From Illmatic to Madvillainy, To Pimp a Butterfly to Aquemini, Tha Carter II to De La Soul Is Dead, we look at the best hip hop albums of all time, year by year.
The Southern takeover, which had started at the beginning of the decade, was in full swing by 2005. With names like Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall dropping landmark albums this year, the South would begin to define hip hop for the next decade and running.
While that was happening, Kanye and his fellow Chicago rapper Common were holding it down for the Windy City with two stellar releases that would rank amongst the best albums of the year. Over the West Coast, The Game was picking up L.A. and putting it on his back with the release of his multiplatinum debut (with lots of help from Dre and 50).
From Young Jeezy’s Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 to Kanye West’s Late Registration and The Game’s The Documentary, here are the top 25 best hip hop albums of 2005.
25. Memphis Bleek – 534
Released: May 17, 2005
Label: Get Low, Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Singles: “Like That”, “Infatuated”, “Dear Summer”
Features: Young Gunz, M.O.P., Rihanna, Jay-Z, Denim, Livin’ Proof
24. Tony Yayo – Thoughts of a Predicate Felon
Released: August 30, 2005
Label: G-Unit, Interscope
Singles: “So Seductive”, “Curious”, “I Know You Don’t Love Me”
Features: 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Olivia and Spider Loc, as well as T.I., Eminem, Obie Trice, Jagged Edge, Joe and Kokane
23. AZ – A.W.O.L.
Released: September 6, 2005
Label: Fast Life, Quiet Money, Koch
Singles: “The Come Up”
Features: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Half-a-Mil, Begetz, Bounty Killer, CL Smooth, Ralo
22. Roots Manuva – Awfully Deep
Released: January 28, 2005
Label: Big Dada
Singles: “Colossal Insight”, “Too Cold”
Features: Hazel Sim, DJ MK, Marshmello, Lotek
21. Beanie Sigel – The B. Coming
Released: March 29, 2005
Label: Dame Dash, Def Jam
Singles: “Gotta Have It”, “Don’t Stop”, “Feel It in the Air”
Features: Freeway, Young Chris, Peedi Crakk, Twista, Snoop Dogg, Redman, Bun B, Melissa Jay, Rell, Grand Puba, Sadat X, Peedi Crakk, Oschino, Omillio Sparks, Jay-Z, Cam’ron
20. 50 Cent – The Massacre
Released: March 3, 2005
Label: Shady, Aftermath, Interscope
Singles: “Disco Inferno”, “Candy Shop”, “Just a Lil Bit”, “Outta Control”
Features: The Game, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, Eminem, Olivia, Jamie Foxx
19. Mike Jones – Who Is Mike Jones?
Released: April 19, 2005
Label: Swishahouse, Asylum, Warner Bros.
Singles: “Still Tippin'”, “Back Then”
Features: Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Big Moe, Lil Bran, CJ, Mello, Bun B, Lil Keke
18. Rapper Big Pooh – Sleepers
Released: February 8, 2005
Label: 6 Hole, Caroline
Singles: N/A
Features: O-Dash, Spectac, Darien Brockington, Joe Scudda, KeKe, Tyesha, Murs
17. Paul Wall – The Peoples Champ
Released: September 13, 2005
Label: Swishahouse, Atlantic, Asylum
Singles: “Sittin’ Sidewayz”, “They Don’t Know”, “Girl”, “Drive Slow”
Features: Three 6 Mafia, Mike Jones, Trey Songz, Freeway, T.I., Big Pokey, Bun B, B.G., Lil Wayne
16. Blackalicious – The Craft
Released: September 27, 2005
Label: Anti
Singles: “Your Move”, “Powers”
Features: Ledisi, Larry Saunders, Ledisi, Lateef, Pigeon John, George Clinton, P.E.A.C.E., Kween, Lyrics Born
15. Juelz Santana – What the Game’s Been Missing!
Released: November 22, 2005
Label: Diplomat, Def Jam
Singles: “Mic Check”, “There It Go (The Whistle Song)”, “Make It For Ya”, “Clockwork”
Features: Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Cam’ron, Sizzla, Hell Rell, Razah, Bezel
14. Little Brother – The Minstrel Show
Released: September 13, 2005
Label: Atlantic
Singles: “Lovin’ It”, “Slow It Down”
Features: DJ Jazzy Jeff, Chaundon, Khrysis
13. Chamillionaire – The Sound of Revenge
Released: November 22, 2005
Label: Chamillitary, Universal
Singles: “Turn It Up”, “Ridin'”, “Grown and Sexy”
Features: Natalie Alvarado, Krayzie Bone, Bun B, Scarface, Billy Cook, Killer Mike and Pastor Troy
12. Bun B – Trill
Released: October 18, 2005
Label: Rap-a-Lot, Asylum, Atlantic
Singles: “Draped Up”, “Get Throwed”, “Git It”
Features: Ying Yang Twins, Pimp C, Young Jeezy, Z-Ro, Jay-Z, Lil’ Keke, J. Prince, Mannie Fresh, Ludacris, Scarface, Jazze Pha, Trey Songz, Mike Jones, Birdman, T.I., Too $hort, Juvenile, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Aztek, Lil’ Flip
11. Buckshot & 9th Wonder – Chemistry
Released: June 21, 2005
Label: Duck Down
Singles: N/A
Features: Keisha Shontelle, Big Pooh, Joe Scudda, L.E.G.A.C.Y., Phonte, Sean Price and Starang Wondah
10. Quasimoto – The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Released: May 3, 2005
Label: Stones Throw Records
Singles: “Bus Ride”
Features: Madvillain, M.E.D.
9. Sean Price – Monkey Barz
Released: June 13, 2005
Label: Duck Down
Singles: “Rising To The Top / Spit Game”, “Boom Bye Yeah / 60 Bar Dash”, “Onion Head”
Features: Buckshot, Louieville Sluggah, Rock, Starang Wondah, Steele, Tek, Ruste Juxx.
8. DJ Muggs & GZA – Grandmasters
Released: October 25, 2005
Label: Angeles Records
Singles: “General Principles”
Features: Raekwon, RZA, Masta Killa, Prodigal Sunn, Sen Dog
7. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter II
Released: December 6, 2005
Label: Cash Money, Young Money, Universal
Singles: “Fireman”, “Hustler Musik”, “Shooter”
Features: Kurupt, Currensy, Robin Thicke, Nikki Jean, Birdman
6. Danger Doom – The Mouse and the Mask
Released: October 10, 2005
Label: Lex, Epitaph, Metalface Records
Singles: “Sofa King”, “Old School”
Features: Talib Kweli, Ghostface Killah
5. Missy Elliott – The Cookbook
Released: July 4, 2005
Label: Goldmind, Atlantic
Singles: “Lose Control”, “Teary Eyed”, “We Run This”
Features: Mary J. Blige, Grand Puba, Mike Jones, Slick Rick, Ciara, Fatman Scoop, Fantasia, Vybz Cartel & M.I.A.
4. The Game – The Documentary
Released: January 18, 2005
Label: Aftermath, G-Unit, Interscope
Singles: “Westside Story”, “How We Do”, “Hate It or Love It”, “Higher”, “Dreams”, “Put You on the Game”
Features: 50 Cent, Eminem, Nate Dogg Faith Evans, Tony Yayo, Dion, Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes
3. Young Jeezy – Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
Released: July 26, 2005
Label: Corporate Thugz, Def Jam South
Singles: “And Then What”, “Soul Survivor”, “Go Crazy (Remix)”, “My Hood”
Features: Trick Daddy, Young Buck, Lil’ Will, Jay-Z, Mannie Fresh, Lil Scrappy, T.I., Akon, Bun B, Lloyd, Slick Pulla
2. Kanye West – Late Registration
Released: August 30, 2005
Label: Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella
Singles: “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”, “Gold Digger”, “Heard ‘Em Say”, “Touch the Sky”, “Drive Slow”
Features: Adam Levine, Jamie Foxx, Common, Brandy, Jay-Z, Nas, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Wall, GLC, The Game, Really Doe, Consequence, Cam’ron
1. Common – Be
Released: May 24, 2005
Label: Geffen, GOOD
Singles: “The Food”, “The Corner”, “Go!”, “Testify”, “Faithful”
Features: Umar Bin Hassan of the Last Poets, Kanye West, John Legend
