-Z's road to his debut rap album Reasonable Doubt was anything but smooth. Dealing drugs while attempting to sell his mixtapes on the streets of New Jersey, the 26-year-old had experienced multiple lifetimes of trials before his debut album came out. Record labels labeled him as "too old" to be signed. Therefore, Jay-Z opted to release Reasonable Doubt under his own label, Roc-A-Fella Records.

In contrast to the other records on this list, Reasonable Doubt wasn't an immediate hit. The project debuted at a modest No. 23 on the Billboard charts. However, its deep cuts would eventually resonate with hip-hop lovers. While few hold Reasonable Doubt as Jay-Z's best record, the project symbolizes a crucial moment in his career. Employing a grim yet confident tone throughout the album, the project sees a Jay-Z in a mindset of confusion and reverence that hasn't been equaled since.

When Biggie released Ready to Die, hip-hop's era of duels between the East and West Coasts was nearing its peak. After the critical acclaim of Doggystyle and The Chronic, the East Coast sought a savior to equalize the current between the two sides. They would get it with Ready to Die, Notorious B.I.G's debut album. Combining radio-friendly bangers and deep cuts, "Juicy" and "Big Poppa" quickly rose to the top of hip-hop charts. "Suicidal Thoughts" is widely held as one of the most gut-wrenching hip-hop songs to date. Biggie would transfer deep emotional pain into engaging lyrical poetry through the record.

Similar to Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt, Nas's debut rap album Illmatic wasn't a commercial success upon release. His multi-faceted lyricism had garnered the Brooklyn-based MC respect amongst musical circles. However, many doubted whether his style would translate to the average consumer. With time, Illmatic has gone from a humble collection of succinct verses to being widely held as one of the most influential rap albums ever. Tracks such as "The World is Yours" and "N.Y. State of Mind" shifted the sound of hip-hop, ushering in an era that integrated elements of the blues and jazz.