There’s an ongoing myth that hip hop is a young man’s game. While that may have been true in the earlier days, where it seemed like every rapper was barely in the 20s dropping straight classics, things have changed.
As hip hop has evolved and matured over the past few decades – with ’90s rappers like Hov, Nas, Common, Busta Rhymes leading the way on how to age gracefully in a fast-moving culture – we’re starting to see a lot more rappers drop incredible music into their 30s, 40s, and even 50s. For example – Busta Rhymes dropped his tenth album, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God , last year at 48 years old.
On this list, we take a look at 100 rappers and how old they were when they dropped a classic album.
Radio
LL Cool J was 17 years old when Radio dropped
Release date: November 18, 1985
Lyte as a Rock
MC Lyte was 18 years old when Lyte as a Rock dropped
Release date: September 13, 1988
Run-D.M.C.
Run and DMC were both 19 years old when Run-D.M.C. dropped
Release date: March 27, 1984
Paid in Full
Rakim was 19 years old when Paid in Full dropped
Release date: July 7, 1987
Strictly Business
Erick Sermon and PMD were both 19 years old when Strictly Business dropped
Release date: June 7, 1988
Long Live the Kane
Big Daddy Kane was 19 years old when Long Live the Kane dropped
Release date: June 21, 1988
He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper
Will Smith was 19 years old when He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper dropped
Release date: March 29, 1988
Funky Technician
Lord Finesse was 19 years old when Funky Technician dropped
Release date: February 6, 1990
3 Feet High and Rising
Pos was 19 years old, Trugoy the Dove was 20 years old and Maseo was 18 years old when 3 Feet High and Rising dropped
Release date: March 3, 1989
All Hail the Queen
Queen Latifah was 19 years old when All Hail the Queen dropped
Release date: November 28, 1989
People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
Q-Tip was 20 years old (the album dropped on his birthday) and Phife Dawg was 19 years old when People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm dropped
Release date: April 10, 1990
Illmatic
Nas was 20 years old when Illmatic dropped
Release date: April 19, 1994
Road to the Riches
Kool G Rap was 20 years old when Road to the Riches dropped
Release date: March 14, 1989
AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
Ice Cube was 20 years old when AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted dropped
Release date: May 16, 1990
Naughty by Nature
Treach and Vin Rock were both 20 years old when Naughty by Nature dropped
Release date: September 3, 1991
The Infamous
Prodigy was 20 years old and Havoc was 21 years old when The Infamous dropped
Release date: April 25, 1995
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Big L was 20 years old when Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous dropped
Release date: March 28, 1995
The Score
Lauryn Hill was 20 years old, Wyclef Jean was 26 years old and Pras was 23 years old when The Score dropped
Release date: February 13, 1996
Licensed to Ill
Mike D was 20 years old, MCA was 22 years old and Ad-Rock was 20 years old when Licensed to Ill dropped
Release date: November 15, 1986
The War Report
Capone was 20 years old and N.O.R.E. was 19 years old when The War Report dropped
Release date: June 17, 1997
Acid Rap
Chance the Rapper was 20 years old when Acid Rap dropped
Release date: April 30, 2013
Resurrection
Common was 21 years old when Resurrection dropped
Release date: October 4, 1994
No One Can Do It Better
The D.O.C. was 21 years old when No One Can Do It Better dropped
Release date: August 1, 1989
Quik Is the Name
DJ Quik was 21 years old when Quik Is the Name dropped
Release date: January 15, 1991
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg was 22 years old when Doggystyle dropped
Release date: November 23, 1993
Whut? Thee Album
Redman was 22 years old when Whut? Thee Album dropped
Release date: September 22, 1992
Ready to Die
The Notorious B.I.G. was 22 years old when Ready to Die dropped
Release date: September 13, 1994
Criminal Minded
KRS-One was 22 years old when Criminal Minded dropped
Release date: March 3, 1987
Harlem World
Mase was 22 years old when Harlem World dropped
Release date: October 28, 1997
Dogg Food
Kurupt and Daz Dillinger were both 22 years old when Dogg Food dropped
Release date: October 31, 1995
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Slick Rick was 22 years old when The Great Adventures of Slick Rick dropped
Release date: November 1, 1988
The Sun Rises in the East
Jeru the Damaja was 22 years old when The Sun Rises in the East dropped
Release date: May 24, 1994
Doe or Die
AZ was 23 years old when Doe or Die dropped
Release date: October 10, 1995
Aquemini
Big Boi and Andre 3000 were both 23 years old when Aquemini dropped
Release date: September 29, 1998
Tical
Method Man was 23 years old when Tical dropped
Release date: November 15, 1994
Word…Life
O.C. was 23 years old when Word…Life dropped
Release date: October 18, 1994
The Diary
Scarface was 23 years old when The Diary dropped
Release date: October 18, 1994
Regulate… G Funk Era
Warren G was 23 years old when Regulate… G Funk Era dropped
Release date: June 7, 1994
Do You Want More?!!!??!
Black Thought was 23 years old when Do You Want More?!!!??! dropped
Release date: January 17, 1995
Mecca and the Soul Brother
CL Smooth was 23 years old when Mecca and the Soul Brother dropped
Release date: June 9, 1992
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill was 23 years old when The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill dropped
Release date: August 25, 1998
Eazy-Duz-It
Eazy-E was 24 years old when Eazy-Duz-It dropped
Release date: November 23, 1988
All Eyez on Me
Tupac was 24 years old when All Eyez on Me dropped
Release date: February 13, 1996
How Ya Like Me Now
Kool Moe Dee was 25 years old when How Ya Like Me Now dropped
Release date: November 3, 1987
When Disaster Strikes…
Busta Rhymes was 25 years old when When Disaster Strikes… dropped
Release date: September 16, 1997
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
Raekwon was 25 years old when Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… dropped
Release date: August 1, 1995
Tha Carter III
Lil Wayne was 25 years old when Tha Carter III dropped
Release date: June 10, 2008
King
T.I. was 25 years old when King dropped
Released: March 28, 2006
Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool
Lupe Fiasco was 25 years old when The Cool dropped
Release date: December 18, 2007
The Documentary
The Game was 25 years old when The Documentary dropped
Release date: January 18, 2005
Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Kid Cudi was 25 years old when Man on the Moon: The End of Day dropped
Release date: September 15, 2009
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar was 25 years old when good kid, m.A.A.d city dropped
Release date: October 22, 2012
Take Care
Drake was 25 years old when Take Care dropped
Release date: November 15, 2011
Culture
Quavo and Offset were 25 years old, Takeoff was 22 years old when Culture dropped
Release date: January 27, 2017
Black on Both Sides
Mos Def was 25 years old when Black on Both Sides dropped
Release date: October 12, 1999
Train of Thought
Talib Kweli was 25 years old when Train of Thought dropped
Release date: October 17, 2000
Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
Ol’ Dirty Bastard was 26 years old when Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version dropped
Release date: March 28, 1995
Reasonable Doubt
Jay-Z was 26 years old when Reasonable Doubt dropped
Release date: June 25, 1996
Capital Punishment
Big Pun was 26 years old when Capital Punishment dropped
Release date: April 28, 1998
The College Dropout
Kanye West was 26 years old when The College Dropout dropped
Release date: February 10, 2004
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem was 26 years old when The Slim Shady LP dropped
Release date: February 23, 1999
Kiss tha Game Goodbye
Jadakiss was 26 years old when Kiss tha Game Goodbye dropped
Release date: August 7, 2001
Chicken-n-Beer
Ludacris was 26 years old when Chicken-n-Beer dropped
Release date: October 7, 2003
AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP
A$AP Rocky was 26 years old when AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP dropped
Release date: May 26, 2015
In a Major Way
E-40 was 27 years old when In a Major Way dropped
Release date: March 14, 1995
Get Rich or Die Tryin’
50 Cent was 27 years old when Get Rich or Die Tryin’ dropped
Release date: February 6, 2003
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Chuck D was 27 years old when It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back dropped
Release date: June 24, 1988
It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot
DMX was 27 years old when It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot dropped
Release date: May 19, 1998
Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
Young Jeezy was 27 years old when Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 dropped
Release date: July 26, 2005
Operation: Doomsday
MF Doom was 28 years old when Operation: Doomsday dropped
Release date: October 19, 1999
Purple Haze
Cam’ron was 28 years old when Purple Haze dropped
Release date: December 7, 2004
Igor
Tyler, the Creator was 28 years old when Igor dropped
Release date: May 17, 2019
Rhyme Pays
Ice-T was 29 years old when Rhyme Pays dropped
Release date: July 28, 1987
Blank Face LP
Schoolboy Q was 29 years old when Blank Face LP dropped
Release date: July 8, 2016
Liquid Swords
GZA was 29 years old when Liquid Swords dropped
Release date: November 7, 1995
Supreme Clientele
Ghostface Killah was 29 years old when Supreme Clientele dropped
Release date: February 8, 2000
The State vs. Radric Davis
Gucci Mane was 29 years old when The State vs. Radric Davis dropped
Release date: December 8, 2009
2014 Forest Hills Drive
J. Cole was 29 years old when 2014 Forest Hills Drive dropped
Release date: December 9, 2014
Lord Willin’
Malice was 30 years old and Pusha T was 25 years old when Lord Willin’ dropped
Release date: August 20, 2002
Piñata
Freddie Gibbs was 31 years old when Piñata dropped
Release date: March 18, 2014
DS2
Future was 31 years old when DS2 dropped
Release date: July 17, 2015
Old
Danny Brown was 32 years old when Old dropped
Release date: October 8, 2013
Hard to Earn
Guru was 32 years old when Hard to Earn dropped
Release date: March 8, 1994
Victory Lap
Nipsey Hussle was 32 years old when Victory L a p dropped
Release date: February 16, 2018
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye was 33 years old when My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy dropped
Release date: November 22, 2010
FLYGOD
Westside Gunn was 33 years old when FLYGOD dropped
Release date: March 11, 2016
Tana Talk 3
Benny the Butcher was 33 years old when Tana Talk 3 dropped
Release date: November 23, 2018
Reloaded
Roc Marciano was 34 years old when Reloaded dropped
Release date: November 13, 2012
Teflon Don
Rick Ross was 34 years old when Teflon Don dropped
Release date: July 20, 2010
Underground Kingz
Bun B was 34 years old and Pimp C was 33 years old when Underground Kingz dropped
Release date: August 7, 2007
Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Big Boi was 35 years old when Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty dropped
Release date: July 5, 2010
PRhyme
Royce da 5’9″ was 37 years old when PRhyme dropped
Release date: December 9, 2014
Run the Jewels
Kille Mike and El-P were both 38 years old when Run the Jewels dropped
Release date: June 26, 2013
Life Is Good
Nas was 38 years old when Life Is Good dropped
Release date: July 13, 2012
How I Got Over
Black Thought was 38 years old when How I Got Over dropped
Release date: June 22, 2010
The Renaissance
Q-Tip was 38 years old when The Renaissance dropped
Release date: November 4, 2008
The Dreamer/The Believer
Common was 39 years old when The Dreamer/The Believer dropped
Release date: December 19, 2011
Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
2 Chainz was 39 years old when Pretty Girls Like Trap Music dropped
Release date: June 16, 2017
The Night’s Gambit
Ka was 40 years old when The Night’s Gambit dropped
Release date: July 13, 2013
Daytona
Pusha T was 41 years old when Daytona dropped
Release date: May 25, 2018
4:44
Jay-Z was 47 years old when 4:44 dropped
Release date: June 30, 2017
