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The 50 best trip-hop albums of all time

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Like it or not, trip-hop is a thing. I say this as someone who, for the past 18 odd years, has loved the music just as much as I’ve hated the term.

Coined in June 1994 by Andy Pemberton in a feature for Mixmag , trip-hop was used to describe the recent stylistic shift of the Mo’ Wax label and that music’s popularity in dance circles, particularly in after hours sessions. Pemberton heralded trip-hop as a psychedelic take on hip-hop and the first valid alternative to America’s dominance of the music.

The DNA of trip-hop was more complex than its reduction to bite-sized adjectives. One strand came from hip-hop, which had fed the musical imagination of a new generation for over a decade, while another strand came from rave, which had provided further stylistic possibilities with its fusion of drum machines, breaks, samples and synthesisers. Sound systems, digging, dub, chill-out rooms, early globalisation and technology also acted like so many molecules attaching themselves to a new idea of what hip-hop could be. Trip-hop was a logical evolution in a decade during which everyone came down from a partying high to face the reality that hip-hop and dance music were being co-opted by the mainstream; dreams of a new sonic utopia crushed by the relentless onslaught of capitalism.

Just as techno had become a synonym for dance music, trip-hop soon became a crutch for journalists and marketers wanting to signify hip-hop without rappers. Most notably, it became a byword for the Bristol sound epitomised by bands like Massive Attack and Portishead. In 1998, The New York Times retconned Massive Attack’s debut album Blue Lines as the so-called genre’s inception point.

On the ground, the sound did resonate in a genuine way among a new generation of musicians seeking freedom to experiment. In London, Ninja Tune played yin to Mo’ Wax’s yang. Both labels crafted a unique visual dimension and assembled expansive rosters. In Paris, DJ Cam pushed out his own blunted beats to eager continental heads. In Austria, Kruder & Dorfmeister added an extra layer of dub and turned trip-hop into downbeat in a haze of weed paranoia. In New York City, a loosely linked group of artists, thinkers and musicians spread from downtown Manhattan to Brooklyn’s cheap warehouses to imagine their own version of the sound, which The Wire magazine dubbed illbient. No matter the names or the execution, the DNA was the same.

It was always going to end badly. Mo’ Wax, often seen as responsible for the sound, originally kicked off riding the acid-jazz wave, a sound that soon exhausted itself into a creative cul-de-sac. By the late 1990s, trip-hop had become nothing more than limp, often stoner-friendly, coffee table hip-hop beats. It was music for people who felt rap was too dangerous. To those who believed in it though, it always held a promise of things weird and wonderful.

Alongside IDM (another etymological faux pas from the 1990s), trip-hop presaged the beat scene of the late 2000s, a continuation of the ideas and aesthetic it first articulated. When I spoke to Daddy Kev in 2012, he pointed to Mo’ Wax as one of the key influences for Low End Theory. Flying Lotus has cited DJ Krush as an influence. And tastemakers like Gilles Peterson have championed the music’s evolution across decades.

https://www.traditionrolex.com/21 In putting together this list, we tried to take all of this into account. There is no purism to indulge in, because there is nothing pure about trip-hop. As DJ Food’s Strictly Kev put it recently, at its best the music was “psychedelic beat collages, usually instrumental, embracing samples, analogue electronics and dub FX.” The list is contained to the 1990s for historical accuracy and tries to steer away from the music’s strongholds to show the width and breadth of the sound. As such, you’ll find artists from France, Northern Ireland, Japan, America, Denmark and Brazil represented as well as releases from Asphodel, Wordsound, Rephlex, Warp and a handful of majors. It’s also worth noting that when an artist had multiple worthy albums (for instance, Portishead or Massive Attack), we only included their most definitive moment.

Listen to the whole list as a playlist via YouTube  or   Spotify .

50. London Funk Allstars London Funk Volume 1 (Ninja Tune, 1995)

London Funk Allstars’ Ninja Tune debut will likely sound dated to most who come across it for the first time today. And yet, amid the simple breakbeats, classic loops and obvious vocal chops there’s a real beauty that captures the essence of a simpler time when the possibilities seemed endless and technology was providing new ways to think about music.

49. Bomb The Bass Clear (4th & Broadway, 1994)

Tim Simenon might not be the most obvious pick for a trip-hop list, but Clear exhibits plenty of the genre’s hallmarks. Tossing away the rave collage aesthetic that had made ‘Beat Dis’ such a massive success, Simenon weaves an ambitious narrative, tying together dub and hip-hop-influenced tracks with heady spoken-word clips from writers Benjamin Zephaniah and Will Self. There are also notable contributions from influential figures such as Leslie Winer (if you haven’t heard her 1993 album Witch , you should seek it out immediately), Bernard Fowler and Bim Sherman, opening up a dialogue between New York, Jamaica and the UK that would remain at the center of the genre for years to come.

48. Slicker Confidence in Duber (Hefty, 1998)

John Hughes’s Chicago-based Hefty imprint was crucial in cementing the relationship between Chicago’s burgeoning post-rock scene (led by Tortoise) and the seemingly more experimental (and more European) IDM and trip-hop genres. This union would reach its peak in 2001 with Telefon Tel Aviv’s massive Fahrenheit Fair Enough , but a few years prior, Hughes himself was making similar strides under his Slicker moniker. Confidence in Duber sits firmly alongside Scott Herren’s early Delarosa & Asora experiments, snatching the breaks ‘n’ blunts from trip-hop and injecting them with digital belches cribbed from the IDM playbook. Oddly enough, it’s aged better than you might expect, and is well worthy of re-investigation.

47. Meat Beat Manifesto Subliminal Sandwich (Interscope, 1996)

Subliminal Sandwich is Meat Beat Manifesto’s fourth album and their first on a major label via Nothing Records, a subsidiary of Interscope helmed by Trent Reznor that was intended to capitalise on the success of Nine Inch Nails. The album proved a critical and commercial flop, though it remains an interesting offering, drawing links between trip-hop, dub, industrial and ambient with a touch of psychedelia. Split across two CDs, it’s the first half that’s of most interest here as the rest focused on drone and ambient compositions. The 18 tracks draw heavily on samples and breaks combined with pulsing basslines, heavily processed vocals and an overall gritty finish that makes it sound like the bastard child of Mo’ Wax and Bill Laswell’s Axiom Records.

46. 9 Lazy 9 Paradise Blown (Ninja Tune, 1994)

Early Ninja Tune beatmakers 9 Lazy 9 might not sound as crucial now as they did back in the mid 1990s, but there’s still fun to be had on Paradise Blown , their second album. The Italy-based group (including Funki Porcini’s James Braddell) added a distinctly light-hearted lounge quality to a genre that could often dwell in the darker crevices, and as such  Paradise Blown can be filed alongside offerings from Tim ‘Love’ Lee and Tipsy, even if it’s not anywhere near as endearingly experimental.

45. UNKLE Psyence Fiction (Mo’ Wax, 1998)

Mo’ Wax boss James Lavelle’s pet project, UNKLE, remains a controversial part of the trip-hop canon. With distance, Psyence Fiction is possibly more enjoyable than it was back in 1998, and it highlights the genre’s crossover potential with guest spots from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft (then riding high after the success of ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’) and Badly Drawn Boy, but it’s hard not to see it as a slightly cynical marketing exercise. DJ Shadow, who was drafted to co-write the album, was quick to speak out about his unhappiness with both the process and the result, but Psyence Fiction is representative of a time and place, and shows trip-hop’s promise as it was being co-opted and transformed into something that labels could whitewash and monetize. Zero 7 was just around the corner.

44. Tipsy Trip Tease – The Seductive Sounds of Tipsy (Asphodel, 1996)

It might be a stretch to classify Tipsy as trip-hop, but the Californian duo of Tim Digulla and David Gardner certainly used many of the same tools as their European peers. Pillaging loops from a wide variety of lounge and exotica records, Digulla and Gardner came up with a dusty, defiant and undoubtedly downbeat look at sound collage. Since it veered away from obvious breaks and beats, Trip Tease actually holds up markedly better than some other records of the era, and ends up sounding closer in style to David Holmes, with a smoky, cinematic quality.

43. Justin Warfield Field Trip To Planet 9 (Qwest, 1993)

Released a year before the term trip-hop was coined in Mixmag , Justin Warfield’s first and only solo album is included here largely thanks to Strictly Kev, who recently pointed out its relevance  with regard to the music’s supposed psychedelic properties. My Field Trip To Planet 9 is a rap album, cut from the same cloth as Check Your Head -era Beastie Boys and Digable Planets. But remove its vocals and behold music that sounds like it wouldn’t be out of place on Mo’ Wax or Ninja Tune a few years later. At its best, trip-hop was music for b-boys on acid, as Warfield sang on the album’s single. A year later, he provided the vocals for Bomb The Bass’s ‘Bug Powder Dust’, another bonafide rap-on-acid classic that got the trip-hop treatment via Paris’s La Funk Mob and Vienna’s Kruder & Dorfmeister.

42. Smith & Mighty Bass Is Maternal (More Rockers/!K7, 1995)

You can’t have a conversation about trip-hop without mentioning Bristol, and you can’t talk about the Bristol scene without giving a nod to Smith & Mighty. The West Country duo took soundsystem culture and a hefty scoop of the ideas informing an increasingly popular jungle scene and helped formulate an entire sound. Without them, Portishead, Tricky and Massive Attack simply wouldn’t sound the same. Bass Is Maternal is the best representation of their scope, and illustrates their experimentation as they attempted to summarize the meeting point between UK rave culture and Jamaican dub. It’s not always successful, but to ignore it is to disregard an important chapter in British musical history.

41. DJ Vadim U.S.S.R Repertoire (The Theory of Verticality) (Ninja Tune, 1996)

The first of Vadim’s four albums for Ninja Tune, U.S.S.R Repertoire is a weeded-out take on an American musical form by a Russian immigrant living in the English capital – an instrumental microcosm of hip-hop’s globalisation. Beneath a layer of simplicity, there is depth to Vadim’s approach; the beats feel expansive, the music inviting the listener to cradle in the grooves of the breaks and warmth of the bass. Much of this debut also acts as an echo of what Wordsound and We™ were doing across the ocean at the same time. As Vadim’s 1995 debut on his own Jazz Fudge imprint proclaimed, heads weren’t ready.

40. Funki Porcini Hed Phone Sex (Ninja Tune, 1995)

After a decade penning film and TV music in Italy, British producer James Braddell decided to head to London and set up his own studio, where he would use some of his commercial writing tricks to come up with Funki Porcini, one of the most recognizable names on Ninja Tune’s early roster. This was trip-hop with a side helping of very English humour, from the moniker itself to the record’s awkwardly suggestive cover. Musically, Braddell laid out a template that would be traced over for years to come with his combination of dusty hip-hop rhythms and booming dub bass. The swirling, reverb-drenched samples just added an extra layer of thick smoke to an already bloodshot premise.

39. Red Snapper Prince Blimey (Warp, 1996)

If the elephant in the room here is acid jazz, Red Snapper are one of the rare acts who addressed it head-on. Prince Blimey is their first full-length and is certainly more overtly jazzy than most of the records we’ve highlighted on this list. That’s not a negative though, the trio – a bassist, guitarist and drummer – had genuine chops, and managed to inject their musical training into a more contemporary mode, touching on trip-hop and drum & bass without ever sounding forced. It’s a concoction that might now sound too close to the coffee table dreck that sat next to a copy of American Psycho and a rolled up tenner at the close of the millennium, but Red Snapper managed, somehow, to keep things edgy and unusual. They even, somewhat inexplicably, ended up touring with The Prodigy.

38. Various Artists DJ Kicks: Kruder & Dorfmeister (!K7, 1996)

Despite becoming the figureheads of Austria’s downbeat scene (a continental take on trip-hop), Viennese duo Kruder & Dorfmeister never released an album. Instead it was through their debut EP, G-Stoned , and absurdly popular mix CDs that they accrued fame. Their 1996 contribution to !K7’s DJ-Kicks series captured the sweet spot between the blunted grooves of chill-out rooms and the rolling breaks of jungle, an approach they’d refine two years later on The K&D Sessions . K&D’s arrival on the scene came at a time when trip-hop had started to resemble a safe version of hip-hop for those seeking thrills without effort, and their mixes remain as close as you can get to the bland, coffee table take on the genre without feeling too sick.

37. Wagon Christ Throbbing Pouch (Rising High Records, 1994)

With releases under a variety of aliases on seminal labels like Ninja Tune, Mo’ Wax, Planet Mu and Rephlex throughout the 1990s, Luke Vibert is one of the artists that best connects the dots between the various styles and ideas that fed into trip-hop. His second release as Wagon Christ pieces together elements from hip-hop, the burgeoning UK dance music scene and electro into a colourful sonic puzzle that glides along in splendid fashion. Or as Select put it at the time, “the missing link between Aphex Twin and Mo’ Wax.”

36. Tim ‘Love’ Lee Confessions of a Selector (Tummy Touch, 1997)

As boss of the Tummy Touch label, Tim ‘Love’ Lee had an important part to play in the development of downbeat and trip-hop, not least thanks to his discovery of future genre stars Groove Armada, but the less said about that the better. Confessions of a Selector might be his finest achievement, not quite reaching fully into the trip-hop cookie jar, instead relying on Lee’s estimable crate digging expertise. The hallmarks of the genre are there, but prettied up with luscious tropical vistas and an eccentric (but smart) cut-and-paste quality that isn’t a million miles from US duo Tipsy.

35. Psychonauts Time Machine (Mo’ Wax, 1998)

Psychonauts were Mo’ Wax’s secret weapon, so much so that James Lavelle had them provide mixes under his name – ghost mixed, if you will. Time Machine was his payment for services rendered, and it’s a fine document of the era, not only rounding up some of Mo’ Wax’s finest moments, but also showing just how important turntablism and truly creative mixing was to the scene’s development. Most songs don’t get more than a minute of air time as the duo power through almost 50 tracks in half an hour, blending together cuts from genre luminaries DJ Krush, Luke Vibert, DJ Shadow, La Funk Mob and more. If you need a quick-to-digest taster of the genre, this is as good as it gets.

34. Prince Paul Psychoanalysis (What Is It?) (Wordsound, 1996)

We can already hear the furious typing of wronged hip-hop heads asking with disgust why Prince Paul is even on this list. Psychoanalysis is here for a bunch of reasons: it was originally released by Wordsound, a label most associated (wrongly or not) with illbient, NYC’s answer to trip-hop; it’s a rare example of a fully instrumental hip-hop album from a city that, in the 1990s, had no time for anything that didn’t have rappers on it (Skiz Fernando Jr., who ran the label, recounted stories of Fat Beats refusing to stock the album at the time); and it’s basically 15 tracks of Prince Paul taking his whole skit philosophy to its most absurd conclusion. For all these reasons and more, Psychoanalysis remains a slept-on classic from the 1990s, a half-way point between trip-hop’s European roots and its infatuation with American hip-hop.

33. The Herbalizer Blow Your Headphones (Ninja Tune, 1997)

Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba’s The Herbalizer project was a fine example of trip-hop’s most visible back-and-forth with “proper” hip-hop. They weren’t afraid to work with emcees, and on Blow Your Headphones , their second album, they found a kindred spirit in Natural Resource’s What? What?, now better known as Jean Grae. She added an important element to Wherry and Teeba’s jazz-flecked backdrops, and while it’s certainly true that many of trip-hop’s consumers were looking for a safer alternative to charged US rap, The Herbalizer walked the tightrope admirably, and were markedly more successful in bridging the genres than many of their peers, who buckled when attempting to integrate emcees.

32. The Bug Tapping the Conversation (Wordsound, 1997)

Another release that will likely raise a few eyebrows for its inclusion, The Bug’s debut album nonetheless fits within the wider idea of what trip-hop could, and should, be about. There are a few other reasons too: it was released on Wordsound; DJ Vadim provided the drum samples; and, like the best trip-hop releases of the 1990s, it was a soundtrack for life, with the listener invited to let their mind fill in the blanks. The blend of hip-hop, dub and industrial influences that would go on to characterise Martin’s work is found here at its rawest and tracks like ‘Those Tapes Are Dangerous’ show a darker side to trip-hop’s blunted potential.

31. Neotropic Mr Brubaker’s Strawberry Alarm Clock (Ntone, 1998)

Riz Maslen is often more widely associated with electronica (no doubt thanks to her early association with Future Sound of London), but her second Neotropic album Mr Brubaker’s Strawberry Alarm Clock is one of the trip-hop era’s hidden gems. The record appeared on the Ninja Tune sister label Ntone, and is one of the few full-lengths on this list that still sounds truly bizarre and alien. On top of the usual dusty breaks, Maslen lavished elements absorbed from IDM’s palette but left behind its seemingly random, artificial bent. The conversation between trip-hop and IDM was very visible in the late 90s – Plaid being the most obvious example – but Maslen avoided many of the trappings of both scenes, emerging with a record that was probably “too future” for most beatheads.

30. Various Artists Headz (A Soundtrack Of Experimental Beathead Jams.) (Mo’ Wax, 1994)

After a forgettable false start peddling iffy acid jazz, Mo’ Wax made a stylistic shift in 1994, kickstarting a four-year period that continues to resonate two decades on. The first Headz compilation is a neat 18-track digest of that transition, a declaration of what was to come. Influences, ambitions and comments on the status quo of the time are found in the slowed down grooves and samples as well as the track titles: ‘Ravers Suck Our Sound’, ‘Contemplating Jazz’, ‘In Flux’, ‘The Time Has Come’. The titular beatheads may have seemed like a stoned, uncreative bunch at the time but their aesthetic has proven resilient. Alongside obvious names like DJ Shadow, La Funk Mob and R.P.M, Headz also featured Nightmares On Wax, Autechre, Howie B. and various members of Major Force.

29. Various Artists Eleven Phases (Sublime, 1998)

Eleven Phases is a true gem, a little-known compilation of downtempo and instrumental tracks from many of Detroit’s finest techno artists including Robert Hood, Kenny Larkin, Eddie Fowlkes and Anthony Shakir. Originally released in Japan only, the compilation makes for a fascinating snapshot of the hip-hop roots and leanings of the city’s dance music pioneers. Will Web’s ‘Cosmic Kung-Fu Funk’ slows down techno’s rawness to a blunted, hip-hop-influenced slouch while Robert Hood’s ‘Mystique’ wouldn’t be out of place on a !K7 compilation. Despite emerging entirely outside of the 1990s trip-hop world, Eleven Phases shows how the core ideas and principles of the aesthetic bled into various scenes and cities throughout the decade.

28. Solex Solex vs. Hitmeister (Matador, 1998)

It makes sense that one of the best (and weirdest) records in a genre that deifies crate diggers should come from a record store owner. Elisabeth Esselink’s debut album was hard to categorize when it landed in 1998, there were elements pilfered from plenty of genres but not really enough of one or the other for categorization. Not only this, but Solex vs. Hitmeister emerged on the Matador label, then best known for releasing indie records. It was certainly aimed at a different crowd from the usual green-thumbed beatheads with a complete collection of Mo’ Wax 12″s and a line of Gundam figurines on their desk, and that was a good thing. Esselink was a breath of fresh air, and Solex vs. Hitmeister ‘s peculiar charms still resonate as she tangles her voice through hiccuping collages of unwieldy samples and collapsing drum machine loops.

27. Various Artists Funkjazztical Tricknology (Ninja Tune, 1995)

Released in 1995, the first Ninja Tune compilation arrived between the two Headz volumes from Mo’ Wax, providing a perfect counterpoint that showed how similar yet different the London powerhouses were at the time. Focused largely on early Ninja artists such as 9 Lazy 9, The Herbaliser, Coldcut and DJ Food, it also features appearance from Austria’s downbeat kings Kruder & Dorfmeister and Attica Blues, who had just joined Mo’ Wax. As with the first Headz volume, Funkjazztical Tricknology also marked the beginning of a shift for Ninja Tune with its releases becoming essential not just for the music but also their design, packaging and words of in-house scribe Shane Solanki, who invented the Ninjaspeak that played into the label’s growing mythos.

26. DJ Food Recipe For Disaster (New Breed, 1995)

No other artist embodies Ninja Tune quite like DJ Food, the multifaceted DJ project set up in the early days of the label by its founders, Coldcut. As its name implies, DJ Food was set up to provide DJs with the necessary ingredients to do their thing. For the first five years, the collective – Coldcut, Strictly Kev and PC – released loops and other tools via the Jazz Brakes series, some of which is great, while some is just as forgettable as the more tepid early Mo’ Wax releases. In 1995, DJ Food went for a meatier offering with their debut album, A Recipe For Disaster . Using the same approach that had made their Solid Steel mixes and live appearances unmissable, they pieced together 16 tracks that veer from downtempo moody to breakbeat furious and proved that they knew their way around the trip-hop kitchen just as well as the best of them.

25. DJ Krush & Toshinori Kondo Ki Oku (Apollo, 1996)

The collision of avant-garde jazz and trip-hop was bound to happen. Experimental players throughout the world were desperate to open up a conversation with younger producers, and trip-hop (as well as drum & bass) was an obvious crash-pad, considering its liberal pilfering of the genre via sampling. Ki Oku is one of the best examples of this collision, despite trumpeter Toshinori Kondo turning in a surprisingly straightforward performance throughout. (This is a musician who had gone head to head with Peter Brötzmann and John Zorn – we weren’t exactly expecting him to toot out a cover of Bob Marley’s ‘Sun Is Shining’.) But it works. What could, in the wrong hands, have been one of the worst abuses of both jazz and trip-hop tropes, is actually remarkably measured and incredibly listenable.

24. We™ As Is. (Asphodel, 1997)

We™ formed by accident in the early 1990s after DJ Olive had been asked to contribute a track to Wordsound’s Certified Dope Vol.1 compilation for which he roped in fellow Brooklyn musicians Lloop and Once11. In the following years the trio became one of the emblematic acts of New York’s short-lived illbient scene, drunk off the possibilities afforded by the experiments that drove their creative ecosystem, where ambient, dub and hip-hop floated freely in a haze of smoke between cheap Brooklyn lofts and downtown squats. Their 1997 debut for Asphodel is a blistering run through hip-hop instrumentals, ambient lulls and drum & bass exercises that highlight the music’s chill-out roots and breakbeat fetish.

23. Amon Tobin Bricolage (Ninja Tune, 1997)

Known for his virtuoso sound design and increasingly complicated A/V shows, Brazilian producer Amon Tobin might seem like an odd addition to a list of trip-hop albums, but bear with us. His second album Bricolage emerged from the dust of trip-hop, appearing on Ninja Tune and offering a view of the scene through cracked glass. Tobin provided a more precise (and, let’s be honest, less stoned) take on the trip-hop sound, absorbing drum & bass and IDM influences without batting an eyelid. The result is an accomplished midpoint between the edit-heavy trickery of Squarepusher and Aphex Twin and the moody soundscapes of Krush, Vibert and Shadow.

22. Third Eye Foundation Semtex (Linda’s Strange Vacation, 1996)

Matt Elliott may have been a total outlier to most of the scenes that piled up to intersect at trip-hop, but Semtex is an example of how certain musicians could absorb familiar tropes without sacrificing originality. Elliott’s Third Eye Foundation debut fused breaks and booming sub bass with sounds more common to shoegaze: endless reverb, screaming and grizzled distortion. Traces of drum & bass (which would emerge more clearly on Elliott’s follow-up album Ghost ) slipped in-and-out of focus, and Semtex doesn’t really feel like part of one movement or another, rather adjacent and dizzy from ether and cheap draw. If anyone tries to tell you Bristol was just Portishead, Tricky and Roni Size, play ’em this burner.

21. Attica Blues Attica Blues (Mo’ Wax, 1997)

Like many of the artists and albums featured in this list, Attica Blues is trip-hop thanks to the location and affiliations of its creators at the time. A trio composed of producers Charlie Dark (then D’Afro) and Tony Nwachukwu (of CD-R fame) alongside singer Roba El-Essawy, Attica Blues made jazz-influenced hip-hop that happened to have a woman singing on it instead of emcees rapping. In the 1990s, thanks to genre purism, that meant your shit wasn’t rap and therefore wasn’t hip-hop. Attica Blues is one of Mo’ Wax’s better and more slept-on full lengths, a deft exercise in sampling, programming and arranging, back when doing so took more than a few clicks of a mouse.

The best trip-hop owed plenty both to the art of mixing and the cut-and-paste aesthetic of the 1980s, which is why a handful of releases on this list are mix CDs rather than albums. Cold Krush Cuts is a perfect example of how those two ideas influenced the music at its peak, and has the bonus of acting as a handshake between the two London labels most associated with the tag. Krush was Mo’ Wax’s Japanese weapon, and Coldcut and DJ Food were Ninja’s own zen masters of audio collage. The result is a still-classic double CD with the London boys arguably edging it thanks to a wide selection and craftsmanship reminiscent of their acclaimed Journeys By DJ entry; DJ Krush goes for the mind, limiting his selections to only six of Ninja Tune’s artists and slicing the cuts up in his trademark less-is-more approach.

19. Depth Charge 9 Deadly Venoms (Vinyl Solution, 1994)

A natural progression from the movie-obsessed NY rap of Wu-Tang Clan et al, 9 Deadly Venoms used a backbone of cult film samples to underpin gritty hip-hop instrumentals that helped inform a fast-growing scene. This was the blueprint for the Mo’ Wax 12″s to come: music based around the kind of nerd fandom that in 1994 was still a counter-culture. It still plays like an authentic labour of love for Jonathan Saul Kane, as he blends chops from The Evil Dead and Dirty Harry with collapsing breaks and ominous textures – it’s hardly surprising that the producer ended up establishing a company to issue UK versions of Hong Kong action movies.

18. Nearly God Nearly God (Island, 1996)

Described by Tricky as “a collection of brilliant, incomplete demos,” Nearly God is a bright, often-forgotten reminder of just how unmatched Tricky was in the 1990s. He called the record Nearly God , for fuck’s sake, and that wasn’t far from the truth. The album acted as a stop-gap between Tricky’s genre-defining Maxinquaye  and his difficult (but almost equally brilliant) about-turn, Pre-Millenium Tension . It stands apart simply because of its scope – there are appearances from regular collaborator Martina Topley-Bird, but also tracks with Alison Moyet, Björk, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Terry Hall. What sounds like it could have been a self-indulgent victory lap for (back then) one of the UK’s most notorious stars is somehow a coherent, exemplary document of a peculiar time in British music. Tricky also has to be commended for having the good sense to veto a collaboration with Damon Albarn (and then Suggs) which could have easily been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

17. Skylab #2: 1999 “Large As Life And Twice As Natural” (Eye Q , 1999)

Skylab was a short-lived collective composed of Matt Ducasse, Howie B and the Japanese duo of Tosh and Kudo, aka Love TKO from Major Force. They released two albums on Sven Vath’s Eye Q label before disappearing, and their work was among the better but lesser-known of the trip-hop era. Ducasse has gone on record to state that their attachment with the genre was unintentional and that he saw their work as “more expansive, […] more in common with collage music […] or soundtracks.” And yet, those ideas were also at the heart of what the best trip-hop could be. In many ways Skylab were not so different to Portishead in both their intentions and execution. Their second album was released just as the label folded, leading it disappear into the cracks of time until a reissue by Tummy Touch earlier this year. Howie B had left by this point, and vocalist Debbie Sanders joined the trio to craft a beautiful record which really goes out there and was praised by both critics and knowledgeable fans.

16. Laika Silver Apples of the Moon (Too Pure, 1994)

Emerging from post-rock band Moonshake, Laika orbited the trip-hop genre without succumbing to many of its less flattering trappings. When guitarist and vocalist Margaret Fiedler commented in 1995 that her band was “just like trip-hop, but much much faster,” she was doing herself a massive disservice. A cursory listen might not even reveal too many obvious similarities – like Portishead, Laika were taking elements of post-rock, krautrock and certainly hip-hop to provide something reactionary, and different from the pervasive, laddish Britpop that was polluting the charts at the time. While their contemporaries Stereolab (and later, Broadcast) were experimenting with drum machines and synthesizers, Laika were integrating samples and a deep passion for jazz and dub. Silver Apples of the Moon is one of the most singular albums on this list, and one of the most rewarding.

15. Nightmares on Wax Smokers Delight (Warp, 1995)

Few records from this era quite capture the nexus of styles that trip-hop could represent at its best than Nightmares On Wax’s second album for Warp. Pulling from the same influences that defined the late 1980s rave explosion, Smokers Delight reconfigured the UK’s summer of love for the Discman generation while remaining just as suited to chill-out room comedowns or Ibiza sunset sessions.

14. REQ One (Skint, 1997)

Sure, Skint might still be best known for breaking Fatboy Slim, but don’t turn away just yet. Brighton-based producer (and sometime graf writer) REQ offered up one of the most blunted takes on the genre, almost by accident. His compositions didn’t pander to the popularity of the growing trip-hop scene, instead dwelling in a noisy, near-ambient back room. He made hip-hop instrumentals that sounded like they were being beamed in from a parallel universe via 14.4kbps modem, and in doing so, avoided being both pigeonholed and, well, popular. His brilliant debut album One has barely dated, fitting as well alongside DJ Spooky or even Dälek as it does anything the Bristol scene had to offer. One sounds, at times, like an MPC tumbling down a distant stairwell into a muddy lake, and we couldn’t think of a better recommendation than that.

13. Crooklyn Dub Consortium Certified Dope Vol.1 (Wordsound, 1995)

Skiz Fernando Jr.’s Wordsound label was in many ways the dubbed-out New York answer to Mo’ Wax, a home for what its founder coined dub-hop: music that blended the dusty boom bap that ruled the city at the time with the mixing desk mysticism of Jamaican dub. Certified Dope Vol.1 was Fernando’s attempt at cataloguing the music of like-minded artists who populated the Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighbourhoods in the early 1990s, including the likes of We™, Dr. Israel and Bill Laswell. Swinging like a pendulum between full-on dub and head-nod instrumentals, the compilation was one of the first to highlight the parallels between hip-hop’s sampling aesthetic and Jamaica’s dub.

12. DJ Krush Meiso (Mo’ Wax / Sony, 1995)

I imagine that choosing a favourite DJ Krush album is a little like asking parents to pick their favourite kid. A perfectionist who infused an American cultural import with the meticulousness of his own culture, the Japanese producer was the Far East’s answer to DJ Shadow, and together they would become Mo’ Wax’s flagship artists. On Meiso he dug for samples and looped them with the same precision, sensitivity and attention to detail as the finest calligrapher or ukiyo-e artist. The addition of CL Smooth, The Roots’ Black Thought and Malik B as well as Big Shug and Guru showed that trip-hop’s instrumental aesthetic could also provide the backdrop for some fine rap moments.

11. David Holmes Let’s Get Killed (Go! Beat, 1997)

For his second album, Belfast’s David Holmes walked around New York on acid recording voices and sounds. The results were weaved into the music for Let’s Get Killed which, like his 1995 debut, acts as a sort of soundtrack for an imaginary movie. The process also resulted in one of the best albums of the era – a psychedelic collage of rhythms, textures and styles that jumps between hip-hop, dub and dance music and rests on the back of Holmes’ urban trip.  Let’s Get Killed  has aged gracefully and still sounds just as engrossing as it did nearly 20 years ago.

10. DJ Spooky Songs of a Dead Dreamer (Asphodel, 1996)

Say what you like about Spooky and his over-explanation (those liner notes) and academic slant, Songs of a Dead Dreamer might sound better now than it did back in 1996. Hobbled at the time by the “illbient” tag, Spooky had come to the same conclusions as many of his European contemporaries: that a blend of hip-hop rhythms, dub bass and ambient soundscapes sounded pretty damn inspiring. Songs of a Dead Dreamer is his crowning achievement, and while its construction is relatively simple – loops fed through Spooky’s desk and piped through various effects – the effect is hypnotic and beguiling. While others may have pilfered from dub at a surface level, Spooky was using the Jamaican techniques (mixing board trickery, tape delay etc) to produce alien soundscapes that were a million miles from the comparatively safe sounds of Up, Bustle and Out or Funki Porcini.

9. DJ Cam Abstract Manifesto (P-Vine, 1996)

Soon after his debut in 1994, Paris’s DJ Cam positioned himself as the European equivalent to DJ Krush and DJ Shadow – a hip-hop enthusiast capable of weaving together abstract, blunted beats with finesse. Within a few years, he’d parlayed his underground kudos for an attempt at more standard rap fare. Abstract Manifesto is one of his lesser-known releases, a Japan-only album that tapped into the same minimal approach as Krush with added jazz flourishes and junglistic detours. ‘No Competition’ remains one of his best compositions to date, and a staple of sets from the era.

8. Major Force West 93-97 (Mo’ Wax, 1999)

It’s testament to the power of the ideas underpinning trip-hop at the time that this list includes an album spearheaded by a Japanese pop musician who had a hand in the new wave movement. Major Force was the name of Toshio Nakanishi’s hip-hop project, originally conceived in 1988 after a near-decade long infatuation with the music. Comprised of Nakanishi and former Melon bandmates Gota Yashiki and Masayuki Kudo, Major Force released new material as well as an anthology titled The Original Art-Form on Mo’ Wax in the mid-to-late 1990s. The latter is well worth your time, featuring early work and collaborations with Bristol’s DJ Milo, another link in the global thread that supported the music’s most daring leaps. In a 2014 interview, Nakanishi admitted that his fascination with hip-hop stemmed from recognising its links with Burroughs’ cut-ups, stating that “in collage, something happens where you never expected it to.”

93-97 compiles the group’s work during their years living in London, hence the twist to their name. It’s a brilliant and bizarre collection of ideas from a culturally out-of-place trio, who got it because they were so far from the “it” everyone was talking about. In those same years, Nakanishi and Kudo also worked as part of Skylab and you can hear similarities in this collection with the latter’s #1 debut album, especially in how the best of it isn’t the downtempo beats but the drawn-out compositions which have the feel of improvised studio jams. Later on in his interview, Nakanishi points out that London, at the time, felt as psychedelic as the 1960s, with the group seeking to inject some of this spirit into hip-hop, which in England was called trip-hop.

7. Various Artists Headz 2 (Mo’ Wax, 1996)

Just as the first Headz marked Mo’ Wax’s ascendance, the second compilation crowned its achievements and enshrined its best-known artists in an expansive collection of 53 tracks. While the first volume feels a little dated, Headz 2 has aged remarkably well, in part thanks to its broad representation of what trip-hop could be and where it came from. That means music from the Beastie Boys, UNKLE, Money Mark, The Black Dog, Dillinja, DJ Shadow, Danny Breaks, Tortoise and Urban Tribe among many. Headz 2 is also testament to James Lavelle’s impeccable A&R skills, and his talent for making sense of the various 1990s post-rave threads that informed the music.

6. Leila Like Weather (Rephlex, 1998)

Leila Arab’s debut album stuck out like a sore thumb when it appeared on Rephlex in 1998. Not because it was more extreme than Rephlex’s usual fare, but because it was actually a proper album, with songs, a narrative and little of the label’s usual tongue-in-cheek antics. Arab had pieced together a hazy, underwater daydream of a record with half-heard soul, pop and chiming ice cream truck electronics swirling together in a soup of memory and emotion. Not quite trip-hop and not quite illbient, it certainly wasn’t IDM either, despite an intriguing “post production” credit from a certain Richard D. James. It’s one of the most disarming records of the era, and manages to fulfil the promise of trip-hop without succumbing to its trappings. Like Weather might be the one record on this list that has the most in common with Maxinquaye , and that should tell you something about its quality.

5. Luke Vibert Big Soup (Mo’ Wax, 1997)

Luke Vibert’s first record under his real name, Big Soup summed up the Mo’ Wax catalogue perfectly, even if Vibert was only casually adjacent to the scene. Maybe that helped, as his productions have stood the test of time, sitting somewhere in between the sample-rich collages of DJ Shadow and the tight, precise constructions of DJ Krush and Major Force. The thing that Vibert had and which many of his peers always lacked was a sense of humour, and as track titles like ‘No Turn Unstoned’ might suggest, that helped remove some of the inherent pretentiousness of the scene, breaking down another barrier that walled it off to potential listeners. Vibert’s produced more complicated records since, and he’s produced more successful records too, but Big Soup is a perfect picture of a certain moment in time, painted with a British eccentricity that cuts through the posturing that would later derail the scene.

4. Massive Attack Blue Lines (Island, 1991)

In a 1998 feature for The New York Times , Guy Garcia posited Blue Lines as the blueprint for trip-hop, an argument that holds some weight if you consider that parts of the album were as old as the days of The Wild Bunch, from which the trio emerged. Blue Lines made its mark thanks to a mix of ideas: England’s love affair with sound systems; the comedown from its own summer of love in 1989; and hip-hop’s nascent dominance and rapacious aesthetic. Blue Lines was all of these things and more. Whether or not you consider it trip-hop is at this point in time purely a matter of personal beliefs and largely irrelevant considering its legacy. In 2009, Daddy G told The Observer : “What we were trying to do was create dance music for the head, rather than the feet.” A statement of intent for trip-hop if there ever was one.

3. DJ Shadow Endtroducing (Mo’ Wax, 1996)

DJ Shadow’s first album for Mo’ Wax is the kind of debut that places the bar so high in its mastery of a new musical vocabulary that even its creator can never hope to better it, forever living beneath the weight of what he’s accomplished. Endtroducing is the lingua franca of trip-hop, an album crafted by a hip-hop fanatic outside of any direct sphere of influence but his own. Like all of the releases on this list, to define Endtroducing as trip-hop is to limit it, to take away the transformative powers it had to imbue listeners with a new understanding of the potentials of hip-hop as an instrumental music. It’s not just the music that made hip-hop suck in 1996, it was also the critics who couldn’t conceive that albums like Endtroducing were what they claimed to be and nothing more.

2. Portishead Dummy (Go! Beat, 1994)

Portishead’s 1994 debut was soaked in the same DIY, melting pot approach that typified much of Bristol’s output at the time. From Massive Attack to Smith & Mighty and early Full Cycle releases, the city’s greatest hits in that decade were all about the blending of aesthetics with a brazen irreverence for rules. As a result the music felt both impossible and irresistible. Two decades on, Dummy still sounds as hypnotic and engrossing as it did then, a gritty take on hip-hop, 1960s movie soundtracks and traditional songwriting that laid bare the potentials afforded by sidestepping rigid genre formats.

1. Tricky Maxinquaye (Island, 1995)

This is the one, really. Tricky named his debut solo album after his mother, Maxine Quaye, and that should already indicate just how personal the record is. He’d sharpened his skills as a member of Massive Attack (indeed some of his rhymes from Blue Lines were recycled here), but his solo material went far beyond his former collaborators’ scope. Tricky was pulling from a darker well, and allowed his struggles, both external and internal, to sit at the album’s epicentre. The result was some of the most tortured and original electronic music cut to wax which gave birth to an era where “weird” became fashionable.

He was assisted by his then-girlfriend Martina Topley-Bird, whose nonchalant purrs offered a foil for Tricky’s hoarse raps. She was the smooth to Tricky’s tab-addled rough, and grounded the project for many listeners, no doubt helping people to lump it in with the similarly located Portishead.

Tricky hated being labeled trip-hop (“This is not a coffee table album. I don’t think you can have dinner parties to it,” he stated in 1996) and has rallied against it ever since, but there can be no argument that, for better or for worse, he left an indelible mark on British music, electronic and otherwise. If covering Public Enemy’s racially charged ‘Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos’ and recasting Chuck D as a mixed-race female from Bristol (singing, instead of rapping) isn’t hitting the genre’s conceit squarely in the face, we’re not sure what is. “If I supposedly invented it, why not call it Tricky-hop?” he said, before releasing Pre-Millenium Tension . He wasn’t wrong.

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10 Essential Trip-Hop Albums

Last month, Treble explored the greatest albums in hip-hop released in the 1990s . It was a great exercise in being immersed in the beat-heavy sounds of the era, but it also inspired us to do a post-script of sorts on the outgrowth of hip-hop that happened in the Bristol club scene in the UK. Using hip-hop beats as a foundation for darker, late-night grooves and smoky atmosphere, trip-hop created a fascinating fusion. As the genre celebrates its 25th anniversary (assuming you count Massive Attack’s “ Any Love ” as the first real trip-hop release, which we suppose is debatable), we assembled our list of 10 of the best trip hop albums. Because nobody loves us — not like you do.

Portishead – Dummy

(1994; Go! Discs/London)

This is not the beginning of trip-hop — that arguably started back in 1988 when Massive Attack released their debut single. But it wasn’t until around 1994 that the phrase began to make the rounds outside of its incubating scene in Bristol, UK, and began to circulate in the U.S. and beyond. And it’s thanks in large part to Dummy , the breathtaking debut album by Portishead. Named for a small English town, Portishead took a hazy, dark approach to pop music, blending crackly hip-hop beats with sparse guitar licks, noir film samples and a fetish for John Barry. Dummy became a cult hit on the strength of gorgeous, catchy singles like “Sour Times” and “ Glory Box ,” though between those tracks, the group stuffed in moments of soul balladry, heavy-hitting boom-bap beats and swampy, psychedelic dirges. At the time it was completely alien and strange, but compelling in spite of the weirdness that characterized it. That didn’t last — within a few years, everyone would come to copy the Portishead template, diluting it a little each time until it lost its intrigue. Even Portishead lost interest; in 2008, the release of the fucked-up, paranoid sounding Third represented a huge transition for the band, revealing once again that Geoff Barrow, Beth Gibbons & Co. are about innovation above all. – JT

Nightmares on Wax – Smoker’s Delight

(1995; Warp)

After releasing an album on then-fledgling label Warp Records in 1991, Nightmares on Wax founder George Evelyn stepped away to run a dance club in Leeds, DJ, and start his own record label.  The context is important because unlike many of the other notable trip-hop releases, Smokers Delight has a distinct DJ feel to it, with an aesthetic that relies on multiple melodies being seamlessly layered on top of each other throughout the course of a song. The transitions between movements are always fluid as new pieces are pulled into the picture by a crossfader that moves at a snail’s pace. Take for instance the opening track, “ Nights Introlude ,” which weaves in a “Summer In The City” sample — the one made popular by Pharcyde’s “Passin’ Me By” — after already establishing a perfectly fine high hat and string-based groove. Evelyn clearly has a fine ear for samples and uses them tastefully but frequently to extremely satisfying ends. Smoker’s Delight has aged surprising well over the years; for all of the styles that Evelyn touches on throughout the record from hip hop to funk to dub, there’s a unifying coherence that’s the true litmus test of a master DJ — a quality that’s difficult to map when done well but easy to spot when botched.- DG

Tricky – Maxinquaye

(1995; Island)

When Tricky left Massive Attack after Blue Lines , there were questions about how he would respond to the challenge of establishing himself as a solo artist. With Maxinquaye , one of the most prodigious debuts of the past three decades, Tricky put those questions to rest with one fell swoop. As enthralling and bold as Blue Lines is, Maxinquaye arguably transcends it with greater scope, ambition, and passion (the album is named after Tricky’s mother, who committed suicide). One can simply play any of the tracks on the album to test this assertion; from the bony rattle of “ Ponderosa ” — which brilliantly samples Shakespeare’s Sister — to “Abbaon Fat Tracks,” a distorted sex ballad, to the languidly gorgeous closer “Feed Me,” Maxinquaye passes every time. Truthfully, its only downside to speak of is that it set the bar too high for Tricky, who hasn’t quite been able to match its brilliance again. Bad for Tricky, good for all of us. – CB

Laika – Sounds of the Satellites

(1997; Sire)

Formed by former Moonshake vocalist Margaret Fiedler and producer/engineer Guy Fixsen, Laika took trip-hop to weird new places. Though the duo used beats and grooves in much the same way that Portishead or Massive Attack did, their manic, polyrhythmic arrangements were far more complex and weird than the club crowd might have been ready for. The lead single from Sound of the Satellites , “ Prairie Dog ,” slinks along a dub-inspired 7/4 rhythm, and the frantic pace of tracks like “Poor Gal” feel more like Rema in In Light -era Talking Heads or Metal Box -era Public Image Limited than anything happening in Bristol. This is intense, but fun stuff, and maybe not the most traditional of trip-hop records, but definitely one of the best.

Air – Moon Safari

(1998; Source/Caroline)

Air may not fit the British, café lounge archetype that’s associated with a majority of popular trip-hop acts, but the French duo’s first full-length expands on all of the genre’s chill-out aims. Guest vocalist Beth Hirsch contributes to what would become one of Air’s all-time most popular songs, “All I Need”, as well as another album highlight, “You Make It Easy.” Believers in warm introductions and kind goodbyes, Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel put their two most languid and spacey tracks at the front and back of Moon Safari . Starting things off is “ La Femme D’Argent ,” an instrumental that stays tethered to a thick-stringed, yet subtle bassline, but stretches out with spiraling arpeggios, spunky synth keys and refreshingly human hand claps. Moon Safari isn’t so much an album you stop listening to as it is a kind of dream you wake up from; the exact events from the experience are a hazy memory but the color of the ride leaves a vivid, pleasant impression. – DG

Massive Attack – Mezzanine

(1998; Virgin)

Most groups that emerged during the trip-hop era weren’t terribly prolific, and by 1998, a second wave of tepid coffeehouse trip-hop had become the sleepy norm. Having released their last album Protection in 1994, Bristol’s Massive Attack at this point weren’t front and center in the conversation in the same way that Portishead was before taking an extended break, or with the bright flicker that artists like Esthero and Hooverphonic would briefly enjoy. But in the summer of 1998, Massive Attack not only returned, they did so with their best album yet, a dark, sinister head-trip of an album that crept slowly and hit with lethal force. Mezzanine found Massive Attack entering a dark phase in their career, which hasn’t really ever ended, though this is the moment where it’s most potent. The eerie lurch of “Angel,” the stoned dub-funk of “Risingson,” or the evil pulse of “Inertia Creeps” — it amounts to an album by a group seemingly no longer interested in the more positive aspects of club music, as Blue Lines suggested. This is its sweaty, grimy, scraped-up, paranoid, sleazy and possibly even dead underbelly. – JT

Morcheeba – Big Calm

(1998; Sire)

Some parts of Morcheeba’s sophomore LP, Big Calm , have not aged well. The background DJ scratching on “Blindfold” feels forced and awkward, “The Music That We Hear” is an unnecessary pop rework of a debut album stand-out (“Moog Island”), and I can practically smell the incense when the sitar comes in on “Shoulder Holster.” Those few awkward elements aside, Big Calm is held up on the merits of a few choice tracks, namely lead single “The Sea,” “Let Me See” and “Over and Over.” Singer Skye Edwards’ relaxed coolness gives each song a degree of levity without ever dropping the sultry edge. It’s a fine line to tip-toe and Edwards always stays a few short steps in front, enticing the listener with the promise of satisfying hooks that come when expected. From the loud bounce of “Let Me See” to the sparse “Over and Over” Edwards has the right balance of tranquility and sexuality to keep heart rates low and attention high. – DG

UNKLE – Psyence Fiction

(1998; Mo’ Wax)

For me, as it was with likely most listeners who picked up Psyence Fiction , the big sell was a collaboration between DJ Shadow and Thom Yorke. In the late ’90s, there was no more glorious dream collaboration, Yorke’s vulnerable vocal performance on “ Rabbit In Your Headlights ” matched perfectly by James Lavelle and Josh Davis’ chilly sample arrangement. However, it was just one of many interesting stylistic detours on an album that used trip-hop as a foundation for even bolder experiments. The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft lent his vocals to the epic, string-laden “Lonely Soul,” Mike D and Metallica’s Jason Newstead teamed up on the scrappy hip-hop of “The Knock,” and the then-unknown Badly Drawn Boy helmed the harder rocking “Nursery Rhyme.” Yet the instrumentals dazzled as well, like the gorgeously psychedelic “Unreal,” which was later released in an alternate version with vocals from The Stone Roses’ Ian Brown. It was all very lush and gorgeous, but should anyone get the wrong impression, that UNKLE had no sense of humor, segue “Getting Ahead in the Lucrative Field of Artist Management” dedicated its 54 seconds to a hilarious commercial for a board game called “Ball Buster.” (Snicker…) – JT

Goldfrapp – Felt Mountain

(2000; Mute)

In the 13 years that have lapsed since Goldfrapp first made their debut with Felt Mountain , they’ve taken many a stylistic detour, from trashy electro on Black Cherry , to beat-driven glam-pop on Supernature , psych-folk on Seventh Tree , and inexplicably upbeat new wave on Head First . And generally speaking, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory do a bang-up job each time they switch up the formula. Yet their debut follows a trip-hop aesthetic in much the same way that Portishead laid it out, with sexy, dark soundscapes that blend the string-laden grandeur of John Barry’s Bond themes with the eccentric folk touch of Lee Hazelwood. It’s one of the group’s most stunning albums altogether, from the sultry shuffle of “Lovely Head” to the lush orchestration of “Pilots.” Whether or not you prefer Goldfrapp in sequins, spandex, furs or forests, it’s hard to argue that Felt Mountain isn’t one hell of an album. – JT

Nathaniel Merriweather presents… Lovage – Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By

(2001; 75 Ark)

In 2001, under his “Nathanial Meriweather” moniker, Dan The Automator produced a trip-hop album featuring Jennifer Charles (of Elysian Fields) and Mike Patton (of Faith No More, Tomahawk and Mr. Bungle) on vocals. The mixes on Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By featured Kid Koala on turntables, as well as a couple other Deltron 3030 collaborators. The album paid tribute to Alfred Hitchcock, Serge Gainsbourg, and new wave rockers Berlin. If all that doesn’t convince you to listen to this smooth hour of turntable-heavy trip-hop, I don’t know what will. – AK

No becoming X = fail list

Becoming X was nowhere near good enough to be in any ‘Best of’ list. Kelli Dayton’s voice was never in teh same league as her compatriots.

Where is esbe? He’s in the top ten in my book.

Becomimg x, fuck no lol

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The 40+ Best Trip Hop Artists, Ranked

If you are ready for a journey through one of the most eclectic music forms, consider trip hop. Trip hop music awakens the senses and unlocks a treasure trove of rhythm, style and emotion. This genre is steeped in the roots of British electronica, breakbeat, and hip hop. It's fascinating to wend your way through a collection of the finest trip hop artists whose songs have made a profound impact on music scenes globally. 

The best trip hop groupspaint an enchanting picture of profound musical innovation, blending various styles to create something unique and potent. Their transformative influence on trip hop's evolution becomes apparent with each resonating beat and soulful lyric. The music vibrates with a deep resonance that echoes across the mainstream and indie audiences, highlighting the uniqueness of each artist and their indelible mark on the genre. 

In the illustrious lineup of trip hop artists, certain names stand out. These include top trip hop bands like Portishead , Massive Attack, and Tricky. Portishead's hauntingly beautiful melodies tug at the heartstrings of the listeners, making the band famous. Massive Attack, with their groundbreaking albums, brought a new perspective to the genre, a testament to their status among the best trip hop artists. Tricky melded raw emotion with creative beats resulting in a distinctive sound that resonates with fans to this day. Their achievements, ranging from memorable songs and classic albums to prestigious awards, speak volumes about their stature in the trip hop universe. 

Reflecting on the history of trip hop music and its best artists presents a captivating saga of artistic expression, innovation, and boundary-pushing beats. Distinguished by their individual style and contributions, these trip hop bands have set new standards for the genre with magical tunes that continue to inspire, entertain, and move audiences around the world. 

Portishead, the brainchild of Geoff Barrow, Beth Gibbons, and Adrian Utley, revolutionized trip hop in the 90s with their groundbreaking albums Dummy  and Portishead . With a hauntingly atmospheric sound that flawlessly combined eerie vocal melodies, innovative sampling techniques, and cinematic soundscapes, Portishead captured the imagination of music lovers everywhere. They managed to push the boundaries of the genre by blending elements of jazz, electronica, and rock, ultimately creating a hypnotic experience that became synonymous with the trip hop movement. To this day, Portishead remains a luminary of the scene, continuously inspiring generations of artists with their emotive and timeless compositions.

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Massive Attack

Massive Attack, hailing from Bristol, England, have long been considered pioneers in the realm of trip hop. The trio, consisting of Robert Del Naja, Grant Marshall, and Andy Vowles, crafted a unique sound that seamlessly merged elements of dub, reggae, soul, and electronica. Their seminal album Blue Lines  served as a blueprint for trip hop, boasting an array of downtempo beats, ethereal ambience, and thought-provoking lyricism. Massive Attack's innovation and experimentation within the genre have solidified their legacy as one of the most influential trip hop acts of all time.

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UK-based artist Tricky, born Adrian Thaws, quickly emerged as a trip hop icon with the release of his debut album, Maxinquaye . His distinct fusion of hip hop, rock, and electronica resonated with listeners seeking something more subversive and experimental within the genre. Drawing heavily on his Jamaican roots and experiences growing up in Bristol, Tricky's music showcased his powerful storytelling abilities and otherworldly production skills. As a result, Tricky has remained an essential figure within the trip hop scene, continuously pushing the envelope with each successive release.

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Morcheeba, a British trio consisting of siblings Paul and Ross Godfrey and vocalist Skye Edwards, captivated listeners with their polished blend of trip hop, electronica, and pop. Their debut album Who Can You Trust?  served as a prime example of their ability to create moody, atmospheric compositions that showcased Edwards' sultry vocal stylings. Morcheeba's ability to navigate the diverse sonic landscape of trip hop while maintaining a strong focus on melody earned them critical acclaim and a devout following. Over time, the band has continued to evolve, solidifying their status as a versatile powerhouse within the genre.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Morcheeba   - "The Sea"   - "Trigger Hippie"   - "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day"

Dive Into Morcheeba's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Friction"   - "Big Calm"

• # 9 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack
• # 59 of 91 on The Best Electronic Bands & Artists
• # 13 of 48 on The Best Downtempo Bands/Artists

Sneaker Pimps

Established in the mid-90s, the British trip hop trio Sneaker Pimps, composed of Chris Corner, Liam Howe, and Kelli Ali, brought a unique spin to the genre with their compelling mix of electronica, alternative rock, and darkly melodic pop. Their debut album Becoming X  showcased innovative production techniques, catchy hooks, and Ali's alluring vocals, which quickly garnered them international attention. Not content to remain static, Sneaker Pimps continued to explore and push the boundaries of trip hop, consistently reinventing their sound and remaining an influential force within the scene.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Sneaker Pimps   - "6 Underground"   - "Spin Spin Sugar"   - "Tesko Suicide"

Dive Into Sneaker Pimps' History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Low Place Like Home"   - "Grazes"

British duo Zero 7, comprised of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, emerged on the trip hop scene in the late '90s with a mission to blend chilled-out electronica, sophisticated pop sensibilities, and seductive downtempo grooves. Their debut album Simple Things , featuring collaborations with vocalists like Sia and Mozez, showcased the duo's penchant for crafting exquisitely lush and soothing soundscapes. Over the years, Zero 7 has continued to evolve and redefine their sound, often incorporating elements of jazz, soul, and world music, earning them a dedicated fanbase and a lasting impact on the trip hop genre.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Zero 7   - "Destiny"   - "In the Waiting Line"   - "Home"

Dive Into Zero 7's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Likufanele"   - "I Have Seen"

• # 19 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack
• # 5 of 66 on The Best Bands & Artists That Start With Z
• # 116 of 349 on The Best Electronica Artists

Hooverphonic

Belgian outfit Hooverphonic, led by mastermind Alex Callier, made a lasting impact on the trip-hop scene with their evocative, cinematic soundscapes that beautifully melded elements of pop, rock, and electronic music. From their breathtaking debut A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular  to their more recent work, Hooverphonic has demonstrated an uncanny ability to create lush, immersive atmospheres with a keen sense of melody. With a revolving door of talented vocalists, including Liesje Sadonius, Geike Arnaert, and Luka Cruysberghs, the band has consistently defied expectations, solidifying their status as one of trip hop's most captivating acts.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Hooverphonic   - "Mad About You"   - "2Wicky"   - "Eden"

Dive Into Hooverphonic's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Vinegar & Salt"   - "Out of Sight"

French duo Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel, better known as Air, brought a distinctly Gallic flair to the world of trip hop with their sublime fusion of electronic experimentation, retro-pop melodies, and dreamy atmospherics. Their seminal album Moon Safari , featuring hit singles like "Sexy Boy" and "Kelly Watch the Stars," captivated audiences with its timeless charm and ethereal beauty. Throughout their career, Air has consistently pushed the boundaries of trip hop by exploring a wide range of sonic palettes and textures, leaving an indelible mark on the genre.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Air   - "Sexy Boy"   - "La Femme d'Argent"   - "Cherry Blossom Girl"

Dive Into Air's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Le Soleil est près de Moi"   - "Talisman"

• # 297 of 308 on The Greatest Musical Artists of the '90s
• # 12 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack
• # 135 of 215 on The 200+ Best Indie Artists Of All Time, Ranked

Thievery Corporation

Washington, D.C.-based duo Thievery Corporation, consisting of Eric Hilton and Rob Garza, have been synonymous with trip hop since their formation in the mid-'90s. With a sound that effortlessly fuses elements of dub, reggae, lounge, and electronica, the pair has developed a unique global sonic identity that transcends genre boundaries. Their debut album Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi  laid the groundwork for their signature sound, combining lush electronic soundscapes with hypnotic grooves and worldly influences. Over the years, Thievery Corporation has continuously evolved their eclectic sound, solidifying their status as one of trip hop's most innovative and boundary-pushing acts.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Thievery Corporation   - "Lebanese Blonde"   - "Sweet Tides"   - "The Richest Man in Babylon"

Dive Into Thievery Corporation's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Amerimacka"   - "The Mirror Conspiracy"

Josh Davis, known professionally as DJ Shadow, is an American producer and DJ who has left an indelible mark on the world of trip hop with his undeniable talent for crafting immersive beats and moody soundscapes. His groundbreaking 1996 debut Endtroducing...  is widely regarded as a trip hop classic, showcasing a mastery of sampling techniques, innovative production styles, and a keen ear for haunting, atmospheric sounds. Throughout his career, DJ Shadow has continued to explore and expand the boundaries of the genre, pushing the limits of what can be achieved through the art of sampling and beat making.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From DJ Shadow   - "Midnight in a Perfect World"   - "Building Steam with a Grain of Salt"   - "Six Days"

Dive Into DJ Shadow's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Stem / Long Stem"   - "Organ Donor"

• # 104 of 157 on The Best DJs in the World Right Now
• # 57 of 81 on The 80+ Best Rap Producers Of All Time, Ranked
• # 10 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack

British duo Goldfrapp, led by the bewitching Alison Goldfrapp and multi-instrumentalist Will Gregory, emerged in the early 2000s as a force to be reckoned with in the realm of trip hop. Their debut album Felt Mountain  showcased a beguiling mix of cinematic orchestration, electronic experimentation, and Alison's enchanting vocals. Goldfrapp's enigmatic sound has continually evolved, encompassing elements of glam rock, synth-pop, and dance music, making them one of the most unpredictable and fascinating acts within the trip hop genre.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Goldfrapp   - "Ooh La La"   - "Strict Machine"   - "Lovely Head"

Dive Into Goldfrapp's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Utopia"   - "Black Cherry"

• # 176 of 248 on The Most Hipster Bands
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• # 36 of 42 on The Best Gold Things

British musical mastermind James Lavelle, the driving force behind Unkle, has been captivating audiences with his dark and cinematic take on trip hop since the late '90s. Unkle's debut album Psyence Fiction , featuring collaborations with notable artists like Thom Yorke and Richard Ashcroft, showcased Lavelle's knack for blending moody electronic production with elements of rock, pop, and hip-hop. Over the years, Unkle's ever-evolving sound and roster of talented collaborators have helped cement the project's place in trip hop history as a daring, innovative force within the genre.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Unkle   - "Rabbit in Your Headlights"   - "Bloodstain"   - "Burn My Shadow"

Dive Into Unkle's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Celestial Annihilation"   - "Lonely Soul"

• # 7 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack
• # 25 of 87 on The Best Bands & Artists That Start With U
• # 38 of 75 on The Best Synth Rock Bands/Artists

Lamb, the enchanting English duo consisting of producer Andy Barlow and vocalist Lou Rhodes, first made waves in the trip hop scene with their eponymous 1996 debut album. Their unique fusion of electronic experimentation, emotive vocals, and captivating songwriting quickly set them apart, winning them fans across the globe. With a sound that combines elements of jazz, drum and bass, and ambient music, Lamb has continually pushed the envelope, proving themselves to be one of the trip hop genre's most enduring and captivating acts.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Lamb   - "Gorecki"   - "Lusty"   - "Angelica"

Dive Into Lamb's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Cotton Wool"   - "Trans Fatty Acid"

Nightmares on Wax

George Evelyn, the man behind Nightmares on Wax, has been weaving spellbinding webs of sound since the early '90s, blending elements of dub, electronica, and soul to create uniquely evocative trip hop compositions. With a discography that spans decades, Nightmares on Wax has earned a reputation for consistently crafting music that not only embodies the spirit of trip hop but also pushes the boundaries of the genre. From early classics like Smokers Delight  to more recent releases like Shape the Future , Nightmares on Wax has proven time and again that his innovative approach to music-making remains vital and engaging.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Nightmares on Wax   - "You Wish"   - "Les Nuits"   - "Flip Ya Lid"

Dive Into Nightmares on Wax' History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Ethnic Majority"   - "Morse"

• # 84 of 146 on The Most Influential DJs of All Time
• # 16 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack
• # 17 of 48 on The Best Downtempo Bands/Artists

Norwegian duo Röyksopp, comprising Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland, emerged in the early 2000s with a distinct brand of trip hop infused with elements of synth-pop, ambient, and electronica. Their chart-topping debut, Melody A.M. , showcased their ability to create lush, atmospheric soundscapes punctuated by catchy hooks and intricate production. Throughout their career, Röyksopp has remained committed to exploring the boundaries of trip hop, collaborating with various artists and incorporating diverse influences into their constantly evolving sound.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Röyksopp   - "Eple"   - "Poor Leno"   - "Happy Up Here"

Dive Into Röyksopp's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "So Easy"   - "A Higher Place"

• # 116 of 157 on The Best DJs in the World Right Now
• # 15 of 51 on The Best EDM Duos Of All Time
• # 5 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack

French producer Jean-Christophe Le Saoût, known by his stage name Wax Tailor, has been crafting elegant, cinematic trip hop since the early 2000s. With a penchant for lush orchestration, deft sampling, and moody atmospherics, Wax Tailor's music stands as a testament to the genre's enduring appeal and versatility. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, pushing the boundaries of trip hop while remaining true to the genre's core aesthetic.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Wax Tailor   - "Que Sera"   - "Seize the Day"   - "Ungodly Fruit"

Dive Into Wax Tailor's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Positively Inclined"   - "Until Heaven Stops the Rain"

Kruder & Dorfmeister

Austrian duo Kruder & Dorfmeister, composed of Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister, have been at the forefront of the trip hop movement for decades, known for their innovative remix work and original productions. Their landmark compilation The K&D Sessions  featured reimaginings of tracks from a wide range of artists, showcasing their ability to transform songs into immersive, downtempo masterpieces. With their seamless blend of dub, jazz, and electronica, Kruder & Dorfmeister have left an indelible mark on the trip hop scene and inspired countless artists to follow in their footsteps.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Kruder & Dorfmeister   - "K&D Sessions" (This is an album containing various remixes)   - "Black Baby"   - "Deep Shit Pt. 1 & 2"

Dive Into Kruder & Dorfmeister's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Bug Powder Dust"   - "Sofa Rockers"

• # 139 of 157 on The Best DJs in the World Right Now
• # 18 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack
• # 8 of 48 on The Best Downtempo Bands/Artists

Japanese producer Hideaki Ishi, better known as DJ Krush, has been making waves in the trip hop world since the early '90s with his uniquely atmospheric and meditative soundscapes. Known for his groundbreaking use of sampling and turntablism, DJ Krush consistently pushes the boundaries of the genre by incorporating elements of jazz, hip-hop, and traditional Japanese music into his work. With a discography that spans multiple decades, DJ Krush remains an influential figure within the trip hop scene, inspiring future generations of artists with his innovative, genre-defying approach to music production.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From DJ Krush   - "Kemuri"   - "Song 2"   - "Big City Lover"

Dive Into DJ Krush's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Road to Nowhere"   - "Meiso"

• # 146 of 157 on The Best DJs in the World Right Now
• # 23 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack
• # 36 of 99 on The Real Names of 100 DJs

American producer Ramble Jon Krohn, better known as RJD2, burst onto the trip hop scene in the early 2000s with his adventurous, genre-blurring approach to music-making. His debut album Deadringer  showcased a unique blend of hip-hop, electronica, and soulful sampling that garnered widespread acclaim and helped establish him as a pioneer within the trip-hop scene. Throughout his career, RJD2 has continued to push the boundaries of the genre by incorporating a wide range of influences and collaborating with various artists, solidifying his status as an innovative force in the world of trip hop.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From RJD2   - "Ghostwriter"   - "Smoke & Mirrors"   - "The Horror"

Dive Into RJD2's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Dead Ringer"   - "Shot in the Dark"

• # 130 of 157 on The Best DJs in the World Right Now
• # 68 of 81 on The 80+ Best Rap Producers Of All Time, Ranked
• # 85 of 99 on The Real Names of 100 DJs

The London-based collective Archive has been pushing the boundaries of trip hop since forming in the mid-1990s. With a diverse and ever-evolving roster of musicians, the group has developed a sophisticated sound that incorporates elements of rock, electronica, and orchestral music. Their ambitious concept albums, like the acclaimed Londonium , showcase their ability to create sweeping, cinematic soundscapes full of emotion and depth. Archive’s unique take on trip hop has earned them a dedicated fanbase, solidifying their status as one of the genre’s most daring and innovative acts.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Archive   - "Bullets"   - "You Make Me Feel"   - "Again"

Dive Into Archive's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Conscience"   - "Numb"

• # 4 of 43 on The Best Bands Like Massive Attack
• # 138 of 139 on The 150 Best Prog Rock Bands, Ranked
• # 205 of 349 on The Best Electronica Artists

Emancipator

Portland-based producer Doug Appling, known as Emancipator, has been a leading force in the trip-hop scene since the release of his acclaimed debut album Soon It Will Be Cold Enough . With a signature sound that blends lush instrumentation, intricate production, and cinematic soundscapes, Emancipator has consistently captivated listeners with his evocative and meditative compositions. A classically trained musician, Appling's ability to seamlessly weave together elements of electronic, hip-hop, and world music has helped him stand out as a unique and influential figure within the trip-hop genre.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Emancipator   - "Soon It Will Be Cold Enough"   - "Lionheart"   - "Anthem"

Dive Into Emancipator's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Periscope Up"   - "Nevergreen"

Irish singer Róisín Murphy and English producer Mark Brydon formed Moloko in the mid-'90s, bringing a quirky, innovative, and genre-defying sound to the world of trip hop. With hit singles like "Sing It Back" and "The Time Is Now," the duo crafted a distinct blend of electronic, pop, and dance music that set them apart from their peers. Throughout their career, Moloko's continuously evolving sound and Murphy's beguiling stage presence have earned them a dedicated fanbase and solidified their status as one of trip hop's most inventive acts.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Moloko   - "Sing It Back"   - "Time is Now"   - "Fun for Me"

Dive Into Moloko's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Pure Pleasure Seeker"   - "Dominoid"

• # 46 of 65 on The Best Bands Named After Books and Literary Characters
• # 60 of 77 on The Best Musical Duos

Martina Topley-Bird

British singer-songwriter Martina Topley-Bird first emerged as a prominent figure within the trip hop scene through her collaborations with pioneering artist Tricky. Her distinctive, ethereal voice adds a unique depth to the atmospheric soundscapes that have come to define the genre. With subsequent solo work like her debut album Quixotic , Topley-Bird has demonstrated her ability to craft captivating trip hop compositions that seamlessly blend elements of electronica, pop, and rock. Her continued contributions to the genre have made her an enduring and influential presence within the trip hop community.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Martina Topley  -Bird   - "Sandpaper Kisses"   - "Need One"   - "Anything"

Dive Into Martina Topley  -Bird's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Too Tough to Die"   - "Steal Away"

Brazilian-born composer and producer Amon Tobin has long been heralded as a pioneer within the realm of trip hop and electronic music. His unique ability to fuse diverse influences, ranging from jazz and ambient to drum and bass, has earned him a reputation for pushing the boundaries of the genre and defying categorization. Tobin's atmospheric and immersive compositions, such as those showcased on his groundbreaking album Bricolage , remain influential touchstones within the trip hop scene and continue to inspire future generations of producers and musicians.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Amon Tobin   - "Four Ton Mantis"   - "Easy Muffin"   - "Stoney Street"

Dive Into Amon Tobin's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "The Lighthouse"   - "Bridge"

The eclectic New York duo Cibo Matto, comprised of Japanese expats Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori, brought a quirky, genre-defying approach to trip hop with their 1996 debut album Viva! La Woman . Incorporating elements of hip-hop, pop, and experimental music, Cibo Matto's unconventional sound and whimsical lyricism set them apart from their peers. Their unique blending of styles and penchant for culinary-themed lyrics helped Cibo Matto carve out a distinct niche within the trip hop community, making them one of the genre's most memorable and singular acts.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Cibo Matto   - "Sugar Water"   - "Know Your Chicken"   - "Birthday Cake"

Dive Into Cibo Matto's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "White Pepper Ice Cream"   - "Sci  -Fi Wasabi"

Supreme Beings of Leisure

The Los Angeles-based collective Supreme Beings of Leisure merged trip hop with elements of lounge, world music, and electronica to create a unique and enticing sound in the late '90s. The group's self-titled debut showcased their ability to craft lush, groove-driven compositions that catered to fans of downtempo electronic music. Supreme Beings of Leisure's diverse influences and innovative approach to trip hop earned them a dedicated following and helped cement their place within the pantheon of influential acts in the genre.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Supreme Beings of Leisure   - "Strangelove Addiction"   - "Golddigger"   - "Never the Same"

Dive Into Supreme Beings of Leisure's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Ain't Got Nothin'"   - "Sublime"

Little Dragon

Swedish band Little Dragon, fronted by the dynamic vocalist Yukimi Nagano, brings a fresh, genre-defying approach to trip hop, blending influences from electronica, R&B, and synth-pop. With acclaimed albums like Ritual Union  under their belt, the band has captivated audiences worldwide with their unique sound and electrifying live performances. As Little Dragon continues to push the boundaries of trip hop and explore new sonic territories, they remain an exciting and essential act within the genre.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Little Dragon   - "Ritual Union"   - "Twice"   - "High"

Dive Into Little Dragon's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Blinking Pigs"   - "Feather"

French musician and producer Jean-Yves Prieur, known as Kid Loco, has been a fixture in the trip hop scene since the mid-'90s, producing music that blends elements of dub, jazz, and electronica into an intoxicating, downtempo sound. His debut album A Grand Love Story  showcased his deft touch for crafting lush instrumental soundscapes that evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia. With a career spanning multiple decades and numerous collaborations, Kid Loco has solidified his status as an influential figure within the trip hop genre.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Kid Loco   - "A Grand Love Theme"   - "She's My Lover"   - "The Bootleggers"

Dive Into Kid Loco's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Love Me Sweet"   - "Calling Aventura King"

Bitter:Sweet

Los Angeles-based duo Bitter:Sweet, consisting of vocalist Shana Halligan and producer Kiran Shahani, delivered a sultry, sophisticated take on trip hop that captivated listeners in the mid-2000s. Drawing inspiration from jazz, lounge, and electronica, their debut album The Mating Game  showcased their ability to craft intoxicating, melody-driven compositions that resonate with fans of the genre. Though their time as a duo was brief, Bitter:Sweet's unique sound left a lasting impression on the trip hop scene and continues to be celebrated by fans and fellow musicians alike.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Bitter:Sweet   - "Dirty Laundry"   - "Drink You Sober"   - "The Mating Game"

Dive Into Bitter:Sweet's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Heaven"   - "Don't Forget to Breathe"

Canadian singer-songwriter Esthero, born Jen-Bea Englishman, made a powerful entrance to the trip hop scene with her 1998 debut album Breath from Another . Her enchanting blend of jazz, pop, and electronica elements, combined with her candid lyricism and emotive vocals, struck a chord with listeners. While Esthero's sound has evolved over the years to include elements of R&B, hip-hop, and rock, her roots in trip hop remain evident, solidifying her status as one of the genre's most versatile and captivating artists.

Rock Out To Some Of The Most Popular Songs From Esthero   - "Breath from Another"   - "Heaven Sent"   - "That Girl"

Dive Into Esthero's History With Some Unique Deep Cuts   - "Swallow Me"   - "Telephone"

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The 10 greatest trip-hop bands of all time

22 February 2023, 11:52

By Tom Eames

Trip-hop emerged in the 1990s as a leading force of downtempo electronic music.

Originating largely in Bristol in the early 1990s, trip-hop has been described as a psychedelic mix of hip-hop and electronica, with slower tempos and an atmospheric style. It also uses elements of jazz, soul, funk, reggae, R&B, and other genres, as well as often sampling film soundtracks and other sources.

Trip-hop was first coined by Mixmag , and it soon had commercial success by the second half of the decade.

From its pioneers of the '90s to the artists they influenced, here are the greatest trip-hop artists:

Morcheeba - Blindfold (Official Video)

Formed in the mid-1990s with singer Skye Edwards and brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey, Morcheeba emerged with sublime influences of rock, folk and downtempo, becoming a leading force in the trip-hop movement, starting with 1996's Who Can You Trust?

They have released 10 studio albums since 1995, with the latest being 2021's Blackest Blue .

Although they have moved on to other genres since their early trip-hop days, they still must be counted as one of the genre's greatest acts.

Sneaker Pimps

Sneaker Pimps - 6 Underground (Official Music Video)

Formed in Hartlepool in 1994, Sneaker Pimps' debut album, Becoming X was a seminal trip-hop LP in 1996.

Best known for the single '6 Underground', the band takes its name from an article the Beastie Boys published in their Grand Royal magazine about a man they hired to track down classic sneakers.

The band was created by electronic musician Liam Howe and guitarist Chris Corner, and then later recruited singer Kelli Ali (then known as Kelli Dayton).

After a long hiatus, the group returned with Howe and Corner in 2016, and they finally started releasing new music in 2021.

Little Dragon

Little Dragon - Twice

Swedish band Little Dragon hail from Gothenburg, having formed in 1996.

The band currently consists of singer Yukimi Nagano, Erik Bodin (drums), Fredrik Wallin (bass) and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards).

Their first release was the incredible single 'Twice' in 2006, and they brought out their debut album a year later.

Nagano was in her first year in high school when she met seniors Wallin and Bodin. The three of them would meet up after school to jam and play records, and their band name was inspired by the 'Little Dragon' nickname Nagano earned due to the "fuming tantrums" she used to throw while in the studio.

UNKLE - Rabbit In Your Headlights

UNKLE was founded in 1992 by James Lavelle.

In 1997, Lavelle brought in DJ Shadow to work on his debut album, which was released a year later. The album featured collaborations with the likes of Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Mark Hollis (Talk Talk), Mike D (Beastie Boys), Badly Drawn Boy and Richard Ashcroft (The Verve).

UNKLE as an outfit still exists today, though Lavelle has featured various incarnations of the collective, hiring a wide range of guest musicians and producers along the way.

His most recent studio album release with 2017's The Road: Part 1.

Martina Topley-Bird

Sandpaper Kisses

English singer and multi-instrumentalist Martina Topley-Bird first found fame when she featured on Tricky's debut album, Maxinquaye in 1995.

She also worked with him on his subsequent albums Nearly God and Pre-Millennium Tension, and then in 2003, she released her debut solo album Quixotic. The album was a critical hit and earned her a Mercury Prize nomination.

She has since worked with the likes of Gorillaz, Diplo and Massive Attack among others, and her track 'Sandpaper Kisses' has been covered Stephen Marley and sampled by The Weeknd.

Lamb - Gorecki

Electronic music duo Lamb formed in 1996 in Manchester, and consist of producer Andy Barlow and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes. Rhodes' distinctive vocals gave them a uniquely beautiful sound, and no doubt inspired the likes of The Knife and Goldfrapp.

Their brand of trip-hop is also influenced drum and bass and jazz, and are best known for their singles 'Górecki' and 'Gabriel'.

Despite a hiatus in the 2000s, they have continued to release music, with their most recent being 2019's The Secret of Letting Go .

DJ Shadow - Midnight In A Perfect World

Speaking of DJ Shadow...

Joshua Davis is an American DJ, songwriter and record producer, known for his famous alter ego. His debut studio album, Endtroducing..... was released in 1996.

DJ Shadow's music often involves manipulating samples, bringing in rare pieces of music and sound clips, from all kinds of genres, particularly on his early albums.

His most recent LP was the double album Our Pathetic Age in 2021.

Portishead - Glory Box

Portishead - named after the place in Somerset, formed in 1991 in Bristol. Comprising of singer Beth Gibbons, producer Geoff Barrow, and musician Adrian Utley, engineer Dave McDonald is also sometimes credited as the fourth member.

• The Story of... 'Glory Box' by Portishead

Their 1994 album Dummy brought together hip-hop production with emotive vocals from Gibbons, creating a particularly atmospheric and cinematic sound. It was one of the albums that defined trip-hop as a growing genre.

Portishead themselves have disliked being associated with the genre, and would later move away from the sound on later albums.

Tricky - 'Black Steel' (Official Video)

British artist Tricky was raised in Bristol, and began his career as an early member of Massive Attack.

He soon began a solo career with his debut album, Maxinquaye , in 1995. It instantly won him huge critical acclaim, and he released four more studio albums before the end of the decade. His most recent album was 2020's Fall to Pieces .

Tricky is considered a pioneer of trip-hop, with his style known for being often dark in tone, and blending cultural influences and genres, such as hip-hop, rock and reggae.

Massive Attack

Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

Trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack formed in 1988 in Bristol, led by Robert '3D' Del Naja, Adrian 'Tricky' Thaws, Andrew 'Mushroom' Vowles and Grant 'Daddy G' Marshall.

Their debut album Blue Lines was released in 1991, with the single 'Unfinished Sympathy' considered one of the greatest songs of all time, let alone trip-hop.

1998's Mezzanine - containing the classic track 'Teardrop') and 2003's 100th Window were also UK number ones.

They have won various awards of the years, and have sold over 13 million copies worldwide.

Like Portishead, they have never been a massive fan of the 'trip hop' label. Daddy G said in 2006: "We used to hate that terminology [trip-hop] so bad. You know, as far we were concerned, Massive Attack music was unique, so to put it in a box was to pigeonhole it and to say, 'Right, we know where you guys are coming from."

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From rock to R&B and a whole host of electronic music, 1997 had something for everyone.

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The year 1997 was great for albums. Any tour around the sun that includes new records from Erykah Badu , Radiohead, Björk, Shania Twain , and Missy Elliott is already in the top tier. But then you had excellent electronica from The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers ; defining hip-hop from The Notorious B.I.G. and Wu-Tang Clan; and Janet Jackson ’s R&B masterpiece The Velvet Rope . We’ve put together a list of some of the best albums from 1997 below. Enjoy digging into some of the best music the 90s had to offer.

Can’t get enough 90s music? Listen to our 90s Music playlist here .

68: Matthew Shipp – Strata

Strata is an adventurous and forward-thinking album from composer and pianist Matthew Shipp. With his quartet featuring William Parker on bass, Daniel Carter on sax, and trumpeter Roy Campbell, Strata opens space for a masterclass in musical communication and improvisation.

‘Hood Rich’: The Big Tymers Are Still Fly

‘views’: when drake found it lonely at the top, ‘rising down’: when the roots uplifted the masses, 67: steve earle – el corazon.

By 1997, Steve Earle had established a reputation for hard-won wisdom and tightly constructed songs. That formula was in full effect on the winning country of El Corazon .

66: Savage Garden – Savage Garden

Full of earnest pop-soul gems, Savage Garden’s 1997 self-titled album is heavy on slick grooves and undeniable songs.

65: Cornershop – When I Was Born for the 7th Time

Cornershop’s 1997 album When I Was Born for the 7th Time is as quirky as it is eclectic. The joyous radio hit “Brimful Of Asha” is still a favorite but the band also dipped into slinky psychedelic funk on “Chocolat” and teamed up with Dan The Automator for the head-nodding hip-hop jam “Sleep On The Left Side.”

64: Aqua – Aquarium

In 1997, Aqua’s cheeky and subversive dance-pop anthem “Barbie Girl” ruled the charts. Aquarium provides more ebullient melodies and club-ready beats.

63: Squarepusher – Hard Normal Daddy

Squarepusher’s twin interests of jazz fusion and drum & bass met in a satisfying way on the one-of-a-kind release Hard Normal Daddy .

62: Primal Scream – Vanishing Point

Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie once described Vanishing Point as “an anarcho-syndicalist speedfreak road-movie record.” We couldn’t agree more.

61: Super Furry Animals – Radiator

A kaledioscopic record that seemingly only could have come out of Wales, Radiator may be Super Furry Animals’ finest moment.

60: Zhané – Saturday Night

Full of grooving R&B, this second album from Zhane featured the undeniable “Request Line” and “Crush” as singles.

59: Supergrass – In It for the Money

A rollicking bit of rock ‘n’ roll, Supergrass’ In It for the Money often has the energy and feel of classic 60s and 70s rock, updated for a new generation.

58: Sarah McLachlan – Surfacing

Anchored by the entrancing hit singles “Building a Mystery” and “Adia,” Sarah McLachlan was ubiquitous in 1997. Once listeners were drawn to Surfacing by the singles, McLachlan’s rich and elegant songs did the work of holding our attention.

57: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – The Boatman’s Call

Full of vivid and tender songs, The Boatman’s Call puts Nick Cave’s gifts as a songwriter and vocalist on full display. “West Country Girl,” “Into My Arms” and “Where Do We Go But Nowhere” are thrilling works of ominous, contemporary gothic blues.

56: In Flames – Whoracle

Booming and complex with relentless riffs, In Flames’ Whoracle is as nasty as it is ambitious.

55: David Holmes – Let’s Get Killed

With samples sourced from voices recorded on the streets of New York, producer/composer David Holmes creates an imaginary film soundtrack with hypnotic electronic beats.

54: Strapping Young Lad – City

A concept record about the city of Los Angeles, this extreme metal album is often hailed as one of the finest metal albums of the 90s.

53: Gas – Zauberberg

Gas’ Zauberberg constructs layers of pulsating techno beats under crackling, ambient soundscapes.

52: Blink-182 – Dude Ranch

Cheeky and impossibly catchy, Blink-182 ’s 1997 album Dude Ranch is a ball of unrestrained energy and an ode to the adolescent male id.

51: Biosphere ‎- Substrata

Chilling and glacial, Biosphere’s Substrata uses spacious ambience to conjure melody, cinematic imagery, and deep feeling.

50: Beth Orton – Trailer Park

Beth Orton’s 1997 sophomore album Trailer Park smoothly mixes tender folk-influenced songs with contemporary electronic beats.

49: George Strait – Carrying Your Love With Me

George Strait has a way with a song unlike any other. Carrying Your Love With Me finds Strait singing about finding, holding onto, and losing love. The entire album is strong but songs like “Today My World Slipped Away” and “Carrying Your Love With Me” are standouts.

48: Bob Marley – Dreams Of Freedom (Ambient Translations Of Bob Marley In Dub)

For Dreams Of Freedom (Ambient Translations Of Bob Marley In Dub) , bassist and producer Bill Laswell uses the music of Bob Marley as a canvas to draw a connection between two seemingly unrelated musical traditions; ambient music and dub reggae. By using dub’s radical approach to reverb and delay, Laswell explodes Marley’s songs into blooming, ambient soundscapes.

47: Mary J. Blige – Share My World

1997’s Share My World came long after Mary J. Blige had been crowned the undisputed queen of hip hop soul. Packed with classic jams like “I Can Love You” and “Love Is All We Need” the album is another entry into an already legendary body of work.

46: Puff Daddy & the Family – No Way Out

With outstanding guest appearances from Notorious B.I.G., Lil Kim, The Lox, Black Rob, Mase, and more, No Way Out is packed with great songs and stands as a testament to Diddy’s ability to identify and nurture world-changing talents.

45: Blur – Blur

Blur’s self-titled album was wildly successful on the strength of the monster radio hit, “Song 2.” An eclectic and adventurous listen, the album bounces from glammy brit-pop (“Movin’ On”), soulful country (“Country Sad Ballad Man”), and dubbed-out hip-hop beats (“I’m Just a Killer For Your Love”).

44: Wyclef Jean – Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring Refugee All-Stars

A globetrotting album that never met an influence it didn’t want to fold in for a song or two, Wyclef John’s The Carnival nimbly synthesizes it all.

43: U2 – Pop

With a panoply of producers at the helm throughout the lengthy recording sessions, U2 ’s Pop stands as one of the most experimental records in the group’s catalogue.

42: Wynton Marsalis – Blood on the Fields

Blood on the Fields not only has great music, but it also marked the first time a jazz musician ever won the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

41: The Verve – Urban Hymns

Beyond the mega-hit “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” The Verve’s 1997 album Urban Hymns has a collection of expansive, beautiful hits.

40: Usher – My Way

Featuring the iconic hit “You Make Me Wanna…” Usher’s My Way signaled his mainstream arrival. Produced largely by Babyface and Jermaine Dupri, it’s a remarkably coherent pop album.

39: Ben Folds Five – Whatever and Ever Amen

With its incredibly catchy and dynamic songs, Whatever and Ever Amen is a delightful 90s update of 70s piano pop. Songs like “Fair,” “Brick,” and “Battle Of Who Could Care Less” are well-crafted and bursting with energy.

38: K-Ci & JoJo – Love Always

Love Always is a beautiful collection of dreamy love ballads from Jodeci’s K-Ci & JoJo. “Now And Forever,” and the enduring hit “All My Life” especially showcase the duo’s extraordinary vocal chemistry.

37: Mogwai – Young Team

Heavy grooves meet dynamic and intricate instrumental interplay on Mogwai’s 1997 album Young Team . At times achingly soft and quiet and other times majestically loud and forceful, Young Team takes the loud/soft of 90s guitar rock to its most extreme application.

36: Moodymann – Silentintroduction

Silentintroduction is the outstanding debut from Detroit dance music giant Moodymann. A master of the Akai MPC sampling drum machine, Moodymann’s productions here range from the chopped up disco-funk of “I Can’t Kick This Feeling When It Hits” to the jazz-informed House track “M-Traxx.”

35: Gravediggaz – The Pick, The Sickle And The Shovel

Whereas their debut was a harrowing trip into a hellscape of psychosis, fear, and paranoia, The Pick, The Sickle And The Shovel reveals the light at the end of the tunnel. Songs like “Twelve Jewelz” and “The Night The Earth Cried” present knowledge as the key to freedom from mental slavery.

34: Modest Mouse – The Lonesome Crowded West

From the explosive and manic energy of the album’s opener “Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine” to the freaked-out folk of “Styrofoam Boots/It’s All On Ice/Alright,” Modest Mouse’s The Lonesome Crowded West is a frenzied and revelatory journey.

33: Paul McCartney – Flaming Pie

1997’s Flaming Pie proved that Paul McCartney was still capable of crafting bright and exuberant songs that stick deep in the mind and reward multiple plays.

32: Buena Vista Social Club – Buena Vista Social Club

Warm, joyful, and brimming with power, Buena Vista Social Club is a celebration of the beauty of Cuban’s musical tradition.

31: Built To Spill – Perfect From Now On

A celebrated classic in indie and alternative-rock circles, Built To Spill’s Perfect From Now On melds thunderous guitar rock with moments of quiet intimacy.

30: Stereolab – Dots And Loops

Few artists sound as sui generis as Stereolab. They continued to mine their Space Age French Bachelor Pad sound on the 1997 album Dots and Loops .

29: Emperor – Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk

From its strange and majestic opener “Al Svatr (The Oath),” to the brutal riffs on “Ye Entrancemperium” and “Ensorcelled By Khaos,” Emperor’s Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk is one of the wildest and most unique metal albums of 1997.

28: Sleater-Kinney – Dig Me Out

Explosive intensive meets razor-sharp execution on Sleater-Kinney’s classic Dig Me Out . “Turn It Out,” “Buy Her Candy,” and “Words And Guitar” are all played with fury and precision.

27: Spice Girls – Spiceworld

Spice Girls followed up the massive success of their debut album with an even bigger sounding collection of pop hits, with “Spice Up Your Life” and “Stop” leading the way.

26: Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape

Boombastic, intense, and unceasingly catchy, Foo Fighters’ The Colour and the Shape distilled all of the lessons of the 90s alt-rock revolution into a powerful, accessible whole.

25: The Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole

The Chemical Brothers ’ 1997 album further proved that they could harness the album format to create a psychedelic and satisfying trip through various sub-genres of dance music, led by the Noel Gallagher-voiced “Tomorrow Never Knows”-referencing “Setting Sun.”

24: Yo La Tengo – I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

One of the most versatile indie rock bands of the 90s delivered one of their finest moments with the 1997 album I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One , which features their organ-drone-and-shuffling-drum masterpiece “Autumn Sweater.”

23: Mariah Carey – Butterfly

Butterfly comes in the midst of a creative run in which Mariah Carey dominated the 90s. Songs like her Dru Hill-assisted cover of Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones” and the slick hip hop-infused hit “Honey” are some of the album’s most memorable moments

22: The Prodigy – The Fat Of The Land

The Prodigy made a huge splash with The Fat of the Land , a pop punk electronica album that introduced the world to Keith Flint and his “Firestarter” devil’s horns hair.

21: Photek – Modus Operandi

With its virtuosic sample-chopping and rich sense of atmospherics, Modus Operandi ’s production was next level in 1997 and it still sounds fresh today.

20: Bob Dylan – Time Out of Mind

With its powerful songs that wrestle with the complex emotions surrounding love, loss, and mortality, Time Out of Mind is a celebrated return to form from the voice of a generation.

19: Jay-Z – In My Lifetime, Vol. 1

Mixing up witty street tales (“Friend Or Foe 98”) with poppy experiments (“I Know What Girls Like”) In My Lifetime Vol. 1 was Jay-Z’s first real swing at the mainstream. Songs like “Where I’m From,” and the harrowing narrative “You Must Love Me” are Hov at his most vivid and poetic.

18: Company Flow – Funcrusher Plus

With lyrics that touched on everything from population control, domestic abuse, and the history of graffiti with beats that put an industrial spin on Run DMC-style minimalism, Funcrusher Plus painted New York City as a dystopian hellscape.

17: Carl Craig – More Songs About Food And Revolutionary Art

Techno was born in the city of Detroit and Carl Craig is without question one of the city’s great producers of this futuristic music. More Songs About Food And Revolutionary Art is one of Craig’s greatest works, perfectly articulating techno mechanistic thump and nocturnal atmosphere.

16: Roni Size & Reprazent – New Forms

One of the finest drum & bass albums ever, Roni Size & Reprazent’s New Forms proved that the genre still had plenty of avenues to explore.

15: Wu-Tang Clan – Wu Tang Forever

After a string of incredible solo albums from various group members, the Wu-Tang Clean reunited with a double album that gave fans plenty more mythology to sift through.

14: Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space

A space rock masterpiece, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space touches on the personal and universal in its quest for a higher state of consciousness.

13: Daft Punk – Homework

With an endless supply of delicious disco loops filtered and twisted into something completely new, Daft Punk’s Homework inspired a generation of future clubbers, DJs, and producers.

12: Deftones – Around The Fur

With songs like “My Own Summer (Shove It)” and “Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)” Around The Fur is a study in dynamic tension, constantly alternating between moments of vulnerability and sheer brutality.

11: Portishead – Portishead

For the follow-up to their 1994 debut, Dummy , Portishead famously recorded instrumental parts, pressed them to vinyl, and reconstructed the entire album by sampling themselves. This painstaking process speaks to the band’s hip-hop roots and willingness to experiment. The result is a moody and cinematic masterpiece where orchestral arrangements play beautifully with thumping breakbeats and Beth Gibbons’ dynamic voice.

10: Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope

A daring exploration of sexuality and desire, The Velvet Rope is the most lush and seductive album in Janet Jackson ’s extensive catalog.

09: Missy Elliott – Supa Dupa Fly

After years of paying her dues as a songwriter behind the scenes, Missy Elliot broke out with 1997’s Supa Dupa Fly and her bizarre and futuristic brand of hip-hop (with production assists from Timbaland) would change music forever.

08: Godspeed You! Black Emperor – F♯ A♯ ∞

With moments of tenderness and sweeping grandiosity, Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s F♯ A♯ ∞ is an enrapturing listening experience. The band’s interplay is sensitive and articulate in the album’s quiet sections and, when they up the volume, they can produce a sound whose intensity is unmatched.

07: Shania Twain – Come on Over

1997 was a breakout year for pop-country star Shania Twain . Come on Over is an upbeat and joyous affair with Twain’s electric presence as its guiding light.

06: Elliott Smith – Either/Or

Although he sometimes sings in a near whisper, the emotional resonance of Elliot Smith ’s Either/Or comes through loud and clear. With standouts like “Ballad Of Big Nothing” and “2:45 AM,” Either/Or makes sadness and melancholy into high art.

05: Belle and Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister

Whether it’s in the breezy and nostalgic gem “Like Dylan In the Movies” or the romantic fatalism of “Get Me Away From Here I’m Dying,” If You’re Feeling Sinister is full of songs that illustrate detailed worlds of emotion.

04: The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death

A grand and flawed opus of rap music’s most tragic figure, Life After Death is where Biggie displayed the depth of his storytelling skills on songs like “I Got A Story To Tell” and “Somebody’s Gotta Die” as well as the versatility of his flow (“Notorious Thugs”).

03: Björk – Homogenic

With sweeping, orchestral arrangements, electronic beats, and dynamic vocals, songs like “Joga” and “Bachelorette” lift Homogenic to the ranks of Bjork’s greatest works.

02: Erykah Badu – Baduizm

One of the strongest R&B debuts of the decade, Erykah Badu came out the gate with a fully formed and unique aesthetic. With its jazzy phrasing and smooth instrumentation, Baduizm perfectly captured the coffee shop open mic vibe of the 90s.

01: Radiohead – OK Computer

With moments of bittersweet musical bliss (“Subterranean Homesick Alien”), raucous guitar noise (“Electioneering”), and beyond, OK Computer tapped into a world of pre-millennium tension and malaise and injected it into their own brand of forward-thinking rock music.

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Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1997

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1997 . Also read: Top 100 Hip Hop Albums Of The 1980s  &  Top 150 Hip Hop Albums Of The 1990s

1. Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus

Underground Hip Hop at its finest. A hate-or-love-it kind of album for many due to its innovative and experimental nature, but doubtless a classic. Company Flow, consisting of El-P (beats & rhymes), Big Juss (rhymes) & DJ Mr. Len (beats & scratches), dropped this gem to bless Hip Hop in a time period where shiny suit rappers and gangsta posers were starting to get most of the spotlight. Ahead of its time and very influential,  Funcrusher Plus  paved the way for countless left-field Hip Hop acts, who were and are instrumental in keeping the genre fresh.

Top tracks: Vital Nerve | Population Control | 8 Steps to Perfection |  Bad Touch Example

2. Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night

Camp Lo ‘s Sonny Cheba and Geechi Suede come off as a sort of hybrid of OutKast, The Pharcyde, and De La Soul. Their insanely smooth flows and outstanding creativity and originality make for an atypical late nineties NYC Hip Hop album. Even though it contained the smash hit “Luchini (This Is It)”, Uptown Saturday Night never really got the recognition it deserved, certainly not at the time of its release. It has aged really well though and is deservedly widely recognized as the masterpiece it is.

Top tracks: Luchini (This Is It) | Black Connection | Coolie High | Black Nostaljack aka Come On

3. Wu Tang Clan - Wu Tang Forever

Wu-Tang Clan ‘s second album had A LOT to live up to. In addition to their monumental debut, the classic Enter The Wu-Tang , there were 5 outstanding solo projects by Wu-Tang Clan members released prior to this sophomore effort. Wu-Tang Forever is a double album, which is always tricky. The risk is that the album loses focus and cohesiveness, that there are some tracks that will be seen as filler material, and that the album simply is too long(winded) and self-indulgent.

Not the case here. Sure, it could have done with fewer tracks (and certainly with fewer skits), but overall this is an excellent album and great addition to the Wu-Tang catalog – still their best-selling album going quadruple platinum. Sadly, Ol’ Dirty Bastards’ input is very limited, but all the others are at the peaks of their lyrical skills, with RZA producing some of the most captivating soundscapes ever.

Top tracks: Triumph | Reunited | It’s Yourz | Impossible

4. The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death

The Notorious B.I.G.’s sophomore album  Life After Death  is plagued by some of the same faults as the ones that marred 2Pac’s  All Eyez On Me .  Life After The Death  is overlong at 1 hour & 47 minutes, and there’s too much filler material: there are too many Puff Daddy pop songs (and a couple of annoying skits). Biggie’s lyrical skill and story-telling abilities are second to none, but the quality of the songs on this LP is hit-and-miss.

Of the 24 tracks, at least 5 should have been left off the album to be able to consider  Life After Death  on par with Biggie’s monumental debut  Ready To Die . Songs like “Somebody’s Gotta Die”, “Hypnotize”, “Kick In The Door”, “What’s Beef?”, “N*****s Bleed”, “I Got A Story To Tell”, “Ten Crack Commandments”, “Long Kiss Goodnight” and “You’re Nobody (Till Somebody Kills You) are all excellent, but “F**k You Tonight”, “I Love The Dough”, “Another”, “Playa Hater”, “Nasty Boy” are weak songs that bring the album down. Another problem is the skits that are used to set the tone for tracks, the skits on  LAD  are all quite long and stuck to the beginning of most songs, severely reducing the replay-ability of those tracks. “Kick In The Door” is a great track, but practically a must-skip because of the useless one-minute skit preceding it.

As it is,  Life After Death still is an awesome album packed with classic tracks – but because of the inclusion of that handful of throwaway tracks, it’s just isn’t the masterpiece it could and should have been.

Top tracks: Kick In The Door | Somebody’s Gotta Die | 10 Crack Commandments | Long Kiss Goodnight

5. Mood - Doom

This crew from Cincinnati, Ohio dropped an underground sleeper classic with  Doom . Atmospheric and melodic production complemented with clever lyrics – this is real Hip Hop at its finest. The album features production by Hi-Tek and guest appearances by  Talib Kweli  and Wu-Tang-affiliated group Sunz of Man, and this album can be seen as a springboard for all their careers. Mood emcees Main Flow and Donte do an excellent job over Hi-Tek’s beats, the result is a slept-on masterpiece. It’s hard to single out standout tracks from this album because its strength is its consistency: one hour of excellence.

Top tracks: Millennium | Karma | Illuminated Sunlight | Esoteric Manuscripts

6. O.C. - Jewelz

It can be argued that the labels ‘slept on’ and ‘underrated’ are overused and applied to far too many emcees – who are either not very good or not slept on at all. O.C. is an underrated emcee who well deserves the label. After his perfect (and yes – slept on) debut Word… Life in 1994, he returns with another outstanding (and slightly more accessible) album. Production is tight and comes from renowned producers like DJ Premier, Lord Finesse, Showbiz, Buckwild, Da Beatminerz. Guest appearances from Big L, Organized Konfusion, and Freddie Foxxx are the icing on the cake.

Top tracks: My World | War Games | Stronjay | The Chosen One

7. Common - One Day It’ll All Make Sense

Another brilliant Common album, the one that made the Chicago emcee a Hip Hop A-lister. Consistent high level of quality throughout, creative and thoughtful lyrics combined with excellent, soulful production:  One Day It’ll All Make Sense is a Hip Hop classic that has aged like fine wine, and it’s not even Common’s best album. Common is extraordinary.

Top tracks: Gettin’ Down At The Amphitheater | Making A Name For Ourselves | Retrospect For Life | Hungry

8. Cru - Da Dirty 30

Like Mood’s album, this is an underground gem, sadly slept on. Production is handled by Yogi and is excellent throughout. Yogi and Chaddeo share the mic on mostly all of the tracks, with a few guest appearances by the likes of Ras Kass, Black Rob, and the legendary Slick Rick to add extra spice. This is pure mid-90s hardcore NYC boom-bap Hip Hop – no frills, no gimmicks. If they would just have left out the unnecessary and annoying skits, Cru would have had a true classic on their hands with Da Dirty 30 .

Top tracks: Armageddon | Loungin’ Wit My Cru | Just Another Case | The Ebonic Plague

9. Capone-N-Noreaga - The War Report

Capone-N-Noreaga’s debut album is an NYC noir classic, very similar to Mobb Deep’s monumental albums The Infamous  and  Hell On Earth . Excellent production from some of the finest producers in the game (like Buckwild, Lord Finesse, Clark Kent, Havoc from Mobb Deep, and Marley Marl) and typical East Coast gangsta rap lyrics – more tough-guy tales from Queensbridge’s rough streets.

Capone is only on half of the songs because he got locked up while recording the album. Tragedy Khadafi takes his place on some songs, which actually does the album well. The War Report is a solid album, a must-have for fans of NYC street rap like that of Nas, Mobb Deep, and Kool G Rap.

Top tracks: Bloody Money | Stick You | Illegal Life | Driver Seat

10. Jedi Mind Tricks - The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological, And Electro-Magnetic Manipulation Of Human Consciousness

On their debut album, this underground crew from Philadelphia do not reach their full potential yet, but this still is a dope album anyway. Stoupe Enemy of Mankind is an excellent producer, providing bone-chilling and atmospheric soundscapes for  Vinnie Paz to unleash his lyrical wizardry on. Innovative and intelligent, and the beginning of an impressive career filled with A+ quality albums. Jedi Mind Tricks  is one of the best and most consistent Hip Hop crews in the game.

Top tracks: The Winds Of War | Chinese Water Torture | The Three Immortals | I Who Have Nothing

11. Three 6 Mafia - Chapter. 2: World Domination

The breakout album from Three 6 Mafia. The Memphis crew made a mainstream buzz with this album, which builds on their earlier releases ,  reprising four hits previously released on  Mystic Stylez  (1995) and  Chapter 1: The End  (1996): “Late Nite Tip”, “N 2 Deep”, “Body Parts” and “Tear Da Club Up”.  Chapter. 2: World Domination  is filled with top-tier dark and hypnotic beats crafted by DJ Paul and Juicy J, and with cutthroat lyrical content – at 80+ minutes this is a monster of an album, but it never overstays its welcome.  Chapter. 2: World Domination  is a BANGER from start to finish – Three 6 Mafia’s best.

12. Scarface - The Untouchable

Scarface ‘s 1994 classic The Diary would always be a tough album to follow up on. With The Untouchable , his fourth solo album, Face does an admirable job and mostly succeeds. Arguably the beats are a bit weaker on this one, but lyrically Scarface is as strong as ever. Few rappers in the game are able to convey emotion as strongly and convincingly as Scarface is able to do. The Untouchable is one of Scarface’s best albums (together with his debut, The Diary , and The Fix ) and another instant Brother Mob classic.

Top tracks: Smile | Faith | Mary Jane | Untouchable

13. Kool Keith - Sex Style

After the brilliant Dr Octagonecologyst from the year previous, Kool Keith returns with Sex Style , presenting some awesomely ridiculous “pornocore”. Any other rapper (with the possible exception of MF DOOM) would sound really really ridiculous – it’s only Kool Keith who can get away with doing an album like this and come out on top. Kool Keith is a bizarre genius and truly one of a kind. After Dr Octagonecologyst , Sex Style is one of the best albums in Kool Keith’s vast catalog .

Top tracks: Keep it Real… Represent | Sex Style | Still The Best | Don’t Crush It

14. Master P - Ghetto D

Ghetto D  is the sixth studio album by New Orleans’ mogul Master P – his best album and one of the flagship albums of his No Limit Records empire. This is an 80-minute masterpiece and a landmark album for Southern Hip Hop . Guests appear on every song, and mostly they are the New Orleans No Limit Soldiers, such as his brothers C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, Mystikal, Fiend, Mr. Serv-On, Kane & Abel, Mo B. Dick, and O’Dell among others. The subject matter is kind of generic, but Master P and guests make it sound good, also thanks to energetic production provided by the Beats By the Pound crew, who did most No Limit production.

No Limit Records (together with Cash Money Records) opted for a quantity-over-quality business model that had them spamming the world with an endless stream of the same generic albums over and over again, but that doesn’t mean there were some defining albums among them – this album is one of those.  Ghetto D  is the jewel in Master P’s No Limit crown.

15. Jay Z - In My Lifetime Vol 1

Although not quite up to par with Jay-Z’s monumental debut Reasonable Doubt , In My Lifetime Vol 1 is a fine album in its own right. Some may say that Jigga turned pop with this album, and there’s some truth in that statement. This album is definitely more radio-friendly, a clear attempt by Jay-Z to appeal to wider audiences. But the ‘street’ is still there too, just because there are a few (actually pretty good…) ‘poppy’ songs on it, it’s no reason to dismiss the whole album.

Not his best work (that would be Reasonable Doubt , The Blueprint , and The Black Album ), but not his worst either. Solid Jay-Z.

Top tracks: Where I’m From | Imaginary Player | Streets Is Watching | This City Is Mine

16. Frankie Cutlass - Politics & Bullsh*t

Frankie Cutlass gathered an A-star line-up for this boom-bap treasure. With guest spots from Craig G., Roxanne Shante, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, Mobb Deep, Kool G Rap, M.O.P., Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Keith Murray, Redman, Sean Price, and others, you know this has to be a quality album.

Top tracks: The Cypher Part 3 | Know Da Game | Games | Puerto Rico (Black People)

17. Slum Village - Fan-Tas-Tic Vol 1

Slum Village’s ‘unofficial’ debut album, recorded in 1996 and 1997, but not officially released until 8 years later. It was leaked in 1997 however, quickly becoming an underground classic. Completely produced by the late great J Dilla , this experimental album is a must-have for fans of his sound.

Top tracks: The Look Of Love | Keep It On | Players | Things U Do

18. Busta Rhymes - When Disaster Strikes

After The Coming , his excellent solo debut released the year previous, Busta Rhymes returns with an equally potent album,  When Disaster Strikes . Busta Rhymes made his name as the most appealing member of the high-energy crew The Leaders Of The New School, and especially with his career-defining guest-spot on ATCQ’s posse cut “ Scenario “. On When Disaster Strikes he continues in that vein and that of The Coming : delivering an album full of club bangers with his typical manic rhymes and energy. This is the album that catapulted Bus-a-bus to the top of the hill.

Top tracks: Rhymes Galore | Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See | Dangerous | One

19. Organized Konfusion - The Equinox

Organized Konfusion’s third and last album, after which Prince Po and Pharoahe Monch would go their separate ways. Just like its predecessors, The Equinox is an intriguing listen. Not very accessible, mainly because of the ‘concept’ nature of the album and the (too many) skits – but judging the album purely by its songs, it’s another Organized Konfusion winner.

Prince Po and especially Pharoahe Monch are excellent emcees who throughout the whole album deliver lyrically tight and dense verses that will leave your ears burning. This album would have been virtually flawless if they would have released it as a 12 or 14 song record, without all the skits to distract us.

Top tracks: Hate | Somehow, Someway | Numbers | Questions

20. Missy Elliott - Supa Dupa Fly

Very much a crossover album with a lot of pop/R&B/mainstream appeal, Supa Dupa Fly deserves its high position on this list nonetheless. The revolutionary and eminently recognizable production by Timbaland combined with Missy ‘s extravagant talent make for a dope album – admittedly with some filler tracks, but with some unforgettable classics on it too.

Top tracks: Sock It 2 Me | The Rain | Friendly Skies | Best Friends

21. Rakim - The 18th Letter

After label- and legal troubles kept him from releasing music for years, his solo debut in 1997 was highly anticipated by all those who consider Rakim one of the best, if not THE best emcee of all time. Unfortunately,  The 18th Letter did not quite meet expectations. After four back-to-back genre-defining classics with former partner Eric B, it would always be next to impossible to continue that same level of quality. The problem with The 18th Letter is its inconsistency.

DJ Premier gives Rakim some of his best beats and Rakim kills it on those tracks. There are a few R&B-ish tracks however that do not work at all and there are unnecessary skits that break the flow of the album. Outside a few exceptional tracks where everything fits, the production was on the soft side and some of the beats just don’t match Rakim’s intensity. All in all, not a bad album at all – but seeing it is a Rakim album it could (and should) have been so much better…

Top tracks: It’s Been A Long Time | Guess Who’s Back | When I’m Flowin’ | The 18th Letter

22. KRS-One - I Got Next

KRS One ‘s best-selling album, but not his best album . It’s true that probably all his albums preceding this one (including all BDP albums) are better than this one, but even so – this album is not as bad as some KRS haters would make you believe. I Got Next even contains some of the Blastmasters’ best tracks (“Step Into A World”, “A Friend”). Problem is that overall it is a bit too inconsistent (most notably because of a failed experiment with a metal crossover track and especially because of an ill-conceived track with Puff Daddy) and feels too disjointed to be rated higher.

Top tracks: Step Into A World | A Friend | Heartbeat | Can’t Stop Won’t Stop

23. Suga Free - Street Gospel

A forgotten but dope album, that deserves to be mentioned when West Coast gems are talked about. This is a super-smooth album with that signature DJ Quik sound (DJ Quik produced the whole album). Suga Free is a great emcee whose humorous hood tales perfectly complement Quik’s funked-out beats. Critically acclaimed, but sadly overlooked .

Top tracks: Tip Toe | Doe Doe And A Skunk | Why U Bullshittin? | Don’t No Suckas Live Here

24. Psycho Realm - The Psycho Realm (1997)

The Psycho Realm  is the first album by Los Angeles crew Psycho Realm. At this time the group consisted of brothers Sick Jacken and Big Duke, along with Cypress Hill’s B-Real – who is the star of the show. Surprising lyrical depth here and there, plus excellent (mostly self-produced) instrumentals – this is one the most underappreciated Hip Hop albums of the late 1990s.

25. The Beatnuts - Stone Crazy

This is another quality Beatnuts album. These guys – much like their West Coast counterparts Tha Alkaholiks – know how to keep Hip Hop FUN. Never taking themselves too seriously, they kick crazy and humorous lyrics over some bumping beats for the listener’s pleasure. The Beatnuts are one of the most underrated crews around.

Top tracks: Off The Books | Find That | Uncivilized | Do You Believe

26. Atmosphere - Overcast!

Reportedly not loved by Atmosphere ‘s Slug himself, this album is dope as hell anyway. On their debut Atmosphere still was a trio, consisting of Slug and Ant, and an emcee named Spawn. More raw, dark, and grimy than their later albums and not much of the ’emo-rap’ they became famous for later. Just a straight-up underground Hip Hop album that Slug can be proud of (even if he isn’t). Atmosphere is one of underground Hip Hop’s top acts and their legacy starts here.

Top tracks: Scapegoat | Multiples | 1597 | Complications

27. Del The Funkee Homosapien - Future Development

Del’s third studio album was his first released under the Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings label (because Del was dropped off Elektra before this album got released). Its 1997 release was only on the Hieroglyphics website and as a cassette in Japan. It was re-released in America as a CD in 2002. It was still able to achieve decent success, selling over 400,000 copies worldwide. Not Del’s most essential work – but still an album more than worth having in your collection. A must-have for Hieroglyphics completists at least.

Top tracks: Del’s Nightmare | Corner Story | Don’t Forget The Bass | Checkin’ Out The Rivalry

28. Boogie Monsters - God Sound

Boogie Monsters dropped an impressive debut album in 1994 with  Riders of the Storm: The Underwater Album . The group got the label ‘Christian rappers’, and the album went largely unnoticed – which was a shame because it was really excellent.

In 1997 the group came back with God Sound , not quite as strong as its predecessor but still more than a worthwhile listen. Strictly East Coast, full of wisdom, social commentary, and spiritual nourishment. Musically sparse but very tasteful. Clean and mostly positive – it’s a shame this kind of Hip Hop loses out to the violence-glorifying kind, but there you go. A solid effort.

Top tracks: The Beginning Of The End | Photographic Memory | Mark Of The Beast | God Sound

29. Jungle Brothers - Raw Deluxe

After their first two critically acclaimed albums –  Straight Out The Jungle  (1988) and Done By The Forces Of Nature (1989) –  the JB’s ran into label troubles due to disappointing album sales. They came back with the experimental J. Beez Wit The Remedy in 1993 which was not quite up to par with their earlier efforts.

Raw Deluxe is somewhat of a return to form, although still no way near the superb level of their first two classics. This album is more toned down and misses a bit of the spark they used to have,  but it’s a perfectly enjoyable Hip Hop album anyway.

Top tracks: Jungle Brother | How Ya Want It We Got It | Brain | Political

30. EPMD - Back In Business

After a 5-year hiatus, due to beef between Erick and Parish and their working on solo projects, EPMD returned with their fifth album as a duo: the aptly titled Back In Business . Solid as always, with a few standout tracks, it’s just missing the little extra spark that their first four albums had to have to rank it higher on this list. Regardless, you can’t go wrong with any album from one of Hip Hop’s most consistent duos.

Top tracks: Richter Scale | Da Joint | Never Seen Before | You Gots To Chill 97

31. Tha Alkaholiks - Likwidation

“If it ain’t broke, then don’t try to fix it”. Tha Alkaholiks’ third album does exactly what the previous two did: giving us uncomplicated, unpretentious, good old fun Hip Hop. No gimmicks, no fabricated attitude, just party rap for everybody’s enjoyment. Dope beats, fun rhymes, guests like Xzibit and Ol’ Dirty Bastard – what’s not to like?

Top tracks: Off The wall | Awww Sh** | Hip Hop Drunkies | Killin’ It

32. Diamond - Hatred, Passions and Infidelity

Not on par with his classic 1992 debut Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop , but not bad either. In a year dominated with Puffy bling, it was refreshing to still be able to hear that gold old D.I.T.C boom-bap.

Top tracks: The One | Gather Round | 5 Fingas Of Death | MC Iz My Ambition

33. Latyrx - The Album

Cali MCs Lateef the Truthspeaker and Lyrics Born deliver an album that may be a little bit too experimental, obscure, and abstract for most but deserves more attention nonetheless. Lyrics Born produced most of the album, with some cuts done by the supreme DJ Shadow. The off-the-wall production, combined with outstanding lyricism makes for an album that deserves a place in any (alternative) Hip Hop fan’s collection.

Top tracks: Balcony Beach | The Quickening (The Wreckoning, Part II) | Bad News | Burnt Pride

34. Mystikal - Unpredictable

New Orleans-based rapper Mystikal’s second full-length studio album and No Limit debut is his best LP. Mystikal’s ‘energetic’ lyrical style is an acquired taste and can get exhausting after a full hour, but thankfully there are plenty of guests on  Unpredictable  to add variety. The main strength of the albums is the banging production from No Limits’ in-house production team Beats By The Pound – the atmospheric beats on this album are straight FIRE from beginning to end.  Unpredictable  is Mystikal’s best album and one of the best albums to come out of the No Limit camp.

35. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - The Art Of War

The Art Of War  is a bit overlong and inconsistent, but it is an essential BTNH album nonetheless. As with  most double albums  in Hip Hop it could have been better f it had been condensed into one tight 15 track album – in that case, it would have been an absolute classic. Still, there’s plenty of BTNH gold here – including tracks such as “Look Into My Eyes”, “Body Rott”, “Ready 4 War”, “Ain’t Nothin’ Changed”, “Clog Up Yo Mind”, “If I Could Teach The World”, “Wasteland Warriors”, and “Thug Luv”.

36. Artifacts - That's Them

Perhaps not as good as their 1994 debut Between a Rock and a Hard Place , but a strong album nonetheless. Tight production from Shawn J and Lord Finesse and dope lyrics from Artifact’s El Da Sensei and Tame One. These guys refreshingly stay away from gangsta cliches and represent real Hip Hop culture.

Top tracks: Art Of Facts | Collaboration Of Mics | 31 Bumrush | The Ultimate

37. Royal Flush - Ghetto Millionaire

Underrated and slept-on. Queens rapper Royal Flush’s debut is a typical example of late 90s NYC Hip Hop, with great beats and rhymes. Flush is an emcee with style and charm, and he has a nice flow and delivery. His subject matter is nothing special – mostly the Queens street lifestyle – but he does it well. A long but consistent album.

Top tracks: Dead Letter | International Currency | Family Problems | Regulate

38. Killarmy - Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars

A Wu-Tang spin-off that may be lacking the special spark that made the early Wu-Tang family material so classic, but which is solid in its own right. Wu-Tang producers 4th Disciple (RZA’s half-brother) and Tru Master produced the bulk of this album, so you know the beats are tight – but the 6 emcees are of mixed quality, with especially Killa Sin being a positive exception. An album any and all Wu-Tang fans have to own, though.

Top tracks: Camouflage Ninjas | Wu Renegades | Clash Of The Titans | Full Moon

39. The Firm - The Album

What? Does the Firm only make #39? Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Nature, with production by Dr. Dre and Trackmasters – The Firm has to be at least top 10, right? Well, it should have been. It turned out to be merely OK, no more, no less. The album has some good moments, but overall falls flat – it’s a bit inconsistent and the whole mafioso thing feels too gimmicky. Good enough to (barely) make this list, but not nearly delivering on its promise.

Top tracks: Phone Tap | Firm Fiasco | Desperados | Five Minutes To Flush

40. LL Cool J - Phenomenon

Not his best album by a long shot, but there’s plenty to enjoy here. Highlights are the classic posse cut “ 4,3,2,1 ” (which sparked the beef with Canibus), the emotionally charged “Father” and the Busta Rhymes collabo “Starsky & Hutch”. There are a few less inspired tracks too though, and some trademark ‘poppy’ LL songs that are not to everybody’s liking – but however you look at it, there’s no denying LL Cool J is one of Hip Hop’s GOATs and deserving of everybody’s respect.

Top tracks: 4,3,2,1 | Father | Starsky & Hutch | Wanna Get Paid

Honorable Mentions

• Various Artists – Soundbombing
• Various Artists – Soul In The Hole
• 2Pac – R U Still Down? (Remember Me)
• Murs – F’Real
• Aesop Rock – Music For Earthworms
• MJG – No More Glory
• No I.D. – Accept Your Own & Be Yourself (The Black Album)
• Rampage – Scout’s Honor… By Way Of Blood
• X-ecutioners – X-Pressions
• Boot Camp Clik – For The People
• Lady of Rage – Necessary Roughness
• Muggs – Muggs Presents the Soul Assassins, Chapter 1
• Chubb Rock – The Mind
• Gravediggaz – The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel
• Twista – Adrenaline Rush
• Hot Boys – Get It How U Live!!
• MC Breed – Flatline
• Brotha Lynch Hung – Loaded
• Mia X – Unlady Like
• Spice 1 – The Black Bossalini
• Mack 10 – Based On A True Story
• Puff Daddy – No Way Out
• Mase – Harlem World
• Wyclef Jean – The Carnival

Written by HHGA Staff

Top 40 hip hop albums 1994, top 40 hip hop albums 1995, top 40 hip hop albums 1996, 3 responses to “top 40 hip hop albums 1997”.

Wow… where is Timbaland and Magoo?

Timbaland and Magoo debut is one of the worst hip hop albums of all time… fortunately it isn’t one the list!

How the hell Wyclef’s The Carnival not on the top 40? That album was dope, much better than LL or Mystikal’s albums from that year.

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